Following the blessing of the Easter at the seminary, I went on pilgrimage, led by one of my professors, to follow St. Paul’s path of evangelization through Greece. It was a time of awe at the beauty of the country that gave birth to the Christian faith in Europe and joy to see the holy sights where the greatest evangelizer of the Church, preached the good news to the world.
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| River where Lydia was Baptized |
My professor, who teaches the course on St. Paul letters, lined of the trip starting the Thessolonica, to where two of his letters were sent. From there we did a day trip to the old city of Phillipi, where we saw were Paul would have been beaten and imprisoned (Acts 16:16-24). The city is now destroyed and only ruins of the old churches and Roman ampatheater are left, but it was an amazing experience. We went to Kavala (formerly call Neapolis) where Paul first landed in Europe and then to a river side where Paul Baptized Lydia and her family, the first European Christians! (Acts 16:11-15) That powerful experience made me look forward to priestly ministry, to bring the life of baptism to child and adults, to continue the work of Paul.
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| Greek Orthodox Monastery in Meteora |
We finished the pilgrimage in Athens. There the juxtaposition of the Christian life and the ancient pagan history of the country is most clearly seen. We stood in the in sight of the most famous pagan temple in the country where Paul himself preach- a homily recorded in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 17:22-34). My excitement for the historical importance of the sight was great- I had learned about the Parthenon in school- but it was reading the account of Paul’s preaching there that left the lasting impression. The power of the words that share the Good News, the power of the words that share the Word never seemed more real as I looked over this Christian city conquered by this one man from Tarsus.
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| Jail at Phillipi |
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| Ancient church at Phillipi |
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| Roman Ampatheater at Phillipi |
The whole trip was permeated by a reflection on the role of a priest today as a preacher, and more basically, the role of every Christian as witness to the faith. Hopeful you have heard the term New Evangelization by now – if not I’m failing already- calling to mind movement that Pope Benedict is doing all he can to promote. So much of Europe and America, build by Christianity, has fallen into a secular haze, unknowingly forgetting about God and apathetic to the Good New of His Son’s death and resurrection. The New Evangelization is a call for all the Christian Faithful (uhh….that means you) in their lives, in their everyday living in the world, to represent and renew their witness to Christ and the joy that he brings. We are called to imitated St. Paul and share the life giving message which is Christ died for our sins so that we may be brought into the life and love of the Trinity! What Joy!
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| On the aeropolis with the Parthenon in the backg |
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| Ancient Corinth |
Of course, there is a need for reflection first. Do we believe in this joy? Is the life and grace we have received in Christ worth it? Do we find it motivating our life, could it drive us like it did Paul to the ends of the know world? If we truly believe we have receive such a gift we should be jumping out of skin to let those we know and love know that they have been offered the same gift. It is a Joy that must be shared. This is the New Evangelization, this is the life forward of the Church to walk in the footsteps of St. Paul bearing the Gospel message to the world! Let’s ask St. Paul’s intercession that we may receive the inspiration and strength to carry out such a beautiful task.
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| The Pilgrims. |
P.S. Send extra prayers Fernando way today on his birthday!
