February 10, 2013 Last Epiphany, Year C Luke 9:28-36 About fifteen years ago I had some time before starting a new job and headed off to Israel. I had a backpack with a few changes of clothes, a guide book, my Bible, a journal, James Michener’s The Source , and really not much of an agenda or travel plan. I began in Jerusalem and was entranced the moment I saw the ancient stone walls surrounding the Old City. I loved walking through the cobblestone streets, watching people leaving written prayers in the crevices in the Western Wall, buying falafel from carts in the squares, smelling the different spices, and meeting so many different kinds of people. Living in America where everything is so new, it was surreal to be surrounded by pieces of such ancient history. I kept imagining what it might have looked like in Jesus’ time. Wondering if maybe I was walking in some of the places where he walked. It made the whole experience feel holy, from my physical walking