Palm Sunday

The Epistle for Palm Sunday is Philippians 4:4-9.

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. ⁶In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things. ⁹The things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me: do these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Notes:

Verse 4:  Compare 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:

¹⁶Rejoice always. ¹⁷Pray without ceasing. ¹⁸In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

Verses 5-9:

According to the Orthodox Study Bible, “we handle the daily pressures of life” by:

1. “faith that the Lord is at hand  … (v. 5)”
2. “refusing to worry, being anxious for nothing (v. 6)”
3. “prayer (v. 6)”
4. “thanksgiving …  to God (v. 6)”
5. “meditation on that which is virtuous (v. 8)”
6. “imitating the godly (v. 9)”

Verse 6:  Worry:

(Mt 6:25-34) ²⁵Therefore, I tell you, don't be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶See the birds of the sky, that they don't sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they?

²⁷"Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan? ²⁸Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin, ²⁹yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. ³⁰But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won't he much more clothe you, you of little faith?

³¹"Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' ³²For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own evil is sufficient.

Verse 6:  Prayer:

(Mt 6:5-13) ⁵"When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward. ⁶But you, when you pray, enter into your inner chamber, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. ⁷In praying, don't use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. ⁸Therefore don't be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him. ⁹Pray like this: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. ¹⁰Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. ¹¹Give us today our daily bread. ¹²Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. ¹³Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.'

Verse 8:  Meditation:

(Ps 1:1-6) ¹Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stand in the way of sinners,

nor sit in the seat of scoffers;

²but his delight is in Yahweh's law.

On his law he meditates day and night.

³He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water,

that brings forth its fruit in its season,

whose leaf also does not wither.

Whatever he does shall prosper.

⁴The wicked are not so,

but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

⁵Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

⁶For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked shall perish.