Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion - Year A - Palm Sunday - The Full Picture & “All Glory, Laud and Honor”

This Sunday in our liturgical calendar is called both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. It is the beginning of Holy Week and we listen to the story of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem where he was praised and celebrated, but also where he would be arrested, tortured, and killed. It is a time for deep reflection, prayer, and remembrance. It is a time to listen more and speak less.

St. Oscar Romero in a Palm Sunday homily pointed out that liturgy is not just about remembering, but participating in the life of Christ. So as we listen to the words of the liturgy describe Jesus come into the city of Jerusalem, we have to remember that Jesus is also coming into our own cities and contexts as well. The meaning of Palm Sunday is that Christ is coming not just into Jerusalem but into our own lives. The meaning of Passion Sunday is not just that Christ suffered and died, but that Christ knows our own suffering and deaths -deeply.

We invite you then, this week, to not just remember Christ’s coming and passion, but to participate in it through this guided Christian meditation. If you’re comfortable, we invite you to close your eyes for a moment. Perhaps sit in a comfortable but alert position and take a deep breath.

Bring to mind the things that burden you. Bring to mind the things about which you are worried. Bring to mind the things that give you fear and pain and heartache. What is it in your life that feels too heavy to bear? Hold that in your mind for just a few seconds. Feel the weight of it.

Now imagine you are at the gates of Jerusalem. You see in front of you Jesus. He is coming towards you. As he draws closer, he sees you. He looks at you and you can see the wrinkles around his eyes and the compassion in his face. Even though you can feel the weight of all your burdens, as Jesus looks at you, you feel hope. Like somehow it’s going to be better. You see grace.

As Jesus finally comes to where you are, he reaches out and takes your hand and walks past you, beckoning you to follow, so you do. As you turn, under the weight of your burdens and look to see Jesus a few steps ahead of you, you notice that he is carrying his cross. So you follow Jesus. He is carrying his cross, and you are carrying yours. You walk up the hill together. Slowly, step by step, under the pressure of its weight you walk. Until you finally reach the top.

Suddenly at the top of the hill is an empty tomb. Still carrying your burden you enter the dark, damp place and stop. Finally kneeling down, you lift your burden from your shoulders and place it on the ground. You pause to take a deep, expansive breath. And then you slowly stand, turn and walk out of the darkness as a stone is rolled in front of the opening. Your burden buried and waiting to be transformed.

In honor of Palm Sunday, we would like to share our latest video, “All Glory, Laud and Honor”, the classic Palm Sunday processional hymn praising Christ the Redeemer King who enters Jerusalem to the cries of “Hosanna!” and the waving of palms. This hymn invites us to join the children, the Hebrews, and all creation in offering our glory, laud, and honor to the King who comes in the Lord’s name and goes on to the Cross for our salvation.

This new version includes an organ accompaniment with this beautiful hymn.

Video can be watched by clicking here or by clicking on the thumbnail below.