Israel markets itself as “the land of creation” — and for good reason. Israel is home to the Holy Land, to a plethora of beautiful landscapes, and certain traditions argue that the spot where God created Adam is at the Dome of the Rock. 

During a recent weeklong pilgrimage through the Holy Land, I had a different impression: Israel is the land of new beginnings. 

Throughout the pilgrimage, I stopped at many of the holy sites and churches, taking time to pray and meditate on the significance of each location. Throughout the trip, a common line that surfaced in my prayer was: “This is where it all began.”

Whether it be at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Church of the Annunciation, the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter, or countless other spots, that line continued to resurface. 

Each location and the events that happened there left a critical impression on our faith. 

Consider, for instance, the Church of the Annunciation. Here, the angel Gabriel appeared to the Blessed Virgin Mary and announced the Word made flesh. 

Or consider the Upper Room, where Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist, giving us his Body and Blood.

Our tour guide, Moshe Nov, said that this room is “one of the most significant rooms in history, as it is where Christianity and Judaism split.” 

It is also the room where the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles at Pentecost, thereby sending them out to all nations.

What about the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter? This small, simple church sitting on the Sea of Galilee coastline is perhaps one of the most consequential churches. There, Christ met Peter after his resurrection and asked, “Peter, do you love me?” When Peter responded, “Yes,” Christ said, “Then feed my sheep.” 

Thereby, the papacy began. 

Then there is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which commemorates where Christ died and rose. 

At each of these sites, a new beginning took place. Whether it was an individual, a family or a community, even the Catholic Church itself, something began because that is the power that Christ has. When you meet him, when you encounter him, you cannot leave unchanged. 

As our final day of the tour wrapped up, I began reflecting on all of these places that I had visited and what I had seen. 

It was a whirlwind of a week, and as such, it had left little time for prayer and meditation, and I regretted feeling rushed through all of these sites.

While contemplating this regret, the Lord brought to mind that line: “This is only the beginning.” 

Puzzled, I pondered the line’s relationship to my spiritual life.

I recalled all the sites I had visited, the stories I had heard and the prayer that I had managed to have. 

Vividly, I could picture the apostles right after the Resurrection as they prepared to go out and “make disciples of all nations.”

Surely, they had to have been confused about what had transpired over the past three months. Their leader and friend of three years had been tried and convicted as a criminal, hung on a cross, laid in a cold tomb — and then, three days later, Jesus rose from the dead and spent 40 days with them before ascending to heaven.

That’s a lot to process.

Through those chaotic months, though, their lives were radically changed and they departed on Pentecost and the days after changed and transformed — having spent time with Christ. 

When we have a powerful encounter with Christ, we can’t leave unchanged — we go forth and witness in faith. 

For me, I pray and hope that I left the Holy Land changed, that I experienced a new beginning. I believe I did. I feel more enthusiastic to go out and share the Gospel, to talk about my experiences with friends and strangers. 

The beautiful thing is that you do not need to travel to the Holy Land for a new beginning. Christ encounters you in those around you, in the Scriptures and in the sacraments. All we need to do is open our hearts, just as the disciples did, be open to the Lord changing our hearts, and embrace this new beginning.