Challenging Us at the Garden

Fr. Steve gave a very powerful homily in a very powerful place. The Garden of Gethsemane is one of my favorite places in Jerusalem, and that was where we headed to first thing this morning. Its ancient olive trees, an incredible church, and its location across the valley from the Eastern gate on the Mount of Olives make it quite an experience.

This is the place where the disciples could not stay awake for even an hour after Jesus had asked them to do that while he went and prayed. Each time he found them asleep he told them to awake and pray. He could of told them go away, but he stuck with them, even in their weakness.

Fr. Steve ask us if there has there been a time when we have stood by someone in their time of need, even when are head is telling us that they have brought this on themselves, but we know in our heart that we need to support them? This made me think what I have done and haven't done for the homeless that live less then a mile from my house under a bridge in Wooster. My office has taken them food, but they need more support. Physical, spiritual, mental. Maybe I just need to stop and spend time listening to them. Maybe it is breaking bread with them.

Above all, I can't harden my heart to my fellow man. I don't want to be the one that just drives by and points them out. I want them to know that same love that I have received from our community. Please pray that I will find the strength and wisdom to treat my neighbor as myself.

A sign on a church we visited said:
"If you enter here as a tourist we hope you leave a pilgrim.
If you enter here as a pilgrim we hope you leave holier."
Amen!

I pray that each of my fellow pilgrims and others following along have grown holier through our experiences.