Blessed

A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” - Luke 23:27-31

Yep, that's the verse they chose for today.  Nope, I'm not going to address it, but I have chosen another verse.

Luke 19:28-40     English Standard Version (ESV)     The Triumphal Entry

²⁸ And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. ²⁹ When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, ³⁰ saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” ³² So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. ³³ And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” ³⁴ And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” ³⁵ And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. ³⁶ And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. ³⁷ As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, ³⁸ saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” ³⁹ And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” ⁴⁰ He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”  ⁴¹ And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, ⁴² saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.  

This is the typical Palm Sunday verse.  I appreciated today's sermon (?) about the reading.  We were reminded that Jerusalem was the center of power (religious, economic, political, and military).  Jesus made a humble, almost mocking entrance as he rode in on a donkey (ass).  He was a pauper, a beggar.  The story reminds us that we have the choice to choose power or love.  "If these were silent, the very stones would cry out."  The stones are crying out for peace and justice. 

"Even the stones will cry out for justice
Even the trees will sing out for peace.
The fire and water, the earth and sky,
With all of creation will cry out,
Cry out,
All of creation will cry."

Well, I wish I had more to offer, but I don't.  It's time to finish grading papers while I watch Iowa State.  Go 'Clones!!  After basketball and paper grading I will need to pack and go to the gym, so I can leave for Mexico.