Going Home Another Way
Week 2 – The Journey
Three Magi on the Way to Bethlehem, by Hans Thoma
Pilgrimage and Prayer
Fr. James Martin offers this perspective on journeys:
“A pilgrimage is a journey undertaken for a spiritual purpose. Often it is to a holy site like Jerusalem, Rome, or Lourdes…But the journey itself is often illuminating: tired, removed from our daily routines, and surrounded by new friends, we are invited to move beyond familiar boundaries and encounter God in new ways. Prayer on pilgrimage is usually different from prayer in our own rooms – which is a good thing.”1
Our Advent journey is a type of pilgrimage. I particularly like this word choice because it emphasizes the spiritual aspects of this journey. It reminds me to take it seriously and to pay attention to what I need to make it meaningful.
James Martin points out that prayer may be one thing we should consider changing while on pilgrimage.
For Reflection
Are you interested in trying a different type of prayer this Advent? Now could be a time to try something new without committing to a permanent change.
And as my spiritual director often needs to remind me, prayer doesn’t always have to be structured. It can be going through your day with an increased sense of God being with you. Or it could be just talking to God about your anger, frustrations, worries, or whatever you’re experiencing rather than saying a rote prayer.
Footnotes
- James Martin, SJ, In All Seasons, For All Reasons – Praying Throughout the Year, 46. ↩︎
Falling Up After 50 