“Christians are called to follow Jesus’ example by humbling themselves, serving others, and obeying God, even when it is difficult”
TOMORROW, March 29, Filipino Catholics and some Christian denominations will mark Palm Sunday, or Linggo ng Palaspas among Tagalogs, Domingo Ramos among Ilokanos of northern Philippines or Bendita sa Lukay among Cebuano-speaking Filipinos.
It marks the start of Holy Week for Filipino Catholics, commemorating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and symbolizes welcoming Christ as King through blessed palm fronds which are later kept in homes for protection, bringing together themes of triumph, humility, and the anticipation of his Passion.
It is the final Sunday of Lent, leading into the most solemn period in the Catholic calendar and re-enacts Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy while demonstrating humility, rather than worldly power.
Catholic theologians say Palm Sunday marks the transition from the festive “Hosanna” shouts to the coming agony of the Passion and Crucifixion.
Traditionally woven, the intricate palm leaves are brought to church to be blessed and they symbolize victory, faith, and hope.
While many Filipinos consider the palm a protective amulet, the Catholic Church underlines the true meaning lies in the spiritual commitment to journey with Jesus through his Passion.
This means the faithful must move beyond superficial observance and enter into a deep, experiential solidarity with Christ in his suffering, surrender, and love.
This is, in the words of some religionists, an intentional, lifelong process of “taking up one’s cross,” wherein believers unite their own hardships to Christ’s, transforming pain into a pathway for spiritual growth, redemption, and intimacy with God.
In other words, this is a commitment to remain present with Jesus during the darkest moments of Holy Week, rather than rushing to the glory of the Resurrection, walking with him from the betrayal in Gethsemane to the humiliation of the cross, offering one’s own presence as a gift of love and loyalty.
Ecclesiastics and other scholars say the journey demands the faithful must set their face toward Jerusalem – symbolizing a determined commitment to do God’s will, even when it leads to personal cost, pain, or death.
It involves, according to them, dying to selfish desires, fears, and worldly ambitions, as described in Galatians 2:20 (“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me”).
This commitment involves uniting one’s personal struggles, pains, and trials to the Passion of Christ, allowing them to be transformed from pointless suffering into a participation in the redemption of the world.
The Lord’s Passion reveals the ultimate love of God; thus, journeying with him means reproducing that same sacrificial love in one’s life – serving others, forgiving as Christ did, and showing compassion to the marginalized.
The ultimate goal is to move through the darkness of the Passion with trust, ultimately experiencing the transformation and hope of the Resurrection, not just as a future event, but as a daily renewal of life.
Other scholars specializing in religious doctrines say the journey requires a persistent, unwavering commitment, not a casual one, that shapes one’s character, aligning it with the humility, obedience, and sacrificial love of Jesus.
The journey must align with Jesus’ character because the goal of the Christian life is to be conformed to the image of Jesus, developing the same humility, compassion, and patience – a quiet, persistent work of grace.
Unwavering obedience demonstrates that faith is alive, as “faith without works is dead” and moves a person beyond superficial faith to a deep, practical devotion.
Christians are called to follow Jesus’ example by humbling themselves, serving others, and obeying God, even when it is difficult.
This journey requires “dying to self” and choosing to love others in a way that is action-oriented and often costly. This matches the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.
(The author, active in the Student Catholic Action in college, is a freelance writer who writes orations for necrological services as well as theses and dissertations for graduate students.)
