Palm Sunday

 

Opening Prayer

Jesus

Your example brings joy

but it also brings pain.

Open our hearts to understand

both the joy and pain.

Let us know you more deeply

as we experience both

in the scriptures.

Amen!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 50:4-7

• From whose perspective is this reading? What does it tell you about speaking out against injustice?
• Define a well-trained tongue. Would you say your tongue is well trained?
• What does God promise to those who hear His word and act on it?

Philippians 2:6-11

• How have you emptied yourself to Christ this Lenten season? (It is not too late)
• How do you show love? Do you love others with conditions?  What can you do to love others more fully?

 Luke 22:14-23:56 or 23:1-49

• What have you done to reject God in the last month, week, day, hour? What was the “benefit” received?
• When did you last serve another person? How did you serve them?  What was your motivation?  What was their response?
• If you were there on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, could you have stayed with Jesus until the very end? Who in this scripture can you relate to the most?  Why?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Where do you see God each morning? How do you know He has your back?
• Who are the people in your life who have your back? How do you know?
• Name qualities of a humble person. Do you have any of these qualities?  Do you know anyone who does?
• What gets in your way when you try to give your time to Jesus in prayer? What distracts you?
• If you believe Jesus is the King of Glory, how do you show your obedience to Him?
• What are some changes which cause anticipation? What are some changes which cause anxiety?  How are they the same?  How are they different?
• Is there some discomfort when standing up for what is right?
• What do you say is the opposite of love? Hate?  Fear?  Distrust?  Selfishness?  Or something else?  How does the opposite you choose affect your definition of love?
• When was the last time you defended your faith to another? Where is the line of defending and being hypocritical?
• Are there areas in your life where you have fallen asleep? How might God be calling you to wake up?
• Have you ever been in a state of extreme physical pain? How were you able to cope?
• Have you been with someone who has been in extreme physical pain? What can you do to help those who suffer?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  At dawn

ALL:  YOU bring the sunrise to wake me.

Leader:  In the morning

 ALL:  YOU clear the fog and give me a new day.

Leader:  During the day

ALL:  YOU are in each person and thing I see.

Leader:  In the evening

ALL:  YOU bring the night to slow us down.

Leader:  At bedtime

ALL:  YOU give us comfort as we rest.

Leader:  Each day

ALL:  We begin again!

 

Challenge for the Week:   The Romans hung Jesus on the cross to bring attention to him, ridicule and humiliate.  Even in this state, Jesus was able to forgive those who had scourged, tortured and spat on him.  How do we act when someone lies to us, cheats or tells lies about us?  What do we do when people throw daggers at us with their words and actions?  How do we forgive those who hurt us?  On the flip side, what do our actions say?  Do we consistently treat others kindly or are we guilty of spreading rumors or gossiping?  Do we turn the other way when someone is being treated unjustly?  This week, take some time to really look at your actions; what are they really saying?  Do we look more like Jesus in these readings or like those condemning him?  Make a commitment to make a permanent change in how you treat others, even if it is a baby step.  Take the opportunity given to pray more intently this last week of Lent to make a positive change.