The Sunday of the Passion

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord

Today, we get to have our cake and eat it too. The service begins with Jesus' triumphal entry into

Jerusalem, but the Gospel lesson recounts the events of Good Friday. Although it may seem odd

to have both these readings, it gives us more opportunity to meditate on our Lord's passion. On

Maundy Thursday, we are usually occupied with the Last Supper and the Lord's Supper. On Good

Friday, we are usually focused specifically on Christ's final hours on the cross. But many of the

bits from Passion Week end up getting missed. So we read the passion of our Lord at length in

addition to the traditional Palm Sunday reading.

We will also be conducting what is usually called a “Gospel Processional.” Instead of reading

from the lectern as usual, the pastors will be carrying the scriptures into the center of the church

and reading the Gospel lesson from there. This both emphasizes the honor of God's Word as

well as demonstrates how the Gospel is to go out into the world (as it goes out into the

congregation). In the end, it is all for the praise of Christ and His words.