Cathal Barry
A pilgrimage to the Holy Land can be an enriching experience, writes Cathal Barry
It’s every believer’s dream to visit the Holy Land, home to the three great monotheistic religions. It was here that Jesus was born, began his ministry, performed his miracles and ultimately suffered death on a cross. No other single person throughout history has so decisively affected the lives of so many people. Indeed, the events of his life still resonate today.
Having been intrigued with the historical Jesus throughout my teenage years, an interest that inevitably led me to study theology at third-level, the opportunity to retrace his footsteps courtesy of Marian Pilgrimages was something I relished.
Where better to begin my journey than the little town of Bethlehem. My first stop, appropriately enough, was the Church of the Nativity, where it all began.
Luke’s Gospel describes how Mary “gave birth to her firstborn, a son… and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available”. Over this cave-like manger arose the great Basilica of the Nativity.
Today, throngs of pilgrims flock to the Church of the Nativity to visit the cave where Jesus’ birth took place and the manger stood beneath the huge basilica.
It struck me as I queued that a world that worships the celebrity above all others often places powerful people on pedestals; here, Christ’s followers come to pay homage to him at the holiest of sites.
To kneel and kiss the simple silver star that marks the spot where Jesus was born was an overwhelming experience.
Fresh focus
For me, it put fresh focus on the reality that God’s own son made his appearance on earth in the lowliest of circumstances. This humblest of births conveys a powerful message to creation.
Instead of arriving as a pampered and privileged ruler, Jesus was born in humility, as one of us. He is approachable, accessible and available to all.
This wasn’t the only holy site that resonated with me during the week. In fact, I was blown away on a number of occasions throughout the pilgrimage.
At the Garden of Gethsemane I was reminded of Christ’s desperation, feeling totally abandoned by God.
Walking the Via Dolorosa evoked a sense Christ’s pain and humiliation, as he was flogged, mocked and jeered carrying his cross through the rough, cobbled streets.
And at Calvary, I was struck by a sense of Christ’s brave selflessness, sacrificing himself so that others may have life.
Later in the week, when travelling north towards Tiberius, the stories of the Bible further came to life.
We visited the tomb of Lazarus and the site of his family home in Bethany. We paused for reflection at the spot of the Primacy of Peter, on the shores of the Galilean Sea, where Jesus set his beloved disciple Peter apart. We had Mass at the site of the transfiguration on Mount Tabor and witnessed married couples that were part of our group renewing their wedding vows at Cana, the site of Jesus’ first miracle.
There were some particularly poignant parts to the pilgrimage too. Listening to the Sermon on the Mount where it was originally preached at the Mount of the Beatitudes was a powerful moment. It reminded us all of our responsibilities as Christians, our fragility and our need for God. It was a truly humbling experience.
Another moment to remember was renewing our baptismal vows, like Jesus, in the River Jordan. Eager for the full experience, I opted for full immersion. Committing once again to the duties of the Faith was the ideal follow up to the challenge set out at Mount Beatitude.
Aside from a personal renewal point of view, the week was also a valued learning experience with regard to some of the other major world faiths, particularly Judaism and Islam. I soon became accustomed to the call to prayer for Muslims sounding throughout the day. I was also honoured to pray at the Western Wall and visit King David’s Tomb, the burial place of David, King of Israel.
Experiences
However, despite all these phenomenal experiences, it was being part of a pilgrimage group that probably had the greatest impact on me. We began as strangers, but following in the footsteps of Jesus, we soon became friends.
The yearning to walk in holy places and touch ancient stones will be familiar to every pilgrim in the Holy Land.
While you can pray and meditate anywhere, the sense of God’s presence is stronger in a place that is hallowed by centuries of devotion to the memory of a holy event.
The spiritual — even emotional — experience enriches your prayer life and brings the Bible to life with renewed appreciation.
My verdict: Exhausting but exhilarating. A pilgrimage to the Holy Land will be an experience you will never forget.
