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Palm-Passion Sunday Liturgy
Peace Meditation
Welcome: We gather at the start of Holy Week to remember the final days of Jesus with his disciples, arriving in Jerusalem cheered by the crowds, only to be later rejected by them, turned it seems by those in power who were fearful of potential change in that power that they held. Today, we face similar circumstances, with many in our country turned from the message of love and compassion, proclaimed and lived by Jesus, by leaders who promote hate and fear of the other. Let us be open to our readings and the message they provide for our call as followers of Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
We gather today mindful of the many times we have professed our readiness to be true disciples of Jesus. We acknowledge the daunting challenge of this profession in the society in which we live, with its economic systems that impoverish and disempower people, and its political systems that enable the rich to get richer and the earth to become poorer.
We remember that Jesus encountered in his day systems as unjust as those we experience in our day. Jesus urged his listeners to put their trust in the power of being neighbor, in the power of God’s Spirit within them.
Our prayer today is a prayer of resolve, a prayer of determination that we, each of us, will do whatever we can however small, in whatever way to bring the real dream of Jesus to fruition in our lives and in our world today. Amen.
Adapted from Michael Morwood’s Prayers for Progressive Christians, Palm Sunday (Pg. 147-149)
Opening Song: Hosanna (Jesus Christ Superstar)
https://youtu.be/OXDmfAB42z0?si=uQddFk3fJCrmg6xK
1st Reading: A poem by Gary Jansen
CROWS
Voices emerge out of darkness,
and the scent of wine and vinegar.
You stand before them.
They hover like hungry dogs.
No humor. No irony.
Circles of shadow frame disjointed faces,
a room of cracked mirrors,
fear reflected a thousand times.
Dark halos, lips twisted,
like those who speak
from both sides of their mouths.
They talk of revolution and peace.
They know nothing.
The same angel of the desert
who did this to Pharaoh
whispers in their ears tonight:
Harden your hearts.
There is nothing that can be said.
No truth. This is all just making motions.
A mock trial. A conspiracy of cowards.
They feud among themselves.
Their anger is so boring.
They tear down what God created.
You will rebuild.
These inspiring words are from Gary Jansen, and we affirm them with, Amen.
Jansen, Gary. Meditations at Midnight: Poetry and Prose (pp. 7-8). Loyola Press. Kindle Edition.
Gospel: A reading from the anonymous writer referred to as Luke (Lk 19:29-40
It was when he had almost reached Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, that he sent on two of his followers. “Go to the village facing us,” he said, “and, when you get there, you will find a colt tethered, which no one has yet ridden; untie it and lead it here. And, if anybody asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you are to say this: ‘The Master wants it.” So, the two who were sent went and found it as Jesus had told them. While they were untying the colt, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And the two disciples answered, “The Master wants it.” Then they led it back to Jesus and threw their cloaks on the foal and put Jesus on it. As he went along, the people kept spreading their cloaks in the road. When he had almost reached the place where the road led down the Mount of Olives, every one of the many followers began in their joy to praise God loudly for all the powerful deeds that they had seen: “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of our God! Peace in heaven, and glory on high.” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him: “Teacher, restrain your disciples.” But Jesus answered: “I tell you that if they are silent, the stones will call out.”
These are inspired words by an anonymous Gospel author, and we affirm them with, Amen.
Taussig, Hal. A New New Testament: A Bible for the Twenty-first Century Combining Traditional and Newly Discovered Texts (pp. 117-118). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition.
Gospel Acclamation: More Light by Christopher Grundy
Second Reading: A Contemporary Story of the Passion
Mr. Refugee Claimant before the Council of Ministers
When it was daylight, the Council of Provincial Ministers met, and Mr. Refugee Claimant was brought before them. The ministers said to him: “If you are a genuine refugee, you should go through the established legal channels.”
Mr. Claimant replied: "If I go through the established legal channels, I will have to wait for a very long time in fear without any guarantee that my request will be heard.”
The ministers then said to him: “By arriving illegally, you are costing us a lot of money: our taxpayers do not like to pay for your accommodation, among other things.”
Mr. Claimant answered: “But I am not an ‘illegal’; nobody is ‘illegal’”.
Then the chairman said: “We don't need any more testimony. He declared himself legal.”
Mr. Refugee Claimant before the Prime Minister of the country
The Council of Provincial Ministers rose in unison and took him to the Prime Minister of the country. The Council of Provincial Ministers said to the Prime Minister of the country: “This Mr. Refugee Claimant has declared himself legal here in our country. Furthermore, he says that he wants to bypass the legal channels to get here and that it is his right to do so.”
The Prime Minister asked him, "Are you really a refugee?"
Mr. Claimant replied, "You yourself say I am."
The Prime Minister continued: "But there is a process to follow before you can be declared a refugee."
Mr. Claimant replied, "There's no need to worry. I am ready to go through that process.”
The Prime Minister of the country addressed the Council of Provincial Ministers and the crowd, "I don't find in this man any grounds for refoulement necessary at this point."
The Council of Ministers demands the removal of Mr. Claimant
But the Council of Ministers and the crowd insisted forcefully: "He has declared himself a refugee; he has declared himself legal. He cannot be trusted. He must be sent back."
At these words, the Prime Minister of the country consulted his immediate circle. He came back and assembled the Council of Provincial Ministers: "You brought this Mr. Claimant to me, accusing him of being an illegal. But he has done nothing illegal; irregular, yes, but nothing illegal. Any person has the right to cross an international border if he asks for asylum. He will go through the process of determining whether he is a genuine refugee or not."
But the Provincial Council of Ministers cursed and roused the crowd, shouting, "He does not respect our laws; he uses our services; he contributes nothing; he takes our jobs;"
The Prime Minister of the country replied, "But what has he done wrong? I will release him. It will be up to the asylum court to decide his fate.”
But they shouted and insisted that Mr. Claimant should be returned.
Mr. Claimant handed over
Then the Prime Minister of the country, not wanting to alienate the Council of Provincial Ministers and wanting to satisfy the crowd, decided to send Mr. Claimant back.
Mr. Claimant was handcuffed and taken back to the border. Some of his friends accompanied him. One of the policemen had a troubled face. He was handed over to the authorities of the neighboring country. The authorities of the neighboring country took him.
In the days that followed, people close to Mr. Claimant tried to contact him without success. They do not know if he is in detention; they do not know if the authorities of the neighboring country have deported him to his country of origin.
These are inspired words which we affirm with, Amen.
A Contemporary Story of the Passion, Author Unknown
Shared Homily Dennis McDonald
In our first reading by Gary Jansen, I was struck by the line, “the same angel of the desert who did this to Pharaoh whispers in their ears tonight: Harden your hearts.”
And isn’t that what we have seen in our country over the past decade, dark angels not whispering but shouting for people to harden their hearts. Harden their hearts against immigrants, against the LGBTQ+ community, against women, against anyone or anything that threatens the patriarchy, their power, their domination. They create lies that are meant to scare people into thinking that those that are different from them are a threat to their way of life, to their safety, to their future.
The people in the story of Jesus arrival shouted Hosanna (save us). It was not a shout of glory, it was a plea, a plea for change, a plea that they be rescued from this life of oppression. Jesus, in the week leading up to his crucifixion, made “good trouble”. He overturned tables in the temple, spoke out against the injustices inflicted on the poor and the outcasts. His criticism, his standing in opposition to the hypocrisy of the Jewish authorities, and the domination by the Roman authorities, led to his arrest and crucifixion.
I came across our final reading last year, and found it spoke so well to what so many are experiencing currently. There are many in our country who are facing their own passion by political or religious leaders who have preached a hardening of hearts, and have scapegoated others for their own benefit and power. Immigrants being arrested and deported for seeking a better life, a safer life, a life of freedom. Universities having research funds withdrawn for allowing students to speak out against what they and many others see as oppression and genocide. Those students being arrested for practicing their right to free speech, whether one agrees with them or not. And the list goes on, and I’m sure you could add to it.
So, what does this mean for us as followers of Jesus? It means standing in solidarity with those being oppressed. It means standing in opposition to those in authority who preach, “Harden your hearts”, and act with cruelty toward those who don’t agree or won’t bow down. It means making our voices heard, which many, if not all of us, are doing, by demonstrating, by marching, by writing letters to our legislators, to potential voters, or to the editor of local newspapers. It means supporting those who have been identified as “the other” by providing assistance, whether that be emotionally, financially, or politically. As we proceed through this Holy Week, let us recommit to stand in opposition to those who would ignore or bastardize the message of Jesus. Let us be those stones that “call out” for justice and compassion for all.
Please share your thoughts on today’s readings and the homily starter.
Statement of Faith
We believe in the Holy One, a divine mystery
beyond all definition and rational understanding,
the heart of all that has ever existed,
that exists now, or that ever will exist.
We believe in Jesus, messenger of the Divine Word,
bringer of healing, heart of Divine compassion,
bright star in the firmament of the Holy One's
prophets, mystics, and saints.
We believe that We are called to follow Jesus
as a vehicle of divine love,
a source of wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of peace in the world.
We believe in the Spirit of the Holy One,
the life that is our innermost life,
the breath moving in our being,
the depth living in each of us.
We believe that the Divine kin-dom is here and now,
stretched out all around us for those
with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it,
and hands to make it happen.
Prayers of the Community
As we prepare for the sacred meal, we bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns. Please feel free to voice your concerns beginning with the words “I bring to the table….”
We pray for these, and all the unspoken blessings, cares, and concerns held in the silence of our hearts. AMEN
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Eucharistic Prayer of Healing by Diarmuid O’Murchu
Let us join in the praying of our Eucharistic Prayer:
Gracious God, source and sustenance of life, redeeming presence to the pain and brokenness of our world, Holy Spirit, who enlivens and inebriates all that exists, we beseech your healing power upon us and upon all we pray for today.
Down through the ages, you rescue us from darkness. You light up our ways with wise and holy people. You restore our lost fortunes, and you revive our dwindling hope.
For all you bring to our lives, and for all we seek amid pain and suffering, we acclaim your love and greatness, and we join with all creation to sing our hymn of praise
Holy, Holy: Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
Source of our health and wholeness, healer of body, mind and spirit, we bring before you the darkness of our world, and the pain and suffering of your people. We seek to be healed and made whole; we seek to be reconciled and united; we seek peace in our hearts and in our world.
We ask you to awaken anew in our hearts the empowering grace of your abundant Spirit, who infuses these gifts of bread and wine with the transforming energy of life,
to nourish and sustain us in our time of need.
That same bread, Jesus took and broke, to restore the unity of our broken world. Jesus blessed you, God of healing and hope, then Jesus shared the bread with those at table saying:
Take and eat, the bread of life for all who hunger for peace and justice.
After the meal, he then raised the cup of blessing poured in a spirit of solidarity and empowerment, spoke the grace, and offered them the wine saying:
Take and drink the Cup of Compassion for a broken world.
Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you.
In prophetic solidarity, it is poured out for you and for all.
Sustain one another in the power of sacred memory.
What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives. As we share communion, we become communion, both Love’s nourishment and love’s challenge.
Receive the Bread of Life and the Cup of Compassion with the words,
I am/You are called to Discipleship
Communion Song: I’m Still Standing by Carrie Newcomer
https://youtu.be/7tds4ROHz5o?si=yqj6KdOjEbiHXzsX
Post-Communion Prayer
All: May the Spirit of life and wholeness, who transforms the gifts we present, transform us, too, that we may be refreshed in our inner being and be empowered to bring mercy, love and healing to those whose lives we touch.
The bread and the cup we shared are symbols of our world of abundance where all are invited to partake of the fullness of life. But that life we often impede by our greed and selfishness, and by our exploitation of other people.
So grant, that in union with all peoples, living and dead, we may strive to create a world where suffering and pain are diminished, where justice and peace are restored, and where all people can live in health and wholeness, united in acclaiming the God of life,
whose abundance is offered to each and to all, ‘til the Kindom arrives in the fullness of time.
This prayer we make in the name of our healing and nurturing God, through, with and in whom we offer these gifts, sources of life, love and goodness.
Prayer of Jesus
O Holy One, you are within, around and among us.
We celebrate your many names.
Your wisdom come, your will be done,
unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all that we need.
You remind us of our limits, and we let go.
You support us in our power, and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within us,
the empowerment around us,
and the celebration among us,
now and forever. Amen. (Sr. Miriam Therese Winter)
BLESSING
All: Great Mystery, shower each of us with the courage and determination to be the hands and the feet of Jesus, raising our voices in protest against the discrimination and injustices that are infiltrating our country and world. Let us instead live the way of Jesus, reaching out in compassion and love to bring about a world of peace and justice. Amen.
Closing Song: Jerusalem My Destiny – sung by St. Vincent Choir – Solo: Dennis McDonald