Palm Sunday

Today is Palm Sunday.  Do you know what that is and why it's important?  It's the day Jesus entered Jerusalem.  (Matthew 21:1-9)

1And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

 2Saying unto them, Go into the village ^aover against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

 3And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

 4All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

 5Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy ^aKing cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

 6And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

 7^aAnd brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

 8And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

 9And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, ^aHosanna to the Son of David: ^bBlessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

 So you can see that the name of this Sunday before Easter is so named for the kind act the people did in strewing palm branches down for the donkey Jesus was riding on to enter into the city.  I found an article explaining a little more about the meaning of the palm branches called Palms for the Lord by Dorothy D. Warner.  She explains that the whole palm tree was used in the livelihood of the people of that time.  From a palm tree you could produce milk, butter, oil, sewing threads, strong rope, bowls, cooking utensils, tools, medicine, trinkets, and perfume.  The tree symbolized riches and necessities.

And here they are, laying the palm branches down to be trodden upon.  Like Nephi says, we must liken the scriptures to ourselves.  As they lay down the palm leaves as Jesus entered into the city, what do we lay down to let Jesus enter our hearts?  The answer of what to give up is different for everyone.  Chances are you are thinking of something right now. 

My friend is currently practicing lent.

lent/lent/ Noun: The period of 40 weekdays that in the Christian Church is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence.

 She has given up 'man made' sweets.  She tries to think of her commitment each time she is faced with a temptation.  She has attended more birthday parties, bridal showers, and other activities where sweets are served than the last few months combined.  But to her this is a way of refocusing and drawing herself to where she wants to be, and that is close to the Savior. 

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we don't practice lent, but we do have a fast Sunday every month where we give up not only two meals, but the money that we would have used to purchase those meals.  We try to refocus on what is really important, to make it not only a day of fasting, but of prayer also. 

Whatever your practice is of coming to the Lord, the important thing is that you come.

Enjoy Palm Sunday!