The Pilgrim Way

Journeying in Expectation and in Hope

Lectionary Readings, Advent 1
Jeremiah 33.14-16; Psalm 25.1-10, 1 Thessalonians 3.9-13, Luke 21.25-36

Looking towards the East End Reredos
and window

Christianity is a future-oriented religion; standing at the back of St Andrew’s Church, Rugby (William Butterfield, architect) we notice how our hope is written in the stones of the building, in the way it tells its story. We look at Christ (as the one who is ascended into heaven) above the high altar. Our eyes are drawn to this image through the architectural sight lines – everything in the building’s bones draws us to this spectacle of Christ ascended into glory. William Butterfield resisted the tradition of displaying Christ on the cross on the reredos of the high altar, as is seen in so many examples of religious iconography across churches in the west. Rather, he prefers to show this in the glorious east end window. In so doing he places the suffering of Jesus on the cross within the context of the whole story of Jesus’ saving work. Each Sunday as people come to the high altar for the sacrament, they make a mini pilgrimage to this place of hope, literally practicing walking towards their eternal salvation.

We are in a time of waiting, which is also a promise.

The Jewish experience was one of longing and expectation – in the desert, they looked back to how God had saved them, but were literally walking forward to receive their full salvation. They recalled constantly that he was a God of mercy and compassion: ‘Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, for they are from everlasting’ – and that kept them moving in the faith.

The past is there for us to recall and be resourced by.

For us as Christians, we remain a pilgrim people, walking towards the promised future, constantly recalling the saving acts of Jesus to resource our present. We should travel lightly, not becoming too attached to anything.

The past story of the inauguration of our redemption in Jesus Christ is there for us to recall each Sunday as we remember his saving acts. But we don’t live in the past – we live in hope and expectation of a fully redeemed future. We are walking towards the promised land.

What impact should that have on how we live?

It should enable us to be a pioneering, creative and improvisatory religion – we have to adapt and be flexible. We don’t know what situations we will meet on the Way. If the Israelites had stopped in the desert and given up on their journey, they would never have reached the promised land. As Christians, we too must keep on walking – we are a pilgrim people of faith. That means we are expecting more – we want more – we hope for more. We are not stuck in the past, nor constrained by the possibilities of the present, we are straining forward for the realisation of all that has been promised: ‘See, I am doing a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it!’.

Everything good and true does not come from the past – there is much more to come. In John’s Gospel – Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth:

‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth’.

This should make us people who are hopeful and joyful – God has more to give us! God has more to teach us! We have not only been blessed by Jesus, but there is more!

Hope and joy should characterise Christians – as we know that the present world is only a foreshadow of what is to come. We are people who in the midst of all the sin and suffering in the world are called to be living signs of hope.

We live fully in the present, knowing that this world is blessed and redeemed, but that full redemption will occur at the end of time. And so we don’t place all our hope in the present.

Apocalyptic literature can make us feel frightened with its bizarre imagery and focus on judgment; but judgment from one who has revealed himself as the suffering servant, merciful redeemer, light of the world, Resurrection and the Life, should not be feared:

‘Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’

There is nothing to fear from a saviour like this. God the Father has appointed him judge of all the world. So, wherever we are on our journey of life we remain expectant and watchful, ready for when he comes. Advent as a season is a perfect metaphor for the life of a Christian: we wait in hope, being resourced by the past, walking courageously to our futures.