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.