Bargain Souvenirs and Buckets of Praise

Continued medical treatment keeps me from participating in a Holy Land trip that I organized and that will be leaving shortly. I read an article on how members of the trip could bring home an inexpensive souvenir. There is a stopping point for tourists near the Mt. of Olives, which is popular for a group photo or camel ride and near this spot our Lord passed by on a lowly burrow. The writer suggests that you pocket an ordinary stone to take home, and display it with a note that says, "One of the stones that didn't cry out." This is in reference to Luke 19:35-40 and is referred to as the Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Jesus was told to rebuke His disciples as they shouted the words from Psalm 118 (though they left out verse 22, which reads, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.") Most of the Pharisees were frustrated with this display of praise and were wanting Jesus to tone down the crowd, essentially saying "These men are calling you the king of Israel." Jesus approved their words and accepted their praise, adding that if His followers became silent, the very stones would cry out. So pilgrims, collect your stone, and offer Him buckets of praise, because that is what all of creation does (i.e. sun, moon, stars, waters, mountains, cedars, fruit trees, fire, snow, clouds - Psalm 148).

We look forward to seeing you soon, but in the meantime, and the in-between time, offer Jesus your wholehearted, full-throated praise, for He is supremely worth of it all.