To go on pilgrimage is to learn to see with new eyes, with God’s eyes. For our all-women (and one priest) pilgrimage to Rome, this required first learning to see ourselves in our true identity as daughters- loved, chosen, and delighted in by the Father who created us. Not only are we daughters, but we are sisters to each other. By walking with each other we realized that each moment is an opportunity for grace and conversion, if we let it be. Through prayer, the sacraments, conversation, music, and time spent with the elderly residents at the Little Sisters of the Poor, we found ways to look deeper into the beauty that surrounds us and the unique beauty God wants to reveal to us within our own hearts. By inviting Jesus in to those places in our lives and our sight where we did not invite Him before we allowed Him to transform us, despite the challenges or tension that came with this. We discovered our littleness as children of God, especially in moments when it feels like God has left us. In these moments He is revealing Himself more to us in showing us our smallness without Him.
There was much more that was learned throughout the 10 days of this trip, which I will be processing for awhile. I am humbled and amazed by how the Lord worked in each of our hearts during this short time, taking us out of our regular environments and routines back home. However, God doesn’t just want to transform our lives while on pilgrimage- he wants to transform our ordinary lives and our present vocations…our very identity! Once we become rooted in Him, the One who draws near to us in each moment, our lives can never be the same. In every person, and in every space, we can find God dwelling within. Will we choose to receive Him? Will we let go of the resistance in our hearts in order to fully give our lives and our very selves over to Him?
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Thank you for your prayers for the individuals on this trip, and know that the specific intentions that were sent to me were taken to prayer. It is by Divine Providence that I was asked to help lead this trip and to walk with these women of Christ, especially in the group art mediations I was asked to lead with the artwork we encountered. Please pray that we will live in the graces from this trip and continue seeking Christ, and sharing Him with all we meet.
+AMDG+
