Not the usual Pomp on this Palm Sunday

Growing up, I was always so thrilled for the start of Holy Week on Palm Sunday. The readings, the story of the shouts of praise and hosannas, the palms, and the pomp. I loved it because Palm Sunday led to Easter Sunday when I would get to wear my new Easter ensemble. attend the Easter egg hunt in the afternoon and amidst it all -- be overjoyed because of the resurrection of Jesus. Up from the grave He arose!

Then, enters 2020’s Palm Sunday – one like we would have never imagined. We are confined to our homes. No way we could be a thronging crowd waving our palm branches today! We don’t have a choice. My pastor sent out a message to us that recalled Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem where people cut branches from palm trees, laid them across Jesus’ path and waved them in the air as he entered Jerusalem the week before his death. He went on to tell us that in ancient times palms symbolized goodness, well-being, grandeur, and victory. I like to think they still mean that to us today. My pastor went on to ask us to hang some greenery or a drawing of a palm on the doors of our homes in celebration of this Palm Sunday because we are still proclaiming God’s goodness and victory.

I had already hung my Easter wreath. This year, I included the picture of Jesus – Divine Mercy – that represents the blood and water poured out for us on Calvary – with the words: “Jesus, I trust in You”. That is my way of applying the blood of Jesus on the doorposts of my home for protection as the Israelites did the night the death angel struck all the Egyptians’ homes. I profess that “I am covered by the blood of Jesus, and "no evil shall befall me or plague come near my dwelling.” (Psalm 91:10).

Here we are in a set of entirely new circumstances. Today, the crowds were thronging and their cheers were proclaiming “Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest.” BTW, “hosanna” means “Save us now!” Doesn’t that make us want to raise our praises today and shout “Hosanna in the highest?” If ever we needed saving -- it is today. Not just from this pandemic but saving us from our failures, our doubts, fears, and unbelief.

It doesn’t matter if we’re in our churches this Palm Sunday – processing in and waving our palm branches, or we have a palm branch likeness on our front doors or if we are confined to a prison cell, a hospital room, a tent or a palace, we can stand silent with depths of emotion or shout it from our rooftops -- "We praise You and thank You, our Savior and Lord!" I rejoice today because of such love from my Savior. Our Lord is no longer riding a donkey facing a horrific death. He is our risen Lord and Savior, soon coming on a white horse as our King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Revelation 19:11-16)

Let's symbolically wave our palm branches today -- right in the midst of this pandemic crisis -- knowing that God is in control. He knows all the things that concern us, disturb us and have disrupted our plans. God knows the things we have dreamed about and are now grieving about as we let them go. He takes all of that into account as He executes His plan in the present moment. All we need to do about it today is proclaim: "Hosanna in the Highest, blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord." Lord, save us!

Holy Week -- a Time for Remembering

Just look at those amazing signs of Spring that celebrate this marvelous Holy Week aka Passion Week, the week just before Easter. Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the sacred day that commemorates the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, where He rode into town on a donkey as crowds of people joyfully lauded him and spread out palm branches in his path to honor his kingship. Unfortunately, those same crowds would, later in this same week, cry out “Crucify Him!” This is the week of remembering His love and great sacrifice for you and me.

On Palm Sunday, our congregation, symbolic of those crowds in Jerusalem, meets together in our Fellowship Hall and then we all process into the sanctuary carrying our palm branches as we sing praises to our Lord. This day marked the start of Christ's journey to the cross, and ultimately, His glorious resurrection. The very least we can do this week, in the midst of our daily activities, routines and responsibilities, is to make room for the magnitude of what this week means to us.

We ponder with heart-felt gratitude He Who knew no sin, He Who loved so unconditionally, He who paid the price for our salvation and enable us to live a life of abundance, and He Who offers live-everlasting to each of us. Over 2000 years ago, He went the distance and finished what His Father set out for Him to do. His arms are still open wide for us to come to Him, to know Him, to receive Him and for us to live our lives in honor of such great sacrifice.

I snapped these photos as I left Inverness Village where a dear friend is in Skilled Nursing care there. I took her one of the palm branches from the service earlier, and I also took her communion. She cried when she saw the palm branch. I cried with her. Though she couldn’t be at the service, she remembered what this day meant, and humbly, she embraced receiving the Body of Christ in communion. As I left her and witnessed the beauty of this Spring day that represents newness of life, I also rejoiced because of such love from my Savior. Our Lord is no longer riding a donkey facing a horrific death. He is our risen Lord and Savior, soon coming on a white horse as our King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Revelation 19:11-16).

"You were worth dying for." -- Jesus