St. Seraphim Orthodox Church · Fr. Lawrence Margitich

April 5th, 2026: Palm Sunday

April 7, 2026·12 min·1 clip

As Lent ends, the speaker urges listeners to leave behind failures and focus on Christ riding a donkey into Jerusalem six days before Passover.

The episode is a sermon delivered on Palm Sunday, focusing on the biblical account of Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem six days before Passover. The speaker begins by marking the end of Lent and urging listeners to leave behind past failures and embrace peace. He references the fresco and icon of Christ on the donkey, connecting it to King Solomon's coronation as a historical parallel. The crowd's welcome of Jesus is described, driven by knowledge of Lazarus's resurrection and the expectation of a conquering king. In contrast, the leaders on the Temple Mount are plotting to kill Jesus out of envy and greed. The sermon notes that Jesus was anointed by Mary for his burial, not by a prophet for a throne, emphasizing his kingship through the cross. It recounts Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, as recorded by St. Luke, and transitions to a call for believers to rejoice today. The speaker encourages Orthodox Christians to not be ashamed of their faith, while respecting others. The epistle from St. Paul is discussed, highlighting his instruction to rejoice always, even from prison, and to have no anxiety through prayer. This ties into the theme of Christ as king enthroned in believers' hearts. The sermon explains that Christ came to save humanity from sin, the devil, and non-existence, not merely to make life easier. It concludes with a quote from St. Photius, a ninth-century saint, listing blessings on Christ for his sacrificial work, including destroying death and freeing Adam. The overall arc moves from historical reflection to personal application, blending scripture, theology, and exhortation.

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