Lent 40: Palm Sunday

Day Forty of Lent. Today’s meditation is a visualization exercise inspired by John 12:12-19, Mark 11:1-11, & Luke 19:28-44.

During this meditation, and for the final week of this series (Holy Week) we take a deep dive into the final week of Yehsua’s life. We meditate upon what it would have been like in his time, & really try to imagine the context of Yeshua’s life & teachings.

Let this meditation take you deeper in communion with God & one another.

Transcript

Hosanna,

Hosanna in the highest.

Happy Palm Sunday my friends.

Today's meditation,

The 40th in our Lent series,

Is simply upon the Hebrew word Hosanna.

To get into the spirit of meditation,

I invite you to be still,

Adopt an attitude of gratitude and non-judgment,

And embrace a heart and mindset of peace and loving-kindness.

Hosanna.

This is the word shouted by the crowd that surrounded Yeshua as he entered the city of Jerusalem.

Hosanna,

The crowd cried as they fanned Yeshua with palm leaves.

This is where we get the name Palm Sunday from.

As Yeshua entered Jerusalem,

He was fanned with palm leaves as a king.

Hosanna.

So what does Hosanna mean?

Hosanna has come to be an expression of adoration,

Praise,

Or joy.

Its roots,

However,

Are much deeper.

In its original context,

Hosanna meant,

Hosanna meant,

Save us.

Fitting,

Considering the name Yeshua means God saves.

The Hebrew people of Yeshua's day were living in Roman occupied territories and were very much an oppressed people group.

Hosanna was a cry for help to Yeshua to save them.

Save them from Roman occupation.

Hosanna.

Save them from oppression.

Rome and Babylon are often used also as metaphors in the Bible.

An invitation to be mindful about where oppression and bondage exists in our own lives.

Where does Rome,

Metaphorically speaking,

Exist in our own lives?

What aspects of our own lives exist in which we acquiesce with Rome?

The fasting we sometimes participate in through Lent is a great symbol of breaking free from our own self-induced Roman occupation.

Take a moment to pray this prayer with me.

Yeshua,

Save us from the places in our lives where we participate in Roman occupation.

Yeshua,

God saves.

Yeshua,

Save us.

Hosanna,

Save us.

Thank you my friends for joining me in this meditation.

May grace and peace,

Light,

Love,

And salvation be with you.

Reviews

I really appreciate the teachings within these meditations and opportunity to reflect on what these messages mean within our own lives. The meditation for this 40th day of Lent provided a thoughtful and reflective lesson on the word Hosanna and insight to the people of Jesus's time. I continue to ponder what the "Roman Occupation" is for me personally, but it also reminded me of the oppression that is happening before our eyes in the world right now. And so, I am directing my prayers accordingly.

Wow love it, thanks, very interesting and makes one think