Pilgrimage Reflections
Each Lent, we take up the journey to Jerusalem with Jesus. This is a yearly pilgrimage, a sacred journey to a holy place. Other journeys take us on pilgrimage as well, also seeking Jesus. We reflected on pilgrimages to various holy places. Deacon Randy reminded us that there are three responsibilities of being on pilgrimage: bring the community along in prayer; be open to what is stirring in our hearts; bring the experience/encounter back home to the community. These were opened up to us from pilgrimages to Camino de Santiago/Spain, Rome and Assisi/Italy, Way of St Paul/Greece, and the Holy Land/Israel.
These reflections were a witness of pilgrims journeying in faith, believers in Jesus Christ, alive and present. This journeying was accompanied by Saints, their witness and their faith. Also sharing these encounters in the company of believers, and uniquely through the Eucharist in which Jesus, himself, accompanies us on our pilgrim journey.
The journeys were “states of being” and “places of being” in holy Presence. Not just a fleeting feeling, but real presence. This presence was manifested by:
- the grace of community, open and welcoming.
- a deep sense of completion of a journey, yet to be unpacked.
- a profound peace in the face of uncertainty and chaos.
- a consoling connection with Jesus’ Mother, in Ephesus.
- a revelation of the power of the Word, in perseverance and trial by St Paul. Bodily imprisonment unable to “imprison” the Spirit, alive in Word and community.
- the gentle invitation to “come into My Presence”, in Eucharistic Adoration, amid the din and clamor of tourism, tearfully accepted and recalled with great joy!
Engaging in pilgrimage, with all our senses, we are believers and seekers along the Way.
We prayed “To share the Joy of our encounters and the stirrings in our hearts with those around us. And Your Love and Mercy...” Hoping to “Walk with a blameless heart...”
We brought community along and journeyed with new community as well. On the Camino de Santiago/Spain, in prayer we walked, at daily Mass, intentionally with stones to recall those present, those gone before us, those who were caregivers. Gratitude for being part of this ancient tradition. Our stories were humbly changed into care for others, truly “One Body”.
For one pilgrim, the melancholy of leaving behind the simple routine of prayer and meditation, changed with the visit to St James’ remains, a presence that would remain and continue to accompany. “Diversity reminded me we are all pilgrims.”
In Italy, the Saints were truly alive and present. The witness of the beauty and amazing grace of our Catholic faith fully alive. On pilgrimage, there is the challenge of keeping focus on Jesus through intercession and accompaniment of each other and with the Saints. An encounter with Blessed Carlos Acutis began with the distraction of picture taking. “Get up and go pray before the Eucharist” was the intense experience of being spoken to. “I realized Blessed Carlos was directing me to the Eucharist, to know Jesus more deeply.”
In Greece, the way of St Paul drew pilgrims to his conversion experience and the following life of preaching the Gospel. Going with and bonding with people on this special journey to where Paul had preached, written letters to communities, baptized Christianity’s first convert Lydia, the confining of imprisonment. Daily Masses, often outside where St Paul preached, gave new meaning to readings of St Paul. Ephesus, where Mary spent her last 13 years with John, was a very moving experience of place. Without expectations the grace was presented. “Three words: Grit, determination, perseverance.” defined St Paul. Even the hardened would be moved by this man’s journey. Grace energized him to do what he did, even in such hardship and warning. Something happened to this tiny man that changed the world. Determined to preach.
The Holy Land spoke to preparation rather than expectation because at some point the question would present “How bad do you want it?” A community of companions, breaking bread together, opening the Gospels through Fulton Sheen’s “Life of Christ”. What we bring and why, leading to the pilgrims’ way of living simply and travelling light. A small community able to experience Eucharist, in the Church of the Nativity and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, alone together. Because of St Francis, these holy sites were given to the Franciscans by The Sultan in 1217. Intentions were printed and presented at each Mass. Not just the Mass of the day, but Mass of “the place”! Jesus went up “that mountain”, Jesus had the charcoal fire on “that shore”. But the surprise of this pilgrimage was stepping off the plane in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 7, 2023, to war. Continuing to move as pilgrims on a sacred journey, daily Mass, with jet fighters overhead. Engaging with an Israeli farmer/Kibbutz, where generations had made the desert bloom, and six sons were now called up to military service. To the cave of the prophet Elijah, where with storms sweeping Israel, God was not in the storms, but in the whisper. On to Galilea to the shore of the Sea of Galilea where Jesus called the first disciples and where Jesus offered the post-Resurrection charcoal fire...pilgrims wanted to stay. “We had stepped into the gentle whisper of God.” At home there was relief at the pilgrims’ safety amid the intense and alarming news of brutality and atrocities to innocent civilians. This message was received: “In the face of such violence, chaos and evil, the only answer is a loving and merciful God...” Walking in Jesus footsteps and “As possibly some of the last pilgrims for months or years to come, it makes your witness that much more powerful.”
We are all pilgrims on the journey to our loving God. Journeying with community, with the Saints, with the Eucharist. Our Lenten journey is our pilgrimage with community, the Saints, and Jesus through the mystery of His passion and death to new life!