Some of you may have had the neat privilege of witnessing a complete solar eclipse, such as the one we had over northern Maine on April 8, 2024. Immediately before the moon passes directly in front of the sun, completely blocking its disk, there’s a bright flash of sunlight. This flash is caused by sunlight filtering through the Moon’s valleys and mountains on its edge. This piercing flash called the “diamond ring” or “Baily’s beads” is what you could call the final glimpse of the sun’s glory before the moon covers it, and all goes dark.
Palm Sunday is the incarnate Son of God’s diamond ring or Baily’s bead. It is the piercing flash of Jesus in His glory before it’s snuffed out on the cross. In this passage, God both invites and beseeches us to catch a final glimpse of Jesus’ incarnate glory before the cross.
