Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, is the beginning of Holy Week.  When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on this day we call "Palm Sunday",   on a colt-a colt on which no one had ever ridden before, people threw their coats in front of Him as a sign of honour. Soon large crowds followed Jesus waving palm branches:

"...the great crowd that had come for the Feast 

heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

'Hosanna!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!~ 

Blessed is the King of Israel!'"

(from John 12:12-13)

Today I was reminded of how we spent the Palm Sunday weekend four years ago.  We had flown into Mexico to visit our kids who had just moved to the city of Torreon for their work.  A majestic landmark and tourist attraction which can be easily seen from the air as you fly in, is the "Jesus statue", second only in size to the one in Rio de Janeiro.  Situated on possibly the highest point in the city, nothing prepared me for the overwhelming emotions that gripped me upon first seeing this huge statue from close-up with arms extended, symbolically welcoming one and all into His fold of love.

Because it was this particular weekend, many people had made their way up to visit this shrine picking up sheaves of palm branches which vendors were selling along the way.  We had to walk up quite a distance because of the traffic.  And so when I heard sacred choral music majestically crescendoing as we rounded the corner to the Catholic Church that is connected with this site, I was taken aback at the image and the personal meaning it had for me...Jesus welcomed me here with open arms.  It was a special sacred moment for me.  I am so thankful to the Lord for His supreme sacrifice which I want to focus on this week. I am also so thankful that I had the opportunity to visit this site.