Daily Reflections ...

Recently, we saw the latest Camino movie, The Way, My Way. There’s a comical scene early on when the obsessive pilgrim to be insists on a particular staff that looks the part, rather than the well-advised walking poles. Likewise, when his pack is way over the recommended proportion of his body weight, his exasperated wife suggests tampering with the scales. Our pilgrim eventually works out that ‘miracles happen every day on the Camino’ and that self-revelatory conversations are among these. Pilgrim journeys are a theme in writings including The Pilgrim’s Progress, Dante’s Divine Comedy, the morality play Everyman and the autobiography of St Ignatius Loyola. Some statues of Ignatius depict him as a pilgrim with one foot raised, moving into new lands and cultures, ready to step forward in response to human need and suffering.

Today’s Gospel sees Jesus pair the disciples and send them out preaching repentance, just like their Teacher and his precursor, John the Baptist did. They are equipped only with walking staff, sandals, a single tunic and acceptance of hospitality when offered. Travelling light indeed. Their mission is affirmed, and their authority over the unclean spirits is given them, by the Lord.

That they “anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them” is a reminder of Pope Francis’ call for our church communities to have the detachment and the capacity to be field hospitals where the hungry, sick, lonely, thirsty and un-listened-to ones are healed in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

by Peter Webb