Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday 2026

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." 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." Matthew 21:1-11

In church this Sunday we celebrate Palm Sunday and begin the solemn time of Holy Week. In many parishes, Matthew 21 will be read outside as the palms are blessed, and then they go inside and hear multiple voices read the passion from Matthew 26 and 27. The celebration and thrill of welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem as king quickly gives way to the pain and suffering of betrayal and the cross. Easter is coming, but not without a great cost and deep trauma. Our lives can sometimes feel this way. Just when we feel we are understood and loved, the same people turn on us and reject us. Jesus joins us when we suffer and when we are joyous, never far from those who weep and those who laugh. May we enter Holy Week with fear and hope, as we dive deeply in divine love that is with us in our human brokenness and tragedy, for the one who is the holy king of all is also like us in our pain and sorrows.

Wondrous Creator, you made us in your image

and sent your son to be with us in our humanity.

Oh, Lord Jesus, help us to live into your deep sorrow and love.

The world is rife with sorrows and violence

we compete and betray to stay on top of others.

Oh, Lord Jesus, help us to live into your deep sorrow and love.

Your light and love seem far away at times

and we think we are abandoned and alone.

Oh, Lord Jesus, help us to live into your deep sorrow and love.

Help us to enter into this holiest of weeks

seeking to dive deeply in your love for us.

Oh, Lord Jesus, help us to live into your deep sorrow and love.

Make us aware of the deep pain of betrayal

let us seek humility and forgiveness here.

Oh, Lord Jesus, help us to live into your deep sorrow and love.

Help us to live with hope you implanted in us

and with a small measure of your sacrifice and suffering.

Oh, Lord Jesus, help us to live into your deep sorrow and love. Amen.