Chapter 25 - Amen

Seeing the sights of the Holy Land through the eyes of another, I have enjoyed this journey, a journey that I believe has brought me closer to Jesus.

In the concluding chapter, Father Martin summarizes the paradox of pilgrimage:  some of the sites are clearly authentic (Capernaum, the Pool of Bethesda, Golgotha, Gethsemane) while others are less certain (like some of the stations along the Via Dolorosa).  Still others sites are legendary, like the Upper Room,  which very likely is below ground.

The mix of authentic and legendary typifies the Holy Land.  Pilgrimage to the places where Jesus stood brings elation and occasional disappointment.

As a Christian on his pilgrimage, I daily seek to find my way through the paganism, superstition and atheism which pervades the society in which I live.  Through the morass of stimuli in this entertainment and media driven culture, I seek to find Jesus and try to keep the faith.

It's not always easy.

I am grateful to writers like Father Martin who, in the spirit of the Lord, invites us to take a closer look, to "come and see."

Having finished this book, I'm considering re-reading the Gospels, with a fresh memory of Father Martin's experiences to enrich the experience.

As we say our "Amen" I say thanks to my colleagues who have contributed their reflections:


Connie Cannella
Bill Casey
Sharon Erkman
Deacon Mike McKenna
Lucy Premus








To Ponder and Discuss:

Looking back on our pilgrimage--with the Gospels, in the Holy Land and through the spiritual life--what was your most meaningful discovery about Jesus?  Now that you know Jesus in a new way, how might you respond to the question, "Who do you say that I am?"


Steven Olson