I am writing this reflection this evening because we are staying overnight in Nazareth at the Sister’s of the Rosary guesthouse and there is little to do after dinner. Also early in the morning, we will be back on the Tour Minivan seeing more of the historic sites of Galilee.

I interrupted this morning’s reflection just as I was about to discuss the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) as I needed to run as our tour was leaving. So let’s spend a few minutes on this group as it is an important witness for peace in the troubled sections of the world.

We saw members of a CPT when we were in Hebron standing at an intersection that frequently has troubles between the Palestinians and the Israeli security forces of with the “Israeli Settlers”. I might have mentioned that there were 500 Settlers in Hebron and 2000 soldiers to guard them. The Christian Peacemaker Team’s purpose in Hebron as elsewhere is to provide an international presence for peace and by that presence then perhaps trouble might be avoided. As an example, they have found that their presence reduces the potential of Palestinian school kids being harassed by the Settlers or of arbitrary acts of meanness by the guards at the security checkpoints. When something happens, they simply take pictures and make reports on the harassment activities observed.

At the Sunday Evening presentation, besides us there was a CPT team hearing the presentation by the 2 men that have lost loved ones in the ongoing conflict here. I found out from one of the members that there are several participation levels in the Christian Peacemaker Team process. Most of them present on Sunday evening were wrapping up an initial 10 day immersion orientation into this process. If people find that they want more after that initial 10 trail period then they go for a month long training on becoming a member of a Christian Peacemaker Team. After that, you can choose whether to be on “Full-Time” status or reserve status. Those on reserve status serve whenever it fits their personal schedule.  As an example, the man that I met in Hebron was returning to England after a 2 month stint in Hebron which he does twice a year. He is a retired Pastor. He says that usually participating in this process is safe although last week one of the teams who were watching over Palestinian farmers going to their fields got roughed up and their cameras broken by Settlers who want to drive the Palestinians out and don’t like the CPT interfering with their efforts.  Then there was the CPT team in Iraq that had been taken hostage and one member was killed a couple of years ago. So “safe” is a relative term. One woman Pastor in our group has already made her immersion week experience last summer on the USA border with Mexico.

Today we fully acted the role of tourists. We traveled from Jerusalem into the Galilee region. It really does make the Gospel story come alive seeing all of these sites. There is a large desert between Jerusalem and the Jordan River valley which flows from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. The Hebrew word for “Desert” is the same word for “Wilderness” which might explain why we see these terms intermixed in the various bible stories. On today’s trip, we saw Jericho, River Jordan, Sea of Galilee,  Mount of the Beatitudes, Capernaum, Cana and then wound up for the evening in Nazareth. Some of these were real tourist traps and some were just simple and holy.

At each site, there would typically be a church that had been erected over the historic ruins or artifacts. One tip that I learned is that if the church is built in the shape of an octagon then it was built specifically to house a Holy Object.

So we would read the appropriate Gospel passage as we stopped to see and reflect on sites such as

-The Jordan River Valley which dramatically changes the landscape from desert to an agricultural region even though the river is surprisingly small.

-Jericho which was the first city captured by the Israelites coming into the Promised Land.

-The wilderness in which Jesus would have spent the 40 days fasting prior to being tempted by the devil

-Capernaum where Jesus centered much of his early adult ministry in and around. Where he called his first disciples and where he did his first healings.

-Peter’s mother in-law’s house where Jesus healed her. A Synagogue from that time where he perhaps he preached the disturbing sermon on him as the bread of life.

-The Sea of Galilee which he frequently used to travel from Capernaum (Jewish region) to the Gentile region on the other side of the Sea. Also where he walked on water and calmed the stormy seas. The Sea of Galilee is actually quite pretty. Surrounded on all sides by mountains as it is very low in elevation. Looking out over the Sea (which is about the size of Lake St Clair) and picturing Jesus with his disciples in a small fishing boat going about his ministry is probably my favorite part of today’s events.

-Tabgha where Jesus feed the 5000 with a few loaves and fishes.

-We visited the Mount of the Beatitudes and reflected on just how radical this sermon message was 2000 years ago and how radical it still is today.   

-Cana where Jesus turned water into wine because his Mom asked him to. At the church over this spot, for $5 a couple could have the honor of renewing their wedding vows. (This was a bit of a tourist trap.)

-We had a great lunch at a little place on the side of the road which beat going to the tourist stops and fighting the large tour buses and paying 2 shekels to use the bathroom.

-We had fun today but the real world was very present in our hearts and in our prayers. Pastor Jack Eggleston one of the tour leaders had to fly home today as his brother died. So life with all of its ups and downs, joys and hardships continues no matter where we are or what we are doing. It is comfort indeed to know that God is always along for the ride so we are never alone, never outside His blessing and guidance, all we have to do is ask for it. May our gracious and Loving God bless us this day and all the days of our lives.  Pastor Terry