Palm Sunday Brings A Week Of Reflection And Hope

Today is the beginning of the "High Holy Week" of the Christian Church. This is the beginning of the seven days leading to the highest of Holy Days, Easter Sunday, the day marking the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, The Christ.

Today is Palm Sunday, the sixth and final Sunday of Lent. It marks Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem with the crowds waving palm branches. The crowd shouted "Hosanna!" but would soon cry "Crucify Him!" The crowd thought Jesus had come to lead them to freedom from the reign of Rome, instead He came to give them freedom from sin.

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While much of the Christian Church does not give specific meaning to the days between Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday, they do have significance. Taken as an entire week, Holy Week is a time of reflection and hope in a troubled world.

• Monday is known as Holy Monday, the day Christ cleansed the temple and cursed the fig tree.
• Holy Tuesday, the day observed by some as the time Jesus predicted his death.
• Holy Wednesday is known as Spy Wednesday in many Christian churches as the day Judas Iscariot arranged with the Sanhedrin to sellout Jesus for just 50 pieces of silver. Many churches conduct Tenebrae Services on Wednesday where the darkness of Christ's coming crucifixion is marked by gradually extinguishing of candles during a series of readings.
• Maundy Thursday is a day of great significance as it commemorates The Last Supper. This is the evening that Christ gathered with His disciples in the upper room to partake of their last meal together. During the meal Jesus predicts that he will be betrayed by one of His disciples, tells Peter that he will deny knowing Jesus. Holy Communion is celebrated in many denominations while others also conduct the practice of foot washing reflecting humility.
• Good Friday is the day of Jesus' crucifixion. Despite His pain and suffering on the cross, the day is known as "Good" Friday because many Christians see it as the day that was vital to final victory over sin on Easter Sunday. Many Christians commemorate the "Stations of the Cross", the events that took place as Jesus dragged the cross through Jerusalem to Golgotha for execution. Many Christians also mark Good Friday as a day for sacrifice by fasting. Jesus is hurriedly buried in a borrowed tomb to meet Jewish requirements. Authorities order soldiers to guard it to keep Jesus' supporters from taking the body and claiming resurrection.
• Black Saturday is a controversial day for many Christians in Easter Week commemorations. It is a day of silence and waiting for resurrection. Many see it as a day Jesus remained dead because He did not want to violate the Jewish Holy Day. To many it is a day of hope while others believe it as the day Christ descended into hell. Some denominations include “He descended into Hell.” in the Apostles Creed. They see it as a day Christ gave hope to those there who had sinned but had no avenue for forgiveness.
• Easter Sunday, along with the Christmas birth of the Savior,
• is the highest of the two High Holy Days of the liturgical year. "Jesus is Risen" is a traditional greeting prompting the reply "He is Risen Indeed". The resurrection of Christ is the main reason Sunday is the Christian Holy Day of the week. Easter Sunday is the day of forgiveness of our sins and the offer of eternal life if we will accept it. Easter Sunday is the first day of the 50 days of Eastertide, leading to Pentecost when Jesus’s promise to send the Holy Spirit to his followers as a helper and a guide is fulfilled.

Holy Week is the most sacred time in the Christian calendar, marking Jesus’ final days on earth and His ultimate sacrifice for humanity. It is a time of deep spiritual reflection for more than two billion Christians worldwide, reminding believers and others of His journey of love, suffering and redemption.