Palm Sunday

We thank you Holy Spirit for being our constant companion on this Lenten journey, breathing new life in to us every step of the way, filling us with wisdom, enabling us to go deeper on our walk towards Resurrection Sunday. May this nearness we now feel carry on past Easter, may we allow you to be a constant source of love in our lives, a constant force for good in all that we do.

Jesus, today we reflect on Palm Sunday. We ruminate on the word ‘palm’; we imagine the palm leaves of this tree that for many conjures up images of tropical holidays. Yet at the same we are prepared for the word palm to mean something truly different, the image of a glorious welcome replaced by that of nails through your palms. This one simple word shows how fickle we your people are, how easily we are swayed from righteousness, how quickly turned from glory.

Jesus give us the strength and power to stay true to our words. May our actions be in alignment with the values and ethos you demonstrated during your walk among us. We are called to be your disciples and walk down a road that wont often be festooned with palm leaves and flowers. Our walk with you may be challenging. Heavenly Parent remind us that you have already provided us with everything we need to tackle every challenge.

As we continue the Easter story remind us we have a choice as to which characters we play, a choice in our role. Do we choose to be people who uplift and celebrate, or do we choose to be people who condemn and crucify? God be with us at our waking and stay with us each day, supporting us in our choices and decisions. Be with us in our hurt and shame we when make the wrong choice.

God Almighty, for so many of us the past 12 months have been a time of stress and strain, fear and grief. A rollercoaster of uncertainty. This week as we move towards the glory of resurrection may we once again be filled with hope, hope of a new life, hope of brighter days, hope of the marvellous.

Today we have hope. Today we place our faith and trust in your palms.

Amen!