A Blessing for Palm Sunday

 

Readings for Palm Sunday

The Liturgy of the Palms

Matthew 21: 1-11

Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29

The Passion of Christ

Isaiah 50: 4-9

Psalm 31: 9-16

Philippians 2: 5-11

The Gospel of Matthew 27: 11-54

A Blessing for Palm Sunday

 They ran eagerly, spreading their cloaks on the road as Jesus came,

waving palm branches and shouting 

 “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

 This surely would signal the beginning of their deliverance, 

and the ending of their oppression, sorrow, and shame.  

 What’s this? No mighty horse or chariot?

Only a man riding a lowly donkey, 

 His feet almost grazing the ground as He makes His way 

to Jerusalem, 

and to the mystery 

that it would be through suffering that healing comes,

through His shame, that dignity is restored,

and through His cross that powers are disarmed,

and death done away with

forever.

 

Blessed are we, even here in the shadow of our unknowing, 

where the light of His glory slants low on our path,

because for now there is hope and beauty and love.

and for this moment anyway, it is enough.

 AMEN.

   --- Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie, The Lives We Actually Have: Blessings for Imperfect Days.

NOTE: Rev. Robert will not be providing online Morning Prayer services this week or next (April 2 and April 9).