Palm Sunday and Symbolism: Why are you carrying around tree branches? Sometimes, one of the hardest things to explain as a Catholic is our attachment to symbolism. Palm Sunday is a great example of that. We come home from Mass holding palm branches, and we tuck them behind a crucifix or next to the picture of the Last Supper. To anyone who does not know our faith, it looks as though we stuck a few weeds on the wall… imagine their questions! The truth behind this tradition, however, goes to the story of Palm Sunday, when the people heard that Christ was coming and they took out palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, [even] the king of Israel. (John 12:13) . It was a tradition to spread palms before a king as he processed into his city. It was a way to welcome him, to show him glory and homage. Thus, Christ, the true King, was welcomed into Jerusalem. This fulfilled the prophecy in the Old Testament, which declared, Behold: your king is coming to you, a just savior is he, humble and riding on a donkey. (Zech. 9:9) It revealed that Christ was a great king, but also a humble king. The people greeted him with wild joy and cheers of Hosanna. But one short week later, they crucified him. We celebrate this feast and carry palm branches home with us to commemorate the great humility of Our Lord, who loved us so much that he chose the cross for our salvation. - Taken from the USCCB Website.
Posted on: Sun, 13 Apr 2014 00:28:11 +0000
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