One day this little statue of a Buddha appeared in the stairway of our apartment complex.  Our neighbor, who was in the process of moving in, though that the complex seemed a little too hectic and thought the presence of a Buddha might have a calming effect.  It seems to be working.  Every time I pass by I relax and smile.

70 years ago the Jewish state of Israel was created.  The event signifies the first time in over 2,000 years the Jewish community has a land it calls home.  Despite the controversy Jews celebrate the day around the world with readings from scripture, community actives such as parades, dances and barbeques.  (By some it is considered a miracle of Jewish victory over superior might similar to Hanukkah and Purim.)  https://www.myjewishlearning.com/wp-content/uploads/2003/08/yom-haatzmaut1.jpg

On the day following his capture Jesus was tried and found guilty.  He carried his own cross to the hilltop named Golgotha outside of Jerusalem where he hung through the day until he died.  Possibly the best depiction of the pain and suffering of Jesus’ death from the cross is found in Michelangelo Buonarroti’s Pieta (1498-99) it resides in the first chapel to the right after entering St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.  The contorted shape of Jesus as he rests on his mother’s lap made my joints ache.  The grief and sorrow in Mary’s face as she looks upon the shattered body of her son casts a shadow, which tells us all is lost.  Last May as we stood before the statue, I could feel the agony and the weight of this hopelessness.  

Photograph by Juan M Romero - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46153417

I love this painting.  It is from a French website and the best I can see at this point is there a Libyan bent.  But what I also see is an interpretation of Jesus.  In this interpretation Jesus is portrayed as the same race of the local people.  I believe God is pleased that we see Jesus as both the Lord and Savior, and as one of us.

http://kakaluigi.unblog.fr/files/2009/04/50.jpg

Saint Patrick’s day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.  In other places around the world, such as the United States, where the Irish traveled following the potato famine of the between1845-49 Saint Patrick’s Day is a welcomed holiday where people are proud to display their Irish heritage.  Although there is a religious connection to Saint Patrick for bringing Christianity to Ireland most people today see it as a celebration of the tenacity of Irish heritage as they parade through the Irish sections of cities.  As seen in this gathering in Philadelphia. http://catholicphilly.com/media-files/2018/03/St-Patrick-Parade_0677-796x531.jpg

In the 17th century, the celebration had an agricultural overtone, celebrating the beginning of spring and good harvests which would follow in the fall.  Since then, it has evolved into enjoying spring’s first colors hence the throwing of colored powders on each other followed by water from water guns and balloons to work the colors into skin and fabric.

http://www.polesmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Happy-Holi-HD-Images-Wallpapers-Pics-Free-Download-4.jpg

Saint David of Wales was the Welsh bishop of Mynyw in the 6th Century.  Considering the 1400 years which have passed since David lived in Wales, quite a lot is known concerning his activities and life.  He is regarded as a founder of the faith in Wales and is known for preaching, teaching and founding monasteries and churches.  David is buried at St David's Cathedral in St Davids, Pembrokeshire. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shrine_of_St_David.jpg

Dancers celebrating the Ayyam-i-Ha or Intercalary Days in the Baha’I calendar.  The four calendar fill-in days are used for hospitality, festivals, celebrating, doing service works and enjoying life just before the beginning of the fast period in the first days of the New Year.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hthg2GSugt4/0.jpg