Are you ready to wave some palms this Sunday?  

That’s what those first followers of Jesus waved when he arrived in Jerusalem so long ago.  The scripture says that they “cut” the branches as Jesus was riding along.  In other words, it was a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing.  The first Palm Sunday wasn’t thought out with a parade route and mass-produced banners and flags.  Instead, the people were so excited by this impromptu event that they grabbed whatever they could find to create a celebration of Jesus’ arrival.

How do you celebrate the arrival of Jesus in your life?  Do you celebrate it at all?  I ask because he does arrive—whether you recognize it or not—each and every day.  And he comes with a twofold message.

First, he arrives in your every-day with restoration, healing, and comfort.  He comes to say: “Yes, you are absolutely facing hurts, misgivings, hardship and uncertainty.  No doubt about it.  But it is made all the worse when you forget that I’m with you.  God’s with you and I’ll make sure you see things through to a resurrection day.”

Second, he arrives in your every-day to shake things up.  He comes to say: “Look at the state of things!  It doesn’t have to be this way.  God desires a much brighter world and a much brighter life for you!  It’s time to turn things around.  It’s time to shake things up.  What needs to go?  What needs to be improved?  The time for sitting around is over!  Let’s get involved!  Let’s get busy!”

Both of these messages are worth celebrating.  We need God’s assurance and comfort and we need God’s energy and nudge to improve our lives and our world. 

I hope you grab something around you every morning to celebrate the arrival of Jesus in your day.  If you can’t find anything handy, come on Sunday.  We’ll have palms!

See you in church,

–Rev. Dominic