Palm Sunday
Have you ever wondered why the cross, of all the possible symbols in the world, is the one symbol that represents the Christian faith? After all, it's a symbol of humiliation, suffering, and death. Why would a religious movement want to attach such grim associations to its identity? The cross is used in Christendom to represent two different spiritual powers that have been given to us as a result of Christ's death on the cross. 1) The cross symbolizes the power of forgiveness. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from every sin we have ever committed. We have become purified in God's eyes, completely forgiven of our trespasses through Jesus' sacrifice. 2) The cross symbolizes the power of reconciliation. When Christ died on the cross, He tore down the dividing wall of hostility that had separated the Jews from Gentiles. People who had once been bitter enemies could now become brothers and sisters in Christ. As people of the cross, we are forgiven people, but we also have the opportunity to forgive others. We must decide to daily take up our crosses and seek to live our lives with a self-sacrificing, self-giving love.