By Véronique Chevrier (Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi)
October 6th 2024 - Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center
Perhaps you have had the experience in the Holy Land that the stones speak to you... Well, believe me, when there is silence in Jerusalem, the stones cry out! (cf. Lk 19:40). I just came back this morning from being there for seven days, from September 11-18, and the tension of the current situation was tangible.
I am a woman consecrated to the Lord in the lay state of life, and I had heard of the Holy Land since my childhood because my parents received the sacrament of marriage at Dominus Flevit, Jerusalem, almost 50 years ago. However, it was only in 2006, after hearing about it from one of my fellow colleagues in the Regnum Christi Movement, that I started dreaming of going there—despite the crowded streets, the tensions between religions bringing noise and scandal, and the presence of armed soldiers, as others had described. I told the Lord that I would only go when He brought me there.
I spoke those words 18 years ago. Many possibilities came and went: a group or another, or for my studies... but as time went on, I realized that what I really wanted was to be introduced by Him into His own personal world, into His beloved land and home. My heart was saying: "Jesus, where are you staying?" (cf. Jn 1:38). So, in the one moment when the Holy Sites were empty and it was safe enough for me to be able to pray there, when flights were cheap and the Notre-Dame-of-Jerusalem Center had space, He gave me the words: "Thus I came to there where they dwelt, I stayed among them ... for seven days" (Ez 3:15), which to me, meant: "Come and see!" (cf. Jn 1:39). And I went, and I saw (cf. Jn 1:39).
It was an overwhelming experience of Jesus' gratuitous abundance poured onto an absolutely unworthy—yet entirely delighted—beloved disciple and wife of His. I was ALONE with Him in Jerusalem!!!! And beyond that (as if it weren’t enough), I became more aware that in Jerusalem, “He is there and is not there.” Where it is that He lives is in me, in you, in us, in His Church. He took me by surprise again and again. He took my breath away, to tears, again and again. I had no idea I was so important to Him and to His Father. All believers theoretically know that in God’s eyes, we are all important—even unto death, literally. However, deep down, none of us really believe it when it comes to our poor little selves.
Myself with the community of Regnum Christi Consecrated Women who live in the Holy Land
This pilgrimage to Jerusalem was a path He chose to tell me this—and many more things. And a pilgrimage to Jerusalem is always a path for God to say something important, right? What have the stones said to you? Share your story with others so that they may also dream of going, even if it takes them "18 years" to get there.
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