As a child, I looked forward to palm Sunday with great expectations as the good nuns of St. Angela Parish in Chicago presented us with dried palm leaves, woven into a cross or a crown of thorns. I saved them for many years, but somehow they got lost in my growing up years and different moves. Today we attended Palm Sunday services and received green palm branches from the native palm trees herein S Texas. I also saved them for the past few years and most of them are still green!
We received a cross made from horseshoes asa gift so I have positioned the palm fonds in the cross so I never forget the greatest sacrifice ever made - and all for the forgiveness of my (and your) sins.
 |
| about 4 years of palm branches - some of the older ones have faded but are still green |
It has really been a rather quiet week - most of the Winter Texans are gone, the roads are not quite so crowded, and it seems as if things have gone into a more relaxed mode. The distribution this last Friday was so beautiful in color - surprisingly a bountiful supply. We were 4th in line to receive our supply - a rarity for us - we are usually 1st or lately 2nd. We leave home about 6:30, arrive at 7 and wait until 8 to begin loading. It is peaceful wait, waiting for the sun to fully rise, the birds beginning to wake up (although I do not hear the songs of the songbirds here). I try to use this time to catch up on a bit of reading, or even a short nap. Friday I happened to look up at the nearby trees as I saw a flutter of wings, and saw these ducks sitting in a tree on sawed off branches. Reminded me of the wood ducks in Wisconsin who often perched in trees. I often wondered how they could stop so fast as they flew into a hole in the tree? The baskets that the girls had prepared to distribute were so colorful - red peppers, Swiss chard, cucumbers, tomatoes, light green squash, packages of donuts and tortillas, as well as packages of broccoli/rice mixture. Included also were honey bars --( we received 5 boxes of 600 in each box), and individual packages of chocolate syrup. Great treats for the kiddos as well as adults. An easy day as we were home about 13:30 - unheard of in the busy days prior to this.
 |
| two ducks in the trees |
We had the opportunity to meet witha Chaplain ad his wife for lunch yesterday to discuss the possibility of her taking over the treasurer position at CRMI as I wish to retire the end of the year. She had a few questions that I could honestly answer and we both promised to pray about it. Fred and I believe that the Lord is moving us in a different direction in our lives of service to Him - this wonderful development came quite quickly, so we feel He is answering our personal prayers also.
Palm Sunday services were special this morning as we received palm leaves and waved them as we sang praises to the Lord. Matthew, Mark , and Luke wrote very similar books concerning Holy Week - only John's writing as different. We listened to the entrance to Jerusalem according to Luke 19:29-40 - perhaps the most read book of Holy Week. It is said that a picture is worth 1000 words - I can tell you all about Texas bluebonnets - their beauty, colors, the quantity of them growing together, etc. but until you see a picture or experience them for yourselves, you cannot truly appreciate them. Isaiah 50:4-9a gives us a portrait of Jesus in a very important phase of His life. Did the disciples really realize what Jesus tried to tell them? The portrait that Isaiah drew was of a teacher - a person of knowledge and experience. What God gave us through the words of the Prophets is for us to use - to see what they understood and how it came to pass. Jesus, who was a subject of great influence, still maintained His humility throughout His life, especially on Palm Sunday. He did not try to escape His fate, but surrendered Himself to His Father's wishes. He knew His Father was with Him, but did not protect Him from His destiny. Isaiah's portrait is the image of a Godly man who faced His fate and accepted it. How would we have reacted in such a situation? Would we beg and plead with God to release us from our fate, or accept it as His will?
No comments:
Post a Comment