The Sunday of the Passion

[Palm Sunday]

Modern reformers of the church calendar suggest that the observance of the passion of Christ be limited to Holy Week instead of extending it through the Lenten season. Because of this emphasis, the Sunday before Easter is designated the "Sunday of the Passion" rather than "Palm Sunday." The story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem might appropriately be used as part of the processional on Passion Sunday, but the focus of the day should be on the inauguration of the week of suffering of our Lord.

The sermon-drama for the Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday) is not based upon any specific biblical text, although it has its setting on the day of the processional entry into Jerusalem. It does develop in dramatic form our inability to grasp the possibility of suf…