PALM SUNDAY - CHRIST'S ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM

On the first Palm Sunday, thousands of people came to their holy city, Jerusalem. They came from near and far to celebrate their greatest holy-day, the Feast of Passover. This day commemorated the freedom of the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery. But now, once more, the people found themselves under foreign domination. There was a longing among the people to throw off the shackles of Roman political rule, and set up again the kingdom of Israel. People thought that only a king could rise up and lead the nation to vic­tory. Who could possibly take command? Every thought turned to Jesus of Nazareth. Lots of people knew about Christ's miracles in Galilee, and how He had raised Lazarus from the dead. When the crowds heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they went out to meet Him.

He came, riding atop a donkey. Some people spread garments in the way, others cut down branches from the trees and strewed them along the way. Everyone was anxious to do honour to the Son of God and people happily ex­pressed their joy. They cried Hosanna (Save now), to the Son of David; "Bles­sed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest" (Matt. .21 : 9).

Jesus knew that the trial, suffering and death awaited Him there though the people believed that Jesus would be the earthly King of Israel. He wept over Jerusalem during the procession as He thought of the tragic mistake the people made of His kingship. He was a King. But His "Kingdom was not of this world." The multitude misunderstood. They wanted an earthly king with sword and spear. No wonder four days later they were to cry: "Away with Him, Crucify Him" (John 19 : 15).

Our Church celebrates this great event on Sunday before Easter Sunday. This Feast is sometimes called Palm or Willow Sunday, because the Orthodox faithful use blooming willow branches (the first blooming tree in the Spring) for decoration of the Church. Palm branches were used by people when they met Christ in Jerusalem. These blooming willow branches remind us that we should glorify Christ not only on this day but every day, that this glorification should be constant.