It is Palm Sunday, an annual feast in the Christian calendar that marks the transition from Lent into the Holy Week that leads up to Easter.
Palm Sunday symbolises the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, where he triumphantly rode on a donkey a week before his resurrection. The event is recounted in each of the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
According to the Holy Bible, as he entered the city of Jerusalem, people laid down their cloaks, palm leaves and small tree branches on the ground before him, singing “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.”
This tradition is still practised by Christian to date, this time churches commemorate this high point in Christ’s public life at a divine liturgy in the church decorated with palms and laurel leaves. A procession through the church re-enacts Christ’s entry into Jerusalem.
Children often carry lit candles they have decorated. Small crosses are made of palm and handed out to everyone who attends the service.
For many Christians, palm branches symbolises goodness and victory.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis has asked Christians to imbibe the virtues of Jesus Christ.
The Pope in his tweet on Sunday said: “God triumphs, but the palm of victory passes through the wood of the cross. For the palm and the cross are inseparable.”
“We are called to recognize that other living beings have a value of their own in God’s eyes: by their mere existence they bless him and give him glory, and indeed, the Lord rejoices in all his works.”
God is at our side in every affliction, in every fear; no evil, no sin will ever have the final word. God triumphs, but the palm of victory passes through the wood of the cross. For the palm and the cross are inseparable. #PalmSunday
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) March 28, 2021
See some more reactions on Twitter below:
“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel” — John 12:13. Blessed Palm Sunday to you all!
— Michael ABUAH (@MichaelAbuah_) March 28, 2021
Today is #PalmSunday when we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He was welcomed by crowds who laid palm leaves in his path and proclaimed him the Messiah.
Palm Sunday also marks the start of Holy Week when we look ahead to Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday.
— Westminster Abbey (@wabbey) March 28, 2021
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