Day 6 Jericho, the desert & Bethany

Our group departs from Galilee and travels along the Jordan River valley seen in the first photograph.  They stop in Jericho to see the Mount of Temptations. This is the high place Satan took our Lord to when he asked him to do him homage. This is recognized by the rectangular shape on the top of the mountain that are the walls of a Russian Orthodox monastery.  The group had Mass in a classroom at the school of the Good Shepherd Parish which now has only 150 members.  From here we stop for lunch, lamb or chicken kebabs. Then a visit to the sycamore tree to remember Zaccheus and buy some head scarves from the vendors.  
Leaving Jericho our group climbs up from below sea level.  We stop at an overlook to Saint George’s monastery. In these photos in the middle you can see a trail on the opposite ridge. This is the ancient Messianic trail used by Jesus in the first century to leave Jericho and arrive in Jerusalem. It was probably also used by our Lady to visit Elizabeth and by the Hoky Family to travel to Bethlehem. From here they travel through the desert and climb toward Jerusalem, stopping in Bethany on the way.  Here is where Jesus enjoyed the hospitality of Martha and Marg, who anointed him after he raised Lazarus from the dead.  We climb down the slippery steps to visit the tomb of Lazarus.  From here the group travels through the Palestinian territory to check in at the hotel in Bethlehem.