THE PATH OF THE PILGRIM

Guided by His Eminence, Archbishop and Presiding Prelate Sir Andres B. Quow

May the peace of Christ guide your hearts. It is easy in this life to become too comfortable, to build elaborate homes and settle deeply into a world that is, in truth, only a temporary dwelling. The great heroes of faith understood this clearly. The author of Hebrews writes, “They admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth… they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.” (Hebrews 11:13, 16). This world is not our final home; we are pilgrims on a journey.

His Eminence, Sir Andres B. Quow, teaches that embracing this “pilgrim mentality” is crucial for a victorious Christian walk. A pilgrim travels light, not weighed down by excessive baggage. A pilgrim is focused on the destination, not distracted by every attraction along the way. A pilgrim is content with simple provisions, knowing it is sufficient for the journey. This mindset liberates us from the world’s anxieties and the desperate pursuit of possessions that ultimately rust and fade. It allows us to hold the things of this world with an open hand.

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ABOUNDING IN HOPE

The Apostle Peter picks up this theme, addressing believers as “foreigners and exiles,” and urging them to “abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.” (1 Peter 2:11). When we forget we are pilgrims, we begin to cosy up to the values and vices of the land through which we are passing. We lose our distinctiveness and our spiritual edge. But when we remember that we are citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20), our priorities shift. Our primary goal is not to accumulate treasure here, but to store it up there.

So, let us examine our lives. Are we building a permanent mansion on a campsite? Are we burdened by baggage God never intended us to carry? Let us loosen our grip on the temporary and fix our eyes on the eternal. Let us walk with purpose and hope, encouraging fellow pilgrims along the way. The journey may have its challenges, but our Guide is faithful, and our destination is glorious. We are just passing through.

Amen.