Spiritual Reflection
on our Emmaus Journey

This weekend we will hear again Luke's version of the story of the walk to Emmaus.  We know this story well. Most likely, if someone asked us, we easily could tell them the story. The disciples were walking on the road talking  and relaying their experience of the death of their friend.

At times in our lives, we have been "the disciples on the road to Emmaus" feeling lost, alone, sad, confused, and perhaps even angered by our personal "death" experience.  Or it might have been a time when a significant person or part of your life died to you. Take a moment and remember one of your "Calvary" experiences.  Like the disciples who never thought they would lose Jesus, the experience of loss, sadness, confusion, depression and perhaps anger are real.

What was that time in life like for you?  

How long did it take you to begin to recover and begin to come back to life?  

Did your faith sustain you during this time or did God feel light years away from you?  

Was there any sense, small though it may have been, that God was with you, sustaining you, strengthening you?  

These times are extremely difficult and they may threaten our trust and faith in God.  We all know that bad things happen to good people; however, when they happen to us, our natural reaction is to question: "Why me? Why did God let this happen?"

If we hold onto our faith in God, Jesus eventually will appear to us again, most likely in unexpected ways, places, or people. Will our mind and hearts be open or will they be closed by anger, fear, and loss? Today may we pray for the grace to trust that Jesus will come to us.  May we trust and believe that Jesus is with us always!

We all have experienced dark moments of the soul.  Things seem utterly hopeless. Our youngest son has a mental illness, rheumatoid arthritis, and other medical problems. The author of this reflection had similar seemingly hopeless problems that eventually turned into joy with God's help and love. That can happen for you too.  

Blessings, love, and hugs from a safe distance,

Fr. Jack.

And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. (Luke 23:48)

     As I sit here writing, my son Isaac, is singing the soundtrack from Frozen at the top of his lungs.  He brings truly immeasurable and uniquely delivered love and joy to me, my family and many others.  Yet, when he was born with Down syndrome just after Easter 10 years ago, I confess it was one of the darkest times of my life- an agonizing and humbling admission for a mom to make.  Now I can say with complete honesty that Isaac is one of the greatest joys of my life, a precious and continuous gift.  His guileless and generous affection, unprejudiced enjoyment of the littlest things, keen emotional intuition, and innocent yet profound faith are priceless blessings.  Plus, he's just plain fun.

     As I remember those early, dark moments of my pregnancy and those first months after Isaac's arrival, I think about the last few days of Jesus' life.  How unspeakably dark that time must have been for His followers.  The hope Jesus offered was seemingly extinguished on that hill.  I found myself unexpectedly but joyously pregnant at forty-three with the heart-welling anticipation of new life; then that joy was suddenly confusingly, agonizingly gone.

     Did the apostles feel the same way?  Were they lost in despair?  But we're wrong to underestimate God's omnipotence and His love for us!  The empty tomb and then Jesus' appearance in the upper room heralded joy, just as Isaac does for me today.  If you are at what seems like a terminal low point, look to the cross.  Recall how hopeless it all seemed.  Then remember Easter.  Thank you, Jesus, for Easter!

- Isabella Yosuico

Pill Bottle Ministry

Please note that we can currently only collect the clear orange prescription bottles.  We have found that the others do not benefit the program.

Thank you for your support!

If you had a medical emergency at church on Sunday morning, would the Wardens or church  staff know who to contact? If you would like to add someone to St. John's emergency contact  list in case of such an emergency, please contact Maria, our parish secretary (619-422-4141 or

maria@saint-johns.org). A sign-up sheet will also be available in the church lobby to collect this information. Please provide your name, the name of your emergency contact, their relationship to you, their phone number and/or their email address. This is one more way we can show how we love one another.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May God's face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.

May God give you the grace never to sell yourself short;

Grace to risk something big for something good;

Grace to remember that the world is too dangerous for anything but truth 

And too small for anything but love.

So, may God take your minds and think through them;

May God take your lips and speak through them;

May God take your hearts and set them on fire.

-William Sloane Coffin