Wade in the Water, Children...

The following post is from Marie Lee, a member of the Parish of the Epiphany. 

A crisp, perfectly clear morning in Nazareth, still shuttered as we headed north through Cana on our way to the River Jordan. Nazareth is perched at 1500 feet, so it is downhill all the way to get there. We pulled into a small park near the point where the river enters Lake Tiberias, which Matthew refers to as the Sea of Galilee. The river is only about 25 feet wide at this point. Due to the recent heavy rainfall, the ground was quite muddy and the river was wider and faster than usual. Iyad had prepared a bunch of small olive branches, which Bishop Gayle dipped into the river to bless each of us as we renewed our baptismal vows, and then anointed us with oil. Noah Evans, Rector of Grace Church in Medford then bent over the river, slipped a small plastic bag from his pocket, prayerfully releasing the ashes of a friend to the river.

Lake Tiberias with Horns of Hittin in the background

Lake Tiberias, 600 ft below sea level, is surrounded by mountains: the Golan Heights to the north, and the very striking Horns of Hittin to the east, where Saladdin defeated the crusaders (see photo). Our boat ride across the lake aboard a replica of a wooden boat from the first century provided the perfect backdrop for the gospel reading -- Matthew 14 verse 22-36 (the disciples panicking when a storm came up on the lake, and Jesus appears to them.)






Following another amazing lunch (Tilapia the main course) we hiked in silence from the Mount of the Beatitudes down to a flat shady spot overlooking the lake for the celebration of the Eucharist, led by Thomas. A small block of white marble served as our altar. The gospel reading was the Beatitudes, from Matthew chap. 5. Sitting in a semi-circle, we shared meaningful moments from our day, and each served bread and wine to our neighbor.

View from Eucharist site -- looking toward the Golan

As I've listened to the ancient stories -- so familiar and now envisioned anew in these holy places, I've never been more aware of the passing of time and of my fleeting presence. Sharing the Eucharist today, I was both a part of the timeless place before me as well as a member of the body of Christ.

Poppies in the field on our hike down from the Mount of the Beatitudes
to the clearing where we celebrated the Holy Eucharist.