Wednesday 20 November
Pilgrimage Director Fr Paul McDermott bade us goodnight on the first day with words of warning: the easy part was over and from now on the tempo would pick up and the rhythm of our journey be more demanding.
Cana in Galilee
"On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’" John 2.1-3
Our first place of pilgrimage was Cana in Galilee about 20 minutes from Tiberius. Our CTS guidebook describes Cana as a rather dozy town but our interest was clearly to call to mind that wonderful Wedding Feast where Jesus performed his first miracle. We made our way up a narrow paved road for some minutes, passing the odd tourist shop. The Franciscans built the Church in 1879 over the remaining Crusader and Byzantine buildings below. All 72 of us made our way downstairs to hear John’s account of the wedding from his Gospel and to hear Fr John Farrell’s reflection, which he gave beside a large water vessel capable of holding many gallons of water.
This was then followed by the renewal of wedding vows in the Church above, led by Bishop John Sherrington. It was a beautiful moment, and very joyful as we are reminded of how fruitful God is when we allow him to work in us.
Nazareth
"God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’" Luke 1:26-28
The basilica of the Annunciation, built here over the ruins of ‘Old Nazareth’, is the largest in the Middle East and, as Fr John said in his homily: “This is where it all began” (click here to see the video). Our guide, Ibrahim, led us down to the remains of a small house, said to be where the Angel came to announce to Mary that she was to bear a son. Although prayer was not so easy in the frenetic movement of multiple tour groups, we did regroup for the Our Father and Hail Mary. But it is here, at this spot, that a simple Yes and great act of trust in the Lord transformed everything; and it felt very special being there.
The significance of this place for Christians is indescribable - a humbling place to visit, and in which to remember how God in his love for us took on our humanity to reconcile us to himself. Mary, as always, points us towards deeper relationship with God by showing us in her example how to trust so purely and wholly. The upper level of the Basilica has a very different feel; the focal point here is the magnificent mosaic ‘The Triumph of the Universal Church’ behind the main altar. We were fortunate to be able to have Mass here. This was a huge and unexpected blessing. Monsignor Harry Turner led us in the celebration, which also saw the renewal of Commitment to Priestly Service for our priests. The two sisters from Nazareth House, who have joined us for the pilgrimage as they celebrate significant anniversaries, also renewed their commitments to the service of the Lord under the patronage of St Joseph.
We were looked down upon by countless representations of Our Lady from countries all over the world.
Mount Tabor
"After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus." Mark 9:2-4
We had lunch in Nazareth before re-boarding the coaches that took us to Mount Tabor. This mountain dominates its surroundings on the plain of Jezreel. Due to the road being so steep with hairpin bends we had to take minibuses from the bottom. At the top we found the very beautiful Church of the Transfiguration. Large and dominant, it is designed to represent the three tents that Peter suggested building; the largest and central for Jesus, flanked by two smaller ones for Moses and Elijah. Inside it is stunning: with the nave looking up to a galleried high altar with a golden mosaic depicting the Transfiguration and below, in full view, the crypt chapel. Tradition has it that this is the site of the Transfiguration, although in the Gospels it merely states that Jesus, Peter, James and John went ‘up a high mountain’; so again, we use this as the place to help us meditate on the Mystery of the Transfiguration. Here we took some time to pray and Fr John Farrell led us in a reflection starting from the idea that this is where Jesus himself came to pray. The Son of God, in union with his Father, shows us the beauty and the glory of the Trinity, but also gives us a foretaste of the glory to come with the Resurrection. We were also reminded that we hear Jesus being called ‘Son’ and ‘Beloved’ and that we must therefore ‘listen to Him’ (Matthew 17:8).
After the Transfiguration Jesus turns his face south, towards Jerusalem and towards his passion. Tomorrow we too turn south and begin the journey towards Jerusalem and in doing so we remember that to follow Christ we too must take up our cross. The darkness lies ahead, but so too does the glory of the Resurrection.
