If you think about a rock concert, you are probably not immediately making the connection to a deeply moving spiritual experience. In fact “rock and roll” has, in recent history, been seen as the very antithesis of living a life based on religious principles. As I went back a little further in time than Elvis Presley and his suggestive, swiveling hips, I was amazed to discover some thing very different.
During the 17th century, we learn, that the rocking and rolling motion of a ship was used by Black Gospel musicians to describe the loving embrace of God – “my daddy rocks me with a steady roll”, “rock me Jesus”, "rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham”. This was music to “shake and disturb” in a spiritual sense. African Americans have used the term ‘rocking’ for the spiritual rapture, experienced at religious events, which centers around the powerful rhythms found in the music.
On Sunday, we will be experiencing Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and pointing the way to the events of Holy Week. This is very much a journey that will “shake and disturb” us. We will focus on the image of rocks and stones, to help us to engage differently, in what for many are a very familiar story.
The rocks and stones that mark the path of Jesus’ last days form an Inukshuk. In Canada we are familiar with Inukshuk’s built from rocks which tell others that we were here. May we mark our spiritual path, with the rocks and stones of our lives, as we journey towards Easter.
Blessings, Karen
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