Palm Sunday: Hosanna! John 12:12-16
John 12:12-16
12The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord —
the King of Israel!”
14Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:
15 “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.
Look, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
16His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.
- Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
- Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying attention to the breath.
- You have heard that Jesus is coming.
- You come out to the festival to meet him.
- What do you hear?
- What do you have in your hand to wave at him?
- What words arise in you to shout out?
- Jesus is coming for the world and for you.
- What needs to be healed in the world today?
- What needs to be healed in you today?
- Do not be afraid.
- He comes in the name of the Lord!
- Be open to receive.
- Be open to share.
- What is God's invitation for you?
- Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
- Share as you feel led in the reply box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, March 28, 2021, Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday) (Year B)
Liturgy of the Palms
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Mark 11:1-11
John 12:12-16
Liturgy of the Passion
Isaiah 50:4-9A
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Mark 14:1-15:47
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings. (c) 2021 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD
Rev. Dr. Lil Smith is a trained spiritual director, supervisor, and co-founder of Retreat House Spirituality Center in Richardson, TX. Upon completion of her spiritual direction certification, Lil began Praying the Lectionary in 2011 as a spiritual practice for her morning prayer time. Instead of reading about someone else’s experience of God, it was important for her to create a prayer practice that would encourage felt sense experience of the Holy emerging from within. It dawned on her others might enjoy the practice, as well. So she began to share them on this site.
As you experience the practice of Praying the Lectionary, adopt a loving, caring, and compassionate stance. If the end of your prayer and meditation time is not pointing to love and hope, there is more work to do. Keep wrestling. God is faithful to your journey. Love and hope will emerge. Be gentle with yourself and befriend any judgment that arises in you.
