This morning we have the most incredible chance to visit a new excavation. The site belongs to the church, in the custody of Padre Juan Solana, LC, a dear friend of Msgr. Vaccari is the future place of the Magdala center, a future pilgrim site, a future church and hostel for 300 pilgrims. The land was purchased recently and the construction of the church began no more than a year ago. After digging for the foundation of the new church ruins were found. Ruins first of what is now believed to be a firs century (the time of Jesus) market place. Once this was found all other work ceased on the location and the focus turned to the excavation. Further excavations found what is now believed to be a first century synagogue. We can be sure of the dating of these finds because of the different coins that were found there. The first century synagogue is believed to be the oldest ever found. Additionally, because of some of the mosaics and other things found there it is believed to have been shared between Jews and the earliest Christians.
After pulling back some more tarps and getting a closer look Padre Juan showed us the best piece of all. He pulled back a tarp covering a large stone with some intricate detail. Because of the details and location we know that at some point it was used as an altar.
Because of the coins and other items that helped date this piece it is believed to be the oldest Christian altar ever found! We know that our Lord lived in Capernaum and that he taught through out Galilee. Because of the proximity of this synagogue it is almost certain that Jesus Christ himself sat and taught in this very spot, and that the apostles broke break and shared the Eucharist on the very altar that was there. As Padre Juan explained all of this to us a very intense emotion of gratitude and excitement came over all of us. Many of us choked back tears as we kissed and venerated this most holy and sacred place and altar. It was a most incredible experience that no one has ever had before our group as the altar was only found a few weeks ago.
Following our visit with Padre Juan we headed over the the sea of Galilee for our boat ride. As we got under way and sailed on the sea of Galilee Fr. Peter has a few of us read the passages from the gospels that speak of Jesus and the Sea of Galilee, the most powerful being Jesus walking on the water.
This was also the spot where Jesus told the apostles to put out into deep, where he called them to be fishers of men. As those words were read from the gospel I am sure each one of us seminarians heard our Lord speaking directly to us, “come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men!”
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