In Matthew 21, Jesus enters Jerusalem. The crowds of people, eager for liberation from oppressive Roman rule, tear the leaves off of nearby trees and shout “Hosanna!” a word originally meaning “save”; later it comes to mean “praise.” This Lenten season in particular, it seems beautiful and appropriate to shout “Save us!” and if you’ve survived making a homemade palm, you can wave it as you shout!
The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Leader: The Lord is coming, gentle and humble.
People: Save, Son of David. Praise in highest heaven!
The prophet’s entrance has stirred our whole city.
Save, son of David.
The Lord is our shelter in a time of fear.
Praise in highest heaven!
The holy one is our shelter in a time of worry.
Save, son of David.
The Lord is our shelter in a time of need.
Praise in highest heaven!
The suffering servant is present with us as we shelter in place.
Save, son of David. Save, comforting spirit. Save, God of compassion. Praise in highest heaven!