Shhhhhh Listen to the Silence

Listen! Can you hear it? It's the awkward silence before something extraordinary. It's that pregnant pause before something really big.
We stand in the shadows of the Mt. of Olives as we await the triumphal entry of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Two disciples will soon be sent by Him to get a donkey. It's the one He will ride on His royal entrance to David's city.

By week's end you will be able to smell fresh cut palm branches the people will spread on the road and wave as they will shout, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!"

Passover week will begin, but those of us who live this side of the Resurrection know it as the week of Christ's Passion, a holy week, in fact it is the Holy Week. But first, stillness. The silence of Lent continues, drawing us closer and closer. We are about to witness and participate in the coming of His kingdom. At least it appears that way. But it will be short-lived because this kingdom will not be ushered in with a parade of palm branches, but only through the Cross, later in the week.

Time for more reflection, more confession and the harsh realization that our sins nailed Him to the Cross, not the Romans. They were mere instruments of God's glorious plan for our salvation. Oddly, we do not appear to be much different from the First Century pilgrims who cheered His entrance only to cry out for His blood by week's end. We feel safe and saved, almost as if we have something no one else has like:

• A ticket to the dance
  
• An insurance card
  
• An unlimited pass
  
• A "get out of jail free" card
  

That's not only arrogant, but falsely pious and judgmental. We're just like them. We want it now and even though we know "they" got it wrong, we are no different. We, you, me, I should know better! I am not entitled to this grace that will be purchased at such a high price. I do not deserve kingdom citizenship. I cannot earn it. Just the thought of that initial march into Jerusalem should drive us to our knees in confession, as we weep over what is about to happen on our behalf.

We revel in corporate worship with raised hands, singing of His redemption and glory, but before we even make it home most of us buckle at the worries and concerns of flesh and blood. We become anxious. We doubt. We worry. We stress. We try to "fix" things we cannot and while we say we have faith, but we fail to exercise it when it's needed most. We muddle along getting to the next week of corporate worship as we once again shout, "Hosanna!" but, we largely ignore our disobedience, doubt, and sin. It is only when we become like Jesus and relinquish self that we can truly claim to be one of His followers.

"Holy Father,
Mark this time of silence and reflection. We know we are on the precipice of something tragic and yet incredibly wonderful. Still our hearts. Bring forth your glory in our lives. Open us to His triumphal entry, but do not let us avoid the darkness of Friday. Help our cries move from "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" to "He is not here. He is risen!"