We’re on Our Way Home—3 Practices for Living as a Pilgrim

During ministry, there are numerous moments when I need to step back and remember this reality. A pilgrimage is not about comfort; it is about growth. A pilgrimage is not simply about the destination, nor is it merely about the journey.

A pilgrimage is about the ways the journey shapes us to fully receive our destination when we arrive.

Last year, watching the 2024 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage unfold and taking part in the opening events of the Marian Route, I came to this blunt realization which I took with me into prayer as the Perpetual Pilgrims made their way across the United States toward Indianapolis.

In a couple of days, on May 18, another group of young adult Perpetual Pilgrims will make a similar journey from Indianapolis to Los Angeles, where the Mass celebrating the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus will bring the three-year initiative of the National Eucharistic Revival to a close. Once again, my thoughts turn to how this small pilgrimage points us toward the larger pilgrimage of this life.

This metaphor is important. This witness is vital.

I find myself, too often, trying to make my current situation “my home.” I desire comfort and wish to settle down, finding peace where I am at. I want peace in my home, my job, and my relationships. But these are areas where change abounds and when I experience suffering and challenges to my comfort, I find myself angry at God. But then I must remember, I am not at home – not yet. There are challenges on the journey.

Other times, I become so focused on where I am going and my future that I forget to see the many ways that God desires to be present to me in this moment. I miss the places Jesus is in front of me in the poor and marginalized; I am numb to the presence of the Holy Spirit in the quiet and simple moments. I am frantic to “get where I am going,” without realizing the power of God where I stand.

Life is a pilgrimage. I’ve embraced this mentality and, though I struggle to live it every day, I am finding freedom comes when I can frame my world in this way. These are three practices I’ve taken up that allow me to be present without being stuck, and to look to the future without rushing through the present.

1. Momento Mori. You’ve likely heard the phrase before and perhaps it seems cliché or even morbid, but I take time each morning and evening to remember that, one day, I will die. This world is not my final destination. In the morning I ask myself, “Today, what do I need to do to live in a way that would make today worthy of being my last on earth?” At the end of each day, I reflect, “I may not wake up tomorrow; if I do not, am I ready to meet Jesus?” Often, these reflections drive me into prayer and often repentance. They keep me grounded in the true purpose of this pilgrimage – our final destination heaven. Death keeps us focused on that goal.
2. Practice Presence. A pilgrimage is about how we are transformed on the journey; we are moving closer to God (holiness) or further way from God (vice) as we live each day. We never remain spiritually stagnant, even if it feels that way sometimes. Being present on the journey is about recognizing the many ways that the Lord is drawing close to us in everyday moments. I practice presence by silencing notifications during the day, not allowing the noise of my phone to disturb being present to my family, my coworkers, and the tasks at hand. I find moments to stop and pray and, sometimes, to simply be still and recognize I am in God’s presence. Finally, I ask for the eyes to see Jesus in those I encounter – from the barista at the coffee shop to the displaced man on the highway exit. How would I treat my Lord if I met him in that moment? Would I be present enough to recognize him?
3. Go Farther with Friends. I can sacrifice friendships for the sake of work and ministry. There have been times in my life when I have neglected friendships in my life for the sake of “the mission,” but I realize now how foolish that was. I was once told, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others.” Pilgrimage is not a solo journey; it requires a community. We need people to hold us up when we struggle and others with gifts and talents that complement ours. I set aside time in my day and week to cultivate these relationships – I need these people in my walk of faith.

These are three simple steps I’ve taken to live more intentionally as a pilgrim, because I am merely passing through this life on my way home – but I wish to live each moment for all the beauty that God can place in it so that one day, when I pass from this life into the next, my heart is ready to be welcomed by our Lord.