Pilgrims of Hope: Walking Together Towards the Kingdom of God
By: Most Rev. Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn and chairman of the USCCB Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church
Years ago, a good friend taught me a chant of sorts that we would use when leading groups on pilgrimages. “We are on a pilgrimage, not a vacation. When we are on pilgrimage, we never complain about anything, because we are on a pilgrimage, not a vacation.” Repeating the chant and emphasizing certain words with the pilgrims provided a humorous way to set a tone.
Pilgrimages are rarely easy. They demand sacrifices, not just of time, but also of comfort. There’s a lot of walking, and at times, in difficult terrain. Weather does not always cooperate. And, let’s not forget the other pilgrims - who arrives to the bus late, who is in a rush, and who gets lost? Pilgrimages can test our patience!
At the same time, pilgrimages can be quite fulfilling, enjoyable, even fun. Generally, one meets good people from diverse backgrounds who share similar interests. One learns interesting things. Above all, one can encounter Jesus in a new way.
We recently began the Jubilee Year 2025, and Pope Francis has asked us to see ourselves as “Pilgrims of Hope.” You could say that life itself is a pilgrimage. We are all walking toward a holy destination – the Kingdom of God. The journey of life itself is part of the experience. We walk with one another, perhaps putting up with one another at times, but more importantly, walking in solidarity, and meeting Christ along the way.
As Pilgrims of Hope, the Holy Father asks us to listen attentively to one another, to learn from one another, to notice the needs and wounds of one another, and to lift or share the burdens of one another. That is a tall order, but isn’t that exactly what the Lord has done for us through the incarnation and His passion, death, and resurrection? Jesus came to live among us, and now, risen from the dead, He walks with us still. He patiently listens, gently teaches, and carries our burdens with us. He opens our eyes to the needs of those around us, especially those on the margins. How often were the disciples ready to move along, but Jesus stopped to notice someone along the edge?
Many New Yorkers remember Pope Francis’ Voyage to our city as a Pilgrim of Hope, his visit an extension of the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. At Madison Square Garden, he quoted the prophecy of Isaiah proclaimed each year at Midnight Mass: “The People who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” (Is. 9:1-2). He then told us plainly that Jesus Christ walks in our streets.
This message can give us great hope and confidence as we walk this pilgrimage of life. Yes, there is much darkness, but the light shines through the darkness. Knowing that Jesus walks with us reassures us daily, allowing us to face our own needs while seeing the world – and one another – through His eyes.