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Palm Sunday
Sunday of the Passion

April 13, 2025 - 10:00 a.m.
at Riverview Retirement Community

Today we follow Christ from triumphal entry to the cross, each waypoint of the journey marked by Jesus’ compassion for those who would betray, mock, accuse, or do violence to him. Though persecuted and beaten, Jesus the Son of God is not disgraced; instead, he asks forgiveness for those who put him to death. We have walked the Lenten pathway these forty days, each of us invited through baptism to “let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” We enter this holy week accompanying Jesus to the cross with both grief and thanksgiving in our hearts, trusting in God’s redeeming love.

Readings

Luke 19:28-40
The triumphant entry into Jerusalem

Philippians 2:5-11
Humbled to the point of death on a cross

Music

Gathering Song: All Glory, Laud, and Honor (Valet wir ich dir geben)
Kyrie: Setting 10
Gospel Acclamation: Setting 10
Hymn of the Day: Ride On, Ride On in Majesty (The King’s Majesty)
Offertory Song: Create in Me a Clean Heart (Freylinghausen)
Communion: Setting 10
Sending Song: Three Holy Days Enfold Us Now (Rockingham Old)
Postlude: Arabesque, L. 66, No. 1 - Claude Debussy

A Place with Jesus

The movement of this day—from shouts of praise to words of denial and cries for crucifixion—mirrors the path of discipleship. The lives of Jesus’ followers hang in the balance between faithfulness and betrayal. For Peter, the act of denial is subtle and insidious. He claims not to know Jesus; he claims to have no place as his disciple. On the surface it is seemingly harmless. It happens, and then is over in a moment. In reality, the harm is deep and lasting. Subtle but harmful denial happens in a split second as disciples compromise faith for the sake of self-protection—as they’re too embarrassed to give thanks; as someone knows how to help but fails to do so because it’s inconvenient; as resources are hoarded. While Peter withholds everything for his own sake, Jesus, for the sake of others, withholds nothing. As disciples fail to claim their place with Jesus, Jesus’ embrace claims them. From the cross, Jesus offers mercy wide enough to claim even those who do not know what they do.

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