Liturgy of the Palms

28th March 2026

Reflection with readings below

Today’s Gospel highlights Jesus’s radical leadership style – one that will also be witnessed latter this week on Maundy Thursday.

Last week we saw Sarah Mullally walking from London to Canterbury where she was installed as the new arch bishop. By walking, Sarah demonstrated a radical style of leadership – one that put her on a level with and accessible to those she will serve. Jesus does the same thing when he rides into Jerusalem on a donkey.

This approach is the converse of big businesses such as Shell and  Barclays. Here the CEO and other company executives hide behind plate glass, card-swipe doors and security guards. They chose not to meet or engage with the person in the street.  They only listen to big money shareholders and financiers. Their interests limited to the making of yet more profits. 

And significantly, they – the CEOs and corporate business leaders are the ones that have the ear of government ministers.  But as ordinary voters, we should not neglect our right to go to Parliament and ask to speak to our MP – a process called green carding. (Your request is recorded in a green slip and if your MP isn’t available they are required to send you a written reply instead).

Throughout the Gospels we Jesus walking amongst and alongside with people, listening  to the. and asking them “What do you want?” He did not tuck himself away in a palace or villa. He didn’t separate  himself from the ordinary people with a vanguard of vigilant disciples. He didn’t limit his acceptance of invitations to just those of the rich and influential. He didn’t limit his conversations to just those who were ‘proper’ Jews. Rather he made a point of turning no one away, of listening to people’s concerns, of entering into dialogue with those who opposed him.

Jesus’s leadership style of inclusivity, of attentive listening, of genuine engagement and genuine concern, is one that needs to be emulated by others in leadership roles if we are to create and maintain resilient, caring and proactive communities. 

The Green Party recent successes is in part because their candidates have been willing to walk the streets meeting ordinary people and listening to their concerns. 

When recently three bishops went and spent time in the occupied territories and speaking with and listening to the Palestinian inhabitants, they came away with a different stance on the conflict. Where at the synod in July the church had not wanted to to debate the Palestinian issue, now these three bishops spoke out 

The alternative leadership style of exclusivity and othering of domination and suppression, is destructive of communities and community values. It devalues ordinary individuals, using them as pawns, It increases the divide between rich and poor, between the haves and have nots. We see this leadership styles in figures such as Putin and Trump and Netanyahu – and maybe too in the remote leadership figures in Iran – people who are narcissistic, who surround themselves with yes people, who don’t walk amongst the ordinary people, who place national (and personal) status above the wellbeing of the ordinary people, who disregard the ideals of the common good. 

Today’s psalm with its reference to the rejected stone which becomes the chief cornerstone reminds us how God’s wisdom is often counter cultural! 

What of the crowds in today’s Gospel story, the ones who lined the streets, who waved palm branches, laid their coats on the road, the ones who went with Jesus from Bethphage and those who join in en route, those who shouted out slogans and sang chants, praising God and celebrating a new era? They too are central to today’s story. 

Yesterday I was in London for the Together Alliance March – a coming together of numerous groups and communities, all united in the desire for a nation that does not divide people, that does not disparage the outsider or those of us who are different. The march was preceded by a service at the Oasis Church with a full to capacity congregation of some 260 people – and a dog.  The front of the church was decked out with flags and banners made by church members – Jesus Loves, Love Resists, Prince of Peace, Love Thy Neighbour, Love Drives Out Fear – whilst the energy and excitement of the congregation was palpable. 

They too are march itself assembled along Park Lane with an interfaith block. Here even more banners were on display along with placards and flags – and in the centre of the block the Coat of Hopes. This coat, with extra long tails such that at least two people have to carry it, is covered with patches embroidered and appliquéd by hundreds of well wishers sharing signs of hope. The coat was first made for a pilgrimage from London to Glasgow for the COP.

Here too were a crowd of people, followers of Jesus, asserting their belief that a better world is possible and, indeed, is what the Gospel preaches.

Palm Sunday calls us to stand up and follow Jesus. To stand up for the mission of the Gospel which Jesus declared using the words of Isaiah: ‘to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ (Luke 4:18-19)

Matthew 21:1-11

When Jesus and his disciples had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 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. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, `The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

“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.”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 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!”

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

The Psalm

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

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 marvellous in our eyes.

24 On this day the Lord has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Hosannah, Lord, hosannah! *
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.