I was blessed with the opportunity at the beginning of November to take a pilgrimage to the Holy Land — the country of Israel). Opportunities like this don’t come along too often, and I was blessed that all of my coworkers, especially my secretary, were able to cover me during this time while I was gone.

A pilgrimage is a “religious journey of holy expedition.” I decided to Google people go on pilgrimages and this is what I discovered: Pilgrimages frequently involve a journey or search of moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person’s beliefs and faith.

To be honest, I experienced all of the above during my time in the Holy Land. The trip included so many stops that are important parts of the history of Christianity and the life of Jesus. We were able to experience the place of his birth (Bethlehem), the place of many of his miracles (the Sea of Galilee), as well as the spot of his Last Supper and his Crucifixion (the city of Jerusalem). It was such an amazing, and somewhat overwhelming, experience as I look back on the whole pilgrimage. 

I find it fitting to be writing about it now, during the Season of Advent. The time when we focus our hearts and minds on the coming of the greatest gift that we have ever been given, the birth of Jesus. 

To think just a little over one month ago I was standing in the spot where this tremendous event occurred. Even now, it brings goosebumps to me. Since my experiences in the Holy Land, everything about the Bible, Liturgy and daily prayer has been changed. I was lucky enough to be able to see where so many of these things actually happened. But it also brings me back to an important part in scripture from the interaction between “Doubting” Thomas and Jesus after the Resurrection. 

Thomas refuses to believe what the other disciples are saying about the risen Lord. He says he will not believe until he is able to touch the wounds in Jesus’ hands and feel his side. Jesus appears and says, “Stop your doubting, and believe!” Thomas answers, “My Lord and my God!” and Jesus responds with such an important lesson for all of us: “You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

I would imagine that many people in this world will not ever be able to visit the Holy Land and put their hands in the spot where our Savior was born, but yet they believe. 

This is the season where we see that word in many advertisements, commercials and Hallmark Christmas movies: Believe. This scripture verse from Jesus is more important now than ever before: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. 

As we begin to get wrapped up in the spirit of the season, and we go about hustling and bustling all around the place, please remember to believe. Believe in the gift that was given to us all over 2000 years ago. But more important, remember what that gift stands for: love, peace, happiness, faith and joy. The mission statement of Jesus can be summed up pretty simply: Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, but also love your neighbor as yourself. 

It seems like now as we end one year — and decade — we can move forward with this idea: we believe. We believe that people are good. We believe that God loves us. We believe that our positive actions can make a difference in our world. We believe that by listening to each other we can creatively and cooperatively solve problems. We believe that there is a bright future for our children, grandchildren and neighbors. Because guess what? If you don’t believe these things, then our world will never be able to change. 2020 is the year for this to begin. It is time to believe in each other.

I was blessed enough to go on a pilgrimage, a journey of spiritual significance. It was truly that in my life, something I will never forget. But to be honest, the best part of my pilgrimage, the part I will never forget, is the people that made that journey with me. When it comes down to it, isn’t that how it always goes? It’s never the gift we receive, the dinner we ate, or the vacation we took that we remember. It is the people. The people we share each and every minute of these beautiful days with. 

So, as we give and receive gifts this Christmas season, remember the gift of Jesus, but also the gifts of those amazing people you see — and don’t see — each and every day. Let them know you love them and are thinking of them. Let them know you care for them and want them to be happy. Let them know you forgive them and value them as people, as children of God. Let them know you believe in them.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 — Joe Peters is the principal at St. Victor School in Monroe. He can be reached at 

joepeters@stvictormonroe.org.