Palm Sunday: If you are silent, the stones will shout!

Hallelujah!  Palm Sunday!

When I was growing up we went to Church on Palm Sunday and sang Hallelujah!   Then … we went to Church the following Sunday and it was Easter.  Christ the Lord is Risen Today is the song that still sings in my heart when I think of Easter.  And yet this is not the whole picture … there is tremendous darkness between Palm Sunday and Easter. The darkness, for me, begins with Jesus’ proclamation when the Pharisees object to the disciples who are praising God.  He says, “if they (meaning the disciples) are silent, the stones would shout.”   As we move through Holy Week we’ll move deeper and darker before we experience the Light of Christ shining upon the world through the glorious resurrection!

As you prepare yourself to breathe in the Word of God, settle into a place of deep gratitude and praise within yourself.  Listen for the echoes of the darkness on the horizon and let your feelings arise within you.  Welcome them all with this part of Contemplative Outreach's Welcoming Prayer ...

Focus, feel, and sink into the feelings, emotions,

thoughts, sensations, and commentaries in your body.

Welcome the Divine Indwelling in the feelings, emotions,

thoughts, commentaries, or sensations in your body by saying

“Welcome.”

As different and various feelings emerge, welcome them all as they come by circling back to this prayer as often as you need to.  If you find yourself doing this often consider exploring spiritual direction with a trained spiritual director whose gift is to be a companion on the journey of others.  Spend time with this welcoming prayer until you feel it is time to move from prayer into the sacred reading of the biblical text, and then ... Pray:

As I welcome you into my time of sacred reading, O God, open my mind and open my heart to your presence and your grace through the words of Scripture in which I find rest.  Amen.  

Read Luke 19:28-40 (CEB) slowly, immersing yourself in the jubilant story that turns in the end ... Listen with all of your senses … seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching!  Which of your senses tune into this story?   How does that speak to you of God?

Russian Orthodox icon of the Entry into Jerusalem from Tver, 

15th century

 (Public Domain)

 After Jesus said this, he continued on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.   As Jesus came to Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he gave two disciples a task.  He said, “Go into the village over there. When you enter it, you will find tied up there a colt that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.   If someone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘Its master needs it.’”  Those who had been sent found it exactly as he had said.   As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”   They replied, “Its master needs it.”  They brought it to Jesus, threw their clothes on the colt, and lifted Jesus onto it.  As Jesus rode along, they spread their clothes on the road.   As Jesus approached the road leading down from the Mount of Olives, the whole throng of his disciples began rejoicing. They praised God with a loud voice because of all the mighty things they had seen.  They said,

“Blessings on the king who comes in the name of the Lord.
    Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens.”

 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, scold your disciples! Tell them to stop!”   He answered, “I tell you, if they were silent, the stones would shout.”

Read the passage again slowly and Reflect on the beginning of the “end” of the story, at least for the disciples.  For how were they to know that the “end” is actually the beginning of new life!   Listen for a word or a phrase that draws your attention.   Repeat that word or phrase.  Ponder this word or phrase through which God is speaking to YOU as you let the story unfold in your mind and heart.   Where does your word or phrase intersect your life where you are right now … as you feel yourself listening, not listening, obeying, not obeying, doing, not doing, speaking, not speaking, praying, not praying, fasting, not fasting ... How are you responding, not responding … make an honest assessment, where are you?

Read the passage again slowly and Respond.   Share with God how you feel about what you are hearing through your word or phrase.   Speak your word or phrase out loud and ask God to help you surrender to the word you have heard and the wisdom it holds as you explore its meaning for you where you are right now.

Read the passage again and Rest.  Allow the presence of God to surround you and deepen your faith so you are able to surrender to God's call.  Rest until the peace of God settles into your soul ...

When you sense the time to move on … Pray:

Sweet Blessing you are, Christ Jesus!  You who comes each day in the name of the Lord to reside in our hearts.  Give us strength to praise God and speak out with our lives as well as with the words we speak.  May there be peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens.  May there be peace on earth and glory on each face.  Amen.

Now ... Listen to this lovely song written especially for Palm Sunday.  Hosanna! Hosanna! on Youtube.  Enjoy!