Palm Sunday Year A RCL The Liturgy of the Palms The Liturgy of the Word The Liturgy of the Palms Matthew 21:1-11
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 German Miniaturist
Speculum Humanae Salvationis, 1379
Manuscript (additional ms. 16578)
British Library, London
The Speculum Humanae Salvationis (Mirror of Human Salvation) was a popular teaching book in verse which compared events of the New Testament with prefigurations in the Old. In the miniature on folio 17v Christ's entry into Jerusalem is related to Jeremiah's lamenting over the fate of the city. Matthew 21:1-11 When Jesus and his disciples had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, `The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately." This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, "Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey." Matthew 21:1-11 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!" When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee." Text Notes Old Testament Connection 2 Kings 9:13-37 is an interesting parallel event. The prophet Elisha sent a member of his company of prophets to Jehu, a commander for King Ahab, husband of Jezebel, to anoint Jehu King of Israel, so that he could avenge the prophets murdered by Jezebel. When Jehu tells his friends about this: Old Testament Connection 2 Kings 9:12-13 “So he said, "This is just what he said to me: Thus says the LORD, I anoint you king over Israel.' " 13 Then hurriedly they all took their cloaks and spread them for him on the bare steps; and they blew the trumpet, and proclaimed, "Jehu is king.“ [he has to kill a few folks first] So, the cloaks on the ground have an OT connection with a King anointed by God in place of an unfaithful King. Zechariah and the Prince of Peace Active from around 518 BC told of a triumphant king to come in peace. Zech 9:9-10 “The Coming Ruler of God’s People 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. And the point? The point is that the authors of the Gospel knew the image that would be evoked by the telling of this event. The connection might not have been immediately obvious to them, but by the time the Gospels were written the event’s parallels to those of the ancient prophets must have been astounding. Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 Confitemini Domino 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever. 2 Let Israel now proclaim, * "His mercy endures for ever." 19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them; I will offer thanks to the LORD. 20 "This is the gate of the LORD; * he who is righteous may enter." Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 Confitemini Domino 21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become my salvation. 22 The same stone which the builders rejected *
has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This is the LORD'S doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 On this day the LORD has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 Confitemini Domino 25 Hosannah, LORD, hosannah! *
LORD, send us now success. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; *
we bless you from the house of the LORD. 27 God is the LORD; he has shined upon us; *
form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar. 28 "You are my God, and I will thank you; *
you are my God, and I will exalt you." 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever. Psalm 118 is a Thanksgiving for deliverance in battle. This a complete liturgy with directions and words. It is part of a group known as "Egyptian Hallel" psalms. So much is cut out that we lose the interesting parts which are in the earlier section. It is thought that the speaker is a king who has come to the temple to offer thanks for a victory. The words at V-1-4 [ Summons to thanksgiving] and [Let Israel say, etc.] These are probably actual directions to various groups in the congregation. Psalm 118 More V 18-19 – where our reading picks up again the speaker asks to be admitted at the temple gates. The preceding parts of the ceremony evidently took place outside. 20: A voice from within replies that only the qualified may enter V 22-23: Frequently quoted in the New Testament In V 23-25: The choir joyously acknowledges what God has done. V 25: “Save us”, in Hebrew, is "Hoshianna" (Hosanna). This verse and the following are alluded to in Matthew 21.9 and parallel passages. In V 26-27 The suppliant is admitted with a choral blessing. Gospel Connection In the Gospel section on Gethsemane there is mention concerning the singing of a hymn. The hymn is thought to be one of Psalms 115-118 Thus the Psalm read for this part of the Liturgy of the Palms relates to the Gospel for Liturgy of the Word. The Liturgy of the Word Isaiah 50:4-9a
Philippians 2:5-11
Matthew 26:14- 27:66 or
Matthew 27-11-54
Psalm 31:9-16 The Collect Almighty and ever living God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Collect The Palm Sunday readings always deal with the triumphal entry and crucifixion. Each year using different versions from the Gospels. The OT lesson is always the same for this day in all three years. The Epistle reading from Philippians is the same for all three years. The collect uses the image from the hymn like passage in Philippians, to remind believers of the example of humility set for us by Jesus and that we will all share in his death and resurrection. A concrete demonstration of God’s love for creation in that God voluntarily and fully participated in that creation from birth to death. Isaiah 50:4-9a The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens-- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. Isaiah 50:4-9a The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty? Notes - The third Servant Song The third Servant Song, the Servant conscientiously brings God's comfort to his fellow Israelites, “the weary” who treat him despicably. Christians view this as a description of Jesus as the suffering servant see Luke 2.32; Acts 13.47 and Acts 26.23. Psalm 31:9-16 In te, Domine, speravi9 Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; *
my eye is consumed with sorrow,
and also my throat and my belly. 10 For my life is wasted with grief,
and my years with sighing; *
my strength fails me because of affliction,
and my bones are consumed. Psalm 31:9-16 In te, Domine, speravi 11 I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbors, a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *
when they see me in the street they avoid me. 12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *
I am as useless as a broken pot. 13 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. Psalm 31:9-16 In te, Domine, speravi 14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O LORD. *
I have said, "You are my God. 15 My times are in your hand; *
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me. 16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
and in your loving-kindness save me." Psalm 31 The Psalm is in two parts as parallel laments , the first is omitted from the reading. Each section seems to be complete. The reading covers only the 1st half of the 2nd lament. The image of a person abandoned by friends and the victim of plots, has an obvious and ironic Holy Week connection. 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. Philippians 2:5-11 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. Introduction to the Letter of Paul to the Philippians
The date of this letter is uncertain, this was a Church established by Paul in Europe. Evidently opposition to the church was very active at the time Paul wrote the Letter to the Philippians. The main theme is persistence in faith in the face of opposition. Paul offers himself as an example of steadfast courage and of joy in the midst of harsh circumstances. Philippians
The reading for today is hymn quoted and adapted by Paul from earlier tradition, to state the principal theme of the letter concerning the story of Christ's ‘self-emptying’ even to death. This is known as "KENOSIS," the theological concept of self-emptying as a key concept according to which Christians have reflected about how God could become a human. KENOTIC THEORIES – The Oxford Dictionary Theories which are concerned to explain the condescension involved in the Incarnation. The title comes from the Greek verb translated as 'emptied himself'. A. Lutheran theologians of the 19thCentury held that the Divine Son abandoned His attributes of deity, such as omnipotence, omniscience, and cosmic sovereignty, in order to become man. B. A more moderate theory maintained that, within the sphere of the Incarnation, the deity so restrained its activity as to allow the existence in the Lord of a limited and genuinely human consciousness. C. Traditional orthodoxy has generally admitted a self-emptying of the Lord's deity only in the sense that, while remaining unimpaired, it accepted union with a physically limited humanity. e.g. neither Frescoes in the Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
by Giotto (1267-1337) The frescoes in the Arena Chapel have always been considered as Giotto's first mature masterpiece, and at the same time as an important milestone in the development of western painting. Subjects are life of the Virgin Mary, Life of Christ, and Passion of Christ. Here are 11 images from the part of the chapel devoted to the life and passion of Christ. Giotto, Frescos, 1304-06 each scene approx. 200 x 185 cm
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua Scenes from the Life of Christ: 9. Raising of Lazarus 10. Entry into Jerusalem 12. Judas' Betrayal 13. Last Supper 14. Washing of Feet 15. The Arrest of Christ (Kiss of Judas) 16. Christ before Caiaphas 17. Flagellation 18. Road to Calvary 19. Crucifixion 20. Lamentation (The Mourning of Christ) Matthew 26:14- 27:66 One of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What will you give me if I betray Jesus to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him. Matthew 26:14- 27:66 `The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'" So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?" He answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. Matthew 26:14- 27:66 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born." Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He replied, "You have said so." While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:14- 27:66 I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, "You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, `I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' Matthew 26:14- 27:66 But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." Peter said to him, "Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you." Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." Peter said to him, "Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you." And so said all the disciples. Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Matthew 26:14- 27:66 Then he said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me." And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want." Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again he went away for the second time and prayed, Matthew 26:14- 27:66 "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand."
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the Matthew 26:14- 27:66 chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him." At once he came up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you are here to do." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Matthew 26:14- 27:66 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?" At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. Matthew 26:14- 27:66 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, "This fellow said, `I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days. Matthew 26:14- 27:66 '" The high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?" But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of Power
and coming on the clouds of heaven." Matthew 26:14- 27:66 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?" They answered, "He deserves death." Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, saying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?"
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before all of them, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about." Matthew 26:14- 27:66 When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." Again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man." After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you." Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, "I do not know the man!" At that moment the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. Matthew 26:14- 27:66 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself." Matthew 26:14- 27:66 Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money." After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter's field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they Matthew 26:14- 27:66 gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me." Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You say so." But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?" But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Matthew 26:14- 27:66 Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him." Matthew 26:14- 27:66 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate said to them, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" All of them said, "Let him be crucified!" Then he asked, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!" Matthew 26:14- 27:66 So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." Then the people as a whole answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. Matthew 26:14- 27:66 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. Matthew 26:14- 27:66 As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." Matthew 26:14- 27:66 Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, `I am God's Son.'" The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way. Matthew 26:14- 27:66 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, "This man is calling for Elijah." At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. Matthew 26:14- 27:66 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, "Truly this man was God's Son! Matthew 26:14- 27:66 Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. Matthew 26:14- 27:66 So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, `After three days I will rise again.' Therefore command the. Matthew 26:14- 27:66 tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, `He has been raised from the dead,' and the last deception would be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can." So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone. General Observations The episodes are similar in all four Gospels. There are differences, some of which are: In John and Luke Jesus identifies himself in the Garden and speaks to Judas. In John Jesus asks that the others be released. In Luke there is an extra ‘trial’ before Herod. John omits Simon. Common Themes Betrayed by Judas Taken to the Jewish authorities Taken to the Roman Governor In all appearances Jesus makes only limited responses. Jesus is Humiliated and Executed. Crucifixion the Movie This is a work of great drama and for writers 2000 years before the first movie was conceived this is a pretty good screen play. There are three story tracks in all four versions - 1. Jesus, the last supper, prayer, arrest, indictment, trial, death, and burial by Joseph. 2. Bad Guys - The story of Judas, bribe, betrayal, and death. 3. Good Guys - Disciples – but unlike a good western, the good guys do not rescue Jesus, but quiver and run.
