Palm Sunday

Beloved:

    Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem, riding a young donkey while the crowds wave palm branches and shout, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.”   The Pharisees watching want Jesus to tell his people to hush.  “I tell you, if these were silent the very stones would shout out,”  Jesus says.

     I definitely would have been thinking with the Pharisees.  I’m a rules follower, a guardian according to one of my husband’s personality trait inventories, at least with rules meant to keep people safe..  Where the speed limit is 60, I drive 60 and am extremely exasperated with drivers going 70 and 80.  The same toward skateboarders at the library and people who walk in the running lane at the Y.   

    The city was filling with Jews arriving for Passover and extra troops to keep things orderly.  

Watching the crowds fanning and worshipping Jesus like a conquering king, the Pharisees no doubt scanned the distance for Roman soldiers,  sent to break up the crowd, stop an uprising before it gained any traction.  The Pharisees wanted peace with Rome and they begged the Galilean preacher to shush the crowd before anyone got hurt, or killed.  

     Yep, I’d definitely have been just like those Pharisees, calculating risk against gain and knowing for sure no good thing would come from the antics of that Galilean.  He was playing a deadly game and putting innocent people and the city itself in terrible danger.  I’d have begged him to stop too, for the love of peace.  

       For the love of peace he didn’t stop.  For people whose peace was rooted in fear he didn’t stop.  He proceeded into the city and into his mission, surrounded by people who would soon shout for his death and he still didn’t stop, thankfully.  Thankfully he knew the end of the story, how it would turn out for the whole fickle lot of us.  I look forward to sharing Holy Week with you.  ~ peace & prayers, pastor annette


PS - on a whole different subject, I made this for supper last night and it was de-lish!  Easy, fast and yummy.  Thought I would share it with you.

Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup

2 tbsp Olive Oil

1 Onion, minced

1 Bell pepper, diced

2 cans tomato soup

4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable)

4-5 fresh tomatoes (or canned)

1/2 tbsp salt

1 tbsp italian seasoning

1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped

20 oz pkg refrigerated cheese tortellini

1 pint half & half

handful of spinach leaves, torn

shredded parmesan for topping

In dutch oven, saute onion, garlic and peppers in olive oil until almost translucent.  Add chicken broth, tomato soup, fresh tomatoes, seasoning, sundried tomatoes and heat until boiling.  Add tortellini, reduce heat and cook until almost tender, about 12 minutes.  Add half and half and bring back to a bubbly, cook 10-15 more minutes.  Reduce to low