Today we visited lots of sites on this HOT, HOT day:
- We began the day's adventures by crossing the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-14) in a boat which is a replica of the boats that would have been used in Jesus' time. For me, it is an amazing thing to walk the stony shore of the Sea of Galilee - wondering if MAYBE Jesus stepped on this very stone when He walked around this shoreline...
- We then arrived at the Mount of Beatitudes where we celebrated Mass - recalling, of course, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).
- Following Mass we went to nearby Tabgha, then Capernaum (the "hometown" of Jesus - see Matthew 4:13). Tabgha is the traditional location where Jesus took the loaves and fish and multiplied them for the crowd of 5000 (Matthew 14: 13-21). Capernaum is where many things happened in Jesus' ministry:
- He was confronted by the demoniac (Mark 1: 21-27)
- He healed the servant of the Centurion (Luke 7:3). The Centurion was credited with building the temple in Capernaum (the foundation of which still exists).
- It was here that Jesus gave the sermon on the Bread of Life (John 6:35-59).
- It was in Capernaum that Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law who was, "in bed with a fever" (Matthew 8: 14-17).
- Many of us even waded into the Sea of Galilee!
- Then a brief stop at Caeserea-Philippi, where Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Who do you say that I am?" After he replies, "The Messiah." Jesus gives him (and the Church) the ability to lose and bind.
- Then we moved on to the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized (Mark 1: 4-11). Here our pilgrim group renewed their own baptismal promises and were sprinkled with water from the Jordan. It was SO hot, everyone just jumped right into the Jordan to cool off. Sorry the photo is sideways - don't know why... tilt your head!
- Did you know that water from the Jordan River is never blessed by a priest? Since Jesus Himself was in the water, the water is considered to already be holy.
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