Pilgrims of Hope

WRITTEN by Father Gerardo Agredo

Saint John Paul II stated that: "The whole of Christian life is like a great pilgrimage toward the house of the Father, whose unconditional love for every human creature, and in particular for the "prodigal son" (cf. Lk 15:11-32), is discovered each day. This pilgrimage touches the innermost being of the person, then extends to the community of believers to reach all of humanity." An image of this reality is found in the Book of Exodus, which describes the journey of the chosen people toward the promised land (cf. Ex 6:6). There, liberation is posed in terms of the possession of the land. The course of that history outlines for us a new Exodus, prefigured in it as a journey of a definitive and eternal nature, which transcends the cosmos and human history, and which points to Christ as Savior of the world. It is a journey of salvation that unites the past with the present and projects it into the future, and which is the fruit of God's plan (cf. Eph 1:9-10). Indicating that the Christian life is a path toward full communion with God, and the Church is called in Christ Jesus to achieve holiness or fullness through the grace of God, amid the persecutions of the world and the consolations of God, bearing the image of this passing age in its sacraments and institutions, and living among creatures awaiting the glorious manifestation of the children of God. (Cf. LG. 48)

Walking, then, is the invitation and at the same time the watchword given in this spirituality; it is going "onward and upward like a caravan of pilgrims sowing love," without stopping, nor becoming disturbed or daunted, going as one who is going to victory, as one who is already returning with triumph, because we belong to God. Without any fear, and with nothing that makes us lose the rhythm of the march of God's advancement within us. To such an extent that neither successes nor failures can divert us from the goal, being strong and stubborn in the journey, moving forward with our feet on the ground and our hearts in God. (Cf. A. 188) With a clear goal, because like every pilgrim we must always have one, and just as we must have the alternatives along the way. But it is clear that we must learn to orient ourselves to choose the route when pursuing the goal. Since following two or more routes at the same time can lead to confusion, this being the best means or cause of not finding the goal; a recurring tragedy of the insecure, the result of which is failure, perdition, and therefore the lack of peace due to the lack of harmony. (Cf. A. 1540) Because as the scripture says: "No one can serve two masters, for either he will despise the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other..." (Mt 6:24).