“The Stones Will Cry Out!”
Luke 19: 28-40
On the road to Jerusalem there are many voices crying out “Make straight the way of the Lord” (John 1:23). As we join Jesus on his journey to the Cross we should pay particular attention to those voices often over looked. From Elizabeth and Mary, to Magi and the mad king Herod there are many voices who bear witness to the astonishing life and work of Jesus. Often over looked, however, are those less obvious voices that join the holy chorus proclaiming the day of the Lord. This Lent, as we follow Jesus on the road to Jerusalem, we pay special attention to these powerful testimonies.
These testimonies are voices that cannot be silenced. These are the voices crying out in the wilderness; creation itself proclaiming the Good News that Jesus has come to proclaim the peace of heaven. When those who are threatened by that peace demand the disciples cease their praise, Jesus declares that even if every faithful disciple should suddenly lose their ability (or freedom) to proclaim this good news, the very rocks hurled at them in hate will take up the cry of the hosannas of praise (Luke 19:40).
This Lent, in the busy-ness of our lives in an always on the go culture naturally opposed to peace, let us open our ears and our hearts and listen. As we embark on this 40-Day journey let us turn our attention to the testimony of creation. By slowing down and walking in the wisdom of creation, we will open our hearts to hearing the good news of peace as we travel with Jesus to the city of Peace.
As we listen to the stones, the rivers, the trees and all the other voices of creation that bear witness to the Good News, we will hear the ways in which injustice and systems of oppression and unsustainable consumption threaten to silence the cries of hope and peace. This Lent we are called to join this choir of witnesses and work in opposition to ecological destruction, global warming, and policies of hurt and harm that threaten the voices of peace; the very rocks of the Earth that cry out in praise of the Holy One of creation.
I give thanks to Jane Laping and Dennis Testerman for asking me to edit this devotional, and for their work throughout the process and assembling this for you all. My grateful thanks to each writer for their creative lens in which they took the prompt, and produced what is before you. To graphic designer, Sarah Pragg, thank you for your design and lay out of this work. Finally, to Jessica Jacks for the beautiful artwork. You inspire many.
Blessings and Peace, to you all this Lenten season.
Rev. Joanna Hipp
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