Author Archives: joyofthejourney

John 13:1-8, 14-17, 31b – 35 After washing the disciples’ feet at the last supper, Jesus says to them, “If I, then – your Teacher and Sovereign – have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet … Once you know all these things, you will be blessed if you put them into practice.” Blessed ifContinue reading ““I See You. I Bless You.””

Isaiah 43:16-21, John 12:1-8 Earthy. That is the word that comes to mind when I hear the story of Mary of Bethany. While she was eating with Martha, Lazarus and Jesus, Mary got up, gently took a jar of perfume, and sat down next to Jesus to anoint his feet. She slowly lowered herself toContinue reading “The Jackals and the Ostriches”

Luke 13:1-9 A couple of weeks ago, we began our Lenten journey into the wilderness. On the Way, we learned that the wilderness has something to teach us.  We heard the story of Emily who journeyed to sobriety, and took the fifth step of Alcoholics Anonymous, confessing to God, herself, and another human being theContinue reading “Clear the Chaos and the Clutter”

Luke 13:31-35 In the Scripture today, Jesus is on the Way to Jerusalem. As Jesus travels on the way, I imagine Jesus encounters many people, like a man who was lonely, a woman who was hungry, a young person who was laden with debt, and an elderly person who was trembling with anxiety.  When JesusContinue reading “Finding the Way”

Luke 4:1-13 The wilderness had an emptiness to it.  When Jesus looked around, he could see caramel-colored dirt and rocks stretchig out to the horizon.  From the rock he was sitting, Jesus couldn’t see where the desert ended but he knew that it would continue– with its hills and ravines and jagged contours –  allContinue reading “Travel Preparations”