He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out."

 And those who went before and those who followed cried out with a cry of happiness, Hosanna! Be graciously inclined and propitious to Him! Praised and blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord! Praised and blessed in the name of the Lord is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna! O save us in the highest heaven! Mark 11:9-10

Really these who went before and those who followed had absolutely no clue what lie ahead. The road through Jerusalem was beyond their comprehension. I imagine they thought after one last glorious shout thousands and thousands of angels would descend and after the shortest of all possible scrimmages, the battle would be won, the Romans destroyed and the eternal kingdom would be upon them in golden glory. Or something like that.

And the road before us is much longer and harder than we imagine. Life is tough and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

But there is something else totally unexpected and unimaginable. The unimaginable love of Jesus–who could conceive of such a love demonstrated? In that while we were yet sinners, He died for us.

And I totally get why some Christians make the sign of the cross. In the Sign of the Cross, we profess the deepest mysteries of the Christian Faith: the Trinity--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--and the saving work of Christ on the Cross. The combination of the words and the action are a creed, a statement of belief. A belief which should frame our thoughts–every how and why we live our life.

And a reminder. A continual reminder of this love demonstrated.

And even though they were pretty clueless, this cry of happiness was right and true.  Praise and blessing to He Who comes in the name of the LORD Almighty Creator of heaven and earth. Who came to earth to show us the road, true the road of suffering and pain, but also the road to this love, this love that surpasses knowledge--that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

So let me step out with shout of joy and may I praise Him with a loud shout in all that I say and do today. Even though I am pretty clueless about the shadows that lie just beyond the bend, I will fear no evil, for He is with me.