770. Baruch haba b'Shem Adonai (Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord)

“Then the multitudes who went before Him… cried out saying ‘Baruch habah b’Shem Adonai’ - ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’” Matthew 21:9

The street I lived on when I was young had Fire Station No. 315 on the corner and St. Stephen’s Community House, which my parents ran, a few doors down. It was the Kensington Market neighborhood, our block brimming with lively ethnicity, constant activity, full of colour.

I started this art piece with a worn old slice of hand-hewn barn beam which grew into an animated, sinewy, wire sculpture crammed with the colours of my childhood and outline memories of people bobbing up and down in enthusiastic expectancy of Jesus turning into our street as part of His triumphal entry procession. I imagine the people on my street energized as we cry out “Baruch habah b’Shem Adonai”.

Then I recall later in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus laments over those not willing to be gathered to Him saying, “…you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’”

I want to see Him, so I cry out, “Baruch habah b’Shem Adonai! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!” making Him present, urgently present, on my street.