| Palm Sunday is the last Sunday of Lent. It is | | | | custom of the use of pals has a long history and |
| always the start of Holy Week and the last | | | | harkens back the Old Testament. According to |
| Sunday of Lent. It is one of the events that is | | | | the Hebrew Bible Joshua also made a similar ride |
| mentioned in all four Canonical Gospels. It would | | | | and was treated to the same way. Even more |
| seem according to the Gospel of John that just a | | | | interestingly is that many of the Pre-Christian |
| week prior, Jesus was in Bethany having dinner | | | | religion also have similar stories of their central |
| with Lazarus, Mary and Martha and systematically | | | | figure returning to the holiest city and be greeted |
| the Church has the the Cycle A gospel for the | | | | in this manner. A prime example of this was |
| 5th Sunday of Lent is Lazarus Sunday. While in | | | | Dionysus/Bacchus , the Greek god of Wine. |
| Bethany, Gospels describe how Jesus had sent | | | | There are several parallels that can be drawn |
| two disciples on ahead to find a colt. Some say | | | | between Dionysus and Jesus, including Rustic |
| that Jesus had this already prearranged with | | | | Dionysia, or Christmas on December 25th. And in |
| Simon the Leper while others say Jesus found this | | | | Euripides Bacchae, there is a similar story of how |
| particular colt to ride back through the gates of | | | | Dionysus was arrested and questioned by |
| Jerusalem. The Gospel all go on to say how some | | | | Pentheus, very similar to how Jesus was arrested |
| lad down palm branches in order to make the ride | | | | and brought before Pilot. In this story Dionysus |
| more comfortable. There was also the description | | | | returns much the same way Jesus returned to |
| of people singing Psalm 118. Although depicted in | | | | the Holy City in a triumphant manner on Palm |
| art though the ages of Jesus passing though the | | | | Sunday. The palm branch itself that was used |
| Golden Gate of Jerusalem, there is nothing | | | | was also symbolic. It was deeply rooted in Jewish |
| concrete in the Synoptic Gospels that would | | | | tradition and is mentioned in the old testament |
| support this. However, the reciprocal though and | | | | book of Leviticus (23:40). The passage says .And |
| why the belief is held that Jesus did pass though | | | | ye shall take you on the first day the fruit of |
| the Golden Gate is because as the Messiah this | | | | goodly trees, branches of palm-trees, and boughs |
| would be the only way He could enter Jerusalem. | | | | of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye |
| There are some scholars who want to say that | | | | shall rejoice before Jehovah your God seven |
| he entered though the southern part of the city | | | | days.. This addresses the use of palms as well as |
| that had the stairs that lead directly to Temple | | | | the seven days between Palm Sunday and the |
| Mount because that makes more sense. Though | | | | Resurrection/Easter Sunday. Its though this act of |
| history , there have always been reenactment of | | | | waving palms and making a path for Jesus with |
| the events of Jesus triumphant returned. The | | | | the Palms that Palm Sunday has gotten its name. |