“Jesus is present in our suffering.” – Fr. Dave Privonka, President of Franciscan University of Stuevenbille
My 19 yr old nephew is Catholic. I’m an Evangelical. And JESUS is our LORD and CHRIST – our common denominator. He (nephew) came home last Sunday from church with a palm leaf woven into the shape of a cross. Oh, it’s Palm Sunday! He gave it to me as a gift. I held it in my hand and thought the first palm Sunday. Gospel John 12:13 -So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna!
Four days later, the crowd cried out, “Crucify him” Luke 23.
Today is Maundy Thursday as I write. It’s the day of the Last Supper, and the New Commandment – to love one another.
Why donkey? Someone wrote, “I had few donkeys. What amazes me the most was that Jesus asked for a donkey that never worked before.” When kings enter the city, they come on a white horse commanding respect. His entourage of guards and soldiers ride on darker color horses following him. Donkeys have a cross shape on its back. They are very safe animals. They won’t move if they sense danger. Remember Balaam’s talking donkey. (Numbers 22-24).
The palm leaves also symbolizes the sukkot which means “Rest in Jesus.” (Matthew 11:28-30).
GOD speaks to us with his creation, Nature and the Holy Scripture. See Psalms 19. He reveals Himself yo NASA’s Hubble Deepest Space Telescope and look for the X-factor and see the picture of a cross in the center of the Whirlpool Galaxy. Amazing!
Laminin in our very human body, is the protein molecule also in the shape of the cross.
Remember those sand dollar shells. When you break open, tiny crosses fall out.
I’ve always wondered why it’s called Good Friday when it was a day of suffering and sorrow. It’s the most significant day for us Christians that on that day Jesus suffered and died for our sins. …then on third day he rose from the death.
I believe the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY is trying to tell us something. That even before he said “Let there be light” he had your salvation on his mind up to his hanging on the cross for you.. And on Resurrection Day, he could have walked through the stone but the angels moved the stone for the women to walk in see that the tomb was empty.
Happy Easter ♡♡♡