What Will These Stones Shout?

Palm Sunday

Text: Luke 19:28-40

Pastor Jean M. Hansen

It’s Palm Sunday, which means I’ve been singing the “Hosanna” song from Jesus Christ Super Star all week; it’s just what I do! There are a lot of “Hosannas” and “Hey-sannas” in that song, which is exactly what we expect on Palm Sunday, along with, of course, waving palms and a parade featuring children. Yet … today’s account from Luke 19 does not include a single palm branch or shout of “Hosanna”! (Go ahead and look at your bulletin to make sure that’s true.)

As one commentator noted, if Luke was all we had, we would not call this day Palm Sunday because that Gospel never mentions waving palms. Maybe we’d call it “Coat Sunday” because that is about the only detail Luke gives: people laid their coats down for Jesus to ride upon. I point all this out not only to encourage paying closer attention when reading scripture, but also to pose the question, “Why?”

Obviously, there are palms and hosannas in other gospels, but Luke strips away everything that might distract us from focusing on Jesus. The significant story is about him, not about the parade or celebrating.

The fact is that many of those participating in the that exuberant entrance into the Holy City expected something very different from Jesus than he came to do. “Here’s your Savior and King!”, the crowds heard someone say, and so they erupted in happy shouts. However, Jesus as Savior and King would not free them from their oppressors, the Romans, as they wanted.

Quoting Rev. Bejamin Cremer, “We want the warhorse. Jesus rides a donkey. We want to take up swords. Jesus takes up the cross. We want the empire. Jesus calls the church. We want the roaring lion. God comes as a slaughtered lamb. We keep trying to arm God. God keeps trying to disarm us.” These truths became apparent soon enough, turning the crowds’ cries to shouts of betrayal and condemnation.

However, as commentator Chelsey Harmon notes, “Thankfully, they (we humans) are not the only ones who bear witness to the purposes of God in the world, or in this moment. The religious leaders tell Jesus to quiet his disciples, but Jesus says that if his human followers don’t shout the truth, then the rocks will take up the call. This moment needs to be remembered and marked…. God’s purpose will be told by God’s creation.” (1)

I’ve always been intrigued by the image created by the quote, “the stones would shout!” Would they have regional accents? Would the volume of their voices fit their size? Would they use popular expressions or sound like the King James version of the Bible? While that’s humorous to consider, the reality is that creation, just as it is, announces that Jesus is Lord, and its proclamation lasts longer than ours’ and perhaps is more reliable.

Yet, if the stones shouted, what would they shout? Would their words be a protest, or a lament or praise? What would be the case for us? The Rev. Ashely DeTar Birt puts it this way: “What is it in this moment that can’t be silent? What must be said? What is bubbling up in you that you need to give voice? If these stones would shout, what might they say?” (2)

If I ask myself that question, I wonder if the stones would lament that the war in Gaza not only continues, but that Israel has blocked the entry of all goods, so that food and medical supplies are not getting to the people there. They are trapped, bombed and being starved. All UN supported bakeries are closed, markets are empty of most fresh vegetables and hospitals are rationing painkillers and antibiotics. If the stones shouted, what would they shout?

Would the stones shout protest that immigrants who are in the United States legally are being detained and threatened with deportation because of unpopular public advocacy. If they cannot exercise the American right of free speech without risking deportation, separation from their families, and loss of livelihood, then who might be next? If the stones shouted, what would they shout?

Might the stones lament the stress of lost employment for so many federal workers, losses in the stock market; might they attempt to calm fears that a recession is on the horizon in this country? If the stones shouted, what would they shout?

Would the stones lament illness and loss that challenge everyone’s life? Would the stones protest acts of exclusion and prejudice? If the stones shouted, what would they shout?

Perhaps the stones would also shout “hosanna”, requesting help from God, but also celebrating the grace and mercy that are in endless supply. If the stones shouted, what would they shout? And, since it’s a challenge to grasp how the stones are speaking, I’ll ask again, what is bubbling up in you that you need to give voice?

Holy Week has arrived; the Gospel of Luke’s story of its arrival encourages us to keep our eyes on Jesus. Listen for the stones’ proclamations, listen particularly for the creak and groan of that huge stone that blocked the entrance to Jesus’ tomb. As Pastor Birt reminds us: