12/01/2023
Advent Journey to Bethlehem
Last Advent we decided to walk with the Holy Family on their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. We looked up the maps and mileage for the trip and found a few different options. As the crow flys, and if they took the most direct route, it would have been about 70miles. However, many scholars agree that Mary and Joseph most likely added about 20 extra miles to their journey in order to safely bypass Samaria, putting their mileage closer to 90. While they managed to complete this journey in anywhere from 4-10 days, our hope is to begin on the first Sunday of advent and finish it by Christmas morning.
Last year on our walks we listened to reflections or prayed the rosary and often finished out the miles just talking together. It was an awesome experience and we wanted to invite you to share it with us!
Advent begins this Sunday, so if you would like to join in, you have a few decisions to think about:
1) How many miles would you like to shoot for: 70, 80, or 90 (We set out for 70 miles last year and finished 72 - so no shame in picking the shortest one - that’s what we did)
2) How would you like to achieve the miles: do you want to add up miles independently or do you want to partner with someone or even a group of people to add up miles together. (Last year we each did the miles but we invited friends to join us last year and they added their miles together).
The point of this is not how far you go (but having a goal definitely helps keep you motivated), but to take the time to enter into the journey and the season of advent. Our hope is to give you a chance to enter into a daily time of prayer and reflection and also, sacrifice. It’s not an easy experience - the days are short, there is lots of cold and darkness - but it is a perfect reminder of life without Christ and as such, it builds up the hope, joy and eager anticipation for the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior.
(We want to make sure to say - be safe and smart - you can walk inside or on a treadmill or whatever you need to do to stay safe and avoid illness or injury. Don’t do anything you or your body can’t handle. You can even swim or bike to get the miles if you’d like.)
So as to not flood this page with a million posts about this journey, we will be setting up a group for anyone who wants to join. We’ll post some links to prayers and reflections and members can support one another and help keep each other motivated and accountable on their journey.
I thinks that’s plenty of info for one post and we’ll have more in the coming days!
Hope you will join us on the journey and have fun while doing it.
