Holy Land Pilgrimage

We soon leave on our long-awaited pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We will be travelling with a group from Edmonton, 2 Oblate priests and another couple from Arnprior. Over the 13 days we will be touring, walking, praying and celebrating the Eucharist in many of the places Jesus ministered, as depicted on the map above.  We will also be visiting many old testament sites.

In preparing for this trip, Dave has been studying the Historical Jesus and the Holy Land Revealed, two great video courses from The Great Courses Plus.   What Dave is left with is a profound sense of regret over the “great split” that occurred many years ago between the three Abrahamic faiths namely Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says:

Jesus’ Tomb, Church of the Holy Sepulchre

839 The relationship of the Church with the Jewish people.  When she delves into her own mystery, the Church, the People of God in the New Covenant, discovers her link with the Jewish People, “the first to hear the Word of the Lord.”  The Jewish faith, unlike other non-Christian religions, is already a response to God’s revelation in the Old Covenant.  To the Jews “belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to their flesh, is the Christ”, “for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.”

The Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount

841 The Church’s relationship with the Muslims. “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place are among whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the truth of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.

So it is with a profound sense of hope for a brighter future that we embark on this holy pilgrimage.  It is time to meditate on the great mystery that God is about to reveal to us.  Please pray for us.  We will by praying for you.

Dave and Marie