2021-13 Palm Sunday
Today is the Sunday before Easter, which makes it Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week that commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. This event is mentioned in all four gospels in the New Testament.
In many churches today, Palm Sunday is celebrated by the blessing and distribution of branches that represent the palm branches that the crowd used as Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem. One tradition is for some of the churches to collect the palms after they are used for Palm Sunday and ritually burn them on Shrove Tuesday and then use the ashes on the following day, Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent. Eventually leading to Resurrection Sunday, which we celebrate as Easter.
As many of you celebrate this week, we invite all, no matter what religion or belief you have, to pause and reflect on those things that you are grateful for. Reflect on those who have help you in a time of need. Reflect how you personally have been there for someone who needed help.
In the well-known story, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, we encounter a world that has been enchanted by the evil White Witch. She has placed Narnia in a constant winter with no sight of Christmas. Upon the arrival of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy; Aslan returns to Narnia along with Father Christmas. The Witch’s spell of “always winter and never Christmas” has ended. During this time, Edmund has been enchanted by the Witch and is under her power. Edmund is rescued, but the Witch is demanding his life as a traitor and must be put to death. Aslan sees that in order to fulfil the law of Narnia, and keep Edmund alive, he must step in and offer himself to the Witch in Edmunds place. The Witch is very pleased with this compromise and Aslan is killed. The following morning, he has risen from the dead.
Back to the current time and world. As the snow starts to melt, the flowers start to spout, and the trees begin to bud. Let us all reflect on the renewal and rebirth of spring as we come out of our own personal winters.