Issues, Etc. Looking Forward to Sunday Morning (One Year Lectionary): Palm and Passion Sunday – Pr. Ben Ball, 3/24/26 (0832, Encore)
Mar 24, 2026
Pr. Ben Ball, Senior Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran in Hamel, IL and LCMS Second Vice President, offers theological teaching and liturgical insight. He explores why Matthew centers Palm Sunday, describes historical Jerusalem processions and the Palm procession format, maps the Gospel pattern through Holy Week, and ties Palm entry to the Passion as one continuous salvific narrative.
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Palm Entry And Passion Form One Narrative
- Palm Sunday and the Passion reading are complementary parts of one narrative that present Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and his suffering as a single salvific work.
- Ben Ball explains Matthew 21 begins Holy Week's joyful procession while Matthew 26–27 later recounts the Passion, forming a continuous liturgical sequence.
Attend Services Through Holy Week
- Make an effort to attend services throughout Holy Week to receive the full account of Christ's work from Palm Sunday to the Easter Vigil.
- Ben Ball urges congregations to hear the Word daily Monday–Friday if possible, calling the week effectively one extended service.
Hosannas Anticipate Both Kingship And Suffering
- Palm Sunday's hosannas anticipate Christ's kingship while simultaneously pointing toward his humility and suffering.
- Ben Ball explains the procession hails Jesus as King with palm branches yet prepares worshipers to follow him on the path to the cross.