{"id":10410,"date":"2012-03-27T21:00:37","date_gmt":"2012-03-28T04:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/?p=10410"},"modified":"2015-03-19T15:22:35","modified_gmt":"2015-03-19T22:22:35","slug":"return-of-the-king","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/2012\/03\/27\/return-of-the-king\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Lectionary: Return Of The King"},"content":{"rendered":"

This Sunday is Palm Sunday so, in addition to an initial Reading at the beginning of Mass, we also hear a long Passion narrative after the Second Reading. Rather than provide commentary for\u00a0all<\/span> these Readings (since I would also quite like to get some sleep this week!), I will not be providing any commentary for the narrative of Jesus’ crucifixion.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Palm Sunday: 1st April, 2012<\/h2>\n

We are about to enter Holy Week. All our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and\u00a0alms-giving have been preparing us for this moment, to walk these final few miles with our Lord to Calvary.<\/p>\n

Our Mass begins with an account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. He is welcomed as royalty, but in a few short days the crowds which shouted “Hosanna in the Highest!”<\/span><\/em> will be shouting\u00a0“Crucify Him!”<\/span><\/em>. Their hatred fulfills the prophecy spoken of by Isaiah in our First Reading.<\/p>\n

In the Second Reading from the letter to the Philippians St. Paul describes in poetic terms Christ’s humiliation and final exaltation. This is also the theme of this week’s psalm which was the prayer on the lips of Christ as he hung on the cross. The psalm speaks of one scorned, pierced\u00a0in hands and feet, surrounded by enemies, all hope appearing lost… Nevertheless, the psalmist trusts in God and, like Christ, in the end, is vindicated.<\/p>\n

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;<\/em><\/span>
\nIlls have no weight, and tears no bitterness;<\/em><\/span>
\nWhere is death\u2019s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?<\/em><\/span>
\nI triumph still, if Thou abide with me<\/em> <\/span>
\n–\u00a0Henry F. Lyte<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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Procession With Palms: Mark 11:1-10<\/h2>\n

This passage from the Gospel of Mark is known as “The Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem”<\/em>. As a faithful Jew, Jesus would have made pilgrimage to Jerusalem many times, but this final entrance is rather different from those in the past…<\/p>\n

When Jesus and his disciples drew near to Jerusalem,\u00a0to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives,\u00a0he sent two of his disciples and said to them,\u00a0“Go into the village opposite you,\u00a0and immediately on entering it,\u00a0you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat.\u00a0Untie it and bring it here.\u00a0If anyone should say to you,\u00a0‘Why are you doing this?’ reply,\u00a0‘The Master has need of it\u00a0and will send it back here at once.'”\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

So they went off\u00a0and found a colt tethered at a gate outside on the street,\u00a0and they untied it.\u00a0Some of the bystanders said to them,\u00a0“What are you doing, untying the colt?”\u00a0They answered them just as Jesus had told them to,\u00a0and they permitted them to do it.\u00a0So they brought the colt to Jesus\u00a0and put their cloaks over it.\u00a0And he sat on it.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Many people spread their cloaks on the road,\u00a0and others spread leafy branches\u00a0that they had cut from the fields.\u00a0Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out:\u00a0“Hosanna!\u00a0Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!\u00a0Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!\u00a0Hosanna in the highest!”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Questions:<\/p>\n