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Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday
Today we come together to begin our solemn celebration of Holy
Week in union with our brothers and sisters around the world.
Christ enters his own city to complete his work as our Saviour, to
suffer, to die, and to rise again. Let us go with him in faith and
love, so that, united with him in his sufferings, we may share his
risen life.
Luke 23:1-49
Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before
Pilate. 2They began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man
perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor,
and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.’ 3Then Pilate
asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ He answered, ‘You
say so.’ 4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, ‘I
find no basis for an accusation against this man.’ 5But they were
insistent and said, ‘He stirs up the people by teaching throughout
all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.’
13 Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and
the people, 14and said to them, ‘You brought me this man as one
who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in
your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your
charges against him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back
to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16I will
therefore have him flogged and release him.’
18 Then they all shouted out together, ‘Away with this fellow! Re-
lease Barabbas for us!’ 19(This was a man who had been put in
prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for
murder.) 20Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them
again; 21but they kept shouting, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’ 22A third
time he said to them, ‘Why, what evil has he done? I have found
in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have
him flogged and then release him.’ 23But they kept urgently de-
manding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their
voices prevailed. 24So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand
should be granted. 25He released the man they asked for, the
one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and
he handed Jesus over as they wished.
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole
land until three in the afternoon, 45while the sun’s light failed; and
the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Then Jesus, crying
with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my
spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last. 47When the
centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said,
‘Certainly this man was innocent.’ 48And when all the crowds
who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken
place, they returned home, beating their breasts. 49But all his
acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from
Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
REFLECTION:
Ride on, ride on, in majesty!
Hark! all the tribes hosanna cry.
O Saviour meek, pursue Thy road,
With palms and scattered garments strowed.
THE PEACE:
The peace of the Lord be with you always; and also with you.
PEACE BE TO YOU!
Hymn:
Come, come to our Lord’s table and receive his gifts of suste-
nance, sacrifice and love. Gifts freely and generously given to
save us from ourselves and the world we have created. Come,
be restored in him and for him. It is Jesus who invites you.
Lord, we do not deserve it, but help us to receive your
unconditional love.
All may now receive communion.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS:
Lord, we thank you that in your passion you offer forgiveness
and invite us to be with you, where hunger is no more and death
has no dominion: may the broken bread of life fracture our stony
hearts for the sake of another world. Amen