Light in the Galilee

“It is not merely our own desire but the desire of Christ in His Spirit that drives us to grow in love. Those who seldom or never feel in their hearts the desire for the love of God and other men, and who do not thirst for the pure waters of desire which are poured out in us by the strong, living God, are usually those who have drunk from other rivers or have dug for themselves broken cisterns.”

― Thomas Merton, No Man Is an Island

I'm thinking today about the rivers I drink from, and how I might return (again and again) to the river of God's grace, the river of Christ's courage.  How easily I turn to despair for a deep gulp, or to cynicism, or to an almost overwhelming need to assign blame to SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE.  But the river I love most is freer and sweeter, and it alone renews my soul and sets me free.  "It is not merely our own desire but the desire of Christ...that drives us to grow in love."  I think of him now, walking these streets, following the curves of these hills.  I think of his courage in loving God with all his heart and soul.  I think of his tenderness in edgy times.  I think of the love that has no end.

And that's my river.  That's the one.

One stop today was Mount Precipice, a site that recalls Jesus' dangerous escape, early on, when he chooses grace and commits to liberation.  Sorry for the goofy photo-op; but it had to be done! 

Mount Precipice, Nazareth

LUKE 4: All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’” And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff (precipice). But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

Jim Hollister on Mount Precipice

Suzanne McLean reading from the Gospel on Mount Precipice

LUKE 4:  Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Mosaic, Zippori

Ghassan Manasra with Rabbi Paula Marcus

Mount Tabor in the Galilee (Mount of Transfiguration)

MARK 9:  Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 

The light here in the Galilee is bright today, and the air is sweet with pine and spices.  It's a welcome relief for many in the group--who've been confounded and saddened by so much of what we've seen and heard this week.  Of course, we have it rather easy: we will pack up our luggage and return to the States next week.  I'm struck by the courage and perseverance of folks like Ghassan Manasra, Rami Elhanan, Amal Nasser, Sam Bahour and Usama Zoughbi--who will remain here, in this holy and suffering land, working for one another and hoping for peace.  May the light of this day shine especially bright and warm on them and those they love!