Reflection: The Palm Sunday Processional

Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week. I’ve always found it to be a strange way to begin Holy Week because of the way the crowds celebrate Jesus’ arrival despite the fact that he was dead less than a week later. Still, the point of the liturgical observations of Holy Week is to walk with Our Lord through the story: we enter Jerusalem with him, we sup with him and the disciples at the Last Supper, we strip the altar as we reflect on Judas’ betrayal, we reflect on the horridness of the Crucifixion, while also venerating the Cross as a beautiful symbol of our redemption. At the Easter Vigil, we anticipate the resurrection through the reading of Old Testament prophecies and the blessing of the baptismal font where new Christians will be birthed. Finally, on Easter morning, we celebrate the fact that “He is not here; for he is risen.”

The Palm Sunday Processional, as it’s currently practiced, goes all the way back to at least the fourth century. The first record of it that we have is in the diary of a Spanish pilgrim to Jerusalem who noted that the Christian inhabitants of the city would process into the city with palms while singing hymns. I take this to mean the tradition had been established for some time prior to this record. We know the tradition spread until it was made a virtually universal liturgical practice by the fifth century. As Western Christians, we receive it from the liturgical work of Gregory the Great who made it a normal practice while he was Bishop of Rome (440-461).

Biblically, the Palm Sunday Processional can be traced back to all four of the Gospels, which all describe Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey while the people lay palm branches on the ground and shouted "Hosanna!" This event fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, part of Sunday’s Old Testament reading, which states, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

The Palm Sunday Processional is significant for several reasons. As mentioned above, it marks the beginning of Holy Week, a time of deep reflection and penance for Christians around the world. Secondly, it symbolizes Jesus' arrival as the long-awaited Messiah, the fulfillment of God's promise to send a savior to the world. Thirdly, it represents the paradox of Jesus' kingship, as he entered Jerusalem not on a magnificent horse, but on a humble donkey. It reminds us that, unlike most earthly kings, Jesus does not win his victory through great military strength, impressive political machinations, or charismatic personality—quite the opposite! Jesus wins his victory through his suffering and death on the Cross, reminding us of St. Paul’s words in I Corinthians 1:23-24, “We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”

The Palm Sunday Processional is an opportunity for us to reflect on our lives. In what areas of our lives do we need to open our arms and receive him who “comes in the name of the Lord”? How have we been like the Pharisees and religious leaders who opposed Jesus?

Palm Sunday is an old tradition. As we process, I encourage you to consider the fact that Christians like you have been doing this for over 1,500 years. But more importantly, use the Processional as an opportunity to remember Jesus’ sacrifice and love for us so that we can approach Holy Week with open hearts and minds, ready to deepen our relationship with God as we commemorate the cosmos-changing events that took place 2,000 years ago.

“All glory, laud, and honor
to you, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
You are the King of Israel
and David's royal Son,
now in the Lord's name coming,
the King and Blessed One.

The company of angels
is praising you on high;
and we with all creation
in chorus make reply.
The people of the Hebrews
with palms before you went;
our praise and prayer and anthems
before you we present.

To you before your passion
they sang their hymns of praise;
to you, now high exalted,
our melody we raise.
As you received their praises,
accept the prayers we bring,
for you delight in goodness,
O good and gracious King!”