“…. and miles to go before I sleep.”

Summer time sees people setting out on all kinds of travels and trips; mostly, but not entirely with sun, sea and sand in mind. Then there are those who set out on journeys that have a very specific end in view, the cyclists of the Tour de France, and round the globe sailors, or cross continent runners or walkers, those aiming to break records, highlight causes, raise funds and so on.

A significant percentage of those who swell the queues at airports, ports, bus and train stations are pilgrims setting out on another type of journey. Lourdes, Fatima and Medjugorie may be the most compelling destinations for those taking to the skies, but a steady stream of hardy travellers continue to go to places of ancient and hardy penance, Compostella, Lough Derg and Croagh Patrick.

Although he finds himself surrounded by sun and sand, Elijah’s life is no holiday. His decision to lie down and die marks the end of a journey that has been difficult and discouraging. Elijah meets God in a new way and at a low point in his journey when he is prompted or provoked to keep going. His forty days and forty nights walk to Horeb is an inspiration for all who would at various moments lie down and die.

Whatever our journey these summer days, wherever it may take us, the Lord of the Eucharist is deeply concerned and endlessly desiring to nourish and nurture each of us for our life’s journey. The Bread of God, Bread of Heaven, is indeed divine food to keep us going; a food which sometimes we, like Elijah, can come to appreciate more profoundly at difficult and discouraging points of our journey. The divine guest, Jesus, who has journeyed from heaven, turns all our journeys into pilgrimage; pilgrimage that at times brings encouragement, and at others requires endurance, but pilgrimage which transforms all our travels, and indeed our entire life’s journey until we reach our goal, the mountain of God.

Fr. Eamon Devlin, CM

13th August, 2006