Palm Sunday | Sunday 2 April 2023
Today is Sunday the 2nd of April, Palm Sunday.
Juliano Ravanello sings, Hosana Filio David. As we prepare to reflect on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on this Palm Sunday, begin to imagine the scene…
Hosanna filio David:
benedíctus qui venit in nomine Domini.
Confitemini Domino, quoniam bonus, quoniam in sæculum misericordia ejus.
Hosanna to the son of David:
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious : because his mercy endureth for ever.
Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.
Matt 21:1-11
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
‘Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’
Today we will imagine the scene from various different characters. Each one offering a different angle and task that makes up Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
Begin by placing yourself as one of the two disciples, sent by Jesus to retrieve the colt…
What does the entrance to the village look like? Dusty? Muddy? Grassy? Look at the buildings and paths too…enter into this moment…
What is running through your mind? Perhaps Jesus has asked you to do some unusual things in your following of him… but this one is indeed quite specific and strange… Perhaps you feel some excitement of being drawn into this task, of being chosen…
What does the donkey look like? What is the texture of the fur like? The temperament? Then look into its eyes…
As the donkey is led towards Jesus for him to mount, now place yourself as one of the members in the crowd… what do you make of this unusual sight?
As people gather palm branches to welcome ‘the Son of David’, the ‘one who comes in the name of the Lord’, how do you feel? Are you swept up in the hope, the excitement and anticipation of the crowd?
Amongst the Hosannas and shouting, what is it you would like to shout to Jesus today?
As you try to glimpse Jesus, what can you see? Perhaps you have seen him before…or perhaps this is the first time. How does he appear to you now?
Finally, take a moment to imagine yourself as the donkey…
All eyes are on you, but no one is looking at you…
Perhaps you are enjoying hearing the shouts and cheers from the crowd, cheering not for you, but for something much greater…
You are carrying the most precious person to have ever walked the earth…
You are helping the Christ, the Messiah, the Saviour make his entry into Jerusalem…
The great joy and privilege of bearing Jesus – you are a part of the story, but not the main character…
How often do you feel like this in your life? Or how might you carry Christ in this way moving forward?
As we end this time of prayer, return to the character you most identified with, or want to stay with a little longer:
The disciple, chosen for a mysterious task…
The crowd member, enjoying the Hosannas, shouting your own cheer…
Or the donkey, living this vocation of joyfully bearing and carrying the Saviour…
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Amen