Palms on Sunday, Alms on Monday...Net, Prophets (commas intended, to cause pause)

Universal Appeal: At least universally observed and practiced by what are considered to the three religions that evolved from one prophet named Abraham. All of which have many days of "strict observance" as well as historical traditions, some of which are points of significant departure, whereas there is some common ground when it comes to giving on behalf of the downtrodden, oppressed and financially dispossessed. Such as those that come to us in the form of movies attempting to recapture what happened way back then: "...alms for a child of misfortune..." Some of which were, back in the time when provisions were made on behalf of all those in need even in B.C., quite visible at strategies places, with their hands out (i.e., "beggars") while in C.S. (Contemporary Society) we collectively seek ways to usher these Mega-Millions to sites unseen. But we know they're still out there...

Passion Pleas: While there are many charitable organizations (sometimes referred to as NGO's overseas) that seek donations on behalf of those on need, we collectively know, and even occasionally pause to formally acknowledge (such as when the "collection plate" is passed on Sundays in houses of worship) that, while they continue to find ways to be effective "almoners" (the person who distributes money and other provisions to those in need after "alms" have been collected), they are at times encumbered by less well-meaning orgs. or otherwise greedy groups who may run either interference, misappropriate, or violently force the almoners to (literally) hand over the designated funds, provisions -- such as food, water, clothing, materials for temporary shelter -- the latter being less so, than the displaced millions we can see tonight on the news, if we bother to look, would have never imagined...This together with those who would hold on to the first and last cent, traditionally referred to as "money grubbers" and it's a small wonder that those in need see even a fraction of what's originally collected...

Disrupters: And other causes of annoyance, even as we, in the three named mainline religions seek to make proper observances during these most holy of Holy Days, we in the Christian faith journey are reminded on this very day during what we call Passion Week, how Jesus abruptly disrupted and literally overturned, what had become customary in the temple -- those seeking profits from changing other currency into local coins ("for a small handler fee", sound familiar?) -- profits that He declared "desecrated" the holy place and usurped what earlier prophets had proscribed...an act along with several other key indicators of His ministry, would eventuate not only in the transfer of what's still termed as "blood money" but the cancelling of debts in the ultimate form of forgiveness...

Least Out-lasting: The ones that still represent "the hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, and those in prison" that collectively still make up the "least of these" that Jesus commissioned his disciples to go and find, and then serve. Who are still among us today, if we bother to look, not too busy "observing"...