Palm Sunday begins Holy Week
By Katherine Miller
Sunday is the day that many Christians around the world recognize as Palm Sunday. The annual celebration of this day begins Holy Week.
Typical Palm Sunday services include a reading of the Passion, a narrative of Jesus’ capture and death on the cross.
As is customary, many churches distribute palm leaves among their congregations during Palm Sunday services to commemorate the entrance of the Messiah into Jerusalem.
According to the Gospel accounts given in the Bible, Jesus was staying in Bethany when he sent two of his disciples to the village to retrieve a donkey that was tied up but had never been ridden. He then rode the donkey into Jerusalem where his followers laid their cloaks along with branches before him to make the ride more comfortable as they shouted, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Holy Week concludes the season of Lent and commemorates the last week of the earthly life of Jesus. Holy Thursday commemorates His last gathering with the twelve apostles, while Good Friday is the day of his suffering and crucifixion.
The culmination of Holy Week is Easter Sunday, which marks Jesus’ triumphant victory over death through His resurrection.