Jeremiah, Chapter 10, Verse 2
Thus says the LORD: Do not learn the ways of the nations, and have no fear of
the signs in the heavens, even though the nations fear them.
What are the ways of the
nations? The making of idols is the way of nations. Have you been worshiping
idols? Think about it. Our idols are expressed in what we love, in what we
think, in the things we see, and what we work for.
“Lord, thank you for helping me see more clearly than ever that
“what I am” is your gift to me and “what I become” is my gift back to you.”
(Poem by Melvin Banggollay)
He did not create us out of necessity;
He did not need us. He did not create us out of justice; He owed us nothing.
No, it is to His sheer love that we owe our existence. Therefore, we must
strive to be humble in accepting our mistakes, to know how to say, “I was
wrong.” You have good qualities—great qualities. Are you not a marvel of
creation, made in the image of God? You are a masterpiece of His love, wounded,
disfigured by sin, but remade by the Redeemer, more beautiful than before—and
at what a price! Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good. One drowns
very quickly in gall. Keep watch, therefore, over your soul; swallow the
bitterness, as Jesus swallowed the vinegar on Calvary, and know how to smile at
those who cause you pain. Poverty, austerity, fasting, prayer, and the gift of
miracles, without love of our brothers, all are pure illusion. Jesus, meek and
humble of heart, give me Your Heart to love my neighbor. The doctrine of
abandonment, which sees God in everything, will make you marvelously available
for this work. This is one of its richest secrets, for it obliges us to
renounce, when necessary, our own views and our little personal plans, even our
plans for sanctification. This total abandonment is the pinnacle of holiness
and love, because it identifies us more perfectly with Jesus, who lived only to
do the will of His Father.[1]
Pilgrimage[2]
Pilgrimage was an
essential part of Jesus’ religious life. As God was one, so he had only one
holy city, Jerusalem, to which he called his people to make pilgrimage: “Three
times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God.” These Tri-annual
pilgrimages were required at the feast of unleavened bread (Passover), at the
feast of the weeks (commemoration of the Torah & the 10 commandments) and
the feast of the booths (Sukkoth). Christ by his sacrifice has created a
heavenly Jerusalem which is not in a geographic location but is Eucharistic and
is located in the tabernacle of every Catholic Church. Jerusalem has still
retained an attractive power, because it contained the monuments of the Lord’s
passion and is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites. A modern Catholic map
of the world will offer many possible destinations for pilgrimage. Jerusalem
and Rome remain favorites as well as the Marian shrines of Lourdes and Fatima.
Also since the middle ages travelers have also thronged to Santiago de
Compostela, the shrine of St. James in Spain. Yet, here is the greatness of our
God: we need not go to the far ends of the earth to go on pilgrimage as God
lives with us in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and we can always find local
shrines to make small pilgrimages. We could also make a pilgrimage to visit
with holy people we know, or travel to honor the graves of our ancestors,
friends and mentors. A pilgrimage is a sacramental: an outward sign of an
inward grace. It reminds us that we are wayfarers on earth till we are taken up
into heaven.
All are invited to accompany me on my annual Divine Mercy Hiking Pilgrimage in Sedona, Arizona starting April 2, 2016.
[1]
d'Elbée, Jean C.J. (2013-12-10). I Believe in Love: A Personal Retreat Based on
the Teaching of St. Therese of Lisieux
[2]
Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40 Catholic Customs and their biblical roots. Chap.
31. Pilgrimage.
Comments
Post a Comment