HOLY LAND TLM PILGRIMAGE – Day 3: Primacy of Peter, Pan, NOT Peter Pan

Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee.

What it sounded like.

 

Today we explored Peter.

It is Quinquagesima Sunday, but because we were at the place where the Lord appeared to the Apostles after the Resurrection, and Christ interrogated Peter about his love, we used a Votive Mass of the place.   Here are three of the originally 12 heart-shaped stones at the beach.


This is where the Lord undid Peter’s betrayal by his three-fold interrogation.

John 21: [15] When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon son of John, lovest thou [ἀγαπᾷς] me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee [φιλῶ]. He saith to him: Feed my lambs. [16] He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou [ἀγαπᾷς] me? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love [φιλῶ] thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs. [17] He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou [φιλεῖς] me? Peter was grieved, because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou [φιλεῖς]me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee [φιλῶ]. He said to him: Feed my sheep. [18] Amen, amen I say to thee, when thou wast younger, thou didst gird thyself, and didst walk where thou wouldst. But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldst not. [19] And this he said, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had said this, he saith to him: Follow me. [20] Peter turning about, saw that disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also leaned on his breast at supper, and said: Lord, who is he that shall betray thee?

In the church, in the clutches of Franciscans, is the “Mensa Christi”, a stone which was, so it is said, “Christ’s table” where he gave the Apostles something to eat on the short of the Sea of Galilee after another miraculous catch.

We then journeyed to this mysterious and tremendous place, formerly a shrine of Pan, Caesarea Philippi.    Here, at the mouth of a cave, once the very outlet of a source of the all important and symbolic Jordan River, Christ asked, “Who do men say that I am”?  Peter made the right response.   May Peter, still with us, truly make the same response always.

A reconstruction of the area, near the border of Lebanon.   The area is surrounded with fenced off areas with “land mine” signs.

Up on the Golan Heights we stopped for lunch in a Druze village.

On our way back to Tiberias, we stopped at an overlook into Syria, where there are the remains of a once Christian village destroyed by so-called “freedom fighters”.  Let us not forget the Christians in Syria.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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17 Comments

  1. capchoirgirl says:

    Thank you so much, Fr. Z, for sharing photos and videos with us!

  2. Fallibilissimo says:

    Fr Z! Thank You so much! I’m loving these short clip, really great! God Bless you and everyone with you on pilgrimage.

  3. rhig090v says:

    What cool and blessed experiences! Thank you for sharing, Father.

  4. Spinmamma says:

    Surely the guardian angels are helping your group with these amazing photos! And most certainly the Holy Spirit is inspiring your words in the short clips. Awesome. Thank you.

  5. Spinmamma says:

    And, I must add, how beautifully your sweet spirit shines through in these candid clips.

  6. Kathleen10 says:

    Superb. That has to be surreal, morning on the Sea of Galilee, and those birds. Birds should sing sweeter where Jesus walked, and they do. It is noticeable, to these American eyes, that the shoreline is thank God not covered in condos and waterparks. It all seems relatively untouched.
    Be safe, be well, God be with you. We’re coming along.

  7. teachermom24 says:

    God bless and keep you, dear Fr. Z! I had the privilege of living in Israel for four years and recently took my sons back for a pilgrimage. I am greatly enjoying your photos, videos and commentaries of places so dear to me. Many, many prayers for continued safety and God’s blessing on the rest of your pilgrimage.

  8. JustaSinner says:

    Unfortunately, it has been the Assads’ and their Ba’athist party that had protected Christians from Islamic slaughter. ANOTHER reason to NOT give up the right to bear arms.

  9. Cy says:

    Who does Francis say that Jesus is? Who did BXVI say that Jesus is?

  10. Mariana2 says:

    Thanks, Father! Spiffy! Sights and sounds that I never thought I would hear. Also, it’s much greener than I expected.

  11. acardnal says:

    I really enjoyed your two minute recording of birdsong. Fascinating sounds!

  12. teomatteo says:

    I also liked the birdsong, “but not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it…”

  13. Kansan says:

    Being included in this pilgrimage by viewing and listening to these detailed posts is such a blessing!
    Thank you Fr. Z!

  14. Suburbanbanshee says:

    “Behold how, in Peter, the sheep find a taste of eternal life at the voice of their true shepherd! … A soul does not see that pasture unless, believing and confessing, she has followed in Peter’s footsteps.”

    Apponius, Explanation of the Song of Songs, lib. 2.

  15. Priam1184 says:

    Peter’s Primacy is one of the coolest Churches I have ever been in: how those big rough stones where Jesus actually cooked a breakfast of bread and grilled fish for the seven disciples after his Resurrection actually form a part of the Sanctuary itself. Father is it possible for priests to offer Mass in the Church itself, in that Sanctuary?

  16. Zephyrinus says:

    Rest assured, dear Reverend Fr, that many, many, people are closely following your Pilgrimage and your Video Posts.

    Thank you, as always, for your Traditional teachings and encouragements.

    May The Good Lord and His Mother always watch over you and Bless You.

    Zephyrinus.

  17. Semper Gumby says:

    Thank you for the audio of birdsong in Galilee and videos. An inspirational pilgrimage.

    A brief word about the last video and Quneitra. The strategic Golan Heights were wisely captured by the Israeli Army in the pre-emptive 1967 war (the Heights were used by the Arab armies to invade Israel in 1948 when it declared independence). In the 1973 war an overwhelming Syrian force attacked the Israeli “Barak” brigade (reinforced with elements of the 7th brigade) holding the forward position around Quneitra. Over the next 48-72 hours the Barak brigade was destroyed by the Syrians in a heroic and epic battle (known as the “Valley of Tears”) that bought the Israeli Army valuable time to mobilize reserves (some reservists grabbed their gear out of their closets, hitchhiked to the Golan, and went directly into battle in damaged tanks that had been more-or-less repaired).

    The photos of lunch with the Druze recall that many Druze serve with distinction in the Israeli Army, often volunteering with special operations units. Bedouins also serve in the Israeli Army as trackers on the Lebanese border and in the Negev.

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