A New Normal - A New Lent

Three days before Ash Wednesday 2017, there was a change that happened. It came without fanfare, without pomp and circumstance.  It would forever impact my life, my family, and my heart, but it was disguised as ordinary life.  On that day, February 26, 2017, Mom was admitted to the hospital, never to return home.  While this moment was unexpected and alarming, I did not anticipate the path we were on, and where it would lead.  Life became Lent, and Lent became my life, although I wouldn't truly recognize this until much later.    

And so it goes . . .

Church of the Transfiguration - Israel

Life has been rather surprising the past 6 weeks.  When I started writing my Christmas letter for 2015, my focus was on my pilgrimage to the Holy Land, as most everything else in my life was the same . . . At least at that moment in time.

Advent 2015 began much the same as previous years - focus on preparation, worrying about getting things done, and trying to remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas.  There were Christmas parties to plan, and reconciliation service to attend.  It was especially memorable to think that I was preparing for my pilgrimage to the Holy Land just one short year ago.  I felt a new connection to Mary and Joseph and their journey to Bethlehem.  

The week of Christmas was when life took an unexpected turn.  A casual inquiry about a job quickly became an interesting dilemma.  I wasn't looking, and it showed up.  Lots of prayer and thinking happened over the next days.  It quickly became obvious that this could be a huge opportunity for me, which was both scary and exciting.  Despite the fear of change, I felt called to this move.  This was the opportunity to focus on my passion and dream - a full-time job with a basis in my Catholic faith.

Holy Land - One Year Later

A year ago on the Feast of Our Lord's Baptism, I was boarding a plane from Omaha, on the trip of a lifetime.  My dream of visiting the Holy Land came true much sooner than I ever imagined it would.  Yesterday's readings had another layer to them, reading about the Jordan River and remembering how we all renewed our Baptismal vows there.  What an incredible experience!

Here is a little compilation of some highlights:

A new view of Palm Sunday - Part 5 - Easter!

Continued from Part 4.  I know that the reading of the Passion ends with Jesus being laid in the tomb.  Thankfully, that is not where our salvation story ends.  Indeed, it is because of the suffering and death of Jesus that we can celebrate in Our Savior's Resurrection.  Yesterday, we experienced the silence of the tomb.  Today, we are called to celebrate in the Eternal Life of God.  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

A new view of Palm Sunday - Part 4

First view of the dome of the Church of the

Holy Sepulchure

Continued from Part 3.

Calvary.  I don't know what I expected, exactly.  A desolate mountain or a lonely hill.  Something separated from reality, I guess.  The Church of the Holy Sepulchure contains both the locations of Jesus' death on the cross and His Resurrection.  I had not realized how closely situated these places really are.

A new view of Palm Sunday - Part 3

Continued from Part 2.

Branch from a thorn plant, similar to which would have
been used for Jesus' crown of thorns.  Ouch!

I have never enjoyed playing the part of the Crowd when we read the Passion of Our Lord.  "Crucify Him, Crucify Him!"  I don't want those words to come out of my mouth.  Yet, how easily I forget.  When I gossip or make a hurtful comment, I am crucifying Jesus.  When I desire something that isn't mine or I act with greed, I am nailing Him to the cross.  If only I could wrap my brain around the idea that my actions are screaming, "Crucify Him!" when I choose sin.

A new view of Palm Sunday - Part 2

Statue of Jesus

Continued from A New View of Palm Sunday

Until my pilgrimage to the Holy Land, I never thought about the time frame of events surround Jesus' Passion.  After celebrating the First Eucharist, going to the garden, Jesus' was arrest and awaited both religious and civil trials.  What about the time in between?  We saw a cistern that was likely used to hold prisoners and enemies of the chief priests and elders.  There were cave areas that appeared to be cells and torture chambers.  Being in that space, it was easy to image how bleak and desolate it would have been.  The feelings of abandonment and fear were readily present.  

A new view of Palm Sunday

On Palm Sunday Road

It's been 77 days since I began my journey to the Holy Land.  In some ways, it seems like it's been ages since I went.  But I usually get a little nudge from Scripture that takes me back there.  With Palm Sunday's Gospel of Jesus' Passion, I got a great big wallop!  The scene begins with Jesus entering Jerusalem on a colt.  This would have been on the road, now called Palm Sunday road.  I remember when we walked it, long and winding.  It appears much different today, paved and narrow, with walls and fences.  Our guide described the likely scene with Jesus and the crowds and the branches.  I understand why we use palms - there are lots of palm trees in Israel!  It makes sense :)

View from Palm Sunday Road

Holy Land pictures

Your patience is appreciated - here we go!  I tried to pick out the highlights, but there are still a lot of pictures involved.  I would be happy to go through any and all of my pictures and share my experience in the Holy Land with you more in depth.  What an amazing opportunity!

Holy Land - Best of

Life

Back home.  I didn't want to leave Israel, but I'm glad to be home.  Today, in particular, I am aware of my blessings.  I have so many gifts, for which I am grateful.  My faith, family, and friends top the list.  In today's Gospel, Jesus calls the disciples, and I immediately was transported to the Church of St. Peter's Primacy, along the shore of the Sea of Galilee.  I can hear the waves lap the shore, and I can imagine how Jesus might have seen things.  Wow.

On this day of my birth, I am in awe of the gift of life.  What a blessing we are given, to do with as we will.  We can spend it any way we want.  I'd like to think that while I'm still learning and growing, I'm emphasizing God over self.  I pray that I can continue to hold on to this desire, long after the excitement of my pilgrimage fades, which I suppose it will at some point.

Thank you, God, for giving me life.  May I continue to honor You, first and foremost in my life.

Day 11

We have arrived home from our incredible journey.  We might be a little tired and bedraggled, but hopefully we return wiser than when we left.  I'm not saying that a person must leave the country to change, but I do believe that we must continue to journey, in our own way, in order to grow.  That mentality doesn't require any passport or visa.  

I still want to pinch myself to be sure that this hasn't all been a dream.  I was reading the meditation for today in connection with today's scriptures.  The Gospel talked about the man with the withered hand. The commentary referenced other times Jesus healed, including the man at the pool of Bethsaida!  We were there!!!  Craziness.

On the flight back, I was asked about my next destination.  I smiled to think about what might be next . . . The footsteps of JPII and St. Faustina or Lourdes or who knows!?  Maybe I will visit every place or one or none of them.  The point is that it is not the destination as much as the journey.  Life is to be lived, in whatever way God calls.

May we all have the strength and courage to live that call.  "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Day 10

Day 10: Jan 20, Tel Aviv - USA
Transfer to airport for the flight home with memories to last a lifetime.

Today was a free day.  Because our flight doesn't leave until 11pm, we have until 5pm to explore, relax, or do whatever.  My desire was to revisit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.  Ate breakfast, and then 3 of us took a taxi to the Jaffa gate.  I headed to the church and they headed to the Dome of the Rock.

The scene was quiet and very peaceful.  Upon entering, I didn't see anyone.  I headed straight to the tomb.  At first I didn't see anyone there, so initially I was unsure if it was open.  As I came to the entrance, I saw two or three people inside the angel room.  I entered, and we moved into the inner room.  We had time to kneel and pray, without being rushed.  Pretty incredible.  I walked around the inside of the church to the stairs.  Once again, I "climbed" Calvary.  There were maybe 3 or 4 people praying.  I was able to go right to the hole where the Cross stood and pray there.  I found a corner spot and settled in to pray, meditate, and write.  Only downside:  the marble was pretty cold!

Day 9a

Day 9 continued:

We went to St. Peter in Gallicantu (which we didn't do Sunday).  This was an amazing experience as well.  We were in the courtyard and home of Caiaphas, where Jesus was condemned in the religious trial (he also had a civil trial).  In the country there is a statue that shows Peter denying Jesus.  Inside the church, you can look down into an old cistern.  At the time of Caiaphas, it was used to hold people for punishment.  This was a very deep hole, maybe 10x10 (I'm bad at estimating) and the only way in was through a small opening high above.  The condemned were lowered in from the top by a rope.  It is believed that in between the time Jesus was condemned by Caiaphas late Thursday night and Friday morning, he was kept in this space.  There was also a nearby area that had pinions in the wall, so as to tie someone up for the purpose of torture.  We cannot know for sure, but it seems very probable as Jesus was seen as an enemy of the Jewish rulers at the time, and would likely have been punished and tortured.  We listened to Psalm 88 while in the cistern.  Try reading it while imagining being in such a space, tortured, alone, and scared.

LORD, the God of my salvation, I call out by day; at night I cry aloud in your presence.    3 Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry.   4   *For my soul is filled with troubles;          my life draws near to Sheol.     5 I am reckoned with those who go down to the pit;  I am like a warrior without strength.     6 My couch is among the dead,  like the slain who lie in the grave.     You remember them no more; they are cut off from your influence.     7 You plunge me into the bottom of the pit,  into the darkness of the abyss.     8 Your wrath lies heavy upon me; all your waves crash over me.  Because of you my acquaintances shun me; you make me loathsome to them;  Caged in, I cannot escape;   10 my eyes grow dim from trouble.     All day I call on you, LORD;   I stretch out my hands to you.     11   *Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the shades arise and praise you? 12 Is your mercy proclaimed in the grave,  your faithfulness among those who have perished?* 13 Are your marvels declared in the darkness, your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?    14 But I cry out to you, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.     15 Why do you reject my soul, LORD, and hide your face from me?     16 I have been mortally afflicted since youth;  I have borne your terrors and I am made numb.    17 Your wrath has swept over me;    your terrors have destroyed me.  18 All day they surge round like a flood;  from every side they encircle me.     19 Because of you friend and neighbor shun me;  my only friend is darkness.

Day 9

Day 9: Jan 19,  Jerusalem: Via Dolorosa - Holy Sepulchre  
Theme: The Way of the Cross, The Crucifixion, The Resurrection
This morning we start the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross) at the Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate. From there He was taken through the city to be crucified. The Stations of the Cross lead, through the markets of the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Here is the site of Calvary and the Tomb of Christ. Mass will be in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. After breakfast visit the Church of St Anne’s, the Pool of Bethesda and the Sisters of Zion. This afternoon there will be time to revisit the Old City. Dinner and Overnight.

Wow.

Wow.

Wow.

I could switch to Hebrew, if you want.  Sababa (awesome).  This has been an amazing pilgrimage, and I a) don't want to leave, b) I already want to come back, c) am overwhelmed with all of the experiences.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers on my journey.  

Today began early as we walked the Stations of the Cross before we celebrated Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at 7AM.  We entered the Old City at the Damascus Gate (called that because it faces in the direction of Damascus in Syria).  We began at the Antonio Fortress where Jesus was condemned.  Stations 1-9 are noted on the sides of buildings, because some of the sites would be inside places that pilgrims can't access i.e. a Muslim school building.  It was impactful to be out in the dark and mostly quiet streets, praying the stations, singing, and meditating on the journey of Jesus.  Because of the tensions between the major denominations, the last stations can't be prayed in the church, so we did 9-14 at the 9th station before heading to the church.

Day 8a

Continued:

We visited the Western Wall - that was an interesting experience.  We were able to go up, men and women in different sections, to pray by the wall.  There were all kinds of people there, from ultra-conservative on.  We learned that the prayers that are left in or around the walls are picked up and burned twice a month.  The wall is the closest you can get to the Holy of Holies inside the original temple, but this wall is not part of the original temple.  It was added on by Herod the Great, in his attempt to outdo Kings David and Solomon.  We had to go through metal detectors to enter the area, but it was very easy.  

Next we ate another delicious lunch, at a restaurant that had an Italian feel.  Seemed a bit odd in the middle of Israel, but something new for us!  We then visited Mount Zion, where we saw the Last Supper Room.  It is also the room where Pentecost happened.  Christians can only celebrate 2 times a year in this place - Holy Thursday and Pentecost.  Underneath the area there is also a place claiming to house King David's tomb, but there is no archeological support to back that up.  

Day 8

Day 8: Jan 18, Jerusalem: Mt. Of Olives - Gethsemane - Mt. Zion - Western Wall 
Theme: Palm Sunday and the Agony in the Garden 
From the Mount of Olives take in the panoramic view of Jerusalem. Then to the Pater Noster shrine, where Jesus taught His disciples the Pater Noster — The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-4). Walking down the Palm Sunday Road stop at the beautiful little church, Dominus Flevit - “The Lord wept.” It was here that Jesus wept over Jerusalem [Luke 19:41]. At Gethsemane reflect on Jesus’ final night. The Garden contains trees, the roots of which go back to the time of Jesus. Visit the Church of All Nations to pray at the “Rock of Agony,” a section of bedrock identified as the place where Jesus prayed alone in the garden on the night of His arrest. Visit the Western Wall, to see all that remains of the Temple compound that dates to the time of Jesus. From here we will continue to the house of the High Priest Caiaphas where He was interrogated and imprisoned. Now called Peter in Gallicantu (“crowing rooster”), this beautiful Church also commemorates Peter’s Denial of Christ, his repentance and then being forgiven by Jesus. After Mass we will go up to Mt. Zion to visit the Upper Room, which commemorates the Last Supper. Nearby is the Benedictine Church of the Dormition. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Pre Day 9

Bright and early . . . well, not bright, but it was definitely early!  

http://youtu.be/Gxe7MExZhAs

Reflections

I woke up early, and wanted to capture some thoughts.  This pilgrimage has been so touching and unreal.  At times I have felt as though I/we rush through some of sites, or that I should 'feel' more at a certain place, though some of the logistics can't be helped.  Yet, I can cry at a simple phrase during Mass, or become overwhelmed when I reflect on what I've seen and touched and where I've walked.  As one of our priests commented, we will never celebrate Christmas in quite the same way after having seen and touched the place Jesus was born.  I find this to be true of our celebration of the Mass, and it will be even more so after we visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Our lives are different.  Hopefully, improved because we are open to God.  There is a definite opportunity for softening to God, and it feels much more tangible here.  Probably, because, as my sister put it, my soul is more alive in such a holy place.  Our hearts are burning, as the verse from Luke says,

'Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?”'

Today and tomorrow we focus on the last week of Jesus, Holy Week as we know it.  I don't know if words can capture the anticipation I feel.  Such love.  So, my prayer of reflection is a favorite verse on God's love from Ephesians 3:17-19:

"Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.  Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.  Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."

Sababa - awesome.

:-)

Day 7

Day 7: Jan 17, Bethany - Masada - Dead Sea
Theme: Early Years in Jerusalem & the Wilderness
This morning drive down the Jordan Valley to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Take the cable car to the top of Masada to learn about the heroic last stand of the Zealots. Afterwards there may be time for a dip in the Dead Sea for those who want to. Drive through the Judean Wilderness where Jesus spent 40 days fasting, and it is in this area that John the Baptist lived and baptized Christ. Then to Bethany where He raised Lazarus from the dead. Celebrate Mass here before returning to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Bus ride to Masada.  On the way we saw the Dead Sea, which we visited later.  Masada is another area that exists thanks to Herod the Great (aka 'Bob the Builder' according to our guide).  It was a fortress that Herod built as a potential refuge, although there isn't any proof that he stayed there. Quite a feat of engineering, especially since Herod liked his comforts.  There were enough supplies to last 2years. After Herod died, it was abandoned until zealots went there to avoid the Romans (much more history to it, of course).  Roman soldiers surrounded the fortress and were finally able to breach it.  All inside were dead, except two women and some children who were hidden in a cistern, because the zealots chose death over slavery.  There is a movie about this which was recommended by our guide.  And we had to ride a cable car to get to the fortress.  There was an extensive path up the mountain, which people could hike up.  Very extensive palace and fortress.   Believe the area is a national park.

Pre Day 8

Greetings!

http://youtu.be/FdGzruUJhD4