The theme for Palm Sunday reminds us that Lent is a time of opportunity. Our lessons ask us to come to a decision as we ponder who is this Jesus who comes riding on a donkey through the streets of Jerusalem.
In the Old Testament lesson (Zechariah 9:9-10), our king comes with a promise. In the Epistle lesson (Philippians 2:5-11), in humility, Christ came to earth to die. In the Gospel lesson (John 20:20-43), Christ came to Jerusalem to be king. The Psalms and hymn for the day fill in to round out this basic theme.
On Sunday Christ is hailed as King and Lord. By Friday He would be dead. Yet in His rejection do we find life eternal, peace, and rest. We are preparing for the most important week of the Church Year. The cross is coming into clear focus. What do you think of Jesus? How you answer this question will determine your destiny.
Psalm 24:7-10; antiphon, Psalm 118:26—In the antiphon the Psalmist echoes the cries of the crowd on that first Palm Sunday, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” The long sought after King has finally arrived. Along with the children and crowd, we hail Jesus as King and God forever.
Heaven's gates are called everlasting, because they shall endure for ever, or because they be the doors unto the life which is everlasting.
Our Lord Jesus Christ could ascend into the hill of the Lord because his hands were clean and his heart was pure, and if we, by faith in him, are conformed to his image we shall enter too. We have here a picture of our Lord's glorious ascent. We see him rising from amidst the little group upon Olivet, and as the cloud receives him, angels reverently escort him to the gates of heaven.
Collect for Psalm 24: Lord God ruler and guide of heaven and earth, you made your Son a priest and brought him into your everlasting temple. Open our hearts tht the King of glory may enter and bring us rejoicing to your holy mountain, where you live and reign one God, now and forever.
Sources:
Hosanna copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
Collect for Psalm 24, For All the Saints, A Prayerbook for and by the Church copyright 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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