Not My Will But Yours Be Done

Lectionary Readings

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Psalm 22:1-11

Philippians 2:5-11

Luke Passion Narrative: Luke 19:29–40 | Luke 22:39–23:56 

Tithe Poem

Palms of Red | Luke 22-23

The welcome takes on a morbid tone.
The palms wave in the beauty of
green spring out on the lawn.
Some children smile. The church bell rings
Then the words tell the tale again.
Hosanna in the Highest! He comes,
The long awaited King! The fervor,
though, twists from acclaim to blame.
The twisted generation, ours, lifts up
and waves around the bloody palms.
We shatter him with pain now that he’s come
as one of us to save us. We wield the nails.
We hold our palms that look the same as then.
We stand judge, jury, executioner all.

We throw him bloodied palms.
He washes them and gives them back.
We give him soiled feet.
He washes them and calls them blessed.
We pierce him on the trees he made.
He washes them that all might be made new.

No hands can wash these bloody palms but his.
His will be done that we might live again.