THE DEAD SEA

On Saturday, we had the opportunity to travel to two significant places. The first was Qumran, the location where between 1947 and 1956, 972 ancient texts were discovered which are known today as the Dead Sea Scrolls. As we explored the vast dusty mountain side, we began to see how it was possible for these scrolls to have survived for over 1900 years. The lack of humidity, and the remote location of the caves provided for the perfect opportunity for the scrolls to go undiscovered and naturally preserved for so long. After we explored Qumran, we, as a class, moved to the famed Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is the lowest place of land on the entire planet. Located at 1,401 feet below sea level, major water sources from the area naturally empty into it. This causes a massive amount of salts and minerals from the land and mountains to wash into the sea. And, because of evaporation, this means that the salinity of the sea is so great that nothing lives in the sea.

For those who wish to swim in the sea, they soon discover that one naturally floats upon the water, and they also discover that getting the water into their eyes or any open cut is a painful experience one hopes never to experience again! Reflecting upon the significance of the Dead Sea on our pilgrimage, a homily given years ago by one of my old parish priests came to mind. In the homily he spoke of how the Dead Sea receives water from different sources which naturally empty into it. However, because the Sea keeps everything it receives, it becomes so salty and infused with minerals, that it is incapable of supporting any life within it. So too can the life of a Christian become if we hold onto everything we receive, and yet do not remember to let our gifts then naturally flow from us to others. God has given each of us many gifts and talents in our lives. We are to use these gifts in our lives and our interactions with our fellow brothers and sisters. If we choose to not use those natural gifts, but rather hold onto them deep within our hearts, than we may too find ourselves like the Dead Sea, not having life within us, but being bitter and stagnant. With the grace of God, let us always ask and seek to receive Jesus Christ and the gifts God has blessed us with and remember to then let those things flow from us, into the lives of others.