Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphant entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.

Testimonies

During a recent Sunday mass, a cellular telephone rang. It rang at a  very inopportune moment, for the priest was at that moment elevating the sacred host. It is a very solemn moment for it is the moment that Christ comes to us.The host is irrevocably changed into the body and blood of Christ. He is truly present body and soul. This is what makes us Catholics. It is the pinpoint, the axis our faith. The owner of the phone fumbled into his pocket, pulled out the instrument and answered the caller. He walked out of the church, talking, not so inaudibly. He returned after a few minutes. Apart from the distraction by the loud ringing, I wondered who he was. Maybe, a very busy doctor with a critically ill patient, I excused him. I lost my concentration in prayer, and I would guess so did others. I would not be mistaken if I suggested that many of you have been disracted similarly. I have always wondered  each time this has happened, why if one must answer an expected and urgent call, one cannot invest in an ear piece to solely hear the ring. Many phones have caller identification and vibrating facilities. Why not leave the instrument in the vibrating mode, and once it vibrates one can check the caller's identity and if one must absolutely answer, excuse oneself and walk out? In the same church, the Sunday ushers are notorious for the incessant chatter, guffaws and sometimes outright laughter at the back of the church. They seem to be having the time of their lives on all Sundays.  Many times, when I have dared to sit at the back, I have seen the priest pause when the noise becomes audible from the altar and plead with his eyes. They pointedly ignore him. For what reason does the parish retain them? Why doesn't the parish priest have the courage to stop them? And it happens, not just with the ushers, but  with many of us; unnecessary noise, fumbling with and straightening our clothes, combing our  hair, repiaring make -up checking our phones for messages, reading the paper, doing cross word puzzles, kissing, fondling, supeficial attention and display of affection to children. The list is long and unsavoury. Let us ask ourselves; with that kind  of environment, what kind of attention can we pay to God and prayer?