Sunday, March 26, 2023
Menu Plan: Passion Sunday
We only have two more weeks of Lent to go. It has gone by more quickly than I anticipated. Properly, this Sunday is called Passion Sunday, as it marked the final week of Lent, with Holy Week being its own separate and distinct observance. Passion Sunday gave the general overview of the last days of Christ's life on earth, while with Palm Sunday, we enter into each day of that final week with Him quite specifically. Unfortunately, in the West, this has largely been relegated to a footnote to Palm Sunday, rather than its own observance. So, right on the heels of celebrating the Hosannas of Christ's triumphal entry, we slide right into the Good Friday narrative. This is a shame and robs parishioners of the real, walk of that final week of His life with Him during Holy week, from Palm Sunday, through His betrayal on Spy Wednesday, His Last Supper and the institution of the priesthood and the Eucharist, His arrest and trial, His crucifixion, and His rest in the tomb, as He harrowed Hell to free those captive to death. We live through the events of that week each year. It seems to me that the modern church seems to think it is too much to ask of her people to take that walk with Him for one week each year. Passion Sunday marks the last week of Lent, as a summary of what Christ did to rescue us from sin and death, as we ready ourselves to walk each day of the way of sorrow with Him.
While we have no major saints' days this week, we have adopted the practice of commemorating Saint Lazarus (who lived for 30 years more after being raised by Jesus and became the first bishop of Cyprus - he had more work to do). So, even though it is a week earlier than the Eastern Church, we will make Lazarakia (little sweet, spiced breads shaped like a man wrapped in burial clothes) this weekend to remember him. We especially love how Jesus shows us that death is still our enemy with Lazarus. Even though He was about to raise him from the dead, He still wept at Lazarus' death. There was no nonsense about how he had gone to a better place or how he was somehow free of this mortal coil (which is gnostic heresy). He wept. This is because death is the enemy of all and Christ never wanted anyone to die. Raising Lazarus was His last major act before walking the Via Dolorosa of Holy Week, which is why Lazarus is remembered on the Saturday before Palm Sunday.
It's been a week of illness at our home, and while none of it has been absolutely unbearable, it has made the week more challenging. Please keep us all in your prayers, especially as the hard spiritual work (as well as the physical preparations for the Paschal feast) begin next week.
- Sunday
Breakfast: Vegan Cornmeal Waffles with Raspberry Syrup, Fruit Plate, Tea and Coffee
Dinner: Fattet Badenjan, Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette, Fruit - Monday
Breakfast: Home Fries with Salsa, Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Vegetable Pasta Salad with Bay Shrimp, Garlic Toast, Fruit Plate - Tuesday
Breakfast: Steel Cut Oats with Raisins, Cinnamon and Brown Sugar, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Cauliflower Tikka Masala, Rice, Salad, Fruit - Wednesday
Breakfast: Scrambled Chickpeas with Veggies, Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Paella Primavera, Salad, Fruit Plate - Thursday
Breakfast: Wheateena with Maple Syrup and Coconut Milk, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Vegetable Stir Fry with Edamame, Jasmine Rice, Pineapple Cups and Orange Slices - Friday
Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Fruit, Tea with Honey
Dinner: 15 Minute Peanut Butter Noodles with Vegetables and Shellfish Mix, Home Canned Pears - Saturday - Lazarus Saturday
Breakfast: Lazarakia to break the fast after Liturgy
Dinner: Korean Seafood Pancakes, Kimchee, Jasmine Rice, Fruit Plate
Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Fasting as a Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Lent, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen
