Sunday Worship
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on Palm Sunday. Today we have a whole Parish Eucharist at St Thomas' Church at 11 am, and we are pleased to welcome Bishop Mark to preside and preach.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Ride On, Ride On in Majesty"
Today's Gospel
Luke 19:28-40 Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
After telling a parable to the crowd at Jericho, Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it.'" So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" They said, "The Lord needs it." Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."
Reflection
“I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."
That seems a bit strange doesn’t it? Was Jesus really implying that the stones would burst into song if the people stopped praising Him?
Perhaps Jesus was referring to the Psalms - To paraphrase, ‘Let everything God created praise the Lord , all creatures, the sea and the mountains, [Psalm 148:7-13].
Or maybe quoting Isaiah, “"For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. [Isaiah 55:12]
There are many similar poetical references in the bible that refer both living and inanimate things praising the Lord and creator.
Some might say that because with God nothing would be impossible, it could be that the stones might praise Him, but most scholars believe that the statement was rhetorical, if not a little mischievous, at the expense of the Pharisees.
Jesus was pointing out that it was more likely for something impossible to happen than for the disciples and all the people to stop shouting and praising Him as their king.
The scene where Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey seems somewhat paradoxical for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, throughout most of His ministry, Jesus has always played down His role as the Messiah and discouraged people from worshipping Him as a king. Yet as He enters the city He positively encourages people to welcome Him as the Messiah and for the multitudes to publicly praise Him with adulation and adoration.
They are openly praising God for sending Jesus – ‘the King who comes in the name of the Lord’. They are sharing stories of all the wonderful things and miracles they have heard that Jesus has done. Many have been astounded by His teachings as well as His actions and word would have abounded about the recent miracle when He raised Lazarus from the dead a few days before Jesus entered Jerusalem.
The people were beginning to believe that Jesus really was the new Messiah and so their expression of great joy was so appropriate.
In encouraging the crowds rather than suppressing their praises and joy, He is aware that He is instilling a sense of fear into the Pharisees. They do not like what they are seeing and hearing.
The Pharisees were fearful that their authority was threatened and challenged the claims that Jesus was King and sent by God as blasphemy. This fear will be a catalyst for events over the next few days.
The second paradox here is that shortly after this triumphal scene, the crowds would fall silent and by Friday they would be shouting just as loudly for His death on the Cross.
But thankfully that is not the end of the story!
Paul
