Collect and Readings for Sunday 28th March 2021 – A Service for Palm Sunday at All Saints, Marthall 9:30am.
Readings: Liturgy of the Palms: Mark 11.1-11, John 12.12-16 Liturgy of the Passion: Isaiah 50.4-9a, Psalm 31.9-16, Philippians 2.5-11, Mark 14.1- 15- 47, Mark 15.1-39 40-end
The Prayer for Today
Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
This Sunday is Palm Sunday when we think about Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Branches of Palm trees were quite often used in processions, with psalms and songs being sung and people cheering. There is also some symbolism in that the Messiah which the people were expecting was to be a BRANCH OF DAVID'S LINE! It is traditional that during our service we each receive a palm cross to remember Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and his death on the cross and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. These are retained until next year when traditionally on Ash Wednesday at the start of Lent they are burnt and used to mark and ash cross on each person's forehead.
Our reading tells us of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. There is a lot going here. Just imagine that you are there, among the crowds jostling to get a good view. There is an air of expectation as the crowds have heard great things about this guy. He can heal the sick, even raise people from the dead. He is the Messiah and will save us all.
But when they saw him he was riding a donkey, not quite what you would expect a King to be riding on. How do you think the crowds felt? Do you think that they began to doubt whether he really was the one who had come to save them?
And how do you think Jesus felt knowing that all these people who were shouting and cheering had great expectations of him? He was also wrestling with his own inner turmoil as he knew that as the story unfolds it would lead to his trial and ultimately to his death. If you were in his shoes wouldn't you have turned around and headed for the hills? But Jesus knew that he would be obedient to his Father's will and would rise again on Easter Day, but more of that next week.
Things to do and think about:
- Read the Gospel reading and imagine that you are actually there, what can you see, smell and feel? How do you react?
- If you were Jesus what would you have done?
- Why don't you make your own cross out of paper?
God bless and stay safe and well
Rev'd Fiona