26 Mar Passion Week Readings | Holy Monday

In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up.

The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”

Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”

— Matthew 21:18-22

Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

After that, he taught daily in the Temple, but the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders of the people began planning how to kill him. But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said.

— Luke 19:45-48

Holy Monday at a Glance

• On Monday morning Jesus and the Twelve leave Bethany to return to Jerusalem, and along the way Jesus curses a fig tree (Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14).
• Jesus clears the temple of those who had turned it into a marketplace (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46).
• In the evening Jesus and the Twelve leave Jerusalem, returning to Bethany (Mark 11:19).

You can download a full timeline of events for the upcoming week here.

Music is an important part of reflection and worship. As you spend some time reflecting on this text and these events, we encourage you to listen to these hymns over the next few days as we lead up to Maundy Thursday.