We are nearing the end of the fast. Properly, this Sunday is called Passion Sunday, was the beginning of 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 often slide into the Good Friday narrative. This is a shame; it is jarring, and robs parishioners of the real walk of that final week of His life with Him during Holy week, from Palm Sunday, the first, celebratory, day, the instructive events of Holy Monday and Tuesday, with the fig tree and the annointing with perfume and oil, through His betrayal on Spy Wednesday, His Last Supper and the institution of the priesthood and the Eucharist, His arrest and trial, on Thursday, His crucifixion on Friday, and His rest in the tomb, as He harrowed Hell to free those captive to death on Saturday. 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. Meanwhile, our calendars and prayer books still show that this is the historic practice and we preserve it in this way only. We will keep His final days in mind this week, meditating on His words and actions, as we prepare for the hard Via Dolorosa we will embark on next Monday.

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 and, in the East, ends with Lazarus Saturday, the first resurrection which points to the greater one. We have begun observing it ourselves, as one of the commemorations that is significant to the life of the Church. Jesus raised Lazarus in anticipation of His own resurrection - and ours. One tradition for Lazarus Saturday is to make sweet, little breads shaped like a man wrapped in linens (Lazarakia). Another is to permit the eating of caviar (fish eggs) as little eggs, before we get to have eggs again on the Paschal feast.

This is the last week of Lent before Holy Week for the West. We end this week with Lazarus Sunday, the small resurrection, before we begin the great journey of Holy Week. Saint Lazarus lived for 30 years more after being raised by Jesus and became the first bishop of Cyprus - he had more work to do. 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.

This week also holds the last major feast before the end of Lent, the Annunciation. I love that the Annunciation closes the week begun by the feast of Saint Joseph, that the heads of the Holy Family are celebrated so closely together. It is Elijah's birthday, and we were always so glad to have everyone celebrating with him on his day. We have always thought about Saint Joseph and the Blessed Virgin taking special care of him.

We have reached the point in Lent that fake cheese seems like a good idea. It isn't, but it seems like it. Until this week, we hadn't bought any fake food, but we caved and got fake mozzarella for some pizzas. They were not great. Besides that, we have only bought some oat milk, which should run out just in time for us to have real dairy. Two more weeks of fasting to go! All joking aside, God has really been growing us this year. We are held in His hands and know that we are not alone. It is teaching us to lean on Him more and pray. It is revealing our own weaknesses and where we need to grow in faith and discipline.

We truly appreciate all the support and prayers from people. We cannot express how much we are being upheld by them. Our church family has been helping with Sunday meals, and doing so much more for us. We are grateful to God for placing so many wonderful people in our lives.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Ful, Kalamata Olives, Sliced Cucumbers and Radishes, Harissa, Sah'awiq, Naan, Blood Oranges, Coffee and Mint Tea
  Dinner: Persian Style Eggplant and Chickpea Stew, Rice, Salad, Garlic Bread
• Monday
  Breakfast: Granola Bars, Mandarin Oranges, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Southwestern Vegetable and Bean Fajitas, Mexican Rice, Blood Oranges
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Lenten Apple Oatmeal Muffins with Cashew Butter, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Burnt Garlic Vegetable Fried Rice, Blood Oranges
• Wednesday - Feast of the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Leftover Gatayif Filling and Sheera, Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Croatian Fish Stew, Bread, and Lenten Chocolate Marmalade Cake*
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Potato Hash Breakfast Burritos with Salsa, Sliced Oranges, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Black Bean, Corn, Pepper and Avocado Salad, Corn Chips, Sliced Oranges
• Friday
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast with Honey, Fruit, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Puerto Rican Beans and Rice, Salsa Verde, Frozen Fruit Salad
• Saturday - Lazarus Saturday
  Breakfast: Lazarakia, Fruit Plate, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Šalša and Linguine, Salad, Sliced Oranges

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: Annunciation, Birthday, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Fasting as a Family, Homemaking, Lent, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen