From the Camino: While walking the Portuguese Camino I came upon a German couple who almost never walked together. He carried no backpack and walked very quickly for stretches, pulling well beyond his wife, and then he would stop to wait for her. She came along behind, carrying a backpack. I saw them do this over and over, leaving me quite puzzled. As it turned out, I learned that only she was actually making a “pilgrimage.” He only accompanied her for the exercise.
On the Northern Camino I encountered a wonderful, chatty Spanish father-daughter duo, who were walking for just a week in the Basque country just to have the time together before she went off to college in the Fall.
At the beginning of the Primitivo I met an American woman who had long strips of material hanging from her pack, covered with badges, containing the names of cancer survivors she knew. She was walking to remember, cherish and raise awareness.
At about the same time I met a man from Mallorca who walked the Primitivo almost every year with deeply religious motivations.
And then there I was, also walking, finding quiet time to steep, at length, in the holy presence of God.
Each of us heard our own call to the Camino. Perhaps you do too?
From the life of St. James, Mark 1:14b-20 – “Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: 15 “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” 16 As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 18 Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. 19 He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. 20 Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.”
From the life of St. James, Luke 5:10-11 – “10 Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men and women.” 11 When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.”
For reflection: In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ begins his public ministry with proclamation of the Kingdom, but before he does any great works, establishing his identity, he calls Peter and Andrew, then James and John. It’s remarkable that they immediately take leave of their livelihood, father and companions, to accept Jesus’ invitation to follow him.
There is no indication that they had ever met Jesus before that moment in the text. Was it rational to follow him? Luke apparently found Mark’s version too disturbing, and changes the order of events, placing the cure of Peter’s mother-in-law, which is after the summons in Mark, before it in his own Gospel, giving the three men a tangible, experiential reason for responding to Jesus’ invitation. In Mark, though, there is an irrational element, perhaps dependent on Jesus’ own charismatic presence, so persuasive that the three men say “yes” to the call.
The summons to pilgrimage is like that. For some, in Lukan fashion, there are crystal clear reasons for pilgrimage. For many others, it’s more Marcan and ambiguous. Is it rational to give up a week, a month, a couple of months to walk massive distances on pilgrimage? As most of the pilgrims are not long distance through hikers, long walking journeys are not something done for any other reason. What is the charismatic appeal of the Camino that summons us from our livelihood, our families and companions?
Have no doubts, whatever combination of elements touches and prompts you most. It is most certainly an invitation from Jesus to follow and walk with him, to learn from him and to allow that experience to reshape your entire life.
Luke’s version is quite different in other ways (see Luke 5:1-11). The most important element of that version is the leaving of things, not just relationships, but absolutely everything behind. That, too, is part of the Camino experience, as we learn how little it takes, materially, to survive and find happiness.
It might be graced to actually take this invitation of Jesus to follow him into your prayer. Envision the Lord coming upon you in the midst of everyday activities and people. He calls you by name, and then says, “Follow me.” Consider your response, your inner thoughts and questions. What do you think? How do you feel? What do you ask? What do you declare? Who and what must you leave behind? Can you see yourself in Jesus’ company on his journeys? What is it that you want? What do you do?
