Israel Pilgrimage and the Footprints of God

The excitement of landing in Israel is surreal. Over the next days we will travel to the Holy Sites, as the song says “Where Jesus walked.” The 3 boys know it is something special as they have learned to feel the energy of their mom and dad in certain situations like the walk across the Charles Bridge in Prague, standing at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium gate or the ride in the Metro to Red Square, Moscow. We are diligent in our efforts to help the kids understand the magnitude of these 10 days. We can only hope that as they attend Mass, and read the Old and New Testament in their futures, they will have a different and yet enlightened understanding of the people, places and things of Israel.

The airport scene is not unlike most we’ve experienced. The lads pull themselves together, exit the plane and we see Welcome to Ben Gurion Airport splashed across the lintel of the entrance door to passport control. As we pass thru customs, I look at the many different citizens of this country and the throngs of visitors and wonder 2 things; first “For how many people is this their lifelong dream?” Second, I think, in 2+ week’s Team Glavin will have visited the amazing Holy Sites of Israel and been to one of the largest Muslim cities in the world, Istanbul, Turkey. It brings new meaning to our home school theme for the year “The world is our classroom.”

Day 1 is all we hoped it would be. An early start to the day, the way dad likes it, but not so much for mom or Eamon. A quick breakfast and we board the sleek modern tour bus. We are travelling with 50 from the USA on this pilgrimage. We are Legatus (sounds like the battle cry at home in Pa, “We are PENN STATE”). It is a fantastic group of people and a true pleasure to share this experience with the catholic business group. We have been too many Legatus events over the years and know a couple things, there will be great food and more importantly, excellent content and “take away value”

We rise to the top of Mt. Tabor and see an incredible Church that was built in celebration of the Transfiguration. It is a magnificent start to our journey. Our guide Amir (sp?) is a local Nazarean and provides amazing information from a “local perspective.” Our guides Stephen and Janet Ray are accomplished “tour guides” and passionate about their vocation. It is hard to describe the feeling of being in the Holy place and knowing that this is the spot where old testament Moses and Elijah meet the New Testament’s Jesus, Peter, James and John. I look down the stone cold granite seat at my son’s Pearse, Irish translation for Peter, and Seamus, Irish for James, and share with them the logic for the choice of their names at birth. As it is said in scripture Peter, James and John they are the “beloved.”

We reload into the bus and head to Cana of Galilee. Just writing those words sparks so many feelings. The sight of the first and most famous of miracles, “Turning water in wine” is the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus. We have a special ceremony with our Chaplain and all of the married couples renew their wedding vows in the Church built to commemorate this amazing history. Ann and I renew our vowels in front of the boys and I am proud to show them the commitment we made to each other 18 years ago. It is another wonderful moment for all of us.

We reload again and head to the Church dedicated to the Annunciation, “Where the word became flesh.” As we walk through the streets of Nazareth the boys and I laugh and joke reminding ourselves that Jesus walked here and played here. We can’t help but sing the song “Oh happy day” from the movie “Sister Act.” You could almost hear Mary yell “Don’t do that you’ll get hurt.” We visited the cave that was the home of Mary, Joseph and Jesus. WOW

As the bus made its way back to the hotel, the Sea of Galilee seemed like a magnet pulling us to its shores as if to say “welcome home.”