SEMANA SANTA, HOLY WEEK



Procession of young people in Nuevo Progreso reinact the first Palm Sunday.

 A large crowd was in the city for Passover. They took palm branches and went out in the street and shouted, "Hosanna! God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! God bless the King of Israel!" A donkey was led down the busy street, covered with a blanket. And as in the Scriptures, they sang, "People rejoice, your King is coming!" (From John 12:12-14)

But it wasn't 2,000 years ago in the city of Jerusalem. It was Nuevo Progreso, Mexico on April 13, 2014 and all traffic was stopped by a procession of people carrying palm branches and singing praises to the Lord. The old long eared donkey walked slowly alongside a man dressed as Jesus. Several others walked with him and many followed, playing musical instruments and singing.

People on the sidewalks turned to gaze at the procession while others ignored them. Street vendors waited patiently for the group to pass so they could get back to their business of selling food to tourists. But mostly it was business as usual in the crowded downtown area of Nuevo Progreso. Most people just weren't interested.

The week between Palm Sunday and Easter is called Semana Santa or Holy Week. It's a time when many people in Mexico take vacations and some travel to the border and into Texas for shopping and recreation. But this year as it has been for the last few years, there are reports of shootings in big cities along the border and advisories are posted for travelers to beware. In 2013 there were soldiers posted in some places in the city of Nuevo Progreso. Their presence seemed strange during this seemingly holy week.

But even though there is still no real peace in Mexico, the message is just the same as it was that first Palm Sunday. "People rejoice, your King is coming!"