Mt. Beatitude, Church of the Primacy of St. Peter and the St. Peter fish?

Good afternoon everyone! I pray you are having a blessed Sunday!
This morning we had a later start than usual. We had breakfast and then left the hotel at 9 a.m.for a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee (also called Lake Genesseret). We boarded a boat that was an approximate replica of one Jesus would have used two thousand years ago (except it was powered by a big diesel engine:).
While on the boat we read from Sacred Scripture some of the miracle and powerful signs Jesus gave His Apostles. We read about the time Jesus walked on the sea and called Peter out of the boat. We also read about the time Jesus calmed the storm. Shortly before we went back to dock one of the crew members gave us a demonstration of how the Apostles may have cast a net over the side of the boat to catch fish. He tried two times - one off each side of the boat but caught nothing. The boat ride lasted about 45-50 minutes.
We then boarded our bus to go to Mt. Beatitude. We celebrated Holy Mass here and I offered Holy Mass for a special intention and several other intentions, including for all the parishioners of St. Charles. This was the spot where Jesus preached the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are spiritual principles given to us by Jesus that lead us to be happy in this life and to enjoy eternal beatitude in the next life. Mt. Beatitude was crowded. I counted about 15 tour buses there when we arrived. We celebrated Holy Mass on an altar that was outside, but shaded by several trees. The unusually warm weather has continued to stay with us. Our guide mentioned to us the weather is supposed to approach normal temps this Tuesday - the day we leave:)! It has been 10-15 degrees above normal (90-95 degrees) each day. I am not sure what it is like in Minnesota today, but I have not minded the warmer weather considering we have already had a taste of winter with some snow falls back home!
After spending some time at Mt. Beatitude we boarded the bus and went to the Church of the Primacy of Peter. This was another wonderful stop. This church marks the spot where Jesus appeared on the shore of the Sea of Galilee after His resurrection. Peter, John and some of the other Apostles had gone out fishing. The did not catch anything until Jesus (who called to them from shore) told them to try the other side for a catch. They had a big catch - 153 as recorded in the Gospel of John. One commentary I read suggested that the number given indicates the number of nations at that time in the world and these would be among the catch of the Gospel when it would be proclaimed.
The stone on which Jesus has lit the fire to prepare the fish and bread for the Apostles is preserved in the middle of the church. We had an opportunity to venerate the rock and pray in the church. The Gospel account from John was read as well. It was a powerful moment because this also marks the place where Jesus asked Peter three times: "Do you love me?" Each time Peter responds: "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus responds to each time with either: "Feed my lambs" or "Feed my sheep." Jesus then goes on tell Peter the sort of death he would undergo for His sake. The sacrament of penance was made available at this holy site and many in our group made a pilgrimage confession.
The bishop and I shared a light hearted moment that also gave rise to a moment of serious reflection at this site as well. A few days ago we heard a preacher at Cesarea Philippi talk to his group about the confession of Peter. It was at that spot Jesus asked His Apostles: "Who do you say that I am?" Peter responded: "You are the Christ, the only Son of God!" Jesus went on to tell Peter that He is "Petrus" or rock and on him He will build His Church. However, the preacher, as expected, did not make the connection between the rock (Peter), the One (Jesus) who chose him, and the Catholic Church being built upon Peter, our first pope. He instead glossed over the part regarding Jesus building His Church on Peter by referring to Peter as a 'small rock'. Of coarse in a sense Peter is tiny or rather nothing compared (actually there is no comparison) to the Divine Power of the Eternal Rock (Our Lord). However, it is God's choice to share of His power with Peter, and his successors, that we honor at these two sites. The bishop and I wondered out loud if the preacher would bring his group to the spot that marks the place of Jesus' appearance on the shore of Sea of Galilee and shows Peter mercy and forgiveness; and also affirmed His choice of Peter as the leader of the Apostles, as Scripture testifies, and also affirmed Peter as the primary spiritual leader of our Catholic Church and of all Christians (St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican in Rome is literally built on the tomb of St. Peter!). This experience shows how important it is to pray for unity among all Christians under the Vicar of Christ (this is what Jesus prayed for in the Last Supper Discourse in the Gospel of John) and to humbly thank God for all the blessings He has given us through His Catholic Church.
After some time of prayer at the Church of the Primacy of Peter we went to a local resaurant for lunch. We enjoyed St. Peter fish and french fries. This fish is native to the Sea of Galilee and likely the same type of fish that Peter caught and ate many times during his life. It may have been the same type of fish Jesus cooked for His Apostles when He appeared to them on the shore of Galilee after His resurrection. The fish is prepared in a unique way (at least it was for us). It was so unique that guide prepared us for it before the meal. The fish is fried in olive oil whole - that means with head intact, with all the fins and bones intact. The stomach and digestive tract were removed before cooking, however. Once I got used to this idea I looked forward to trying it. After all, this was about as Catholic as a fish could get - to be named after our first pope:)! The fish was actually very good. It looked like a small mouth bass. I think I will try to figure out if it is in the same family as the bass when I get home.
At the end of the meal we were served dates (very good and a little sweet) and a small cup of Arabic coffee. I tried a couple of sips without cream. I asked the waiter for cream and and he suggested to not drink it with cream or for some reason it may not be proper to drink it with cream. I was not sure that I understood or maybe he did not understand. So I asked another waiter. He went to get some cream and then just got busy with something else and never brought it over. Then I asked the manager for cream. The third try was enough and the manager brought over some cream. I then enjoyed a good, small cup (actually, before I left it was three) of Arabic coffee with some cream (or is it the other way around? - some of you may be thinking:). I gave out some green scapulars and I made sure that good manager got one for him, his wife and all his children! Surely he will not lose his reward:)!
We then went back by bus to our hotel, the Scots Hotel, in Tiberius. I woke a short time ago from a 45 minute nap and then spent some time in prayer. Then I decided to write on the blog. This may the last entry before we leave tomorrow. We will not come back to the hotel. We will go to Cana and Nazareth and then on to Tel Aviv to catch our over night flight for Newark. I think I will end up posting the final day of activities here in Israel when I arrive home. Please keep me and our pilgrimage group in your prayers as we move into our last day and then begin our journey home. Be assured that you are in my prayers as well. God bless you and your families!
In Christ through Mary,
Fr. Kasel