Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin
Recently at the Faith Formation Summit at our parish, we discussed the importance of “accompanying” others on their journey of faith. I was fortunate enough to experience “accompaniment” first hand as I traveled with 15 other individuals on our recent pilgrimage to Turkey. Traveling to the holy sites such as Ephesus and Antioch were inspiring experiences, but it was being together with the other pilgrims- walking together, praying together, sharing our reflections- that deepened and enriched my journey. Although we were all traveling together, each of us had different insights, gifts, and perspectives that allowed the other people on the trip to see faith from a slightly different angle. I could have gone to all the same places-and taken the exact same trip, but what I experienced would not have been the same. I was reminded of what it means to accompany others with Christ when I read today’s reading. The disciples were constantly on a journey with Jesus as they traveled from one place to the next. Through sharing the day to day experiences, supporting one another through the challenges, and sharing this common bond of friendship with Jesus, they were able to help deepen each other’s belief in Jesus and His teachings. In many ways, our daily living is a journey or pilgrimage as we travel to our sacred home of heaven. With a community of believers to walk with us, not only are we more likely to arrive at our destination, but we will be blessed with richer, deeper and better understanding of what it means to be the Body of Christ.
In today’s gospel reading we hear about Jesus “gathering in Galilee” with his disciples. Jesus tells his followers about his impending passion, death and resurrection, and the disciples “were overwhelmed with grief.” (Mt. 17: 23) I don’t think it was an accident that Jesus chose a group of people to be his chosen apostles, not just a single individual. He understood that they would need each other for support and encouragement as they faced the challenges of spreading the gospel. Because they had each other, they would be able to support one another in sorrow and celebrate the joys as well. Each of them had a unique relationship with Jesus. As they spent time together- walking, sharing, and reflecting on the words and actions of Jesus, I imagine that they helped draw each other to a deeper and broader understanding of God’s love for them through their encounters with Christ.
In the story of the temple tax, Jesus implies that He and Peter are “foreigners” but should still pay the tax “that we may not offend them.” (Mt 17:27) This is a difficult story to understand, but I wonder if Jesus is trying to tell Peter (and us) that we are all “foreigners” journeying in this life as we head “home”. Peter is a fisherman by trade, and Jesus encourages him to use that gift to help support both of them in fulfilling the need to pay the tax. Could this be an indication that Jesus is calling each of his disciples to use their gifts or talents to support one another on their journey together?
I learned many things on my pilgrimage and received many graces, but my greatest insight was the importance of living out my faith within a community, and how essential it is to accompany one another on our journey. I know that there have been times in the past, where I became so focused on my relationship with Jesus that I lost sight of those walking right beside me. Jesus still needs to remain in the center, but when I accompany other people I learn from them different dimensions of how Jesus is living and loving within the world around me. When I accompany another, I walk with them, beside them, listening, caring, loving, encouraging and celebrating all that they experience. Hopefully, through my support they come to know Jesus in me, just as I come to know Jesus in them. In true accompaniment, we draw each other to a closer relationship with Christ as we share the many ways He is alive in our lives. At the end of our pilgrimage I asked all the other pilgrims to share what graces they had received on the trip. As they shared their reflections, I realized that their insights, thoughts and experiences added so much to my singular experience of the trip we had just shared. Recognizing each of us has insights and gifts that we are called to share with one another is an important aspect of being in a faith community. Jesus is so much larger than our tiny vision of who we imagine Him to be, and I think that the only way we will get to know Him more fully is through accompanying others on the journey. The words from the Servant Song (Gillard) capture the meaning of what it means to accompany another in faith: “Will you let me be your servant? Let me be as Christ to you. Pray that I might have the grace to let me be your servant too. We are pilgrims on the journey. We are travelers on the road. We are here to help each other Walk the mile and bear the load. When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony. Born to all we've known together Of Christ's love and agony”
"Heavenly Father, You sent us Jesus to show us the way home to You. Through the grace of Your Spirit, help us to accompany one another on this journey, so we can bring all to you. May our lives of love bring you glory; we pray this through Christ, our LORD. Amen"
Marylynn Herchline