These Stones Would Shout Out

After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 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. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.'” So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord needs it.” Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 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, saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” Luke 19:28-40

Took a trip this week up the Missouri River through what was called by Merriweather Lewis, The Gates of the Mountains. From both sides of the river, limestone cliffs rose to a spectacular height of 1200 feet. “In many places,” wrote Meriwether Lewis, “the rocks seem ready to tumble on us.” At each bend in the waterway, great stone walls seemed to block passage, only to open like gentle giant gates as the expedition drew near. In his journal, Meriwether wrote: “I shall call this place: “GATES OF THE MOUNTAINS“. The picture is from that trip, and this rock formation seemed to be crying out!

Our Gospel story is about Jesus entering Jerusalem. When the religious leaders ask for him to quiet his followers, he tells that the stones would cry out. Creation recognizes the Creator and in many places and times, creation has cried out when we humans have not noticed or honored the living God in our midst. We are invited today to remember how blessed we are in this fragile and honest creation, and to give thanks and honor to the Creator for the many and abundant gifts we receive.

Today, I ask God to help me be thankful for everything and everyone; for all the relatives, human, winged, four-legged and crawling, and for the rocks and trees - the tremendous love that is reflected in all of creation. May we never forget to be grateful and live our lives with reverence and respect for we are truly blessed.