Text: Luke 19:29-40<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the disciples were silent, the stones would shout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve been thinking a lot about how no matter what happens in this world\u2026 no matter the destruction or devastation\u2026no matter the obstacles or despair\u2026 there is nothing that can stop God from being praised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About three weeks ago, tornadoes filled the skies over Nashville. My friends at East End UMC woke up to discover their building had been destroyed. But they gathered that Sunday morning in the park next to the church. An alter made from broken pieces of their sanctuary grounded them. And they sang their hearts out, surrounding one another with love and lifting up the name of God in praise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This week, I tuned into \u201cSome Good News\u201d a web series launched by John Krasinski, whom you might know from the Office or the new Jack Ryan series. One of the stories he shared was of an elderly couple separated by COVID-19, because the wife is in an Alzheimer\u2019s care unit. Even in the midst of their separation and struggle, the husband stood outside of her window, singing \u201cAmazing Grace\u201d and you can hear her gradually catch on and start singing out her own praises of God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I think about those disciples of Jesus, headed into Jerusalem on that morning. They had seen mighty and amazing things done by this man, their teacher. They had witnessed the dead being raised. The blind and the sick healed. They had witness barriers and boundaries being crossed as women and children and Gentiles and Samaritans were welcomed by their Master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jerusalem was the seat of power. And heading there, on that day, on that morning, with that colt\u2026 Well\u2026 it felt like a victory march! Of course they were singing and shouting and praising God with a loud voice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are echoes of the cries of the angels in the field\u2026 Of the psalmists\u2026Of the prophets throughout history\u2026 They were witnessing God\u2019s glory revealed and present\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
and it was all taking place before their eyes! Of course, they were praising God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If we move just one verse past this Triumphant Entry, there is not joy, but weeping. Jesus weeps. He looks out over the city and can\u2019t contain himself. Because he knows that this Kingdom they are waiting for, it will not arrive in an instant. He knows that in the coming week, those same disciples that were praising him would betray him. He knows that there will be wars and destruction and illness and death long before these visions are ever realized. He knows that this moment of God\u2019s embodied presence with the people is fleeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We live in that in-between times. That Kingdom of God, it\u2019s not fully here yet. Conflict rages in our world. A virus has brought us to a standstill. I could go on about the climate, and poverty, and racism\u2026 Jesus still weeps over our cities and towns and neighborhoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And there are days when it is awful hard to praise God. It\u2019s hard to lift up our heads and see the good. Some of you are already exhausted and the peak of this illness is still weeks away here in Iowa. Some of you are worried about loved ones who are sick. Some of you are on the front lines and every day you put yourselves at risk for others. And we can get so focused on the task before us, that sometimes, its hard to stop and focus on God\u2019s goodness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe your own heart has been quiet this week. Maybe your lips have been silent. Maybe it\u2019s not just this week, or this crisis, but the grief or the pain in your life has been weighing on you for some time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I keep thinking\u2026 how do we praise God when the words just won\u2019t come? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then I realized\u2026 maybe you don\u2019t. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the disciples were silent\u2026 the stones would shout. That\u2019s what Jesus told the Pharisees who were trying to silence their voices. He was telling them that there is nothing that can stop God from being praised. There is no force on earth or on heaven that can stop this momentum. The Kingdom is coming and there is nothing they or any other power in this world can do about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This week, Billie shared with us a passage from Romans 8 as a part of our staff devotion. And I got to thinking about how Paul captures this sentiment in his particular chapter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He tells us that there is no comparison between these hard times and what will come next\u2026But Paul also reminds us that it isn\u2019t just us, not just human people, who are waiting for God\u2019s Kingdom. Even the creation is groaning and waiting and breathless with anticipation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the moment we get worn out and can\u2019t wait any longer and don\u2019t know what or how to pray\u2026 well, that\u2019s when the Spirit steps in. That\u2019s when our \u201cwordless signs, our aching groans\u201d are turned into prayer by God\u2019s very spirit. Even the groans of creation are turned into prayer. Because when we fall silent and have no words to say, even the stones will shout. It will shout out the truth that there is nothing at all in this world or beyond this world that can separate us from God\u2019s great, amazing, sacrificial love. Not trouble or hard times or hunger or homelessness or danger or threats\u2026 Nothing. No thing. No power. No principality. Nothing that was created. Not even death itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When we don\u2019t have the words to sing. When the world overwhelms our hearts. When our lips fall silent. Look around. Look around at the signs of this great truth blossoming everywhere. Look at the crocus and the daffodils with their white and yellow and purple blossoms of joy. Look at the buds forming on the tree and the grass turning green. Open the windows and listen to the birds sing their own tunes of praise. Watch the squinnys play in the yard and the wind blow. Let the warm sun fall on your face. How are these not divine messages\u2026songs from above\u2026 creation itself shouting out God\u2019s praise?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We might not be gathering in the sanctuary this morning to praise God together. We might not be waving palm branches and lifting our voices. But we are not alone. No matter where we are today, the creation has joined us in praising our maker. The creation has joined us that hope-filled wait for the new creation, the Kingdom of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So my challenge to you all\u2026 Get out there and join in the song. Where do you see God\u2019s wondrous world shouting out praises? Take a picture\u2026. Make a short video\u2026 Send it to us here at Immanuel on our facebook page or by email\u2026 But also \u2013 share it with your friends and neighbors and loved ones. Think of all the mighty things you have seen God do in your life and with a photo or a snapchat or an email\u2026 share the good news\u2026 shout God\u2019s praises\u2026 let your voices raise in glory. Amen. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Text: Luke 19:29-40 If the disciples were silent, the stones would shout. I\u2019ve been thinking a lot about how no matter what happens in this world\u2026 no matter the destruction or devastation\u2026no matter the obstacles or despair\u2026 there is nothing that can stop God from being praised. About three weeks ago, tornadoes filled the skies…<\/span><\/p>\n