FIRST LESSON Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good; God’s steadfast love endures forever!

Let Israel say, “God’s steadfast love endures forever.” Open to me the gates of righteousness, that

I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous

shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the

builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our

eyes.

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Save us, we beseech you,

O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.

The Lord is God, and has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns

of the altar.

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you. O give thanks to

the Lord, for God is good, God’s steadfast love endures forever.

GOSPEL LESSON Mark 11:1-11

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.