Sunday, April 05, 2009

Holy Week Intermission

For Christians the week before Easter is called "Holy Week," or as Buff Delcamp wrote in this week's Cornerstone (newsletter of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church), Major Week, Greater Week, Authentic Week, Passion Week, Week of Salvation, and Sorrowful Week. It tells the story of the last week of the life of Jesus on earth, the week the sins of humanity are forgiven, and the world is redeemed. Jesus' life and teaching were not about man's solution to poverty, or slavery, or politics, or clean water, or green space, or domestic violence or anything else you might hear preached on Sunday morning from many pulpits. It was about God's solution for mankind's disobedience, told from "In the beginning. . ." in a garden to the end where we see a great city, a holy city, a New Jerusalem, dressed as a bride for her husband. Since I've so recently returned from "The Steps of Paul" in Greece, Turkey, and Israel I do want to continue updating my trip photos and log, but will avoid the day-to-day chaos in Washington, the steps of our President, and the world economy while I focus of the events of Holy Week. See you after Easter (unless you'd like to check the Holy Land Cruise 2009 link).

4 comments:

JAM said...

On Monday morning, I was listening to a nationally syndicated morning radio host who had one of his people go out and ask people on the street if they knew what was meant by the term "Palm Sunday."

Nobody they talked to while I was listening knew what it was about.

Even his coworkers and guests on his show didn't know, and finally one girl who works behind the scenes on the radio program said that she wasn't Catholic, but that it was something about how people waved palm limbs at Jesus when he came into Jerusalem.

That was as close as anyone got, but thankfully, the host finally explained what happened and how we have the term Palm Sunday.

I thought that was kind of refreshing for him to give that lesson on a secular radio program.

Have a great week!

mdoneil said...

Brilliant idea. I think I shall do that as well.

Anonymous said...

Lars, a Norwegian from Cook County in northern Minnesota, was an older, single gentleman who was born and raised a Lutheran. Each Friday night after work, he would fire up his grill and cook a venison steak. Now, all of Lars' neighbors were Catholic. Since it was Lent, they were forbidden from eating meat on Fridays. The delicious aroma from the grilled venison   steaks was causing such a problem for the Catholic faithful that they finally talked to the priest. The priest came to visit Lars and suggested that Lars convert to Catholicism. After several classes and much study, Lars attended Mass. As the priest sprinkled holy water over Lars, he said,   "You were born a Lutheran and raised a Lutheran, but now you are a Catholic." Lars' neighbors were greatly relieved, until Friday night arrived and the wonderful aroma of grilled venison filled the neighborhood. The priest was called immediately by the neighbors As he rushed into Lars' yard, clutching a rosary and preparing to scold Lars, he stopped in amazement and watched. There stood Lars, holding a small bottle of water, which he carefully sprinkled over the grilling meat and chanted, "You were born a deer and raised a deer, but now you are a walleye."
from Lewis

Gridlock Reigns said...

I loved the Lars story. It was hard for me to immerse myself into because I, like Lars, love venison. I, like his neighbors, am also Catholic.

My temptation would not have been aroused in the slightest as long as I couldn't be around the finished product.

However, having cooked a lot of venison, I can promise you that it isn't a tempting smell. Venison in the process of being cooked smells like feet.