PALM SUNDAY:
Scripture: “On the next day, when the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord, [even] the king of Israel.” – John 12:12
Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem manifested the coming of the Kingdom that the King-Messiah was going to accomplish by the Passover of His Death and Resurrection. It is with the celebration of that entry on Palm Sunday that the Church’s liturgy solemnly opens Holy Week.” – CCC #560
Brothers and sisters, from the beginning, as scripture tells us, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was an occasion for joyful celebration, praising and thanking God for the King-Messiah that had come to deliver and heal them of all their troubles and ailments. There were physical disorders of course, but spiritual decline as well.
The country was under oppressive Roman rule, coupled with strict, and sometimes, oppressive religious rule of the Pharisees; struggles on every side. One can of course understand why the multitudes were grateful, relieved even, that the man they had heard so much about, the man who went about healing the blind, casting out demons, raising the dead, and preaching and teaching love for all, was coming to them.
But why palm branches? Palm branches in the ancient world, represented triumph and victory. Palm branches can also be found on ancient artifacts as well: coins, pottery, etc., to show strength by the various leaders. And we find the significance in scripture as well. For instance, in Leviticus: “On the first day [of the Feast of Tabernacles] you shall gather fruit of majestic trees, branches of palms, and boughs of leafy trees and valley willows. Then for a week you shall make merry before the Lord, your God.” – Leviticus 23:40
Then again, when building the Temple during the reign of Solomon: “The walls of the house on all sides of both the inner and the outer rooms had carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.” – 1 Kings 6:29. Then from the Prophet Nehemiah, reminding the people of the Feast of Tabernacles as they returned from exile: “Go out into the hill country and bring in branches of olive, oleaster, myrtle, palm…The people brought in branches and made booths for themselves…in the courts of the house of God.” – Nehemiah 8:15-16
Therefore, brothers and sisters, it was fitting that the people should rejoice and lay palms as Jesus came into the city. He was their triumphant Victor. Sadly though, in less than a week, the Pharisees, out of their anger and hatred towards Jesus for shifting the loyalty of the people from their own oppressive rule, worked to turn many of them to help condemn Jesus to death.
Little did they know that out of their evil intentions; would an even greater victory arise. Not just in their own time, but for all eternity!
“The crown of victory is promised only to those who engage in the struggle.”
– St. Augustine