“He … began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.” Mark 6:7
A blessing I have received during my time at Presentation of Mary is to be a part of the annual walking pilgrimage that the parish has been making every summer now for the last 16 years (minus 2020): a pilgrimage walk from Presentation of Mary in Maplewood to the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul.
The walk itself isn’t overly difficult, as we make our way along paved pathways. The approach toward downtown St. Paul is a decline before the path inclines as we go through downtown to the Cathedral. Then, as we near the Cathedral, the climb becomes a little steeper, being on a hill and all.
During this pilgrimage, we are given the opportunity to walk with each other, converse with each other, pray with each other and share a meal with each other (post-walk). This opportunity is a wonderful gift that we have received as we grow in relationship with each other during this time, and with Jesus and his blessed Mother, as we share blessed stories and offer up prayer intentions for each other, our families and friends, and our parish. During our walk, we’ve seen homelessness and other issues that have separated people from their loved ones as well.
This pilgrimage reminded me a little of the Gospel reading for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, as we hear how Jesus sends out his Apostles two by two on mission with his authority, to go and cure the sick and drive out demons. Our pilgrimage’s intent was not to directly go and cure any illness or drive out demons, but to provide an opportunity for fellowship and prayer with one another. In encountering people along the way, it was a reminder that as Christians, disciples of Jesus, we have also been called to mission as the Apostles and disciples were before us, to cure the sick and drive out demons.
All of God’s people, all his creations, long to be loved, and we have been called to that one common mission together. Just as we had a destination in mind for our pilgrimage walk, to climb up toward our Lord’s Cathedral, we have also been called to minister to others along the journey, to bring others along with us up his mountain.
Lord, you placed companions in our lives and have given us your authority to minister to others in your name. Strengthen us to have the courage to walk forward in our lives, ministering to those we encounter along the road, and to remember that where you call us to go, you also provide the means to complete the task at hand. Give us strength and deepen our faith in you, in all that we do. Amen.
Father Ly is pastor of Presentation of Mary in Maplewood.
Sunday, July 14
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
