A Reflection for Monday, February 23 by Rev. Kelly Johnston Lectionary reading for 2/23/2025:   Psalm 32; 1 Kings 19:1-8; Hebrews 2:10-18 Selected passage for reflection: 1 Kings 19:1-8  Read 1 Kings 19:1-8 NIV Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one

After Jesus’ baptism, and before the start of his public ministry, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness.  I believe God sent Jesus into the wilderness to spend time in God’s presence, free from distractions. I believe the wilderness is a place where God chooses to meet with God’s beloveds. In this situation, God wants Jesus to know that he can rely on his Holy Parent for everything he needs. After 40 days of solitude in the desert, Jesus may have felt connected to t

One day, you are driving your toddler around, navigating traffic and handing out snacks to the seat behind you so they can sit in the passenger seat, somewhat horrified that you get to teach your teenager to drive. Now, I love a good-spirited, sassy teenager, but I don’t love teaching them to drive all that much. How does this sweet toddler go from singing in that sweet baby voice in the car to telling you, “I KNOW, MOM! YOU ARE STRESSING ME OUT,” after they almost kill you w

Jonah 3:1-10 reads like a one-page summary for a much longer document; few details and lots of facts. We don’t need any more detail than we have: “call urgently on God, and God may relent”. As I watch the news and witness the violence and wanton disrespect for human rights occurring across the US and around the world, I feel the need to urgently call out to God for mercy. If there were ever a moment to call on God urgently, this is it. Perhaps it’s always the time.