It will be a different Palm Sunday this year. But truth is things have been different for many years now.
There was once a time when, on Palm Sunday, churches were full and children would wave their palm branches and parade down the aisles to the shouts of loud Hosannas. Parents and Grandparents would proudly wave their own palm branches in joyful response.
Over the years, the parades got smaller and the voices became softer.
And now here we are – somewhere in Pandemic mode. Even if we could fill our churches, our limit is 25 people (registered, sanitized and safely seated).
Palm Sunday is in remembrance of Jesus’ joyful entry into the Holy City of Jerusalem. It was peaceful protest for peace and justice.
Jesus was a visionary. A man ahead of his time.
But, for many, Jesus’ vision has not been lost. People all over the world still cling to thoughts of peace and justice for all. And, it has spread to peace and justice for this beautiful earth. People still do care and fight for God’s vision, God’s kin-dom.
So, even if we cannot be together, let us not be afraid to stand in the places of those who believe as we pray these familiar words:
Create a clean heart in me, O God:
a humble heart,
a meek heart,
a peaceful heart,
a benevolent heart,
a devout heart
which does evil to no one,
which does not repay evil for evil,
but overcomes evil with good,
which loves you above all things,
thinks always about you,
speaks about you,
gives you thanks,
delights in hymns and spiritual songs,
and has its citizenship in heaven.
Amen.
Source: Girolamo Savonarola (21 September 1452 – 23 May 1498)
Italian Dominican friar from Ferrara and preacher active in Renaissance Florence.