Palm Sunday: The Entrance of Our Lord Into Jerusalem

Explanation of the Feast
The celebration of Christ's Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem has a very direct correlation to Christ raising Lazarus from the dead. By now, word had spread through most of Jerusalem concerning what Christ had done in Bethany and how He raised Lazarus from the dead.

As you can imagine people were shocked and amazed. Many who had heard Christ preach and believed in Him as Lord came to worship Him. Others, who had heard of His healings and teachings came to see both Jesus and Lazarus with their own eyes - so they too can believe.

We read in the Gospel of John (12.14) how it is that Christ finds Himself riding on a young donkey and understand how it is to fulfill what was written I the scriptures. (Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt). The people's response was one of spontaneity and reverence. The crowd saw Jesus coming and looking around them picked up palms and branches, some carried them in their arms and waved them, while others placed them on the road He was taking into Jerusalem. Still others spread out their garments while all shouted "Hosanna! Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord!"

Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem is a messianic event, through which His Divine authority is declared. The events of Palm Sunday call each of us to lift up our voices and praise God; and behold our King, the Word of God made flesh. Palm Sunday summons us to accept both the rule and the Kingdom of God as the goal and content of our Christian life.

We are all called to be active participants in this celebration. We are not simply commemorating an event which took place in the past - rather, we are called to open our hearts and our souls and joyfully welcome and praise God shouting "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."

Fasting Guidelines
According to both custom and tradition fish as well as oil and wine are permitted on Palm Sunday.

 
 

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