Today is a strange and peculiar day. It reminds me of a film clip that I am sure many of you have seen. It was November 22, 1963, in DeelePlaza, Dallas, Texas, just outside the Texas Book Depository. There was a parade. In that parade was the limousine with Jackie wearing her famous pink dress and pink pillbox hat. And there was her husband, JFK, waving to the cheering crowds. As we watch them go down the street we shudder, because we know that a disaster is about to happen.

Today we remember another parade, very much like that one with which we began today's service. Jesus had deliberately staged this parade. Accompanied by his entourage, he deliberately stirs up messianic expectation and the crowd responds with shouting "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name o…