It Begins

Maungatapu – Palm Sunday 2026

Readings:

Psalm                          Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29                                                
First Reading:               Isaiah 50:4-9a
Gospel:                          Matthew 21: 1-11

What I want to say:

I want to help people enter into this story to
Where are we in this story?
What do we see?

What I want to happen:

Who is Jesus? Let go of our stereotypes and engage with the one presented in the gospels


 The Sermon

I wonder what we heard as I read that reading

what did we see and hear
where did we picture ourselves
who is this Jesus on a donkey

to help us reflect on these questions

offer this reflection

This symbolic journey

neatly planned

the donkey and colt prepared and ready

begins in Bethany
stopping point on the road from Galilee
down the Jordan
a hot days walk climbing the long road up from Jericho

this revolutionary act

this provocative parade
this enacted parable
begins on the hill
overlooking
the holy city

it begins with his friends

his disciples and supporters
            those who have risked everything on him
men and women
all those who have journeyed to this point
with shouts and joy
they throw clothes on the donkey and colt
sing the psalms of ascent
crying hosanna
            a cry of gratitude

and a plea to be saved

a longing for the descendant of David

confident and hopeful
and yet
and yet….

in their midst
knowingly
Jesus sets out
on this last journey of provocation
seated on a donkey
this ancient symbol
embracing humility
powerless power
compassion and healing
travelling God’s way of peace
down into the shadow

others join in

people of Bethany who know them
people of Bethany who rejoice with them
laying branches from the fields in his way
at this safe distance
they sing the psalms of defiance
supporters

for now

they will accompany them down the hill
down to the Kidron
but maybe
not all the way
danger lies
in the shadow
of that great city.

For Pilate has arrived 
atop his war horse

surrounded by battle hardened legionaries

all symbols of Rome’s violent power

built on fear and death

he is here for business
the business of keeping order

upholding Rome’s brutal peace

the business of dealing
with any expressed longing

for Rome’s end.

the business of making sure no-one takes the promise of Passover
too far
slowly this band of singing pilgrims are engulfed
engulfed by other pilgrims at journeys end

weary and expectant

here for Passover
the great festival of liberation
here for preparation
some are excited to see Jesus
some are uninterested
some keep their distance
some have no idea who he is.

As Jesus leaves his donkey and colt

he becomes one of them
a pilgrim
washing in the pool of Siloam
walking the way

up the hill

through David’s ancient city

into the holy place

joining in the songs of hope
held in the words of those psalms

hosanna is such a dangerous word

and Rome is wary
they pass the locals pedalling their wares
offering sustenance

making the most of this pilgrim throng

some/many unaware of who walks past
simply there to make ends meet
oblivious.

up the grand steps

up under the arches
through the internal walkways
emerging
into Herod’s magnificent renovations
the second temple
marvellous!
they stand.

They stand

under the watchful gaze
of the temple guards

suspicious

alert to the unruly

to all who would bring upheaval

safeguarding the temple hierarchy
the priests and their work

ordering the sacrifices

ordering life

keeping peace with Rome.

and there above them all
sits the Antonio
the Roman fortress
locked on the end
overseeing all
safeguarding Rome’s interests

into this steps Jesus

a single figure among so many
into this movement
he stands
and sees everything!
everything!
everything!

And then it really begins.

He overturns some tables
and the game is on.
the darkness deepens
we begin the slow walk to the cross

so where are we in all this?

we who join the hosannas at every eucharist
are we a disciple risking all?
or in the Bethany crowd waving and cheering
some close with peril
some simply enjoying the moment
some keeping a safe distance
are we a fellow traveller on the same road
a bemused pilgrim
a local living each day
            oblivious
a temple guard holding order
among the priests keeping peace
or with Rome
in the Antonio
overlooking.
joining Pilate and his symbols of violent power

 as we gather

here
on this sacred place
in our far away land
on this day of remembering
who are we?
what have we seen and heard
what is the everything that Jesus sees?
what is it we are invited to pay attention to this Holy Week and Easter?

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