Overwhelmed with Mystery

O.K. We are back. I missed yesterday because of some complications with the hotel rooms. Lets pick up with the last two days as you can see from a few pictures. on 2-13-12 we first visited Magdala where Mary of Magdala is from. This is in very close proximity to the multiplication of the loaves spot and capernaum. Here we briefly talked about the close relationship Mary had with Jesus and how important the woman were in Jesus' public ministry. Mary's father owned a fishing fleet of around 264 boats in Magdala which made him a wealthy man. This would mean that Mary also had money to help fund Jesus' mission. We then visited the spot of the multiplication of loaves and fish. This was very close to the sermon on the mount (a half mile away...if you recall that Jesus preached to 5,000 there and they must have been hungry). There is a beautiful Church erected over this sight with beautiful mosaics dating back to the 4th Century. It was clear to see the proximity of the sermon from the miracle of the multiplicaton. These would have happened in clear view of the beautiful Sea of Galilee. We celebrated mass on Mt. Tabor. Yes, the mountain where the Lord was transfigured before Peter, James and John. This mountain is 1,900 ft above sea level and is certain to be the one that Jesus was transfigure on. There is a beautiful gold mosaic above the main altar that is radiant gold with the light coming through the windows of the Church. We sang and had a deeply moving celebration of Eucharist here as we realized why the Lord revealed his Glory. This event took place 8 days after the question to Peter of "Who do you say that I am?" Perhaps Jesus was not completely satisfied with their conviction so he pulls his disciples up the mountain that they would be convinced of his glory. Jesus would leave Mt. Tabor to go into Jerusaleum to be crucified. We finished the day off with the Church of the visitation. Here is where Mary traveled from Nazareth to spend some time with Elizabeth who was found with child. Elizabeth was 69 yrs old and 6 months pregnant. Here on the wall is the Magnificate of Mary which is written on the wall in most of the languages of the world. Elizabeth lived in a house, not a cave because Zachariah was a high priest (they were very well off). Mary presence was very palpable here,calling us into deeper humility and faith in the Father that in him all things are possible. We ended the day traveling into Bethlehem and having a nice meal.