Ending at the Beginning

One Monday we made it to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.  We got our credencial's stamped and I was able to attend daily mass this evening.  A great way to end the beginning of this pilgrimage.   In the past 6 days we walked from Lourdes to  Louvie-Juzon. From there we made it to Oloron Sainte Marie and then on to Aren.  From Aren to Mauleon-Lichare and then to St Just Ibarre.  Finally, from. St Just Ibarre to here.  We walked about 90 miles in 6 days. 

Saint Jean Pied de Port is where many different French Camino's converge, and then move towards Compostela de Santiago.  This is a major pilgrimage destination for those walking the Way of St James, as it is in Compostela that the remains of St James are buried.  In this context, the way points to a path and a journey, for some pilgrims it is an achievement, a badge of accomplishment.  

What is the Way of St James?  In Acts 9:2 St Luke tells us that Saul (later St Paul)  had letters from the Sanhedrin to bring back any men or women of "The Way" in chains to Jerusalem.  "The Way" was an early name for the church, which is the community of men and women who shared their faith with that of the Apostles, in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who suffered, died and rose from the dead.  This aligns with St John's Gospel where Jesus says that He is "the way, the truth and the life", and the only way to the Father.

Later in the Acts of the Apostles (chapter 12) we learn that St James the Greater, was beheaded by Herod who was king of Jerusalem at the time.  Therefore,  "the way" of St James is the to have the same faith as him, a faith we express in the creed at Mass.  

Being a pilgrim on "The Way" means to take the teachings of Christ to heart.  To be in the world but not of the world.  To live our lives as an invitation to others to see the love and forgiveness that is our path to conversion.   To be aware of the depth of God's love for us, and in response to that love to live a life of conversion, learning day by day to love as Christ loves.