Planning a journey: through Rome and through life.

This is the first of eight reflections that I wrote for those accompanying at my ordination in Rome. I couldn't have done it alone. Comment and post replies on FaceBook.

We’re all on a pilgrimage, and not just to Rome. I started out 31 years ago when God created me and placed me on this earth for a specific purpose. We all are created for something special, something more. God calls us to himself, and our life is a pilgrimage through time. It includes sorrow, tears, and difficulties but great joys as well, which is meant to culminate with him in heaven.

This year means something special for our lives whether we realize it or not. Pope Benedict XVI declared a Year of Faith. One of his recommendations is pilgrimage. Pope Benedict points out that we are all at a specific point on our earthly pilgrimage. Maybe we’re going through one of those ruts, or we’ve been going uphill. Maybe we’ve reached a peak and are enjoying the view behind us or looking forward to paths to travel and mountains to conquer. In my life at least, it’s a mixture.

For one reason or another God has gathered us in Rome to give each a unique gift. For me, after thirteen plus years of following him, striving to become more like him in prayer and practice, he has decided to give me the gift of the priesthood. I look back over countless beautiful moments, and you have been a part of them. You have been companions on the journey uniquely offering strength and sustenance along the way.

With appreciation for our past, we look forward together. In some way, we now walk together. Though we are at different points on our journey, living in different countries, different ages and backgrounds, God has united us. First of all, join me in thanking God for this gift of priesthood. We look forward to many years of forgiving sins, guiding people on their paths, bringing down Christ in the Eucharist, offering new life in baptism, celebrating love in marriage, celebrating the end of a faithful pilgrimage in the anointing of the sick and any other ministry that God may have in mind for us.

But we all have infinite other graces to appreciate and thank God for – life, health, family, friends, and more. Now called together for a weeklong journey in Rome the pilgrimage of life, let’s ask God why he brought us to Rome during the Year of Faith.

Like I’ve already sent you (check out Pilgrimage here), we can reflect on some necessary elements of every pilgrimage. It’s (1) a journey, (2) whose motivation should be religious (3) to overcome some hardship and (4) reach a sacred destination. Let’s briefly apply these to our trip.

You’ve already arrived physically to Rome, but what is it that God has in mind for this mini-pilgrimage? First, where does God want us to arrive spiritually? Second, none of you is here because of Deacon/Father Mark Thelen. You’re not here because Italy is a great tourist destination in December. You’re here because Christ wants to encounter you. And third, yes, we’ll have some hardships. I’ll leave the internal ones to you, but there are definitely lots of cobble stones, probably a downpour or two, and the typical mishaps of moving some fifty people around a city. 

But it’s all worth it because we are going somewhere sacred. Rome is the heart of the Church. Christ’s Vicar lives here. So many men and women have gone before us and frequently artists and architects left this experience petrified in marble. But Rome is just a foretaste of our eternal happiness, heaven! We need to get ready for heaven.

Okay, you already have permission to sleep through my first homily if you’ve managed to stick with me so far. When we see things this way, though, everything takes on a far deeper meaning.

Ordination is a very special moment in my life – it’s an accomplishment but it’s really the accomplishment of God in me. So these reflections are not about Fr. Mark, but God’s work in my soul and yours. God always gives us his grace to share. I thank you for the many ways that you have shared Christ with me, and I hope that I can be a faithful instrument of grace in your life too.