joyperkett

The Jackals and the Ostriches

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”

Clear the Chaos and the Clutter

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”

Finding the Way

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”

Travel Preparations

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”

The Song of Freedom

Luke 1:39-55 Holy One, may the meditations of all of our hearts be pleasing unto you and bring healing for all of us and for all the Earth. Amen.* Mary’s words today – about how the lowly are lifted up and the hungry are filled with good things – are known as the song ofContinue reading “The Song of Freedom”

Interfaith Thanksgiving Benediction

Go forth this Thanksgiving season, empowered by the love of the Holy One, to feed the hungry, to shelter the stranger, and to care for the earth that yields our food. May God who is Love bless you and keep you. May God’s face shine upon you and give you peace as you go forthContinue reading “Interfaith Thanksgiving Benediction”

For Such a Time As This

Ruth 1:1-18 Psalm 16:1-2, 5-11 While I was visiting the Taize monastery in France several weeks ago, one of the situations I heard about constantly was the refugees. For four years, civil war has been raging in the country of Syria and since then over four million refugees have fled the country, desperately searching for sanctuary where theyContinue reading “For Such a Time As This”

Rock Piles and Reverence

Genesis 12:1-9 I wanted to spend one more week talking about God’s call to Abram. Last week, I talked about how Abram paused on his journey when he arrived at Canaan, discerning where to go next. This week I found myself thinking about all the actions Abram took in face of his doubts: about howContinue reading “Rock Piles and Reverence”

Travelers on the Road

Genesis 12:1-9 As I read the story these past couple weeks about Abram being called from where he lived to a new land, it struck me that this story is about transition. It is about journeying in stages, about leaving behind the old and journeying to what comes next. Over these past couple weeks, IContinue reading “Travelers on the Road”

My 30th Birthday

In the book Eat, Pray, Love, author Elizabeth Gilbert embarks on adventure across Italy, India and Indonesia to find happiness, connection and meaning. At the very end of the book, as she prepares for the next chapter of her life, Gilbert turns to her new found lover and says, “Attaversiamo,” which means let’s cross over,Continue reading “My 30th Birthday”