Sermon by Rev. Kathy Johnson, 2-26-23
The Bible chronicles the birth and infancy of Jesus, then picks up for a few sentences when he was twelve. We know nothing about his life until it picks up at the time of his baptism by John, The Baptizer, his cousin. He is baptized in the Jordan River, and God spoke, declaring him God’s Beloved. At this point in the scripture, Jesus wanders in the desert before being tempted by the devil.
40 days may seem like a very long time to be wandering and fasting. I don’t know about you, but I really want to know: what Jesus did that whole time? And what was his fast like? Did he stay in silence, did he pray, did he listen to God? Did he walk, run or mostly stay put? Was it hot and dry, or did he find some oasis to get shade and water? Did he fast only during the day, or eat only one meal, and what did he eat and drink? How did he survive? Did he suffer?
And could I ever do something like that? And if I did, what would be the result?
When I say the word Camino, what comes to mind? The car? I suppose we could make this sermon about driving a Camino for 40 days in the desert. But, no, we are talking about a different Camino.
The Spanish word Camino is translated to the Way. This is what we are exploring today. The Way of pilgrimage.
On the Camino, there are many different paths to go, of varying lengths, but all arrive at the same destination.
It takes about 40 days and 40 nights to walk the pilgrimage from the French Pyrenees to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, where Saint James is buried. This became a thing during the Crusades. Today, the path is well worn, the lodging and food is dirt cheap, the countryside is mostly breathtaking, and people are very friendly. To complete it in forty days, you would walk 6 out 7 days for about 15 miles a day, totaling about 500 miles. You may wonder, why on earth would 300,000 people a year do this trek? And why would some people do it more than once? And is it similar to why Jesus would wander the desert for 40 days?
As you walk the Camino, since most of the pilgrims from all over the world are so friendly, you may have a chance to ask that question. In 2019, I was in Spain for a retreat followed by 3 days on the Camino. I learned that there are many reasons: some for exercise, some to grieve a death or end of a relationship, some to give themselves an impossible challenge to see if they could do it, and some to find God in the silence. Yes, this is no walk in woods with friends; the day of walking is in silence, with the occasional “Buen Camino” murmured to a passing pilgrim. Social time is after walking, in the afternoon or evening.
Has anyone here seen the movie, The Way starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez? Emilio plays the son, who died on the first day walking the Camino. His father, played by his real father Martin Sheen, could not understand why his son would do such an impractical thing as walking for a month. He went to pick up his son’s ashes, then impulsively decided to walk the rest. He was grieving, he did not understand, so he put himself in his son’s shoes and met him along the way, as if for the first time.
In this movie, I was very impressed by the story of one large man’s story. He was on the Camino because he was overweight and engaged to be married. He was walking to lose weight, to get in shape, and to transform before the wedding. The last night, after completing the journey, the transformation was complete. He had accepted who he truly was. He learned to love himself as he was, a very large man. And rather than starving himself to become someone different, he completed his dinner. With joy!
I have a desire to complete the Camino in 40 days and 40 nights, to be in silence with people, but in conversation with God. If I do, it would be next year. If you want to come, just let me know. Several of us are in the beginning stages of planning. Even if you want to just do a section, if you have a calling, call me.
The Camino is a symbol also, of the journey inside, or the journey of life here on earth, with the destination as individual as you are. Lent is a 40 day and 40 night journey. It is a symbol of life’s journey as well.
This past Wednesday, on Ash Wednesday, we looked at our humanity. We saw that we are not perfect. And we accepted that God does not expect perfection. God wants to be close to us, the way we would want a perfect parent to be. To guide, to nurture, to forgive and to love. Forgiveness was given, and we let go of the old us. We accepted the new and walked forward into Lent.
We are now in the wilderness. We have several weeks to fast, as Jesus did. In the Catholic tradition, fish is eaten on Fridays as a form of fasting. When I was a kid, I had friends who gave up something for Lent, like candy or a TV show. Adults might give up alcohol, a favorite food, complaining or smoking. This is the fast: to give up something for 40 days. In the fast, you will be tempted, as long as you fast from something you enjoy, of course.
Brain science tells us that a habit can be formed by doing something for at least 3 weeks, so if you complete your new habit for 40 days, you just might be changing your life! And if you do it reverently, with God in mind or with God’s help, this is also repentance, turning back toward God. Have you given up something for Lent?
This Lent, I pilgrimage every morning, meditating, reading scripture, painting and writing. I gave up some leisure time to be with God. I am fasting from earthly pleasures for a few hours a day, while listening for where my journey takes me next.
What is your Camino? What are you fasting from this Lent? If you haven’t made a commitment to yourself and God, you can do it now.
We know now of Jesus’ 40 day fast and wandering. We know about the Camino, at least a little bit. Let’s now turn our attention to Peace Pilgrim, a woman who was born in New Jersey in 1908. Here is a synopsis of her life, according to the website, peacepilgrim.org.
Peace Pilgrim grew up among a close-knit extended family on a poultry farm in Egg Harbor City, NJ. In 1953, she relinquished her identity and embarked on a 28-year pilgrimage for peace that touched many thousands of hearts, minds, and spirits.
· 1908: Born Mildred Lisette Norman on July 18, in Egg Harbor City, NJ, the eldest of three children.
· 1926: Graduated valedictorian of her Egg Harbor City high school class; began working as a secretary at Liberty Cut Glass Works in her home town. She also wrote, directed and produced plays for the local Grange.
· 1929: After fire devastated Liberty Cut Glass Works, secured secretarial job at Renault Winery in Egg Harbor City.
· 1933: Eloped with Stanley Ryder.
· 1938: Personal turning point; after walking all night in woods, began 15-year transition to life of service.
· 1938-1952: Slowly simplified her life, worked for peace organizations, hiked regularly. (In 1945, divorce finalized from Stanley Ryder, who had enlisted in the army against Mildred's wishes.)
· 1952: First woman to walk entire length of the Appalachian Trail in one season; had vision of herself as "Peace Pilgrim."
· 1953: Begins first cross-country pilgrimage on Jan. 1 from the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, CA., wearing a navy blue tunic with her new name.
· 1954: Completes 45-day fast.
· 1955: Begins second pilgrimage from San Francisco, CA. Walks at least 100 miles in each state, visiting each state capital. Also walks in Mexico and Canada.
· 1957: Walks 1000 miles in Canada, including at least 100 miles in each Canadian province.
· 1964: Completes 25,000 miles on foot for peace in Washington, D.C. Stops counting miles, but continues to walk for the next 17 years, going through 29 pairs of children's sneakers, averaging 1,500 miles a pair. (At that rate, she actually walked 43,500 miles!)
· 1966: Begins fourth pilgrimage.
· 1969 Begins fifth pilgrimage.
· 1973: Begins sixth pilgrimage.
· 1976: Through the generosity of a great admirer, visits Alaska and Hawaii for the first time.
· 1978: Begins seventh pilgrimage.
· 1979: Leads Alaska educational and inspirational tour in June.
· 1980: Leads Hawaii educational and inspirational tour in June.
· 1981: Formally nominated for Nobel Peace Prize by a group of church leaders from Memphis, TN in the spring. (She could not be considered posthumously.)
· 1981: Passes to "a freer life" near Knox. IN, on July 7, while on her seventh cross-country walk.
She was 83. Today, anyone can get free materials online at the website peacepilgrim.org. In 3 decades her book has been sent to over a half million people, and 2 million copies of her pamphlet have been distributed.
Here are some of her most famous quotes:
"This is the Way of Peace:
OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD, FALSEHOOD WITH TRUTH, AND HATRED WITH LOVE."
Her way of relationship of others: “Loving people, seeing the good in them, knowing that each one is important and has his or her job to do in the divine plan.”
“When enough of us find inner peace, our institutions will become peaceful and there will be no more occasion for war.”
"Live in the present.
DO THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE. DO ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN EACH DAY. THE FUTURE WILL UNFOLD.”
"Every good thing you do,
EVERY GOOD THING YOU SAY, EVERY GOOD THOUGHT YOU THINK, VIBRATES ON AND ON AND NEVER CEASES."
So today I leave you with this thought: you may not have the desire to emulate Peace Pilgrim or Jesus, by giving up every material item you own, then wandering the world teaching peace and God’s love to all. But this year, you have Lent, a 40 day time of passage, during which you can wander in your mind, take time out for a short while, and listen to God about how you can improve your one life.
You can walk your own Camino. Even if only for 40 days and 40 nights. You may be tempted by the devil along the way, tempted by wonderful food, riches and power, but you also may be able to turn away from them with humility, using inspiration from Jesus and Peace Pilgrim, to repent, turn toward God’s love, and live a life you can be proud of. May it be so. Amen.
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