Loaves and Fishes and More Food for Thought!

Sunset on Sea of Galilee

Today is Saturday and it’s Day 8 of our Holy Land Pilgrimage.  We are visiting a very familiar area to us all – the Sea of Galilee and Capernaum. Jesus spent much of his time at both places.

The Sea of Galilee is more like a lake because it’s only 13 miles long and 7 miles wide. It was on the shores of the Sea of Galilee that Jesus preached and performed many of his miracles. Remember, he calmed the stormy

Remnant of 1st Century fishing boat

waters and, because of the way the wind blows here, violent storms do occur quickly. The boy who supplied the loaves and fishes (probably sardines) for Jesus in the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes most likely caught them in the Sea of Galilee. We’ll take a boat ride today on the Sea of Galilee and then go the Kibbutz Ginosar. The Yigal Allon Museum is on the grounds of the Kibbutz Ginosar. In the museum are the remnants of a 1st Century fishing boat found on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee in 1986. Two brothers, local fishermen, found the boat

Kibbutz Ginosar as seen from Lake Galilee

during a time of drought and declared that when they uncovered it in the mud there was a double rainbow in the sky. The Kibbutz Ginosar is a communal or collective farm meaning everyone works and lives together in a settlement. This farm is known for it’s ability to produce fruit and vegetables out of season. The soil is very rich in this area.

We will continue on to the ruins of Capernaum and see St. Peter’s house. There was a church built over his house in the 5th Century in the shape of an octagon. Many of the first churches had octagonal shapes. Today, there is a Franciscan church built over both ruins which are now encased in glass to protect them. Five of the twelve disciples were from Capernaum – besides Peter,

St. Peter's house with a 5th Century Church built around it

We continue to Tabgha, site of many of Jesus’ public activities and we visit 3 significant Churches to commemorate these events. to the Mount of Beatitudes to visit the Church of the Beatitudes which is said to be on the site of the Sermon on the Mount. While

Church of the Beatitudes

most scholars believe this is not the actual location but because Jesus spent so much time in this area, they feel it is a likely place. No matter your religion, most have a Golden Rule. What imagery Jesus was able to use in his sermons. Nearby is the Church of the Multiplication (of Loaves and Fishes) which is also built on the ruins of 4th and 5th Century churches.

Lastly, we visit the Church of the Primacy where Peter was named as the first Bishop of Rome. Jesus appeared to the disciples who had been fishing all night and catching nothing. Be sure to follow the link because the picture of the simple chapel is striking on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. There is a picture of stone steps where Jesus stood and they incorporated them into the building of this Church.

Loaves and Fishes mosaic on Church of the Multiplication floor