COVID- 19mars Palm Sunday in Lagos
CHRISTIANS in Lagos yesterday joined their counterparts across the world to celebrate Palm Sunday amidst pomp and fanfare.
Men and women, old and young held palm fronds in their hands while some used palm fronds to make crosses they wore as necklaces.
At Archbishop Vining Memorial Anglican Church, Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja, Diocese of Lagos West, one of the churches that celebrated the event, the Dean, Venerable Ebenezer Adewole, who presided over the service in his Palm Sunday message described celebration of Palm Sunday as one of the key events of passion of Christ that the church celebrates every year.
“There are three core lessons attached to Palm Sunday. Firstly, it is a reminder of the triumphant entry of our Lord Jesus to the city of Jerusalem.
“Secondly, as we waive the palm frond, we are involved in praises to Christ who is our King. Whatever we are doing today, we are praising Christ who reigns and lives forever. We are engaged in an act of praise.
“Thirdly, we are expressing our resolve to Christ that we are ready to carry our own cross to follow Him all through our lives,” he said. He further described Christ whose triumphant entry with fanfare into Jerusalem, as the Messiah, the Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace, Son of God, who came to empathise with mankind.
Although the Palm Sunday procession was restricted to
church premises due to the COVID- 19 pandemic, members of the church were full of life as everyone keyed into
the spirit of celebration, dancing and giving glory to God.
Meanwhile, at St. Peter’s An
glican Church, Oshodi, it was an unusual Palm Sunday celebration as members stated that COVID- 19 guidelines affected some activities which would have been observed.
According to a member of the church who identified herself as Mama Twins, “usually we would hold palm fronds in our hands and walk around some streets which signify Christ’s triumphant entry. But this time, it was in the church. We held the fronds, raised it up and it was blessed.”
Similarly, across the world, there was restriction in the attendance of the Mass Service. In St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, for a second consecutive year, attendance was tightly restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic, while Pope Francis offered mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter’s Basilica. He, however, urged Catholics to focus on the cross during holy week 2021.