A REFLECTION FOR PALM SUNDAY

A Reflection for Palm Sunday:

During the liturgy on Palm Sunday, we will pray Psalm 118 together, accompanied by its joyful  refrain  “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!” 

Has the Church got it wrong, inviting us to pray such a lovely sentiment before we recall the days and hours leading up to and including Christ’s crucifixion?

By way of response I invite you to ponder this Sunday’s first Gospel passage in the light of a few other lines of the same psalm:  ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.  This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes’  and ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.  We bless you from the house of the Lord.’

It is good to know, albeit it very difficult to comprehend, that the suffering endured by Christ was foreseen and  engaged in freely by him, even to the point of borrowing a donkey.  And why?  Clearly for a great purpose, one that necessitated a laying down of his life for his friends (Jn 15:13), even in the face of rejection and brutality.

Do we share in this mystery of self-giving?  If we do, let’s bring that to the altar on Sunday.  If we don’t, let’s  remember those that do … for the blood of martyrs  remains the seed of the Church (Tertullian).

Taking Our Hearts to the Lord. Scripture Sharing Group Resource, Lent 2017

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The story of Palm Sunday tells of how
people removed their cloaks and spread them out
in front of Jesus as he entered Jerusalem.
The cloak we wear every day to face the world
is both the persona we wish to present,
and our defense against the elements.
As we come to worship may we be willing
to lay down our defenses and disguises,
at the feet of the One who sees us we really are.
And then, set free for worship,
may we offer our praises
with open hearts and lives.

Ann Siddall

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This is a vision of the way it can be, the way it should be—
Shouts of welcome, a joyful procession,
a community celebrating together.

The same vision is offered to us today:
We can welcome Christ into our lives;
We can celebrate his transforming power.

How swiftly things changed back then,
How swiftly we, too, can be distracted.

May we hold fast to his vision of goodness—
Peace from the practice of justice,
equality from the practice of respect.

As this week unfolds,
We will let ourselves be overtaken by God’s love
We will pour it back out into the world.

Jeanyne Slettom