Palm Sunday Readings, Reflections & Prayers - 05th April 2020
Matthew 21.1-11
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 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. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ 4This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
5 ‘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.’
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 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!’>
10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ 11 The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’
Now listen to the video clip of the Palm Sunday Gospel
Reflection
Palm Sunday is a day for imagination and reflection.
Imagination, because our church tradition means that we would normally take part in some sort of re-enactment of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem as described in the ‘Palm Gospel’ reading, above. In our case, it would be a procession from the Holy well, carrying greenery to represent the palm branches strewn in Jesus’ path on that first day of palms. This year, our imagination is even more in demand, as we’re all ‘confined to barracks’, but we’re not totally cut off. Earlier this week I did a Google image search (other search engines are available) for Palm Sunday and found an amazing range of pictures - from simple mediaeval woodcuts, through amazing stained glass representations to modern oil paintings; one, even, where Christ is represented as a clown and his disciples a circus troupe, entering a Belgian town in the 1920s. My favourite was a 15th century piece which was richly embossed with gold leaf; Jesus’ cloak was patterned with gold, his halo a golden disc and the crowd lining the route were beautifully dressed and strewing the way with golden palm branches. Instead of cloaks being thrown down, the donkey’s path lay across a sumptuous carpet with a suitably regal and golden pattern.
The scene was wonderful, both attractive and engaging ... and yet... No matter how tumultuous the welcome, no matter how many palms, cloaks or carpets are thrown down, we know that this triumphal entry is the beginning of the end. Within a week, those crying ‘Hosannah’ will be part of another crowd - this time condemning Jesus and mocking any idea that he could be a king.
The turn around is sudden, violent and shocking, and leads us towards reflecting on just how fickle human nature is: How easily an adoring crowd were able to turn, as individuals, to reject Jesus;
And so the reflective part of Palm Sunday is heralded by the other key Gospel reading of the day - the Passion, telling the story of Jesus’ betrayal by those nearest to him, his trial and rejection by the Jewish people and his eventual execution.
This might all seem rather remote, but we fool ourselves if we think there could be no parallels in our society. In this last week or so we have watched TV footage of a national expression of support for NHS staff, as families applauded at their front doors. You will probably also have noticed a news report about how professional carers in Torbay, looking after frail and elderly patients in their homes, have been abused as ‘bringers of death’, and now need the support of private security firms as they go about their essential work. It’s hard to balance the two things.
Whether we like it or not, we are bound to reflect today that, as much as would have welcomed Jesus in Jerusalem on that first day of palms, human nature suggests that we would probably have also ended up in the Good Friday crowd, watching him die. In the same way, our fears and worries at this difficult time make us tend towards self-centredness and have less consideration for the needs of others.
This duality of our nature is an inevitable part of the Holy Week drama, and we will continue reflect on it as we journey towards Easter Day together. Please join us on the Zoom app at 6pm each evening, beginning tonight, and read the reflections that you may already have received by email. (if you would like a copy of these, do please contact us at vicar@saintneot.church).
Prayers
On this Palm Sunday, as we consider where we would stand in the Jerusalem crowds of the first
We pray for grace to seek out those parts of our all-too-human nature which mean spiritual death and, by prayer and self-discipline, to overcome them.
We pray for those who make our laws, interpret and administer them, that our common life may be ordered by justice, mercy and care for one another.
We pray for all those who suffer the darkness and agony of isolation; and for those who, weighed down by hardship, sorrow or failure, feel that God is far from them.
We give thanks for all who are working for the common good in these challenging times; for medical staff, carers and volunteers; for those who make medical policy or who are engaged in research; and for those whose work guarantees our food supplies and essential services. We pray for them, asking for a spirit of perseverance and the assurance of our gratitude.
We pray for those who are sick; whether with Coronavirus or other conditions. May they recognise God’s love in the care they receive.
And we pray for those who have died recently, and especially for those who mourn their loss.
Pause to add your own prayers.
Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy.
Sustain and support the anxious,
be with those who care for the sick
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we might find comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
May the Lord bless us and watch over us and keep us in everlasting life. Amen
The Revd Ian Wheatley