Pussy Willow Sunday

Today was "Pussy Willow Sunday" - the name derived probably because palm trees do not grow here and pussy willows have taken their place in the symbolism of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. 

We were astonished by the number of cars parked along the streets and the crowds of people in front of the Orthodox and Greek Catholic churches.  These are not usual crowds for a Sunday, but are seen only 3 times a year - Christmas, Palm Sunday, and Easter.  Today people buy little bunches of pussy willows outside the churches and stand waiting for a priest to bless their twigs.  Some of the very religious will place these twigs in a special place in their homes devoted to the saints.  I have heard that some people will plant a blessed twig in each section of their garden to keep away anything that would harm their harvest and so that God would bless it.

In our church today, we did not follow the typical traditions of blessing pussy willow twigs.  We did not have an unusually large crowd in attendance.  But we did hear a sermon on how Jesus entered Jerusalem as King and people asked, "Who is this man?"  We too are left to ask, "Does Jesus reign in my life....or not?"  That is the question that has not been asked of these crowds waiting to have their pussy willows blessed. 

There is work yet to be done so that all people may say, "Hosanna!  Hosanna!  Jesus reign in our lives today!"