THE P RTAL
March 2015
Page 6
Palm Sunday
Donato Tallo leads us on a meditation for Palm Sunday
“The righteous man will flourish like the palm
tree; he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon”
gateway to
the Easter celebration
On Palm Sunday, it is customary for palm branches
to be held up high and laid on the sanctuaries of our
alm Sunday, which this year falls on churches. At the start of Holy Mass, the priest or
29th March, heralds the start of Holy Week, deacon reads the Gospel proclaiming the entry of
the greatest and most glorious week in the Church’s Jesus into Jerusalem while we are physically holding
liturgical year.
and laying down palm branches.
Psalm 92:12
P
Most of us will be familiar with the phrase “Hosanna
in the highest Heavens”; Palm Sunday is the day
on which we as Catholics unite with Christians
throughout the world to recall the triumphant entry
of Jesus into Jerusalem. The people at the time praised
Jesus, laid down their cloaks and palms in addition to
joyfully waving palms in their hands high in the air.
It is important for us to remember that we are called
metaphorically to both hold them high and lay them
down in our own hearts and minds to prepare a way
for the Lord, just as the people of Jerusalem did all
those years ago.
It only seems like yesterday it was Christmas and the
forty days and forty nights of Lent will soon be over.
Palm Sunday is the day on which the people of Palm Sunday, in the words of Pope Emeritus Benedict,
Jerusalem proclaimed Jesus as the messiah and the day “is a gateway to the Easter celebration”. It’s a doorway
on which they prepared a way for the king. In times to the Triduum, which we all have a duty to celebrate
past, palm branches symbolised greatness and victory; with due reverence and dignity.
what a wonderful way for the people of Jerusalem to
honour and praise Jesus by waving and laying palm
“Ride on ride, on in majesty!
branches before him.
Hark, all the tribes hosanna cry,
Thy humble beast pursues his road
We too, in our own lives, are called to prepare a way
With palms and scattered garments strowed.”
for our king. On Palm Sunday, we must be willing to
First verse of a popular
prepare a way for the Lord in order to be truly ready to
Palm Sunday Hymn by Henry H Milman
celebrate the sacred Triduum both worthily and well.
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