Palm Sunday

Being in church was a mix of emotions today. The first emotion was joy, as a friend asked me to go to church with her. We attended mass at a different church in our parish than I normally attend. I like to do that every so often – attend mass at a different church. Often we tend to view weekly mass as a chore or item on our “to do” list. Visiting a different church or parish keeps things ‘new’ for me.

The second emotion was sadness. Palm Sunday always reminds me the sadness of Good Friday that is right around the corner. I can’t quit thinking about the suffering that Jesus is about to go through. However, that wasn’t the only sadness I was feeling today. I remembered that I didn’t attend Palm Sunday service last year. I remembered I didn’t attend Easter Sunday service last year. I remembered I didn’t attend mass hardly at all last year.

Over the past few weeks or so, people have been posting on social media all their memories from last year at this time. On Friday, March 13th, 2020 I was sent home from work, and I was told I would be working from home until further notice. Quarantine started at this time for many of us last year. As we approached the anniversary of this life change, we began to think about all of the things that we missed out on over the past 12 months. We began to remember the family gatherings we missed. We began to remember the sporting events we missed.

The weddings.
The funerals.
The concerts.
The community events.
The graduations.

This definitely has NOT been an anniversary that anyone wanted to celebrate.

Today as I sat in church and listened to the Passion, I began (once again as I do every year) to think about how grateful I am that Jesus accepted death on a cross to save me. Today, that led me to think about other things that I am grateful for.

I am grateful that I was able to continue working from home throughout the pandemic, and that I work for a company that supported me and provided any technology I needed.

I am grateful that I was quarantined in a beautiful home in a beautiful neighborhood.

I am grateful that although Mark and I did lose a family member to COVID, we have several family members that had it and survived.

Although hearing about Jesus’ crucifixion always brings me sorrow, I feel hope as I think about Easter Sunday. As I remembered all of the things that filled me with gratitude this morning, I was filled with another type of hope.

Ending the mass today with hope and gratitude was a wonderful day to start the day. Even though the last weekday this week is a sad one, the week will end with new life, hope, and joy.

Have a blessed Holy Week, and see you back here on Easter Sunday.