Matthew 21:1-11 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 21:1-11 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 21When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, Verse 2saying 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. Verse 3If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately." Verse 4This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, Verse 5"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." Verse 6The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; Verse 7they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. Verse 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Verse 9The 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!" Verse 10When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" Verse 11The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."
Devotion
Palm branches torn from trees to wave like “terrible towels” in a Super Bowl parade. The same kind of branches that will be burned to ash in only a year as symbols of our mortality: “Remember you are dust and to dust you will return.” Jesus’ earthly life, feted by parade revelers, will last about as long as these uprooted branches. “Hosanna” now. “Crucify him” next. The arc from triumphant entry to rage and death is short indeed. On this strangely schizophrenic Sunday, we stand between triumphant entry and the passion of our Lord. It is a rich place to stand, the perfect place from which to walk the way of the cross with Jesus. The intensity of that walk prepares us for both the suffering of the cross and the triumph of resurrection.
Prayer
Our God, on this first day of Holy Week, we praise you and join you on the way of the cross. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.