Sunday - Palm Sunday

This begins our readings and reflections on Holy Week... from Palm Sunday to Easter.  In the Church,  this is a time that we reflect upon the steps Jesus took from entering Jerusalem until the Crucifixion.  This is a difficult week as we get sad over the stories.  Yet as Christians,  we know the end of the story.  We know that Jesus in raised from the dead.  

St Matthew 21: 1- 11....As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”  ⁴ This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: ⁵ “Say to Daughter Zion,     ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” ⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,   

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”   “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”  

¹⁰ When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

¹¹ The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

 

The disciples and the crowd began calling Jesus “Hosanna to the Son of David”  and “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”.     Who do you call Jesus?

 

Read over this portion of scripture again.  What words or phrases stand out to you as being important?   Imagine yourself as part of the crowd.   What would you be shouting?   Would you put down your coat on the road or pick up a branch and wave it at Jesus?   

 Prayer:  Great God, this is the day we celebrate the coming of Jesus on a donkey into the city of Jerusalem.  It is with joy and love that we remember this story.   Help us this day and always to worship You with delight and praise.  Help us this day to always come to You in prayer.  Open our minds and our hearts to understand Your most Holy Word. Almighty and Eternal God,  You saved us through the Passion of Christ.  As we celebrate Your Passion,  finish in us the work You have begun and plant new joy in our hearts to complete the work of Christ.   This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.