World Youth Day USA Guides International Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | Page 10

A pilgrim is only a pilgrim when put in

behind homes and cattle unprotected and

context of the community. Our modern

unwatched. Having a corporate identity meant

culture often gets lost in the role of the

that every Jew participated in the feast—

individual. However, deep within the Judeo-

vicariously through the men who went up to

Christian tradition is a notion called corporate

Jerusalem and directly by celebrating in their

identity. The Jewish people, like many ancient

homes. For example, in the Passover feast, the

people, saw the world through the lens of the

homes of all Jews were free from leaven. The

community first, not the individual; what

fasting from leaven was not just practiced by

happened to one, happened to all.

those who went to Jerusalem.

The Jewish people held three annual feasts in

The significance of pilgrimage, community,

Jerusalem. These feasts were also pilgrimages,

and corporate identity is made most clear in

as the Hebrew word “hag” is translated both

the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ and his

as feast and pilgrimage. In the book of

founding of the Church. Without the

Deuteronomy, there are many instructions on

community of the Church, there is no

how these feasts and pilgrimages should take

discipleship. The Church, a community of

place. “Three times a year, then, every male

missionary disciples, is a pilgrim people. In

among you shall appear before Hܙ[