Hymn, readings and prayers for Sunday

The collect for Palm Sunday

Most merciful God, who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ delivered and saved the world: grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross we may triumph in the power of his victory; 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

On Palm Sunday we recall Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the holy city of the Jewish people. It was Passover, the festival when the Jews gathered to celebrate their ancestors’ release from slavery after 210 years of humiliating captivity in Egypt.  At the time of Jesus, the Jews were once again living under foreign rule, their way of life controlled by the Romans, Their hopes were now fixed on the arrival of a warrior king who would restore their freedom and give them back their homeland. But Jesus did not arrive mounted defiantly on a stallion, he came sitting on a donkey, a beast of burden. The message he brought with him was one of peace. The crowds may have greeted him like royalty, waving palms and clearing the road before him, but contrary to their expectations, Jesus came as a king ready to die, to make known to all people the reality and the depth of God’s love for all people.  The Entry into Jerusalem: Pietro Loronzetti

Psalm 31: 9-16

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; my eye is consumed with sorrow,
and also my throat and my belly.

For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing; my strength fails me because of affliction, and my bones are consumed. I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbours, a dismay to those of my acquaintance; when they see me in the street they avoid me.

I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am as useless as a broken pot.

For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around; they put their heads together against me; they plot to take my life.

 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. I have said, "You are my God.

My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.

Make your face to shine upon your servant, and in your loving-kindness save me."

On Palm Sunday there are two sets of readings: the first focusing on the Entry into Jerusalem and the second on the events of Holy Week after the excitement of the crowd had abated. As Jesus rode into town, people flocked to see him but it was not long before the tide of popular opinion turned. A few days later he was betrayed, arrested, tortured and killed. The words of Psalm 31 are ones that Jesus would probably have repeated to himself as he was taken to Calvary and nailed on the cross.

Second Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form,
he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death- even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This familiar text, probably based on a hymn known to the Philippians of the time, sums up what we know and believe about Jesus and his heavenly Father. Jesus did not die to appease an angry and vengeful god as often occurred in the mythical tales of the Greeks and Romans. The words of this hymn tell of a God who so loved his Creation that he allowed his only son to experience the most brutal treatment that could possibly be meted out to any human being. This is the God who is with us each day of our lives. He has the attributes of a king but he knows what it is to live as a slave.

Gospel reading: St. Luke Chapter 22:14 - 23:56 (selected verses)

When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!’ Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this.

Jesus came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.’ Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.’ Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.  When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, ‘Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.’

While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?’ When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, ‘Lord, should we strike with the sword?’ Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched his ear and healed him. hen Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!’

Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, ‘I find no basis for an accusation against this man.’ But they were insistent and said, ‘He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.’ When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate.

Now  Pilate was obliged to release someone for them at the festival. Then they all shouted out together, ‘Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!’ (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’ A third time he said to them, ‘Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.’ But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed.

So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’

But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’

Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’

 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last.

When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, ‘Certainly this man was innocent.’

Loving and compassionate God, we ask you to be with us this coming week as the days of Holy Week unfold, the cross looming in the darkness. We pray that we may come to see you more clearly and know you more nearly so that when dawn breaks on Easter Day we may greet the risen Christ with deep rooted joy and peace.  

• We pray for our bishops and clergy as they seek to reach out this Easter to communities who have little experience of the Christian Faith.
• At this most important time in the Christian year, we pray for Christian congregations throughout the world as, mindful of the current tensions, they prepare to celebrate Easter.
• We pray for those who stand up for what is right and act with integrity, even when it puts their own lives and prospects at risk.
• We continue to pray for those living in wartorn countries and for all who have fled their homes in search of safety.
• We pray for the peacemakers and for those with responsibility for the welfare and safety of their fellow citizens.
• We pray for all who will be caring for others over Easter and providing essential services.
• We continue to pray for those known to us who are in poor health, thinking especially of .................................................................................................................
• We pray for the repose of the souls of those who have recently departed this life ………We ask you, Father, to be with  the bereaved that they may know the comfort of your loving & never failing presence.