…and I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven…

This last week and a half has been quite busy, hence how quiet the blog has been.  However, if you would permit an indulgence to me, I would like to skip Turin, Lourdes, Avignon, and Orvieto to talk once again about Saint Peter.

February 22 is the feast of the Chair of Peter.  Technically, this celebrates Peter’s first see in Antioch, and subsequently his moving to be head of the Church in Rome.  Ever since the time of Constantine, this feast has been celebrated in Rome with solemnity.

Today, the solemnity continues.

The altar of the Chair of Peter, Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican

Many of us recognize the alabaster Holy Spirit window in Saint Peter’s Basilica.  This window is part of a massive structure which houses a wooden chair (probably 6th century or earlier) which used to be used by the Popes.  Although not the cathedra of the Pope, it is symbolically the Chair of Peter.

Today, uniquely in the entire year, this chair is lit by a very large number of candles.  Every candle around the Pope’s high altar, in front of the confessio below that same altar, and (as above) all these candles around the altar of the chair and around the chair itself.  It is quite a sight!

The feast of the chair celebrates Peter’s unique role as the supreme pastor, as Christ at Caesarea-Philippi promised him the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, commanded him at the Last Supper to “strengthen your brothers (i.e. the other apostles)”, and finally gave him supreme pastoral authority after the Resurrection at the Sea of Galilee.

This statue in the basilica is also quite familiar to many Catholics.  However, this day it looks quite different from normal.  Usually, Peter is simply sitting dressed as he would have looked in the first century, holding the keys symbolic to his office and his right hand blessing those who pass by.  Today, Peter’s office is remembered, and he has all the vestments typical of the Pope.

And so, today I went to Mass at the altar of the Chair, and we prayed especially for Pope Benedict, who is on retreat this week.  I also prayed for every member of the Church.

May we always be faithful to Christ, who willed that Peter should guide and strengthen us in our faith.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem

Monday, February 15

As I leave Jerusalem, I am actually a bit sad.  I’ve grown to love this strange city and this entire land, and I wish I could stay at least another week here in Jerusalem to get to know her holy sites more.

But, it is time to go.  I’ve had a good time here, and I know that God has given me many graces from this utterly unique experience – above all a love for Scripture and the history of the people whom he came to visit 2000 years ago.  I am certain that these memories will be with me forever, especially every time I pray the Liturgy of the Hours and the psalms and readings remind me of the many places I have been, and how God made himself known in them.

And one day, hopefully soon, I wish to return again to this place, to be once again with our mother, the land where Jesus himself walked and lived.  I will certainly allow this experience influence how I tell people about everything in Scripture and the history of salvation, and I would love to bring people here to see for themselves how God has visited his people.

But, it is time to go. 

 

This week I will be travelling to Turin, Avignon, and Lourdes.  Next week, I will be in Rome.  Finally, I will be making a retreat in Ars, the city of Saint John Vianney.  I’ll keep you all posted.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Friday, February 12, 2010

Today began like most other days here at the Notre Dame Center – Breakfast, Morning Prayer, Mass. However, unlike most other days, there were no classes. All of us were finished with Father Peter Damian’s examination (and none of us were skinned alive!), and some of us were even done with Father Baima’s paper. This left us today to relax and enjoy ourselves, affording us the possibility to do some last minute shopping, as well as one last round to the holy sites in Jerusalem.

During the day, I made rounds to some of my favorite places to pray. I returned to Dormition Abbey, where Mary “fell asleep” before being assumed into heaven. The church, and especially the crypt, can be one of the quietest places to pray in all of Jerusalem.

After spending some time here, I began a quick walk to the opposite corner of the old city in order to participate in the Franciscan-led stations of the Cross (Via Dolorosa). Quite frankly, I didn’t know what to expect. I arrived at the site of the first station, where Jesus was condemned to death, and found myself at the back of an immense sea of people, all who were there to follow Jesus to Calvary and the tomb.

There isn’t much like trying to do the stations of the cross during the day in Jerusalem. Even being part of such a large group, the shopkeepers still didn’t hesitate to try and get us into their shops to make a deal. I have wondered what the path was like for Jesus; was it business as usual in Jerusalem as the Messiah was being led to his death?

After a while, we arrived in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in which stations 10-14 occurred. I didn’t climb to Golgotha due to the crowd being so large, but I could still hear the friars leading the group. It is amazing how quiet people can be in front of so great a mystery.

Calvary

After the stations concluded at the tomb, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from this very spot, another procession began in the Church. This time, the Franciscans venerated the various altars within the Church and all the things they commemorate – from the finding of the true Cross by St. Helen, the pillar at which Christ was scourged, to Calvary, the stone he was laid upon to prepare him for burial, the burial in the tomb, the Resurrection (at which point the music became as Easter Sunday morning), and the appearance to Mary Magdalene. So many things, all of which happened here, and nowhere else.

 
The Sepulchre

For me, it was a long day. I had plenty of other work to do, but nothing compares to this experience, which is so precious in a person’s life. Other work can wait.

Christ is truly Risen, alleluia

Let us rejoice and be glad, alleluia!

When the Sabbath was over…

Sunday, 7 February 2010

Today we celebrated Sunday, the memorial of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, here in Jerusalem. After having a number of full days with classes and tours, we were all quite thankful for the opportunity to have the schedule clear for the day, so that we could observe our Christian Sabbath devoutly.

In our freedom, many of us went our various ways for Mass. Some went to the Holy Sepulchre for the Franciscan Mass at the tomb early in the morning on Sunday. Others went to the Church of the Dormition of Mary, which is near the Upper room. Still others went to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. Still more went to the Armenian Catholics, the Melkites (Greek Catholics), or the other local churches to be with the local Church.

I really appreciated being able to spend the day just going through Jerusalem and imagining what it must have been like on that Sunday morning 2000 years ago when the women went to the tomb and heard the message that Jesus had risen from the dead.

The Sabbath and the Resurrection. I am amazed at how much this city shuts down on Friday afternoon in preparation for the Sabbath. There truly is so little happening on Saturday! It’s actually quite easy to walk around, although most every business is closed. I imagine what the legal requirement of observing the Sabbath meant for the apostles, and the rush they had to have the body of the savior buried before the sun set. After the Sabbath, they received the most joyful news ever heard by any human being, and around them the world was just working as a normal day. No wonder the Christians of the first century celebrated the Sabbath on Sunday!

So, we celebrated our Sabbath today. Most of us spent it reading and studying for the finals of the upcoming week and gearing up for our final week before leaving Jerusalem.

Before the cock crows

As some of you know, the apostle Peter has always held a special place in my heart.  Today’s reflection will focus on that dark night, where his faith was shaken.

“I will give my life for you.”  In the upper room, Peter still didn’t understand what Jesus meant when he said that he was going to suffer, and soon Peter would see it with his own two eyes.  Jesus knew his faith was soon to be shaken, and said, “Tonight, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.”

Olive tree; rock where Jesus prayed

Then they went from there, across the Kidron valley to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed and sweat dropped from him like blood, where the apostles fell asleep, and where Jesus was arrested.  Peter didn’t keep watch with Christ, and now he was watching helplessly while Jesus was arrested.

Saint Peter in Gallicantu (lit. “Cockcrow”)

So, they go back across the valley to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, which was near the upper room.  And there, Peter’s faith failed.  “I do not know the man.”  It was undeniable – even his Galilean accent gave him away.  And yet, he denied him, and when the cock crowed, he knew what he had done.

One thing I could have never realized if I weren’t standing there is that Peter, at this moment, had a choice.  From this property, it isn’t too far up to Calvary.  From here also, I first looked down into Gehenna (Ger Hinnom:  valley on the west side of ancient Jerusalem; symbol for hell), and also saw the Potter’s field, where Judas was headed to hang himself.  Peter was halfway between dying with Christ, which he swore he would do, and dying away from him.

 
Monastery in Gehenna, with Potter’s field inside property

However, he did not loose hope.  He could not bring himself to follow Christ after denying him, but he couldn’t forget his words earlier that night, “I have prayed for you, Peter, that your faith may not fail.  And when you have turned back to me, strengthen your brethren.”

So he went back to the upper room with the rest of the disciples.  No wonder he was one of the two who ran to the tomb on Easter morning.

Back to business

Greetings, everyone!

Sorry for my long delay.  After the walk through Jerusalem, some of us began to fall ill, and I eventually became one of them.

In any case, we still have one week left in Jerusalem before leaving the Holy Land.  I will try to get some photos up of the city and the Holy Sepulchre sometime this week.  Otherwise, I’ll be in class and studying and writing for the two finals we have this week.

Last week, we did get the chance to see an exhibit on the Shroud of Turin housed here at the Notre Dame Center, where we are staying.  The Shroud is a fascinating mystery to science and to faith.  Since I will be going to Turin, I will write something on the actual shroud then.

In the meantime, please keep me in prayer.

Walk through Jerusalem

Thursday, 28 January, 2010

Today, we entered into another level of pilgrimage – we embarked on foot to see the old city of Jerusalem.

After Mass and breakfast, we began our day at Damascus gate, the gate in the northern wall.  At the Damascus gate, we could see the excavation which reached about 40 feet below us to the ancient Roman first-century road.  From ancient times, the main road north-south through Jerusalem began at this spot, and it is from here that Saint Paul (still called Saul) set out on the journey that would radically change his life.   And, after 2000 years, we who are children of the Gentiles to whom he preached returned to this gate to remember the events which we have heard.

From here, we walked south, through the road which followed the valley separating Jerusalem’s two hills east and west.  We were walking through the Islamic quarter, and saw the street which was the central market during the Turkish period.  We saw remnants of Crusader arches and streets, as well as Roman arches and some of the pavement which was set by King Herod.  As we continued down the hill, we walked back through 2000 years of history.

Then, after going through some security, we began our ascent of the Temple Mount.  Although not able to enter the buildings, we were able to get a sense of what it must have been like during the first century, and how many people would have been up near the temple during Passover.

From here, we went down to the Western Wall plaza, where Jews pray toward until today.  We also took some time to pray at the wall.  Thursday was Bar-Mitzvah day, so we saw a number of 13 year old boys becoming Jewish men by reciting the Torah and promising to live it.  It was quite impressive to see how joyous all the people were during these massive celebrations!

From here, we continued to walk down the slope to see the City of David.  We saw the ruins of the ancient royal palace, which at David’s time was the highest point in Jerusalem, only to loose its place to the temple built by his son Solomon.

Finally, we went to the Gihon spring which fed the ancient city.  This spring was channeled into the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus healed a blind man.

At this point, we were at the lowest point in ancient Jerusalem, and we began our ascent back to the top of the western hill, past the ancient royal acropolis, into the western wall plaza, up what seemed like 300 stairs to the Jewish quarter, up towards the Christian quarter, where we had a late lunch.

Being Christian unity week in Jerusalem, tonight the Benedictines from Dormition Abbey hosted vespers in the Upper Room, where on another Thursday night Jesus had instituted the Eucharist and the priesthood, where he also gave them the sacraments of Reconciliation and Confirmation.  So, although the day had already been long, a number of us went across the hill, back to the other side of Jerusalem, to pray.

Finally, after a long day, we all returned to the Notre Dame center, very worn out from a full day of walking up and down the hills of Jerusalem.

Take up your cross

This is a post I prepared a while ago, but never got around to posting.  I don’t have any pictures yet, but I’ll add them in a later post.

 

This morning, I found myself waking up to my alarm at 4:00 am.  I wondered to myself why I was getting up at such an early hour.  I thought of the three of us who chose not to sleep all night, but rather stay awake praying in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

I guess I shouldn’t complain so much.  I was, after all, going to carry my cross with Christ

At 4:30, we planned to take off from the Notre Dame center to walk the Via Dolorosa, or way of the Cross – the very path which Jesus walked.  However, our plans were diverted because of a torrential thunderstorm, which had lasted through the night and flooded parts of the Old City.  It was decided that a more prayerful experience of the stations could be had in the chapel of the place we are staying.

Afterwards, we all went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to celebrate Mass on Calvary, the very place where Jesus died.  And, as Father Baima reminded us in his homily, we remembered not only that Jesus died here, but that when the women came, they were told that he was not here – and this dynamic is what gives Christian life its meaning.

Like the women at the tomb, I think I learned the most important lesson shortly before dawn.

Mount Nebo

And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. And the LORD said to him, "This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there." So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.  (Deuteronomy 34:1-5)

 

Today, we had the privilege of traveling to the Kingdom of Jordan and going atop Mount Nebo and seeing the Holy Land.  Although there were a few clouds in the sky and we couldn’t see all the way to the Mediterranean, the view of the promised land was none the less breathtaking.  From the top of the mountain, we could see the Dead Sea, Jericho, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and into the Galilee.  Moses could see everything from desert to green, lush vegetation, as well as a lake and a great sea. What an amazing land God was giving to the children of Israel!

Yet, God did not allow Moses to enter into the promised land.  Deuteronomy ends with Moses having to make an act of faith, faith that God would continue to provide for his people after they crossed the Jordan River.  Moses gave his entire life to leading the people of God, and he himself would not enter into the land promised to them.

After celebrating Mass honoring the memory of Moses, and how everything promised through him was fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, we proceeded to the ancient church in Madaba, home of the world’s oldest map of the Holy Land.   This map from the sixth century was the floor of the original church.  It showed accurately the location of a number of holy pilgrimage sites, many of which had been lost until this mosaic was discovered.

It was just amazing to be standing in the presence of such history.  1400 years ago, pilgrims came to this very church and pointed to the mosaic to places they wanted to go.  And here we were, continuing in their footsteps.

May God give us the grace to continue to follow in the footsteps of all who have gone before us – both the Israelites who first came into the land, and the pilgrims who have come to worship before us.

He set his face to Jerusalem

Today many of us were saddened, for we had to leave our home in the Galilee, a beautiful land full of life and full of memory from the time when our Lord Jesus Christ lived and preached here.

So, united with Jesus, we set our faces toward Jerusalem, where we would go to remember his suffering and death.

 

Along the way, we visited the crusader fort at Belvoir, overlooking the Jordan valley.  Even after the Ottomans took control over the rest of the Holy Land, the knights in this fort held out for another two years.  It was quite impressive to look out over the beautiful countryside, as well as to explore the ruins of this large fort, where king of the mountain and paintball couldn’t escape our imaginations.

 

 

Afterwards, we visited the Jewish village of Beit Alfa.  Here we had the privilege of seeing a mosaic floor of a sixth century AD synagogue, which was uncovered by Jewish settlers in the last century.  This floor had an inscription explaining how such a magnificent work found its way into a poor community’s synagogue.  Father Baima also told us to remember the central floor pattern, for we would be seeing it again….

 

Entering into the Judean desert, we made our way once again to the ancient city of Jericho.  We prayed near the foot of the Mount of Temptation, where Satan tempted Jesus at the beginning of his ministry.  We also had the privilege of celebrating the  Mass at the Catholic parish in Jericho, named after Christ the Good Shepherd.  The stained glass windows reminded one about Zacchaeus, who climbed a tree in Jericho to see Jesus, and of the Good Samaritan, who was on his way to Jericho in the story.

 
Mount of Temptation

The church in Jericho reminds us that Christ came to seek those who were lost.  The basilica in Nazareth is shaped as a lighthouse to help the lost find their way to the light of the world.  And there we were, following that light to Jerusalem, where he was raised as a sign to all nations, and where he saved all mankind.

The Beatitudes

First, I awoke early to watch the sunrise.

 

Today was a special day for us.  After having run for what seemed so long a time through Galilee, we were able to take a day to pray.

And what better place to do it than where Jesus taught his disciples to pray

The Mount of the Beatitudes!

 

If there is one thing I will remember from my time in the Galilee, it will be a lesson from the Sermon on the Mount.

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day. (Matthew 6: 25-34)

Seeing the natural world here – the very birds and flowers and fields which Jesus used as example – why should I need to worry about anything.

Utter trust in God.  the grass doesn’t toil, the hyrex I saw in the morning seemed to be doing fine.  Why should I do anything but be thankful to God and love him in return for my very being?

 
A hyrex

You are Peter

During our stay in the Galilee, we visited three sites where Peter emerges as an important figure.

Letters are from map on last post.

 

C.)  Capernaum

At the time of Jesus, Simon Peter lived in Capernaum.  It was here that Jesus healed his mother-in-law, and probably here that he stayed while in this part of Galilee.

In the Byzantine period, a hexagonal church was built over the site of Peter’s house.

Of all the holy sites in the Holy Land, there are six which are of (nearly) undisputed veracity as determined by archaeology and history.  Peter’s house is one.

At these places, Christians had devotion even in the first century.

Today, Capernaum has been excavated, and a new octagonal church has been built, floating above the original church.

 

F.)  Caesarea – Philippi (Banyas)

As far north as Israel ever extended, here Jesus and the twelve escape from the crowds to this non-Jewish area, having only been added to Herod’s territory by the Emperor in Rome a few decades earlier.  This place is one of the sources of water for the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River and so, gives life to all of Israel.

And here, in what was a pagan shrine and is today a beautiful park, a man for the first time since Adam recognized God present before him.  “You are Christ, the Son of the living God!”

And it is here that Christ promised the Church – to be built on the faith of Peter, a faith which even the powers of hell would never defeat.

I wonder sometimes if we really believe this promise of Christ.  We put so much trust in things of this world, in companies, nations, people, and yet the only thing promised by God tat would remain is his Church.  Of course, she isn’t perfect – as Peter proved moments later.  When Jesus first announced that the Christ would go to Jerusalem to suffer and die – right after Peter’s confession – Peter failed to believe.

And from here, Christ began his final move to Jerusalem.

 

B.  Primacy of Peter (next to Tabgha)

I hope most of us know the story from John 21.  After the resurrection, the apostles return to the sea to fish.  They catch nothing.  And Jesus appears to them.  They make the great catch, and they recognize the Lord.

The place Christ was, where he had the fire and some fish already cooked for them.

I reflect on this passage of scripture, and I think it answers the question “What difference does Christ make?”   The four fishermen should know how to fish, but they cannot catch anything.  They have tried to return to a life they thought they knew – their life before Christ – and find it empty, fruitless, and futile.

And once again, Jesus breaks into the scene and fills them with an abundance of what they need.  He is ready to feed them (and doesn’t even need their fish to do so).  He also lets them participate in his catch of fish, reminding them of his promise from the beginning “I will make you fishers of men.”

Altar of the Primacy of Peter

And so, with the apostles gathered around him, once again remembering how their relationship with Christ has changed them, and knowing they will never be the same, Christ speaks to Peter.

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

During the passion, Peter denied Christ three times.  Now, he three times affirms his love.  And Christ fulfills the promise given to Peter, and makes him the chief shepherd of the flock.  Here.

Jesus was walking by the sea….

On the Sea of Galilee

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What an amazing last few days we have had!  In less than a week, our group was able to explore the very area where our Lord himself appeared, lived, and preached.

Because of the number of places, I will split these days into a couple entries.  The letters before the name indicate the letter on this map.

 

A.)  Magdala

Perhaps the most famous person from this town is Mary Magdalene (i.e. of Magdala).  However, this town was a major fishing village on the Sea, having over 200 boats in the first century.

Two things which especially interested me:

1)  in the 1980’s, they found a boat dating from the first century AD.  Not only that, they rescued it from the mud in the lake in which it had been hidden for 2000 years, but they encased it in styrofoam and pushed it back into the water.  Yes, they took a 2000 year old boat, and put her back on the sea!

 

2)  the Legionaries of Christ are building a center in Magdala, and they uncovered a first century synagogue.  Not only that, but there was a strange stone they found merely two days before we arrived.

This appears to be a miniature reproduction of the altar in the temple in Jerusalem.  On one side is a menorah, which means we may now know what the menorah looked like in the second temple.  Also, on the top are outlines of chalices and what may be bread.

Synagogues don’t have these, especially this ornate.  There may be some speculation that this could be one of the first altars on which the Mass was celebrated.

Jesus almost certainly preached in this synagogue.  Perhaps here he also appeared after the resurrection, as he does today, in the form of bread and wine.

 

B.)  Tabgha

Although a name which doesn’t register with most Christians, nonetheless one of the most important signs happened here, one of the few things recorded almost identically in all four gospels.

The multiplication of the loaves and fishes.

Tabgha was a deserted place in Jesus’ time, just a little ways down the shore from Capernaum.  The people came from all the towns to follow Jesus (the number of 5000 men, not including women and children, would indicate just about the entire populace).  And they were hungry and had no food.

Five loaves and two fish, a miracle which was to prefigure the Eucharist itself!

The mosaic above has a fascinating history.  You may notice at the top of the photo the legs of the current altar.  This mosaic is in the sanctuary of the Church, run by an order of Benedictine monks.

However, the mosaic was not made by them.  It was part of the floor of the second church built there, in the 400’s!

When Christians could begin building again under the late Ottoman and then into British control, the ruins of the second basilica (built on the same spot as the first church) were discovered, and much of the mosaic floor was in tact, including this mosaic.

So, we know this spot is the same spot as that church.

What’s more, we know that the second basilica was built over the first basilica, which was built over a shrine which dates back to AD 28.  Account for the six years the calendar is off from the birth of Christ, and you get the year Christ would have been 34.  He died at age 33.

 

I still can’t believe I was standing in the very same place where all this happened!  I’m so used to thinking it was such a long time ago and so far away.  Yet, here I was in the place.  And although sometimes the distance of years is quite noticeable, I couldn’t help but think how his promise of giving himself as food still, every day, connects us to this very spot at that very time.

 

I couldn’t help but return here in my free time to pray.

Do whatever He tells you

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Our time in Nazareth has been marked rather explicitly and dramatically by one person – the virgin mother, Mary.

We’ve had the opportunity to reflect on life in Nazareth at the time of Christ.  We went to Sepphoris, a town just north of Nazareth.  Sepphoris was the capital of the Galilee, and just about one mile north of Nazareth.  Nazareth itself was a town of a mere 300 people and served as the source of water and stone for the capital.

Joseph and Mary were probably of a clan from Nazareth, having moved to be closer to the source of work, but would often go to Sepphoris to sell goods.  So, the hidden life of Jesus begins to appear from the shadows in the context of the ruins of this ancient city, which we visited.

 

Following our Lord and his Blessed Mother, we go with them to a wedding in Cana.  Cana was also a nearby town to Nazareth, and as we remember from the Gospel according to John, in the middle of the celebration they ran out of wine.  It was here that the groom’s family went to Mary, telling them of their predicament, and here that Mary asked her son for his first miracle.  From this moment in John’s gospel, the mission of Jesus begins.

 

 
One of the six stone jars

Finally, some of our own number consecrated themselves to the Blessed Mother in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, right in front of the house of Mary and her family.  So too may we all follow the command of Mary to the waiters at Cana, and whatever he says, do.

Beginning in Galilee…

The first few days in Galilee:

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A)  Caesarea (Martima)

City built by King Herod the Great (the one who tried to kill baby Jesus) as a Roman port, named in honor of Augustus Caesar.  The city was a beautiful port and a quite wealthy city all the way through the Byzantine period until the Muslim invasion in the seventh century.

The Crusaders revitalized the city, but the city was completely destroyed after the Muslims took it back.

B)  Haifa

The Carmel mountains (Carmel = God’s vineyard) reach all the way to the Mediterranean Sea, at the modern port city of Haifa.

The first thing I saw in Haifa made me feel at home – corporate looking buildings with company logos such as Microsoft, Google, Intel, Yahoo, etc.  The city is very clean and beautiful and has a great view from the top of the Carmel mountains.

One who knows the Old Testament well also knows of the most famous person to this region is the Prophet Elijah, who called down fire from heaven to prove to the pagan priests who was the only true God.

Queen Jezebel wasn’t very happy with him.

C)  Tel Megiddo (Har Megiddo; Armageddon)

 

Although people think the final battle before the end of the world will happen here (as written in Revelation), the real meaning of this place is more symbolic.

Megiddo is the first break in the Carmel mountains, making it a very strategic location in the ancient world.

In Old Testament times, it was the place where King Josiah, the last good Davidic King, died young and tragically in battle.  Because of this, it became part of Jewish folklore that God would deliver his people in the final age as he didn’t do with Josiah.

D)  Akko (Acre)

Not of biblical significance, but another city on the Mediterranean of historical significance.  The Crusaders built a city here, and Napoleon was unable to defeat the Turks when he came.  Napoleon famously threw his hat over the wall saying “If I can’t make it into Akko, at least my hat will.”

NB:  The English word ‘acre’ originally means open field, which Akko essentially is, being at the mouth of the Jezreel valley.

E)  Nazareth

Dome of Basilica – shaped like a lighthouse so people can come home!

The place we’re staying is across the street from the main entrance of the Basilica of the Annunciation, where “the angel Gabriel was sent to by God to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.”

F)  Mount Tabor

 

Tabor is the mountain where Jesus was transfigured before his disciples Peter, James, and John.  His face shone like the sun and his clothes appeared dazzling white, and Moses and Elijah appeared with him.

The three disciples didn’t quite figure out that Jesus wasn’t on par with the two greatest figures from the Old Testament, so God the Father spoke from heaven reminding them that Jesus was his Beloved Son, and they should listen to him – as Moses and Elijah were!

On the Road again….

Happy Epiphany to everyone back in the United States!

Although Epiphany is celebrated here on Jan 6, I’m feeling close to the Magi and the Holy Family right now.

Epiphany celebrated God making himself visible – to the Magi, at his Baptism, and with his first miracle at Cana in Galilee.

After adoring the incarnate God, the Magi left Bethlehem, avoiding Jerusalem.  From the Milk Grotto, the Holy Family was warned by the angel about Herod and fled to Egypt.

And so, shortly after Epiphany, we too are going on the move – soon we will be in Galilee, the same area where most of the ministry of Jesus himself took place.

As you can tell by my more intermittent blogposts, not much has been going on recently in Bethlehem, and I’m really looking forward to the 10 days we will be spending in northern Israel.

However, it has been special to be here in Bethlehem, to recall the simplicity of life in the Holy Family and their humble trust in God’s plan.  Bethlehem will always hold a special place in my heart.

for more Pilgrimage…

If you would like to see the official pilgrimage blog and get a sense from a few different perspectives what our time is like, you may do so here:

http://pilgrimjournal.aminus3.com/

Also, for more photos (especially for those who can’t see my facebook photos), check here:

http://usml.smugmug.com/2009-10-Year-for-Priests

Lunar Eclipse

You may have heard that there was an exceptionally rare event on New Year’s Eve, where the moon passed into the earth’s shadow.  It was a blue moon (second full moon in the same month) on New Year’s eve.  The last time all these factors lined up was 353 years ago.

353 years ago, Bethlehem looked quite different.  In fact, the only constant between then and now is one building

 
The Church of the Nativity!

 

The eclipse was visible in Europe, Africa, and Asia, but not in the Americas.  It was seen here from 9-10pm local time.

We changed our schedule to watch it.

Let’s just say, you weren’t missing much.  As you can see, neither were we.