The Stones Would Cheer

Reading: Genesis 47-48; Psalm 10; Luke 19 36 As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. 37 When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. 38 “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” 39 But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” 40 He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” (Luke 19:36-40 NLT) As Jesus and his followers entered Jerusalem for Passover Week, cheering crowds welcomed him into the city and proclaimed him to be the Messiah and the Savior of Israel. Jesus knew the change that would take place over the next few days and that by week’s end many in these crowds would be shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Yet, even knowing the agony that soon awaited him, Jesus was living fully in the moment. He told his critics, “This is a moment to savor and fully experience. This is a God thing. If the people didn’t cheer, the rocks would cry out in praise to God!” What a gift – to be able to experience each moment, to savor its joy or peace or even pain – and then to move on fully to the next moment! I’m determined to learn to live each moment fully. So many times I miss the full impact of the moment – I fail to fully experience what’s happening right now – because I’m thinking regretfully about the past or anxiously about the future! I determine to look back only with gratitude – not regret or guilt. I determine to look forward only with trust – not fear or anxiety. But most of all, I determine to look around me and fully experience the moment God has given me. I will be here now! Prayer: Father, Please help me not to miss a moment of today. As I move through the day, sometimes thinking about tomorrow and what needs to be done and sometimes thinking about yesterday and what I didn’t get done, may I be fully present in each moment of this day you have given me. Amen.