Enter Into Our Jerusalem, Jesus Poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen

We bid you, Jesus,
come into our Jerusalem.
Enter into our hearts
where hatred and bitterness
can possibly lurk and thrive,
cutting out the petals of love.

We bid you, Jesus,
come into our Jerusalem.
Enter into our family life
where love and faithfulness
can possibly be choked
by thistles of fear and mistrust.

We bid you, Jesus,
come into our Jerusalem.
Enter into our working places
where stress, boredom and
discontent may eat away
all our joy and energy.

We bid you, Jesus,
come into our Jerusalem.
Enter into our churches, synagogues,
mosques and temples
where power struggles and
personal interests blind us from
living in God's way.

Enter into our Jerusalem, Jesus,
on this Palm Sunday.