Have you ever made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land? Where was one of your favorite places? What was one of the highlights of your pilgrimage? I can tell you one of mine. How about a little teaser? Jerusalem... dark, narrow streets... veiled shadows sliding along a wall... shuffling feet... racing heart... a tomb.
Wild visions of shady hooded men in a thriller scene came to mind as 12 pilgrims take off at 4:00 am towards the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is one thing to walk down the Old City's narrow, cobblestone "streets" but was a scary proposition for this pilgrim who had a vivid imagination run wild.
A group of pilgrims on a Tekton pilgrimage guided by Fr. David, OSF decided to beat the crowds and venture off to the Holy Sepulcher in the early hours. They were going later but they wanted to spend some extra time. They went to bed early so as to be fresh. They found that is was for sure to be an adventure
Luckily, we were able to find our way to the Tomb of Christ in the dark because we followed some local religious sisters who were heading there as well. This was great because it is hard enough to find in the daytime let alone trying it in the dark hours. We reached the tomb of Christ just like His mother and Mary Magdalene had so many years ago.
The thought of St. Francis making his way in this very place many years ago, I grew excited and my heart began to thump inside my chest. The faithful Franciscans who have done such a great job of taking care of this spiritual place and all the Christians who come here year after year to visit and love this empty tomb also came to mind. I was humbled that I and my little group of Catholic Christians were journeying this same route. And very grateful for the opportunity.
As the aroma of the Holy Sepulcher warmly drew us in, a silence different from the one that filled the streets overcame us. It was the sacred silence of an empty tomb; Jesus' empty tomb.
Wild visions of shady hooded men in a thriller scene came to mind as 12 pilgrims take off at 4:00 am towards the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is one thing to walk down the Old City's narrow, cobblestone "streets" but was a scary proposition for this pilgrim who had a vivid imagination run wild.
A group of pilgrims on a Tekton pilgrimage guided by Fr. David, OSF decided to beat the crowds and venture off to the Holy Sepulcher in the early hours. They were going later but they wanted to spend some extra time. They went to bed early so as to be fresh. They found that is was for sure to be an adventure
Luckily, we were able to find our way to the Tomb of Christ in the dark because we followed some local religious sisters who were heading there as well. This was great because it is hard enough to find in the daytime let alone trying it in the dark hours. We reached the tomb of Christ just like His mother and Mary Magdalene had so many years ago.
The thought of St. Francis making his way in this very place many years ago, I grew excited and my heart began to thump inside my chest. The faithful Franciscans who have done such a great job of taking care of this spiritual place and all the Christians who come here year after year to visit and love this empty tomb also came to mind. I was humbled that I and my little group of Catholic Christians were journeying this same route. And very grateful for the opportunity.
As the aroma of the Holy Sepulcher warmly drew us in, a silence different from the one that filled the streets overcame us. It was the sacred silence of an empty tomb; Jesus' empty tomb.
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