Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The faithful believe John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. And today,
Christians from all over the world come here in droves to affirm their baptism with a dip
in that same storied river.
Churches are built on sites where, for over two thousand years, stories of miracles
have inspired worship. Christians gather to worship on Mount Beatitude, high above Ga-
lilee, where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. “Beatitude” is Latin for “blessing.” And
here, Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are the mer-
ciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called chil-
dren of God.” Peacenik priests and pastors enjoy making the point that Christ said “peace-
makers” rather than “peacekeepers.” Traveling here in the Holy Land, this Beatitude has
a particular poignancy and relevance.
The Church of the Primacy of St. Peter, delightfully set on the Sea of Galilee, is es-
pecially important for Roman Catholic pilgrims. The church is built upon the rock where,
tradition holds, the resurrected Jesus ate with his disciples and told Peter to “feed my
sheep.” For Catholics, this is a very important site, as it established the importance of
Peter—the first pope—among the disciples.
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