There is a difference between being a tourist and being a pilgrim.
When we are a tourist, we go sightseeing – literally, we see the sights! We are consumers on holiday, where we see the sights, take in the atmosphere, and may look forward to taking selfies and posting the highlights of our trip on social media. We may even plan to do something noteworthy or romantic at a famous tourist destination (think Eiffel Tower!). We may put up with the long flights, the traffic and the crowds for the sake of our holiday, which is the purpose of our trip.
On the other hand, when we go on a pilgrimage, we go on a mission to strengthen our faith so that we can live lives of faith, hope and love on our return home. We go on pilgrimage so that we can deepen our vocation to be disciples of Jesus in our lives. Whether our vocation is to a state of life such as single or married, lay, consecrated religious, ordained religious, or consecrated virgin, the purpose of our trip is very different to that of a holiday. On our pilgrimage, we connect with the saints, the sacred sites of the Church. Even the crowds can become the communion of saints, joined together by a common faith and celebration, called to a common mission as the People of God in today’s world. Our holiday becomes transformed into a Holy Day!
On the Pilgrimage to World Youth Day, it was not a coincidence that the Missioning Mass with Pope Francis was held on the Feast of the Transfiguration. The pilgrims had the chance to join Jesus, Peter, James and John on the journey of pilgrimage to the Father’s house, where there are many mansions. The Father’s house is a house of diversity and inclusivity! In the Father’s house, the pilgrims hear the words of the Father, “This is my Son, the beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.” Important words to keep in mind when we come down from the mountain.
Yet, the pilgrims are also called to remember that Jesus is not a Messiah of political power and human glory. The beloved of the Father has been sent on a mission, for God so loved the world that he sent his only Son into the world, that we may all be able to enter eternal life (Jn 3:16). The entry into eternal life is through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. Suffering and the Cross have a place in Salvation History, and is not an optional extra.
Coming down from the mountain of the Transfiguration, the pilgrims went on a retreat to Assisi before flying home. This retreat is an appropriate period of preparation for the time to come, a time to follow Jesus as his disciples on returning home. This retreat was a time for listening deeply to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, leading, guiding and confirming us in our vocation. This is also a time for us to become missionary disciples in the Lord’s vineyard on returning home to family, friends, school, work, and the community of the Diocese of Parramatta.
In a nutshell, the pilgrims coming home from WYD are called to mission – to bring the love of Jesus into their homes, their lives – to love one another as Jesus loves us in the Lord’s vineyard, and indeed to follow the road taken by the saints to enter fully the communion of saints. Mission thus means being in the world, but not of the world, since mission also means taking up the cross every day in following Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
How does this translate to the next step? Many of our young people, World Youth Day pilgrims or not, will now be considering what they want to do once they leave school. Some may have a vocation to priesthood, consecrated religious life, consecrated virgin. Others may be called to married life and to start a family.
In this regard, there is also the call to bring the love of Jesus into society, the workplace. For those young people intending to go to University to study for a professional career, there will be a formation session titled ‘The Profession of Faith in Healthcare’ at St Nicholas of Myra Parish, Penrith, on Saturday 16 September.
The first half of this session is suitable for students interested in any profession, while the second half of the session will focus on the healthcare professions as examples of faith-informed professionals practising in today’s world.
We will explore some of the issues arising from the relationship between faith and professional life. All young people, whether they are returned pilgrims or not, are warmly welcome to attend this session.
Young people are invited to attend a formation session entitled ‘The Profession of Faith in Healthcare’ at St Nicholas of Myra Parish, Penrith, on Saturday 16 September from 10am to 1pm.
To register, please email met@parracatholic.org. For enquiries, please contact michael.tan@parracatholic.org
Deacon Michael Tan is Deacon Assisting at St John the Evangelist Parish, Riverstone.
