Galilee Reflection

As mentioned in my blog my contribution to the Reflection was a poem which I have included here.

Galilee Reflection

As we travelled down to Galilee

a place we knew of but did not understand

I wondered what we'd find there

in this restless desert land.

I found a place where there was life

on land as in the sea

a place where Jesus once did walk

in this land of Galilee

The little town of Nazareth

and the cave beneath the hill

a place where the Righteous man was buried

and the town where Jesus lived.

The home of the little brothers of Jesus

a quiet and peace filled space

with Mass amongst the trees and shade

in the town where Mary was filled with grace.

To Sepphoris and Tiberias, places new and old

but places where Jesus once walked

and reminding us that we are also told

to prepare for the Kingdom of God

Like Peter and James and John we got into the boat

and moved across the ancient sea

so calm that day but not always

like our lives, our work, our dreams

For like the three and all the others

we now walk with the Risen Christ

down from the Mount with a new vision of life

to bring Good News to all

The Sermon on the Mountain

brings hope to all the world

but also reminds us to go much deeper

than simply living the letter of the law.

and so we came to the waters of Dan

to the source of the living stream

to the Jordan where once our Saviour was baptised

so that we could renew our own baptism and also start again

In our journey onward we met again

the face of Palestine

the face of our sisters and brothers

who have no peace at this time

Whose lives are lived in poverty

and who live the words of the beatitude

blessed are the poor in spirit

but wonder when the kingdom will be theirs

And finally we climbed to Mt Tabor

the holy place of God

with Moses, Elijah and the three

we knew the face of God

Our drive back to Jerusalem

our thoughts were many and varied

we'd seen the places where Jesus walked

with others by his side

But we also saw within our day

there are many who still have not seen

that with the Christ there is new life

but our words can start the change

For in that place we also knew

the gift from God above

that if we trust and truly believe

the kingdom will come and filled with love

all people will be set free

Mike Delaney

September 2013