The number of holy places we would visit in a day was challenging and sometimes exhausting. For example, on the date of this post, May 18 we: went on a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, saw a 2,000-year-old boat, like the type Jesus would have ridden in, visited the Mount of Beatitudes, went to the Church of the Multiplication of the Fishes, had a lunch of Peter's Fish, went to the Church of the Primacy of Peter, and finally saw Capernaum, Jesus's base in Galilee.
Interspersed through all this were Mass, multiple prayer services, an embodied Rosary, and songs. The places we went weren't just historical sites, but locations of profound religious happenings. It was often overwhelming to me and I consequently, wasn't able to blog simultaneously. Usually, we would get back to our hotel in time for supper, and I was physically and emotionally exhausted. Afterwards, it was back to my room for a little reading and lights out.
Let's start with the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes. During the prayer service here, we passed out bread. When Fr. Michael was reading the gospel passage from John, "Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to whose who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted," it struck me: maybe it is the giving thanks, the gratitude, that is the multiplier in life.
This church was constructed in 1982, a replica of the 5th century church that was once here. The mosaic floors are part of the original church, including the mosaic of two fish and a basket of bread in front of the altar. Under the altar is a block of limestone that is venerated as a table of the Lord.
Collect
O God, in your goodness you provide for the needs of all creatures,
and through your Son, with the multiplication of the loaves and fishes,
you satisfied the hungry crowd who followed him.
May, we, your faithful, truly prove our love for our brothers and sisters who suffer,
so that, freed from need, they might serve you in serenity and peace.
Appropriately, after visiting the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, we had Peter's fish for lunch, a whole tilapia. It was delicious. Pretty sure they didn't have french fries in Jesus's day.
After lunch, we made a short, beautiful drive to the Church of the Primacy of Peter.
This is the spot where Jesus appeared to his disciples after his Resurrection and affirmed the Primacy of Peter, that he would be in charge of the church. Three times Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?" and then telling Peter to, "Feed my lambs."
This church contains the Mensa Christi or table of Christ, where tradition says that Jesus had a breakfast of bread and fish for his Apostles. The banner with 800 on it is commemorating eight centuries of Franciscan presence in the Holy Land, 1217-2017.
This Church was built in 1933 above the ruins of a 4th century church.
The rock-table where Jesus fed his Apostles fish, which he helped them catch ,and bread, after his Resurrection.
Father Michael and Val lead us in a dramatic prayer service. outside the church
Breakfast on the Beach. To my mind, one of the most lovely post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus is when he cooks his disciples breakfast on the beach.
John 21: 1-19 After these things, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them, and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
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