On the footsteps of Christ

Today was a very particular day for us on this study tour as we moved on the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ. We went to the place of the Beatitudes, to the place of the Multiplication of the Bread and Fish, to the place of the primacy of Peter, to the town of Jesus, Capernaum, and finally to the place where Jesus lived hidden for 30 years, Nazareth. Finally, this evening I had the occasion to visit also the place where Blessed Charles de Foucauld prayed during his three years in Nazareth. Today I made also a very special prayer for Luke and Brian who were instituted as acolytes at the Rabat Parish Church.

Beatitudes

After driving through Tiberias, we headed towards the place where tradition says that Jesus proclaimed the Beatitudes. In the fourth century a sanctuary was built at the foot of the hill to commemorate this event. During the past century a new Church was built on the top of this same hill. According to Matthew’s Gospel: “When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him” (Matt 5, 1). Luke says that this same discourse was made on a level ground (6, 17). The Church’s structure is octagonal, to reflect the eight beatitudes (even if, strictly speaking, we have a list of nine beatitudes in Matthew’s Gospel!). On the main altar, the acronym ICHTUS is found. As a word, it means fish. As an acronym, it stands for Iēsous Christos, Theou Yios, Sōtēr, which translates into English as “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior”. The setting of the Church is marvelous, overlooking the Lake of Tiberias and surrounded by greenery. Here I prayed that I may enter deeper into the spirit of the beatitudes and live according to that spirit.

A look on to Lake of Tiberias from the Mount of the Beatitudes.

Tabgha: Multiplication of the Bread

Going down the hill (one could walk down the hill – it takes some 30 minutes), we went to the Church of the First Feeding of the Multitude at Tabgha. This Church is taken care of by the Benedictines. They say that the second multiplication of the bread was done across the Lake, in the territory of the pagan Decapolis. Yesterday, in my blog I said that the place indicated is Kursi. However, according to the leaflet given at Tabgha, the place indicated is Tel Hadar, close to Kursi. There is a memorial stone recalling this miracle.

The name Tabgha comes from the Greek word Hebtapegai, meaning Seven Springs. The word then became Heptapegon, then Ep-Tapega, and finally Tabgha. There was a Church already in the 4^th Century (right after the Decree of Milan of 313, which gave the liberty for religious freedom), which was then substituted in the 5^th Century. There is a stone, beneath the altar, on which traditionally is held that Jesus laid the loaves. During the following decades, the Church was decorated with floor mosaics, among which the famous basket with the bread and the two fish on the side.

The Mosaic at the Church of the Multiplication of the Bread and Fish

The account of the miracle is found among others in Mark’s Gospel (6, 30-46). In my prayerful reflection the Lord drew my attention to the words: “he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd”. Lord, give me the grace not only to feel your compassion for me, but also to share in your compassion for your people, whom you have entrusted into my hands.

The place is a “deserted place”, that is not inhabited and fields not cultivated. In fact, the land is quite rocky on this part, being a volcanic land. Biblical scholars suggest this place for us to understand the parable of the sower (Mark 2). It is here that Jesus used to come to pray on his own, sometimes for the night, or early in the morning. The place is only some 3 kilometers away from Capernaum.

Rocky ground: helps to understand parable of the sower

Tabgha: The Primacy of Peter

Very close to the Church of the multiplication of the bread we find the place where, according to John’s Gospel (21, 15-17), Jesus entrusted the sheep into the hands of Peter after declaring his love for him. This Church stands right on the shore of the Lake. Within the Church we find a large rock. According to the pilgrim Eteria, who visited this place in 380, this rock would be the place where Jesus pronounced these words. This place reminds us of Christ’s will to entrust his mission in the hands of the Church, made up of human beings who have experienced their misery but also his redemption.

Tabgha: the Primacy of Peter

One very interesting note that Prof. Luca told us at this point is that once Jesus wore the towel in John 13, he never took it off! And in John 21, he presents himself to his disciples as the one who serves: he prepares for them fish to eat. Peter is called to shepherd the flock according to the example set by Jesus. In John’s Gospel, serving means to lay down one’s life for the sheep.

The Sea of Tiberias (at Tabgha)

Capernaum – the Town of Jesus

We spent the rest of the morning at Capernaum, which the Gospels present it to us as the town Jesus adopted as his own during his years of ministry. I have already written about the relationship between Jesus and Capernaum in an earlier blog (October 14). We visited the archaeological remains of the house of Peter, which in reality we can call “the house of Jesus” since he began to live there. This house was later transformed into a domus ecclesiae, and in the fourth century (again after the Edict of Milan) it was transformed into a church, on the model of a synagogue (large hall). Later, in the fifth century this was again transformed into a Basilica, with the apse looking towards the East and octagonal in shape. It seems that the earthquake of 649 and the eventual new taxation afterwards have rang the death-toll of Capernaum as a village, although the sanctuary continued to be venerated. At the time of Jesus, Capernaum would have had something like 500-1000 inhabitants.

The Remains of the House of Jesus turned into Church

New Church built on remains of House of Peter at Capernaum

The Synagogue of Capernaum is very important for us because it reminds us of the great speech Jesus did in that synagogue right after the multiplication of the bread about the Bread of Life (John 6). The Synagogue that we see today is of the fourth century. However, archaeologists have discovered a lower pavement, some 1.4 meters lower, of a previous construction coming from the first century.

Synagogue in Capernaum

Nazareth

The Dome of the Upper Church: in the form of a flower descending from heaven
-- representing the Incarnation.
Nazareth means 'flower'.

We began our visit to Nazareth by stopping at Mary’s Fountain. The Greek Orthodox believe that Mary’s annunciation by the Angel happened in two moments: first at the well, and then at her house. The Orthodox make the commemoration of the Annunciation in this Church close to the spring of water which reaches Nazareth. This spring still gushes forth in the basement of this Church. Catholics commemorate here the fact that Mary, first, and then Jesus went to the well to fetch water.

Orthodox Church at Nazareth

Within the Muslim section of the Old City of Nazareth (there is also the Orthodox section and the Catholic section), we find the White Mosque. Some years ago, by chance some ancient stones were found by someone who was building a new house in the vicinity. When they examined these stones, they were found to be basement of columns and that they were similar to other stones discovered earlier. Basing on this find and on the principle that a place of worship is normally built on another place of worship, it was established that this might well be the place of the Synagogue of Nazareth, of which we read in Luke 4. The precipice, of which Luke speaks that the people of Nazareth wanted to throw Jesus off it, is a fall of some 15 meters which is found behind this building. This would prove wrong the other hypothesis that the synagogue mentioned in the Gospel is found where the present Church synagogue is at the moment. In this case, the precipice would be some 3 kilometers away!

White Mosque in Nazareth:
Could this be the place of the Synagogue at the time of Jesus?

We then moved to visit the Church of the Sacred Family (which is the Latin Parish Church of Nazareth), the Museum and the Basilica of the Annunciation. The story behind the two Churches is interesting. Without entering into much detail, it seems that Jewish-Christians were always quite factious: there was a tendency to split themselves according to different leaders. Now it seems that there were some claiming to be descendants of Mary and others descendants of Joseph, who at the end split themselves up to celebrate in two different stories. It’s quite difficult to ascertain this as a fact, but we all know how possible this may be!

Our Lady of Nazareth

The Upper Church at Nazareth

The center of veneration remains through the centuries the Grotto. It has been established that houses would normally be linked to some kind of a grotto which would serve as an extension of the house. All Churches built throughout the ages on this site, kept always the Grotto as the main focal point. Right now, as the Guardian of Nazareth Franciscan community told us this evening, it is very important that we pray for a technical solution to safeguard the Grotto because it has been rapidly deteriorating in these last 40 years.

The Place where God became man: the Grotto of the Anunciation

Two very interesting discoveries found here are two graffiti coming from the 4^th century which attest to Marian devotion in the fourth century by Jewish-Christians.

An Inscription from the Fourth Century: Xaire Maria: Hail Mary!

Here is the place where Mary said her first “yes” to the Lord, a complete and joyful (albeit not without suffering) “yes” which she continued to express all throughout her life. The house of Joseph, which is venerated under the Church of the Sacred Family a few meters away, is the place where the Sacred Family lived. Jesus grew there as a human being. God made man and lived among us!

Malta's Presence at the Basilica of the Annuciation

Blessed Charles de Foucauld

December 1 is the feast of Blessed Charles de Foucauld. He stayed here in Nazareth between 1897 and 1900. This evening I had the grace to visit the place where he used to spend hours before the Blessed Sacrament. The place is in the hands of the Little Brothers of Jesus, inspired by the spirituality of Blessed Charles. There I prayed that, like Brother Charles, I may have a deep love for the Blessed Sacrament, the grace to learn more how to be present in a hidden way, and to surrender myself completely into the hands of God.

Chapel where Blessed Charles de Foucauld used to pray while he was in Nazareth

A Tryptych with Blessed Charles de Faucauld

Galilee and Beyond

Today was a day full of visits. We did see many different and interesting sites … many remains and overturned stones … but as they say “stones speak”. A telling expression used here is “the fifth Gospel”, referring to the Land as helping us to understand better the written Gospels. And it is very true. The day ended with an amazing view of the Lake of Tiberias, or of Genessaret, or of Galilee.

A view of the Lake at sunset from Hippos

Korazim

We visited the remains of these Jewish town, which the Babylonian Talmud (Menahot 85, A) mentions as renowned for good wheat grown here. Jesus condemns this city together with Bethsaida for not believing in him. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes” (Matt 11, 21, also Luke 10, 13). The central quarter of the town contains a synagogue, remains of three large buildings and a prominent paved square. These hail mainly from the Talmudic period, that is from the fourth to sixth centuries AD.

The Synagogue at Korazim

The Synagogue looks towards Jerusalem, from where all synagogues take their orientation (as for Muslims, they need to pray in the direction of Mecca). The pillars have their capitals in the Ionic Order, or better still in the scroll-form, with an egg at the centre. The scroll refers to the Scroll of Sacred Scripture, while the egg represents eternity. This synagogue has, close to the main door, the “cathedra of Moses”, which was “an honorary place”, not necessarily for someone to sit there but more as a symbol for those who observe the law, and the Aron kodesh, the place of the Torah.

Bethsaida

Then, we crossed the Jordan River and went over to visit Bethsaida. Now this crossing means that we passed from the region of Galilee to the ‘pagan lands’, as they were considered at the time of Jesus, as they were outside the territory of the promised land. Joseph Flavius refers to this city as Bethsaida Iulia. The name Bethsaida means “the land of fishing”, as in Maltese “sajda”. There are some questions whether this is the Bethsaida mentioned in the Gospels, especially because it is not in Galilee. In John 12,21, the reference is to Bethsaida in Galilee. Another question regarding the distance of today’s city from the lake has been partly answered by different studies which said that, at least up to the fourth century after Christ, the Lake reached close to the city. Peter, Andrew and Philip would be from this city (John 1,44), and David married the daughter of the King of Geshur (the former name to this city), from whom Absalom was born (2 Sam 3,3).

Bethsaida: A stele with an image of a god in the form of a bull.

Among the remains, there is the gate to the city, where some seven stele were found. One of these bears the image of a god with a bull’s head. There is a bamah, high place, right in front of this stele. Within the city, then, there is an indication of a “fisherman’s house”.

Qasrin

Afterwards we went to visit the remains of an ancient city called Qasrin, with its Talmudic Village and Synagogue. The Village aims to provide a glimpse into the life of Jews during the Talmudic period, which corresponds to the Byzantine period, that is 3/4 – 6 Century AD. The Museum has remains coming from various sites through the Golan Heights (there were 27 Jewish sites in the Central Golan). These are remains both of Churches and of Synagogues. The Synagogue in Ancient Qasrin is the best preserved synagogue in the Golan. The Torah shrine was situated on top of a platform against the southern wall of the synagogue, oriented towards Jerusalem. According to archaeologists, here we have one of the very few times where a genizah is present. A genizah is a store-room or depository in a Jewish synagogue (or cemetery), usually specifically for worn-out religious books and topics.

A view of the Synagogue at Qasrin

The Columns in the Synagogue of Qasrin with Scroll-form capitels.
At the center, an egg representing eternity.

Gergesa – Kursi

Here we visited the region connected to the exorcism of a man from the presence of the devil, which then moved into a herd of swine (Luke 8,26-39; Matt 8,23-34; Mark 5,1-17). Archaeologists identify this place with Kurshi, mentioned in the Talmud as a center of idol worship. The remains brought to light here a monastery with its church, probably built in the 5^th Century AD. 

Kursi -- Gerasa: a view of the monastery-basilica
and the mountain where the exorcism may have taken place.

The Church was built in the basilica form. Near the apse is the baptistery, which here is also called Photistery (meaning: bearing light, from phos, light). Some biblical scholars also say that the second multiplication of bread recorded in the Gospels could have been done here, in the land of the pagans, thus underlining that even the pagans are called to the plenitude of the faith (7 baskets – Matt 15, 37). Here we have also the remains of a Church hewn in the rock in the hill right above the Basilica. The exorcism could have occurred in this place.

A detail of the Basilica at Gerasa (Kursi)

A beautiful view of the Lake of Tiberias from Kursi

Hippos

Further south on this side of the Lake we visited the city on the hill-top, Hippos, an Hellenistic city, which was one the cities included in the Decapolis. In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus makes reference to a city built on a hill (5,14). This city knows its origin some two centuries before Christ, reaching eventually its golden period in the second/third centuries after Christ. Remains were found of a Cathedral, which has a baptistery with it, and eight other Churches. The community seems to have been well-to-do since there are columns made of granite, presumably imported from Aswan and from Italy. From this site, there is a fantastic view of the Lake of Tiberias, especially as the sun began to set.

Fallen Granite Columns at Hippos. The destruction happened as a result
of the earthquake in 649 AD 

An ornate capitel of a column at Hippos

Sunset on the Lake of Tiberias (from Hippos)

In the evening, I attended again for a beautiful moment of prayer at the Basilica of the Annunciation, organized by the young people here. Today we had an hour-long adoration in preparation for the beginning of Advent. I prayed for several intentions before the Grotto of the Annunciation.

Galilee (2) and Golan Heights

Today’s visits were around the North-Eastern part of Galilee and the Golan Heights. We visited Tel Hazor, Tel Dan and Banias, in the region of Caesarea Philippi.

Tel Hazor

Tel Hazor is located in the Hula Valley, at the foot of the Galilee mountains. It is situated in a strategic position, controlling all the traffic leading to Damascus. Hazor’s location, its fertile land and the springs in the nearby Hazor Stream, gave it the natural conditions to develop into the greatest city in the land of Israel (archaeologists speak of 15,000 inhabitants, while Jerusalem had some 1000-2000 inhabitants at its peak) and one of the most important cities of the Canaanite period.

The Galilean Hills from Tell Hazor

It is one of the few cities of the Egyptian period which had walls and five gates. Because of the extent of the city, here we have the upper city (Acropolis) and the lower city, where people lived. The connection between the two parts of the city is marked by a podium with four holes, which apparently supported the legs of a throne, which the Pharaoh donated to the governor of the city. Thus, it seems that it has a political significance.

From the several findings made here it becomes apparent that Hazor had extensive links with Syria, Egypt, the Hittite Kingdom, Babylon and the lands of the Mediterranean, like Crete, Greece and Cyprus. These connections may have been the reason why Hazor became known as “the head of all those kingdoms” (Joshua 11,10), and the King of Hazor as “the king of Canaan” (Judges 4,2).

An Altar in the Temple Area at Tell Hazor

According to archaeological findings, the destruction of Hazol happened in the 13^th Century BC, possibly at the hands of the Egyptians. The Bible says it was Joshua who did this (Joshua 11,1-12). Let’s not forget that the Bible is not a history book and sometimes the redactors, writing centuries after the happenings, have more an ideal they want to present the people with. And the ideal here is that God has given this land to his people and they need to receive this gift from him with humility and gratitude.

Tel Dan

We then moved to Tel Dan. This is the place which gives rise to the River Jordan: there are three springs which then join with each other to form this important river in Israel and for the Bible. This national park is truly beautiful and refreshing. Water is everywhere and, at least, at a given moment of the trail, you hear the gushing forth of waters, or as an Italian student put it poetically: the singing of the water.

The rise of the River Jordan at Tell Dan

The tell is identified with the city of Laish, captured by the tribe of Dan, as we read in Judges 18,27-29. One of the most fascinating finds from Tel Dan is a piece of a fossilized tablet from the second half of the ninth century BC. Carved onto it is an inscription of Hazael, King of Damascus, boasting of his victory over the king of Israel and the king of the house of David. This is the first time that the words “house of David” were discovered outside of the Bible.

The Gate coming from the Israelite Period at Tell Dan.
Close to here that the extra-biblical reference to the "House of David" was found.

Here in Dan, King Jeroboam erected one of two temples outside of Jerusalem (the other being at Bethel), thus creating a schism from Jerusalem. See 1 Kings 12,28-33. There is also an elaborate entry to the city coming from the Israelite period. It is possible also to see the place where decisions were taken at the door of the gate, as we read several times in Sacred Scripture (read, for example, 2 Sam 19,8 and Ruth 4,1-2). 

The Temple dedicated to Ba'al by Jeroboam at Dan

Another very important find is the Canaanite Gate, coming down to us from the 18^th Century BC completely intact, with an arched entry, one of the oldest complete arches in the world.

The Canaanite Gate with a complete arch

Banias

Finally, we visited the Nature Reserve of Banias (in the region of Caesarea Philippi), which is linked to Peter’s Confession of faith in Jesus (Mark 8,29; Luke 9,30; Matt 16,16) and Jesus’ appointment of Peter as head of the apostles (Matt 16,18). John places this along the Sea of Tiberias (John 21,15-17). At Banias there is no memorial remembering this. The Franciscans have this memorial at Tabgha on the Sea of Tiberias, which we will visit tomorrow.

This place is also identified with where Jesus healed the “woman who had been subject to bleeding” (Mark 5,25; Luke 8,43). Some identify this woman with the Veronica (a corrupt version of the name Berenice). They claim that this woman had two houses: one at Banias and another in Jerusalem. According to Eusebius of Caesarea this woman, in gratitude for what Jesus did to her, made a statue of him at the entrance of her door at Banias. This is the first tradition that then developed into the imprint of the face of Jesus on a veil (a moment which became immortalized in the Via Crucis).

One particular thing which comes out clear of this place is the fact that there are several temples connected to it: a temple dedicated to the god Pan. The name in fact was taken from the name of this deity: Paneas (Banias, according to Arabic pronunciation). Herod the Great built also a temple here dedicated to Augustus, the Roman Emperor. There is also another temple dedicated to Zeus. Something very particular found here is the cemetery of the sacred goats, which were made to dance in the Temple dedicated to Pan.

The Sanctuary dedicated to Pan at Banias

The cemetery of sacred goats at Banias

Golan Heights

At the end of the day we drove to the North East of Israel very close to the border with Syria. We could, as a matter of fact, look into the Syrian territory … no worries it looked quite calm, at least from this side of the mountain range. From the news I read later it was not quite at all on the other side, Damascus! Let’s pray for a quick solution to this cruel civil war. 

A view of Syria from on top of the Golan Heights

To go there we had to pass through a region where the Druzes live. The Druzes are followers of a religion which comes from Islam, but has elements in it of Judaism, Christianity, and Hinduism. Among other things they believe in the transmigration of the soul. They have recognized Israel’s independence and, thus, Israel has recognized their existence. They are warriors. It is quite easy to find a Druze in an Israeli check-point and within the Israeli military.

A Druze village divided into three: part of it is in Israeli territory;
a second part in Lebanese territory; a third part in Syrian territory.

Mount Hermon from the Golan Heights

Mass in the Nativity Grotto, Mount Zion, War is Over, Galilee Trip (1)

Mass in the Nativity Grotto

My 4-day stay in Bethlehem closed in the best of manners! I was able to celebrate Mass within the Nativity Grotto on Monday morning. It is such a blessing to be able to celebrate Mass there where Christianity makes the memory of the birth of our Saviour and Lord. The poverty and grandeur of the place form a great setting for the celebration of the Eucharist, in which the Emmanuel comes to be not only with us but also becomes bread for our sustenance, transforming us into him. I thank the Lord wholeheartedly for this great grace.

Sunset at Jerusalem on Monday (from the Gallicantu Church)

Mount Zion

On Monday, together with Fra Eugenio Alliatta OFM, we visited the area of Mount Zion. This includes some sanctuaries which belong to the Armenians, like the place where they venerate the tomb of St James the Major, who was killed around the year 40 AD by King Agrippa, and the cathedra which belongs to the first bishop of Jerusalem, who would be St James the Minor, known also the “brother of the Lord”, author of the letter which bears his name. Just outside Zion Gate (also called by the Arabs, Gate of the Prophet David), the Armenians have a small Church wherein they recall the House of Caiphas, where Jesus was taken as a prisoner on the night he was betrayed. There they venerate a column where Jesus could have been also beaten with rods by the Jews (apart from the scourging at the hands of the Romans, recorded in the Gospels).

Then we moved to what is known as the Cenacle. We link to these place various very important events of our faith: the Last Supper, the Apparitions of the Risen Christ to his disciples, the Descent of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost), the choice of the 13^th Disciple, Matthias, the choice of the first deacons, and the Jerusalem Council. It is venerated at the first Church of the Christians. A great Church was built by the Byzantines, called Haghia Sion (Holy Sion) which linked all the different sites recalling different mysteries of the life of the Lord. The Crusaders enlarged the Church, making it some 70 meters in length. The Muslims destroyed this Church, but not the part called the Cenacle. The art of this cenacle is medieval, quite unique to the area. There are some elements which are older than medieval times, probably coming from the Byzantine Church.

The few remains of the Haghia Sion Church very close to the Cenacle

We then visited the Church of the Gallicantu, which recalls the place where Peter denied for three times Jesus. Some say that the place recalls the repentance of Peter. Some excavations have revealed a number of interesting things, which some archaeologists have identified as being the house of Caiphas – a second indication after that of the Armenians. There are some cross graffiti in a pit, which some consider to be the place where Jesus was kept for the night.

A Cross found in the pit at the Gallicantu

War is Over

An indication that the war between Israel and Hamas is over (at least for the time being), is the fact that today coming up to Galilee we saw a number of armed vehicles being driven back to the North of the country. Fifteen days ago, coming back from Beth She’an, I did see a number of this war machinery being taken down to the Gaza area, in preparation for a possible land incursion. Thanks be to God, this was not to be, at least this time! Let’s hope and pray that the discussions going on at the moment between Israel and Hamas may bear enduring fruits.

Returning to base!

Galilee Trip (1)

On Tuesday morning, together with Prof. Massimo Luca OFM, we began the five-day study trip to Galilee. We are a group of priests and students attending the Studi Biblici Francescani. The aim of this trip is to become more familiar with a number of places which are important for our Biblical Studies, and particularly for a better understanding of the New Testament.

The first place we visited was Megiddo. During the biblical period Megiddo was one of the most important cities in the country. Its location allowed it to control the outlet of the Iron Valley to the Jezreel Valley and the Via Maris (the road which linked Egypt to Mesopotamia, the ancient centers of culture and power). Archaeological remains have brought to light certain items, like flint tools and a few sherds which attest to human habitation as early as the Neolithic period. Megiddo then flourished as an urban center in the Early Canaanite Period (late fourth millennium BC).

In the temple area, as an indication that man’s search for God began from time immemorial, 17 different holy structures were found, built one on the other. One impressive find, which is still visible today, was a circular altar, eight meters in diameter. Seven steps lead to the altar. Numerous animal bones were found at the base of the altar (including a bone of a lion – was it offered also as a sacrifice?). At the top of this, remains from a fortress-like ‘Tower Temple’ were found. However, these were unfortunately dismantled by the archaeological expedition working on this site.

The circular altar from the Canaanite Temple at Megiddo

Megiddo is linked to many battles. We were told that the city was destroyed some 27 times. One of these times was the great battle made by the Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III (fifteenth century BC). It took the Pharaoh some six months to win over the city. It is called ‘the mother of all battles’. Perhaps because of this fame, the Apocalypse says that it is also here that the last battle against the power of evil is made at the End of Days (Rev 16,16).

In Megiddo, remains of a big granary, and some big stables for horses were found linking the place with King Solomon. There is also an amazing water system to allow citizens to reach safely a stream just outside the city wall even during a time of siege. The remains are evident of an opulent society.

The underground tunnel which permitted citizens of Megiddo
to get to the spring in time of siege

After Megiddo, we visited Mount Tabor, where I did my spiritual exercises at the end of September. My visit there brought to me great memories of a splendid time with the Lord spent there. One interesting thing that Prof. Luca told us is that the first time Mount Tabor – which was always considered to be a ‘holy mount’ for the fact that it stands alone in the valley of Jezreel – with the Transfiguration was in the document called Transitus Virginis, where it is said that as Mary was being taken up to heaven there shone a light similar to that of the Tabor. Origin and Cyril of Jerusalem then take up this tradition and link the Tabor to the event of the Transfiguration.

Mount Tabor with the sun setting behind it

After Mt Tabor, where we celebrated Mass and had a great lunch prepared for us by Mondo X (I have spoken of these in my blog at the end of September), we went to Cana. The place today is called Kefar Kannan. In his Gospel, John speaks of the wedding at Cana (Chap 2), the centurion who had a sick son asking Jesus to heal him (4,46), and Nathanael who is said to be of Cana (21,2). Although there are doubts about this location, however, archaeology has undiscovered two synagogues, one belonging to the Jews and the other to Judaeo-Christians, which means that these latter could keep the tradition alive. Excavations beneath the synagogue belonging to the latter group show that there was a settlement of people as early as the first century AD. This means that this location could be possible. It was also in this place that a large jar (corresponding to the measurements mentioned by John in 2,6) was found here. This is a unique find in Israel, as no other similar jar was found here until now.

The outside of the Cana Church

The Big Jar found at Cana -- similar to the ones mentioned in John's Gospel

At the end of the day we came to our hotel (Casa Nova run by the Franciscans) at Nazareth. It is just across from the Basilica of the Annunciation and to my delight when I opened the window I found that I was looking right at the Basilica … an amazing sight! After dinner, there was the Rosary in the Inferior Basilica. I was asked to say one of the decades in Maltese. I prayed a lot for me and for many others that Mary’s Yes becomes also our daily YES to God in everything that he asks of us. I will continue to speak about Nazareth in the coming days!

A beautiful shot of the Basilica of the Annunciation from my room.