Passion

10/08/11

The Old City of Jerusalem visiting the rest of the places that make up the Easter story – Cenacle (room of the Last supper), Caiphas’ house where Jesus was held after his arrest,  Church of St Peter Gallicantu (remembering Jesus’ denial of Jesus), birthplace of mary, Bethesda, Ecce Homo Convent, via dolorosa and a mass in the Holy sepulchre.

First stop was the wailing wall, were thousands of people come to pray. This is where Abraham offered his son as a sacrifice to the Lord. Christians believe the second coming will happen around here and the Jewish people believe this is where the Messiah will appear. We even had to enter and split up into the women and men sections. Quite a cultural experience hearing and seeing those of different faiths say their prayers.

Room of the last supper – this area would have been where Jesus shared the last supper with the disciples and washed the disciples feet. We were in a crusader era room but it still adds to the mental picture I can now create.

The birthplace of Mary had amazing acoustics and we were reminded of the part Mary played in Jesus’ life – to see her son go through the passion must have been unbearable for her – not to try and protect her son, know the suffering he must endure.

Additionally we visited Caiphas’ house – where Jesus was imprisoned. This area may actually be the original area –we descended down into the pits below, seeing the hole Jesus may have been lowered down into and reading through psalm 122 which closely correlates what may have happened. Outside where the steps that connect the Kidron Valley to Jerusalem, the very steps Jesus would most likely have ascended and been scourged upon. These original sections really speak to me more clearly than some of the recreated sections.

We also visited the remains of the pools of Bethseda where Jesus healed the paralysed man.

Later in the afternoon we entered the Old City via the Lion’s Gate or St Stephen’s gate – the very place Stephen was stoned to death becoming the first martyr.

This led us to another pilgrimage highlight – completing the via dolorosa (way of sorrow) a similar route to which Jesus would have taken with his cross to Golgotha. This route is now some 5 metres above the Roman roads as the city has been built and rebuilt upon itself. One of the early station we were able to go underneath and see some the actual paths from 2000 years ago, inscribed with games the soldiers would have played and the road Jesus may have stumbled through.

 I was privileged to finally carry the pilgrim staff through 5 or 6 stations and was thinking this would have been more like what Jesus would have done – carry one part of his cross. I didn’t realise how closely the stations were located to each other. From station 9 onwards they are all contained in the Holy Sepulchre church – some very sacred places so close to each other – the stone Jesus’ body would have lain in preparation for burial, the very rock of Golgotha where Jesus was crucified, we even got to touch some of the rock. This was an especially moving few minutes spent on our knees, remembering the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for us at this very spot. Finally perhaps the very tomb Jesus was buried and rose again from, although it was only about a one minute stop off in this holy site. We then celebrated a very special mass in a chapel at the Sepulchre – such a special mass so close to these sites of Jesus’ crucifixion Burial and resurrection.

Where Jesus was prepared for burial

Calvary

the tomb

Afterwards a few of us ran through the streets to find our antique shops and buy a few more Jerusalem souvenirs – some jew ellery and ancient coins. They even opened up shop again for us as he remembered us from the day before and I was happy to buy another widow’s mite, a coin from Constantinople’s reign some 1600 years old with great clarity and detail and a silver ring with a coin from Felix’s time around 44AD.

In the evening we came together to reflect on some of our stories and highlights so far before heading up to the wine and cheese bar to see the city lights of Jerusalem one last time.

Although I didn’t want it to end, now it has I will always have these special memories of peoples and places that will shape and form me and become part of who I am.

A tourist comes and goes to many different places, a pilgrim becomes different from the many places and part of these places.  A tourist transfers to many different places, a pilgrim is transformed by the places.

Shared how special it was to be on Sea of galilee on day celebrate walking on the water, transfiguration .- on the feast day and in Bethlemhem on the day of the Australian census.

wow what a day

9/08/11

Making it count!

Today was an extraordinary day, one so memorable that it will be vivid in my mind for long to come – Bethlehem, Jesus’ birth place, Ein Karem, jesus’ cousins birthplace, Mount  of Olives, Church of Pater Noster, a photo over the city, the garden of Gethsemene and a holy hour in the grotto of Gethsemene.

In Bethlehem we went to St Catherine’s Church and celebrated a beautiful mass – it will definitely be a special memory for the songs Away in a manger, O come let us Adore Him and O Holy Night.

After mass we descended down into other parts of the church to actually see the a cave where Jesus may have lay and been born. The anticipation built as we crowded down the stairs and took some great group pics. It was a great to lay our hands upon the rock and be in the cave for several minutes contemplating the birth of our Lord.

We also did our bit to help Behtlehem by souvenir shopping. I bought an opal and silver Jerusalem cross that can transform into a necklace with the four parts of the cross extending into separate pieces.

Next Ein Karem the birthplace of Jesus’ cousin – John the Baptist and where Mary visited Elizabeth to exchange news of their babes.

Ascending to the Mount of Olives and the church of Pater Noster (where Jesus gave us the Our Father). We searched quite a while to find the Anglais (English version). We also went underneath into part of the original rock cave church. We also stopped up high above the city to get the classic Jerusalem photo with the Dome of the Rock a standout.

Once back to Notre Dame a small group of us headed back into the Old City- I was on a mission to find a piece of jewellery, either a necklace or ring that had an ancient coin attached. Our first antiquities dealer had many coins to show us ranging from the widow’s penny – a poor specimen at the bargain price of $20 US, to hundreds of dollars for better quality, framed in silver or gold. We wanted to see some other stores and products but I did want to have a coin from the Byzantine era, around 1700 years old or Jesus’ vintage around 2000 years old. We kept shopping around and after stumbling across the Holy Sepulchre and spending a few quite minutes inside found some more shops. The first one looked pricey and I overheard him sound a little pushy. That’s when Geoff saw and told me the store a few doors up had some coins. I started to think wouldn’t it be cool if you could get a Jerusalem cross with a coin in it. I searched through the store and was quite relieved not to be bothered by the shop owner and finally had to ask him for the price of what I had just imagined- the Jerusalem cross with a high quality coin – a widow’s penny to be exact. After looking at a few other coins and the gold and silver products I finally settled on my Jerusalem cross with a widow’s penny coin.

Garden of Gethsemene was next.  I’ll admit I was a little disappointed to find out we weren’t actually spending the hour in the garden but we got to go in for a few minutes to imagine Jesus in his time of anxiety and fear. We then relocated to the grotto where Jesus would have spent time with his disciples. I actually really enjoyed it – a simple rock cave – had an authentic feel to it. After some songs and prayers it was our time to reflect.  I planned on reading some passion accounts and then time in refection but I barely got through the Gospel readings. In my few minutes of reflection I did have some great visions. Now that I have seen and been in so many of these places I could actually picture the passion so clearly – Jesus in the garden praying, being arrested, walking the via dolorosa through the packed market and heckling crowd and being laid to rest on the rock. It was a magical lightbulb moment of wow, I can really understand and see these events take place – Christmas and Easter will never be the same – it isn’t just some story of a guy in a far off land. It is very real and I have seen these places from the ground and an aerial view, walked these paths, smelt the rich aromas of the market place and touched these rocks.

Tomorrow we complete the picture with a day visiting the rest of these sacred sites involving the passion and I am so excited and want the day to seem to last at least 48 hours.

bethlehem on the day of the Aussie census - what are the chances

8/09/11

An incredible day with our journey taking us from the Sea of Galilee, to Mount Carmel at the Mediterranean Sea, past Emmaus, down the coast and finally into the highlight of our pilgrimage – Jerusalem.

Mount Carmel at Muhraqa was our first stop and a spectacular look out over the Jezreel valley. Elijah is commemorated here and his battle against the prophets of Baal. We took some great pictures in different directions and some of us girls did a plank on the compass on the ground.

After mass we headed to lunch – chicken schnitzel in a pita bread pocket. Refreshed we continued south to Caesarea – a Mediterranean port created by the vision of one Herod the Great. Watched a movie about its creation and history through time. Was great to see how it developed – Herod wanted to create a trading port and gain favour with the Romans, eve built a big temple there. Ceasarea was a thriving port with a hippodrome and amputheatre. Over the years it was destroyed by earth quakes, changing rule- Byzantine, Crusaders and Muslims. This really painted a picture in my minid of all these people walking and fighting over this land and walking through the ruins all th more special. Most of the original buildings were the hippodrome and amphitheatre so they were the highlights. In the hippodrome we had one of highlights of the day – piggy back race with Craig and myself verse Geoff and Adalbert. Craig and I got off to a great start but Craig ended up falling over and we stacked it! Making memories – was fantastic. We also got to sit in the amphitheatre. Back  on the bus to Jerusalem.

Arrived in the afternoon and stopped off at a museum with a scale model of the city – old and new walls. Our tour guide showed us where the temple was, the Gafa gate and the gate outside the walls where Jesus would have been crucified. It helped give us an overview of Jerusalem and some points to relate things to.

We are staying at the Notre Dame Centre in Jerusalem – literally across the road from the Old Jerusalem – the Christian quarters. Some of the more adventurous of us went into the old city and had a real sense of being transported into another world and back in time. The same cobble stoned streets Jesus and his disciples walked along and some of the actual path he took on his way to sacrificing himself for us. We walked right past the ‘via del arosa’ before someone saw the sign. I got goose bumps thinking about it and the fact that Jesus stumbled through there. A little like the rabbit warren of Venice we were getting a little lost and walked right past Golgotha too. A few tried haggling and some were more successful than others. After another smorgasboard dinner and delicious chocolate mousse dessert we were treated to a guided tour of the terrace 4 storeys above by an Irish Priest. He had some great humour and told us how the 80% of the gospel took place between the Mt Beatitudes and Magda (named after Mary Magdaline), I am so glad we spent 4 days there. Next he showed us the 4 corners of Old Jerusalem – the New Gate, a little over 100 years old, the tower near the upper room, the Muslim mosque near Golgotha and the tomb and Rockferfellared light corner. Within these 4 square kilometres and just outside at the Mount of Olives the whole passion took place. It started at the mount of Olives where Jesus travelled down and on the donkey entered the city on Palm Sunday. Then the last supper in the upper room where Jesus washed his disciples feet and initiated the eucharist, back towards the garden of Gethsemene, then Jesus getting scourged, the journey to the cross, Golgotha, the tomb and then back to the Upper Room and the ascension from the mount of olives. To see it all at once was incredible. Father reminded us that we are not here to be tourists or take photos but to encounter the living Christ, be his ambassadors, do his work, ask him to lead our lives and do exactly what he asks us to. It was a moving evening, many of us were welling up when we realised the places before us, this special time in this Holy place, how fortunate we are to stand in this place and we finished with the group singing Amazing Grace. It was a beautiful night and day. I must say of my trip these few days in Jerusalem following Jesus’ footsteps to his death and resurrection are the ones I am most looking forward too and I hope I am open to God’s presence and his message for me. Tomorrow we go to Bethlehem to celebrate his birth and tomorrow night we have a holy hour to spend in the garden of Gethsemene – I don’t want it to come and go but I also want to enjoy it to the max.

Sea Sea!

7/08/11

Ship to shore

Looking at an ancient sailing vessel, sailing on the Sea of Galilee, eating fish from the sea, visiting Capernaum and swimming in the sea!

This morning we headed to the site where, in 1986, a first century fishing vessel was found, carefully excavated by hand and using Styrofoam and recreated. After viewing the boat and some souveniring shopping we headed to the pier and onto a sailing vessel. After sailing from a while and singing the Aussie anthem with the raising of our flag we celebrated a special mass and read the gospel story of Jesus and Peter walking on the water. The gospel message that spoke to me was when Peter said, “Lord save me.” Jesus immediately  reached out his hand and caught him. Jesus does this for all of us if we ask and allow him. It also reminded me of the times of doubt we have and that if we don’t doubt and trust in him we can accomplish so much for him and ‘walk on water.’ We kicked back with some local tunes that we danced around the boat to and had a dance circle – even getting the Archbishop up for a dance.  

Following our mass we had a traditional St Peter’s fish lunch. We were given the whole fish and I had to work out how to safely get all the fillet. It was tasty as was the entrée salad, bread and hummus.

Next we visited Capernaum, Jesus’ second home town and place of teaching. Again it was an octagonal church and some of the original mosaic flor has been relocated outside and replaced by a glass floor so that we can see the ruins below. Outside was the remains of a synagogue.

To finish the day we went to the sea to finally have a swim in the Sea of Galilee and in the Jordan River. I can now say I have swum across the Jordan (all 20 metres of it) and skimmed a rock all the way across the Jordan!

wedding wine and a visit to first century Nazareth

6/08/11

Wedding wine, a step back in time to the Nazareth Village, ornate and majestic churches and a mountain top – breathtaking!

This morning we headed to the site of Jesus’ first miracle- Cana. We visited a church that represents the location of the wedding and reception and we explored the old rock foundations underneath. Whilst we were exploring we nearly missed the main event – Geoff and Jenny renewed their wedding vows- was quite the celebration! Over lunch we even had speeches that were quite funny. We finally got to buy some souvenirs too – I got some sweet red wedding wine (hope I can fit it in my bag) and some other knick knacks.

 Next stop was Nazareth, we went to the church of the annunciation – build around the area that Mary was told she would have Jesus. There were some beautifully crafted images of the annunciation-gifts given from other countries. The upstairs was magnificent and we found Australia’s image and we took photos with it and the Aussie flag. In the precinct there was also St Jospeh’s church. We learned that Joseph was probably more of a mason/carpenter as opposed to a furniture carpenter. He would have worked about an hour donkey ride away in another town 'Seferus or Seephus?'

Visited the synagogue of Nazareth- perhaps the place Jesus read from the scriptures and told his audience that what he read was now being fulfilled. This angered the assembly and they tried to take him to the cliffs to throw him off for blasphemy but he apparently disappeared in the crowd.

We stepped back in time at the Nazareth Village – a recreation of first century Nazareth built on an old vineyard and terraced farming area. Here we learned that the crucifix would have been quite small, body height and the most common way of dying was suffocation. We viewed a tomb similar to the the one Jesus would have been placed in and placed 35 people in there at once just to beat the American group’s efforts. There was also a life size replica of a synagogue (meeting place) built completely using first century techniques and tools. Here they found an old wine press- perhaps used by Jesus himself to squash the grapes (but not the seeds) but as the tour guide said, just perhaps, as he doesn’t want them to build a church over it. We had a delicious lunch with flat bread, hummus, other spreads and lentil soup then spiced chicken and a particularly tasty cabbage salad.

Now it was time to ascend the narrow slopes of Mount Tabor – the site of the transfiguration of Jesus to some of his disciples. Again an impressive church with beautifully created mosaics depicting the event. We had mass outside and ABJB challenged us follow Mary’s words at Cana about her son– do whatever he tells you. After a not as precarious drive back down the mountain around the single lane hair pin turns we headed back to Ohalo on the Sea of Galilee.

Looking forward to a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee tomorrow and a restful day.

wanted - Larry the cucumber - last seen Mt Beatitudes, Israel

5/08/11

Mt Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee, losing Larry, sob sob, Korazin, the site where Jesus fed the 5000 and the church of the Primacy of Peter.

This morning we made the journey up to Mt Beatitudes where Jesus gave his famous sermon on the mount. It would have actually been on the hill with the crowd facing downward. After a look at the church we celebrated a special mass with ABJB – Archbishop John Bathersby. He gave a stirring and hilarious sermon and his message - Jesus is love so we must be love – be loving to others and ourselves. When Deacon Matt read the gospel of the sermon on the mount I had an image flash. Transported through time I heard it like Jesus was saying it (maybe like in the Passion of the Christ or some other movie I’ve watched), Jesus was on the side of the mountain and I was actually listening to him speak the beatitudes – it was a moment to savour and memorise. After mass and some group pics we got to have another 10 minutes around the gardens which is where Larry fell from my bag. One of the boys said he saw him on the steps but didn’t realise he belonged to us. I was pretty upset and will have to try and order a new Larry – Larry Jr to match Bob Jr.

Next we headed to Korazin and the site of an early synagogue’s ruins and where we could relive the parables of the house built on rock and the persevering widow.

We had lunch by the Sea of Galilee an Israeli meal – salads first then a really tasty chicken rice mix. Then we headed to the site of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. In the story it mentions that Jesus struck a rock when performing his miracle. This rock forms part of the church and is located under the altar. After this we walked around the corner to the church of the Primacy of Peter. It was here that Jesus said to Peter, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matthew 16:18.

Again the church was built around the rocks that this was said to take place. It was a lovely little chapel with beautifully crafted stain glass windows.  It was on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and we got to dip our feet in the waters and take some pictures of the heart shaped stones, mentioned as early as 808AD, twelve in total to depict the twelve apostles.

Back to our quality hotel Ohalo and we went to find a spot at the sea to swim. We walked and walked to no avail – small dirt and rocky tracks, perhaps walked by Jesus, the sad thing was all the rubbish along the track – some people just throw it over the edge – out of sight out of mind unfortunately. We stumbled upon a boat ramp and hire place that still had the ‘Swimming is forbidden’ signs. The locals there said it just meant there were no life guards around. We went out on the jetty and dangled our feet in the water and connected with our Queensland group. After an hour and jumping away from the spider we headed back for showers and another delightful meal – chicken, lamb and an amazing chocolate mousse and yummy ice-cream (better walk and sweat it off tomorrow)!

Farewell Larry, you have been a great buddy along the ride with me – 14 countries bout 5 000kms so that I haven’t been lonely.  I will try to order a Larry Jr as soon as possible, but at least you are at a holy place – the Mt Beatitudes!