Day 7/8 - Jim Papile - Jacob's Well; Church of the Ten Lepers, Beqin, The Taybeh Brewery, Church of the Resurrection, The Herodian Palace

Today's Slideshow

Jacob's Well; St George's Church of the Ten Lepers,  Greek Orthodox, Beqin; Orthodox Service, The Taybeh Brewery, Taybeh; Sunday Morning,Church of the Resurrection (Jerusalem); The Herodian Palace;  A local restaurant near the Damascus Gate.  It's been a busy two days

Israel today is a mass of contradictions.  Yesterday morning we found ourselves at the lovely Orthodox Church of  St Photini, at the outskirts of the city of Nablus deep within the occupied territories of the West Bank.  For many of us the climb down into the well was a moving experience.  Jacob's Well has, throughout history been a place where cultures have met in the most intimately caring  of ways.  Patriarchs Isaac and Jacob went there to find wives, women not from their tribe.  Jesus, traveling through the area, then called Samaria met a woman who was not from his tribe.  His encounter with her has been for many who have felt marginalized because of race or gender, a story of hope and acceptance.  Another example of the refusal; to abandon or reject was the story of Jesus healing the ten lepers, the theme of the tiny ancient Greek church in a little town called Beqin.

Filling and sealing bottles of water from Jacob's Well at St. Photini.

Over and over the Bible records the coming together of people who have stood in opposition to  or have rejected each other.  Late this afternoon Mary Malzahn and I stopped at a local wine cafe for a break.  Engrossed we spent the better part of an hour looking over the shoulder of a young Palestinian film maker who was editing footage of several recent altercations between Palestinian Arabs and Israeli police and army forces.   Visual accounts that never make it to the western press.  It was heartbreaking.  Israel is such a country of great contradictions.  How can a land of the Old Testament Prophets, Jesus, and the peaceful, irenic portions of the Quran be a land of such violence.  I have no answer, but I can tell you this.  Israel is a land of great, great beauty, proud hard working people, and much potential.  But it is killing itself with violence and hatred.

Day 7 - Burqin - Story of the Ten Lepers, Nablus - St. Photini, Taybeh - Brewery & St. George's

Day 6 - Excavations at Sepphoris, Tomb Beneath our Guest House, Meet with Palestinian Christian Minister

Day 5 - Jim Papile -Jordan river, church of the feeding the four thousand, Sea of Galilee

Jordan river, church of the feeding of the four thousand, Sea of Galilee

Today's Slideshow

"I'll go down to the river to pray thinking about the good old ways and who should wear the robe and crown"

One of the great feats of modern pilgrimages to places like the Holy Land is the conflict in modes of transportation, then and now.  Many of the most interesting streets and roads in places like Nazareth where we are [presently were built for cart travel, not huge tourist buses of today.  So it takes a person of dexterity and courage, not to mention icy in the veins to negotiate such a behemoth.

Our driver's name is Omar, and like our guide Iyad describes himself as an Arab/Palestinian/ Christian, Oman is an Arab/Palestinian/Muslim.  Omar and Iyad are great friends.  This morning I thought we had finally tested Oman's skill to the limit.  Most groups experience the Jordan River at one of the recognized spots.  There are parking lots and gift shops.  Iyad seeks to give his clients a very different experience.

So he directed Omar down a dirt road, soft from last night's rain to bend in the river that by all-accounts is frequented only by locals.  It was magical.  Just us and the river, we renewed our baptismal vows and sprinkled each other with water from the river where Jesus was baptized.  There was a wonderfully clear blue sky, and just out of the corner of my eye I think I saw a dove flying above.  But then, I am such an incurable romantic.  Later in the afternoon we took a tourist boat on the Sea of Galilee.  It was a great day, but the highlight for me anyway, was down by the riverside.

Day 4 - Jim Papile - The Bedouins

 Judean Desert, Jericho, Nazareth

     It was totally unexpected for some and eagerly anticipated for those who knew what was coming.  Walking up over the ridge to suddenly see the land roll out, as far as the eye could see.  Purples and magenta, the Judaea desert stretched out in front of us.  "This isn't what  desert looks like," someone behind me said, "it's supposed to be flat!"  Here the gentle undulations seemed to have a pattern, a rhythm.  

As we set up for communion several children, all very young, and a couple of adults headed our way with jewelry and keffeyahs the traditional men's head scarves.  They were obviously looking for a sale. Bedouins have lived in the arid and semi-arid regions of the Arabic speaking world for for thousands of years, selling, trading, raising sheep and goats. We have read about them, seen them on TV, and here, on the edge of the desert was a family of Bedouins making their livelihood primarily by creating and selling traditional crafts. 

I heard several comments of concern from members of our group about why the children were not in school.  It was very evident to me, they are the main attraction, it was very hard to turn the down when they offered an item for sale.  The universal appeal, they might as well be our children and grandchildren.  I'm sure others, like me were looking into the faces and seeng our own beloved children, far away.

It seems to me that this is what pilgrimage is.  If it is about finding the face of God in unfamiliar places, the land and it's singularity, like the desert; then I think it is even more about finding God's face in the face of other people.  No less now then ever before in human history, tribalism, identifying with a kindred group by defining ourselves against other groups, continues to prevent any semblance of peace, regional or global.  The day we see the face of God reflected in the face of the "other" reflected in our own is the day the kingdom will come.

Day 4 - Nancy DeDona - Reflections

Reflections on Day 4 of the Holy Land Trip:

Today's Slideshow

My husband John and I jumped at the opportunity to go on this pilgrimage, not because we consider ourselves to be overly religious, but because we feel as Christians taking a pilgrimage is something we need to do in our lifetime.  I suppose it is something similar to how Muslims feel about going to Mecca.  I’m not sure what we expected, but felt it was something we had to do.  

And boy am I glad we came!  Our guide Iyad is so knowledgeable (the cover on his Bible is practically worn out) and he is deeply passionate about the treatment his people, the Palestinians, are receiving from the Israelis.  I am sure you will hear a lot more about that from Father Jim.  Forget about what you are hearing in our media, we are quite safe and have enjoyed exploring on our free time.  We are here with about 15 other parishioners from New York and California and the groups have blended very nicely.

I’ve been amazed by so many things-everyone’s journey is unique and yet each of them contribute to all of our journey’s.  Does that make sense?  Some of the observations of the group seem to hit me like a shock (not a bad shock, more of turning on a 500 watt light bulb and not expecting it) and I wonder if others feel that way too.  The nightly summations of the day where each of us can share what surprised us or “fed” us have been as meaningful as some of the incredible experiences we’ve had during the day.  

On the first day one of the parishioner’s from NY, said that he was struck by the human need for the tangible—proof if you will for everything we can’t see.  He then said it hit him that day that despite the need for the tangible, the reality was that “the resurrection is within me.”  What a wow moment!!  

We’ve seen where our Lord was allegedly crucified and buried, followed by a visit to Bethlehem  where most believe he was born.  And these locations are extremely moving and aroused surprising emotions.  Yet, I know that if I’d never seen these places, I’d still believe.  However, I never would have thought of it as the resurrection of our Lord living within me.  Without coming on this journey at this time and with this group, would I have made that discovery about myself?      

- Nancy DeDona