4/5/09 The Liturgy of the Palms – Gospel

RCL reading for Sunday, April 5, 2009:
Excerpt from The New Revised Standard Version
via Oremus (http://bible.oremus.org)

Mark 11:1-11

1 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples
2 and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it.
3 If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.” ’
4 They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it,
5 some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’
6 They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it.
7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it.
8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields.
9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

STUDY GUIDE

Step 1. Read the passage aloud.
Step 2. Discuss what the passage tells us about God.
Step 3. Read the passage again.
Step 4. Discuss what the passage tells us about human beings and the relationship between people
Step 5. Read the passage aloud a third time.
Step 6. Discuss what the passage says about the relationship between God and human beings. How does the passage call us to change?

“Theological Bible Study,” from In Dialogue with Scripture: An Episcopal Guide to Studying the Bible, ed. Linda L. Grenz (Episcopal Church Center, 1993), p. 96.