Palm Sunday 2014

Children scurry down the aisles

Of churches small and large

Waving green palm fronds in the air

In memory of 

Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem
On what we now call Palm Sunday. 
On that day so long ago

The crowd spread cloaks and palm leaves

Before  Jesus' donkey's feet.

 People exulted.

Hosannas filled the air.

Soon the Romans would be gone,

They believed.

Jerusalem would be theirs alone.
But Jesus had warned them
That was not his message.
He came to usher in  God's kingdom
Not to fight the Romans.

As the days passed,
The cries of joy faded,
Turned to shouts of anger

By the High Priest's perfidy.

Christ was

Arrested,

Condemned

And

Crucified.

His body placed in a tomb.

Did Jesus know what was to come

As he rode into Jerusalem?

I think he did.

And still he came to Jerusalem

For God.
For us.

Palm Sunday 2013

 

Children scurried down the aisles

Of churches this morning

Waving green palm fronds in the air

In memory of 

Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. 
On that day so long ago

The crowd spread their cloaks and palm leaves

Before his donkey's feet.

 People exulted.

Hosannas filled the air.

Soon the Romans would be gone,

They believed.

Jerusalem would be theirs alone.

But the cries of joy faded

In the wake of the High Priest's perfidy.

In one week, 
Christ would 

Be arrested,

Condemned

And

Crucified.

His body placed in a tomb.

Did Jesus know what was to come

As he rode into Jerusalem?

I think he did.

And still he came to Jerusalem

For us.

The Gladness of the Moment Palm Sunday 2011

Photo by Etwood

"This is the day the Lord hath made.

Let us be glad and rejoice in it."

I quote these words as I rise each morning.

But can I follow this biblical command?

Sometimes I find it difficult to be glad,

Sometimes I find it impossible to rejoice.

Was it difficult for Jesus

When He stood on the hill over Jerusalem

And contemplated the tragedies to come?

He longed to gather those who dwelt in Jerusalem

Into his arms.

Did God weep that day for Jerusalem

Or for all humanity?

Where was gladness?

Saved for the day Jesus entered that great city,

And palm fronds fell at His feet,

And Hosannas echoed

From dried brick walls.

Just as the Psalm commanded:

"With boughs in hand, join the festal procession."

Jesus shared joy that day

As he would share suffering later

When  he hung on the cross.

On Palm Sunday,

I will feel the gladness of the moment.

Even if I know as He did

The sorrow of tomorrow.

Palm Sunday

Christ rode into Jerusalem
On the back of a donkey.
Before him the crowd put clothes
And palm fronds on the ground
For his donkey to walk on.
They greeted him with "Hosanna."
They welcomed him as a king.
One week later when Pilate asked,
They said "Crucify."
Are we like those fickle crowds?
When we first encounter Jesus,
We are overcome with joy.
As his yoke settles on our shoulders,
We wish him gone.
We must remember Peter who denied him,
Was greeted with open arms.
Jesus waits,
No matter what our transgressions,
With open arms for our return.
We are his forever.

Photo by alibree

The Followers of Jesus

As Easter approaches
I think about the followers of Jesus;
So close to him,
But so unknowing.
Their hope was for a another David,
A conquering hero
To set Israel free
From the Roman yoke.
His disciples did not expect Jesus
To die like a common criminal.
Their vision portrayed the Messiah
At the head of a great army
Mounted on an enormous charger.
What they got was the Son of Man
Mounted on a donkey.
What is our vision of God?
Do we expect the Lamb of God
To conform to our portrait?
I fear so.
At Easter,
We must seek the risen Christ,
Being, Love, and Action.

Photo by tomatochild