Preparing for the Sixth
Sunday in Lent:
Passion Sunday or Palm Sunday

Year A

Prayer

Psalm 31:9-16

I commend my spirit

 

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;

my eye wastes away from grief,

my soul and body also.

For my life is spent with sorrow,

and my years with sighing;

my strength fails because of my misery,

and my bones waste away.

I am the scorn of all my adversaries,

a horror to my neighbors,

an object of dread to my acquaintances;

those who see me in the street flee from me.

I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;

I have become like a broken vessel.

For I hear the whispering of many—

terror all around!—

as they scheme together against me,

as they plot to take my life.

But I trust in you, O Lord;

I say, “You are my God.”

My times are in your hand;

deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.

Let your face shine upon your servant;

save me in your steadfast love.

 

Job 13:13-19

A servant keeps silence

 

“Let me have silence, and I will speak,

and let come on me what may.

I will take my flesh in my teeth,

and put my life in my hand.

See, he will kill me; I have no hope;

but I will defend my ways to his face.

This will be my salvation,

that the godless shall not come before him.

Listen carefully to my words,

and let my declaration be in your ears.

I have indeed prepared my case;

I know that I shall be vindicated.

Who is there that will contend with me?

For then I would be silent and die.”

 

Philippians 1:21-30

Seeing Christ in this life

 

For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.

 

Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well—since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.