Western and Central Galilee

Three highlights of today were the visits to the Cliffs of Abel, the remains of the town of Zippori, and Nazarath. The Cliffs of Abel provided a birds eye view of the beautiful landscape of Upper and Lower Galilee. Traveling up and down Galilee requires one to negotiate mountains and valleys. I imagined Joseph traveling across this landscape with his family in tow. Joseph probably took his family to the town of Zippori, where he would have introduced Jesus to the center of culture, and to his craft. Zippori is five miles from Mary's (the mother of Jesus) home in Nazarath, where then Church of the Annunciation is located. The Church of the Annunciation sits atop several cave dwellings in the city of Nazareth, and is a magnificent edifice. It's beauty is complimented by displays of art that depict Mary, from almost every nation in the world. The home of Mary is one of the cave dwellings beneath the Church, and the traditional site of the annunciation. It is considered a holy place in the Christian tradition.

This is the place where Jesus came to know himself among his family and his kin people. This is where I gained a deeper appreciation for Mary. Hail Mary!

Throughout the day I was reminded of how the extraordinary usually occurs alongside the mundane ordinary events of life.