Red

It was Palm Sunday last weekend. Liturgically, the beginning of Holy Week in the Catholic Church. And traditionally, Catholics wear red on Palm Sunday.

Red is definitely not the best color on me. I’m more of a “spring” color person – light yellows, blues and lavender seem to complement my skin tone best. Or at least that’s what a color consultant told me years ago. But Palm Sunday I wore a very bright red shirt to Mass. I have two – the one I wore a couple of days ago is going away. It doesn’t fit anymore, in both size and color. It seems that I’m shrinking.

Why red on Palm Sunday?

It’s an observance. A remembrance. Christ was dressed in a crimson robe as a mockery – we dress in red to remember.

And Palm Sunday, technically in the Catholic Church, Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, is also a Mass celebrated with incense. A ritual cleansing, as it were. Problem – I’m allergic. And we know a priest who is allergic as well. Incense is used three times during Palm Sunday Mass, and within a minute my eyes were swollen and I was coughing. But my take on it was that I could endure that for 90 minutes. Our Lord endured much worse. Even unto death.

I read a devotional earlier today, and will quote this one part that really hit home with me:

“It is not easy to live a Christian life. People who remain faithful to the Lord are often tried and tested. However, no matter how difficult life may be, we must never give up for we know we have a God who walks with us and who has already walked the way of the cross for our salvation. As we meditate on the passion of Christ, let us keep in mind that glory awaits those who will be humble and meek like the Lord Jesus.”

We would rather not be traveling during Holy Week, but we must. But it will give us the opportunity to be with family and friends during the Easter weekend. For this we are thankful.

A blessed Easter to all!