Fishers of Men: Final Holy Land Pilgrimage Reflection

   After almost 3 weeks of  our Holy Land Pilgrimage and visits to some parts of Israel and Jordan, we are back home still recuperating from the whole trip. My reflections steered toward my own vocation. My own vocation or calling.  The words "Speak Lord, your servant is listening" echoed in my thoughts on several occasions. I asked myself , what have I accomplished for myself, for my own personal growth? What's next?

The boat chapel “ Duc in Altum “in Magdala by the shores of Galilee 

  There were so many places and moments on this trip that affected me. Some of those encounters were heartwarming, thought provoking and some even core-gripping. I was blessed to experience those moments as I constantly sought for those moments during the pilgrimage. Centering myself in prayer just to be in a proper mindset was a bit of a challenge most of the days. When you're in a journey with about 120 people, outside distractions and sort of white noise effect can not be avoided. Just like dealing with the real world. I worked hard on meditation through little prayers and even recitation the my favorite meditative prayer - The Rosary. I have realized that when I placed myself in the presence of GOD, then HE appeared to calm my little storms. He's always been there for me. I just wasn't vulnerable enough or fully accepted his LOVE and MERCY during those times in my life when I was supposed to have sought HIM out first. One of my blogs was called  " Quiet! Be Still " is an example of centering prayer - a short but powerful message from GOD. 

The boat on the SEA OF GALILEE 

   It was hard for me to point out my favorite moments as there were so many to choose from ( well, almost of them were special ). Some moments have left a deeper mark within me and maybe will stay with me for as long as I live. I pledge to use those moments as reminders in my everyday life, living in full faith and always trying to be a better Christian. It's hard to achieve, but with fervent prayers and acts of  faith, I should be able to enact what Christ wants us to do. 

   Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."

   Feed my Lambs! What does that mean? 

   On the shore of the Sea of Galilee there is a unremarkable little church built over the place of the Gospel scene . The altar of the church, called the “Church of the Primacy,” stands on the fairly large outcropping  of rock by the sea on which Our Savior cooked and served breakfast to his disciples and on which they reclined and had the marvelous dialogue of Peter’s threefold profession of love and the Lord’s threefold conferral of the primacy. Peter ( the rock in Greek) was affirmed as the foundation through his discipleship together with the apostles, was the beginning of the church. This is where Christ bestowed the gifts and grace to Peter and the apostles. After all, what is the Holy Mass but the supreme example of the generosity, careful manners, and loving speech turned into the very sacrifice of our eternal salvation at the table of the Lord?

The rock in  altar of the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter in Taghba

The Primacy of St Peter Church- the rock is A Holy Ground where Christ walked. 

The shores where Jesus appeared to Peter and the apostles after the Resurrection 

   The Sea of Galilee, strategically situated below sea level gave that area a tropical climate which makes the shores and valleys stay lush and abundant of plants and animals to sustain life. Jesus lived most of his life in Galilee and showed the abundance of his Love and Grace to humanity there. This was where most of his ministries and miracles happened in the Bible. When I was on the boat with the other pilgrims, cruising in the Sea of Galilee - It felt like on that day, I was gifted with God's amazing grace. I had an encounter with our LORD while on the boat, even with the 100 other pilgrims with me. I kept having these thoughts: "Quiet, Be still" over and over again. I heard him telling me, I got you, Don't worry about the storm, Give me your hand." I felt a tender reassurance and this feeling of everlasting peace in my heart. I remembered one of Khalil Gibran's quotes on Love that "When you Love, God is not in you heart, You are in HIS" ---- It's maybe because HE is the only one that can handle that LOVE and at the same time give you that PEACE and JOY in your heart. I have a feeling that this is how heaven feels. It reminded me to strengthen  my FAITH and to never lose sight of HIM no matter what happens. I was there to be shown again how to be one of the " Fishers of Men" . 

Olive wood carving of “ Fishers of Men”

   The boat chapel in the shores of Magdala is called " Duc in Altum".( meaning - "Put out in the Deep") Duc in altum! Cast down your nets deeper to spread the Gospel through Acts of Love and Faith. These words ring out for us today, and they invite us to remember the past with gratitude, to live the present with enthusiasm and to look forward to the future with confidence: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever" (Heb 13:8) . Love of God and of one's neighbor are the most important things in our existence as people of Faith. Corporal works of Mercy. !

   This trip encouraged me to take every opportunity that come my way where I can perform the Lord's ministry to help others to the best of my ability. I want to continue mt hospitality ministry with the Homeless and seek out other Ministries where I can provide corporal works of Mercy. A little act of kindness and love can go a long way . The Operation Nightwatch in Seattle has given me and Gabe and our volunteers to get involved in helping the least of our brothers and sisters . It’s a start……

The volunteers …

The volunteers serving the Operation Nightwatch while we were on the Pilgrimage

   May the Good Lord continue to bless you and keep you always.

   Prayers for PEACE in the Middle East!

Thank You for Reading...

Stay with me, remain here with me ( Day 8 afternoon)

 Just  like on Palm Sunday, we walked from Mount of Olives through the cemetery and the lookout viewpoint of the old city all the way down to the Garden of Gethsemane. The Church for all Nations was built around the rock where Jesus wept and prayed before he was handed by Judas to the Roman Soldiers. The rock remained in the altar of this church where we celebrated our last mass for this pilgrimage.  The acoustics were incredible as we all chanted a Taize Prayer during communion : “ Stay with me, remain here with me , watch and pray, watch and pray “.  

Walking downhill from Mount of Olives 

Old olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane 

Veneration of the rock

The rock in the old garden of Gethsemane 

 Thee sunset from Gethsemane over the old city

Western Wall… day 8 (morning)

     We started the morning tour of the southern and western walls in the Temple Mount . It was Bar mitzvah day and the way toward the Western  Wall had constant processions of Bar mitzvah celebrations . It was so fascinating to watch the boys surrounded by their family and some community members as they march towards the Western Wall with music. Learning about the laws of the temple was also pretty fascinating - things about how taxation and sacrificial fees are being done during the time of Christ. We walked around the steps of the temple during the time of Jesus. We also had a chance to pray and leave our prayers/intentions on the wall. The men and women are separated. The men section is so much bigger as in Judaism , they’re the ones that are required to pray and allowed to enter inside the Synagogue. Gabe had the chance to go inside the synagogue with a yahmakah on his head. 

The men’s side of the Western Wall

                       

Touching the wall and leaving all my prayer intentions .

Gabe inside the Synagogue 

Gabriel after visiting the Synagogue 

One of the many Bar mitzvah processions 

 After the well, we headed downhill to the Church of St Peter the site where he denied Christ 3 times in Gallicantu. From Gallicantu, you can visualize the Garden of Gethsemane. It only took 40 minutes for the Roman soldiers from this point to capture Jesus in the Garden. He had the chance to escape up to the Mount of Olives but He knew that " It was the hour" when He will be destined to die. 

Church of St Peter in Gallicantu

We broke for lunch around the Jewish quarter in the old city. We both had burgers ( without cheese of course- kosher law). Shopped around and bought a Menorah.

Pics from the Jewish Quarter below:

Our new Menorah 🕎 

Just Inside the Zion Gate to the old city ...

After our lunch break, the bus dropped us off in the Mount of Olives. 

The Holy Eucharist - Day 7

      The Sunday mass celebration at the Cenacle ( in the Upper Room) where the Last Supper was held  and where Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Mass was so symbolic today. Dr. Scott Hahn,  a former protestant evangelist and now a Catholic Apologetic stated in his book The Lamb's Supper that the mass is simply a taste of Heaven on Earth. As a cradle and practicing catholic, I crave attending the mass at least every week. It's my obligation to myself to experience my regular encounter with Christ in the Eucharist. Here's a link to Dr Hahn's website: 

https://www.scotthahn.com/resources-1/2016/1/14/the-lambs-supper

The church at the Cenacle ( the Upper Room)-  where Jesus celebrated the last supper  with his apostles. The pilgrims preparing for mass. 

The view of the church from the Garden

We crossed to Palestine through the disputed West Bank, Jericho all the way to River Jordan where Christ was baptized. We all renewed our baptismal rites as Father Ryan sprinkled us with the water from the River. 

The River Jordan

Gabe bowing down for the baptism 

We had lunch at the Qumran National park after walking around the site where the Dead Sea scrolls were found .

One of the caves where the shepherd boys found the scrolls 

The Dead Sea Scrolls were found Along this mountain range . Intact copy of the Old Testament 

The caves where the early monks lived in a commune 

Panoramic view from

The Qumran overlooking the Dead Sea 

   Finished the day floating on the Dead Sea and drove back to Jerusalem while enjoying the beautiful sunsets over the Judean wilderness and over Mount of Olives  along the way.

Floating vertical 

The Dead Sea loses 4 feet of water level every year due to human consumption. The flash floods from

Jerusalem flows down to the Dead Sea normally . Now it’s diverted to irrigate farmlands . 

Sunset over the Judean wilderness closed

To Jericho where Jesus fasted and prayed for 40 days 

Sunset over Mt Olives from Palestine to Jerusalem