Last Sunday, the Eastern Christians celebrated Palm Sunday (Shaanin Sunday), which is also called the Feast of Lord Christ’s Entry to Jerusalem, the Coptic Church celebrates it before the Passover. Lord Christ’s entry to Jerusalem was encompassed by impressive reception from simple people, among whom Christ went about, teaching them and doing good and miracles. He fed thousands with few loaves of bread and small fishes, He healed many; the blind saw, the lame walked, the deaf heard, even the dead rose alive, as happened with the son of Nain’s widow, the centurion’s daughter and Lazarus who was raised four days after his death. It has been stated: “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them”
Thus, Lord Christ entered in a great procession, as all the city was moved, His disciples and the people greeted him as a king: They raised the palm fronds and the branches of the trees, some of them spread their clothes on the road before Him, crying out for Him like relentless trumpets: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” As for the Lord Christ, He proceeded in unique and wondrous modesty, riding a donkey at one time and the colt of a donkey at other times, declaring that true greatness lies in love and goodness, neither in power nor authority. The chief priests and scribes, who possessed the authority and grandeur, agitatedly, asked Him to silence the cries of people and children.
“Shaanin” is derived from the Aramaic word “Hoshaana” (Hosanna in Greek which means “Save us”) It is a disyllabic word: “Hoshaa” which means “save or deliver” and “Na” which indicates the severe need; so the full meaning is “Save now”. The people’s call to Christ to become their king and to save them resounded, unaware that His kingdom is not earthly, but a heavenly kingdom. He did not come to resist the Roman occupation under which burden they were suffering, but rather to offer them the deepest salvation; their spiritual salvation, and to teach them about the life of righteousness, love and holiness. Some had understood and accepted His message, while others had a dark insight and rejected it.
The life of Lord Christ is the bright sun of righteousness in our world, carrying in its rays the message of God’s love to man, and His desire for his salvation. He- blessed be His name: “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Likewise, Lord Christ offered mankind the royal road to the heavenly kingdom through love: man’s love for God, and man’s love for his neighbors. We see a lawyer asking Him a question testing Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Rather, He taught that true love abounds to the level of loving one’s enemies: “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Such love shall lead the world to reconciliation and peace with God, oneself and others, a peace that everyone seeks by all methods and means, it will only be reached through love and goodness towards every person. Palm Sunday delivers a message of love and goodness for everyone, for they are the true strength that shines bright over life.
Celebrating Palm Sunday is followed by getting prepared to the Holy Week, the Great Week, the Passover Week, or the Pascha Week. Pascha is an Aramaic word equivalent to “Passing” in Arabic and “Passover” in Hebrew. Along this week, Christians follow the steps of Lord Christ and His teachings until His crucifixion, burial and resurrection. And … Stories never end in beautiful Egypt!
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
