Palm Sunday

Thought, word, deed

Matthew 27:11-54

There are three important considerations for commemorating the triumphal entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem:

1. Jesus riding on a donkey is fulfilling a prophecy from Zechariah: " Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, o daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a cold, the foal of a donkey." (Zech 9,9)  This King is truly humble;

2.  Throwing of cloaks on the path of someone is a sign of utmost respect and homage; we see Jesus clearly not just his outward appearance but who he is for us - our King; and

3. "Hosanna!" which means "God saves", which God is truly at work;

All these we can see in Jesus, the Messiah who is to come; allow him as King to enter and touch our lives for good.

In the gospel, Jesus lives out the very qualities of a Messiah - a disciple:

1. He listens like disciple; he listens to God.  How often do we listen to God and change our way of thinking?

2.  "God has given him a disciple's tongue, to save the wearied."  We speak of what we hear.  Allow God's gentle presence to touch our touch so we may speak words that would give rest to the wearied, light to the ignorant, and repentance to the troubling heart.

3.  Jesus has a heart that loves and sacrifices.  Our behaviors are marked by the things that we hear and speak.  It is the ultimate test of our entrance to heaven.  May the things that move our hands and feet be the product of our intense love for God.  May Jesus be the true Messiah of our lives!