Of all the beautiful holy days of the Church, it seems the ones that attract the most attention is Palm Sunday and Ash Wednesday. Why? You get 'freebies'! I'm always amazed at how packed the church is on Ash Wednesday. People you have never seen before cram the pews. Until our pastor made a change, a great many of them left after they got their ashes and skipped Mass. Talk about being confused! We've actually had people come in before and after Mass and dip into the waiting ashes to bestow them on themselves. One friend said that some ethnic groups think they will have a year of bad luck if they don't get their ashes. What about the bad luck of not attending Mass on Sundays the rest of the year?
Palm Sunday also brings in the crowds. Every year, the pastor says one palm per person but people garner as many as they can get away with and while the celebration of the Mass is going on, they sit in their pews weaving the palms into crosses. Another point in their life missed!
It is no use fretting over these people. We can send a prayer their way and who knows - they might show up for Easter, too!
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