Day 3: The Tour of Galilee

We spent today visiting the many sites of Jesus’ teachings in Galilee, from sea to mountain to shore, by boat, by bus and by foot.  It was a day of scripture, reflection, education and awakening to the many interpretations possible with every bible verse we shared.

The sound of silence on the Sea of Galilee-water lapping against the side of the boat, gospel music from a passing ship, the American flag flapping in the breeze, the spirit of Jesus walking the surface. Still, prayer, breeze, sunshine, meditation, peace.

We reluctantly moved from the still water of the sea, to the modern marvel of the recovered and restored 2000 year old boat. Could Jesus have sailed in the hold of this vessel?

With thoughts of lessons in our minds, we strolled through the lovely gardens on Mt. Beatitudes. We were truly blessed to hear the Beatitudes read as we stood and sat where crowds once gathered to hear Jesus speak. It was easy to understand the spirit that began to capture the yearnings of these villagers. As our journey continued, we turned our attention to the power of Jesus and beginnings of the miracles that would mark him as the Son of God.

The village of Tabgha houses two churches. It was here that Jesus fed the multitudes bread and fish, and here he revealed himself to Simon Peter. Touching the stone where it is believed he sat-powerful. In keeping with the regional theme, we lunched on whole fish at St. Peter’s Fish Restaurant.

Our final stops were in Bethsaida and Capernaum, ruined cities where Jesus taught and lived. One of our final scripture readings foretold their destruction for not changing their heathen ways. Coincidence?

The day began with some watching the sun rise and all of us watching the sun set over the Sea of Galilee. As we say good-bye to 2013, we are all challenged to recognize how we can each bring the Good News home.

May 2014 bring blessings large and small to each of us and, may what we learn here grow like the mustard seed we sampled on the hillside.

Happy New Year!

Susan and Kathryn Haynes

2nd Day in Nazareth and Cana

Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”   John 1:46

Today we went to Nazareth to see! 

For the first time today, we really felt that we were in the footsteps of Jesus.  We began with Bible study led by your pastor (referred to here as the “Holy Father, Pastor Miller” by Illume travel company staff) in the hotel’s prayer room.  This was followed with striking early morning views over the Sea of Galilee from the cliffs of Mount Arbel, looking out over the village of Magdala, home of Mary Magdalen.  Jesus likely would have walked many times along the very road we saw below on his way back and forth between Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee.  Marnel Williams and Wendy Petti led our group in singing “Go Tell It On the Mountain” and “Here I am, Lord”.  Jean Fisler inspired us all with her determined climb up the steep path.

Today we explored the differences between truth and fact.  Was Jesus really born in Bethlehem, or perhaps in Nazareth? Was Mary really told she would bear God’s son by an angel at the spot now in the grotto in the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth or was it perhaps in some other place?  While our faith is being strengthened by feeling that we are very very close to religious figures we have believed in our whole lives, we realize that 2000 years have left some faded memories about exactly where things may have happened.  Indeed, some of the artifacts from Joseph’s carpenter’s workshop or stone jugs from the Cana wedding are now 10 or 20 or more feet underground.

Among our most memorable experiences today were a visit to the spot in Nazareth where Mary was visited by the angel telling her she would soon be expecting God’s child (and reading the familiar Luke 1 verses with new appreciation) and to Joseph’s workshop next door, where we could imagine the boy, Jesus, running through the dusty lane.  We also enjoyed visiting a church built over the presumed site of the Wedding at Cana—and seeing  a large stone jar that may have contained the water that Jesus turned into fine wine.  As we left the Cana wedding site, the sound of Muslim call to prayers wafted over the neighborhood of this multi-cultural society—largely Jewish, but partly Muslim, partly Christian, partly Druse.  Our faith grows stronger every day and we are humbled to be here on this Holy ground.

Rob Wescott and Karen Wise

Some photos from the day, courtesy of John and Kay Norvell: