Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday service at St. Timothy’s Church today was lovely. Before the service, each of us were given a single palm leaf to signify the day. Readings came from Philippians 2, 5-11 and Matthew 27, 1-56.  The fist reading in Philippians encouraged unity and humility… “Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The Gospel of Matthew in chapter 27 professed the passion of Jesus Christ, from where the chief priests and the elders took counsel against Jesus and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. As I listened to the Gospel according to Matthew, I reflected to this tumultuous time and my heart filled with deep sorrow and profound love for Jesus Christ and his sacrifice. Palm Sunday is the start of Holy Week and it is a significant time for practicing Christians. It is a period of deep reflection as daily bible readings will be of the Passion of Christ from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. After service during our coffee social, we learned how to create crosses with our palm leaves. My husband and I were able to create 3 of them (in above image). These crosses will serve as a reminder of our Lord Jesus’s sacrifice.

This leads me to what I plan to do for the week. Thursday (March 29) into Friday (March 30), I had a dream while I slept of creating “Gift Bags of Love” to distribute. What do these look like, well, these Gifts of Love….Gift Bags of Love will be hand-painted bags with my artwork that will stem from my heart. I will fill these bags with tokens of love, but love in its purest form is intangible. I will then distribute these bags and collect stories where possible.  I broke things down into 4 steps:

Step one: paint 100 bags with art of love.
Step two: fill bags with tokens of love.
Step three: distribute bags.
Step four: collect stories.

That seems simple enough doesn’t it? It seems like a great way to kickoff Holy Week, which reminds me of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world He gave His only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” I will share my love for the world by sharing my art which stems from love and kindness to those who will accept this gift of love and kindness. It will be in the form of a bag; but it is so much deeper than the bag with art. It is a Gift of Love. What of yourself can you give this week (and beyond)? Let me know your special stories. I know you all have them. With love, joy and blessings, Angi ♥

Related articles

• Palm Sunday is the great doorway leading into Holy Week (whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com)
• Palm Sunday (thedistinctdot.com)
• Holy Week Begins with Palm Sunday and Ends with Easter Sunday (catholicglasses.com)
• Emptying and Embodying – A Sermon for Palm Sunday; Mark 11:1-11 (interruptingthesilence.com)
• Celebrating Palm Sunday (vineandbranchworldministries.com)
• Palm Sunday into Holy Week (chandlerozconsultants.wordpress.com)

Togetherness

Togetherness is the sense of being close to another person emotionally and physically. When a person is in the presence of another person, there is a definite connection and a field of energy. If it is a benevolent connection then it is togetherness. In kindergarten children learn to play nicely together and to share. Through this continued nurturing, teamwork is developed in children and beyond into adulthood.

Two are better than one: they get a good wage for their labor. If the one falls, the other will lift up his companion. Woe to the solitary man! For if he should fall, he has no one to lift him up. So also, if two sleep together, they keep each other warm. How can one alone keep warm? Where a lone man may overcome, two together can resist. A three-ply cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two or more are, indeed, better than one; however cooperation and mutual respect are also necessary components for successful outcomes of teamwork and other forms of togetherness. Where there is agreement, there is harmony and success in any endeavor or project. 

Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. Matthew 18:19-20

Ultimately, togetherness is more than meeting of the minds, it is mutual love and respect for each other. Togetherness will contribute to creating peace and harmony on earth.

Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8