Palm Sunday 2010

Palm Sunday, 2010
John 12:1-18

Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazaros was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazaros was one of those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazaros, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazaros also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!"

His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazaros out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.

Additional Readings for Today:
Matthew 21:1-11; 15-17
St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9

Remodeling In Progress

Beginning today, it is Great and Holy Lent in the Eastern Church, and the blog is about to undergo a refashioning and a remodelling as I pass through the 40 day spiritual cycle. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are at the forefront and politics and the world must take a back seat and cool their heels while the Lenten Spring works its resurrection magic on us. So don't be surprised at a new look, and some late winter/early spring doings coming to The Rosemary Tree soon! A good Lent to you.

Feb. 8th ~ Saint Theodore Stratelates

St. Theo, pray for us and pray for all our military and police.

The holy Martyr Theodore was from Euchaita of Galatia and dwelt in Heraclea of Pontus. He was a renowned commander in the military, and the report came to the Emperor Licinius that he was a Christian and refused the idols. Licinius therefore sent certain men to him from Nicomedia, to honor him and ask him to appear before him. Through them, however, Saint Theodore sent back a message that it was necessary, that Licinius should come to Heraclea. Licinius, seeing in this a hope of turning Saint Theodore away from Christ did as was asked of him.

When the Emperor came to Heraclea, Saint Theodore met him with honor, and the Emperor in turn gave Theodore his hand, believing that through him he would be able to draw the Christians to the worship of his idols. Seated upon his throne in the midst of the people, he publicly bade Theodore offer sacrifice to the gods. But Theodore asked that the emperor entrust him with the most venerable of his gods, those of gold and silver, that he might take them home and himself attend upon them that evening, promising that the following day he would honor them in public. The Emperor, filled with joy at these tidings, gave command that Theodore’s request be fulfilled.

When the Saint had taken the idols home, he broke them in pieces and distributed the gold and silver to the poor by night. The next day a centurion named Maxentius told Licinius that he had seen a pauper pass by carrying the head of Artemis. Saint Theodore, far from repenting of this, confessed Christ boldly. Licinius, in an uncontainable fury, had the Saint put to many torments, then crucified.

While upon the cross, the holy Martyr was further tormented, horribly. The next day Licinius sent men to take his corpse and cast it into the sea; but they found the Saint alive and perfectly whole! Through this, many believed in Christ. Seeing his own men turning to Christ, and the city in an uproar, Licinius had Theodore beheaded, about the year 320. The Saint’s holy relics were returned to his ancestral home on June 8, which is also a feast of the Great Martyr Theodore.

+Helen Boosalis+ + Memory Eternal +

Former Lincoln Mayor and past gubernatorial candidate Helen Boosalis died at a Lincoln hospice this morning. Helen and her husband Mike sat in the pew behind our family's at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church for many years. I served on committees and in clubs alongside her several times, and really have never met a classier, more gracious and intelligent, gifted natural leader. Her charm, wit and sparkling sense of humor set everyone at ease. Her energy was amazing. You will be greatly missed, Helen.

Of historical note, Mrs. Boosalis was the first woman mayor of a city with a population over 100,000 people in the nation. Her race for the governor's seat against Republican Kay Orr in 1986 was also a first for the nation. I think of her fondly every spring when the hundreds of ornamental pear trees she planted along Lincoln streets bloom, and every fall when their scarlet foliage ignites the pedestrian ways with beauty.

As the Greeks say, eonia I mnimi ~ eternal be her memory. Rest in peace, dear sister.

Bradford pear blossoms like the ones on the trees that grace Lincoln, Nebraska thanks to Helen!

Married Priests In the Western Church

We of the Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic East have had married priests for two thousand years (Saint Peter was married!). From the Detroit Free Press comes an article about former Episcopal (Anglican) priests who have swum the Tiber, so to speak, and are also married, and how this is working in their parish ministry.  In my situation I find myself at age 55 with a husband of 30 years who is preparing for the Greek Orthodox priesthood. This is something of a sticky wicket, with me being Melkite in complete union with Rome,  and him and his beloved Greek Orthodox not so much, but will prove to be a fine icon of Christian unity if we can pull it off.  Stay tuned!

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