Making an entrance
And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. Christians celebrate Palm Sunday with 2,000-year-old tradition
Many churches across Michigan have slowly reopened their doors for worship services with limited capacity, and are preparing for the most joyous holiday of the Christian faith: Easter.
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, leading to Easter Sunday, observed as the most important holy day for Christians around the world.
This year, Holy Week begins on March 28 and ends with Easter Sunday on April 4.
In The Bible, Matthew 21:1-9 tells of the first Palm Sunday, when Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem was greeted by a crowd of people laying palm branches on the ground before him. Palm branches are a symbol of victory, peace and eternal life.
Kenneth Pullis, Bishop Foley Catholic High School’s Religious Studies teacher, says Jerusalem was the centerpiece of the Holy Land in Israel, serving as the religious capital during that time.
“The crowd that greeted Jesus was hoping that he would be this revo
lutionary that would lead them in a revolt against the Romans,” he says. “(Jesus) ended up being someone who would suffer a cruel and awful death only to rise from the dead a few days later; and that changed their perspective of what the Messiah would be.”
While Palm Sunday comes during Lent, the 40day period leading to Easter, it serves as a reminder that the end of the season is near. “It’s a reminder that we are approaching the central mystery of our faith — that Jesus suffers, dies and resurrects,” Pullis says.
The tradition of using palms to commemorate this day continues around the world, almost 2,000 years later.
Compared to an ordinary service, Palm Sunday’s liturgy is more interactive for parish members.
At Saint Mary of the Hills Catholic Church in Rochester Hills, services begin with a priest handing out palm branches to parishioners, followed by a procession inside or outside the church as a way of memorializing the procession of Jesus entering Jerusalem.
Troy resident Dan Greig has been the director of music and worship at St. Mary’s for 16 years. As part of his responsibilities, he handles church service details and coordinates with the priest for worship services. Greig explains the symbolism of the celebration.
“It sort of begins the drama that leads up to Easter,” he says. “The gospel tells us that people laid down palm branches in front of Jesus, so we re-enact that moment right at the beginning of Mass.”
Traditionally, palms are taken home at the end of Mass and placed near or behind a crucifix until December when they are collected by the church and burned. The palm ashes are then used for the coming Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season.
The parishioners also participate during a gospel reading.
“During the proclamation of the gospel, the crowd speaks in unison saying ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’ so the drama creates tension as we retell the story,” Greig says.
During the Lenten season, priests wear purple vestments during Mass. However, on Palm Sunday, they wear red vestments to symbolize the blood and sacrifice of Jesus. These same red vestments are worn on Good Friday, the Friday before Easter.
Saint Mary’s Catholic Church reopened for inperson services in May with a 50 percent capacity limit to curb the spread of COVID-19. With this restriction in place, it can accommodate 200 people in the church with some overflow in the gymnasium.
During the Lenten season, priests wear purple vestments during Mass. However, on Palm Sunday, they wear red vestments to symbolize the blood and sacrifice of Jesus.