by John Eagers

In this Holy Year, designated by Pope Francis as a Year of Hope, people from every part of the world will make a pilgrimage to Rome.

They will come as part of organised groups from parishes and dioceses, they will come as individuals or in the company of friends and family. As they descend upon Rome they will arrive, motivated by a variety of hopes and aspirations for the time they will spend in the Eternal City. For some, it will be the hope for a profound and life changing religious experience, for others it might be that their pilgrimage will give them the opportunity to visit some of the great sights of Rome and taste its magnificent cuisine. There will be many who will wish, above all, to see Pope Francis and listen to his words of wisdom. What hopefully unites all pilgrims is their faith that they journey in the presence of God, the God of Jesus Christ.

The people of Israel have always had a profound sense of their identity as God’s chosen people, and of their history as a people called and chosen by God. On the first Sunday of Lent, the Book of Deuteronomy reminds us that the people of Israel reflected on how they came to live in Egypt where they had prospered, and grew in number, until the Pharaoh felt threatened by them and took away their freedom. This was a pivotal moment in their history, for having been made slaves, God came to their rescue, listened to their prayers and fulfilled their hopes. God liberated them and led them on a long pilgrimage until they finally settled in the land which God had promised them.  Once again they were able to prosper and grow into a great nation. The enslavement in Egypt left its indelible mark on their collective psyche, which is why it became so important for them to celebrate the Passover each year, recalling the events of that moment in their history when God redeemed them and led them out of slavery.

Space and time

Each Lent we have the opportunity to make a pilgrimage; not so much in terms of traveling from our homes to a place of religious significance, but to travel within ourselves, so as to become more aware of God constantly journeying with us. God who listens to our prayers and fulfils our hopes. During Lent we are given the space and time to connect again, more deeply, with God. Lent affords us the opportunity to reflect that God has called us to be his people and is leading us out of the slavery brought about by sin through the passion, death and resurrection of his Son.

John Eagers is a priest of the Diocese of Paisley.

Photo by Mantas Hesthaven on Usplash