Find out more about why we celebrate Palm Sunday…
On this day, the Church recalls the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem to accomplish His Paschal Mystery. Accordingly, the memorial of this entrance of the Lord takes place at all Masses, by means of the Procession, or the Solemn Entrance (before the principal Mass), or the Simple Entrance (before other Masses).
This triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem recalls the words of the prophet Zechariah in 9:9 – “See your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey”. It also recalls the words in Psalm 118:25-26 – “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”.
In Eastern Tradition, the donkey was regarded as an animal of peace and the horse as an animal of war. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem shows the contrast between the heavenly kingdom and the earthly kingdom. A Roman Emperor or General would never have entered into a city on a donkey. But Jesus is not a political figure, a warring Messiah, but the Prince of Peace.
“Only when someone values love more highly than life, that is, only where someone is ready to put life second to love, for the sake of love, can love be stronger and more than death. If it is to be more than death it must first be more than mere life. Jesus’ total love for men, which leads him to the cross, is perfected in total stepping-over to the Father and therein becomes stronger than death, because in this it is at the same time total ‘being held’ by him.”
(Pope Benedict XVI)
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