I ascended Mount Sinai, in the early Oughts. There was a lot of work in Egypt when I worked in hospitality consulting. All the major chains are there and there was real competition among them. Anyone remember competition? I came to love the country and the people and the diving so I often built in extra days for downtime. It’s also not expensive. I don’t know how much has changed over the last couple of decades, but when I was going, Egypt was a budget package tour destination sold primarily to Europeans seeking a guarantee of sun – and Egypt delivers. The Red Sea resorts where I worked most frequently would go years without rainfall. The water in the room’s shower comes from a desalinization plant and leaves a chalky residue. One doesn’t drink it. (Am I mentioning the issue of water scarcity because of our Lenten Water for Life project? You catch on quickly.) 

 

The travel desks in the resort lobbies sell the tour as “see the sun rise over Mount Sinai,” which means the buses leave the resorts around 0330 to make the trip to Saint Catherine Monastery. I went as a tourist and not as a pilgrim. How I regret this now. It’s like a vegetarian going to the State Fair. Which I have also done. The monastery is a UNESCO world heritage site and has no equal for relics and antiquities in situ.  

 

Here the badlands and the deserts of the southwest are punctuated by the usual suspect fast food joints at regular intervals, but in Sinai you log kilometer after kilometer without seeing a shrub, just dry jagged rocks or, while still on the coastal road, an occasional Bedouin encampment. Did I mention the army checkpoints? I shouldn’t. I’d really like to encourage people to visit, so I won’t mention them. 

 

The monks who run the monastery are notoriously grumpy. I remember stumbling groggily out of the bus with my fellow tourists and meeting a burly bearded guy in a habit who pointed and said in a manner like a TSA agent, “Is burning bush – please to keep moving.” Then we were whisked from room to room, always behind the velvet rope, until we arrived at the café and gift shop. We were back at the resort in time for lunch and most of the day at the beach or pool. 

 

I wasn’t seeking God at Sinai. I guess I was just checking a box. Doesn’t matter. What matters is God was and is seeking me. It’s still in the Oughts, and now I’m in Detroit. I was falling hard for apostolic life in the Mercy Volunteer Corps. No one told me I had to or should go to daily Mass, yet there I was, returning to the community house from Saint Aloysius church. I was walking over the Lodge Freeway when I heard that part of the Eucharistic Prayer as if for the first time: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” And I took it personally. I felt blessed to be in the MVC, I felt blessed to be sent to Detroit, I felt blessed to be taking my first steps in the life of a disciple. I feel blessed to be continuing this journey here with you.  

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

 

Did you make it to our celebration of the Solemnity of Saint Joseph the 19th? If you missed it, consider coming for the Annunciation on Tuesday the 25th. Whatever your plans, be sure to stop into your nearest Catholic church (with Pax the first among equals) for some extra special readings and reflections during Lent. Two solemnities (not counting those that fall on a Sunday) in one week – these kinds of deals won’t be around forever, folks, specifically not until June, when the Solemnities of Corpus Christ and the Nativity of John the Baptist are celebrated, on the 19th and 25th. Come for the Mass, leave with the grace, while supplies last*.