Holy Land Pilgrimage: The Chosen Roadmap

 The Christian Triangle

 

Church of the Primacy of St. Peter, one of the churches in the Christian Triangle

I’m a huge fan of The Chosen, this phenomenal multi-season series about the life of Jesus and the disciples He hand-picked to follow Him. It has made Jesus so much more relatable and real to me. During mass, I would recall scenes from The Chosen mentioned in the gospel. The bible passages then come alive. They also become more vivid because I had seen those places during our pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

 

The last episode of Season 2 of The Chosen was about preparations for the Sermon on the Mount. The most touching scene for me was when Jesus told Matthew how the Beatitudes relate to his disciples and that it’s a roadmap for us to find Him. While watching that episode, I remembered Bro Arun Gogna giving us a short talk about Jesus’ sermon right on the site where it happened. It was our modern-day Sermon on the Mount.

Feast Builder Arun Gogna giving pilgrims a short sermon on Mount of Beatitudes

The Mount of Beatitudes (also known as Mount Eremos) lies on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Our tour guide said the Church of the Beatitudes is one of the three churches that form the Christian Triangle. The church's floor plan is octagonal with each side representing one of the 8 Beatitudes.

The octagonal-shaped dome of the Church of Beatitudes

 

The stained-glass upper windows are inscribed with the Beatitudes in Latin. A stunning feature of the church is the alabaster and onyx arch over the altar.

Alabaster & onyx arch over the altar of the Church of Beatitudes
and stained glass windows with the Beatitudes in Latin

 

The second church forming the Christian Triangle that we visited was the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes in the Tabgha (Ein Sheva) area. It is traditionally known as the place where Jesus fed the 5,000.

Church of the Multiplication of Loaves & Fishes in Tabgha, Israel

 

Under its altar is a block of limestone venerated as the “Table of the Lord”. On the altar floor is a 5^th century mosaic of 2 fishes flanking a basket of bread.

Limestone Table of the Lord & 5th century mosaic of basket of bread
flanked by 2 fishes at the Altar of the Church of Multiplication

Allow me to tell a side story on how this miracle impacts my faith journey. Dallas Jenkins, creator of The Chosen, told his story about the lowest point in his career and the two impressions from God his wife received at that time: the Miracle of the Feeding of the 5,000 and “I do impossible Math”. Out of the blue, a Facebook friend he did not know very well sent him this message: “Remember your job is not to feed the 5,000 it’s only to provide the loaves and fish.” Every time I feel my abilities are inadequate for the things I need to do, I always anchor on this statement and simply rely on God’s impossible Math. I trust God will take care of the 5,000.

 

From the site of the Feeding of the 5,000, we went to where the resurrected Christ fed his disciples. Also in the Tabgha area is the last church in the Christian Triangle, The Church of the Primacy of St. Peter. When we entered the church, I was struck by the sight of a nun hugging the rock in front of the altar like her whole life depended on it. While everyone else merely touched the rock in prayer, she was lying on it for a deeper embrace. It was the most touching image of faith that I witnessed on our first full day in Israel.

The Mensa Christi at the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter

 

The rock, known as “Mensa Christi” (Latin for Table of Christ), was the one where Jesus built a bonfire to cook breakfast for the apostles by the Sea of Galilee. It was the third time He appeared to them after the Resurrection. The Church of the Primacy of St. Peter was built on this rock and part of it is exposed at the altar. It also marks the spot where Jesus reinstated Peter.

 

Touching that rock and dipping my fingers in the waters of the Sea of Galilee were my “tracing Jesus’ footsteps” moments that day. I was where my Lord was, I felt what His hands have touched.

Pilgrims on  the rocky shore of the Sea of Galilee