Episode 2509: Strangers in the World - Nightly Episode

“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received
from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have
committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed
Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear
Guardian Angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor
sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen.”
"Strangers in the World, Trusting in the Crucified Christ"
Welcome to today’s episode, where we’ll be diving deep into the profound truths of Christian detachment from the world and our radical trust in God. In this journey, we’ll draw inspiration from the words of St. Cyprian, who reminds us of our call to live as strangers and pilgrims in the world, and from the beautiful testimony of Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, who speaks about the transformative power of trusting Christ in the most personal and profound way.
As Catholics, we live in a world that constantly pulls us toward comfort, distraction, and self-reliance. But our faith calls us to something deeper—something far more challenging, yet infinitely more rewarding. It calls us to give our “yes” not to the fleeting circumstances of the world but to Christ Himself, the One who sustains us and loves us beyond measure.
Let’s begin by reflecting on what it means to live in the world as pilgrims on a journey toward Heaven, and how the crucified Christ invites us to trust Him completely in every moment of our lives.
St. Cyprian tells us: "We have solemnly renounced the world and therefore, whilst we continue in it, we should behave like strangers and pilgrims." In this one line, St. Cyprian beautifully encapsulates a core truth of the Christian life. When we were baptized into Christ, we renounced the world and its empty promises. We became citizens of Heaven, no longer belonging to this world but journeying through it as pilgrims. Our destination is eternal life with God, and everything in this world must be seen in light of that ultimate goal.
But what does it mean to live as a "stranger and pilgrim" in the world? It doesn’t mean that we reject the goodness of God’s creation or the responsibilities of daily life. Instead, it means that we live with a detachment from the things of this world. We hold loosely to the comforts, possessions, and ambitions that can so easily distract us from our relationship with God. We recognize that while we are in the world, we are not of the world. Our hearts, our minds, and our souls are set on something far greater.
In a culture that emphasizes material success, personal comfort, and self-sufficiency, this can be a difficult way of living. But it is essential if we are to keep our eyes fixed on the eternal promises of God.
This brings us to the beautiful testimony of Sr. Faustina Maria Pia. She shares a moment of profound realization, saying:
"Looking at the crucifix in my room one Friday afternoon, a new courage came over me to finally stand in the truth of my profound need for God. Instead of feeling like a failure in His eyes, I was met with the realization that God wanted far more than to provide for my necessities. In these moments immediately prior to the inspirations to write the Litany of Trust, I had an experience which is impossible to capture in words. It was as if Jesus were gently lifting my chin to look at Him. It was as if He were saying, 'I don't want you to give your 'yes' to a set of circumstances but to Me.'"
Sr. Faustina’s encounter with Christ at the crucifix is a powerful reminder of the depth of God’s love for us and His desire for our total trust. So often, we look at our lives through the lens of our circumstances. We say to God, “If only this situation would change, I would have peace,” or “If I could just accomplish this, I would be happy.” But God doesn’t want our “yes” to be dependent on the changing tides of life. He wants our “yes” to be given directly to Him to the person of Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Sr. Faustina’s words remind us that in moments of struggle or failure, God is not disappointed with us. Instead, He invites us to trust Him even more deeply. He lifts our chin, as it were, to gaze upon Him crucified not as a distant figure of history, but as the living Christ who loves us personally, who suffers with us, and who offers us His peace. It is in this encounter with the crucified Christ that we find the courage to renounce the attachments of the world and embrace our identity as pilgrims journeying toward Heaven.
The Gospel echoes this call to trust: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). This is the ultimate invitation to live in radical trust and obedience. But Christ doesn’t leave us alone in this. He gives us the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, to help us live out this trust and keep His commandments even when the world seems to pull us in a thousand other directions.
In living as strangers and pilgrims, we do not live in isolation. We live with the deep awareness that Christ is with us, lifting our gaze to Himself, encouraging us to trust in His love and providence in every moment of our journey.
Conclusion:
As we reflect on these insights, we realize that the call to be pilgrims in this world is not a call to loneliness or uncertainty, but to a life of deep trust and peace. When we give our “yes” to Christ and not to our circumstances, we begin to experience the freedom that comes from detachment and the joy that comes from trusting in His love. The cross becomes not a symbol of defeat, but the greatest sign of victory and hope.
Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the One who walks with us through every trial, and who promises us that we are not alone on this journey.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of Your Son, who through His cross shows us the depth of Your love and mercy. Help us to live as strangers and pilgrims in this world, with hearts set on the eternal life You have promised us. Give us the grace to detach ourselves from worldly distractions and to trust in You completely. May we, like Sr. Faustina, experience the gentle invitation of Christ to give our “yes” to Him alone, not to fleeting circumstances. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, may we journey through this life with courage, hope, and trust, always looking to You for strength.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.