On this morning celebrated in the Christian calendar as Palm Sunday, thousands of years ago people in an ancient city sang the songs of their hearts, calling out to the one they hoped would right the all the many oppressive wrongs as he entered their city: "Hosanna!”—“Save us! Help us!”
Today, we may not sing the same song or use the same words, but our hearts hold songs of their own—songs of justice, songs of rage, songs of joy, of hope or of sorrow, of despair, fear, and grief. Let us worship together, letting the songs of our hearts be lifted by this holy space.
Author's note:
Worship leaders may want to contextualize the implied reference to Jerusalem, the “ancient city,” later in the service, given the many contemporary challenges now associated with that city. The UUA’s 2024 Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) for Solidarity with Palestinians correctly notes the impossibility of succinctly summarizing the situation in the Middle East but also calls for solidarity with Palestinians, who have borne the brunt of Israel’s military force. Even as these opening words gesture towards the many songs we may be carrying in our hearts, songs of rage and justice may also lend themselves to a broader service theme of calling for justice in the Holy Land.