Next Sunday, Christians around the world will celebrate “Palm Sunday” or “Hosanna Sunday,” commemorating the welcoming of Lord Jesus Christ by crowds with tree branches, which they spread on the road during His entry into the city of “Jerusalem” (Al-Quds). This is why the day was called Palm Sunday. The word “Hosanna” comes from the Hebrew word “Hoshi’ana” meaning “Oh, save now!”Its Greek opposite is “Hosanna”. This word was repeated during the shouts of the crowds who followed Jesus Christ to Jerusalem: “Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:“Tell the daughter of Zion,‘Behold, your King is coming to you,Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of theLord!Hosanna in the highest!” And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?””
Palm Sunday is the last Sunday of “Lent,” and it was preceded by a great miracle: the raising of Lazarus by Jesus Christ four days after his death.
Jerusalem in those days was celebrating the Passover which is the greatest of Jewish feasts, commemorating their liberation from slavery in the land of Egypt.” God had commanded them to hold the celebration in His city, Jerusalem: “You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates which the Lord your God gives you; but at the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide, there you shall sacrifice the Passover at twilight, at the going down of the sun, at the time you came out of Egypt.” Jews would come to Jerusalem from all parts of the country, near and far, to offer what the Law commanded; it was obligatory for every Jew to come to Jerusalem to celebrate; and those who came numbered around two and a half million Jews.
The entry of Jesus Christ into the city of Jerusalem is associated with palm fronds and olive branches, which symbolize victory and peace. Victorious kings used to enter cities in grand receptions, with crowds carrying palm fronds as a sign of triumph. The people welcomed Jesus Christ as a victorious king, as they desired to restore the kingdom to Israel and get rid of Roman rule and slavery, not realizing the true message of Jesus Christ: the salvation of humanity from sin, evil, and the judgment of death. Thus, they could not comprehend His words: “My kingdom is not of this world.” The true victory in life is over evil and sin and in returning to God, so He is crowned as a true King over the human heart; this is truly the eternal life.
As for olive branches, they are a sign of peace. They have been associated with peace since ancient times when the Prophet Noah sent a dove to see if the floodwaters had receded from the earth; the dove returned to him with an olive leaf in its mouth. Jesus Christ’s call was a constant call to peace: peace with God, peace with oneself, and peace with others. In His call for peace, He blessed peacemakers. “Blessed are the peacemakers,For they shall be called sons of God.” And after entering Jerusalem, He wept over it, lamenting its insistence on evil and its loss of peace: “As He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.'” Peace in our lives is a gift from God who created peace. Evil and peace can never coexist, for the Scripture says: “There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.”
Thus, on Palm Sunday we are reminded that victory and peace can be fulfilled in the steadfast spiritual life where we are settled in God and His love. Many happy returns to all of you!
Storied of Beautiful Egypt never end!
The General Bishop
President of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
