Daily Worship

Stones crying out

Laura Digan April 10, 2022 0 1
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Luke 19: 28-40 (NRSVA)

28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this: “The Lord needs it.”’ 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ 34 They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,

‘Blessed is the king
    who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
    and glory in the highest heaven!’

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ 40 He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’

The whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen. 

It must have been so wonderful to be part of this crowd. You can just imagine the atmosphere that day, charged with excitement, love and anticipation. Praising God to the full… acknowledging Jesus. 

And then the Pharisees step in and ask Jesus to rebuke his supporters, to make them be quiet. This Jesus refuses to do. ‘I tell you,’ he replied ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’

But how many of us today keep our love for Jesus quiet? 

I know people who won’t say to others that they are Christians. They will say that they go to church but they won’t say that they are Christians. They don’t want people to think bad of them. Surely though keeping quiet means that love is diminished and goes unnoticed. The love of Jesus and the love for our neighbour. The world is full of people who need to experience the transforming love of Jesus. The only way they will find out is if we share our love, to share how the love of Jesus has transformed our lives. We can’t keep quiet! And we shouldn’t allow the world to make us feel like we should.

 

PRAYER:

 

Lord Jesus

Forgive us Lord when our hosannas lack love

When we desire to fit into the world. 

Strengthen our voices today

Help us to joyfully praise your name

And to share your transforming love 

With everyone we encounter.

Amen

Lent Disciplines

This Palm Sunday, take time to notice goodness. Reflect on where you see, smell, taste, feel or hear goodness. Give thanks to God for the familiar and unexpected goodness we encounter.