On the Way

Scripture – Mark 8:27-30: ²⁷Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” ²⁸They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” ²⁹“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” ³⁰Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

Reflection: Caesarea Philippi looks to be around twenty five miles or so north of Capernaum. I imagine that would be a day’s journey. Actually, I’ve never walked that far at one time. And I certainly wouldn’t try it in sandals on a dirt road. Yet that’s how they got around in those days.

I often overlook the amount of time they spent walking. That was also a lot of time to talk and enjoy the company of Jesus. In this passage, Jesus brings up a pretty important question while they were “on the way.”

I’ve had a couple of friends tell me they like to walk while they pray. I haven’t done much of that. I’ll try that over these next couple weeks. I need to do more walking anyway. So I’ll see how I can use that to keep the lines of communication open between Christ and me.

Lord, you really do speak with me and to me a lot. I don’t always hear – usually because I’m so busy talking myself. Help me explore some new ways of prayer. Open the ears of my heart even this day.

An Invitation: For anyone interested in sharing their personal reflections from this week’s readings, you are invited to come by the Tim Hortons donut shop at Dix-Toledo and Northline in Southgate this Sunday morning at 9:45am. We’ll have a cup of coffee and see what the Lord has been teaching us this week.