The most recent communication from the Archdiocese of New York advises:
Mindful of everyone’s health, and for the sake of uniformity, palms are not to be distributed to the faithful at this time. They may be blessed at a later date using the form of blessing outside of Mass. Do not place palms outside church for people to come and pick up. We will announce the date of distribution as time goes on.
Msgr Berardi Article
The story which begins on Palm Sunday is basically a human drama; it is our drama. This is painfully true this Palm Sunday as we continue to be confronted with the fragility of our lives brought on by the worldwide outbreak of coronavirus. As Jesus enters into his final week, he takes humanity with him and continues to do so every Easter. We are not just remembering an historical event that happened over two thousand years ago. Perhaps more than ever before we are celebrating and taking part in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as it happens today to us and for us.
His entry in to the city begins on a huge wave of optimism, joy and hope. While this Sunday we cannot gather together to celebrate the entrance of Christ to Jerusalem we can all draw closer to one another in love for him and in a unique manner this year we can rediscover the things that truly matter in our lives. As we recall that the people lined the streets of Jerusalem; they waved palms, they put their cloaks and garments on the ground and they shouted out his name. This was an ancient Roman tradition used to welcome soldiers and armies home after their success in battle. The crowd welcome Jesus in a similar way as they shout out, Hosanna, Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. We similarly must call out to our Lord in our fear, anxiety and feelings of isolation. We must feel his healing power and continue to journey with him to the Cross and ultimately to the victory of the Resurrection.
Yet, how quickly the crowd changed and turned on Jesus. The same people who were happy to welcome him with shouts of joy, will soon begin to shout ‘Crucify him, Crucify him.’ Jesus is even betrayed and denied by his closet friends. The rest of them run and desert him. He is left alone.
There is a real danger that we can get up and lost in celebrating Palm Sunday and indeed the whole of Holy week. If we are not careful we can lose sight of what we remembering, celebrating and taking part in. As well as celebrating this great week with dignity and reverence, we also need to ask ourselves what it is all about and what it means to each to us.
We must ask ourselves: where am I in the unfolding drama that begins on Palm Sunday and plays out over Holy Week and which climaxes on Easter? Where am I as Jesus passes by on the donkey? Am I one of the crowd shouting out his name? Am I like Judas in any way? When have I betrayed others or Jesus? When like Peter, have I denied knowing Jesus? Am I like Pilate when I judge and condemn others? How am I like Simon or Veronica who help Jesus in his time of need? Having stood with the crowd shouting out his name and welcoming Jesus, will I stand with the same people spitting out insults as I shout ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’
As we celebrate Palm Sunday and begin our journey through Holy Week, we are called to ask ourselves who and where we are in the crowd. This is a week to pray and then decide what kind of followers of Christ we are and are going to be.
During this unfamiliar way of keeping this week of prayer, but now with the lack of liturgies and ceremonies, let us not lose sight of what we are remembering, celebrating and talking part in. Jesus is our beacon of hope and we need to continue to follow him through the pain and suffering and so rise with him on Easter.
Do I welcome Jesus into my heart? Am I ready to surrender my life to Him during this Holy Week and welcome Him into all areas of my life as my Lord and Savior, singing “Hosanna”? Today, although we will not hold the palms in our hands, let us recall in our hearts and mind that the palms remind us that Christ is the King of our families, that Christ is the King of our hearts and that Christ is the only true answer to our quest for happiness and meaning in our lives. And if we do proclaim Christ as our King, let us try to make time for Him in our daily life; let us be reminded that He is the One with Whom we will be spending eternity. Let us be reminded further that our careers, our education, our finances, our homes, all of the basic material needs in our lives are only temporary. Let us prioritize and place Christ the King as the primary concern in our lives. It is only when we have done this that we will find true peace and happiness in our confused and complex world.
As we begin this most holy of weeks, may Jesus be our constant companion. May we enter in the mystery of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection with faith and hope.
Msgr. Berardi