It is a city which has always drawn world leaders unto itself. They come, and look, and speak, and leave, but the city remains: eternal, gritty, tense, always politicized, even riotous. Today a man is coming through the temple gate into Jerusalem, and a crowd is following him, singing and waving palm branches and placing their cloaks on the narrow street in front of him. Do they really know who he is, or what he intends to be happening here? Come, let us worship the God who ultimately planned Palm Sunday, and find out.
Pastoral Prayer
On this of all days of the year, O God, we focus our attention on Jesus Christ as King. But we also confess that we are somewhat befuddled or mystified or even incredulous as to what sort of King he chose to be, or which Thou wouldst have him to be. When we conceptualize royalty, we do not envision a man riding on a donkey, or meekly surrendering to the political and religious forces arrayed against him. We think rather about power, and authority, and majesty. On Palm Sunday there seems to be some of that, but by no means only that, and we are left wondering who Jesus really is. Help us as we journey through our lives to grasp more fully all the facets of this amazing and sometimes dismaying man.
We pray for all people who believe they have thoroughly investigated Jesus of Nazareth, and have found him severely wanting from what they seek in a potential Messiah. Bless those for whom faith seems to be a losing struggle for their entire lifetime. Bless also those for whom faith comes exceedingly easily, but perhaps it is a faith which has come too simply and with too little close inspection. Help all of us, whatever the nature of our own personal faith, to grow into a mature commitment to Thee and to Thy Son, Christ the King.
We pray for people who find themselves in extreme situations: where warfare rages and peace seems to be very far off; where hunger stalks them every day, and their prospects seem very bleak; where political repression is constant and painful, and resolution of differences appears remote; where rancor within families persists, and no one can find any peace of mind. Help each of us, O God, to be agents of healing to anyone near or far from us where we have the ability to make a difference in their lives. Grant us a greater openness to those in need, so that we may become Thine agents on their behalf. We ask it all in the name of Jesus, who taught his first disciples and us to pray, saying, Our Father….