The Liturgy of the Palms and the Liturgy of the Passion stand together in this week’s lectionary. The options that this offers are varied – either one can be used alone, or they can be combined to create a service that moves from celebration to solemnity. This means that, in preparation, you may want to consult both this post and the next one, and draw from both sets of resources. And, in spite of the gravity of the content, there is space for much creativity in the presentation.

READINGS:
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29: A celebration of God’s goodness and faithful love, answering prayer, turning the rejected stone into the capstone, and inviting people into God’s presence.

Luke 19:28-40: Jesus rides into Jerusalem as the people offer praises. The Pharisees though are unimpressed, calling on Jesus to silence the crowd.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
The heart of the Palm Sunday celebration this year is God coming to God’s people in faithfulness and love. Jesus enters Jerusalem as the one who will suffer – this is the doorway to his passion – and in his suffering invites people into God’s grace and presence. And this arrival of God will not be resisted or stopped. It can only be received and enjoyed.

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: This week we are startled into seeing God’s reign afresh, as the subversive, empire-challenging reality that it is. Even as the Pharisees try to silence the praises, and as the people fail to understand what they’re celebrating, Jesus just keeps coming, embracing the suffering to come, and manifesting God’s new way of being and reigning. The reign of God continues to infiltrate our world; its message still being proclaimed and revealed; and the powers-that-be still try to silence it – with death if necessary. But, our call, as followers of Christ, is to refuse to be silenced. To continue to challenge unjust empires and to hold open the door to God’s reign to all who will come, refusing to bow to the threats of factions, religious exclusivity or political expediency.

LOCAL APPLICATION: In every life and community, the reign of God enters as a disruptive and invitational influence. It subverts every petty power-struggle, turf-war and personal empire that we might set up, and calls us to embrace this new self-giving, inclusive, God-connected way of being. The challenge for us is to take this message seriously, and strive, daily, to embody God’s reign in every interaction, every decision, and in how we live together in community. When we allow our faith to be drawn into the service of political, economic or even religious, agendas other than God’s reign, we are guilty of trying to silence the praise, and we find ourselves outside of God’s transforming purposes. The work of justice is done as much in the small unseen conversations and justice-supporting actions as in the big moments.

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
The King Is Coming
Calls For Allegiance

Hymn Suggestions:
All Glory Laud And Honour
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
Rejoice, The Lord Is King
Ride On, Ride On, Majesty
Prepare The Way (Link to MySpace video)
Hosanna (Link to YouTube video)
Servant King (Link to YouTube video)
God Of This City (Link to YouTube video)

Liturgy:
A Liturgy for Palm Sunday

Video Suggestions:
From Palms To The Cross
Peace On Earth – Palm Sunday
Jesus’ Triumphal Entry

Additional Resources:
GBOD