A Pilgrimage Is No Retreat

I came on this pilgrimage with certain expectations. Because our journey involves going to such holy places, I thought that I would be blissfully praying the whole time. Certainly there have been moments of incredible prayer and grace. But these were just moments. Most of what we have been doing is seeing the holy sites and traveling between them. But isn't that like life? Moments of consolation do not mean that my daily routine stops or that my responsibilities are able to wait or that we are able to be on the mount and build three tents to remain forever in the bliss of the Transfiguration. No, life demands, and pretty quickly, that we come off the mountaintop and continue our journey. We must often keep moving even when we would prefer to linger in those truly blessed moments.

What I had been expecting was a retreat. But I see now, that a pilgrimage is quite different. Whereas a retreat involves sitting or kneeling, a pilgrimage involves walking. Instead of long periods of reflection, we say a petition prayer and then spend a few minutes in quiet prayer at each site. We take in so many amazing experiences. Seeing where the scriptures took place is absolutely incredible. Perhaps it is just my personality, but I would like to have more time to reflect on what I am taking in. Is it even possible to exhaust the mysteries of being in the place where the Ark of the Covenant rested or where Peter raised someone from the dead by the power of Jesus (1 Sam. 7:1-2, Acts 9:36-43)?

Accepting the pace of a pilgrimage has been God's latest grace to me. Though it may seem busy, and at times be difficult to pray, a pilgrimage is an opportunity to journey with the Lord. I will have more opportunity to reflect on what I have seen here later. Especially on our 30-day Ignatian retreat later this summer, I will have plenty of time for prayerful reflection. Now, however, I need to remember that a pilgrimage is different from a retreat. A pilgrimage, much like daily life, is more about walking with Jesus and receiving from Him in the midst of the hustle and bustle.