Nazareth & Ibillin

Today's blog has been written by the Reverend Roy Knight who serves Romney First United Methodist Church in Romney, West Virginia.

From Roy:

For me, the day starts with quiet reflection in the hotel garden.

"And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene." and "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?"

I wonder how different a city Nazareth will be from these other Galilean lakeshore villages. We associate Bethlehem with the birthplace of Jesus. We might remember that Capernaum was the dwelling place (mostly) for the adult Jesus. But Nazareth? It turns out that Nazareth was crucial in Jesus' young, formative years. Then, Nazareth was a very small out-of-the-way village of maybe 500-700. Today Nazareth has a population of 75,000!

With Nazareth on a rocky hillside, many a renovated cave formed these early homes. The one and only spring is to be found a short distance away. It would have been to this spring that Mary would have daily traveled to get needed water. More than likely on many a day the young Jesus would have accompanied her.

While many a holy sight we've seen is "traditional," this one is "the real McCoy." If that even matters. To the Eastern Orthodox, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary here and therefore they have built a church around this well. The Western Church maintains that Gabriel visited her at her home. Here, they built a church over what presumably would have been her and Joseph's home. The first is known as the Church of St. Gabriel. The latter is the Church of the Annuciation.

But the feel of Jesus being a child at play in a small dwelling with perhaps relatives living with or beside him, makes him more identifiable. In other words, in what ways have my family nurtured me? What friends, what relatives with whom I once lived contributed to who I am now and to who I am becoming?

And, speaking of childhood and the man from Galilee, there are other children, and another man from Galilee whom I was priveleged to meet this afternon. Fr. Elias Chacour (affectionately known as Abuna "our father") has for many years founded and maintained a school for all children: Christian, Muslim, Jews and Drues. Founded on the New Testament teachings of hte Sermon on the Mount, Abuna envisions an Israel that lives in peace. Our small group felt that we were truly honored to meet a man who truly is another man "from Galilee."

It seems that it is possible to live a Christ-like life in a culture of hatred, bitterness, and division. How our group can thank God for allowing us to catch a glimpse of the Kingdom today: children of all backgrounds excited to meet and greet Americans, multicultural staff committed to teaching and living together--and a man who loves and embodies grace.

I end my day once more thankful for this generous gift that I have been given, that we have been given.

This pilgrim band blessed each other for another day, with another day---and now a sabbath day of rest for each of us begins tomorrows. God is good

All the time.

All the time

God is good!

With You on the Way,

Roy Knight