Getting lost in Galilee, Israel. Hiking 20 miles on a 90 degree day. Climbing mountains. Exploring caves. Studying the birthplace of the largest religion in the world. Investigating ancient ruins. Moving beneath Jerusalem through underground tunnels. Walking through thistles and thorns. Communicating with people of different cultures and languages. Spending a night at an organic goat farm. Braving tight crowds for a second-long encounter with God at His Son's empty tomb. Investing your savings on a two-week pilgrimage. Not a tour. Not a vacation. A pilgrimage. I've just returned from my adventure to the Holy Land (aka Israel). It was a hiking pilgrimage for young adults who wished to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. Now, when I talk about a pilgrimage, I'm talking about authenticity and sacrifice. It wasn't just a trip to goof off. Sure, there were times we goofed off and we had tons of fun, but if we wanted to walk the path that Jesus walked, suffering would be included. For me, I hardly knew any of my fellow pilgrims prior to the trip. For all of us, we got blisters on our feet and scratches on our legs. There were times that our mouths longed for water and days we were craving sleep. The sun would burn. We'd wait in lines (that were really unorganized clusters). Our group even strayed from the hiking trail and backtracked. Why all this? Why spend my money on a trip of suffering? Perhaps that is something the first disciples of Jesus were asked. They walked a path of suffering and sacrifice. Why did they give up family, home, and work to travel around Israel? Why did they get rid of their previous ways? Their wealth and name? Why? Well, a man they didn't even know approached them and said, "Follow me." Who was this man? The one and only Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God. I don't know about you, but following a poor man who claims to be God is kind of sketchy. Perhaps. What if this poor man, claiming to be God actually is God? According to C.S. Lewis, Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord. He couldn't just be a great moral teacher. He either tricked all of His disciples and pretended to be God, He was a crazy person Who just thought that He was God, or He was telling the absolute truth and was the Son of God (See Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis). The first disciples saw that Jesus was a great teacher, but this teacher claimed to be God. A truly great teacher would not lie and would not simply "think" he was God when he wasn't God. The disciples realized that Jesus was exactly Who He claimed to be. Just as we Christians realize it today. Jesus is God: wind and sea obey Him, evil is subject to Him, illness is cast away by Him, truth is found in Him, the epitome of love is in Him, all power and knowledge is His, and He is the fullness of divinity and perfection. That, my friends, is the reason I went on that pilgrimage. That is why I spent money on a trip of suffering and not one of leisure. Jesus is God, and as a human, I was made to belong to God and be fully satisfied in Him. Just like the first disciples, I went on that trip because Jesus told me to follow Him. Since it was Jesus I followed, the suffering was nothing compared to the wonders I was a part of. I got to see the birthplace of my faith, grow close to my companions as Jesus dwells in them, experience thirst because I truly thirst for the living God, see the bible come to life, and ultimately, grow closer to Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God.
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Meet Jesus. To describe Him, I will begin with His physical appearance. Ignore the vague picture. That is just an image. I'm talking about the real deal. He looks like you and me. Probably because He is in you and me. Every person I look at, I'm looking at Jesus. Sometimes Jesus really seems to hide inside of a person, and I have to look really hard to find Him in him/her. Other times, Jesus is very visible in him/her and easy to recognize. Sometimes I see Him in the gorgeous face of a cute guy. Other times, behind the cardboard sign of a homeless man. It's pretty neat. He's everywhere and in everyone, so I never stop seeing Him. Brace yourselves. The following might get a tad strange sounding. It's okay. Jesus knows His teachings are bizarre to the human mind. So, Jesus is visible in other people and the way you can most concretely see Him is in what's called the Eucharist. That is also known as the Body and Blood of Jesus. Body and blood make up a person, so there we go... The hard thing is that the Body of Jesus looks like a cracker--bread--a wafer. His Blood looks like wine--too diluted to look like blood. Yup. I know it's radical. Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life" (John 6:35). Perhaps I've lost you right there. I won't get into the whole theology of it right now, but this is real stuff. If you ever want to meet Jesus in the flesh, stop by a Catholic church and He's usually contained in a small golden box, called a tabernacle. Now, let's get on to Jesus' personality (this is so much fun!). Jesus is very observant. He sees everything you do. He isn't the type to stand on the sidelines, though. He is super forward. It can make you uncomfortable how forward He is. You know, when things get awkward at a family party because someone brought up religion? When that happens, you may not realize it, but Jesus is talking. When you look at your life and ask, "What's the point?" Jesus is talking. Some people think that Jesus is really quiet or that He doesn't talk at all. Well, that's the complete opposite. Sure, Jesus is a real good listener. He's the bomb at listening, but Jesus also loves to talk. He enjoys telling us how much He loves us, wants us, treasures us, and desires to belong to us. Say that lady at the store just complimented you (remember what I said earlier, about Jesus being in every single person...). Jesus. You are on the freeway and pass a church billboard that says, "Are you on the right road?" There is Jesus asking that question again. That song that's playing just really touches you and inspires you to be a better person. Jesus. You open a bible--don't even get me started--Jesus has more to tell you than you can take. You learn something new and interesting at school. Jesus. Your mom tells you how much she loves you. Jesus. Your dog looks at you like your the most important person in the world. Jesus. Sure, Jesus tells us all of that lovey-dovey stuff that makes our hearts warm. He also tells us that real uncomfortable stuff (recall religion being mentioned at a family dinner). You feel guilty for overindulging in food/drink. Jesus. Your sister asks you to help with her school project. Jesus. Someone gives you constructive criticism. Jesus. Pictures of starving children make you sad. Jesus. Your eyes hurt from watching too much TV. Jesus. Your reading this blog post and your getting mighty squirmy. Jesus. Well, that's a brief introduction to Jesus. Believe me, I could go on. Read more posts and I'll share some more on this friend of mine (Who also happens to be God...no biggie...). Perhaps you don't know nuns the way I do. Maybe you think of the stereotypical mean, strict school teacher nun. Well, I've met very few of those. The majority of nuns I know are the most cheerful people I've met. They love to have fun! That includes playing games, sports, jokes, stories, singing, putting on plays, and art. I observed all of this when I was at the convent. It's really cool to see and live with women who are just bubbling with joy. A bit over a year after my time at the convent, I started college. Are the people I see at school like the nuns? Not exactly. For one thing, they don't walk around wearing veils on their heads and giant rosaries attached to their hips. Like the nuns, though, we people out in the world like hobbies and fun, be they sports or art or whatever. Now, do these things make us bubble with joy, like the nuns? I've seen that joy in people at college--they are bubbling with it--but it can be rare. Here is the thing. It isn't the games and jokes themselves that give joyful people joy, it's their dear friend, Jesus. The games and hobbies are just the tools that they use to have fun with God. Think of a family member or friend who you like to spend time with. You guys could go on a trip to Las Vegas and have a blast, but you also could just grab a coffee together and still have a blast. Now think of a person you do not like to spend time with. They annoy you or you dislike them. Imagine going to Las Vegas with them. You'd be miserable. You probably wouldn't even want to think about grabbing a cup of coffee with them. See, if you know the person, like the person, and enjoy the person, that's when you're activities become the most fun. You've got to do it with the right person. Nuns teach us that Jesus is their chosen person. The One they do everything with. They know Him, talk to Him, sing with Him, socialize with Him, cry, and laugh with Him. And what tops this all off is that this person is God... I wrote last week about how all of that material stuff will one day leave us. It can't come with us when we die. What nuns and all followers of Christ have discovered, is that these material things are just fleeting objects that we can use to befriend our Creator, or rather, the means through which He befriends us. Let's use our hobbies and objects to bring us closer to God. You like the internet? Search "Nuns Having Fun" on google images. You like sports? Remember the Man Who is cheering you on. You like art, but you're stumped on what to draw? Ask Jesus what He thinks you should draw. Enjoy parties? Think of how Christ is present in every single person you meet. See? Material things don't need to weigh us down. When we use them for God's glory, we too bubble with joy. |
AuthorJacqueline St. Clare: I spent six months in a cloistered convent, and now I'm a college student! Archives
April 2021
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