“It’s a Pilgrimage, Not a Vacation” by Brian Flanagan, Fiat Ventures
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jeans. Check. Long sleeves. Check. Jacket. Check. Our travel agent for World Youth Day told us that Poland this time of year is usually a bit cooler than New Jersey, so I wanted to be prepared. I flew back to JFK with all of the above still neatly folded with the other clean clothes in my suitcase. World Youth Day in Poland last week was a heat wave!
World Youth Day is an event that happens every two to three years in a different country where millions of youth and young adults gather from around the world for a week of events with the Pope. If you’ve never been, it’s already not so much of a “vacation”. There’s usually lots of walking and lots of waiting in line, and when public transportation is available, you find yourself jealous of how much room sardines have in the can. Add in, the sun beating down, and the trip is hardly reminiscent of a dream vacation with fine dining and fancy amenities.
So why did 2-3 million people travel to Poland last week? Because they weren’t looking for a nice fancy vacation, they were looking for a pilgrimage experience. Remember the Pilgrims who came over on the Mayflower? A pilgrim is someone who goes on a journey to get closer to God, and who is willing to make some sacrifices if necessary.
The second reading this week talks about how Abraham followed God’s call to journey to a foreign land in faith. He knew it would be tough at times, but he knew God has something in store for him on the journey. The last night of our trip, everyone in the group went around and shared one of the highlights for them, particularly something that God did in their heart. For some, the Mass came alive in a new way. Others had really powerful experiences of being with Pope Francis. Still others were struck by seeing millions of young people who were passionate about living out their Catholic faith.
And the discomforts of being a pilgrim always seemed to be outweighed by what we were getting out of the experience. The more sweat-soaked our shirts became, the louder we sang. The hungrier we got standing in line, the deeper our conversations were with the people next to us. And the more tired we were, the funnier everything seemed to get too.
Did we come back from our pilgrimage well-rested? Not so much. At least one person from our group slept for 13 hours when he got home from the airport. Did we come back with full stomachs? Not exactly. (Another person from our group had her dad bring her a big juicy burger in the car for the ride home.) But did we come back refreshed? Absolutely. Refreshed in our faith, in our friendships, and with some new perspectives on the Church and on the world. But just like the Pilgrims from the Mayflower, I could go for a nice turkey leg right now.