Dear pilgrims of hope,
what is a good reason to make a pilgrimage?
There are 3 main reasons stated for walking the 800 kilometres Camino de Santiago through Spain on pilgrimage: 1. asking something in petition from the Apostle James, 2. Penance, 3. Thanksgiving for a prayer heard. These are good reasons for any pilgrimage.
In 2018 I decided to go on pilgrimage to Israel when the opportunity arose to go with my parish. I had just been a year back in the Catholic Church and I felt that I needed to do this pilgrimage for not appreciating the Holy Land when I visited it in 2006 for the first time as a tourist.
Back in 2006, a few months after my mom had passed away, I was not in any shape to celebrate Christmas. At the time my thinking was, where could I travel to, where there is no Christmas? Ah, Israel! Because… Jewish people don’t celebrate Christmas, right? Twisted thinking from a lapsed Catholic. However, once I arrived in Israel I could not stop looking for any signs of Christmas because I really had to look for them. A Christmas tree at one of the sights was a sight of joy.
I met a family during the trip and they wanted to attend Midnight Mass in Jerusalem. I tagged along and we found a Catholic Church just on the outskirt of the walls. When the priest heard us talking German to each other, he lead us to seats high up from where we could see everything. I could not believe my ears when Holy Mass started and it was being celebrated in German, my mother tongue. Now I understand that it was a Benedictine Abbey and therefore the Mass was celebrated in German. I can still remember us singing silent night and to this day I still have the Hymn sheet from that night.
Although that night made an impact, I was too far away from God in darkness to hear him whisper to me to return to Him. I had to travel much farther into the darkness first; so far that He was the only light left I could turn to.
Now I think back to the pilgrimage in 2018 and my tourism experience in 2006 and I wonder how I could have been so blind. I visited many of the same places back then, but my heart and head could not receive what was in front of me.
Do not despair, pilgrims of hope. If you have any family members that are walking in darkness, gently and persistently keep praying for them. Be the light that will lead them back to our Lord. Our Lord does hear your prayer.
Now I think back to the pilgrimage in 2018 and my tourism experience in 2006 and I wonder how I could have been so blind. I visited many of the same places back then, but my heart and head could not receive what was in front of me.
Do not despair, pilgrims of hope. If you have any family members that are walking in darkness, gently and persistently keep praying for them. Be the light that will lead them back to our Lord. Our Lord does hear your prayer.
