Holy Land Pilgrimage: Annunciation to Transfiguration

Church of the Annunciation

 She said “Yes”.

 

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” – Luke 1:38

 

These were Mary’s first words recorded in the bible and this is where it happened – the childhood home of Mary in Nazareth. The remains of her home are now preserved in the crypt of the Church of the Annunciation. This magnificent church pays homage to the humble maiden whose singular act of obedience changed the course of our faith – from its Madonna Lily-shaped dome to the floor-to-ceiling icons made and donated by different nations that adorn its lofty walls. It is awe-inspiring.

Images of Mary on the walls of the upper church

Awe changed to gratitude upon my descent to the lower church, to the Grotto of the Annunciation where the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary.  The altar in the middle contains this inscription: “Verbum Caro Hic Factum Est” (The Word was made flesh here). As I prayed in front of the grilled gate that protects the room, I thanked our Blessed Mother for her willingness to be God’s vessel. What our tour guide said rang true for me: this is why she is so well-loved by Catholics. We honor her for her role in man’s redemption.

Grotto of the Annunciation

Out in the courtyard, we viewed the Gallery of Madonnas. Like those in the upper church, the icons were mostly mosaics depicting Marian devotions from around the globe. Our group had a “proud to be Filipino” moment. Right by the entrance gate across the main door is a beautiful mural from the Philippines.

Mural from the Philippines
Courtyard Gallery of Madonnas

Just a short distance away from the Church of the Annunciation is the much smaller and somber Church of St. Joseph or the Church of St. Joseph’s Carpentry. It is built over the remains of the Church of Nutrition, a Crusader church, and over a cave system. In its crypt is the House of the Holy Family where it is believed they lived after their return from Egypt.

House of the Holy Family

The stained-glass windows depict scenes in the life of St. Joseph like his marriage to Mary.

Marriage of Mary & Joseph
Stained glass window at the Church of St. Joseph

 

It also displayed paintings of the Holy Family’s life. I was particularly charmed by the one with the young Jesus helping Joseph in his carpentry shop.

Holy Family in Joseph's Carpentry Shop

Then she said, “Please.”

 

If Mary’s first of seven words recorded in the bible were spoken at her house, her last two were spoken at our next stop, in Cana.

 “They have no more wine.” “Do whatever he tells you.”

 These verses are part of the gospel of John 2:1-11 the whole of which is inscribed on the walls along the road leading to the Wedding Church.

 

Walls in Cana 

It was not yet His time, but the dutiful son succumbed to His mother’s “Please”. Though unspoken in the bible, there must have been some form of “please” from her. The Wedding at Cana episode in The Chosen portrayed this beautifully. I always play that scene in my head every time I ask Mama Mary to intercede for my petitions. Jesus just can’t say “No” to her. Mary’s words also remind me to follow whatever Jesus tells me to do in any circumstance.

The Cana experience would not be complete without a wedding, so we had one. It was really a renewal of vows for the two couples in our group. We also got to see the jars that may have been like the ones Jesus asked to be filled with water.

 

Wedding Church

After lunch in Haifa, we visited Stella Maris Church where there was a memorial for Elijah, a venerated cave under the altar. 

Stella Maris Church

Across the church is the San Francisco Observatory. It was to this area Elijah sent his servant to look for clouds during the drought. We had a sweeping view of the Mediterranean at a spot where he could have stayed to look for a sign of rain.

 

View of the Mediterranean from Haifa

Mt. Tabor at dusk was our last stop for Day 4 of our pilgrimage. I’m glad we were there at the last hour. Aside from having less people around, the church awash with light was a sight to behold.

Basilica of  Transfiguration

 

It was at the Basilica of Transfiguration that I had my second “tracing Jesus’ footsteps” moment. At its crypt is an altar and fragments of a wall of a Byzantine church. Tradition holds that the rock floor is where Jesus stood during the Transfiguration. Our preacher, Bro Arun Gogna said Jesus knew the horrible death He was facing. Letting his apostles witness the transfiguration was His way of giving them hope.

Crypt of the Basilica of Transfiguration

Holy Land Pilgrimage: Sailing the Sea of Galilee

 

It’s not every day, not even every year, that you’d get to be where the Son of God displayed He was Lord of all. What a privilege it was to be on a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee where Jesus calmed the storm. That was the highlight of Day 3 of our pilgrimage. The boat stopped right in the middle of the sea and Bro Arun Gogna gave this talk after he read from Mark 4:35-41:

 

“Storms in the Sea of Galilee occur very quickly just as they happen in our lives. In this reading, God is sleeping through the strongest storm in the New Testament. The purpose of the storm is to steal your awe. When Jesus calmed the storm, the apostles returned the awe to the one it really belongs to, the one who has control over it. Storms happen even if Jesus is with you. Every time we enter a trial, Jesus is there. Following Jesus, even when there is a storm, brings inner peace.”

 

It was Papa’s dream come true – to be at the exact location of one of his favorite bible stories so he asked for the chance to share his own reflection:

 

“Because of its geological situation, violent storms commonly happen in the Sea of Galilee. It was during one of these tempests when the apostles feared for their lives as Jesus slept. When they woke Him up, He calmed the storm. God never promised us a problem-free life when we follow Him. His assurance is we will arrive safely at our destination.”

 

Reflections on Jesus Calming the Storm

After disembarking from the boat at the Capernaum National Park, we visited the Yigal Allon Centre, a museum in Kibbutz Ginosar.

 

Yigal Allon Centre in Kibbutz Ginosar

The museum houses the ancient Galilee Boat also known as the Jesus Boat. It is a wooden fishing boat from the 1^st century believed to have the same dimensions as the one Jesus sailed on in the Sea of Galilee.

 

Ancient Galilee Boat or the Jesus Boat

It wasn’t that big so I can just imagine the fear of the disciples when they were hit by a violent storm at sea. And imagine their awe when the storm stopped at Jesus’ command. For someone like me who succumbs easily to sea sickness, I can envision not just their relief but also their gratitude Jesus is there through our storms.

The last site we visited for the day also lies on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Capharnaum (K’far Nahum – Village of Nahum or Capernaum), the Town of Jesus, as they call it.

 

Capharnaum, the Town of Jesus

There we saw the Synagogue of Capharnaum, ruins of a late 4^th century A.D. building also called the White Synagogue which is built upon the remains of the Synagogue of Jesus.

 

Synagogue of Capharnaum

Further down the street from the synagogue is St. Peter’s Church (also called the Pilgrimage Church of St. Peter), a modern hexagonal Franciscan church. Beneath this church are the archeological remains of a first century structure believed to be the House of St. Peter, the home of Jesus while He was in Capharnaum. The site is revered as “the first church in the world”.

 

Franciscan Church of St. Peter with the
archeological remains of the House of St. Peter 

Walking through the ruins was taking a step back in history, to a time when Jesus walked around this town.

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

Holy Land: The Ultimate Pilgrimage – Traveling with Super Seniors

Our first glimpse of the Mediterranean from Jaffa, Tel Aviv

With the world opening once again, it’s time to thank the Lord for tiding us over this pandemic as we shake the dust off our travel bucket list. As for us at We Fly, we’re gearing up for our first post-lockdown Holy Land pilgrimage.

It must be every Christian’s dream to visit the Holy Land. For me, a trip to this sacred place where Jesus and other biblical heroes walked is the “ultimate pilgrimage”. I don’t use the term loosely. Holy Land is after all, the best imaginable connection to the history of our faith.

I, for one, had this at the top of my bucket list. My Papa, from whom I inherited my itchy travel feet, shared this dream. In 2017, my then 87-year-old father and I were blessed to join the Holy Land Pilgrimage headed by our Feast Builder Bro Arun Gogna. 

Chapel of the Ascension

Being there in the cradle of our faith made my spirit soar. To see the rock from which Jesus ascended,

The Ascension Rock, a slab of stone believed to be the one Jesus stepped on
before ascending into heaven. It is said the impression on it is His right footprint.

the rock where He cooked fish for His disciples,

Mensa Christi or the "Table of Christ" at the altar of the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter.
It is the rock believed to be where Jesus cooked breakfast for His disciples
on His 3rd appearance after the Resurrection. 

the rock before which He knelt and sweat blood knowing the suffering that awaits Him

The Rock of Agony at the Church of All Nations

are more precious to behold than the most expensive rocks – diamonds – in the world.

Israel is known for its high quality diamonds but they pale in comparison
to the rocks that played significant roles in the life of Jesus. 

“Ultimate pilgrimage” because it was also Papa’s last trip abroad. In 2020, he suffered a stroke and would now at 91 find it more difficult to join a pilgrimage dragging his walker around. One thing I realized in this pilgrimage with him is that we should prioritize the Holy Land in our travel list. Papa traveled all over the globe in his day and yet put this off until he was quite old. He almost missed the most meaningful trip of his life.

In this first of a series of blogs on the Holy Land, I’d like to share what it’s like traveling with Super Seniors. No, not “Super” as in having superpowers and who wear their undies over their pants but those who would soon get a 100k cash gift from the government, the 20% discounters in the upper age bracket. Let’s call them the SuperS.

If you can manage it, I highly recommend not to wait until you or your parents are super seniors to go on this trip. But if you really can’t go earlier, here are traveling with SuperS tips gleaned from our misadventures to help you not just survive but enjoy the trip. 

Misadventure #1 – The MIA (Missing In the Airport) SuperS

When we landed in Istanbul to change planes, the flight attendant asked if the SuperS (there were 5 in our group) needed wheelchairs. My aunt, not feeling up to the long walk to the gate of our connecting flight, asked for one. Seeing the motorized wheelchair, we were confident she’d get to the gate way ahead of us. We thought she was the lucky one because the other members of the Wheelchair Gang who opted to walk made slow, tiring progress. Imagine our distress when my aunt was nowhere to be found when we got to the plane. Apparently, the wheelchair attendant dropped her off in the wrong place. Thankfully the airline crew was very helpful. They had my aunt’s whereabouts traced and sent a motorized airport employee to fetch her. She came onboard just a few minutes before takeoff!

Tip: Use the wheelchair, it’s very helpful in big airports but give clear instructions to your SuperS and the wheelchair attendant where to go and remind them about the flight details. Do not assume the attendant would know where to bring them.

Misadventure #2 – The MIA Combination

Related to the above wheelchair incident, here’s my own misadventure. Thinking I was being the thoughtful niece, I offered to bring my aunt’s carry-on luggage. I didn’t know how long the walk was since it was my first time in the Istanbul airport, so I struggled with 2 carry-ons the whole trek. Then, I had a face palm moment when we got to the boarding gate because there was a luggage check. At that time, they were strict with flights going to Israel. And silly me, I didn’t have the combination to my aunt’s bag. Good thing God didn’t allow additional harassments. It turned out my aunt didn’t lock her bag. Whew!

Tip: Put the SuperS’ carry-on in the wheelchair with them. It will save you both the trouble.

Misadventure #3 – MIAA (Missing In Another Airport)

Our second scare was after we got our luggage in Tel Aviv. The group was getting ready to go with the tour operator when, upon head count, we noticed Papa’s childhood friend was nowhere to be found! Someone noticed him leaving the baggage area. But again, God found His lost sheep. It was no coincidence he was noticed by our tour guide (whom the group hadn’t met yet at that time) looking lost, which he literally was, and had put him on the bus. So, there he was sitting pretty when we all boarded.

Tip: Strap an anti-lost leash on your SuperS while in the airports. Just kidding 😊 But do make it very clear to them not to wander away from the group. Ask a travel buddy to keep an eye on them if you have to go somewhere.

There was a last MIA episode on the first day of our pilgrimage but of a very light degree. Our tour guide took us, minus the SuperS, on a very, very (did I say very?) long walk - about 5 kilometers - through downtown Tel Aviv to the marketplace, Shuk HaCarmel. We survived the trek, but no one wanted to walk back anymore so the tour guide arranged for 3 taxis to the hotel. The first group went in a big taxi which looks like the Israeli version of our jeep. It had other passengers and the driver assured our tour guide the route passes the hotel. When the 2nd & 3rd group arrived, group 1 wasn’t in the hotel yet. It took quite a while till they got back. Their story: the driver dropped them off about a hundred meters away and just pointed them in the direction of the hotel.

It was a minor misadventure, but it inspired this reflection from Desi, one of our pilgrim-mates: The Lord will not allow any of His sheep to be lost. He is there to guide our lost brethren back, be it literally or spiritually.

Our first day in Israel was not only about getting lost but also of making our way after a loss. It's significant that our first stop was St. Peter’s Church in Jaffa.

St. Peter's Church in Jaffa which commemorates the raising of  Tabitha from the dead
and marks the traditional site of Peter's vision of the Great Sheet
(depicted on the painting in the altar) from Acts 10

Before we entered, our tour guide explained it was from Peter’s vision after losing Jesus that the universal church started. Bro Arun said this is meaningful to us as Feasters because it is our mission to bring home the unchurched. Cornelius in that reading was an unchurched who became a devout follower. Truly, God finds His lost sheep.

Other Traveling with SuperS Tips:

• ·        Safely secure the SuperS’ carry-on bags on top of a luggage with wheels. One of our SuperS tripped on a carry-on dangling from her luggage and almost fell headlong.
• ·        Liniment is life. Bring them! We were always last on the bus because of Papa’s aching knees. It would have relieved him a lot if I had some with me.
• ·       Make sure the SuperS’ shoes are very comfortable, preferably those with additional cushioning and arch support. Towards the middle of our pilgrimage, Papa gave up on his shoes and was a funny sight walking around in his friend’s aqua shoes with toes.

Papa in his borrowed aqua shoes

• ·        If you’re escorting your parent or another SuperS, I suggest you prepare for it physically. Do some workouts before the trip so you’re strong enough to assist them and be fit for long walks and climbs you may want to take on your own. In some places, Belle, my cousin and our tour operator, kept all the SuperS with her, treated them to ice cream while entertaining them with stories about the places they can’t climb so I was able to go uphill with the rest of the group.

And finally, savor the time you’ll get to spend with your SuperS. The Holy Land will make both of you realize what a great gift God has given us in His son.

Bucket List Blessings: Osaka and Kyoto

From top left clockwise: Hogwarts Castle, Universal Studios Japan, Osaka; Kyoto Golden Pavilion - Kinkakuji Temple; Osaka Castle; Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto

Do you have a bucket list? I do because it’s been said you can’t be truly
happy unless you know what it is that your heart desires. Not only did I
specify the details, I would pray over it regularly. And God has been ticking off some items from my wish list during my travels. In the last leg of our Japan trip, I had several bucket list blessings:

1.   Japanese Cheesecake

Japanese cheesecake? On my bucket list? You read that right. It’s not even the gourmet kind. It’s the P250 (at the time I wrote it down) kind in Bread Talk. Now why would that be on my bucket list you may wonder?

You see, like many women who were suddenly thrown into solo parenthood, I went through dark financial times. I wrote about this Palpitation to Donation Journey in my book, The Happy Solo Kit: Tools and Supplies You Need to Survive Solo Parenting Without Losing Your Marbles. Those were the times I would get palpitations every time I made my monthly budget because my funds just wouldn’t reach till the next month. It was also during that time I was taking my Masters in Entrepreneurship in AIM when a classmate gushed about this cheesecake. It would have been a luxury to buy that so I promised myself I will buy it someday. I probably could’ve sacrificed funds for something else just to taste it. My mother even offered to buy one because she felt such pity for me. But I refused. I made it a motivation to reach that financial level where I can easily afford it. Eventually, I did get to taste that Japanese cheesecake.

But that’s not the big event. I don’t even remember the time it happened. What I do remember was God’s better version of ticking off the Japanese cheesecake from my bucket list. In later years, I heard about Pablo Cheesecake which again stirred my cravings. When we got to Osaka, I asked our guide to take us to Pablo. And I got my Japanese cheesecake right from Japan. Bucket list checked with God’s bright pink ballpen!

Pablo Cheesecake shop in Osaka

2.   Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Butterbeer

Ever since I first heard they were recreating the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios, I included that in my Novena to God’s Love as part of my family travel goals. Like Star Wars, Harry Potter movies were a must-watch for my children and I. Naturally, Universal Studios Japan was highlighted in our Osaka itinerary. Lucky for us, our guide Toyoko suggested we purchase the Express Pass. It was Halloween Week when we were in USJ so there was a massive crowd. 

Entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

We made it to the Forbidden Journey ride just in time because of our Express Pass. Now that was a ride I would not normally take because I’m prone to motion sickness. But hey, it was a ride right inside Hogswart and you get to walk through the castle before the ride. I just had to do it afraid. Good thing I did, it was quite an experience and I didn’t get queasy at all.

Door to Dumbledore's office in Hogwarts

Walking around Hogsmeade Village... 

Owl Clock Tower in Hogsmeade

Boxes and boxes of magic wands at Ollivanders

...and tasting ambrosia a.k.a. butterbeer WITH MY CHILDREN was indeed an answered prayer.

3.   Ninja Village

Would you believe that one of my favorite tv series when I was young was The Samurai? It’s a Japanese historical fiction dubbed in English. It was about the adventures of Shintaro and his side kick, an Iga Ninja master. So imagine my excitement when our guide asked if we wanted to visit the Iga Ueno Ninja Village. It was just an hour away from Osaka, so it was perfect for a half day tour.

For me, it was one of the best places I visited in Japan because of the peek into that part of Japanese history. We were given a tour of the ninja house and told about the secret hiding places and passages. I was totally fascinated as I felt I was hiding right there with Shintaro. I’m sure my boys enjoyed it too as they listened with rapt attention to the guide. 

The Ninja House with its many secret passages and hiding places for weapons

Twinning hairstyle with the Ninja guide

There was also a museum that exhibited ninja weapons, tools, and garb. 

Lastly, there was a very entertaining and hilarious show that displayed the skills of ninjas. I felt bad we weren’t allowed to take photos of the show and all I captured was the show’s poster.

4.   Kyoto

After visiting the Ninja Village, we were off to Kyoto to see some temples and the Bamboo Grove. 

The early nightfall added to the air of serenity in the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove  

While preparing for our trip, I updated my bucket list to include the shopping street in Arashiyama. One of my yoga friends described her family’s visit there and their discovery of this almost magical chocolate shop just off that street. I wanted to look for it but sadly we got there late and had little time to explore. But I still enjoyed the leisurely stroll down the whole length of the shopping street in the early dusk and checking out its quaint shops. I felt we should have spent at least 2 days in Kyoto to fully appreciate the place.

Shopping Street of Arashiyama

           On our last day, our guide took us to the famous spots in Osaka.

Osaka Castle

Tenjinbashi - Japan's longest shopping street

Namba Parks Shopping Complex

            After our Japan trip, I added 2 more items to my bucket list:

•       See more of Japan like Sapporo during their Snow Festival, experience staying in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) and de-stressing in an onsen (hot spring).
•     Visit Harry Potter Theme Park England. Although we enjoyed the one in Osaka, it just wasn’t the same in Japanese. And I want to drink more butterbeer.

By God’s grace, we will survive this pandemic and we #WillSeeTheWorldAgain as #WeFlyToDreamDestinations .

Travel tip:

·        Get an Express Pass if you are going to theme parks during peak seasons. You will get to see and do more with the time you save.