Palm Sunday Vs Passion Sunday
At The Procession with Palms – Mark 11:1-10 or John 12:12-16
(Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24; Philippians 2:6-11c; Mark 14:1-15:47)
Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap
We get the name “Palm” Sunday because as Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the disciples laid down palm fronds on the road ahead of the donkey. Some translations refer to them as “leafy branches cut from the fields.” In the culture of their day, a king would ride into town on a horse if he wanted the people to know that he was ready for war and that he was their warrior king. However, when a king rode into town on a donkey, that symbolized the time of peace was at hand. Jesus chose a donkey to show that the time for peace and love had come. The people were awaiting the king, but most of them thought the king would be an earthly king that would readily protect Jerusalem from all enemies. Jesus, however, came as a king of peace.
Today’s Sunday is also known as “Passion Sunday.” Let’s explore the difference between the two: Palm Sunday vs Passion Sunday. “Palm Sunday” could refer to the events that fulfilled the prophecies of long ago. The prophecies that Zechariah foretold about the king who would ride into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey and how the people went crazy with hope that they would be saved from the cruel Roman Empire.
But on the other hand, “Passion Sunday”, could tell a totally different story. This parade could refer to a funeral procession. This day marked the beginning of the end; the week of betrayal; and the week that would end in suffering and death. “Passion Sunday”, could refer to the stories of the last supper, and how Jesus shared with his disciples those things he wanted them to remember most.
When the Palm Sunday crowd saw Jesus riding into Jerusalem that day, they knew that something exciting was happening. They knew that Jesus was riding as the Messiah would, and they thought they knew what that meant. They thought it meant they would be free from the Romans, they thought it meant that Jesus was going to be their King. On the other hand, the Good Friday crowd turned against Jesus because he didn’t fulfill the dreams, they had of him the Sunday before.
This Palm Sunday Hosanna episode in the gospels seems a bit out of place because we know where Jesus is going. We know he is not going to Herod’s palace. We know he is not going to confront the Roman authorities. We know he is not going to topple the corruption of the temple leaders. We know he is marching through this city, going through this triumph, heading for a vicious cross. And we wonder, what do the words of triumph mean. What do their hosannas mean? Hosanna actually means save us. Imagine the Palm Sunday crowd saw this man as their king, and they thought he would save them in the way other great leaders had saved them. Looking to be saved from the oppression of a Roman occupation, from those in the temple who collaborated with the occupiers.
But Jesus wanted them to see the reality of who he was, not an earthly king, but a heavenly king. He was not a warrior who would come to destroy the Romans. Jesus was a warrior who would come to destroy sin and death. Jesus was painting a picture of a suffering Messiah. A Messiah who would suffer for the sins of all the people. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote: “God allows himself to be edged out of the world and on to the cross and that is the way, the only way, in which he can be with us and help us. Only a suffering God can help.” The crowds on that first Palm Sunday wanted a Warrior King, but Jesus came as a suffering Messiah. Jesus came as one who would die on a cross for the sake of human kind.
Palm Sundays/ Celebrations in our life teach us nothing but we learn great wisdom and life’s lessons on Passion Sundays/Sufferings.