There are certain trails throughout the world that are famous for their long and demanding nature. Where I came from on the West Coast, the most notable is the Pacific Crest Trail, which -- just in the US portion -- stretches all the way from Mexico to Canada, and includes terrain rough and remote enough to challenge anyone’s fitness levels and survival skills. If one manages to complete the Pacific Crest Trail, it is an individual achievement greater than running the Boston marathon or scaling Mt Kilimanjaro.
Relying on Hospitality
There is, of course, a very long and famous trail associated with today’s Feast Day, El Camino de Santiago, the Way of St. James, but it is something very different. Reaching the end is not about being able to say, “I did this!!”, but about praying at the tomb of an Apostle. And all along the way, the experience is about surviving not by one’s own toughness, but by the hospitality received each evening in the hostels and the churches.
A good friend of mine once walked the Camino and one day found that her whole pack of clothes and gear had been infested with bed bugs. But that evening, she entered the home of a loving stranger who let her wash all her belongings and wash herself free of the pestilence. Even if one travels the Camino mostly alone, he will find himself part of a pilgrim community. In so many ways, an authentic walking of the Camino will be about losing oneself in order to find oneself. And, actually, the secret is that even the arduous survival trails like the PCT have these kinds of features: in the end, most folks who walk it find themselves relying on others; most find the experience to be more about growing in humility than achieving glory.
Growing in Humility
In today’s Gospel, James and John come to Jesus seeking glory. Jesus responds to them with the image of the Chalice, which symbolizes the unique suffering He will endure as the Messiah and the Savior of the world. Jesus prophesies that, indeed, James and John will one day drink His Chalice. But they will do so not as the unique Messiah, but as members of His Body. Their lives will become less about special achievement and recognition, and more about losing themselves for the sake of others, only to find life everlasting.
We as Christians are called to bring the joys and sorrows, the triumphs and the failures of our individual lives together as pilgrims, journeying along the Way that is Jesus. In each Mass, in the Bread and the Chalice, we find not only Food for our journey, but true Communion with each other through Him who makes us one.
- Father Charlie's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday–Friday. Consider inviting others to join, too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)