Photo & Poem: Palm Sunday

I'm posting a poem and a picture for each day of Holy Week this year. Here's the poem for Palm Sunday:

The Donkey

by G. K. Chesterton

When fishes flew and forests walked
  And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
  Then surely I was born;

With monstrous head and sickening cry
  And ears like errant wings,
The devil's walking parody
  On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,
  Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
  I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;
  One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
  And palms before my feet.

Palm Sunday Scripture Readings

I got a double-dose of a lot of the Palm Sunday readings, because the St. James Devotional Guide readings matched up with what we read in church today*. Because of that, I'm actually remembering to blog about something I noticed in church today.
Matthew 27:18 says: For [Pilate] knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.
And that reminded me of Proverbs 27:4: Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
I don't have much to say besides simply pointing it out. But it is interesting to me that this, at least in a direct, practical sense, was what slew Jesus: envy. The envy of the chief priests and the officials. Who can stand before envy? Not even Him, on that day.
But, of course, He chose to submit Himself to that doom, He chose to submit Himself to death, so it isn't quite what it sounds. And He triumphed three days later. Against death. Against all sins. Even envy.
So, I'm not sure what it means or, I guess, how much it means. But I think those two verses next to each other are interesting. It certainly makes me want to check my own heart against that particular sin.
Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell
*In the Anglican church, Palm Sunday is also known as "Passion Sunday" because we read through the entire account of the Passion from one of the gospels on this day each year - this year it was Matthew.

Getting Ready for Palm Sunday, and a Last Few Lenten Links

Hi folks!

I'm so excited - we get to go back to Sunday mass this week! It's been a long winter, but it's almost over. Our kids are really excited about seeing their friends again, and about processing around church with their palms.

One thing I'm doing to get ready for Palm Sunday is teaching our (older two) kids the chorus to "All Glory, Laud and Honor", which is what we sing while we process into church. There are two many verses for them to learn the whole hymn quite yet, but the chorus is only two lines long. I think it's an especially good one for children to learn, because it actually mentions children in the chorus:

"All glory, laud and honor to thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children make sweet Hosannas! ring."

I spent some time at dinner last night explaining what some of the harder words mean to my oldest.

Is anyone else doing anything special to get ready for Palm Sunday?


Also, though Lent is almost over, here are a few more seasonal links:

-Amy at Splendor in the Ordinary talks about spring cleaning, and its liturgical meaning. I like the idea of getting everything done early, so you can concentrate on the Triduum.
-It's probably a little late for it this year, but to put in your list for next year, check out these Lenten fruit trees from On the Old Path - good idea for doing Lent with children!
-Also a little late for this year, but something I want to try next year: these annunciation shadow boxes from Chez Ouiz.

peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell