23rd Palm Sunday
Born and brought up in a Christian family, my parents were
sure to take me around on a procession on every palm Sunday. As staunch as
their belief in Christ and involvement in church was, I don't think I would've
gone one palm Sunday without the palm leaves, the commotion and the joy it
carried. Well not every tradition can be kept every year, right? Not every
birthday of every year can be celebrated. And so on. Here is the reason for a
break in the legacy we follow. The corona lockdown!
As I'm going to sit at home this palm Sunday, I was
wondering what I'll do. (And I hope you realise, what I've concluded to do) For
me, a palm Sunday was so much fun, before I really got behind to know the real
meaning. (Even after that it was fun😀) What made it fun was
that the entire church would get ready earlier than usual and go around the
locality waving palm leaves, singing songs, praying for people and so on. When
I was a kid, I used to dress up like an angel and form a part of the scene cast
on a Bullock cart. Trust me, everytime or at least most of the times, I broke
my wings while my friend was careful enough to preserve it😝.
Oh the amount of make up we used to wear, literally would wear me out. The
scariest thing was the bull in the Bullock cart, it was no happy car ride or an
airy bike ride, it used to be like a bumpy boat ride amidst a turbulent ocean.
My friend and I would help each other in balancing ourselves. No we didn't let
anyone between us, at least then. We were given buttermilk which over the years
was substituted by packed juices to help ourselves quench our thirst after the
long procession.
After the ariyatha vayasu(childhood ignorancy) stage had
passed and I started to understand about why things go the way they are, why we
do what we do. What went wrong for God to put a redemption plan, who God is and
all... Palm Sunday became different. I grew up too, so I no longer was invited
to be an angel but had to walk the dusty road with the other people in the
congregation. I always made sure I walked at least two metres before the bull
and for safety left someone behind and before me🤪. I used to search for a
good company each year and then walk the miles with them, in case I don't have
good company I rest beside my mom, walking all the way. During these
processions, I pray for families, I sing and I continue to pray for the
meaningful outcome of the day. This doesn't mean I won't have fun at all, but
for my temperament, I had little fun and seriously hoped that people would
understand the meaning of the day. Holding placards even when my hands pained
had become a changed duty instead of being dressed as an angel.
This palm Sunday, I can't do any of these and this has
brought me here. I thought I could explain to all of you reading, as to why
Christians hold a palm Sunday. What are they trying to say in conducting
something like a campaign.
I'll get to the four Bullock carts we usually have to tell
the story. Along with the walking Church mates these Bullock carts carry people
as in a frozen play scene.
BULLOCK CART NO 1: we express Christmas in the first cart.
The very scene will have Mary, the mother of Jesus and Joseph, a few Shepherds,
and yes us, a few angels, some animals too, since Jesus was born in a manger.
This typically represents that Christ came into the world adorned by angels,
born into a humble carpenters family, on a mission as great as saving the
World.
BULLOCK CART NO 2: The second cart will have the palm Sunday
scene replicated. Jesus while he was on the earth, was praised by the mouths of
humbled people while he was hated by a lot of other people. There were two
groups. All these people on the road acknowledged Jesus as their king, praised
him, sung songs for him and expressed their love for him. They used the leaves
that they found in Jerusalem at that time and we use the palm leaves we find in
our time. That's the reason behind Christians carrying palm leaves, walking
around the streets on a palm Sunday.
BULLOCK CART NO 3: Of all the carts, this one needs the most
make up and props. Props being the cross and extra make up for the look of
reality of blood that Jesus shed on the cross. The third cart has the scene of
crucifixion where Jesus holds a cross surrounded by Roman soldiers waiting to
crucify him. The group that in the previous cart praised Jesus watched as He
was crucified. As History goes these carts are in order too. The death of Jesus
on the cross is the reason for his birth on cart 1, to die for the sins of the
world was His mission as on cart 3. To pay for the price of the sin was His
passion and that's the message we carry on cart 3.
BULLOCK CART NO 4: Death is not the end in any victor's
story and so is it not in this. Jesus was crucified, dead and his body laid in
a tomb. On the third day Jesus rose again, once again defeating death once and
for all. He rose up to show the world He was beyond death and that death could
not defeat him. This we depict in cart 4.
On looking at these carts, the viewer may understand the
story we're trying to narrate. Though often the view of people, their laughs,
their talks, the palm leaves, the commotion, the juice and the white dressed
procession on the whole distracts the point we're trying to convey. This palm
Sunday I thought I could show people a closer view to the truth behind the
jolly jolly procession we broadcast.
On thinking about the day and all its memories and how hard
it will be for us to not go out on this palm Sunday, it saddens me but the joy
of the story must never leave my heart. The tradition must never cover the
truth. The display must not overrule the message. So it's not about the palm
leaves, not about the procession, not about the white dress, not even anything
about the fun. It's a reminder to praise my Saviour, to tell His story, the
story that saves the World.🌴😇
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