In To be a Pilgrim: A Reflective Guide to the Holy Land, Bishop Bradly Billings takes us on a journey--a pilgrimage. Through his reflections and meditations based on his own experiences leading pilgrimages through the Holy Land, Bishop Brad evokes the sights, sounds and smells as he follows in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. Drawing from Scripture and from history both ancient and modern, each stop along the way is brought to life as the reader is led from the humble birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem, through scenes of his baptism in the Jordan and travels through Galilee with his disciples, to his death and resurrection in Jerusalem. With prayers and readings for the Stations of the Cross, a compendium of scriptural references related to each place, and practical information intended to guide the would-be and future pilgrim, To be a Pilgrim: A Reflective Guide to the Holy Land is an indispensable companion. Several of our ordination candidates, clergy and lay people have now had the benefit of participating in a pilgrimage to the Holy Land led by Bishop Brad Billings. Each have found the experience deeply meaningful, bringing a new depth to their reading, meditation and preaching on the Scriptures. This prayerful and meditative volume seeks to convey the experience of pilgrimage. I heartily commend it to all who are Christian pilgrims as people of Easter faith. The Most Revd Dr Philip L. Freier, Archbishop of Melbourne On our pilgrimage to Israel, we had the privilege of standing in the desert and I was embraced by this ancient biblical land. The connection with Abraham, Jesus, and a thousand years of history, stories, and writings was tangible. A truly life-changing experience. Ann Cutts, Churchwarden, St Martin's Hawksburn The Rt Revd Dr Bradly Billings is an Assistant Bishop in the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, with overall responsibility for theological education and clergy wellbeing. Bishop Brad has lectured for many years in the New Testament and early Christianity, and has been awarded the Master of Arts in Classics & Archaeology by the University of Melbourne and the Doctorate in Theology by the Australian College of Theology. He is a frequent visitor to the Holy Land, leading many groups of pilgrims there, and is a strong supporter of the Anglican ministry at St George's College Jerusalem.
