Lent often employs a "journey" motif, sending Jesus'' disciples towards Jerusalem and Golgotha. This week's theme reminds us that if we faithfully intend to follow Christ, we must be willing to step outside the door. We must be willing to leave our safe sanctuaries, our "wombs with a view" and risk entering the world naked and vulnerable, clad only in our faith.

Mark portrays Jesus spending a good deal of his time and energy on the trip to Jerusalem preparing his disciples for what lay ahead. But each of the three incidents of the "passion narratives" are met with outright denial (8:32), frightened silence (9:32), or complete obtuseness (10:35). The disciples never seem to grasp the meaning of Jesus' message. They continue to misunderstand his role as the Christ. They fail to comprehend w…