Hosanna! The perfect short prayer, for these and other times, that we
didn’t know that we knew. Before some Christian denominations began to use the now Revised Common Lectionary, Palm Sunday was a singular day by itself as a
celebration. The following Sunday, beginning Holy Week, was by itself as Passion Sunday. Now and for many decades, these two parts of
the Life of Christ are inextricably interwoven and significantly more cohesive
and substantive when taken together than when separated. It is human nature to
only want the fun part, yet as we know all too well, in the span of mortal life
we cannot overlook the difficult in favor of only the pleasurable. And, that is
why the shout of HOSANNA! is more important than ever, on this and every day.
Hosanna, pronounced “Hoshana” in the
Hebrew [Old] Testament, comes to us today in Psalm 118 appointed for
the “Liturgy of the Palms,” which opens this Sunday, in verses 25-26 (NRSV): Hosannah, Lord,
hosannah! Lord, send us now success. Blessed is he who comes in the name
of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord. In
original Aramaic, the language Jesus would likely have spoken, the exclamation
was “help, save, I pray.” The words of the Psalm become clearer with that in
mind if we shift to “Help, Lord, Help! Lord, send us now success.” In the Jewish
Study Bible (of the Jewish Publication Society and published by Oxford
Press 1985/1999), verses 25-26 read as O Lord, deliver us!
O Lord, let us prosper! May he who enters be blessed in the name of
the Lord; we bless you from the House of the Lord.
Christian usage in the
Christian [New] Testament has become an exclamation of special
respect for the one who saves us. Neither definition excludes the other and so
to proclaim Hosanna! is to recognize, celebrate, and respect
Jesus as our Lord and Savior even as we ask him to help us.
The opening readings may be familiar but listen, and even better, read them to discover what you've forgotten or never thought about. For example, choosing the kind of animal for Jesus to ride is quite significant. Jesus was accused later in the week of proclaiming himself
"King of the Jews," yet riding into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey
symbolized that he was a peaceful Teacher. A warrior King would ride in on a horse bent on war and occupation. The
procession with palm branches celebrates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem
just after his miraculous raising of Lazarus from the dead just two miles away in Bethany.
The greetings of hosanna are a recognition that he is a
Messiah who will remove and save them from the oppression of Rome.
The Passion narrative develops the details of his
Last Supper, betrayal by Judas, and the machinations of the Chief Priests, whose
local standing and power among the Jewish hierarchy and Rome, were clearly
threatened by this acclaimed and unorthodox prophet and miracle-worker. All of
these elements were carefully noticed and recorded by the Roman occupiers and the
Sanhedrin, the Jewish Council who had its own police force and trial court. How
easy, it seems, to go from enthusiastic cheers of the welcoming crowd to the strongly
manipulated and equally enthusiastic and deathly jeers by the same people mere
days later. Two thousand plus
years on, it is still a story for our own time. How easily are we turned from
waving palms to throwing rocks because of a few well-placed headlines or
Facebook comments because we simply followed the crowd?
Jesus enters the chaos of his times as he
enters the chaos of our own. The people along the way misunderstood the significance of this man who was being accepted as Messiah. He wasn't coming for regime change but rather to teach love and peace, equality and humanity. The political and religious authorities knew he was a threat to their power and wealth and he still is. How divided still is our world over who is in and who is out even, or perhaps especially, among those who claim Jesus as their own and everyone who doesn't believe in the exact way that they do are definitely out and often persecuted.
The message of Jesus was, is, and will always be: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. [Mark 12:30-31; Matthew 22:37-39]
When is the time for Hosannas? Always!
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, the human winds of discontent
change to the stillness of apathy and back as quickly as those who turned
from Hosanna to Crucify Him. Grant us the
willingness to walk consciously through this Holy Week with fresh eyes,
and, the uncomfortable awareness of how often we, too, have slept in Your
presence.
O Lord our GOD
RESPONSE:
Let Us Turn Again To You
~ Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, lighten the hearts and
enlighten the minds of all who govern in this Community, this Nation, and this
World, that they may seek the paths of peace through global
cooperation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O Lord our GOD
Let
Us Turn Again To You
~ Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, cradle in Your benevolent
arms all who are sick, desperate, or hopeless, and give peace of heart to those
who care and worry. We now join our hearts to pray for those in
need… add your own petitions
O Lord our
GOD
Let
Us Turn Again To You
~ Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, ease the burden of grief
in all who are or have ever been bereaved, as those we mourn now live in the
eternal radiance of everlasting resurrection in You. We pray especially
for… add your own petitions
O Lord our
GOD
Let
Us Turn Again To You
~ Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, we pause in
this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions
O Lord our
GOD
Let
Us Turn Again To You
~ Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, embrace and enrich those
You have called to lead us in Your Church through this sacred week and
beyond. Inspire their words, their prayers, and their souls, that they and
we together, may draw ever closer to You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O Lord our
GOD
Let
Us Turn Again To You
The Celebrant adds: GOD Almighty, Creator of Heaven and
Earth, in Your loving-kindness sustain our hope and save us from a time of
trial, that humbled in our human form, we may seek and serve Christ in
ourselves, in each other, and in all of humankind. We ask through Jesus, our
Strength and our Redeemer; and the Holy Spirit, the Wisdom of our Souls, who
together with You are One God, now and forever. Amen.
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