The word ‘pilgrim’ originally comes from the Latin meaning ‘foreigner’ or ‘stranger.’ I am intrigued by this idea of a pilgrim as someone who journeys through a foreign land, especially in light of our modern context in which more and more people are choosing to take a pilgrimage, particularly the Camino de Santiago. I think many pilgrims recognize that there is more in this world than what appears on the surface of the frenetic and isolated lives many of us live. Pilgrims are those who recognize that they are strangers in this world and set out in search of something greater. They seek something transcendent. They search for home. Pilgrims seek God.
This month I was blessed with the opportunity to join a group of young adults from the Diocese of Colorado at the start and conclusion of their pilgrimage on the Camino. I joined Bishop Carlos in leading them in a pilgrim’s blessing at the cathedral in Madrid as they began their pilgrimage. We offered prayers and a blessing, and we read the story of the road to Emmaus from the gospel of Luke and prayed that they too would meet Jesus on their journey. Then Bishop Carlos and I met the pilgrims again in Santiago at the end of their camino where we again offered prayers, this time joining in a celebration of the Eucharist to receive Christ’s presence in the sacrament. We were fortunate to be able to gather in an old Roman Catholic parish church, but such an opportunity does not exist for everyone who travels the Camino. As I joined in welcoming this group of pilgrims, I pondered the great opportunity for hospitality that would come with the establishment of the Anglican Center in Santiago, a place where all would be welcome and the Holy Eucharist would be available for all pilgrims who desire it. There is something deeply Biblical about the idea of a Center whose purpose is to welcome strangers, as the word ‘pilgrim’ suggests. The Anglican Center in Santiago can not only be a place of hospitality but also a place where those who have been earnestly seeking could find God.
The Rev. Patrick Keyser
The Diocese of Virginia
