| This weekend, the Christian world will mark Palm Sunday and the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. In a normal year, there are large crowds retracing his route over the Mount of Olives in the Palm Sunday procession. The march is very colorful, with participants waving palm branches and singing hymns. Most are traditional Christians, including many local Arab Christians along with pilgrims from dozens of nations abroad.
But this year, like so many other public events at this time, the Palm Sunday procession has been shelved due to the Coronavirus threat. Planes cannot bring pilgrims to the Holy Land, and both Israel and the Palestinian Authority are cooperating (perhaps more closely than ever) to keep all local residents at home to prevent the spread of the virus.
But this should not prevent us from celebrating in our hearts this key moment in the life of Jesus. It has so much meaning and symbolism, and helps us understand better what happened just days later in the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus. It is part of the wonder and passion of Christ, who gave his life that we might live, and this is a message we all need in this trying hour. |
