The Way of the Pilgrim

There is something romantic about becoming a pilgrim. The idea of traveling the world and visiting holy sites, and in the process developing a deeper bond with Christ and His Community in all its diversity warms the heart. A great glimpse into this is the film "The Way" directed by Emilio Estevez and starring Martin Sheen, who goes on a pilgrimage in Spain called "The Way of St. James or Camino Santiago Compestela." Even Ridley Scott's flawed "Kingdom of Heaven" shows the crucinatius (crusader)'s pilgrimage to Jerusalem, giving us a glimpse into 12th century Judea. Pilgrimages have profound meaning in different parts of Christendom. For many it is penitential journey for remission of sins, perhaps only to assuage guilt than really seek forgiveness from God who already forgives if we repent (1 John 1:9). Then there are those on pilgrimages looking for miracles, going to sites of sacred bones and stations of the cross, tracing their way from Germany to Golgotha for God to heal them or save them. Others make their pilgrimage as journey of faith, time spent with the Lord and even employ hermitic and ascetic disciplines, perhaps even refraining from company of other pelegrins (pilgrims). Then there is pilgrim who dedicates their life to pilgrimage, in Russian known as Statnik, who travel across the vast land mass from Moscow to Serbia, to Southern Russia. Finally, there is a simple pilgrim who may not severe ties to their day job, but takes a holiday or sebastical, where they journey across the world, visiting shrines and sacred places in Christendom seeking some peace, renewed piety, and to get in touch with Trinity.

The Apostle Peter says, "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,   having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.." (1 Peter 2:11-12). The Apostle's words encompass the soul of pilgrimage, which can have at its focus to purge a person of their sin. Pilgrims consider themselves exiles and foreigners to this world, seeking mysteries and truths of the hereafter, the heavenliest. Interestingly, pilgims did exist in the time of St. Peter, Paul, and John. The Apostle Peter makes special mention of pilgrims and even gives them special homily and benediction, "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:Grace to you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:1-9 NKJV). Peter admonishes and comforts these pilgrims, pointing out something very unique about them that accompanies pilgrims since then to this day, "you been grieved by various trials, that by the genuiness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes," and then Peter echoes Christ saying, "Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love," which Jesus said, "Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29). Peter is also echoing Christ about faith being more important than gold, for Jesus said, "do not store up riches on this earth that moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal, but store up treasures in heaven." (Matthew 6:19-20). One more thought is that it is interesting these pilgrims the Apostle Peter addresses is a moving church, instead of one that is established in Ephesus or Corinth.

Perhaps it is Peter's words and the actual pilgrims he addressed that stirred so many masses throughout the millennium to take up their sack and staff and seek out the Savior on the pilgrim path. Pilgrimage actually is much older, its tradition derives from forerunners, "By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise." (Hebrews 11:9). In the cases of Isaac and Jacob they were waunder pilgrims with families, while now the custom is to be single and solitary.

Being a pilgrim often goes along with being poor and begging for alms. But there is not persribed way according to canons of Scripture. The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions have a model of a monk type person who takes a vow of poverty and seeks to feed himself via sweat of his brow or through alms. But any Christian can be a pilgrim, we can take up our staff and sack and travel to sacred places and seek Christ's face on a journey across plains, into mountainous regions and monasteries, and beyond. The Pilgrim is traveling believer who seeks the Prince of Peace in the landscapes of his beautiful countryside, the celestial skies, and cloister of Christians all over the world. The Way of pilgrim is available to Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant alike, it is a chance to go on journey of faith that can revitalize, restore, and reawaken piety and love for God and His creation.