SAINT NICHOLAS

Byzantine Catholic Church
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23300 King Drive, Clinton Township, MI 48035   *   +1-586-791-1052   *   stnicksbyzantine@yahoo.com

                                                       The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

     Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner there for him. Martha served the meal, and Lazarus was among those at table with him.

     Mary brought in a pint of very costly ointment, made from pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and dried them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, the one who was about to betray him, said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and the money given to the poor?” He said this not because he had any concern for the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money bag, and he used to steal from it.

     Jesus said in response, “Leave her alone! Let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.”

     Meanwhile, a large number of Jews learned that he was there, and they came not only because of Jesus but also because they wanted to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. The chief priests then decided to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was because of him that many of the Jews were leaving and putting their faith in Jesus.

     The next day the great crowd of people who had come for the feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. Thus, they went out to meet him, carrying branches of palm and shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel.” Jesus found a young donkey and rode it, as it is written, “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.”

     At first, his disciples did not understand this, but later, when Jesus had been glorified, they recalled that these things had been written about him and had happened to him.

Now the people who had been present when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify about this. Because the crowd had heard that he had performed this sign, they went out to meet him.