End of Week Two
Thursday 25th February Last night in our Lent Service we reflected briefly on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5). The traditional site for the Sermon on the Mount is this place:
It’s called Mount Beatitudes and it’s no distance at all from Capernaum. There’s a good flat slope up on top, perfect for assembling a crowd – a natural amphitheatre. Luke calls it the ‘Sermon on the Plain’, and some people are keen to point out that we can reconcile the two when we look at the flat area on this mount. More likely, I think, Jesus preached the same sermon several times in several locations, tweaking it each time for the particular audience. And that’s why in our Bibles the words vary a bit between the four Gospel-writers.
More interesting for me is the ‘negative altitude’. From the summit, looking down at Capernaum, we feel high up. We are 200m above the water level of the Lake. But what we don’t realise is that we’re 25m below sea level!
I think that’s a fun fact considering Jesus is preaching about the reversal of fortunes, and how the meek and lowly will be exalted, and the proud and haughty brought low. Sometimes we might have to re-think our station in God’s upside-down (or should that be right-ways-up) Kingdom.
The Franciscan church atop the mount has landscaped and maintained a beautiful garden for pilgrims to stop and enjoy. Let’s pause for a moment and ponder those words of Jesus:
When Jesus[a] saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5
Friday 26th February You might not have heard of Tabgha, the ‘Seven Springs’. We can set out the boat if you like, it’s just a short hop from Capernaum along the northern part of the Lake. After all, you can’t come to Galilee and not get out on the water.
Tabgha is associated with two events in Jesus’ life. The first is the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fish. There’s a good space here for 5000+ diners, but it’s too remote to nip into the neighbouring villages to buy food. Fortunately, Jesus had it under control!
This mosaic at the Church of the Multiplication is iconic, and you can buy your own souvenir here if you like: a key-chain, postcard, dinner plate, framed print, apron … just remember to haggle!
The second event is Jesus’ fourth resurrection appearance. Peter and his companions had returned to their old lives fishing in Galilee after Jesus’ resurrection. And then this happened:
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin,[a] Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards[b] off.
9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
If you’re feeling hungry, there are several restaurants serving up delicious ‘St Peter’s fish’, which I think is tilapia, fried with salad and chips.
Peter features in the next verses of John 21 also. Many Christians have detected in Jesus’ command to ‘feed my sheep’ and a prediction that he too would be executed. The other local church here in Tabgha is dedicated to St Peter for this reason.
A very special experience for pilgrims here is to celebrate Holy Communion, either in one of these churches or down on the shore itself. Maybe if we start saving our pennies we could do it for real, after Covid is under control and we can get travelling again?
Sunday 28th February Join us at 10am for morning worship live from Christ Church, Castlerock @CastlerockDunboe
Next week beginning Monday 1st March, we’ll venture a little further from the Lake on a few day trips. Before we know it, it’ll be time to set our faces towards Jerusalem.
Greek this Week 