Holy Monday and the Count Down Begins

Nine months from today we will once again celebrate Christmas – the birth of our Savior. That can only mean one thing of two things.

Either I’m one of those people who is obsessed with all things Christmas (which I kind of am, but not this early) or today is the Feast Day of the Annunciation. So in that sense, this begins the countdown to the birth of Christ. Today is the Feast of the Annunciation. It is also Holy Monday. Somehow it seems fitting that this year Holy Monday, part of the countdown to the Resurection and our Salvation and the Feast of the Annunciation are one. I know in my heart that the Lord is smiling today as these two events come together.

What do we know about this Monday in HIS-story 33 years apart? First it is the celebration of the Word made flesh. As instructed by God, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to a young girl, chosen even before her birth, to become the mother of the Messiah. The biblical account of the Annunciation is the first chapter of the Gospel of Saint Luke. The angelic salutation of Gabriel to Mary, “Hail, thou who art highly favored. The Lord is with thee.” From this greeting, we are given Hail Mary, full of grace, an intricate part of the prayers of the Rosary. Mary consented, and became not only the mother of Christ, but the new Eve and the Heavenly Mother of all. This day reminds us of the sanctity of Motherhood and the importance of human life.

Holy Monday 33 years later holds two key events. The first is that as Jesus and his disciples were walking from Bethany to Jerusalem, they passed by a fig tree that was beautiful in every way – filled with leaves. Except this tree, in all its outward splendor, bore no figs. Completely fruitless. It stood as an example of people who outwardly appear to bear fruits, but do not. It is all about the appearance of righteousness without actually being a righteous person. Jesus cursed the tree for being fruitless, and He will judge us in the same way.

As Jesus entered the courtyard around the temple, He was angered by the money changers doing business there. While some may argue that the money changers provided a needed service to pilgrims who came from foreign lands to celebrate Passover. These pilgrims needed to procure animals for sacrifice, but first needed to exchange foreign currency for the currency necessary to make such purchases. Temple leaders used this as a way of extracting exorbitant amounts of money, ensuring a high profit for the priests. It was this greed that angered Jesus. And it was His pointing it out publicly that put into motion the plot to have Him killed at the hands of the Romans. All these events are part of the beautiful tapestry of salvation that God had woven the moment Eve took the apple to Adam.

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Since today is the Feast of the Annunciation as well as Holy Monday, I thought we’d make waffles, the traditional food to mark the celebration of the Annunciation. Besides, who could pass up beautiful waffles on a lovely spring morning?

Home-Spun Waffles
2 Egg Yolks
4 Egg Whites
2 cups Flour
3-1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder
Pinch Salt
1/3 cup Sugar
1-1/2 cups Milk
1/3 cup Vegetable Oil
1 cup Blueberries
1 cup Raspberries
Mint Leaves garnish
Powdered Sugar for dusting

Allow eggs to come to room temperature. Separate yolks from white, retaining 2 yolks and 4 whites. Set aside. While the eggs warm, heat the waffle iron and warm the oven to 250-degrees.

In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk in sugar, set aside. In another bowl, whisk together the milk, egg yolks and vanilla. Gently stir wet ingredients into the dry ingredients without combining completely. Add oil, continue to mix until combined. Set aside.

Beat egg whites into stiff peaks. Carefully fold whites into the batter without over mixing.

Lightly spray iron with cooking spray. Ladle batter into the individual waffle wells in the iron, close lid and watch the steam. When most of the steam has stopped, open iron. Transfer waffles to the warm oven. Repeat until all the waffles have been made. Allow waffles to remain in the oven for 10 minutes. This will give a crispness to the outside.

Serve waffles, garnished with berries and mint leaves with a dusting of powdered sugar. Enjoy!

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Behold my servant: I will uphold him. My elect: my soul delighteth in him. I have given my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

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Catholic Reading for Holy Monday
1st Reading: Isaiah 42:1-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 27-1-3; 13-14
Gospel: John 12:1-11