Meal to share

Meal to share

Supported by my family in the Netherlands I had the privilege to travel to the Holy Land. While in Jerusalem at the Ecce Home convent I booked a room at the Scottish Hostel in Tiberia. I travelled by bus and next day I took a taxi to Tabga on the lake of Galilee.
On arrival I was invited to concelebrate at the Mass with some American pilgrims outside the church of St Peter. The theme was "Do you love me?". It was a wonderful experience to answer that question on the same place where Jesus asked Peter that same question.
After Mass I asked Fr Thomas, a dark francican priest from South Africa, where the nearest shop to buy some food. "Still no shop here", referring to the time Jesus was asking his disciples to give food to the thousands of people around. They said there was no shop at that place. What followed was the miracle of multiplication of the bread or of "Sharing a meal".
Fr Thomas said, " come back at one o’clock for lunch". I had more than an hour to spare so I walked/climbed the mount of the Sermon towards the church of the Beatitudes. Again an emotional experience to hear on top of that mountain the words of Jesus, "Happy/Blessed.."

Just before one o’clock I was back at the friary when I saw a woman whom I met after the Mass in the morning. Her name was Rosemarie from Corpus Christi in the States. I told her I was invited for lunch. She wasn’t. So I went to Thomas and said that there was a woman outside he could also invite since the francicans were known for their hospitality. He said OK.
And there we were: Fr Thomas with a lay brother from Hungary, Rosemarie and myself, enjoying a lovely meal of meat and fried aubergine/eggplant, a small miracle of "Sharing a meal."
After the meal Rosemarie and I went to the church next door. In front of the altar there was the famous mosaic of the Loaves and Fishes. As a present Rosemarie gave me a replica of the mosaic of the Loaves and the Fishes. I use this mosaic plate when I celebrate Holy Mass with my friends.

See the picture above and read the gospel of the 17th sunday of this year 2009.

God bless,

Fr. John Heijnen 26.07.09