A Prayer for Palm Sunday Pt.2
Originally presented at our Palm Sunday service, written by Alan Williams
“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Jesus, I know you’ve heard these words before. They must in some way please you. You said if the crowds didn’t say them then the rocks would cry out; did you mean they would cry out these very words? I know what was coming. I know now where you were heading after the palm-covered road ran out; what your face was set towards.
But I still don’t know what to pray. What to say. Forgive me I pray. I long to join the chorus of those rocks. Rocks that you spoke into to being, maybe rocks that you chose to not speak into bread just to satisfy your own comfort—what I may foolishly call your needs.
May I understand more of you. May I see who the “King who comes in the name of the Lord” is. Why does my mind so immediately see visions of such success and grandeur when it hears the word “King?” You have spoken to me so many times about what your kingdom is like. Please let my mind be fixed on a vision like that. But let me see you. In these visions guide my spirit to notice you at work, you forgiving, redeeming, providing.
I see that I am indeed called to work along side, but not from my own strength, not from my own intellect and ideas of what it means to bring forth this “peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” I can see it is you alone that accomplishes, that finishes and perfects. It is you alone on that donkey, walking through this jubilant confusion, this makeshift celebration of he who is truly our salvation, however obscured by our expectations and ideologies his presence among us may be—hosanna, nonetheless! Lord save us, for you are the one that saves! Lord forgive us even as we praise you.
Oh, great Lion of Judah, worthy are you! In the end of all things it is you who stands. Please, let me look up also, and see you, to recognize you: a lamb, who looked as though he were slain. Oh lord, teach me to recognize you and your ways. Lamb of God, remove from my eyes my false ideas of Kingship, power, and glory so that I may pray again, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” “To you be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!”
Amen.