The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

We have made it. This week is the penultimate week of the year. We are walking the Via Dolorosa with Christ. We live each of those days with Him. It is the busiest, hardest, most challenging week of our year. Meals this week are lighter and simpler, and follow the strictest fasting rules. Traditionally, a full fast begins on the evening of Maundy (Mandatum - from the new mandate/commandment Jesus gives, as He established the priesthood, the sacraments of the Eucharist and confession), and goes through the end of the Vigil on Saturday, as we await Jesus by the tomb. The events of this week are what give shape to every other week of our year. We have the priesthood, the Eucharist, confession, because of this week. We fast on Wednesdays and Fridays because of Judas' selling Jesus on Wednesday and Christ's crucifixion on Friday. We celebrate a little Paschal feast every Sunday. This week is the most important week in the year. It is such a significant week that it is eight days long. The Sunday of the Resurrection is the eighth day of creation.

Our school break begins this week, but this first week is for all the services of the week and a lot of preparations in our home for the feast. There is a lot of cooking and cleaning to do besides the spiritual preparations. Next week will be our rest and rejoicing. Since everyone is old enough to participate at some level in the stricter fasts this week, Good Friday will not have meals planned, though Nejat may eat a light meal after the liturgy that day. On Holy Saturday, the two youngest may break their fast a little earlier than the rest of us. Rich has given me a mandate to break the feast a little earlier, so I can taste food as I prepare it. It always feels a little terrible to do that, because everyone else is fasting while I am not, but I try to be discreet, and it is literally tastes, not a whole meal. It is a small sacrifice I can make to ensure our church and family and friends can enjoy an excellent meal for the Paschal feast. What I'm trying to say is not to feel too badly if you cannot keep up with the strictest rules this week. Struggle within your strength.

May you have a blessed Holy Week! Please pray for our strength and health this week. If you are Orthodox, I pray for a continued Holy Lent.

• Sunday - Palm Sunday
  Breakfast: Vegetable Hash, Toast, Strawberries, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Thai Chile and Coconut Milk Salmon, Jasmine Rice, Stir Fried Vegetables, Chocolate Crazy Cake with Chocolate Coconut Frosting
• Monday - Holy Monday
  Breakfast: Steel Cut Oats with Raisins, Cinnamon Sugar, and Oat Milk, Tea with Honey or Coffee
  Dinner: Minestrone, Chopped Salad, Fruit Plate
• Tuesday - Holy Tuesday
  Breakfast: Polenta with Maple Syrup and Almond Milk, Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey or Coffee
  Dinner: Persian Shrimp Rice with Herbs, Middle Eastern Chard with Garlic, Onions and Sumac, Fruit/Salad brought by Bible study members
• Wednesday - Spy Wednesday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Chickpeas with Peppers and Onions, Sourdough Toast, Mandarin Oranges, Mint Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Steam Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic (using sunflower oil), Mount Athos Tomato Rice, Salad, Fruit Plate
• Thursday - Maundy Thursday
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Canned Peaches, Tea with Honey or Coffee
  Dinner: Crudités, Fruit Plate for those not fasting
• Friday - Good Friday
• Saturday - Holy/Vigil Saturday
  Breaking the Fast after Vigil: Ma'amoul, Bacon, Eggs, Other Treats
  

What is on your menu this week? If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can. If there are any starred recipes, I will follow up separately with a weekly recipe round up on Saturday.

Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Fasting as a Family, Holy Week, Homemaking, Lent, Menu Plans, Palm Sunday, Tales from the Kitchen, Triduum