Every spring, as the Christian world turns its eyes toward Easter, the season of Lent reaches a pivotal moment: Palm Sunday. In the Anglican tradition, this day marks the beginning of Holy Week, a sacred time of reflection on Christ’s final days, his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and his journey to the cross. Rooted in Scripture and enriched by centuries of liturgical practice, Palm Sunday weaves together joy and sorrow, celebration and solemnity. Learn more below.
The Dual Nature of Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is a day of contrasts. It begins with the exuberant celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, hailed as a king, and ends with the shadow of the cross looming large. The liturgy captures this duality by structuring the liturgy in two parts: the “Liturgy of the Palms” and the “Liturgy of the Passion”. This structure reflects the Gospel accounts—particularly Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-40, and John 12:12-19—where Jesus rides into the city on a donkey, greeted by crowds waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Yet, within days, those cries of praise turn to “Crucify him!” The Anglican observance invites worshippers to enter this narrative fully, both as participants in the triumph and as witnesses to the suffering that follows.
The Liturgy of the Palms: A Triumphal Entry
The service often begins outside the church or in a designated space, where the congregation gathers to hear the Gospel reading of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. This is typically Matthew 21:1-11 in Year A, Mark 11:1-11 in Year B, or Luke 19:28-40 in Year C of the lectionary cycle. The priest blesses the palm branches—symbols of victory and royalty in the ancient world—saying, “Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace.” This prayer sets the tone, reminding the faithful that the triumph of Palm Sunday is inseparable from the cross.
Following the blessing, the congregation processes into the church, often waving palms and singing hymns like “All Glory, Laud, and Honor,” a 9th-century hymn by Theodulf of Orléans that remains a staple in Anglican worship. The procession mirrors the crowd’s welcome of Jesus, inviting worshippers to imagine themselves among the throng.
The Liturgy of the Passion: A Turn Toward the Cross
The mood shifts dramatically as the service transitions to the “Liturgy of the Passion”. The ACNA BCP 2019 appoints the Passion Gospel—Matthew 26:14-27:66 (Year A), Mark 14:1-15:47 (Year B), or Luke 22:14-23:56 (Year C)—to be read aloud, often in a dramatic form with multiple readers taking the roles of Jesus, Pilate, the crowd, and the narrator. This is no mere recounting of events; it is a liturgical act that draws the congregation into the story. In many Anglican churches, the custom is to sit for the reading until Jesus reaches Golgotha, then stand in reverent silence, and sit or kneel at the point of his death, embodying the weight of his sacrifice.
Theological Significance: Kingship and Sacrifice
In the Anglican tradition, Palm Sunday is rich with theological meaning. Jesus’ entry on a donkey fulfills Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! … Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey.” This is not the arrival of a conquering warrior but a humble king, whose victory comes through self-giving love. The palms, once symbols of earthly triumph, are reframed as signs of Christ’s spiritual reign—a reign that subverts worldly power and embraces the marginalized.
Yet, the day’s focus on the Passion reveals that this kingship is costly. The ACNA BCP 2019 underscores this in its selection of Old Testament readings, such as Isaiah 50:4-9a, which speaks of the Suffering Servant, and Psalm 31:9-16, a cry of anguish that foreshadows Jesus’ own desolation. The Epistle, Philippians 2:5-11, ties it all together, proclaiming Christ’s humility and exaltation: “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him.” For Anglicans, Palm Sunday is a microcosm of the gospel: Christ’s glory and his suffering are two sides of the same coin.
Living Palm Sunday Today
Palm Sunday in the Anglican tradition is not just a historical reenactment; it is a call to action. It invites worshippers to take up their own crosses, to walk with Jesus in a world still marked by brokenness. The palms blessed on this day are often kept and burned to create ashes for the following year’s Ash Wednesday, a tangible reminder of the journey from triumph to repentance and back to resurrection.
For modern Anglicans, this day challenges complacency. The same crowd that shouted “Hosanna!” soon demanded Jesus’ death—prompting reflection on our own fickleness. Do we honor Christ as King only when it suits us? Are we willing to follow him to the cross? These questions linger as the palms fade and Holy Week unfolds.
Conclusion
Palm Sunday, as celebrated in the Anglican tradition, is a profound entry into the mystery of Christ’s passion. It begins with a procession of praise and ends in the silence of sacrifice, weaving together joy and sorrow in a way that prepares the heart for Easter. Whether waving a palm branch or listening to the Passion, worshippers are invited to see themselves in the story—not as bystanders, but as disciples called to follow the humble King. As the church moves through Holy Week, Palm Sunday stands as a threshold, a moment to proclaim “Hosanna!” while bracing for the cry of “It is finished.” In this tension lies its enduring power.
Last Updated: 04/07/2025 by Charlie Vensel
What Is Palm Sunday?
The Dual Nature of Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is a day of contrasts. It begins with the exuberant celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, hailed as a king, and ends with the shadow of the cross looming large. The liturgy captures this duality by structuring the liturgy in two parts: the “Liturgy of the Palms” and the “Liturgy of the Passion”. This structure reflects the Gospel accounts—particularly Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-40, and John 12:12-19—where Jesus rides into the city on a donkey, greeted by crowds waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Yet, within days, those cries of praise turn to “Crucify him!” The Anglican observance invites worshippers to enter this narrative fully, both as participants in the triumph and as witnesses to the suffering that follows.
The Liturgy of the Palms: A Triumphal Entry
The service often begins outside the church or in a designated space, where the congregation gathers to hear the Gospel reading of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. This is typically Matthew 21:1-11 in Year A, Mark 11:1-11 in Year B, or Luke 19:28-40 in Year C of the lectionary cycle. The priest blesses the palm branches—symbols of victory and royalty in the ancient world—saying, “Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace.” This prayer sets the tone, reminding the faithful that the triumph of Palm Sunday is inseparable from the cross.
Following the blessing, the congregation processes into the church, often waving palms and singing hymns like “All Glory, Laud, and Honor,” a 9th-century hymn by Theodulf of Orléans that remains a staple in Anglican worship. The procession mirrors the crowd’s welcome of Jesus, inviting worshippers to imagine themselves among the throng.
The Liturgy of the Passion: A Turn Toward the Cross
The mood shifts dramatically as the service transitions to the “Liturgy of the Passion”. The ACNA BCP 2019 appoints the Passion Gospel—Matthew 26:14-27:66 (Year A), Mark 14:1-15:47 (Year B), or Luke 22:14-23:56 (Year C)—to be read aloud, often in a dramatic form with multiple readers taking the roles of Jesus, Pilate, the crowd, and the narrator. This is no mere recounting of events; it is a liturgical act that draws the congregation into the story. In many Anglican churches, the custom is to sit for the reading until Jesus reaches Golgotha, then stand in reverent silence, and sit or kneel at the point of his death, embodying the weight of his sacrifice.
Theological Significance: Kingship and Sacrifice
In the Anglican tradition, Palm Sunday is rich with theological meaning. Jesus’ entry on a donkey fulfills Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! … Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey.” This is not the arrival of a conquering warrior but a humble king, whose victory comes through self-giving love. The palms, once symbols of earthly triumph, are reframed as signs of Christ’s spiritual reign—a reign that subverts worldly power and embraces the marginalized.
Yet, the day’s focus on the Passion reveals that this kingship is costly. The ACNA BCP 2019 underscores this in its selection of Old Testament readings, such as Isaiah 50:4-9a, which speaks of the Suffering Servant, and Psalm 31:9-16, a cry of anguish that foreshadows Jesus’ own desolation. The Epistle, Philippians 2:5-11, ties it all together, proclaiming Christ’s humility and exaltation: “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him.” For Anglicans, Palm Sunday is a microcosm of the gospel: Christ’s glory and his suffering are two sides of the same coin.
Living Palm Sunday Today
Palm Sunday in the Anglican tradition is not just a historical reenactment; it is a call to action. It invites worshippers to take up their own crosses, to walk with Jesus in a world still marked by brokenness. The palms blessed on this day are often kept and burned to create ashes for the following year’s Ash Wednesday, a tangible reminder of the journey from triumph to repentance and back to resurrection.
For modern Anglicans, this day challenges complacency. The same crowd that shouted “Hosanna!” soon demanded Jesus’ death—prompting reflection on our own fickleness. Do we honor Christ as King only when it suits us? Are we willing to follow him to the cross? These questions linger as the palms fade and Holy Week unfolds.
Conclusion
Palm Sunday, as celebrated in the Anglican tradition, is a profound entry into the mystery of Christ’s passion. It begins with a procession of praise and ends in the silence of sacrifice, weaving together joy and sorrow in a way that prepares the heart for Easter. Whether waving a palm branch or listening to the Passion, worshippers are invited to see themselves in the story—not as bystanders, but as disciples called to follow the humble King. As the church moves through Holy Week, Palm Sunday stands as a threshold, a moment to proclaim “Hosanna!” while bracing for the cry of “It is finished.” In this tension lies its enduring power.
Category: Anglicanism Tags: Anglicanism 101, BCP, Holy Week, Lent, Palm Sunday