Nazareth and Cana

Today was our first full day of the Tour. We did a LOT worth noting, so there is no short way to do this without leaving lots of stuff out. So, if it is too long, well, enjoy the pix!

It started with breakfast, of course, and an interesting one at that! We learned last night about "Dairy" versus "meat" meals. Traditional Jewish law prohibits eating beef and milk in the same meal, so you either have beef or anything dairy, but never both. Breakfast is a "dairy" meal, so the proteins are eggs, cheese (lots and lots of cheese), and fish. (Obviously no bacon or sausage!) There was goat cheese, cream cheese, and at least a half a dozen other kinds. If dinner is a "meat" meal, they won’t serve coffee lest someone put cream in their coffee. And don’t expect any ice cream to follow dinner! :-O

We got on the road at 7:30, heading first to Caesarea Maritime, which was becoming a major seaport about the time of Christ. It is also the site cited where the first Gentile (non-Jew) was converted to Christianity. We sort of saw the harbor (but most of it sunk into the sea after an earthquake. We did see the Theater seating 3500, which was in very good shape, and still in use for various productions. We did not get to see the aqueduct.

We continued on to Mount Tabor, about 70 minutes by bus. This is where it is believed that Jesus was transfigured and appeared with Moses and Elijah with three of the Apostles. All the Bible really says is that they went to a high place, but given the previous place mentioned was Caesarea Philippi, and where they were going (Jerusalem), and this is a "high place" in between and about the highest in the area, it’s a good guess. A few centuries later, church leaders went back and asked locals where it happened, and the verbal history was recorded as a location (recurrent theme for most of these places). Accurate? Maybe. Maybe not. But it gives a sense of the place, even if we might be 10 miles off. On the mountain top, the Franciscans built the three "booths" that the Apostles wanted, although in the form of a church with three different chapels. We celebrated Mass in the chapel for Moses. Theresa did one of the readings, and got compliments.

We went to Nazareth, about 11 miles away. Nazareth is about 60% Muslim and 40% Christian, with almost no Jews. That’s rather odd since it was where Jesus grew up. We had lunch first, which was a very nice spread (and not really over-priced). There was bread and water and a very good soup (some kind of chicken consumme with root vegetables), then spaghetti (with meat AND parmesan cheese), and finally the main course, beef roast with potatoes. It was REALLY good! Dessert was coconut macaroons.

 

Nazareth is where Mary was when the Archangel Gabriel announced what was to come. (And where Jesus lived as a child.) There was a beautiful basilica there, with a rendition (primarily 2 dimensional) of Mary from many different countries—Beautiful paintings, mosaics, etc. Then there was the one from the US…uh, what happened?? Not the most beautiful work! I have a picture, but I’m not taking up digital real estate on this blog for it. If you want to see it, let me know. In the basilica, below the main space, there was a "grotto" (or cave) where "tradition says" is the spot where the Angel Gabriel spoke to Mary. The whole of Nazareth at that time was less a city block, in which 300+/- people lived. So, it might not have been THE spot, but within a few hundred yards to be sure.

We were shown through the museum which included an excavated "home" or at least the cave part of it. The homes at that time were typically natural caves that were covered over by branches and such to make a roof or entrance. Then different spaces in the "cave" were earmarked for different uses. The notion of having a barn was extravagant to say the least, so when the weather was inclement, the animals were simply brought inside. They provided heat for the people in cold weather, and during storms, the animals were safe. But, you don't put them in your "living room" or "bedroom", you put them in the back or bottom, the equivalent of a basement.

 

Then they presented an intriguing alternate version of the Birth of Christ. In those days, it was a societal expecation that travelers and strangers were treated with courtesy and given whatever hospitality one could provide. So, people did not stay in hotels or "inns", but rather in whatever home was nearby when it was time to retire for the day. And the literal translation of the language the Gospels were initially written, never had the words "inn" or "stable" or "manger". It said something to the effect that there was "no room in the 'house' or 'living area'". By the time it was translated into English, that essentially meant (to that culture) an inn, as was customary for travelers by then. But it is far more likely that Joseph and Mary stopped at someone's house. As many people were traveling that time for the census, all of the houses would have been full, with people taking nest anywhere there was floor space. When it was time to give birth, Mary had nowhere for privacy but to go to the "basement" where the animals were. The notion of an Innkeeper shooing them along or sending them to a barn is a little inconsistent with the reality of that era.

On another paradygm changing notion, the original text of the Gospels were Greek, and classified Joseph as a "tektron" or "builder of buildings". Again, by the time the Gospels were translated in Europe, buildings were wooden. So, one who builds wooden structures (if you are to assume a "building" is wooden) must be a carpenter, right? Except wooden buildings were rare in that time, rather they were mostly stone, with the lack of trees for ample lumber, and the abundance of rock. The only wood used would have been furniture. Joseph was a "builder" not a furniture maker. So, most likely Jesus was also a builder working with stone, not wood.

I hasten to add neither of these proposals (born in the back of a cave/home; or stone worker) are particularly important to the message of Christ on this Earth.

We then headed to Cana. This is the place where Jesus turned the water into wine, His first "public" miracle. There are all sorts of details to get into, but this is hardly the format, and I suspect the post is already to long. So, I will simply mention that there is a special connection for Christian married couples and Cana. So, it was fitting to renew our vows there. Fr. Dennis (host for this trip) led a special service for our group, and allowed the couples there who wanted, to renew their wedding vows. It was surreal and amazing to think, in this place (plus or minus a few yards or miles), Jesus attended a wedding, and started His ministry. We then went across the street to a vendor who gave free samples of wine, and of course sold some, too! The bottle had a label identifying it as "Cana Wedding Wine" and was a neat idea. Unfortunately, the wine he served must have been the earlier vintage, before Jesus got involved. It was WAY too sweet.

Since we do not have internet right now, we plan to post this in the morning before we head out. Tomorrow we start 15 minutes later, but don't need to check out, so it should be an easier morning!