Calvary Pilgrims

“We must never forget that we are pilgrims journeying alongside one another. This means that we must have sincere trust in our fellow pilgrims, putting aside all suspicion or mistrust, and turn our gaze to what we are all seeking: the radiant peace of God’s face. Trusting others is an art and peace is an art.”

(Evangelii Gaudium §244)

It is almost Easter, but the resurrection morning is preceded by the journey to Calvary and the eventual crucifixion and death of Christ.

Interestingly, despite doctrinal differences and liturgical varieties, Easter is not an exclusive celebration of any one Christian community or denomination. Easter belongs to all of us. The resurrection is at the foundation of our faith. Without the resurrection, we cannot proclaim Christ as God, neither would the movement started by Jesus have seen the light of the day.

But to access Easter, the trip to Calvary remains very important. As Jesus was moving up to the place of his death, he had different kinds of people who followed. He ate his last supper even with the person who eventually betrayed him. He knew about the traitor but still ate with him. Some abandoned him along the way. Some denied him when it mattered. But some stayed on, particularly those who were not even considered as part of the ‘inner caucus’. Peter was never mentioned at the burial. James was never to be seen at the foot of the cross.

What does this tell us? No one can claim utmost fidelity to God as if he or she alone has access to God, and as if it all depends on him or her. It is the grace of God that leads us on. All of us, in our failures and brokenness, in our limitations and shortcomings, are fellow pilgrims in search of the radiant face of God. We should therefore not be distracted by distrust and suspicion of one another. It is not our job to spend time in negativities towards the other. Our responsibility towards fellow pilgrims is to re-present to them the face of Christ, the meek and gentle one, the humble and righteous one, the peaceful and loving one, the one who paid the ultimate price for others.