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Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday) begins a sharper focus upon the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the central event of the Christian faith, A prelude to the passion is the brief outburst of joy in the triumphal entry into Jerusalem with sung "hosannas.'' But the ride into the royal city led to death. The greater theme of the day moves us toward Jesus' passion; hence, the preferred name, ''Passion Sunday."
HOLY WEEK dates from the late fourth century. It should not be seen as a chain of separate events, but as a concentration upon the passion as a whole. We should not see Holy Week merely as an act of remembering, but as the occasion to appropriate into our lives all that Christ's death and resurrection means, and commit ourselves anew to Christ's service.
On MAUNDY THURSDAY the drama of the mystery of redemption begins to intensify. We recall that in humility Jesus kneeled before confused disciples and washed their feet. We are also reminded that on the same evening Jesus gave us the Lord's Supper. The name "maundy" is derived from the Latin word mandatum, meaning "a command." It refers to John 13:34, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another." These words stand in sharp contrast to the betrayal of Jesus that followed later that same night.
On GOOD FRIDAY we are confronted by the event of Jesus' death. We are moved to adoration of Christ, the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Good Friday provides a time for reflection on the significance of Christ's sacrifice of himself. But the austerity of Good Friday and
HOLY SATURDAY are the somber prelude to the exuberant joy of Christ's resurrection. Christ died, and was raised from death that through Him all might have life. Only the reality of resurrection can transform that Friday into Good Friday.
SCARLET the preferred color in traditional use during each day of Holy Week, although the
PURPLE of Lent might continue throughout the week. All paraments are sometimes removed at the end of the Maundy Thursday service, with the furnishings left bare until the First Service of Easter or the Paschal Vigil.
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