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In the footsteps of our Saviour
In the footsteps of our Saviour
Dr. Edric Sum and his wife, who are parishioners of St. John, Willowdale, traveled to Israel and Jordan last October with a group from St. Christopher, Richmond Hill. Here he reflects on the trip.
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BY DR. EDRIC SUM
A pilgrimage to the Holy Land had been on my mind for a long time, but I had always been concerned about security and that a local conflict might quickly escalate into a full-blown war. I am so thankful that St. Christopher’s organized this trip. It was perfect for me because I always want to go in a church group, with people I knew.
Dr. Edric Sum tests out the acoustics of a Roman amphitheatre in the Holy Land with a rousing rendition of “Amazing Grace.”
PHOTO BY DORA LI
My overall impression was how real the Bible stories are. We saw how a rock can roll over to reveal a cave. We saw a storm sweep over the Sea of Galilee. We retraced some of the footsteps of our Saviour. And we had a very knowledgeable guide who helped us achieve a deeper understanding, although I had a few quibbles with her explanations!
The most memorable moment for me was attending a service at St. George’s Cathedral, our Anglican cathedral in Jerusalem. It is hard for me to describe this experience. I felt much closer to God. I had a warm feeling and I had a strong sense of belonging. It was a bit odd because it was not my home and native land. I will remember that feeling for a long time.
It was a wonderful trip, but not an easy one. There was a lot of walking and the sun beat down in the 40-degree Celsius heat! But I felt perfectly safe. I saw and felt the presence of God.
