By Leslie Thayer
Note: This is the second in a two-part series on our blog. The first was published yesterday.
As Jesus entered the gates of the city (an event recorded in all of the Synoptic Gospels Matthew, Mark, and Luke, as well as the Gospel of John), the disciples and the crowd that formed threw branches from the nearby trees onto the ground before Him, and their cloaks as well, in a show of respect and support that would be offered any important visiting dignitary of state.
The Gospels report that Jesus rode into the city on a donkey — an animal that symbolized peace and good will, rather than a horse that symbolized power and war. We now understand that Jesus’ reign had nothing to do with the overthrow of the Roman Empire, but everything to do with the restoration of humankind to the grace of God’s favor and eternal salvation.
A Spanish pilgrim by the name of Egeria (an avowed religious sister?) recorded in her diary a Palm Sunday celebration in Jerusalem in the early fifth century that she witnessed beginning on the Mount of Olives at approximately 5 p.m. with the reading of Matthew 21:1-11 (Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem) and continued with the crowd processing down into the city to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher carrying palm and olive branches. Subsequent records exist throughout Church history of similar celebrations through the centuries down to today.
In England, a Latin hymn was added to the procession by the choir that now is sung throughout most, if not all, English-speaking churches on this Sunday: Gloria laus et honor, “All Glory, Laud, and Honor,” written by Theodulph of Orleans, c 760-821.
During the turbulent times of the Reformation the distribution of palms, ashes, candles and similar symbols of faith were criticized and suppressed as empty or superstitious signs. But as the centuries passed, the Church began to re-examine and recover many of the early liturgies, writings of early Christians, and reconnect with the symbols that long ago strengthened faith and linked Christians with the events of the life of Christ, celebrations such as Palm Sunday returned.
On Palm Sunday Christians hear of Jesus’ coming to Jerusalem in a celebration where, in a few days, He would be abandoned by all the adoring throngs, deserted by His disciples, and tortured and killed by the Romans in collaboration with leaders of the Jewish citizens.
Today, we receive branches to take home not as a re-enactment of an historic event, but as a reminder of the profound misunderstanding as to who Jesus Christ really was (and is), and for what purpose He underwent His passion, death, and resurrection.
This year, as you lift your palm branch high in procession and sing that ancient hymn, “All glory, laud, and honor, to you, Redeemer King: to whom the lips of children made glad hosannas ring …,” recall that you walk with Christians throughout history acclaiming Him God’s word among us, the Savior and true ruler of the world.
Note: This is the second in a two-part series on our blog. The first was published yesterday.
As Jesus entered the gates of the city (an event recorded in all of the Synoptic Gospels Matthew, Mark, and Luke, as well as the Gospel of John), the disciples and the crowd that formed threw branches from the nearby trees onto the ground before Him, and their cloaks as well, in a show of respect and support that would be offered any important visiting dignitary of state.
 |
| On Palm Sunday Christians hear of Jesus’ coming to Jerusalem. |
The Gospels report that Jesus rode into the city on a donkey — an animal that symbolized peace and good will, rather than a horse that symbolized power and war. We now understand that Jesus’ reign had nothing to do with the overthrow of the Roman Empire, but everything to do with the restoration of humankind to the grace of God’s favor and eternal salvation.
A Spanish pilgrim by the name of Egeria (an avowed religious sister?) recorded in her diary a Palm Sunday celebration in Jerusalem in the early fifth century that she witnessed beginning on the Mount of Olives at approximately 5 p.m. with the reading of Matthew 21:1-11 (Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem) and continued with the crowd processing down into the city to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher carrying palm and olive branches. Subsequent records exist throughout Church history of similar celebrations through the centuries down to today.
In England, a Latin hymn was added to the procession by the choir that now is sung throughout most, if not all, English-speaking churches on this Sunday: Gloria laus et honor, “All Glory, Laud, and Honor,” written by Theodulph of Orleans, c 760-821.
During the turbulent times of the Reformation the distribution of palms, ashes, candles and similar symbols of faith were criticized and suppressed as empty or superstitious signs. But as the centuries passed, the Church began to re-examine and recover many of the early liturgies, writings of early Christians, and reconnect with the symbols that long ago strengthened faith and linked Christians with the events of the life of Christ, celebrations such as Palm Sunday returned.
On Palm Sunday Christians hear of Jesus’ coming to Jerusalem in a celebration where, in a few days, He would be abandoned by all the adoring throngs, deserted by His disciples, and tortured and killed by the Romans in collaboration with leaders of the Jewish citizens.
Today, we receive branches to take home not as a re-enactment of an historic event, but as a reminder of the profound misunderstanding as to who Jesus Christ really was (and is), and for what purpose He underwent His passion, death, and resurrection.
This year, as you lift your palm branch high in procession and sing that ancient hymn, “All glory, laud, and honor, to you, Redeemer King: to whom the lips of children made glad hosannas ring …,” recall that you walk with Christians throughout history acclaiming Him God’s word among us, the Savior and true ruler of the world.
0 comments:
Post a Comment