Here’s a beautiful prayer of praise and petition for use on Palm Sunday or during Holy Week. It was written by John van de Laar, and posted on the Sacredise website.
Calls for Allegiance
Lord Jesus Christ, whose greatest moments of triumph happen
on the back of a donkey's foal
and nailed to a bloody cross,
We gather to prepare the way for You
in our lives and in our world.
There are so many people and things that call for our allegiance
so many kings seeking to rule over us.
But, You ride into our experience as another kind of King
a serving, humble and challenging King
who calls us not to slavery, but friendship.
There are so many things that seek our energy and resources
for their own sakes
so many Kingdoms seeking our souls for their own glory.
But, You ride into our experience heralding another kind of Kingdom
a Kingdom where the least are the greatest,
where the meek inherit the earth
and where children are the best example of citizenship.
a Kingdom which seeks to bring life, not drain it.
There are so many things that draw our attention.
So many realities that seek our faith and assent.
But, You ride into our experience revealing another kind of reality
a reality where death does not have the last word.
a reality where pride, selfishness and evil are defeated
by love and self-giving.
a reality which does not parade itself for all to see,
but fills every moment, every situation and every thing with life,
while waiting for us to discover it.
And so, we cry, from our hearts
Hosanna, Save us.
Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord.
Amen.
— written by John van de Laar. Copyright © 2006 Sacredise. Posted on the Sacredise website. http://www.sacredise.com/
For more worship resources for Palm/Passion Sunday, click on Palm Sunday in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.
