29 March 2026

29 March 2026 - Palm or Passion Sunday

Transcript

Reading:  

Matthew 27:45

Write:  

From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

Reflect:   

This is a “red flag homily,” all the way. Red flag means it is my opinion, and I have not been able to back it up by any Bible scholar.

Nevertheless, I think I am onto something.

What caused this darkness? I do not believe it was an eclipse of the sun, unless… You would say it is being eclipsed by Christ Himself! What do I mean?

It says later in our gospel selection today: “the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.” This was an indication that God was leaving the temple in Jerusalem. Now, also remember there is something called the Shekinah of God that used to show up in the temple as a cloud that was so thick no one could see anything. I think the reason that showed up was because the people that witnessed it wanted to see God, so their eyesight failed them, because God could not be seen by human beings. When the Israelites saw the pillar of fire or the pillar of smoke or cloud, they understood that as a manifestation of the Presence of God – the Shekinah of God.

But, and this is the reason for the darkness as Jesus was dying, the glory of God was revealed for all humanity to see. It was manifested in the person of Jesus Who made it visible. Now, this is my red flag. I think the only thing that could be seen at that time was Jesus dying on the cross. His death introduced something new into the world. And everybody who was witnessing the death of Jesus had that manifestation of the glory of God given to them – even if they did not know what it was! Everything else in the world went dark because of the brilliance of Jesus and Him crucified. In that moment the brilliance of the Son of God outshone the sun!

Apply:   

Because of this event the Shekinah of God left the temple. Because Jesus is God, we can now see God. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians we hear that Jesus did not deem His equality with God something to be grasped at. Paul goes on to say, that Jesus “humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Again, this is my red flag point: the earth darkened because the glory of God was revealed through Jesus and His death on the cross. That event shown brighter on the world than the sun. Now, whoever looks toward Jesus looks toward God made Incarnate. And there is no hiding that glory of God that has been revealed to the world.

Because we know who Jesus is, and what He has done, we have a confidence that we can see Him – though not now, except in His Presence to us in the Eucharist. So as we celebrate His Passion and begin Holy Week, we can see through the Temple veil that was torn in two. 

Now, the Holy of Holies of Heaven itself, by the work of Jesus on the cross is available to us all. And we respond with joy – as St. Paul said – “every tongue [will] confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” We say it in joy, but those who reject Jesus will confess it in fear and trembling. But no one will be able to avoid confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen?

Pray/Praise:   

Let us pray.

We give You thanks, Lord Jesus, that you have willed that we should be admitted to the Holy of Holies in Your Name. You chose to die that we might have life. You did more than raise Lazarus from the dead. You made all of us to live in Your Death and Resurrection. 

As we travel through this Holy Week, help us to give You all the glory, and honor, and praise that is Your due, as we pray together (join me!): Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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