What Is Palm Sunday?

Today, Christians around the world are celebrating Palm Sunday. What is Palm Sunday? It marks the start of Holy Week and the remembrance of the events in Jesus’ life leading up to His crucifixion and resurrection. 

On Palm Sunday we  remember–and sometime reenact–Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, when people hailed Him as Lord and laid cloaks and palms on the ground before him as He passed.

Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

~ Mark 11: 8-10

We also read the Passion Gospel, which tells the story of Jesus’ last night in the garden of Gethsemane, betrayal by Judas, arrest, conviction, crucifixion, and death on the cross. 

When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” …..
Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.

~ Mark 15: 33-37

Thanks goodness we know that’s not the end of the story!

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