Palm Sunday 2011

Hosanna in the highest, this is the King of Israel, blessed is He who comes in the Name, of the Lord of Hosts.

Palm Sunday is beginning of my favorite time of year in our church. Not only does it commemorate Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem as a King riding on a donkey, it also is the beginning of one of the holiest and most spiritual weeks in the Coptic Orthodox faith. Some of my fondest memories growing up were spent in church during Holy Week attending Pascha.

The biblical story of Palm Sunday is recorded in all four of the Gospels (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-38; and John 12:12-18). All four gospels record this event in the same place in the story about Jesus, indicating that the four gospel authors agree on the location of this story at this moment in the life of Jesus.

Five days before the Passover, Jesus came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Having sent two of His disciples to bring Him a colt of a donkey, Jesus sat upon it and entered the city.People had gathered in Jerusalem for the Passover and were looking for Jesus, both because of His great works and teaching and because they had heard of the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus. When they heard that Christ was entering the city, they went out to meet Him with palm branches, laying their garments on the ground before Him, and shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel!”

This year was Jonah's first Palm Sunday. It was just a normal Sunday at church for Jonah except he was so so mesmerized by the palm. As you can see from the pictures he didn't want to let go of the palm. He thoroughly enjoyed playing with it and even tried to put it in his mouth several times!

Not only do I love that my kids are being raised in the Orthdox faith (as my sister an I were) but they are doing so surrounded by family! I've blogged numerous times about losing all of my grandparents at a very young age but even when they were still alive they lived in Egypt and seldom visited. So it brings joy to my heart to see my kids not only being raised in the church and growing in the faith surrounded by their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins!

Would any holiday be complete without these 2 trouble makers!?!

Take the time this week to reflect on what Jesus sacrificed for each of us! Be humble and marvel in His great mysteries and remind yourself daily that because of what He did and we are here today!