A woman named Etheria was a pilgrim to the Holy Land in the 4th century (nearly 1,700 years ago). She left us her detailed description of the celebrations in Jerusalem during Palm Sunday and Holy Week. According to her report, Palm Sunday prayers began very early in the day, “from cockcrow until morning,” and continued in different places in Jerusalem, including Golgotha.

Etheria wrote that at 1 pm after eating, Christians met again at the Mount of Olives and continued the prayers and readings. At 5 pm,  

“. . . the passage from the Gospel is read, where the children, carrying branches and palms, met the Lord saying: Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord,” and the bishop and the people rise, “and they go on foot from the top of the Mount of Olives.” People went before the bishop “with hymns and antiphons, answering one to another: “Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord. And all the children in the neighborhood, even those who are too young to walk, are carried by their parents on their shoulders, all of them bearing branches, some of palms and some of olives, and thus the bishop is escorted in the same manner as the Lord was.” Christians “accompany the bishop all the way on foot in this manner, making these responses, from the top of the mount to the city, and thence through the whole city to the Anastasis [literally: the resurrection, that is, the tomb of Jesus]”.

For 1,700 years, the Church has repeated this ancient liturgy that was celebrated in Jerusalem – the day which opens the final stage of Jesus’s life on earth with the mystery of his passion, death and resurrection – the mystery of our salvation.

Brothers and sisters, do not be ashamed of expressing our faith publicly, openly display that we worship, praise and value our Lord. While in public, do not be afraid to make the sign of the cross, wear religious medals, pray and talk about Jesus, about our faith and Christian values. Do not be afraid to refuse to join others doing something against our faith and morality, even if it could result in shunning, ridicule or even some type of persecution. Jesus said: “So do not be afraid . . . Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father” (Matthew 10:31-33). Do not be afraid to teach your children faith at the expense of some extracurricular activity, like sports or artistic practices. Do not be afraid to speak about your Christian life with enthusiasm and joy.  This Palm Sunday, do not hesitate to joyfully wave branches of palms for the Lord as an invitation for his entrance into your life, and do not be afraid to listen with attention and love the story of Jesus’ passion since “by his wounds we were healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

Fr. Mark Jurzyk