Palm Sunday: The Bridegroom, The Wheat, The Veil

John 12.1-33:

Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom he had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there; Martha waited on them and Lazarus was among those at table. Mary brought in a pound of very costly ointment, pure nard, and with it anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair; the house was filled with the scent of the ointment. . .

note how the passage concludes, 12.20-33:

... Now the hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. In all truth I tell you, unless a wheat grain falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Whoever serves me, must follow me, and my servant will be with me wherever I am. If anyone serves me, my Father will honor him. Now my soul is troubled.
What shall I say: Father, save me from this hour?
But it is for this very reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name!
A voice came from heaven, 'I have glorified it, and I will again glorify it.' The crowd standing by, who heard this, said it was a clap of thunder; others said, 'It was an angel speaking to him.' Jesus answered, 'It was not for my sake that this voice came, but for yours. 'Now sentence is being passed on this world; now the prince of this world is to be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all people to myself.'
By these words he indicated the kind of death he would die.

Icon of Christ offering wheat to the Theotokos
written by the hand of H Durka

read more: Note the symbols of the Faith in the Gospel Passage

SCRIPTURES for the Liturgies of Great and Holy Week of the Life-giving Passion

excerpted texts: HYMNS of the Week of the Life-giving Passion

Good Friday Malankara Syriac HYMNS in English

Good Friday excerpts of the HOURS of the Daily Office