On this Monday in Holy Week as we journey closer to the foot of the cross, we hear from the Gospel according to John. It is John’s account of Palm Sunday:
When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So 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!’
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: ‘Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!’ His 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. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, ‘You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!’ (Jn. 12: 9-19).
One really has to wonder about the Pharisees. Did they not see who Jesus was? If they didn’t, why couldn’t they? If they did see who he was, why did they react the way they did? We will never be able to answer these questions in our life time. Only God knows their hearts. But their apparent attitude as presented by John should cause us to ask these very same questions about ourselves. Do you and I see Jesus for who he really is? If we don’t, why not. If we do, shouldn’t our lives reflect it? As we continue our walk with Jesus this week, our walk to the foot of the cross, let us reflect on our relationship with Jesus. Have we shouted “hosanna” on Palm Sunday only to yell “crucify him” on Friday? Where do you and I stand with Jesus?
Let us pray: Almighty God, whose dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other that the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So 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!’
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: ‘Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!’ His 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. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, ‘You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!’ (Jn. 12: 9-19).
One really has to wonder about the Pharisees. Did they not see who Jesus was? If they didn’t, why couldn’t they? If they did see who he was, why did they react the way they did? We will never be able to answer these questions in our life time. Only God knows their hearts. But their apparent attitude as presented by John should cause us to ask these very same questions about ourselves. Do you and I see Jesus for who he really is? If we don’t, why not. If we do, shouldn’t our lives reflect it? As we continue our walk with Jesus this week, our walk to the foot of the cross, let us reflect on our relationship with Jesus. Have we shouted “hosanna” on Palm Sunday only to yell “crucify him” on Friday? Where do you and I stand with Jesus?
Let us pray: Almighty God, whose dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other that the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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