THE 'Pilgrimage of Egeria' recalls the earliest biographical account of a 4th century pilgrim in the Holy Land.
She details how the early Christians gathered during Holy Week as they walked together in the footsteps of Christ from Bethany to the city of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and onwards from Golgotha; the scene of crucifixion on Good Friday, to the empty tomb on Easter Sunday.
Following the Via Dolorosa, these early Christians united their own crosses to the cross of Christ.
The physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual burdens they carried were found to be mirrored in the pain and anguish of the condemned innocent Messiah; the way, the truth and the life.
In these days of Holy Week, Christians are invited to join the crosses of our daily life to the Suffering Servant.
As Christian disciples, we are commissioned to walk along the pathway of human suffering in our daily lives with Christian hope.
We are called to walk in solidarity with our brothers and sisters, carrying our crosses with faith-filled hearts as we encounter the risen Christ in our lives.
Dr Noel Treanor
Bishop of Down and Connor
