LISTEN TO THE AUDIO HERE.
It is a glorious witness to the power of God when we hear
the same Gospel reading from Advent 1, on Palm Sunday. Glorious, because Jesus
is coming; not just to a Silent Night in Bethlehem, but to fallen creatures
singing His praise today, but shouting “Crucify Him” on Friday.
Thus, Jesus speaks today, saying:
Why Advent on Palm Sunday? The same conundrum should also come to your noodle when you see
the cross veiled and the church dressed in black on such a joyful Sunday.
The Lord declares to us, through the true prophet Isaiah,
that He is truly a God Who hides Himself (Is. 45:15). Because, as my 5 year old
loves to point out, she can’t see Jesus because He is invisible, but she wished
He was here and Jesus gives her no direct answer.
But He doesn’t. Indeed it appears as if we are left to fend
for ourselves and search under every rock for the Lord. Maybe we should just
take the advice of those who wish to tell us that true prophets are the poor
and the oppressed who rise above their circumstances and give lip service to
God.
Its either that or stare at this blank wall another Sunday
and pretend that we feel Jesus here. Its either that, or [pretend that God is
with us and fumble with some words of positive thinking to offer as proof to
those who ask.
And there is some truth to this. St. Paul tells us in a few places that “…we look not to the things that are seen
but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient,
but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18)
The Lord also says, “Now
faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
(Heb. 11:1)
So we are left with a God that appears on the scene as much
as a flying spaghetti monster and is just as believable as a unicorn. What do
we say then to Jesus Who tells us to love this invisible God with all our
hearts, mind, soul, and strength? What answer do we give to St. Peter who says,
“Though you have not seen him, you love
him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy
that is inexpressible and filled with glory” (1 Pet. 1:18)?
Repent! Yes, God hides Himself. He is hidden in every rock,
in every tree, in every stream, in every fractal, in every quantum singularity,
and in every one of your neighbors. But, He Hides Himself in such a way that
you will not find Him, no matter how hard you look.
You may find pieces of Him, or traces of His attributes, but
you will never, ever find God in the places where He has hid Himself. Even when
He hides behind the death of a son.
Because that is exactly what the Lord of all Creation does:
He hides behind His own death on a cross. He will not be found by you as a
miracle king, a bread king, a creator king, or a palm king. He is the bloody
king, handing over both body and soul to atone for the Father’s wrath against
sin.
Though the splendor of creation lies all about us, God is
hidden. Though the effects of the Flood still affect the earth, God is hidden.
Though Egypt
reels from pestilence and plague from heaven, God does not answer. Though Israel conquers
the Promised land, God remains silent.
Though Jesus heals the sick and casts out demons and rides
with pomp and fervor into the city of Jerusalem; His City, in joy and triumph,
the joy and triumph is not that of earth, but of the cross. God hides Himself
in Jesus and Jesus hides His one and only greatest work in His sacrifice on the
cross.
Though we joyfully and loudly sang out “All Glory, Laud, and
Honor” and flitted our own palms through the air in praise and adoration, did
you think that this royal march had a happy ending?
Indeed it does, if seen with the eyes of faith. For faith
does see a triumphal entry; a conquering march by a victorious hero from
eternity. Faith sees the Mighty One, strong to save, on His Warhorse with His
legions upon legions of immortal angel warriors; swords unsheathed, spears
glinting red, boots tramping; thousands upon thousands marching upon the way.
With the one single mission in their briefing folders: take
that hill. The hosts then advance, unrelentingly, and take the hill, the hill
of Golgotha. They incite the people, they place Barabbas in prison, they
agitate the High Priests, they ignite the Pharisees and Sadducees, and they
urge on Judas.
The Palm Sunday crowd is worked into a fervor, clearing the
way of naysayers and non-believers, in order that Jesus’ way would be prepared;
that His highway in the desert would be made straight. Such that every valley
be lifted up and every mountain made low; that the crooked be made straight and
the rough places plain. (Is. 40:3-4)
Then, then shall the glory of the Lord be revealed (Is.
40:5). Then shall the true goal, the real God shall unveil Himself in all His
glory. The God Who can suffer; the God Who can bleed; the God Who can die.
The reason Jesus hides Himself, never to be found; the
reason the Church veils her art for Passion and Holy Weeks is because Christ
will be found nowhere else except in His Gospel and in His Sacraments.
The Joy of Palm Sunday is that the King has triumphally
entered this place and has conquered. The exaltation of Palm Sunday is Jesus
tramping over sin, death, and the devil in your life. The splendor of Palm
Sunday is found, not in rapture, but in receiving. Receiving the Word,
remembering the Baptism, and taking the Body and Blood given and shed for you.
Jesus hides behind the cross, answering all prayers, all
cries for mercy, and all sorrow with His own death and burial. Jesus hides on
Palm Sunday in plain sight, to the eyes of faith. Jesus hides in your own life,
but in the very place He has promised to be found: His Church, purchased and
won not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious Body ad Blood and with
His innocent suffering and death.
That is where Jesus answers Pilate’s questions and that is
where Jesus answers your questions as well.
I the Lord speak the
truth; I declare what is right. Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together… Turn to me and
be saved;” (Is. 45:15, 19, 20, 22)
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