In the bright, beautiful sunset of a late spring evening, the colors light up the sky. The rain clouds linger providing a canvas on which the rays of sun paint an array of color. Orange, Pink and Yellow mixes with the deep blue sky and as the sun disappears behind the horizon, for a brief moment, the rays of sun, like flashlights across the sky, shine beams of effervescent joy. You can almost feel the joy exuding from the horizon.
It is as if – Heaven and earth were colliding across the horizon.
This is exactly what happens on Holy Thursday.
On This day, Jesus, fully divine, meets his humanity one last time celebrating a meal with his apostles. This would be his last supper.
He washes the disciples feet. He serves them consecrated bread and wine, instituting the divine remembrance of him.
But this day would end. Like every day ends, in a beautiful collision across the horizon. However, this collision would paint the sky of this world temporarily in hues of horrific colors.
In a divine collision, Judas, fully human, collided with Jesus, fully divine, in the Garden of Gethsemane with a kiss – God intersected Satan and Heaven met Earth. In this collision, the tears turn to blood and scarlet robes of Roman Soldiers overwhelm the Savior. In one moment, the intersection of God and Satan set a permanent change in motion.
Ha! The Devil thinks he has won, seducing one of His own, Judas, to deny him…He has pierced the saviors vail and won!
This divine collision led to a cross on calvary’s hill where the light of the world, descended into darkness for three days…just as the sunset beckons the end of the day, this death beckons a new way.
So watch the sunset on Holy Thursday. Watch the collision as the sun touches the horizon and imagine the touch of the kiss where heaven met earth.
Jesus walks from the upper room, to an agonizing garden. The cross stands vacant, awaiting the savior a blood on Friday.
The sun has set for the last time with Jesus alive. The sun has also set for the last time on the Devil’s un-hindered rule of earth.
By Friday at mid-day, Jesus will be dead. The darkest part of the night is now here. And all will seem lost.
Reflect on where we are in the Easter Triduum. Visualize the scene and meditate on it. See the hues of the old passing away in this sunset, for the new day is near on which the other side of this darkest night is glorious light evermore.
Intersect Me 