For centuries, the Christian church has made use of the lectionary which contains readings for each Sunday of the year. The readings have changed a bit over the years, but remain largely the same. Presently it is on a three-year cycle of readings, with each Sunday having a reading from the Old Testament, a reading from the Psalms, a reading from the Gospels, and a reading from the rest of the New Testament. Through this schedule, most of the Bible is covered in the three years. Not all Christian groups make use of the lectionary, but many do. Palm Sunday is unique in that there are two sets of readings. One set focuses on the Triumphal Entry. The second set focuses on the Passion or suffering of Jesus. The Sunday before Easter can be called Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday. Both settings form the front part of the frame for Holy Week, which is framed at the end by Easter. Most often we focus on the Palm Sunday aspect, but the Passion focus prepares us for Good Friday. The contrast sharpens the triumph and thanksgiving of Easter. I never want to focus on Jesus’ death on the cross without remembering his resurrection. But I don’t want to focus on His resurrection without remembering the cross. They are together one event that pushes us toward the continuing presence of the living Jesus with us now.