People walk the Camino de Santiago (the Way St. James) for various reasons. Pilgrims follow the ancient path from France to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. Their goal is the tomb of St. James the Greater, killed in Roman Palestine by the order of Herod Agrippa in 44 CE.

James was among the first to follow Jesus, with his brother John. By tradition their mother was Salome, the sister of Mary, mother of Jesus. So James was a cousin of Jesus. In the resurrection accounts of Mark and Matthew, Salome was at the tomb on Easter morning.

James is considered the first Christian martyr. His body was buried in Spain where he had taught and served people in the name of Jesus, becoming much beloved. For over 1200 years pilgrims have gone to the tomb of St. James, praying on the way. Looking for healing, solace, encouragement, spiritual renewal, or to give thanks for a boon or blessing.

Non-pilgrim walkers on the Camino take the network of paths to Galicia for other reasons. Improvement of health. To collect another of the world’s epic trails. To distance themselves from broken relationship, or failed careers. To win a wager, or because they lost one. Some walk because the Way is there, and why not go?

The Camino is unpredictable. Weather can vary. Everything from searing heat to torrential rain, or ice and snow. There are shelters and guest lodgings, but the exposure is real, and dangerous.

Besides this, people also report unexpected experiences. Both the pilgrims and the secular walkers. Things that alter their minds, or stir up something in them – their heart, their spirit, or something for which they have no name.

The most common experience by far, seems to be the creation of a curiously diverse community. Even solitary walkers find themselves accompanied. Sometimes parting for days, only to meet again at some unplanned juncture.

Some people are drawn into conversation. Others walk in companionable silence. They are driven by the elements into shelter together. Some may regard one another with an edgy kind of mutual awareness, tolerated for the time being. It is a kaleidoscope of meeting and diverging according to some deeper wisdom that is only appreciable to those who have travelled the Way.

But long before the Camino, from the time of the life and death of Jesus people have known theses same experiences. People who followed Jesus in his travels and teaching (much as people “follow” someone on Facebook or Instagram) ranged from the curious, to the committed, to the adversarial. A really mixed bag of folks; at first mostly, but not only, Jews.

Jesus was arrested and murdered by the government in a very unsafe time. Roman rule counted on fear to drive people’s obedience to the State. Any opposition, even if largely verbal and unarmed, was addressed with officially sanctioned violence.

It was predictable that some Jesus followers would just fade away. It began to happen even before Jesus was arrested. Beyond the known disciples, there was no formal list of members or supporters. There was no church. Jesus led people in personal and spiritual renewal that was authentically Jewish. They had varying degrees of commitment, of relationship, and like or dislike for one another.

At the death of Jesus, people scattered. The women who had witnessed his crucifixion went home. The disciples went to their lodging in a Jerusalem house along with a handful of other unnamed followers. They began to plan their return to the lives they’d been leading before Jesus.

Judas was gone. Thomas was missing. The gospel of John words this in a way that suggests Thomas had distanced himself. Possibly with no intention of returning. If this is unfaithful, then what words would we use to describe Peter’s denial at the arrest of Jesus? Better not to go there.

People were in various states of joy, anger, hurt, oblivion, trauma, distraction, hyper-focus or whatever. Pilgrims, each on their own way, yet following some sort of collective urge. The Spirit of Jesus found them wherever they were.

Jesus said, “Peace be with you.” Shalom means a state of integrity, wholeness. Jesus addressed them in the plural. Shalom be with you all. This was a collective moment of meaning.

He said, as I was sent forth by the Father, I send you forth. A storm of violence and fear drove them into shelter. But staying there, was no way to live.

With their spirits so greatly diminished, Jesus breathed some of his own into them. Take this spirit and let it guide you. To let go when you should let go. To hold on when you need to hold on. They had history and needed mutual forgiveness. They also needed one another as allies and accomplices.

Jesus left them to dwell on his words as they let his spirit rest in them. He returned a week later. The others had reconciled with Thomas. But Thomas needed to confront Jesus. For letting him down. For abandonment and trauma. What friend and spiritual guide does that?

Thomas needed to ask Jesus, do you really know what it means to bleed and feel pain? Jesus showed him that he did. It was a healing moment for Thomas. You are the God I can honor.

John’s gospel is telling us something that we often overlook in our eagerness to analyze Thomas and unfaithfulness. Out of the shredded remains of people’s faith, and out of unfaith too, the Spirit of Jesus can summon something unexpected. Not an institution, but shalom.

Not a community of enslaved and divisive minds and hearts, but a community that brings good out of shared struggle, pain, fear, and bits of hope. On the El Camino, in hospitals and by gravesides, at schools, and parties, and on the ferry. This is the Way of Jesus found on the road after Easter. It is resurrection.