Passover : Palm Sunday celebrated in city’s churches

KARACHI:

Hundreds of Catholics relived Jesus Christ’s fateful ride into Jerusalem by waving palm fronds and walking in a procession around the grounds of St Anthony’s Church on McNeil Road near Cantt Station on Palm Sunday, the final Sunday before Easter.

At the head of the procession were altar boys who were holding up a beautiful palm frond-covered cross.

Another procession was led by Pastor Yousuf Fazal at St Andrew’s Church. This day of solemnity falls on the Sunday before Easter and marks the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, five days before his death on the cross.

Rev Father Clifford Rodericks reminded the faithful that Jesus’s ride on a donkey was the fulfilment of a prophecy in the Old Testament of how an earthly king “meek and riding on a [donkey], and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden” would come to his people in Jerusalem. “Jesus is hailed as a king by his people,” Fr. Clifford told the congregation. On Palm Sunday, the Passion of the Christ is read out but only until the moment Jesus’s body was kept in the sepulchre. “The Passion of Christ is relived every day in our lives … every time we face a cross in our lives, and without it there would be no faith, no Christians,” explained Fr. Clifford.

Sylvia Qaisar explained the historic significance of the day. “Christ entered Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover feast. To show their respect, the men and women of Jerusalem lay their cloaks and palm leaves on the ground, and carpeted his path. At the church, today, we organise a similar procession while holding palm leaves.”

Aneem Yusuf said she felt happy on this day as she feels so much closer to God. “We’re taught that Jesus made so many sacrifices for us and took all our sins upon himself. That makes me feel so much lighter and full of joy.”

Colonel Albert Naseem explained that when Christ had entered Jerusalem, the people welcomed him with slogans of “the king of the Heavens is here”.

“Just like the people of Israel welcomed him that day, we welcome Christ into our hearts and homes on this day,” explained Professor Nuzhat.

Palm Sunday is followed by Holy Week that leads up to Good Friday.

With additional input from Waseem Mughal

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th,  2011.