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Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

—Zechariah 9:9

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 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. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,

“Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

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.

—Mark 11:1–11

Reflect & Discuss

Throughout the season of Lent, we will immerse ourselves in the final days leading up to Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. As he enters Jerusalem, place yourselves among the crowd welcoming him. Hear their voices. What are they feeling? What does this event mean to them? Why are they doing what they are doing?
What does Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem and the Temple mean for us who know the rest of the story?
What does it mean for us to pray hosanna (meaning “Please save!” or “Salvation has come”)? From what do we need saved?

Pray

Believers have prayed words from this story for centuries. Pray this ancient prayer together:

“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of hate Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.”

for this season of Lent to be a fruitful time of self-examination and repentance through prayer, fasting, self–denial, and meditation on the Word as we prepare to remember Christ’s death and resurrection
for anything we have to share