Today’s homily was given in Spain while Fr. Michael walked part of the Camino – the ancient pilgrim path to the final resting place of St. James the Apostle, with a group of 34 people – the youngest was 12 and the oldest 78. Some were in great shape (two marathon runners), but others were not well prepared for the rigors of walking 15 or more miles per day for nine straight days. The accompanying imagery comes from Fr. Michael and others who made the journey with him.
The 4 Dimensions of the Camino are the physical, the emotional, the intellectual and the spiritual. These dimensions exist in our ordinary daily lives, but are magnified during the rigors and stress of a long journey.
Fr. Michael reminds us that it isn’t simply enough to make the journey. Each dimension of the journey must fit into our own sense of meaning and purpose or else it is nothing more than a long and arduous path.