Palm Sunday

Grace and Peace be unto you. In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

In Sunday’s Collect, God shows us his love by sending his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, taking upon our flesh, and suffering on the cross so that all mankind should follow his humility. And we follow his patience and his resurrection on this Palm Sunday.

In Sunday’s Epistle, first, Paul tells us to be of mind in Jesus Christ. Our Lord & Saviour came in the form of God and is equal to God. He took no reputation; he took the form of a servant – a carpenter; he was made in the likeness of man; he humbled himself; and he was obedient unto death - on the cross. Second, God had highly exalted him and given him a name above all name. At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow of things in Heaven, things in earth, and things under the earth. And third, God gave Jesus Christ the name and power in all of creation in all places.

In Sunday’s Gospel, first, all the key players knew that our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ is innocent from the Judas, Priests, elders, Pilate, Pilate’s wife, the mob, the criminal, and eventually the centurion. All of them knew Jesus was innocent and none of them had any evidence against him. Yet our Lord Jesus Christ is bound, led and delivered to Pilate the Governor from Pontus because Judas had betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Second, Judas realized that he had sinned against the innocent blood and had repented but he didn’t ask Jesus for forgiveness but repented unto himself. This shows how Judas continued with his wrong decisions by betraying Jesus & hanging himself rather than asking for Jesus’ forgiveness & living the life of Jesus Christ. Third, the Jewish priests & elders refused the thirty pieces of silver because they didn’t want the blood money. This indicates that they knew they were in the wrong. If Jesus was guilty then they would have taken the blood money back.

Fourth, Pilate asked Jesus: Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus replied: Thou sayest. In other words, I am what you say or I do not say it but you do. After the Priests & the elders accuse Jesus, Jesus never says a word and Pilate is marveled because Jesus doesn’t resist. Fifth, Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent because he knew the priests & the elders envied Jesus. This is a clear violation of Thou shalt not envy commandment. Also, Pilate’s wife knew Jesus was innocent when she called Jesus a “just man” due to her dreams. Sixth, during this Passover, the Priests & the elders ask Pilate to release Barabbas & goads the crowd to crucify Jesus. Pilate then asks what evil had Jesus done. The crowd couldn’t reply except to crucify Jesus. This is a clear violation of the Thou shall not murder & not bear false witness. In addition, Pilate still thought Jesus was still innocent. And he had no evidence against Jesus - but Pilate simply washes his hands from this blood thirsty crowd.

Seventh, the Roman soldiers take Jesus into a common hall to strip him, place scarlet robe on him, placed crown of thorns, placed a reed in his right hand, bowed before him, mocked him by saying “Hail, King of the Jews,” spit upon him, smote his head, mocked him again, stripped his robe, placed raiment on him, led him to crucifixion, gave him vinegar to drink, crucified him, parted his garments, cast lot on him, watched him like a spectacle, and set above his head “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

Eighth, the crowds reviled Jesus and the Chief Priests mocked him again with these true words: He saved others; himself he cannot save. This statement is true because our Lord Jesus Christ came to shed his blood for a complete & eternal salvation of our souls and cleanse of our conscience of our fleshly sins. Ninth, at the sixth hour to the ninth hour or 12 Noon to 3PM, darkness came over all the land and Jesus cried: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me. This is the human Jesus crying. At the second cry, Jesus yielded up the ghost & descended into Paradise in Hell. In other word, Jesus is still in control because he yielded, not death.

Tenth, the Jerusalem Temple is split from top to bottom showing the path of Jesus Christ into Paradise to save the Old Testament Saints. The earth quaked; the rocks rent; graves opened; and dead saints arose and went into the holy cities to appear to others. And eleventh, the centurion watched Jesus and affirms: Truly this was the Son of God. In sum, let us be reminded that this Palm Sunday, we invite Jesus Christ into our lives as he enters Jerusalem on a donkey, is betrayed & abandoned by his followers, falsely accused by the Jews, tortured in unbelievable ways to another human being, crucified on the cross with unimaginable pains, and descended into hell. We await for the Lord’s resurrection in the coming days for the completed salvation of our souls.

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
--Deacon Anton Yoe
 

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

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Upcoming Events
Friday, April 8, 7 PM, Stations of the Cross followed by light Lenten supper

Saturday, April 9, 11 AM, Bob Grisetti  Funeral with a reception following in the church undercroft. Interment in Quantico Cemetery will follow at a later date.

Sunday Services, 7:45, 9:00 & 11:15 AM nursery care provided during 9 & 11:15 AM services  (for online participation for the services go to: https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland/ ) 

Sunday school, 10:30 AM

HOLY WEEK
Wednesday at Noon – Holy Communion and anointing for healing

Maundy Thursday, April 14, 7:00 p.m. service

Good Friday, April 15, Noon and 7:00 p.m. services – the Sacrament of Penance

will be offered one (1) hour prior to both Good Friday services

Easter Sunday, April 17, Striking of the New Fire at 7:15 a.m.

Easter Sunday, April 17, 7:45 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:15 a.m. services

Easter Sunday,April 17, 10:30 a.m. Sunday School Easter Egg Hunt

Men's Group, April 23, 8:30 AM, Church undercroft, Breakfast, Fellowship, & Bible study

 
Vestry meeting, Monday April 25, 7:30 PM, undercroft

Please remember to pray for everyone on the parish's prayer list that is in the attached bulletins.

Your Food Donations are Greatly Needed
Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Christ House is very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar).  Current needs include the following:
• canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
• peanut butter
• jelly
• tuna
• canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
• individual fruit cups (low sugar)
• canned fruit (low sugar)
• cereal (low sugar)
• pasta (regular and gluten-free)
• instant potatoes
• Macaroni & cheese kits
• Coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar 

MaRIH Center is also in great need of our help  (crisis pregnancy center)
MaRIH Center with its all volunteer staff has been providing help to mothers-to-be and mothers in need.  If you can provide some of the items that are needed, please do so. (You can leave the donations where the food for the food bank is collected on the pew in the undercorft.)

Especially Needed
Baby wipes (an ongoing great need)
Diapers (sizes 1, 4, 5, & 6)
Similac Advanced Formula
Batteries (all sizes)
 
 
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Alexandria, VA 22301-1625