Stations of the Resurrection Pilgrimage
Travelogue

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May 4, 2007
Friday
Day Ten

Pilgerhaus (Pilgrim's House) was established through Kaiser Wilhelm as a haven for those visiting this part of the Holy Land in Northern Israel beginning in 1889. The Benedictine motto is Ora et Labora which means Prayer and Work, and the order is known for its hospitality to guests in its worldwide community.

The place is filled with palm trees and flowers, and new additions to their guest accommodations since 2000. It is a welcome respite from our intense days on the first week of our pilgrimage.

We are now seeing the heart of Jesus' ministry in the area where he lived and served. The guest house overlooks the Sea of Galilee, or Lake Genessaret, which is the focal point for the surrounding towns and holy sites commemorating significant events and stories in the Gospels.

We saw many fishing boats today, performing their work in similar ways to Andrew, Peter, James, and John, throwing out a net and gathering it back in. We saw the hillside around the water and close to shore began the morning at the site dedicated to the feeding of the five thousand called Tabgha, from the word Heptagon meaning "seven." There are seven springs that feed the Sea of Galilee, in addition to winter rain and run-off from melting snow on Mount Hermon. On this site is the Benedictine Abbey nearby our guest house where the mosaic of five loaves of bread and two fish is on the floor right in front of the altar (see the Bread for the World logo, too!). The design of the building is simple and begs for contemplation on those hungry in the world, for life, health, food, and a deeper connection to the divine.

In the afternoon we returned to Tabgha, going through a gate marked "private," and descending toward the shoreline to an outdoor chapel at Dalmanutha (mentioned after the feeding of the four thousand in Mark 8:10. A very strong wind made me feel like soaring over the lake. Bishop Payne, presiding at the Eucharist, suggested it was the Holy Spirit.
Facing a boulder altar with a small metal cross on top, a sheltering roof covered with palm branches, and the Sea of Galilee directly behind was a perfect setting for us to ponder the writing to the Ephesians, where it says For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us (Ephesians 2:14). We served one another the bread that nourishes and feeds the poor and lowly with the wine of the kingdom of heaven and all wanted to just stay in that moment and place for awhile. The group ended their time by singing the song You have come down the lakeshore (in Spanish Tú has venido a la orilla).

There was more to see, however, so on we went, up, up, to the Mount of the Beatitudes, an octagonal structure designed by Antonio Barluzzi to represent the eight beatitudes ("Blessed are…") from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. Each beatitude was printed in Latin on eight windows in the church, and surrounding the exterior were walkways with spectacular views of the Sea and Upper Galilee, again with floral landscaping that pleased the eyes.

We returned to the Pilgerhaus filled with the imagination of Easter pilgrims, and concluded our day with Evening Prayer, ending with the Taizé song:

Be not afraid, sing out with joy! Christ is risen, alleluia!

Tim Keyl
Christ the King Lutheran Church
Nashua, New Hampshire


Click here to see Pastor Tim's photos of the Pilgrimage on Flickr.
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