On this Sunday today’s read is from Steve Mathonnet-VanderWell. He and his wife, Sophie, are the pastors at the Second Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa. Here’s the obligatory tease:

We’ve been alerted to the War on Christmas, but no one seems concerned about the War on Palm Sunday.

It’s not a new war. It’s been going on for as long as I’ve been a pastor. That’s nearly 40 years. It’s prevalent and probably spreading. 

Once upon a time, Palm Sunday was a glorious and triumphant day. More or less a warm-up for the big bash to come. An overblown mini-Easter. From glory unto glory. One high to the next. The music. The procession. The story itself. Sort of bombastic and kitsch. Sort of cute and kiddish. 

Then the critics started taking their potshots. The attacks came fast and furious. The War was on. 

They said…

Read the entire column here.