(from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians)
Beloved,
Faith and peace from our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, as I write to you, in the midst, of our Palm Sunday commemoration. Even though we are practicing social distancing, you are always close to my heart as I practice spiritual prayer for your sake.
Don’t let Palm Sunday go by without making a statement of faith. Dress you and your children as if you are going to church. Light their candles and walk around the house, shouting as the children of old, “Welcome, Christ, to Jerusalem. Holy, Holy, Holy Lord of Sabaoth. Heaven and earth is full of Your glory. Hosanna in the Highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of our Lord, our Savior.”
I thank God, with joy, every time I remember you in my supplications. For God is my witness how I long for you and your children. I pray that you stay strong in one spirit, fighting without being tired in everything that will oppose you. Consider, in humility, others better than yourself so you will always be blameless and children of the most-high God.
Do not be anxious about anything. Christ is still our light and comfort. “Nothing can separate us from Christ. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow”. (Romans 8:38) Every one of us is experiencing, especially during these difficult times, what makes us healers – when we love one another. Rejoice in the Lord so you may become blameless and harmless to shine for Christ and your family.
Beloved, my love for you is forever and therein lies my true joy and my real crown. In your prayers and supplications, do not forget to give thanks when you give your request to God. God will supply us, sooner than many people think, with recovery from this coronavirus. Let us not forget to pray for all those in the medical field, our first responders and those who supply us with all our needs.
In Christ Jesus, always remember to desire God’s peace; for only His peace will surpass human understanding. Guard your hearts and minds with confidence in the Lord. The Lord is at hand. Rejoice in the Lord.
On behalf of Fr. Jim, the clergy and all church organizations, Blessed Palm Sunday.
Your Servants and Shepherd,
Fr. George and Nouhad Shalhoub