Passion or Palms

Did you know they changed its name? Somewhere, at sometime, someone changed the name of Palm Sunday. And no one told us, let alone asked our permission. It just happened. Maybe it started with one person and just grew from there. If you are past a certain age, no matter what other people may do or say, its still Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week.
I thought it happened without some of us knowing, or caring. It is now called by many and probably most, Passion Sunday. We all know about the palms. It’s the Sunday in the Christian calendar where everyone comes to church to be greeted by palm branches. The children walk around the outside of the church and wave them around. We then, soak them and begin the process of bending and folding them into miniature crosses. I caught you seeing it in your minds eye.
But why the change? What makes our world today look at this Sunday differently? Well . . . I did the research and sorry to say, it happened way back before 1960 with three Popes who came up with something new. Or maybe something old. It had something to do with three Catholic Popes changing the designation. Well, it appears that it has taken Protestants a while to catch on. Today in the Roman Church it is actually called the Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Now that we are totally confused, let me conclude with, it is the Sunday that begins the celebration of Passion Week.
If you are confused, don’t be. Because what is most important is that we know the Passion of Christ began with palm branches cut from the trees and spread on the streets to Red Carpet His coming and ends with His resurrection. Take time this week to sit and read the whole passage for yourself. It’s found in Luke 22:14 - 23:56. A very rich and long passage that we so often divide up into many parts. It needs our attention in its totality. It is a celebration of what Christ did for us. Something we could never do for ourselves. He came with one purpose and He stated it this way, “I have come to seek and save that which was lost.” Lost from God in our sin and dismay. No mater what they call it, this coming Sunday we celebrate Christ came into the city of Jerusalem. I wonder, do we celebrate His coming into our lives?
Something to think about.
Rob