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We began this sunny morning with an outdoor Mass in the grounds on the Mount of the Beatitudes. The place was buzzing with plenty of pilgrims from all around the world.
The Mount of the Beatitudes Church is octagonal inside and is actually quite small and there was a constant flow of pilgrims.
Then we travelled north to Caesarea Philippi near the border of Israel and Syria. There had been some doubt as to whether we would make this journey today due to air missile attacks in this area early on Thursday morning. Caesarea Philippi is now a national park and more commonly called Banias as was a site dedicated to the God "Pan" and was considered to be the gates of hell. There is no church here, in Jesus' time this place was a city of paganism, it was modern day Las Vegas!
We sat under shady trees and listened to the reading from Matthew 16:13- "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of man is?'And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But you,' he said, 'who do you say I am?' Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community.
It's interesting that Jesus brings his disciples to "Las Vegas" for this conversation. Our guide Rami explained that he was preparing them for when he had gone. His disciples had followed him for 3 years and he is showing them who he is, and what he wants them to do. He brings them this pagan gentile city because he is giving them the example that this is to be their mission field. Evangelisation to the gentiles. "Peter on this rock I will build my church" showing them they need to get out of their comfort zones as this is where God is calling them to bring the faith.
Let's pray in thanksgiving for the missionary disciples that have followed the call and brought the faith to our countries of New Zealand and Australia.
I can feel Jesus asking me the question ... Who do YOU say I am? ... and I wonder - Who does Jesus say I am?
Caesarea Philippi - ruins of temple to god "Pan." You can see the area is very rocky ... brings new perspective to Jesus saying to Peter "on this ROCK I will build my Church."
Good bye (in hebrew הֱיה שלום) to the Sea of Galilee, tomorrow we travel to Jerusalem.