Ultreia et Suseia

"Buen Camino." I'm guessing you've said this a few thousand times by now. You may have even heard "Ultreia et suseia." Translated from Latin, it means "further and higher." It's the medieval greeting along the Camino wherein one pilgrim would greet another with "Ultreia," or further, and the other pilgrim would respond with "Et suseia," and higher. It is a fitting greeting, expressing both the physical need to keep going and the spiritual reality. That we're not just out for a nice long walk, but we are submitting ourselves to pilgrimage to be changed, to grow and to know God. The apostle Paul expresses this idea perfectly. In his letter to the Philippians, he says, but whatever gain I had, I consider as loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I consider it all rubbish in order that I might obtain him. Ultreia et suseia. The object of further and higher here matters. Of course, it's not enough just to keep going. What if I'm obnoxious? Obviously I wouldn't want to continue being obnoxious. Paul's focus is to be like Jesus. Pilgrimage for pilgrimage sake matters little, but the person in the character of the pilgrimage says everything. For James, Jesus mattered and He's everything for us too. As we journey on, let us be encouraged by Paul's words. Not that I have already obtained all this or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it, but one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians three, eight through 14.