voices long silenced

A brief statement of faith
of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
states:

God the Holy Spirit...
gives us courage
to hear the voices of
peoples long silenced.

And when the voices
won't speak...
can't speak...
are not allowed
to speak...
what then?

In response to the voices of
the Pharisees in his day
who demanded
that Jesus silence the voices
of those following him
as he rode into Jerusalem
for the last time...

Jesus said:
"I tell you...
if these people were silent,
the stones would shout out."
Luke 19:40

How many occasions
of late
have we heard
modern Pharisees
shouting at God and others
that certain ones should
be silenced.

I suppose
Jesus who spoke then
speaks today.

"If 'their' voices are
shut.....then the stones
will shout."

The voices of
love,
justice,
compassion...
cannot be silenced
no matter how
many chapters
of life we live....