Mt. Beatitudes, Capher Nahum (Capernaum), and Mt. Tabor

Mount of Beatitudes
Like so many of the churches on important sites, there are churches built on ruins built on ruins built on ruins. So the association of these sites with the life of Jesus goes back pretty far. This is the Church of the Beatitudes, on the Mount of the Beatitudes.





Whether or not this is "the site" - it's a hill in the Galilean countryside and apart from the church itself it was pretty easy to imagine Jesus sitting with his disciples on this hill or one nearby. Some in our group noted that the birds of the air and the flowers of the field were ever-present so his teachings would have a tactile and immediate reality for those listening.




It was kind of cool for me; as some reading this blog know when I did my D.Min degree I had a chance to travel to China to experience a bit of the Church in that context. These Catholic Christians seemed so happy to be in the Holy Land as they gathered in front of the Church of the Beatitudes and then went inside to sing. Again, an experience of a global and ecumenical Church.

Capher Nahum

So this is "Peter's house," or at least a first-century home in Capernaum. Our guide, Nassar, insists that we learn to say Capher, or Kapher--which just means "village." So this is Nahum's Village, essentually. Nassar also likes mother-in-law jokes and asked "do you know why Peter became a saint?" Answer: "he lived with his mother-in-law!"

The "Village of Nahum" ruins.

Jordan River (it's chilly and cold!)
For me this was the "cheesiest" site we visited. It came back to me immediately from my visit in 1984 but I'd forgotten that the more likely "authentic" site in the Judean Desert where John the Baptist did his ministry isn't "open" to visit so the Israeli government set this up. It's Jordan River water, but kind of slimy. Nevertheless we did renew our Baptismal vows.

Mount of the Tranfiguration
At one of the small chapels on Mt. Tabor--the Mount of the Transfiguration--where we gathered together to celebrate Eucharist this morning.

Inside the Church at the Mount of the Transfiguration.

A view from the top; like the disciples we came down and set our faces toward Jerusalem, making our way via the eastern route through Jericho and the Judean Desert.