Pilgrims of Hope: facing the future with faith

“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’

And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than a light, and safer than a known way.’”

This quotation from the poem ‘God Knows’ by Minnie Louise Haskins (1875-1957) seems very appropriate as we turn our face firmly towards this new year, close out the Jubilee Year of Hope, and – during this same week – celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany.

The Magi left behind their familiar world and set out on a long journey into an unknown land.  They were sustained by the joy of believing that a new and mysterious star would guide them to the newborn king. They were pilgrims of hope – a hope that they cherished not just for themselves or on behalf of their own people, but was rooted rather in their belief that the child Jesus was someone of great significance for all humanity.

As we mark the closure of the Jubilee Year of Hope, we look back with profound gratitude on all those people who have inspired us – and continue to inspire us – to believe that generosity is more rewarding than greed, courage is greater than fear, and the light of God’s love can quench the darkness of indifference. During this past year, through our encounters with people whose lives exemplified quiet dedication to serving others, patient persistence in the face of adversity, and a continuous commitment to broadening their circle of friends, the reservoir of hope within our hearts was expanded and deepened.

During 2025, I was truly blessed to have encountered several people in Peru and Britain who helped refill my reservoir of hope, even though most of whom were totally unaware that they were doing so.

I spent the first half of last year in an economically deprived area on the outskirts of the city of Lima in Peru, where the dedication, sacrifice, and spontaneous joy of the people touched my heart on numerous occasions. In the face of so many obstacles, I was particularly inspired by the commitment of older women – many of them grandmothers – to supporting their extended family and caring for their community.

I spent the second half of last year ministering to vulnerable migrants in Birmingham. Most of them were young adults who had fled their home countries out of fear or desperation, had endured many hardships on their journey to Britain, and whose future was filled with uncertainty.  Despite such heavy burdens, the vast majority of them clung to the hope of making their home here, continuing their education, and contributing to the future prosperity of this country. Moreover, they knew how to appreciate little things and to celebrate small steps on their ongoing journey of life.

During these past six months here in Britain, I have also been inspired, encouraged and supported by several people who are dedicating themselves to restoring and protecting Our Common Home. In the face of the refusal by some to accept that ongoing human activity impacts our climate in significant ways, and the indifference by others to the destruction of so many species of animals and birds, plants and insects, my encounters during an eco-retreat with about forty Christians from various denominations renewed my hope in the power of the gospel to act as yeast in renewing both our world and our planet.

As we conclude the Jubilee Year and move into this New Year, we Christians will surely be called upon again and again to draw from our reservoirs of hope in order to respond to the daunting challenges facing our world. As yeast in the world, our small numbers ought not deter us from striving to promote the common good for all people and for all other forms of life in our Common Home. As pilgrims following in the footsteps of the Magi, while we don’t know what the future holds, we do know who holds the future, and that is what will enable us to remain steadfast in our hope as we re-commit ourselves to sharing the joy of the gospel with all creation throughout 2026.