Palm Sunday-Passion Sunday

The Sunday before Easter is known as Palm Sunday. It is the beginning of Holy Week. It celebrates Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. Great crowds of people gathered in the streets waving palm branches to welcome Him. The people shouted "Hosanna" and laid their cloaks and palm branches from the nearby trees in His path.

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' “ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read," 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?" And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Jesus shows His love for us in His Passion and Death.

We also call Palm Sunday- Passion Sunday. We call it Passion Sunday because Jesus loved us so much that He willingly suffered and died for us. We hear the Passion of Jesus, the suffering and the pain that He endured for us.

Think of someone who loves you very much. Picture that person hugging you, their arms are around you as they hold you tight, giving you a good, loving hug. What a lovely feeling! You feel so special and loved and safe in their arms!

Jesus loves us so very much! He suffered and died for you and for me because He loves us, all for love of us! He stretched out His arms on the cross to show us how much He loved us!

You are very special, if you were the only person in the whole world, Jesus would have died just for you. Picture Jesus putting His arms out and hugging you, enjoy this embrace. Tell Jesus how much you love Him and thank Him for all He did and continues to do for you.