Palm Sunday
“...he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.”
Overview
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Passiontide: Seven days in which we follow Christ’s last days on earth and enter into the mystery of the Passion. This is a time when we reflect upon the difference between our expectations (of ourselves, the world and God) and God’s expectations— always surprising, always unexpected, creating possibilities we never dared hope for.
Liturgy of the Palms
Jesus subverts the expectations his followers have of him as a national and political leader: he processes into the city in the same way an emperor would, but, unlike an emperor, he rides on the back of a humble beast of burden.
Liturgy of the Passion
Jesus now reveals the true nature of his leadership: to become the servant of all, a sacrifice for many: a leader who will give instead of taking, who will serve instead of being served, who will bring salvation instead of judgement.
THE PALM GOSPEL
Luke 19:28-40
After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord needs it.” Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
“Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
