Sunday, April 17, 2011

Palm Sunday to Passover

Let me begin by saying I know very little of Jewish tradition. I know a little, which prompts me to want to know more.....for it is from the Jewish tradition that much of my faith finds its roots. I'm also not really sure what nudged me toward today's post, or where it will wind up; but I wanted to share this random thought in hopes that it will spur us all toward a deeper understanding and faith.

This post somehow started when I read a post from The Higher Calling (Please Lord save us) and I highly recommend taking the time to read it even if you read no farther into this blog.

Perhaps I was thinking about how Jesus entered Jerusalem that day because it was time to celebrate the Passover; but the next thing I know I'm looking up how to clean for Passover. What can I say? I'm more than a little ADHD and that means you never know where a stream-of-consciousness will take you.

In the Jewish tradition, before Passover begins, you are to make sure you "clear-out" the leaven from your home. You can check out an excellent article that explains this far better than I can by clicking the link: lchaimweekly.org.

Tonight begins the day before Passover (if I understand this correctly) and the opportunity to examine your life from the year before. I don't know why I've never connected "spring cleaning" with this practice of removing the leaven from your life, but it really fits together. In spring cleaning, you get rid of the excess - that which weighs your life down. You get rid of the ego that would take the place of the coming King. I like the way the lchaimweekly article puts it - this isn't the time for doing a stash and dash sort of cleaning when you discover last minute guests are coming. That just won't do for Passover.
With this in mind, Spring Cleaning takes on a whole new meaning...a spiritual one.

I truly hope you will take the time to read both articles and allow God to speak to your life during this sacred time of year. As for me - I've got some cleaning to get started on. I'm afraid I've neglected this too long and it's going to take a lot longer than one night to get it all done.

Matthew 21: 9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!"

1 comment:

David Rupert said...

I did read both articles. This week seems to come and go so quickly, unlike christmas which has such long build up