Jesus grew up in Nazareth, but when he began his public ministry he made his home in Capernaum, at the home of Peter. The ruins of this city exist today on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. The exact spot of the house of Peter has been marked since the first century. Today, a modern church is built “floating” above the archaeological excavations of the house, visible through the glass floor of the church. In addition to the home of St. Peter, there is also the remains of the first century synagogue in which Jesus gave the famous “bread of life discourse” on the Eucharist. When read from this part of the gospel of John at Mass. I love hearing the ending of this reading: “And these things Jesus said while speaking in the synagogue at Capernaum,” and there I am literally looking out the window at the very spot.
We left Capernaum not by bus, but by boat. Just as Jesus and the apostles did, we got into a boat and sailed across the Sea of Galilee. It’s great to be out on the water looking back at the shore to get some perspective on where the events of Scripture took place. It all happened in such a small area. We reached shore again on the western side at the site where Jesus appeared after the resurrection. Here there is the church of the Primacy of Peter, named for the exchange between Jesus and Peter where he commissioned him, “Feed my sheep.” It was here that Peter was reconciled with Jesus, getting to profess three times that he loved Jesus to make up for the three times that he had denied him. Fittingly, we priests heard confessions here while the group prayed our daily rosary mediation.
We ended the day with a visit to the church of the loaves and fishes where Jesus worked the miracle of the multiplication. I was reminded of how it doesn’t matter how little we think we might have. When we bring all that we have to Jesus, we end up with more, with a superabundance. When we’re running low on loaves and fish, it’s good to remember that Jesus is not unaware and can give us what we need. Sometimes though, he chooses to leave a scarcity for a time. Perhaps this is so that in feeling our need, we would not become content and full of the things that this world offers. In our need, we can reach out to God who will feed us with the true food that really satisfies.
