Anglican Mainstream

PALM SUNDAY

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Palm Sunday is the day we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal and peaceful entrance into Jerusalem. The entire entrance sequence by Jesus according to the gospels has many important aspects that involve the participation of Jesus,

his disciples, and those witnessing the event. The significance of the story is underlined by the fact that it is found in all four Gospels.

Liturgically this festival has early roots in the Eastern Church. St. Cyril of Jerusalem writes about annual commemoration of this great event as recorded in the Scriptures, with the custom also being observed by the desert fathers of Egypt and Syria. The first evidence we find in the West is in the 7^th Century through the Sacramentary of St. Gregory, that is, at the end of the sixth, or the beginning of the seventh, century. While it many places it was not possible to obtain palms or olive branches; they were supplied by branches from other trees. Nonetheless, the Liturgy of the Palms were still employed.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY:

Donkey’s despite their use as beasts of labor are rarely portrayed in a positive light. Even Milne’s Eyeore in Winnie the Pooh struggles with an image issue. Often these animals are seen as dumb, stubborn or stupid not to mention unattractive Poor Eyeore ponders his existence cogitating on the fact that his ears are too long and awkward and his feet too short. Is this any way for a King to travel?  God in his wisdom chooses the lowest fo animal for Jesus to enter the fullness of his role not unlike the donkey that Mary rode on seeking to deliver Jesus in Bethlehem . It is interesting to not how the Evangelist describes this situation with the donkey…”The Lord has need for him”. The insignificant donkey and its colt performed the assigned role in carrying Christ both for his birth and for his death in the crucifixion. Neither would have been possible without the role of the donkey and the colt. This small image serves as a reminder that God takes the least for the work of his Kingdom. Little did the owners know that their act of submission and obedience to Jesus' need would bring about such a glorious event — the Triumphal Entry that is described in the verses. So the question each of us needs to ask today is this: "What does the Lord need from me?" May our responses be the same as the unnamed owners of the donkey. How do you think he might be calling you and I in our simplicity to a Kingdom work of witness this Holy Week? Singing Hosanna is great but there is no singing of Hosanna without the servile humility of the donkey!

PRAYER OF THE DAY :  Almighty and ever living God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE:  “It is better to be the child of God than king of the whole world”.  – St. Aloysius Gonzaga

HOLY WEEK DISCIPLINE : Read Matthew 21:1 -11. What "garments" do I need to lay down before my God? Can you reflect on this avoiding any self -righteousness? We are called to be living testimonies, share with another the fruit of this discipline.

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