Palm Sunday commemorates the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, when palm branches were placed in his path, before his arrest on Holy Thursday and his crucifixion on Good Friday. It thus marks the beginning of Holy Week, the final week of Lent.
….for those who have an upbringing in the Catholic faith or remain in it, you also know it’s one of the most important (AND LONGEST) church services of the year..
Palm branches are a widely recognized symbol of peace and victory, and in Biblical times were often thrown before the feet of a conquering hero in homage. When Jesus arrived in the Holy City, the Gospel writers said the crowds lay palm branches and clothes at his feet to honor him.. In reality it was the same path that Gospel accounts would say Jesus walked with a cross prior to his crucifixion..
The real history of Palm Sunday isn’t as poetic as biblical accounts may show.. First off.. if it occurred it probably did not happen on a Sunday.
It also was not something even observed by the early Catholic Church.. It probably began in Mesopotamia in the late fourth century. Roman Catholics did not even adopt it until much later.
In ancient times, palm branches symbolized goodness and victory. They were often depicted on coins and important buildings. And after reading the Bible, people from every nation can raise palm branches to honor Jesus..
There are different traditions from around the globe.
Those traditions change constantly. They evolve.. they get molded by the current society that continues to hold traditional pasttimes in our current age.
And in 2018, a new tradition seems to be coming into the Palm Sunday conviction: GRASS.
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Philadelphia’ Society Hill is one of the oldest churches in the city. At more than 250 years old it is an historic landmark, one not afraid to change.
Things change.
Perhaps in 100 years we’ll be busy celebrating Grass Sunday.
