Lectionary for Palm Sunday
Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted high, O ancient doors! That the King of glory may come in. Psalm 24:7
Collect. Father, your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, loved the world so much that he went to the cross for our sake. So strengthen us with your-grace that we, for whom Christ died, may show forth the same selfless love and for ever walk in his ways; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reading. Philippians 2:5-11. We need to pay close attention to the first few words that begin this passage “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus”. Paul begins by reminding us of the humility of Jesus Christ. As God he had surpassing power and abilities but he chose not to use these godly powers, instead walking in close obedience to the plan and purpose of God, he chose to use the powers of a human being. Then Paul records that as that obedient man he humbled himself and submitted to death on the cross. It is then that God exalted him to the Lordship that brought everything in the whole of creation under his authority. It is right and proper to rejoice in the declaration of this Lordship but we must also grasp at what cost that Lordship was obtained. Paul is addressing the congregation at Philippi and is expecting them to respond to his message. Jesus took on the form or tasks of a slave and that says Paul is what we also should do. Of course this is not a new teaching, Jesus himself reminded his followers that they were to serve and not seek to be served. A hard saying that! Before we can see the true greatness of Christ we need also to see his willingness to be obedient. Jesus did not die simply to save us; his action was always in obedience to God. Personal salvation forms a part of this obedience but it is only a part of the ministry of Jesus Christ which won salvation for the whole of creation. Furthermore, Paul is reminding his readers that the greatness of Jesus’ ministry lay in his submission to God. Similarly he wants his readers to let their lives be touched and changed as they come under the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Once we have understood the total obedience of Jesus Christ, we are without excuse if we in turn do not submit ourselves in obedience to God and in giving him thanks and praise, serve others.
But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43–45.
Prayer. Without the servanthood of Jesus Christ we would still be estranged from you Lord God; yet by your grace and through the strength of Jesus to be obedient, we are set free and re-united with you. In perfect harmony we link our lives to your life, not through any merit of our own but because Jesus lay down his life and served according to your plan and purpose. So we praise and adore you always giving thanks for Jesus Christ our Lord. Let our lives be proof of the love we have as we serve you as servants day by day, always looking to Jesus to be our guide in all things. Amen.
Reading. Luke 19:28-40. The scene that Luke describes is very familiar to us and it is a powerful reminder that the events of Easter are almost upon us and so we read it in anticipation of a future event. Each of the gospel writers record this dramatic entry into Jerusalem and each describes the excitement and the great anticipation of a future event. For the Jews in Jerusalem their anticipation was very different from the anticipation we have prior to the Easter event. For them all the signs and signals that they were observing lead them to believe that here was the one who would liberate them from the tyranny of Rome: they recognised in Jesus the promise of Messiah, the long awaited liberator. They had heard his teaching and the many miracles of healing and provision; each sign pointed to the same conclusion, this was the one! (v 37. )
Luke is writing at least a generation after the death and resurrection of Jesus and so he is putting down not simply a history of events but a theological history of who Jesus was and what he had accomplished so that we the readers might know the “truth”. (Luke 1:4) His record demonstrated that Jesus is in full control of this event, even down to knowing that the colt would be ready and available. Then he describes the great honour which the disciples displayed by providing a carpeted pathway for him to ride over. The description of the praise they chanted comes from Psalm 18:26 which is an anticipation of Messiah. It is this inference that the Pharisees object to: it is not the exuberance of the crowd but the acclimation that here was the true leader of Israel. They realised that Jesus was not simply confronting the Roman occupation; he was challenging the Jewish leadership. Through it all Luke wants his readers to understand that Jesus is in total control of the events as they unfold. The Jewish leaders found him so hard to deal with that they handed him over to the Romans but it was Jesus who forced their hand. (Luke 20:19f) Luke’s description reminds us that even in a troubled world Jesus is in control, just as he was on the day of the Triumphant Entry!
Prayer. Lord, it is easy to picture the scene in our minds: “Behold he comes as king.” How glorious is that scene as we imagine it to be, with cheering crowds and waving palms. Yet it is not in cheering that Christ’s work is done but in a quiet and lonely place with you in prayer. Sometimes Lord we find more strength in the encouragement of others rather than in a prayerful union with you. Then when our enthusiasm wanes we feel let down. Help us Lord to establish a deeper communion with you in prayer, so that when the times of work and challenge come we may be ready to accomplish your will and serve you well. This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our obedient Lord. Amen
Collect. It is right to praise you, almighty God, for the acts of love by which you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The Hebrews acclaimed Jesus as Messiah and King, with palm branches in their hands, crying: Hosanna in the highest! May we also, carrying these emblems, go forth to meet Christ and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives and reigns in glory with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
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Collect. Jesus, you come to reconcile, yet suffer violence; help us to find the peace you offer, and praise your name even when other voices are raised against you; for you are the servant king, now and for ever. Amen.
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