Keep the Faith and Good Will Prevail

This year Purim fell at a bit of an awkward time for celebrating, so Aaron and I were unsure how to really honor the feast. We ended up doing something completely simple, and simply tried to focus on the true meaning of the celebration. Esther is an incredible example of what it means to let God use you exactly where you are with the gifts and blessings He has bestowed upon you. What a special and important message for anyone to focus on. Few people hold positions of such power that they can make dramatic earth shattering decisions at the drop of a hat. However, we all play some role each and every day. If we allowed God to guide us in our roles and listened for the whisper of His direction and guidance, maybe God could use us as he used Esther. It might be that we get used for something so simple as to brighten someone's day or we could make a larger impact that we might never get to see. Whatever it is, wouldn't this world be a better place if we all focused in on how God was trying to use us on a daily basis, in our current roles, to bring about peace and goodness? What a great lesson to focus on during this Lenten season.

This song played yesterday after our mini celebration and I was very moved by how appropriate it was for the holiday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_RjndG0IX8

Original Post:

http://greatandholyadventure.blogspot.com/2013/02/celebrate-with-pastries.html

Holiday: Purim (pronounced poor-im) March 15, 2014

Celebration: Also known as the feast of Lots, it is the Celebration of a narrow escape from genocide described in the biblical Book of Esther.

Historical background: The Feast of Lots, also called the Feast of Esther, occurs in late winter and celebrates the liberation of the Jews of Persia from destruction at the hands of the proud and wicked Haman, Prime Minister under King Xerxes (Ahasueres).

The book of Esther begins with Esther being chosen to be the wife of Ahasueres because his first wife had refused his will. Haman plotted to exterminate the Jews because he had a deep hatred for Esther's cousin, Mordecai who had raised her. Mordecai refused to bow down to Hamen because he did not want to set human glory above the glory of God. As Prime Minister, Hamen sent out a letter to all of the provinces telling them the day in which they were to exterminate all of the Jews in that area because they were a people who opposed the king. Mordecai learned of his plans and spoke to Esther encouraging her to defend her people as her position of queen was a God given one. She called for a fast in order to make an appeal to the King on behalf of the Jewish people. She fasted for three days and then approached the king (unheard of for anyone to do during this time let alone a woman) to ask that the decree that Haman sent out be reversed. The king was very upset by the decree because it would mean that Esther would be killed as she confessed to being Jewish herself. He had Hamen hung and approved a letter to be sent out to the Jews in all of the provinces making them aware of the plot against them. Through faith in God, they defended themselves when the day came and they were delivered from their oppressors. The day of victory was so named Purim because Hamen had cast lots (pur) to determine the day on which he was going to exterminate the Jews.

God demonstrates that He is the master over the outcome of chance throughout the entire narrative. Purim is a happy, fun-filled holiday that rejoices over the irresistible grace of the God of Israel and his providential care.

Biblical basis:

The entire scroll of Esther recounts all of the events surrounding Purim (Esther 1-10:3). Use this link to go to the entire reading...

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+1%3A1-10%3A3&version=ESV 

I have added the verses below that deal strictly with the celebration of Purim.

Esther 9:20-32
20 And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, 22 as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

23 So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them. 25 But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term Pur. Therefore, because of all that was written in this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them, 27 the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year, 28 that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants.

29 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirmingthis second letter about Purim. 30 Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth, 31 that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring, with regard to their fasts and their lamenting. 32 The command of Queen Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing.

Ways to Celebrate:
-Craft ideas for kids and youth:
**Make or decorate obnoxious noisemakers to play during the reading of Esther when the name "Hamen" is mentioned...can be as simple as paper plates!

**Make packages to bring to friends and neighbors filled with Hamentashen so they can share in the celebration. Be sure to include a special note about what the season means and encouraging them to trust in God.

-Fun family ideas:
**Read the story of Esther aloud cheering when the name "Mordecai" is mentioned and booing and playing loud noisemakers when the name "Hamen" is mentioned.
**Make your own Hamentashen!! They are delicious triangular pastries that represent the hat that the evil Hamen wore.

**Have a festive family meal together with a celebratory sweet challah made with raisins or cranberries.

-Religious traditions:
**Use the following guide to say prayers together before the family meal
Mother: lights the candles and says:
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe,
who has given us light in darkness and victory over our enemies.
Father: Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, by whom we were created and to whom we owe all glory and praise. As we commemorate thy saving power on this feast of Purim, may we always look to thee to be our strength, our protection and our deliverance.
Child: May we be as obedient as Hadassah (Esther) and revere God with awe.
Child: May we be as faithful as Mordecai who refused to bend his knee to any but God alone.
Child: May we seek justice and never allow the hatred of Haman to flourish.
Child: May we celebrate with your people, O Lord, these days of Purim in which sorrow was turned to joy and mourning into feasting.
Father: Mordecai said to Esther, "Who knows but that it was for a time like this that you obtained the royal dignity." (Esther 4:14) We pray, O Lord, that each of us may be used in the position in which thou hast placed us, that we may bring thy justice, freedom and truth to others.We ask this in the name of Yeshua, Thy Son, who lives and reigns with Thee and Ruach haKodesh, one God, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.

Blessings to be said before reading the story of Esther:

Did Jesus celebrate Purim?:
It is written in John chapter 5 that Jesus was in Jerusalem for an unnamed feast, but scholars have questioned which feast this was. Some have rejected the idea that this was Purim because it was considered a "minor" feast and not one of the three pilgrimage festivals. However, we know that Yeshua celebrated Chanukah (John 10:22) which is also another "minor" feast. According to Lambert Dolphin's research on this question, chronologically the only feast that John could be referring to is Purim, since it is said to have fallen on Shabbat (John 5:9), but the only feast that occurred on Shabbat between the years of 25-35 CE was in fact Purim (in the year 28 CE). But why was it referred to an unnamed feast? Perhaps the spirit of God intentionally left out the name of the feast because the name of the Lord was likewise deliberately left out of the Book of Esther.

How we celebrated:
Aaron and I kept it very simple this year which I liked. We made homemade hamentashen (which were deeeeeeelicious), and then sat on the porch eating our cookies, drinking tea, and reading from the book of Esther. We also read a children's book that my mom gave me telling about the celebration of Purim. I then packaged up some of our cookies to take to coworkers. It really was a wonderful way to celebrate and gave me the opportunity to reflect on the holiday. God used Esther in such a profound way. How is He using me daily in my various roles? Am I letting Him? We all have a role to play and I think understanding and reflecting on the fact that God can and will use us exactly as we are, is a powerful message.

Your Daily Penance

Lent has developed a very special place in my heart. The older I get, it seems the busier I get as well. Lent provides a time for me to focus in on what is important in my life and try to cut out the things that are creating stress, chaos, and distraction. I get to focus each and every day on my walk with God and engage my whole family in the process as well. I LOVE things that can be done as a family and Lent provides such a wonderful time for the family to come together and as one of my favorite people says, "Do something beautiful for God." I really love that there are several significant Jewish and Catholic celebrations that coincide during this time. Somehow honoring the passover meal as Jesus did his entire life really makes it so special. More to come on that later.

My original post (not much has changed except for some ideas at the bottom):
http://greatandholyadventure.blogspot.com/2013/02/fast-pray-give.html

Holiday: Lent- the time from Ash Wednesday to Easter

Celebration: The 40 day period that represents the 40 days that Jesus was in the desert before he started his public ministry and also is symbolic of the 40 years the Israelites spent in exile after the exodus. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.

This video does a great job of explaining the key points of the Lenton season: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3L3c23MfC0&feature=youtu.be

Historical background:
Lent is the forty-day liturgical season of fasting, special prayer and almsgiving in preparation for Easter. The name "Lent" is from the Middle English Lenten and Anglo-Saxon Lenten, meaning spring; its more primitive ecclesiastical name was the "forty days," tessaracoste in Greek. The number "forty" is first noted in the Canons of Nicaea (A.D. 325), likely in imitation of Jesus' fast in the desert before His public ministry (with Old Testament precedent in Moses and Elijah). By the fourth century, in most of the West, it referred to six days' fast per week of six weeks (Sundays were excluded); in the seventh century the days from Ash Wednesday through the First Sunday were added to make the number forty.

Biblical basis:
The concept comes from Holy Scripture, inspired by the acts of Jesus, Himself, and then His Apostles. The practice of fasting is very common theme in the New Testament. But the sacrifices of the 40 days of Lent are directly inspired by Christ's very own experience in the desert, where he did not eat or drink for 40 days and was tempted by the devil afterward.

If Christ, Himself, who is perfect and without any sin, was lead by the Holy Spirit to fast for 40 days and be tempted, then as sinners, it is definitely a wonderful opportunity to engage in those acts as well. He goes on to instruct how we are to fast, by appearing as if we are not fasting, so that only God knows what we are doing. We also see that whenever the Apostles needed wisdom, they fasted and prayed, first.

Both Christ and the Apostles engaged in this sacrifice as preparation for something bigger, and to strengthen themselves, spiritually, for their service to the Lord, much like what we are hoping to accomplish during this season of Lent.

Matthew 4
The Temptation of Jesus
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
7Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.
8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. 11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Matthew 6:16-18
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Luke 2:37
Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.

Acts 13:3So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

Acts 14:23
Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Ways to Celebrate:
-Craft ideas for kids and youth:
**Create a prayer, alms, or sacrifice jar to help children really focus in on the meaning of the season.

With the Sacrifice Jar, each day your child can do something kind for someone else, say a prayer for someone special, help out with an extra chore, or make a small sacrifice on their level. When they do so, they move one bean from their "Name" jar to the family "Sacrifice" jar. And, if you forget one day, you can always double up another day.

If you're at a loss for ideas on Sacrifices your child can make each day, here are a few to get you started:

Let a sibling choose the game, book, or movie.

Share a toy with a sibling for a whole day (or half a day).

Clean up the toys without being asked or after being asked just once.

Help bring in dishes after a meal.

Give up play time to help mom or dad.

Pray for 5 people.

Say one decade of the rosary.

Practice a new prayer.

Choose one toy to give away.

Help make cookies or a meal to bless someone with.

Make a card and send to someone who might need cheering up.

Every time the children do something thoughtful, kind, or without complaining/whining, add beans to the jar. On Easter, you can replace all the beans with a very special candy of some sort: a tangible representation of how Jesus takes all our measly efforts, which are literally "worth beans," and with His grace and merits transforms them into something very sweet and lovely indeed!

**Have the children make their very own stations of the cross to do at home or bring with them when you go to stations at church! There are all kinds of examples online, but I like this one because you can take it with you. This site has a GREAT how-to for making your own set. 

http://www.catholicicing.com/stations-of-cross-eggs-for-catholic/

**Focus on a different saint each week and how that saint was an excellent example of praying, fasting, and giving- do a coloring sheet of this saint and hang it by the Lenten cross you made as a reminder of someone you can look to for an example of how to follow Jesus

-Fun family ideas:
**Attend a Knights of Columbus fish fry!
**Use the calendar here to remind you of ways you can pray, fast, and give on a daily basis- great way for the family to start the morning together.

http://bustedhalo.com/features/fast-pray-give-2013

**Make pretzels as a family while practicing your prayers! Pretzels originated in Europe during the Middle Ages. A monk was making unleavened bread for Lent with flour and water because eggs, milk and lard were not consumed as part of the Lenten fast. He twisted some of the dough into the shape of people praying with both arms folded across their chests. He decided it would be a perfect treat for children learning to say their prayers. He called the treats pretiola, the Latin word for "little reward."

**Volunteer together

**Use the little black book! They are wonderful. They have daily prayers, reflections, and devotions for the time of lent. (littlebooks.org)

-Religious traditions:
**This wreath is a beautiful way for children to participate in and understand the meaning of the entire Lenten season and the journey Jesus went on. I want to get one for the future for sure!

http://adventtolenttoascensionwreath.blogspot.com/2010/08/t-he-light-of-world-that-mary-carried_26.html

**Attend daily mass

**Visit a Stations of the Cross ceremony

**Spend quiet time in adoration

**Take part in the sacrament of confession

How we are celebrating:
Aaron and I have established a bit of a system for celebrating this year. Sometimes, I have so many ideas and trying to incorporate them all would be crazy. so we are trying to develop the most meaningful ways of honoring the season. This year, I made a special centerpiece for the table and we say a prayer and light a candle each night to remember the 40 days Jesus was in the desert. Since the purpose of Lent is to focus on praying, fasting, and giving, we decided that each week we would think of a different way to pray, fast, and give together while maintaining our own Lenten sacrifices separately. We also have highlighted a different saint each week and focused in on how they lived their life for God. It has been such a great way to celebrate the season together. We have had the opportunity to give back to lots of people that we love, value, and respect, have spent time trying different forms of prayer together, and have fasted from various things that we see as luxurious or excessive in our life. Through our weekly focuses, we have gone to a penance service, spent time in adoration, are planning to attend Stations of the Cross. I have really enjoyed feeling like we are on this journey together. We also decided it would be fun to try a different pretzel each Friday. I LOVE the story of how the pretzel was invented and plan to do this with children in the future while practicing our prayers. We also kept with the tradition of reading from our little black book each day; it is the perfect opportunity to pause and reflect.

To Dust You Will Return

I told one of the women in my bible study the other night that I love Lent...I think she thought I was a little crazy because Lent is not a festive season of joy and celebration. I think that is exactly why I like it though; it is a time of quiet, reverent, and peaceful reflection. It's a time to partake in penance that will more closely align your thoughts and actions with what God desires for you. It is a time that is focused on praying (spending more time with God), fasting (letting go of the things of this world), and giving (sharing your blessings with those around you). What a beautiful opportunity to build a deeper richer relationship with our Lord. 

Here is my original post from last year:

http://greatandholyadventure.blogspot.com/2013/02/fast-pray-give.html

Holiday: Ash Wednesday- the first day of the season of Lent March 5, 2014

Celebration: Marks the beginning of the season of Lent. The 40 day period that represents the 40 days that Jesus was in the desert before he started his public ministry and also is symbolic of the 40 years the Israelites spent in exile after the exodus. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.

This video is does an excellent job of highlighting the key focal points of the Lenten season that Ash Wednesday begins...
http://www.catholic.org/clife/lent/ashwed.php

Historical background:
"Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return."

Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice.

The distribution of ashes comes from a ceremony of ages past. Christians who had committed grave faults performed public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hair shirts which they were to wear during the forty days of penance, and sprinkled over them ashes made from the palms from the previous year. Then, while the faithful recited the Seven Penitential Psalms, the penitents were turned out of the church because of their sins -- just as Adam, the first man, was turned out of Paradise because of his disobedience. The penitents did not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday after having won reconciliation by the toil of forty days' penance and sacramental absolution. Later, all Christians, whether public or secret penitents, came to receive ashes out of devotion. In earlier times, the distribution of ashes was followed by a penitential procession.

The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. While the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts. His Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent, and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance.

When we receive ashes on our foreheads, we remember who we are. We remember that we are creatures of the earth ("Remember that you are dust"). We remember that we are mortal beings ("and to dust you will return"). We remember that we are baptized. We remember that we are people on a journey of conversion ("Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel"). We remember that we are members of the body of Christ (and that smudge on our foreheads will proclaim that identity to others, too).

Renewing our sense of who we really are before God is the core of the Lenten experience. It is so easy to forget, and thus we fall into habits of sin, ways of thinking and living that are contrary to God's will.

Biblical basis:
Ashes were used in ancient times to express mourning. Dusting oneself with ashes was the penitent's way of expressing sorrow for sins and faults.

An ancient example of one expressing one's penitence is found in...
Job 42:3-6
3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 ‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
6 therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”

The prophet Jeremiah, for example, calls for repentance this way...
Jer 6:26
26 O daughter of my people, put on sackcloth,
and roll in ashes;
make mourning as for an only son,
most bitter lamentation,
for suddenly the destroyer
will come upon us.

The prophet Daniel recounted pleading to God this way...
Daniel 9:3
3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

Just prior to the New Testament period, the rebels fighting for Jewish independence, the Maccabees, prepared for battle using ashes...
1 Maccabees 3:47 
47 That day they fasted and wore sackcloth; they sprinkled ashes on their heads and tore their clothes

Other examples are found in several other books of the Bible including...

Numbers 19:9, 19:17 
9 And a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place. And they shall be kept for the water for impurity for the congregation of the people of Israel; it is a sin offering.
17 For the unclean they shall take some ashes of the burnt sin offering, and fresh water shall be added in a vessel.

Jonah 3:6
6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Matthew 11:21
21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Luke 10:13
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

Hebrews 9:13
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh.

Ezekiel 9 also speaks of a linen-clad messenger marking the forehead of the city inhabitants that have sorrow over the sins of the people. All those without the mark are destroyed.

Ways to Celebrate:
-Craft ideas for kids and youth:
**Make a cross from matches to represent ashes and humility or another centerpiece as a daily reminder of the season.

**Make a family Lenten calendar (similar to an advent calendar) or countdown chain but put special acts and prayers that your family can do together on each day!

http://www.loyolapress.com/assets/fg_comp/pdf_219878.pdf

http://www.orientaltrading.com/days-of-lent-paper-chain-craft-kit-a2-48_7316.fltr

**Lenten Cross Craft- Create a cross for Lent using cardboard and whatever decorations you desire. Completed crosses can be used to symbolize your devotion during Lent. Any material can be used to decorate the cross, including foam, paper, beads, wax, leaves, or shells. Have children hang the cross by their bed with a long ribbon hanging from it and each time they do a Lenten craft or coloring sheet, they can clip it to the ribbon.

-Fun family ideas:
**Be sure to add special practices to your family calendar like going to a Knights of the Columbus Fish Fry that happens on Fridays during Lent
**Make a plan for what your family is going to give up together to bring your family closer together and closer to God
**Lenten Alms Jar- Spend Ash Wednesday with your children choosing a charitable organization or another cause to donate the collected alms-fund to when Lent has concluded. One of the most popular Ash Wednesday activities for many children is purchasing and planting trees, or buying decorations for the children's ward in a hospital. An alms jar is used to collect the money saved as a result of whatever form of self-denial is undertaken during Lent, such as giving up smoking, candy, or renting movies.

-Religious traditions:
**Go to mass to receive ashes
**Say a family prayer together to celebrate Lent
**Be sure to add special practices to your family advent calendar like going to confession, adoration, daily mass, and stations of the cross

How we celebrated:
Aaron and I kept everything very simple to usher in this solemn season. We attended mass together in the morning which was the perfect way to start the day. We followed the fasting guidelines and decided on how we wanted to pray, fast, and give this Lenten season. For dinner, we had a very simple dinner of soup and lit the candle in our centerpiece for the first night. It really was a simple reverent way to begin this special time. Read more about the specifics of our Lenten journey in the next post.