Today, when sports teams gather on the field of play, cheerleaders wave pompons and fans wave all kinds of things, like signs and flags, accompanied by loud shouting to show their appreciation for their team and express their belief in their ability to win.
In a similar way, Palm Sunday shows a picture of a whole town full of people waving palm branches for the man they believed would be their king and win their salvation. The people shouted, “Hosanna!” –an expression of praise, adoration and joy—as Jesus made his way into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey.
It’s not surprising they should be so excited about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem for Passover. They had heard about it before, many years before.
Some 500 years earlier, the prophet Zachariah told the people, “Exult greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! Behold: your king is coming to you, a just savior is he, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
The time was now and many were filled with joy because they believed Jesus would be the Messiah, the King, who would save them from domination by the Romans. But in a short time, those who excitedly waved palm branches, a common symbol of victory, were going home shaking their heads and saying, “But we thought he was the one.”
Holy Week begins, but they could not imagine that God had a greater salvation in store.
Palm Sunday is rich with teachable themes, adaptable to a variety of age levels. Several are highlight below:
- Glory and Praise – People waved palm branches, laid them and their own coats on the ground in front of Jesus as he processed into the city on his donkey. How do we give glory and praise to God in our daily lives?
- Triumph, disappointment and hope – Jesus made a triumphant entry into Jerusalem. But soon he was arrested, beaten, crucified and buried. Many people lost faith in Jesus. Who was left? Would we have been among them? Before or after the Resurrection?
- Incorporating symbols of faith – Palm branches have become symbols of faith. We take them home, weave them into crosses and place them behind religious pictures or Bibles or above doors as a means of protection. What are some other symbols of Holy Week and how do we incorporate them into daily life? Don’t forget food.
- Role of Prophets – The word prophet means “those who speak before others.” Eighteen books of the Old Testament contain the messages of the prophets, including Zachariah, about God’s faithfulness and the need for God’s children to be faithful to the Covenant. Why are the prophets and an understanding of the Old Testament important for an understanding of our Catholic faith?
An excellent resource to help teach #4 above, and to expand student’s understanding of the importance of the Old Testament, one of two parts of Sacred Scripture, is God’s Promise in the Old Testament, a teacher’s guide that also comes with a free e-book!
Mary Regina Morrell, mother of six and grandmother to nine, is a Catholic journalist, author, and syndicated columnist who has served the dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey, and RENEW International in the areas of catechesis and communication.