6 Daniel G. C. Wu, Priest and Missionary among Chinese Americans, 1956
7 Tikhon, Patriarch of Russia and Confessor, 1925
8 William Augustus Muhlenberg, Priest, 1877. Anne Ayres, Religious, 1896
9 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Theologian and Martyr, 1945
10 William Law, Priest, 1761. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Scientist and Military Chaplain, 1955
11 George Augustus Selwyn, Bishop of New Zealand, and of Lichfield, 1878
12 Adoniram Judson, Missionary to Burma, 1850
FIRST READING: Matthew 21: 1 - 11 (all)
Matt 21:1 (NRSV) When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Beth'phage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, "The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately." 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
5 "Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" 11 The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."
Vv. 1-2 are a call to thanksgiving: God’s mercy, his “steadfast love”, is everlasting. May “Israel” (v. 2) (and) “those who fear the Lord” (v. 4) proclaim this! Vv. 5-13 say that, when the psalmist (possibly the king) was in distress, he “called on the Lord”, who heard him. With God on his side, there is nothing to fear; trusting in God is better than trusting in humans. Surrounded by his enemies, “in the name of the Lord I cut them off” (v. 11), with God’s help.
V. 15 recalls Exodus 15:2a, part of Israel’s classic victory song sung by Moses and the Israelites after crossing the Reed (Red) Sea. The “glad songs” are heard in the Temple, the community of the faithful.
The psalmist expects to live to old age (v. 17); he will proclaim God’s acts of power. He has suffered greatly at God’s hands, as a discipline, but God has preserved his life. He seeks entrance to the Temple (“gates of righteousness”, v. 19) to give thanks; only the godly may enter therein (v. 20). V. 22, possibly based on an ancient proverb, may speak of the king’s rise to power or of his victory. On this day (v. 24) God has either saved his people or punished the ungodly – or both. This is a time for rejoicing. In v. 26, all proclaim he who was “rejected” (v. 22), but is now God’s chosen ruler. Note the progression in vv. 26-29: “festal procession”, “extol” (raise up), everlasting love.
© 1996-2020 Chris Haslam
The parallels are Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-38; John 12:12-18. [ NOAB]
Matthew follows Mark but he changes the emphasis significantly by adding the fulfilment citation in vv. 4-5. [ NJBC]
Verse 1: The approach to Jerusalem seems to be up through the wilderness of Judea by way of Bethphage, a village on the slope of the Mount of Olives, probably near Bethany. [ CAB]
Verse 1: “Jerusalem”: The capital of Judea, and the religious centre of the people, because the Temple was there. [ NJBC]
Verse 1: “Bethphage”: The specific location cannot be identified. [ JANT]
Verse 1: “Mount of Olives”: It is linked to messianic and eschatological fulfilment in Ezekiel 11:23 (“ the glory of the Lord ascended from the middle of the city, and stopped on the mountain east of the city”) and Zechariah 14:1-4 (“See, a day is coming for the Lord, ... On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives, which lies before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley; so that one half of the Mount shall withdraw northward, and the other half southward.”). [ JANT] Because it had no water supply of its own, there were only a few villages on its slope. [ NJBC]
Verse 2: “colt”: While this word normally refers to a young horse, it can refer to the offspring of any member of the horse family.
Verse 3: “The Lord”: NJBC says that this stresses Jesus’ foreknowledge and lordship. [ NJBC]
Verse 3: Mark tells us that the animal will be returned; Matthew does not. [ NJBC]
Verses 4-5: The quotation is a combination of Isaiah 62:11 and Zechariah 9:9 [ NOAB].
Verse 8: “spread their cloaks on the road ... cut branches from the trees”: Palms were normally connected with the fall Feast of Tabernacles. The cloaks mentioned here were therefore for a different purpose: to associate Jesus with the kingship of Israel: when Jehu was proclaimed king, “they all took their cloaks and spread them for him on the bare steps” (2 Kings 9:13). See also Leviticus 23:39-40 and 2 Maccabees 10:5-8 (Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah). [ JANT]
Verse 9: “Hosanna”: The Hebrew means “save now” (as in Psalm 118:26). A form of this term is earlier used in connection with King David ( a widow appeals to him in 2 Samuel 14:4 saying “"Help, O king!”), making it clear that Jesus is the Davidic king. [ JANT]
Verse 9: “Son of David”: Jesus is also referred to by this title in 1:1; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30. [ JANT] It repeats the thought of “your king” (v. 5). [ BlkMt]
Verse 9: “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord”: From the halel (praise) psalms (Psalms 115- 118), recited during Passsover according to rabbinic tradition. [ JANT]
Vers 10: “the whole city was in turmoil”: It is strange, given the earthquake-like level of turmoil, that v. 11 is not messianic. [ JBC]
Verse 11: The crowds do not address him as messiah. [ JANT]
Verse 11: “the prophet”: Jesus accepted this title: see Luke 4:24. One Jewish expectation was that a prophet like Moses would be sent by God: see Deuteronomy 18:15,18. John the Baptizer denied that he was this prophet: see John 1:21 [ BlkMt]
Verse 11: “from Nazareth in Galilee”: Matthew favours Galilee over Jerusalem. [ JANT]
PSALM 118: 1 - 2, 19 - 29 (RCL)
Psal 118:1 (NRSV) O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say,
"His steadfast love endures forever."
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD's doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we beseech you, O LORD!
O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD.
We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God,
and he has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God, I will extol you.
29 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
118 Confitemini Domino (ECUSA BCP)
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim, *
his mercy endures for ever.
19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the Lord.
20 "This is the gate of the Lord; *
he who is righteous may enter."
21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become my salvation.
22 The same stone which the builders rejected *
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord's doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 On this day the Lord has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Hosanna, Lord, hosanna! *
Lord, send us now success.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; *
we bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord; he has shined upon us; *
form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.
28 "You are my God, and I will thank you; *
you are my God, and I will exalt you."
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.
Note: no Psalm is assigned in the Roman Catholic Lectionary
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