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Scripture Text (NRSV)

 

Luke 19:28-40

 

19:28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

19:29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,

19:30 saying, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

19:31 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it.'"

19:32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them.

19:33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

19:34 They said, "The Lord needs it."

19:35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

19:36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.

19:37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen,

19:38 saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!"

19:39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop."

19:40 He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."

 

Comments:

 

"Who Needs it?" is a sermon title I'm thinking of using...

pulpitt in nd


Have you ever tried to stop a "whole multitude" of single-minded people from doing what they're doing? Good luck. They are not going to be silenced no matter who shushes at them.

My reading of this time in history tells me that Rome permitted the Jews to have some self-rule over religious matters, and the chief priest could stay in his role AS LONG AS THERE WERE NO UPRISINGS of any sort. This throng of shouting people, waving and yipping along the road probably struck fear in the hearts of the Pharisees for that reason. The fact that the people were honoring this anti-Temple, "anti-Law" renegade preacherman from Nazareth was probably secondary in their minds at this point.

Early thoughts. I'm probably going with Mark's version anyway.

KHC


For a good visual, I thought I might bring several stones to the altar. Either we praise the Lord or these stones will.

What's the point made about the donkey being one that had never before been ridden?

Lawyer John


"What's the point made about the donkey being one that had never before been ridden?"

I believe it is to reinforce that the prophesy of Zechariah 9:9 is being fulfilled.

"... riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

According to Strongs, the word translated "colt" here means: "... properly, a young ass (as just broken to a load) ..."

Clearly, an old work horse just wouldn't do.

One Tom of Many


Could the fact that the colt has never been ridden be saying something about this being Jesus, "Making all things new."


Lawyer John - I like that visual image! I think I'll borrow it.

Interesting thing about stones - they'll shout if need be, they'll serve as cornerstones for buildings (literally and metaphorically), as weapons when we're quick to stone a woman caught in adultery, and are moved away to reveal the ultimate victory.

Sally in GA


The fact that Jesus road on a donkey fulfills the political messiahship for the democrats.

I am using an analogy of Scott Norwood of Super Bowl 25 being the anticipated hero then being hated (after his kick went "wide right") and Jesus coming into Jerusalem as anticipated hero then hated and crucified 4 days later.

Luther in IA


Luther in IA,

So, did Jesus go too far right or too far left?

:-) Michelle


Um, regarding the colt having never been ridden, have you seen a horse or donkey "broken" for riding? The animal just doesn't quickly submit to being sat upon by a human being! Perhaps there is something truly wonderful here being said about Jesus. Maybe nothing miraculous happened, but this has always struck me as--at least--highly unusual. Rabbi in IL


5 or 6 weeks ago when I did my planning I titled this week's sermon "On Parade" but at the moment I'm not quite sure where I'm going with it -- or even if I'm going to keep it. I THINK the connection was between/among the parade-like atmosphere of the triumphal entry, the traditional "palm parade" of every church I've ever been a part of, and the empty feeling that often comes after the parade passes by and there's nothing left but the trash and the horse droppings.

Very early musings for me.

Robbie in KS


In the passage, I see a heightened sense of hope among the people. Perhaps the donkey, having never been ridden, addresses the hope that Luke is saying should be invested in Jesus. The donkey has never encounted a rider; Jesus has never ridden that donkey. Yet, Jesus has gentle control over the animal. Does that transfer over to the unpleasant experiences we have to go through? MTSOfan


Nothing original from me on this passage today. I am simply reminded of my Senior Pastor sermon on this last year, that we should not be like the colt, who could easily mistook the praises people had for Jesus as the praises for itself (as it was carrying Jesus through the streets of Jerusalem).

His 3 points sermon was on...

1. It "has never been ridden" (young/pure/inexperience/set apart)

2. It was available for God use

3. It was humble doing its job of carrying Jesus (not get distracted by the praises...)

This is a great reminder for me on a Monday morning, after evaluating on my own effectiveness of preaching on Sunday.

Coho, Midway City.


Sally and Lawyer John,

Interesting about the stones ... you've made me think.

Do any of the rest of you get the sermons sent out by www.sermons4kids.com ? This weeks is called "A Rock Concert" and says that although the rocks have many stories to tell (the writer has you bring a bucket of rocks), that we won't let them because we ourselves will praise our King. As long as we do, the rocks won't have to.

It's nicely done and a good resource, but it also added a few stories the rocks could tell to the ones Sally mentioned: David vs Goliath, Elijah building the altar to God, Solomon and his temple building, wise man building his house upon the rock, etc.

You all may have given me the direction to go this week. I was thinking donkey (but leave me waaay to open to direct parallels :) or stones ... the cover I chose months ago is a hoof on stones and palm branches. I like the stones. Thanks.

Oh, and I've also seen a lovely Good Friday afternoon service that used stones as the basis for the three meditations that were done during the hour -- each tied into the story, but the obvious last one being the one to close the tomb.

mm in pa


I always wonder, did the colt's owner know of this arrangment through the leading of the spirit, did Jesus meet with him earlier with nobody else knowing, or were they just understanding,faithfull and generous? In the west they hung horse thieves! This could have rained on the parade if the horse thieves were arrested before the procession started! Once again, God's will was accomplished and prophesy fullfilled!

Roger in PA


I have used this Sunday to talk about the various ways and times the resurrection could have been experienced. This is information that current biblical scholars write about.

The Palm Procession, with the Hosannas, is part of the fall "Festival of Tabernacles." It clearly is confusing, because the waving of palm branches and the shouting of "Hosanna," is what was habitually done in the fall.

Is it possible that the disciples were coming back into Jerusalem in the fall, after they had experienced Jesus in Galilee? The rituals of the "Festival of Tabernacles" then got mixed into the pre-Easter entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

It is an opportunity to talk about whether Jesus was experienced raised in Jerusalem or in Galilee. If Jesus was only experienced by the men in Galilee, it would have taken them some time to walk back that 120 miles and resume work as fishermen. Then they would have had to walk back down to Jerusalem again. This might account for the passing of time from spring to fall.

It is an opportunity to also talk about whether the resurrection was physical, spiritual or metaphorical. The Bible is not clear about only one way.

I would not want to wrestle with this stuff on Easter morning, but Palm Sunday may offer that opportunity.

Brent in Pincher


Roger in PA, regarding the colt-taking: While the Synoptics seem to lead us to think this Passover was Jesus' first time in Jerusalem, it probably was not. No doubt he had been there previously, and maybe not even at Passover time. Since we're in Luke this Palm Sunday, look at Luke 10:38. We know Martha and Mary lived in Bethany which is almost like a suburb of Jerusalem. Because Jesus was probably a marked man even then, he may have sent Lazarus or another friend to Jerusalem to make the pre-arrangements. Jesus still had other places to visit (see Luke 13:22) before he made his final trip to Jerusalem.

A donkey is genus Equus, (Equus asinus) same as the horse (Equus caballas) so a colt/foal could be from either animal, really. Most depict it as a young donkey/ass.

A young donkey, as we all know, would be a symbol of peace, unlike a horse. An unbroken animal that would allow a rider would certainly underscore the peace-making point Jesus was making that day.

And it was that "coming in peace, bringing in the peaceable Kingdom where even the animals given to temperment go quietly" that got Judas so riled up. He wanted the new Judas Maccabaeus, the new mad-as-hell militant to storm Jerusalem and restore Israel to God and the Jews.

KHC


As I am looking at this scripture I am looking at the perceived power flow. The Pharisees were afraid of the crowd because they feared if the crowd got out of hand, the Roman would take away what little power they had of self rule.

The crowd on the other hand perceived power coming through Jesus as an instrument of violence. It is hard to tell how many Judas types their may have been in the crowd. Many today still mistakenly think that the most power comes from violence.

Jesus understands that REAL power is not in Rome and not in violence but in God, the God of peace.

I am still working on this one. Any ideas?

Disciple in OH


Disciple in OH, as the Catholic Priest in this town says ALL the time, "Jesus tells us from the Cross, 'Violence is not the answer. The only answer is Love.'"

KHC


Hello:

I found this website a couple of months ago and have reaped the rewards of all the wisdom that I have seen on here. I have felt that I have not had much wisdom to share so that is why I have never posted before. I am not sure that this post will be spreading any wisdom but I wanted to share this. I have grown up around ranches all of my life and have watched many a cowboy not only break horses but also donkeys. They are very spirited animals. It takes a lot of patience and it also requires the animal to come to trust it's handler. Animals have great instincts! They can usually give you an indication of someone's personality if you watch them closely. The colt in this story, I believe, could be displaying that instinct by trusting the one who is to ride him or her. This can be used to share that we all can trust Jesus as well. The colt seemed to know instinctively that Jesus would not hurt him or her. Just a thought....

TA in Tx


About the donkey/colt, I believe Craddock and others point out that animals that had never been used before (pure animals) were used in the sacred sacrficial rituals of the Jewish people. An unused donkey could signify not only that this is an event of peace, but also one of sacred significance.

RB in CA


With reference to "a colt that has never been ridden," I found this in one of the older commentaries (Adam Clarke, late 18th, early 19th century): "No animal was allowed to be employed in sacred uses, even among the heathen, that had previously been used for any domestic or agricultural purpose; and those which had never been yoked were considered as sacred." (vol 5, pg. 325). Other, more recent commentators (i.e. R. Alan Culpepper, "The New Interpreter's Bible") note the the "new" colt balances the "new" tomb in which Jesus was buried. "Brent in Pincher," may I refer you to N. T. Wright's book, "The Resurrection of the Son of God;" he makes a very convincing argument that ancient references to resurrection referred exclusively to physical resurrection. Other ancient writings that spoke of some other kind of afterlife ("spiritual," "disembodied," etc.) never used the word "resurrection." -pisca


A colleague of mine once suggested the sermon title for Palm Sunday as: "Would You Let God Use Your Ass?"

Not sure I am brave enough yet to try this but it asks a profound question. What if you were the owner of the young colt? What other items that belong to you might God want to use? Are we willing to let God use them,or us?

A W-G rocky coast Me.


Perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems to me that the reason for the young donkey is spelled out quite nicely by the prophecy:

Zechariah 9:9-10 (NRSV): (9) Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (10) He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war-horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

Tired of warfare (check the preceding verses) the prophet tells Jerusalem that their king won't ride in on a war horse, but humbly, on a young animal, just barely old enough to be ridden.

KHC: I think Jesus is usually portrayed on a donkey because of this prophecy (don't you?)

One Tom of Many


pisca, thanks for the NT Wright's book reference! It would come in handy for many of us as well.

Coho, Midway City


"The Lord has need of it." Did Jesus really NEED the donkey? Was it necessary for the owners to donate their donkey for Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem? Would the whole drama of Holy Week have been ruined if Jesus used a different donkey, or if he had to walk?

The real question behind the question is: Does God really need US/me? Is it necessary for us to make donations and loans of our things and our time for God's work to be done? Is God dependent on our willingness to cooperate for God's will to be done on earth?

The answer is "yes" and "no", sometimes and maybe. God may not need me in particular. If I don't speak up about some injustice, if it's important enough, someone else eventually will. If I don't preach, there are other people who will. One individual can't stop God's larger purposes, as long as there are other people who will listen and cooperate in their place. As long as others are faithful, God doesn't need me in particular.

God may be able to do without us as individuals, but if we hold back the things we have to offer, it will have an effect on God's work in the world. A hand can function with on finger missing. But it's much easier to work with all five fingers. If the body of Christ is going to be healthy, we must all do our part, use our gifts and resources.

If a whole group of people refuses to cooperate, then it has a bigger effect on God's work in the world. In the next passage Jesus wept over Jerusalem, because it didn't recognize it's time of visitation from God. Whole cities and societies can reject God's will. So can churches.

On the other hand, (am I contradicting myself?), Jesus said, "If these (disciples shouting hosanna) were silent, the very stones would shout out." There is a truth that speaks apart from us, that is written into the very nature of creation, that will stand regardless of how much evil and deception is around us. Hopefully God won't need to use stones. God has us.

DGinNYC


Since Monday night is the big night for college basketball, I recall a story about Coach John Wooden who had so many championship teams at UCLA. According to the story, he began practice each season in the same way. The first thing he did was to teach his players the correct way to tie their shoe laces! A stickler for fundamentals.

I'm thinking of a sermon on the fundamentals of discipleship, since Luke's account places the emphasis on the disciples. Thinking of three things: Discipleship is 1) Giving to Jesus what Jesus needs; 2) Going with Jesus where Jesus goes; and 3) Praising Jesus as Jesus deserves to be praised. rh in Alabam


To Robbie in KS, A while ago I dressed in jeans and an old shirt and snuck around to the back of the sanctuary and made my entrance down the center aisle with a broom, sweeping up all of the palms that had been laid down. Then I did a sermon on just your thought, cleaning up after the big parade had passed by. It was kind of fun and to this day they remember that sermon SP


Your conversation on the relationship of donkey to rider makes me think of the new movie out "Hidalgo" .... one of the most enjoyable for me in a long time. Might offer some "fodder." Rev.Pam


The Palm Tree was a symbol of Palestine as something separate from Greek and Roman culture. When the people waved the fronds at Jesus, they were saying "In your face" to Rome as well as saying "Hail to the King" to Jesus.


One Tom -- Although Luke speaks simply of a colt, Matthew and John (perhaps influenced by Zechariah) specifically mention a donkey/ass. -- Mike in Maryland


Luther in IA - I hope you're planning on describing the whole thing for those of your listeners who (like me) wouldn't have a clue as to who Scott Norwood is.

It's my little beef about sports analogies, but I have to recognize that I have my analogies that not everyone is privy to, too.

Sally in GA


My annual sermon title for Palm Sunday is "Cheers and Jeers". I preach a different sermon each year, but the title is always the same. There's a whole lot you can do with this title.


Oops!

This text does not mention palm branches, only cloaks on the road. That doesn't meant there weren't any, but it might change the tone of the sermon.

Michelle


I wonder how many stones (read people we ignore or cannot hear) are speaking for Christ right now? How many New Age people, or lost youth or children with Down's Syndrome, etc.... people we ignore who may know more about praising God than we do?

We can silent them or learn from them.

Dr. M.


SP,

Thanks for the idea! That is a great jumping off point. If I had more time to work out the logistics I might try exactly that -- but since this is a weekend with a wedding rehearsal, wedding, and preparation for a Monday funeral (not to mention extra care in saying a lot in a short message since it is Eucharist, too), I don't think I can work it out. However, the concept provided me with the opening I needed...

"Will you just look at all this mess around the altar! Someone should have made sure there would be a clean-up crew at the end of this morning's parade."

Blessings to all. I've enjoyed the discussion about the donkey even though I'm not going that direction.

Robbie in KS


New to this site - Hey, ya'll, from Toronto Canada.

Unridden colt - its easier for Jesus to ride a wild donkey down a hill than to tame the Pharisees.

Stones cry out. From Thomas Long: The floor of the Balibo church in East Timoris so soaked in blood from the massacre of those who sought refuge in it from the retreating militia that the blood stains are irremovable, at least beyond the means of the local people to remove them. Jesus is weeping over the lost opportunity for peace.

If the crowd does not praise, what will the stones cry out? Habbukuk said, "The stones of the wall will cry out: Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high, to escape the clutches of ruin! You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life. Hab 2:9-11

Duke Vipperman Church of the Resurrection, Toronto www.theRez.on.ca


These new words to an old hymn which I wrote may be helpful for some. Feel free to use them.

1 Ride on ride on in majesty Receive the praise to which you’re due With waving palms, “Hallelujah!” The crowd put all their hopes on you.

2 Ride on ride on in mystery For only you know what they’ll do. For now they view a glorious king A strong Messiah seen in you.

3 Ride on ride on so hum -bl –y On borrowed colt you give a clue. No kingdom war, no battle steed The reign of peace begins with you.

4 Ride on ride on reflectively For to your friends you’ll bid adieu. They will recall the Paschal feast The bread of life will come from you.

5 Ride on ride on purposeful-ly The Father’s will is what you’ll do A new creation is set free Salvation will be found in you.

Petereo.


Tune of the old hymn is? Nancy-Wi


Greetings All. Thanks for the image of cleaning up after the parade. I'll have many chances to preach on the Passion next week, so I want to focus on the Palm Gospel this week. What a wonderful metaphor for our life of faith. How often do we go to church on Sunday, go to a special event or retreat and come home all fired up, only to be greated by the "trash and droppings of life." But it's then that we realize what faith is really about, as we deal with life's difficulties. Our difficulties pale by comparison to the barren road that Jesus would walk just a few days hence, but still it seems to me there is wonderful insight for us in this passage. When the parade comes by, enjoy it, celebrate it, live it, experience it. You will need what you draw from that parade to deal with what lies ahead. I'm in a four point parish, which has one church doing a regular service and three churches that will do ecumenical Palm Sunday processions where in numbers far exceeding what we normally have in each church, we will say to our community, by means of a walk down mainstreet (and in one rural congregation a drive from church to church) that we believe the Palm parade is worth their attention, that there is spiritual benefits that can bring joy to their lives. From these wonderful events, we draw strength to continue our witness of the Gospel to those around us. Blessings kn in ln


"Ride On! Ride On in Majesty" tune is St. Drostane by John B. Dykes - 1862. It can also be sung to "Winchester New".


Every year I have the greeters hand out palm fronds to everyone on Palm Sunday. They all, old and young, have a grand time waving them about the room. Then I invite them to take their frond home and see how it turns to brown so quickly - by Friday it should be almost brittle. The vitality with which the heralders had greeted Jesus on Sunday faded fast, too.


I know this is off topic but we are celebrating a "first communion" for 2 of our youth this Sunday. Does anyone have a suggested resource for a liturgy of some type? UCC in NJ


This is not in this text, but when Jesus tells Peter and John prepare the passover, he tells them to go and find a man carrying water, If my feeble brain is right, I think that it would have been highly unusual for a man to be carrying water. Comments? Nancy-Wi


As I read the comment about the stones, I was reminded that one year when I preached this text, I had a pile of stones on the altar and then invited each person to take one with them (I think the children passed them out)I asked them to carry them in a pocket or set them on a window sill as they went thru Holy Week to let the Spirit prepare us for Easter that these stones might shout when the stone was rolled away. It worked great.


Last post was Joy in IL


A Parade Story...

Written in 2001

"6 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves."

Psalm 126 I love a parade…

Look, there, on the horizon! Don't you see it? It's beginning again, that parade of folks through our doors. Just a few have been trickling back from the "summer break". It has already begun downstairs as three groups now occupy our church basement during the week. The Star Bright Preschool, the Before and After School Children from Washington Elementary School, and now one kindergarten class from Washington School as well. The parade continues this coming weekend. A parade of folks. Some old, the builders of our church or churches like it, some young, persons with new ideas put to that old, old story that we've loved so long. So familiar, so predictable, so peaceful. Some in between, not sure who they are or where they're headed.

My family and I were driving through Pick City, ND earlier this summer. We had just reunited as a family, had been to a store to pick up some candy, something like 5 lbs. of mixed candy bars. We munched as we drove through the countryside's of North Dakota. We came through Pick City and discovered an interesting site. No one was in the street, still, it looked like a parade had either just happened or was about to commence. For there were people lined up along the curb on both sides of the street. It seemed like they were waiting for someone, something to happen. They waited patiently at first, then more anxiously. I watched one little boy. His short chubby calves were cinched up under his knees as he waited on the curb. Head on his hands, elbows on his knees, he swayed in wild anticipation for who knows what. His tennis shoes tapped eagerly to the sound of an imaginary band playing "I love a parade"!

It was like the parade was meant for us, we waved shyly at the community that gathered as our green van rumbled through the empty street between the crowds. "Toss them some of that candy!" I exclaimed to Becky who was already digging down between the seats to find the almost forgotten bag. "Toss them some candy!" I repeated. "I'm trying to find it!" she said, her head down searching for the bag. By the time she found it we were well through town and on our way out. "Shall we go back?" I asked. "Sure!" she said. "What are you guys doing?" moaned our children. "How embarrassing!"

Sure enough, about a 1/4 of a mile down the road, we turned our van around and came through town once more. This time, we had all the windows down and all they could see were hands full of candy bouncing on the pavement like raindrops, or hail stones. The excitement grew as the children and a few adults came out into the street to collect the goodies. Our van disappeared into the country with our bumper sticker "Grace Happens" announcing the abundance of God's grace that touched all our hearts with cheer that day.

Have you ever done anything so spontaneous, have you ever felt the joy of giving? If not, why not challenge yourself to trying it in church. Maybe it will mean coming to church, providing rides to those who need one, joining the choir, committing to the Disciple Bible Study class, or helping to usher or greet, or videotape our 11 am worship. It won't just help our church be a stronger church, which it will. It will also gift you with a feeling of being part of the parade of love that is the Spirit of Christ in our midst today.

Tossing candy to the crowd, looking down the road with you

Rick


"Ride On, Ride on in Majesty!" can also be sung to a tune called "The King's Majesty." My favorite is "Winchester New," but that may be because that's the one I learned first.

Almost any Long Meter (L.M.) tune will work though, even the Doxology ("Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow"). Try it out first, though. Sometimes the meter doesn't really fit with the words, even with the right number of syllables.

Michelle


Is anyone thinking about going a few more verses to the part where Jesus weeps over the city? I always wonder why they stop where they do!

Susan in Wa.


Thank you, poster whose name I've lost track of, for reminding us of some of the "stones" shouting out for Christ right now...

I'm borrowing the title from the children's sermon someone mentioned, "The Rock Concert." I thought about something to do with the Stones, too, but that brought up images of the Doobies ... and you get the drift.

Where was it that stones were turned to bread? Or am I imagining some legend that has no scriptural basis (akin to Jesus arguing with his disciples who wanted him to ride into Jerusalem on something more special but he said no).

Thanks, y'all, for your conversation this week. I got my "theme" early and haven't posted much (I post more when I'm thinking through something - a thinker-out-louder).

Sally in GA


From the New Interpreter's Bible - volumeIX - Luke-John page 366:

Entrance prcessions were a familiar ceremony in the first century. Numerous kings and conquering generals had entered Jerusalem over the years... In such Greco-Roman entracne processions we have seen the following elements: (1) the conqueror/ruler is escorted into the city by the citizenry or the army of the conqueror. (2) THe procession is accompanied by hymns and or acclamations. (3) The Roman triiumph has show us that various elements in the procession...symbolically depict the authority of the ruler. (4) The entrance is followed by a ritual of appropriation, such as sacrifice, which takes place in the temple, whereby the ruler symbolically appropriates the city."

Modern day version - a president landing on the flight deck of a aircraft carrier.

Mark in WI


Susan- I am going to v.44 -- I think the image of Jesus weeping as he enters the city is powerful, and it will be new to most of my congregation, since it usually gets left out. In this service we try to move from palms to passion, and I think the lament makes a good segue. I'm focusing on our failure to recognize our "visitation from God" and the things that make for peace -- then and now.

Blessings, Leanne in AL


I'm preaching on the stones crying out...

Several years ago a colleague brought a huge stone and placed it in the center of the sanctuary with a sledge hammer. That had a powerful visual effect. However, I like the idea of having stones on the altar to hand out and keep, thinking about what's coming ahead. Who will role YOUR stone away??

RevMom in the Zoo


Last Sunday afternoon, I watched "The Passion" for the second time with my daughter (17) ... I noticed the stoning of the woman caught in adultery "flashback"... the stones dropping to the ground... as the men walked away from the scene, stones dropped to the ground... had I not known of the passage, I would wonder what that was all about... for it doesn't say... Jesus said, "Those who are without sin cast the first stone."

Then there is the "sticks and stones" saying... which is of course not true...

blessings and thanks for the help again this week...

pulpitt in ND


Sally in GA

Obviously I'm ridiculously late -- but the stones to bread thing was when Jesus was tempted by the satan ... in the wilderness after his baptism, I believe. Jesus didn't do it. :-)

And a generic shout out -- DON"T FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR ALARM CLOCKS FOR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME!!!! (Isn't it a bummer when the *minister* is late for church, lol)

~Squeeze


I'm so thankful I don't have to mess with the clocks in my house and car and Church. We don't change time here. Small blessings are often the most appreciated.