March 2026 Slice of Life, No. 27
#PoetryFriday 26-0327
This Sunday we will celebrate Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. And so I am sharing “Palm Sunday,” one of the Holy Week sonnets by the poet-priest Malcom Guite published in his book Sounding the Seasons (2012). [Learn more about Guite and his poetry.]
Of his Holy Week sonnets, Guite–the priest-poet–writes:
“We come now, with Palm Sunday, to the beginning of Holy Week and in the sonnets that follow I have explored the truth that what was happening ‘out there’ and ‘back then’ as Christ entered Jerusalem is also happening ‘in here’ and ‘right now’. There is a Jerusalem of the heart. Our inner life also has its temple and palaces, its places of corruption, its gardens of rest, its seat of judgement.”
Though it is named, “Palm Sunday,” Guite’s sonnet speaks not of the day when Jesus rode a colt into Jerusalem amidst shouts of Hosanna but rather of today, of this moment. It speaks of the holy dwelling place in the heart of man. It asks a question. It offers an invitation.
The sonnet begins
Now to the gate of my Jerusalem,
The seething holy city of my heart,
The saviour comes. But will I welcome him?
The sonnet ends
Jesus come
Break my resistance and make me your home.
Read entire sonnet or listen to Malcom Guite’s rendition of it.
Guite is generous with his poetry; he writes “Do feel free to reproduce these poems for any Church services in which you may wish to use them, just include a line to say ‘From Sounding the Seasons, by Malcolm Guite, CanterburyPress 2012′.”
Old Testament prophecy fulfilled when Jesus rode into Jerusalem
–From Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Biblical Account of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry
–From Matthew 21:1-11
Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.
All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
“Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.
And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”
So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Like Malcom Guite, I have prayed, “Jesus come, break my resistance, and make me your home.” And He has.
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What a beautiful poem to share for Palm Sunday. I took my granddaughters to Mass today and I marveled at the questions they had and things they noticed. The palms, of course, were a big hit and a bit of a distraction 😉 A blessed Holy Week to you.
It is good to worship with grandkids. May you have a blessed Holy Week!
Victorious and lowly, yes. The poem reminded me that, although Hansel’s Messiah is performed at Christmas, he actually wrote it for Easter.
I think it should be sung at Easter and Christmas; it tells both stories. Whenever it is sung, I am blessed by it!
Alice, thank you for introducing me to Malcom Guite. That is a generous offer he made to use his poems. I know it is a lifelong work of God to “break my resistance” “Self-interest, and fearful guardedness,
The hardness of the heart, its barricades,” are strong.
I agree; the message of the sonnet is very strong. “Break my resistance” is a daily prayer.
Hallelujah!
Yes! Hallelujah!
I wasn’t familiar with Guite, thank you, Alice!
I’ve only read a couple of his sonnets. I plan to read more.
Thank you for sharing! Happy Poetry Friday!
May your week be blessed.
It is good to praise and share the welcome, Alice! Best to you this Holy Week.
May your Holy Week be beautiful.
So, so much can be done with a rhyme… it’s quite remarkable…
I need to use rhyme more in my poems.
Alice, thank you for the poetry and Bible study. I paused when I read, ““Jesus come, break my resistance, and make me your home” and reread it. Then, I see you are using that for prayer. Next week our Spiritual Journey Thursday group is writing to the prompt, service, since it is Holy Thursday. You may want to join us. If you are interested let me know.
Thank you. I am interested. Send me details.
Come, break my resistance. A prayer for every day. In the times we live in, there can be so much that tries to pull us away… we need to come. To depend on Him to break our resistance and help us live in His Truth.
I agree. It is a daily prayer!
We gain so much when we invite Jesus into our hearts.
I can’t imagine living without Him.
I really enjoyed this slice. I love the line, “…the seething holy city of my heart…” I also loved the last sentence in your slice, what a wonderful testimony.
Thank you. I too like that metaphor… seething holy city and heart.
Thank you for sharing this poet today! I love learning about new ones and can’t wait to read more. Sonnets are some of my favorite forms – – so inviting, and the rhyme scheme is lovely.
I plan to read more of his sonnets. I like what I’ve read so far.