A Lesser Known Holy Land

REV. JOSEPH SCOLARO C’25, DIOCESE OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE

It is easy to forget what a prominent role Egypt plays in the Sacred Scriptures, within the stories of both the Old and New Testaments. From Joseph the son of Israel (of “technicolor dreamcoat” fame), to Moses and the Exodus, to the flight of the Holy Family, Egypt has been a place of both refuge and bondage throughout salvation history.

Following final exams in February, a group of priests from the Casa with our superior Fr. Jim Conn, S.J., had the opportunity to visit and experience many of these holy sites on a pilgrimage to Cairo and Sinai. We visited shrines marking locations of the Holy Family’s flight and followed the route of the Israelites through the desert to Mt. Sinai, along the way checking out the Pyramids and Sphinx, which make the Colosseum look like recent construction. Then at Sinai itself we were able to visit the site of the burning bush and climb the mountain for a beautiful (if cold!) sunrise.

At places like these, in the moment it can be hard to grasp the fact that we are standing where such important events of salvation history unfolded. To stand on the peak where Moses received the Ten Commandments or the shore where the Holy Family embarked to travel down the Nile River, we are reminded of the reality of our faith and the fact that it is more than some myth—it is thee story of the human family and the long path by which God has called us into a relationship with him. Especially preparing for Lent, as we crossed the desert we were given a stark vision of that Exodus journey through the desert, which is meant to mirror our journey through the wilderness of penitence to the promised land of Easter joy. Moreover, visiting a number of Christian monasteries and communities, we were able to see the way in which people of faith have persevered against great trials in the wilderness which can often be daily life, finding strength and sustenance in Our Lord and the gift of his Body and Blood in the Eucharist.

Grateful for the blessing of this journey, we returned to Rome enriched by the spiritual fruits of such a pilgrimage, having walked together, out of Egypt, with each other and our Lord. n