Holy Land pilgrimage - Day Six

Casting a net on the Sea of Galilee

Today we set out early to take a boat trip on the Sea of Galilee. On the way our guide taught us some Israeli words: 'Boker Tom' is Good Morning. 'Toda' - Thank you.

Much of the ministry of Jesus took place here. The Gospels of Mark 1:14-20), Matthew 4:18-22), and Luke 5:1-11) describe how Jesus recruited four of his apostles from these shores: the fishermen Simon and his brother Andrew and the brothers John and James. Many of His miracles occurred on the Sea of Galilee - including walking on water, calming the storm, the miraculous catch of fish. In John's Gospel the sea provides the setting for Jesus' third post-resurrection appearance to his disciples (John 21).

As our boat left the shore, there was a quiet moment when our musicians Liz, Giovanni and Tom played Amazing Grace. One of the crew members then gave us a fishing lesson, demonstrating with a huge traditional net which he flung into the sea. He didn't catch anything - but it looked spectacular. Afterwards he gathered us together to learn the Israeli circular dance: Hava Nagila (Let us rejoice).

We continued on to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during his ministry, and visited an ancient synagogue and a church set over the house of the St Peter. We then drove to the site of the multiplication of loaves and fishes at Tabkha, where the feeding of the 5,000 (not counting women and children!) took place, and the Primacy of St Peter - where we had Mass. Deacon Patrick gave his a beautiful homily here. See: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/46978

We also stopped at the Mount of the Beatitudes - the scene of Jesus' great Sermon on the Mount. Our guide pointed out that the Old Testament had laid out rules that we should not do - while Jesus took things further by pointing out what we must do.

At one point Patrick (who also runs Gospel in Art) noted that in Catholic theology, truth and goodness are often emphasised, but we must not forget the importance of beauty…

Some of us took the opportunity to scramble down the rocks and dip our feet in Sea of Galilee before we went back to our hotel.

This was our last evening together, as Patrick and his three colleagues Deacon Robert, Eamonn and Brian were going back to the Beda College in Rome very early next morning - so we gathered together to share our thoughts about the week. Every person who spoke described how much they had loved the pilgrimage - the sense of community they felt and how much seeing the land where Jesus walked was affecting and deepening their faith. Thomas and Benjamin presented Sarah, Patrick and Charles with three large beautiful cards they had made. Each person had written a message of love and thanks for all their hard work. The evening concluded with a rousing singsong.