Christians are often referred to as a pilgrim people. Pilgrims travel
to holy places simply because they believe that, in that particular
place, God is revealed and experienced in a special way. Although a
pilgrimage is often made with the desire for some specific grace, at
the heart of the pilgrim’s search lies something more profound: a
pilgrim seeks the face and heart of God.
Perhaps we could think of the wise men as pilgrims. Like many of our
contemporaries, they were searching. However, these Eastern pilgrims
had a clear focus. They knew who they were looking for. The Gospel
reveals a few details about them: they study the stars (and studying
stars is in style today!); they have come a long way with all the
discomforts that travelling rough entails; they make detours and
receive some surprises; they are sensitive to other cultures while
treasuring their own; and they know how to taste the delights of the
journey. Maybe the most revealing quality about these pilgrims (and
perhaps this is what makes them so wise) is their capacity to
recognise the face and heart of a king in a small child.
Perhaps today as I reflect on these pilgrims from the East, I might
pray that I find Jesus in the place children love best: close to their
mothers.
ission
ommunities 
iturgical
Centres 
istory
ye
on Rome 
ideo
outh
Page 
elfless
seeds
orean
Community 
