Palm Sunday procession: April 9, 2006.

Mark 11:1-11

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

Cupped Ear/Psalm Sounds

Listen to the words of verse 26, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord," as the congregation waves palm branches and enters the sanctuary on Palm Sunday.

This psalm is a thanksgiving celebration that probably was performed in a liturgy processional. When the worshipers arrive at the temple gates, the psalmist asks to be admitted: "Open to me the gates of righteousness" (v. 19). Those who enter through these gates are not "righteous persons" who have proven themselves worthy but persons who acknowledge that God has saved them (v. 21) through God's righteousness.

Verse 27 alludes to the processional arriving through the temple gates and approaching the altar. The people celebrate the new life in God with "branches" as they celebrate around the altar. Once again, a reference to the "steadfast love" of God is proclaimed at the end of the psalm in thanksgiving and praise.

Open Mouth/Psalm Speech

There usually is quite a celebration in our churches on Palm Sunday. People gather outside the sanctuary to receive and to bless the palms before entering the church. Children wave those branches as the church parade winds itself into the pews. Often there is no sermon but the reading of an entire gospel passion story.

If there is to be preaching, perhaps it could reveal the deep connection pointing back to this psalm as Israel anticipated the coming of a Messiah/King. Preachers might remind their listeners that Jesus appeared not in a cultural vacuum but in a deeply religious community whose world was psalm-filled. There were those followers who saw in Jesus the gates of righteousness being opened for everyone by that man riding on a donkey. DRB