I go ahead of you to Galilee...

I tried three times over the weekend to try and write something: they all ended up in the trash. I suspect my problem was too much time, as both Saturday and Sunday were free days! Friday's class was on the Triple Tradition parables (those parables that appear in Matthew, Mark & Luke). Yesterday, we did a second trip to Bethlehem to let it "soak" in and to pray. We couldn't get to the grotto because of Masses. Today, we're heading northeast to Galilee. We're going to try and do a movable feast: those parables that only appear in one Gospel. The picture is of the main Church of the Nativity, which belongs to the Greek Orthodox. Divine Liturgy is going on up front; the trapdoors you see expose 4th century mosaic floors, on the right. We have seen a LOT of mosaics: these are particularly stunning for their vividness and detail.

Here is our schedule for the week. It is, as always, subject to change!

• Monday: Beth Alpha, Nazareth (Basilica of Annunciation; Church of St. Joseph), Cana
• Tuesday: Mass at Mt. Tabor @ 9, Sepphoris, Horns of Hatton
• Wednesday: Mass @ St. Peter's House @ 10, Tagbah, Mount of Beatitudes and Coraizin
• Thursday: Bethsaida, Caesarea Philipi, Golan, Dan
• Friday: Kursi, Belvoir , return to Jerusalem