Palm Sunday

Title

Have No Anxiety in the Face of Crucifixion

Outline

It is fascinating how Jesus prepares for his death

He warns his disciples while in the relaxed setting of a festive meal in Bethany: “Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

He presents himself as king, not a conquering king but a king coming to his coronation in peace, as Simeon Maccabeus, the first Hasmonean king did. The Galilean pilgrims get the symbolism: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”

These build the “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise” in the minds of his followers and they will need to think on all of this that they can muster.

It is fascinating to see how those around him react

Mary - we are not told her internal reasons - anoints him with pure nard, perhaps in essence giving him her dowry. Indeed, the anointing of the head and the wiping of the feet with her loosened hair could be read as marriage imagery. Did she sense it was “for the day of my burial” or was this a surprise to her?

Judas sees no symbolism, only waste, and calls it out as a lack of charity. Did he catch the meaning of “the day of my burial . . . you do not always have me?”

The chief priests, who have planned to put Jesus to death to save the nation now plan to put Lazarus to death because of his evangelistic significance. They are anxious in the face of Jesus, but do not get the irony of trying to put the life-giver to death.

The Galilean crowd rejoices in a king coming.

The disciples enjoyed the food in Bethany and enjoyed the procession, but do not get it until the crucifixion - resurrection event is completed, until Jesus is glorified. Too bad, for it they had gotten it and had reflected upon it, they would have had more peace during the subsequent events, like having read the end of a book that had a lot of unpleasant tension before the ending.

Our call is to reflection

We are to think on these things: “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise.” And what could be more worth reflecting on than Jesus>

We are give our all to Jesus, even if we do not fully understand and are acting out of deep impulses of the Spirit. Jesus can read our hearts better than our heads can read our hearts.

We are to calm anxiety with devotion, for in the world we will have things that could make us anxious, like what happened to Jesus after these events, for in devotion we see the ultimate future and the ultimate meaning of the seemingly destructive and absurd.

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 4-17-2022: The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem or Palm Sunday

EPISTLE

Philippians 4:4–9

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. 6  Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9  What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 4-17-2022: The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem or Palm Sunday

GOSPEL

John 12:1–18

12  Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. 4  But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6  This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. 7  Jesus said, “Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. 8 The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

9 When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10  So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus also to death, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

12  The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13  So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is written,

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

behold, your king is coming,

sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

16  His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.

HOLY

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) (4-10-2022: The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem or Palm Sunday)

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2022 | TRIODION AND GREAT LENT

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 4-17-2022: The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem or Palm Sunday

THE ENTRY OF THE LORD INTO JERUSALEM OR PALM SUNDAY

Bright Vestments

Matins Gospel Matthew 21:1–11, 15–17

Epistle Philippians 4:4–9

Gospel John 12:1–18