CALENDAR
This Sunday is known as Palm Sunday, in remembrance of the palm leaves that the people spread before the way of our Lord when he entered into Jerusalem with much rejoicing - the coming of the Messiah, the Son of David, "Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord". In some churches ministers will bless the palms this Sunday and give them to the people who will process in remembrance of our Lord's procession. . The earliest account we have of this day is in the life of Euthymius [473AD] as reported by Cyril of Alexandria. See a history here.
Next Sunday is Easter! I encourage you to use this week as one of preparation for the most important observance of the year. Ever wonder where wearing of the Easter Sunday Best and Easter Parades came from? Well our centurions of old saw it. Constantine put out an order that all Christians were to wear their best clothing and attend Easter Services. With the lifting of the persecutions by Constantine, the newly baptized Christians would walk through the streets in their white baptismal togas, and finally, Easter, along with Christmas and Pentecost were obligatory for attendance and reception of the communion as decided in a synod of about 508.
I've featured Chrysostom on his first homily on today's appointed proper epistle. John really lays it on the heretics in this passage I've excerpted. Take a look at the links if you would like more information into heresies of his day... we have more than a few heresies brewing in the church now that could use a swift stroke of that double edged Sword of the Spirit... and some Centurions who have already invoked it, and are yet invoking it, I might add. By the way, you can find strains of these heresies throughout the "Christian" world today... One gets the impression from John's impassioned sermon that he himself had been a first-hand witness to the legions in battle, as he describe the battle against heretics. As a brother centurion often says to me.... Lest we forget.
The Sunday next before Easter
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday Home
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
To be said daily, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Good Friday
Source: Sacramentary of Galesius, Bishop of Rome [494 AD]. "Palms" were carried by people on this Sunday in remembrances of Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem.
Philippians ii. 5
Homily
He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross
Excerpt of John Chrysostom on Philippians.
For as a sharp two-edged sword, wheresoever it falls, though it be among ten thousand phalanxes, easily cuts through and destroys, because it is sharp on every side, and nought can bear its edge; so are the words of the Spirit. (Heb. iv. 12; Rev. i. 16.) For by these words he has laid low the followers of Arius of Alexandria, of Paul of Samosata, of Marcellus the Galatian , of Sabellius the Libyan, of Marcion that was of Pontus, of Valentinus , of Manes, of Apollinarius of Laodicea, of Photinus, of Sophronius, and, in one word, all the heresies. Rouse yourselves then to behold so great a spectacle, so many armies falling by one stroke, lest the pleasure of such a sight should escape you. For if when chariots contend in the horse race there is nothing so pleasing as when one of them dashes against and overthrows whole chariots with their drivers, and after throwing down many with the charioteers that stood thereon, drives by alone towards the goal, and the end of the course, and amid the applause and clamor which rises on all sides to heaven, with coursers winged as it were by that joy and that applause, sweeps over the whole ground; how much greater will the pleasure be here, when by the grace of God we overthrow at once and in a body the combinations and devilish machinations of all these heresies together with their charioteers?
read it all at the link above.
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