Exploring Italy: Day 3 – Witnessing God’s Miracles in Pisa and Lucca

part of the Medieval Walls of Pisa — known as the Mura di Pisa (12th Century)

The Leaning Tower of Pisa and Pisa Cathedral

Pisa Baptistery of St. John (Battistero di San Giovanni), Pisa, Italy

the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo di Pisa)

the pulpit inside the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Pisa by Giovanni Pisano

the interior of the Church of San Francesco in Pisa, Italy

Study Travel to Italy Day 3:

Telling the Stories of God’s Work in Our Lives

Scripture: Read John 2.1-12

Our Friday began early with a four hour drive from the mainland of Venice through part of Tuscany to Pisa.  There, in the UNESCO Heritage Site, we saw the leaning tower (and some climbed to the top), the Church of Saint John, the Baptistry of Saint John (some  toured inside); saw the medieval wall around the Field of Miracles and so much more.  The Baptistry is separate from the church as the early church required baptism for entry into the church.  One highlight of the Baptistry was hearing a staff member sing notes around the altar which produced beautiful music throughout the interior with the rising and bouncing of sound.

The last picture is of an interior of the Church of San Michele in Lucca.  There are over 100 churches in Lucca. 

One of the stories we were told was how the church was always open to anyone.  When people were homeless and without identified family, they were buried in the church cemetery.  The people of Lucca noticed a grape plant growing on one of the graves of an unnamed person. They would hardest and eat the grapes, eventually making the wine of the region.  The people believed this was a miracle of God.  They had never seen plants continuously grow over the site of any graves.  They ended up digging up the grave and bringing the remains of the deceased into a proper burial in the chancel area of the church.   Since the person’s name was not known; they named the person the Saint of Wine.

We have heard many stories of God’s miracles and works throughout our travels.  God has made God’s self known in individual persons and communities.  Stories of God’s workings are never far from being retold.  It made me pause and wonder about how we see God at work in our lives , in our church and in our community.  And, how do we share what we have experienced of God?

The Bible is full of stories of God’s workings; one that we read in the Gospel  of John today with the miracle of turning water into wine.  We have and will continue to hear stories of God’s  workings throughout the centuries in our travels in Italy.  We know that God is also at work in our present day and lives.  How are we keeping these stories of God alive in our retelling?

Prayer:

Dear God,  we know you have been present before us, now with us and will always be in the days to come.  As we take in the stories of how you have worked in the world in centuries past, may we be mindful of the ways you work in our lives and world today and take time to share your presence with others. Amen.