22 - Palm Sunday

Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany

at the place called the Mount of Olives,

he sent two of his disciples.

He said, “Go into the village opposite you,

and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered

on which no one has ever sat.

Untie it and bring it here.

And if anyone should ask you,

‘Why are you untying it?’

you will answer,

‘The Master has need of it.’”

So those who had been sent went off

and found everything just as he had told them.

And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them,

“Why are you untying this colt?”

They answered,

“The Master has need of it.”

So they brought it to Jesus,

threw their cloaks over the colt,

and helped Jesus to mount.

As he rode along,

the people were spreading their cloaks on the road;

and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives,

the whole multitude of his disciples

began to praise God aloud with joy

for all the mighty deeds they had seen.

They proclaimed:

            “Blessed is the king who comes

                        in the name of the Lord.

            Peace in heaven

                        and glory in the highest.”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him,

“Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”

He said in reply,

“I tell you, if they keep silent,

the stones will cry out!”

The Lord GOD has given me

            a well-trained tongue,

that I might know how to speak to the weary

            a word that will rouse them.

Morning after morning

            he opens my ear that I may hear;

and I have not rebelled,

            have not turned back.

I gave my back to those who beat me,

            my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;

my face I did not shield

            from buffets and spitting.

The Lord GOD is my help,

            therefore I am not disgraced;

I have set my face like flint,

            knowing that I shall not be put to shame.

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,

            did not regard equality with God

            something to be grasped.

Rather, he emptied himself,

            taking the form of a slave,

            coming in human likeness;

            and found human in appearance,

            he humbled himself,

            becoming obedient to the point of death,

            even death on a cross.

Because of this, God greatly exalted him

            and bestowed on him the name

            which is above every name,

            that at the name of Jesus

            every knee should bend,

            of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

            and every tongue confess that

            Jesus Christ is Lord,

            to the glory of God the Father.