Where does the tradition of using burned palm branches for Ash Wednesday come from?
In many churches, palm branches are used on Palm Sunday to remind us how Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem with shouts of “Hosanna!” In the Catholic Church, these palm branches would be blessed and then would need to either be burned or buried instead of just discarded. Other churches have continued this practice of burning the palm branches to use for Ash Wednesday as a reminder of our sin, our repentance, and what Jesus rode into Jerusalem to do for us. He entered the city knowing that He would die so that we might not remain dead in our sins.
Where does the word prodigal come from?
The Latin Vulgate Bible was the first to use the word prodigus to describe the son who squanders his early inheritance in Luke 15:11-32. This word can be translated as “extravagant.” German translations used the word “lost” instead to go along with the “lost” theme of the preceding parables in Luke 15. On March 30, Pastor Eggold’s message, “The Prodigal Father,” takes the word “prodigal” and applies it to the father instead of the son. Watch the program to reflect on the extravagant love our Heavenly Father has for us.
What is St. Joseph, Guardian of Jesus day?
St. Joseph, Guardian of Jesus day is celebrated on March 19. As we look at the life of Jesus in the Bible, we have much more information on Mary than we do Joseph. Yet, he does play an important role as a family protector while Jesus was a boy. For reflection, go to Matthew 1-2. Joseph listened to the angel and decided not to divorce Mary, but instead to raise up this child, born of the Holy Spirit. We see Joseph’s role as protector play out with the family flight to Egypt to escape the brutality of King Herod. After Herod died, Joseph received another message from an angel that it was safe to return to Israel. But when Joseph heard that Archelaus (who was also brutal) was ruling in place of his father Herod, he feared for his family. He listened to God again to take his family to Galilee. Men aren’t always the best listeners, but we see that Joseph, again and again, changed course because he listened to what God would have him do to protect his family. We can all find inspiration in Joseph’s story of faithfulness to carry out our own roles in a way that gives glory to our Heavenly Father.