Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

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.
He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the warhorse 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.
(Zechariah 9:9-10)

This King of kings and Lord of lords does not come to establish a dominion of power but to overthrow that pattern and replace it with one of peace.

Yet we seek to protect ourselves with domination structures and use of power.

We really do not follow very well.

Cleanse my hands, O God, and purify my heart; deliver me from false pledges and fraudulent protestations, for I would ascend your holy hill and know that I am not yet ready to do so.

Almighty and everliving 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.