Prayers of the People: Palms and Passion, Last Sunday in Lent Yr C

For Sunday, March 20, 2016, Palms and Passion, Last Sunday in Lent, Yr C, Readings: Luke 19:28-40, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Ps 150, Philippians 2:5-11, 
Luke 22:39-23:49-56

         [Jesus said] "Go into the village...and as you enter you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden... [Luke 19:29a]

         Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself...humbled himself... [Philippians 2:5-7a,8a]

        Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed [the people] again, but they kept shouting, Crucify, crucify him. A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death...But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he 

should be crucified; and their voices prevailed." [Luke 23:20-23]

         Then a servant-girl, seeing [Peter] in the firelight, stared at him and said, "This man was also with [Jesus]." But he denied it saying, "Woman, I do not know him.] A little later someone else on seeing him said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, "Surely this man was also with him...But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about!" [Luke 22:56-60a]

         From the symbolism of the colt/donkey [humility and peace rather than a steed of victory and power], the significance of the palms and cloaks [a sign of highest honor], to our knowing how this week will end, Palm Sunday in its exuberance of procession and the viciousness of the Passion is far more than merely the Sunday before Easter. The tone is set for the journey through Holy Week and in these times of political machinations and murders, violence and betrayal, crowd manipulation and wrangling, I must pay closer attention. It is time for me to acknowledge the moments of my own betrayal of Jesus through denial in thought, word, action, or plain inaction. Turning away from the unpleasant, the insincere, and especially the dangerous may be safer and less stressful in the short run, but, going with the flow by participation or neglect, reaps far more tyranny than standing up to oppression. 

        Dr. Martin Luther King said, "A time comes when silence is betrayal." That time came for Peter, that time is now for us.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Christ of Earth and Heaven, in a few short days Your joy-filled entry into Jerusalem to riotous exultations turned to riotous hate-filled betrayal, mirroring the political manipulation of un-informed minds in our own day. Reveal to us the power of love and responsibility we have because of Your sacrifice for us.

                                                Jesus, our Lord, our Messiah

RESPONSE:             Our lives, our hope must be in You

~ Christ of Earth and Heaven, let us stand firmly rooted in Your Gospel and call to account all who hold or seek office in the governments of this Earth, this Country, and this Community for the principles of justice, mercy, and peace. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, our Lord, our Messiah

                                                Our lives, our hope must be in You

~ Christ of Earth and Heaven, deliver into wholeness those who suffer through illness, depression, or addiction, and renew the energy of all who provide support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

Jesus, our Lord, our Messiah

                                                Our lives, our hope must be in You

~ Christ of Earth and Heaven, lift the hearts of all who mourn as those we love are transformed through their joyful and jubilant welcome into gracious eternal life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, our Lord, our Messiah

                                                Our lives, our hope must be in You

~ Christ of Earth and Heaven, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

Jesus, our Lord, our Messiah

                                                Our lives, our hope must be in You

~ Christ of Earth and Heaven, refresh the hearts and souls of all who are chosen to enliven and encourage our faith that together we find and enter the holy temple of God. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, our Lord, our Messiah

                                                Our lives, our hope must be in You

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  Lord God in Christ, permeate our skin, our tissue, and our bones with the magnitude of Your teaching in earthly life, Your sacrifice in horrific death, and the significance of Your glorious resurrection, that we may live humbly, serve You, and bring You into all that we do. We ask in the name of You who redeemed us, and the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us, who together with our Creator is One God, now and forever. Amen.

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