As I write, I am stifling a yawn after arriving back from our Holy Land Pilgrimage at 2.00am last night – or rather 2.00am this morning!

It was a tired but happy group that emerged from the coach after our rapid journey down the M4 from Heathrow. Already I know that many of the pilgrims have been sharing their experiences during these nine days journeying together in the footsteps of Jesus. From the first visit of our beautiful time together – to Bethlehem – to our last shared meal – at Jaffa, we spent such quality time together with one another and with Our Lord.

For me, a veteran of now five pilgrimages to the Holy Land, stand-out moments were some of the Masses, especially those we celebrated outdoors – in the Franciscan garden at Jericho, on top of Mount Tabor in the ruins of a Byzantine church, at Mensa Christi, a particular favourite with our group, where Peter and the Apostles were treated to breakfast on the beach with Jesus, and on the Mount of Beatitudes, where the Lord preached his immortal Sermon on the Mount.

Along with these shared celebrations, I also treasure those more private ones with individual pilgrims as they shared with me their impressions and reflections, whether a brief word as we walked along, or a more lengthy chat, together trying to understand what the Lord had been saying to them in their heart. I find that there is nowhere like the Holy Land for making us receptive to God’s Word, or, as I put it from time to time during this year’s pilgrimage, listening to His voice.

But, of course, all can – and should – be doing that all of the time. We should all be listening as he speaks to us through Scripture, the Church, one another, especially the poor or suffering, and deep down in our hearts.

It’s just so much easier when you are sitting down gazing out over the Sea of Galilee, exactly as He did with his companions so long ago…

Fr Matthew