Palm Sunday Meditation

Pause:

As I enter this time of prayer, I put away all distractions, take a deep breath, and listen to what the Holy Spirit is going to speak to me about today.

Pray this Psalm, repeating the words slowly, a few times:

One thing I ask from the Lord,

this only do I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord

and to seek him in his temple.

~Psalm 27:4

Reflect:

Have you ever been completely captivated by someone or something? Perhaps it was a stunning sunset, a song, or a someone excelling at their craft. What did you do? Did you glance for a moment, or did you become so enamored by the vision that you stopped, turned, and looked “full-on” into the face of the beautiful sight?

Gaze, in Hebrew, which means to see, perceive, to contemplate with pleasure, look, behold. This idea of gazing or beholding requires more than a passing glance; it is purposeful contemplation of something so magnificent that you just can’t take your eyes off it. You drink in the sight, and as you do, you find sheer delight in its presence.

To gaze on the beauty of the Lord is to look, with full attention, into the face of Jesus in all His glory.

Have you done that recently? Have you taken the time to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord? If not, take a moment to do that now.

What about God has your attention? What words would you use to describe God’s presence in your life?

Prayer: Jesus, on Palm Sunday, I am enamoured with your love and kindness as you prepared yourself to do for me what I could never do for myself. I am in awe. Let my whole life by a story of Your goodness, grace, and mercy.

(pause)

Yield (a prayer as we enter Holy Week)

Merciful God, as we enter Holy week, turn our hearts again to Jerusalem, and to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Stir up within us the gift of faith that we may not only praise you with our lips, but we may follow you in the way of the cross.