Lord, it is good that we are here

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Over the last year, I had the opportunity to minister at a hospital and an elder care facility. One of the greatest challenges (and blessings) of this ministry was walking with women and men who were struggling with various types of suffering. Much suffering associated with illness seems unnecessary and is often inexplicable; there are no easy answers to explain why pain, illness and suffering are a part of the human condition. However, one of the greatest gifts of our Catholic Christian faith is that our God chose to become human in the person of Jesus. As we know, Jesus experienced much unnecessary and inexplicable pain and suffering. Today, we visited the spot where the Incarnation, and thus Christ's full participation in the human condition sans sin, became possible. It became possible because of Mary’s fiat—Mary’s, “let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). She spoke these words despite not fully comprehending what was being asked of her. Is Mary’s fiat an invitation to all of us to accept God’s will in our own lives even when we don’t fully understand what is being asked of us?



After visiting the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, we drove to the top of Mt. Tabor, the traditional site of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. Atop this beautiful mountain, we had the opportunity to celebrate Mass in the Church of the Transfiguration. Above the altar is a striking mosaic depicting the words spoken by Peter from atop this same location, “Lord, it is good that we are here” (Matt 17:4). Each of us gathered atop the mountain today would readily echo these words of St. Peter. For it was good to be there to celebrate the liturgy, to gaze upon the beautiful valley and to feel the cool and refreshing breeze. As I continued to ponder these words of St. Peter and the rest of the story of the Transfiguration—particularly, that Jesus invites his disciples back down the mountain with him. And so I thought perhaps, “Lord, it is good that we are here” may be an appropriate mantra for us to repeat throughout our daily journey. Is this an invitation to find the good in each day? to find the good in ordinary and familiar places? to find the good in the people that drive us crazy? to find the good, hidden away within ourselves? Lord, it is good that we are here upon this earth, thank you for blessing us in so many ways…

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Photos

[Here] the Word became flesh (John 1:14)
Inscription on the altar of the Church of the Annunciation; the word "hic" ("here") is added because this is the traditional location of the House of Mary and her "fiat" upon hearing from the angel Gabriel.

Salve Regina
One façade of the church contains all the words of the Salve Regina; we sang the Salve as we stood here in Nazareth earlier today.

1st Century Dwelling (Nazareth)
Foreground area is the family home, background is the cave where animals would have been kept. This is likely the type of cave/home in which Jesus would have been born in Bethlehem. No room in the "home" portion, but room for the child Jesus to born in the "cave" where animals were kept.

"Xe Maria"
This "Ave Maria" etched into the stone is from a early 2nd century pilgrim to Nazareth.

Stainglass of angel appearing to Joseph in a dream
Church of St. Joseph (Nazareth)

Painting of the Holy Family
Church of St. Joseph (Nazareth)

Church of the Transfiguration
From the bottom of the mountain