World Youth Day USA Guides International Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | Page 42

beyond that moment towards what was to take

Challenge pilgrims to see their journey to and

place in the coming months and years. In much

from Kraków in the same way. Encourage

the same way, the transformative experience of

them to reflect on what their “exodus” might

World Youth Day should point outward, not

be, where their “Jerusalem” could be, and what

inward. Even when Simon Peter wants to

mission God could be calling them to embark

remain on the mountain longer, saying “Master,

upon when they come down from the

it is good that we are here; let us make three

“mountaintop” of Kraków. The missionary task

tents…,” St. Luke reminds us “he did not know

does not happen alone. Help pilgrims take

what he was saying” (9:33). Similarly, it may be

some comfort in the fact that they do not need

tempting for pilgrims and their leaders to make

to walk alone after World Youth Day and that

the mountaintop experience the end goal of the

the mission they will be given may take a whole

journey, but the Lord calls us to look further

lifetime to complete.

on. After they descend from the mountain,
Jesus and the three disciples turn their attention

Before pilgrims embark on the trip, coordinate

towards Jerusalem (9:51). Jesus makes plans to

some ways that they can offer service and work

send his followers ahead of him to prepare the

for justice in their local communities, in order

way (9:52), empowering seventy-two of them to

to prepare them for lives of mercy and

go “two by two” on a mission to every town

compassion. Help them to commit to praying

and village the Lord was intending to visit

regularly, to listening more than speaking, and

(10:1-12). “Go on your way,” Jesus

to grounding their decisions and discernment in

commissions them, adding a cautionary note:

God and through the community and teachings

“Behold, I am sending you like lambs among

of the Church. Give them tools to help them to

wolves” (10:3). For Jesus and the disciples, the

witness to their faith with others without being

glorious moment of the Transfiguration impels

preachy or combative. On this last point,

toward the mission into the world, the mission

connect them with the advice on accompanying

of the Cross, of self-giving love poured out for

their peers (especially those who may not have

the glory of the Father and the salvation of the

received the grace of faith) given by Pope

world. For World Youth Day pilgrims, the

Francis in Evangelii Gaudium:

intense experience of the international
gathering directs them to mission, to wherever

…this “art of accompaniment” which

God calls them to next. WYD is not the end.

teaches us to remove our sandals before the

World Youth Day is a catalyst to greatness.

sacred ground of another (cf. Ex. 3:5). The
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