Maybe if our love loses the last of its interest in anything it might get in return, maybe then we’ll find ourselves alive at last, in that eternal kingdom Jesus kept telling us has been right here among us all along.

"New life starts in the dark, a seed in the ground, a child in the womb, Christ, in the tomb. The darkness is not abandonment. The darkness is not the end. The darkness is not where God stops. The darkness is where God is already at work, which means that the places we fear the most are very often the very places where God is closest."

"Because a night creeps through the day." Because this is how it is. And this world of distorted and destructive power, of fear turned to anger and rage. On a grand scale, how the forces of control can conspire to crush what it will not allow. And in the smaller worlds we inhabit, where this simple unraveling of what we counted on sends us into a parallel universe marked by loneliness and gloom."

"It's a love that will even set aside its own seat at the table, set aside its privilege, its power, even its precious dignity if need be, so it can kneel down and give of itself for the sake of its beloved, no matter how dusty and looked down upon the actual physical work of love may be."

But more than an itinerary for these next seven days, we have a map that will help us on those other sojourns, the ones when we can’t see beyond the bend in the road. Because this isn’t just a map of Jerusalem. It’s a map of all the places that God goes.

Come out of hiding, come out of shame, come out of addiction, of fear, come out of the story that has convinced you that this is as alive as you will ever be. Come out.

The Rev. Dr. Heber M. Brown, III is a nationally recognized leader in faith-based social innovation and food justice. After serving nearly fourteen years as a pastor in Baltimore—where he witnessed the impacts of food apartheid—he founded the Black Church Food Security Network. The network now partners with nearly 250 Black congregations and Black farmers to advance food sovereignty and economic justice. An Ashoka Fellow, Dr. Brown serves on the board of Bread for the World and as senior church advisor to Justis Connection. He is the author of the forthcoming book Nothing More Sacred: Radical Stories of Black Church Faith, Food, and Freedom.

"If everyone always got exactly what they deserved, and the universe finally behaved like we think it should, what would be lost? Well, I think the grace of this moment would be lost. This encounter that a man born blind had with the grace of God in the person of Jesus would be lost. Because the only one in this story to stay open to what’s actually taking place is the one who was willing to set aside everything."

Bishop Deon K. Johnson is the eleventh bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, where his ministry centers faith, justice, and joy. A native of Barbados, he brings a global perspective shaped by resilience, community, and hope. Bishop Johnson is deeply committed to cultivating belonging, especially for LGBTQIA+ people and others who have been marginalized, affirming all as God’s beloved. Known for his warmth, storytelling, and sacred laughter, he delights in good conversations and imaginative hope. His leadership invites the church to live more fully into love made visible through justice, compassion, and courageous faith.

Stephen Cook has served as senior pastor of Second Baptist Church in Memphis since 2010. Under his leadership, the congregation has embraced its identity as a center of Christian community throughout the week, recognizing that ministry happens far beyond Sunday mornings. Cook guides Second Baptist with a vision “to know Christ and to know its village,” forming disciples shaped by the life and teachings of Jesus while loving neighbors in tangible ways. His pastoral leadership emphasizes shared life, spiritual formation, and deep engagement with the surrounding community, cultivating a church rooted in presence, relationship, and faithful witness.