Lent 6 – Palm Sunday
Collects
Philippians 2: 5-11
Mark 14: 1-15: 47
Today’s Palm Sunday reading is not the usual one from Luke’s Gospel describing Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the accompaniment of people shouting ‘Hosanna’ and waving palm branches. The reading from Matthew is much darker – and although in retrospect we know that it does describe the first act of a triumphal drama, that victory will not be understood for some days later.
Jesus is under threat – life-threatening conspiracy to kill Him being discussed by the religious hierarchies. Even His disciples are annoyed with Him as He accepts the woman’s act as one of anointing, whereas they see it as a wasteful and over-the-top demonstration of what they regard as hero-worship. One of them is so disturbed that he decides that Jesus must be prevented from demonstrating against the Temple authorities during the Passover Festival. It may even be that Judas sees the betrayal as for Jesus’ own good – we don’t know whether he knew that Jesus would be killed or simply incarcerated until after the celebration was over.
But Jesus is aware of what He will have to endure in order to fulfil His mission of salvation – and He sets the necessary elements in motion. He accepts the woman’s gift for what it is (she may indeed have been Spirit-driven to be aware of the significance of what she was doing). He knows that Judas goes to betray Him unto death. He sends two of His disciples to acquire a room in which He will institute the eucharistic act and give His final teaching. Yes, He will certainly ride into Jerusalem to the accompaniment of cheering crowds, but in the light of the knowledge that those same crowds will call for Bar-Abbas to be released and demand His crucifixion.
But for my sake, and the sake of all those He loves – even those who do not love Him in return – He offers Himself as the final redemptive sacrifice. Hallelujah. What love. What a saviour.
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Praying Together 27th July 2025
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Praying Together 20th July 2025
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Praying Together 13th July 2025
May we never miss meeting your gaze,
in the eyes of our sibling, the stranger.
Praying Together 6th July 2025
Always remember that ‘success’ is simply doing His will – it’s not necessarily achieving the outcome we would ourselves consider to be ‘successful’. Leave that definition with Him.
Praying Together 29th June 2025
Jesus is looking for commitment. Absolute, unconditional, commitment. When I think of what that means, I’m always minded of Martina Navratilova’s remark: “The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.”
Praying Together 22nd June 2025
As Christians, may we never regard mercy and compassion towards others as weakness, naivety or gullibility, but display the traits which demonstrate that we follow a Saviour who came to rescue those left behind.
Praying Together 15th June 2025
You couldn’t fly a kite inside a church building –for the Kite to fly you’d have to go into the windy street outside. Where does that place the need for the Spirit to act?
Praying Together 8 June 2025
Of all the strange things happening on the Day of Pentecost, perhaps the most puzzling is when God appears to have second thoughts. In Genesis 11, He makes it difficult for people to understand each other’s language
Praying Together 1st June 2025
The song by Mary Black, ‘Bless the Road’, while written as from a parent whose child is leaving home alone for the first time – maybe first day at primary school, going to college, beginning an independent life – always puts me in mind of the thoughts and blessing of Jesus as He prays for His disciples before His Ascension.
Praying Together 25th May 2025
‘Peace I give to you… do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.’
His peace is not remote and only there at the end of things – His Peace is with us now.
Praying Together 18th May 2025
So the commandment is a challenge. To love those who betray you. Those who jeer. Those who wield the whips embedded with flint, hammer in the nails, pierce your side.