Following Jesus

Jesus spent most of His public ministry preaching; on one occasion His pulpit being Peter’s boat on the Sea of Galilee. There Jesus tells His disciples, “Duc in altum” – launch into the deep water and, “I will be with you.”

With Christ, losing ourselves into His love and strength, we are able to do great things. His guidance and love make all things possible so that one day the world will truly become “Thy Kingdom Come.

There is a chapel in the ancient city of Magdala, Israel, where one can experience these words of Christ. Appropriately call Duc In Altum, the place of worship and gathering, Duc In Altum overlooks the Sea of Galilee. Through a wall of glass one sees a large altar in the shape of a fishing boat similar to those used by fishermen at the time of Jesus. Entering the chapel, up on the altar the priest saying Mass faces us as we look out onto the water.

During the consecration, the priest raises the host in his hands. It is then as we adore Christ that He seems to say to us, ”Go out, continue my work; I will be with you. Together we will love and live as one with all we meet as we journey to the Father.”

Our response cannot be anything other than, “Yes Lord, I will follow You wherever You will lead me.”