With praise and palm branches,
the people celebrated
their new freedom
from their Greek overlords.
And in a new century,
and under a new empire,
the people once again
wave the palm branches
and cheer for a new hero.
Jesus rode into Jerusalem
and the people cheered,
but Jesus wept,
for they could not see
that the Jesus for whom we cheer
is not the same Jesus
that we behold upon the cross
in silence, and in awe.
Father, forgive us
for seeing only
the messiah that we want,
and not the messiah that we need.
Amen