Jesus approaches the holy city of Jerusalem for the last time during his public ministry here on earth. He is overcome with emotion. He weeps for his city and his people, knowing in his heart that destruction and calamity will befall them very soon. Jesus knew that the Jews of Ancient Israel struggled throughout their history to follow God, to be true to his laws and commandments, to honor their covenant with him. For the many times they’ve strayed, the Jews were often recalcitrant and willfully disobedient. Perhaps in our journey through life and our journey through faith, we struggle with the same things that the Jews did in Ancient Israel. I was listening to my favorite podcast while I was traveling to visit the sick the other day, produced by a high school teacher in Portland, Oregon who has become one of the people who have contributed many writings and broadcasts to promote the pilgrimage of the Way of St James in Spain, a pilgrimage that is traditionally Catholic. I have listened to more than 25 different podcasts that this young man has produced, enjoying them immensely. However, it shocked me when he stated in the last podcast that he considers himself a secular pilgrim and does not have an attitude of spirituality and faith when he approaches his pilgrimage walks on the Camino. That comment shocked me a bit, because he is such a big fan of the pilgrimage route and nothing he had said previously led me believe that he approached pilgrimage from a non-religious and non-spiritual perspective. As Catholics and as disciples of Christ, we are to approach life through the lens of our faith, to be faithful witnesses to Gospel who undertake great sacrifices and hardships for the sake of the faith. As opposed to how Jesus saw the people of Jerusalem of his day, may he be able to say to us at the end of our journey: “Well done, faithful disciple.”
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