Our interfaith group left Boston's Logan airport Sunday evening at 6:00 pm on Air Iberia bound first for Madrid and the on to Tel Aviv. After a long day of travel, which included an hour's delay in Madrid, we landed in Israel at 4:30 pm local time, 9:30 am Hingham time.
Our first stop was atop Mount Carmel in the Beautiful port city of Haifa. Mount Carmel was the site of Elijah's definitive route of the prophets of Baal in 1st Kings. Elijah had challenged the prophets of Baal to a duel of sacrifices. Both parties were to prepare their sacrificial animals and place them upon their respective altars. The sacrifices were to be set ablaze by praying to their respective deities.
The prophets of Baal went first. They prayed and screeched and shrieked, but received no answer from Baal.
Now it was Elijah's turn. He upped the ante by drenching his altar and the sacrificial animals with water. Elijah then cried out to the Lord, the God of Israel. His prayer was heard, and his sacrifice was completely incinerated.
Our group was officially welcomed to Israel and participated in a blessing ceremony on this glorious and important site.
It was then off to dinner and a good night's rest.
Father Tom Mulvey
- Posted from my iPad using BlogPress
Location:Haifa
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