A pilgrimage presents the pilgrims a microcosm of life. Our existence on earth is a journey, in the presence of the Lord, to our true home in heaven for eternity. The more we are in tune with the Lord Jesus leading us, the more meaningful and ultimately "successful" will be the trip. No one makes the trip alone. The Lord himself arranges your encounters. And "success", as Mother Teresa reminded herself daily, is only tallied up after the entire journey. Meantime you are called to faithfulness to the Lord Jesus and his personalized direction.

At times you hear a (modern?) proverb, "Choose wisely your spouse, your options are severly limited on all the others in your immedeate family". We are on a journey in life and many of the relationships are arranged by the Lord. You are baptized into Christ, which is also a package deal-- you are part of the Church as well. You cannot take the position, "It's just me and my Jesus." During this life you are necessarily rubbing shoulders with the rest of us sinners.


Left: John Sherman who planned and set up all of our travel, living and site arrangements was surprised that his personal friend, a Dominican priest, was unavailable to guide us on a tour of the Church of San Clemente. The lot fell instead to Fr. Paul Lawler O.P., (right) who had been Fr Tim's archaeology professor twenty-five years ago. What a joyful reunion; just as personal as the plans which the Lord allowed to slip through.

During a pilgrimage the Lord shows you his love and plan through several of the people you meet. If you talk to a hundred, at least a half dozen will impact your journey in such a way that you need to reflect and learn, "What is the Lord saying; what's He doing in this encounter?" A few times the Holy Spirit will also show you who to avoid.
 

Pictured right: Seminarian Jacob Livecchi who gave us a tour of the North American College. He is from the Toledo Diocese and didn't the Lord have a personalized surpride in store for John and Patricia Sherman? Turns out that Jay is a good friend of Fr. Jeff McBeth who is on John's speed dial, so they called Fr. Jeff right then and there and had a great introduction by a mutual friend.

Who are the people the Lord has entrusted to your "communion of persons" during your lifetime pilgrimage? Are you avoiding the right people according to Jesus' direction?