Palm Sunday: Jesus rides into Jerusalem. Hosanna!

Read Matthew 21:8-11 (NET)

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those following kept shouting, 

 

“Hosanna to the Son of David! 

Blessed is the one who comes 

in the name of the Lord! 

Hosanna in the highest!” 

 

As he entered Jerusalem the whole city was thrown into an uproar, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Duccio di Buoninsegna [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Using art as a pathway to God, gaze upon the image above and engage in Visio Divina with it. 

Visio divina (sacred seeing) is a companion discipline of lectio divina (sacred reading)

Read the Image ... Allow your eyes to seek softly what you are attracted to in the image.  Simply receive the gift of seeing.  What image within the image is drawing you in ... Allow yourself a few moments simply to sit with this gift.

Receive the Image ... Take a deep breath and gaze with soft eyes and a receptive spirit.  After receiving, close your eyes and reflect by allowing your imagination to form that image in your consciousness ... what are you receiving from God through the image?  How does this illuminate your life right now?

Respond to God ... Now take a deep breath and gaze with soft eyes and a grateful spirit.  How do you sense yourself desiring to respond to God through the image you have received?  What would you say to God about what you are hearing, seeing, feeling?  Allow yourself to pray with gratitude ...

Rest in God ... Now take a deep breath and rest ... notice how your body feels.  Is there something more here?  Then go back and repeat your "gazing" prayer.   If you feel that you have received all you need in this moment, simply rest in the silence and come to a place of shalom, peace, wholeness ... 

Amen.

Holy Week Journey: The Palms

Read Mark 11:1-11
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.” ’ They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna!  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!  Hosanna in the highest heaven!’  Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Take this link to Hosanna in the Highest by Tom Wuest of Maranatha Records.  This is a youtube video with amazing nature images.  As I listen to the music and the words ... Hosanna in the Highest ... my heart fills with joy and I can almost feel Jesus walking beside me as we take in all of God's creation.  Beautiful!

I invite you to bask in the words of the song and soar with the images as you allow your emotions to take you to the Path of the Palms and the Presence of Jesus.  How would you describe the way you are feeling as your feet touch the palms?


Remember these emotions as you begin your Holy Week Journey ...