Sunday, November 28, 2010

What does life look like?

A couple of nights ago, a bishop was here, and thanked me for my efforts to build up this local community.  As I look around, there are many signs of life being breathed into this community:
  • Last night, I responded to an invitation to be present with high school students who are living an Antioch weekend experience.  Along with three other priests from this city, we celebrated the Sacrament of God's divine mercy with them.  I hope and pray that our presence has made a difference to them.
  • This morning, following the first Mass, there was a parish breakfast in the parish hall.  This is one of a number of social occasions which have been re-kindled in this community over the past couple of years.  Each one provides another opportunity for individuals to interact, and for community to be built.
  • Duirng the early liturgy this morning, members of one family all came together to assume various responsibilities during the liturgy.  Father and his youngest son, accompanied by grandparents were present for the lighting of the Advent candle; another son was present to serve at the altar and to proclaim the Prayers of the Faithful; daughter was here too to proclaim the readings, and even mom joined in by leading the recitation of the responsorial psalm and by distributing communion to others of the community.  This may be a first, but hopefully it will show others that they too can get involved.
  • When we discovered that there would be no organist present for the later liturgy this morning, one of the choristers volunteered to stay, just to provide some leadership so that songs would be sung, even a capella.
People of faith share their faith in service to others.  Every day is another invitation to respond in love to the possiblity of proclaiming our faith to others.  At times these responses are surprises even to the giver, but always they are opportunities for blessing.

Those who can't

Weekends come quickly, and around here, that means preparing for the celebration of the Eucharist.  This week, as I participated in the Masses, I was aware of the many families and individuals, visitors and residents who were here, but I was also aware of some who weren't.  In particular, I was thinking of my friends who would normally be front and centre every week in the gathering.

I first met them in the Church, and throughout the years of our friendship, faith and prayer have been an integral part of the glue that has held us together.  It seems strange to thnk that they are not present, here or in any church, but then again perhaps they are.  In their case, the church goes to where they are ... at present, in the Civic Hospital in Ottawa.

According to my most recent update, the decision (as difficult as it is) has now been made that my friend will soon be transferred to paliative care.  This decision does not come easily, but considering all the options, and relying on the advice of the medical experts, it would appear that my friend has already beat the odds.  He returned to work after a surgery from which many do not ever regain consciousness.  He regained consciousness after a second surgery, something that not many indeed ever achieve, and now he still appears to have some 'good' days when he can communicate (through a squeeze of the hand) with those who are close.  It appears that he is peaceful, and not suffering even though he has not regained consciousness after the mid-October intervention.

Questions abound, some very difficult questions, for those who must make the decisions now.  Questions also exist for those who must stand by and watch.  At times when it is most difficult to believe based on the story that seems to be unfolding, faith in the promise of resurrection beacons to show the way.

When it isn't possible for people of faith to be present at the table, I wonder whether the table moves to be present where people of faith must gather.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Count the blessings

Two days ago, when we had the final meeting for the children who would celebrate Confirmation tonight, the casual onlooker might very well have wondered about whether or not this group felt even the least bit of unity or alegiance one for another, but if tonight was any indication, these are some wonderful kids who have indeed managed to gel despite the fact that their age groups are varied, and their school alegiances are even more widespread.

It was almost as though the children we have been working with over the last couple of weeks were left outside the building when they arrived for tonight's celebration.  In their place, some truly mature adults came through the doors.  These were the children who were nervous only two days ago about how tonight's gathering would unfold, yet to see them support one another was truly a testament in itself.  They stood patiently and waited their turns to visit with the Bishop who would smear chrism on their foreheads as he uttered the ancient forumla: Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit and then continue in very down-to-earth conversation explaining the meaning of their chosen names and their invitation to be witnesses of faith for our world.

At the end of the liturgy, it was time to relax, even as they came forward one by one to proudly take possession of their certificates and to pose for pictures with the Bishop.  A few more pictures with family and friends and it was off to the family parties which were planned for them.

Today they made a major step forward in faith.  Beginning tonight, they now continue to walk in faith, witnessing to the faith they have learned by the love they continue to share with those God puts in their paths.

At the crossroads

Some say that tears are the first language we learn, our primordial language.  I'm thinking that this is the level at which we respond to some situations.  There are no words (other than tears) to express feelings at times like these, but societal demands and cultural norms have stopped some of us from paying attention to the value of our first tongue.

Some who know me are aware of my good friend, the one who was diagnosed with brain cancer a little more than a year ago.  His most recent surgery happened in mid to late October, and since then I've received intermittent reports of his progress (or lack thereof).

Today I received the most recent update, in the form of a communication directly from his wife.  She has asked for our prayers because today she and the children are discussing the next steps: moving my friend into palliative care.  When I received the news this morning, the tears were not far away, and I remembered the advise about letting this first language take precedence.  No human words seem to have a place at times like this, and no amount of human reasoning will change the situation, but there's also a sense that this is a moment pregnant with promise about something that is being prepared, a graced moment which is currently being lived, a chance to love and to allow ourselves to be loved.

When words are not enough, acts must take over.  Sometimes we are fortunate enough to be able to be physically present, sometimes not.  At other times, we must rely on technology to transmit our well wishes and support, and above all we offer our prayer and support.  There are times when I'm convinced that this world would rather deny the power of prayer, but at moments such as these, there is little else that makes a lot of sense.

For all that has been, we give thanks and celebrate.  For that which is, we say yes.  For all that is yet to come, we stand quietly, prayerfully and wait.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

One week later

It's been one week exactly since we arrived back home.  It didn't take long before we jumped right back into the river of routine, and even after the first day, some parts of me wondered whether I'd even been away.

The fog of jet lag is now fading but the memories of the travels and the adventures remain just as vivid as they were while they were being lived.  The myriad digital photos will help to keep the experience alive, and the plan to assemble a composite CD with pictures from any or all of the fellow pilgrims who travelled with us will keep the experience fresh for quite some time to come.

Hopefully in the very near future, I'll be able to cull my own collection of photos and post some of them in an on-line album of sorts so that the experience can be shared with those who may want to see for themselves what the Holy Land looks like today.  Admittedly it's changed since the time of Jesus, but it's not hard to hear his words echoed across time, or to understand the written word with renewed energy once one has walked the same roads, sailed the same seas and stood atop the same mounts.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

A long day

As it turned out, today was a very long day indeed.  It began at 6:00 am local time in Jerusalem (that's 7 hours ahead of the local time in Ontario), and it didn't end until almost midnight Eastern Standard Time.

During this day, we visited En Karem (see the post just below), and then headed for the airport.  Did you know that one of the best security screening programs for travellers is found at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv?  It's all based on getting to know their travellers, and they use all kinds of tactics.  In fact, from a travellers' point of view, it seems as though the aim is to get under our skin, just so they can test the authenticity of travellers.

We were warned to leave lots of time for the security scans.  In fact it took almost three hours from the time we walked through the doors of the airport until we arrived at the gate where we boarded the flight.  After this, we were in for an 11 1/2 hour flight directly to Toronto, and then a three hour wait for the connecting flights to our respective home towns.

No wonder we slept almost all the way on the last leg of the flight, and no wonder some of us are still falling asleep at strange hours, while others think that we should be wide awake.  They say that it takes a day for each hour of time change in order to re-adjust to the proper time zone.  If that's true, I should be back to fighting form in no time.

Say hi to the Baptist

Luke's gospel says that after she had heard the angel's message about her own impending pregnancy, Mary set out to visit with her kinswoman Elizabeth.  We're not told too much about were this visit took place, but the people of Israel know the answer to that question too.

Today, we bid farewell to the Dan Jerusalem and set out for the village of En Karem, on the way to the airport.  En Karem is the place where (it is rumored) that John the Baptist was born.  What a wonderful way to cap off our tour!  A stop in this little village and specifically at the church of Saint John, allowed us to pay homage to one last holy place, and to pray Lauds (that's Morning Prayer) in the church dedicated to his memory.  Why Morning Prayer, you may ask?  The answer is quite simple. 

An integral part of Morning Prayer is the recitation of the Benedictus, and this was the prayer that was uttered when Zechariah regained his power of speech, after naming his son John.  What a miraculous and wonderful way to end our pilgrimage.

On to the airport and the adventure of flying home.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

A hiatus in the midst of the adventure

After all the whirlwind of adventure in this land, today was a gift.  According to the original plan, we were supposed to be on a flight bound for Toronto today, but the great mother ship (that's Canada's national airline for those who don't know the lingo) changed our flights and delayed our return by one day, thus granting us yet another opportunity to visit Jerusalem at leisure today.

Some of the group decided to play it safe and just rest at the hotel, but most of us set out on a walking pilgrimage back to the walled city, our destination: the famous Dome of the Rock.  Being not Muslim ourselves, how were we to know that this famous landmark would be closed to tourists today, thanks to the post-Hajj festival which the Muslims call Eid.  Not to worry, there is much else to occupy the time of an itinerant tourist within the walls (and without for that matter).

I do believe that most of us set our sights on the wailing wall, and a time for prayer and recollection for the Jewish people who continue to stand vigil in remembrance of the first temple which was destroyed in the first century Anno Domini. 

My own tour through the city also led me to some of the less trod paths (which I always love to discover.  There are an awful lot of doors lining the streets of this city, most of which are closed most of the time.  The curious passerby may well wonder what lies beyond their thresholds.  As it happens, some of these doors were propped open, and in the quieter areas of the city, we glimpsed visions of families who live in hidden places.  We also discovered at least one of the rooftop perches which allows a different view of the city.  Don't worry, the pictures will tell the story of this adventure into the next stratum skyward.

Lunch in the Jewish Quarter included a last foray into the world of shwarma and falafel: two of the delicacies of this land on which we have been gorging since our arrival.  The first is relatively healthy, but the second should definitely be ranked with the best of our fast foods, deep fried and relegated to the world of treats.

Some of our group then set their sights on other places within this metropol, including the Israel Museum and I believe even Yad Vashem.  In all, this day was truly a gift, before we set sail across the skies for our homeland.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

When in another land

Leaving Jordan in the desert dust, we then set our sights for the King Hussein bridge: destination, the Israeli side of the border.  The reason for this change of locale had more to do with the fact that the Hajj is now complete and the Muslims who have been visiting in Iraq are now on their way home.  Also, today is a day of celebration and holiday for all the Muslims, so the Allenby Bridge will also be either closed or very very busy.

Now, in North America, crossing a border is a procedure that can last a painful two minutes for those who are really closely being examined (except of course in the case where you're pulled over and the entire car can be ripped apart, but that is less and less the case).  Borders in the Middle East though are a different matter.  Even with Canadian passports all, crossing this border still took us a little more than three hours.

A bit of research reveals that three hours is indeed a very reasonable amount of time for this crossing.  Others, such as residents of the Palistinian Authority can take up to an entire day to cross the same border (assuming of course that they can afford the associated fees).

By the time we'd found our way back to Israel, it was 4:10 pm local time, and we still had a two hour drive to reach our destination in downtown metropolitan Jerusalem.  Needless to say it was dark by then, and we had no choice but to bed down for the night.

Plans for visiting En Karem had to be delayed, at least for the moment.  More on that score to come.

Ancient Rome in Jordan

Today, the Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan (that's what the stamp in my passport calls this land) is mostly a Muslim land, but in the time when Petra was inhabited by the descendants of the present-day royals, there was also a settlement of Romans in the locale known as Jarash.  This ancient Roman city was once the seat of obvious power, as visitors today will tell you.  In fact, it remains one of the best preserved examples of ancient Roman civilization even to this day.

Walking through the cobblestone streets, climbing through the hills (which are relatively easy to manouver except when you're recovering from foot surgery and have a walking cast), visitors can almost hear water trickling from the once-alive fountain at the crossroads of the city, a place where sculpted nymphs may very well have provided a local watering hole for the youth of the time.  Like all the Roman settlements we've visited on this trip, Jarash has an amphitheatre, a hypodrome and all other characteristic markings of wealth and influence typical to the time.

All things must come to an end though.  What was once the seat of great power, now rests in ruins.  The only reminder of the glory days for Jarash are the stones that once stood one on another, the walls that defined great gathering places, and columns that still speak of the power and influence the Romans commanded.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Rocks, sand and ...

So, this morning began with a whirlwind trip through some of the ritzy parts of Amman so that our guide and driver could show us their own homes (or at least the homes they may hope to own one day).  This morning was also an eriely calm experience because the traffic was considerably lighter than it was last night.  Reason: today is preparation day for the Hajj festival.  This is the time when the locals share sesame seed cookies and other wonderful treats with their families and friends ... we even got a taste, but then it was time to set our sights on Petra.

Three hours hence, we arrived at the 'jewel' of Jordan, the city of Petra.  Encyclopedias of all types will tell the historical story of this city, but our experience began with a choice between descending aboard a horse-drawn carriage (cost roughly $30 US), on the back of a horse (cost about $5 US), or on foot (cost ... absolutely priceless).  Visitors to this place must descend pathways that vary in width and that are surrounded by walls that seem to dwarf the passerby before arriving at such fabled places as 'the treasury', the collonades, the royal tombs and the monastery (which in the time alotted for our journey allowed only one of us to take pictures).  Lucky for us he's going to share them with us.

The 800 steps up to the monastery are only part of the challenge facing the pilgrims.  Added dangers come from the 'ehem' added odors and evidence of camels, donkeys, horses and other animal life.  Add the presence of the omnipresent bedoins and you're beginning to get the picture.  Did you know that the bedoins begin to train their children in the art of harassment as early as the age of 2 years?  Petra seems to have more shops and opportunities for purchasing any range of baubles than the largest mall I've ever seen.  This is a classic case of caviat emptor.

Petra is a site protected and directed by UNESCO so each day it must be completely emptied (including the bedoins) before sunset.  Today they began to pack their wares as early as 2:30 pm.  The clever tourist might ask him-herself what was coming.  It wasn't long before we discovered the answer: a windstorm that whipped up the sand, and a dessert rainstorm (which by the way is nothing compared to a summer shower, but enough to cause danger for those who are still walking on the slippery stones, or trying to run their way back to the entrance in time to catch their bus.  The reward for arriving at your destination on time might just include an ice cream (each one of them run us about US$2-4) or a container of Pringles (cost US$4 per can).

Back aboard the coach, we then set sail for the return to Amman, not without a stop at one of the bedoin oases en route for tea, fancy pita bread and the odd bauble which may have been forgotten.  By the time we arrived at our hotel, the sun had long gone to bed, but we were famished, so it was a good thing that supper was ready.

Ah, by the way, one of us is celebrating a birthday today, so during the morning meal, we invited all the other travellers to join us in a rousing rendition of the annual musical greeting, and then at the supper hour, some of us took turns signing a card.  That's not easy to do when the guest of honour keeps wondering why his compatriots keep disappearing one by one and chooses to come after us to find out the answer to his quest.  We had to remedy the situation with a bottle of wine while we presented his gift and the card, filled with written greetings ... echoes of the sentiments of our hearts.

Ok, that's it for now.  Tomorrow's adventure will see us in the city of Jaresh before we cross the border back into Israel.  Tune in for the continuing saga.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

See the promised land

When this trip is complete, it will take a few days to put the pictures in order, and a few more days to put the experiences in the proper chronological order.  For the sake of geographical displacements, we moved today a bit back in time, from that of Jesus and the events during his life (in the early part of the first century AD) to about the ninth century BC and the faith story of Moses.

The Book of Exodus recounts Moses having been commanded by God to look out upon the promised land.  From there, he was told to take the people of Israel into the promised land where they would live.  Fast forward to today, and this little traveling band made our way to the place where Moses is believed to have stood while looking out upon the promised land ... but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Departing from the hotel in Jerusalem, we made our way to the Jordanian border, at the famous crossing of the Alenby Bridge.  Thankfully we had been warned that crossing the border here is not quite like crossing the Canada-USA border.  There's a process to this crossing, and bystanders, innocent or otherwise, must abide if they hope to make their way to the promised land and back.  So it was that we found ourselves waiting, but admitedly not for too long, before we completed the crossing.  In all, the process took just over an hour, which isn't at all that bad for a group of this size.

We bid farewell to our Israeli guide and bus driver, and said hello to their Jordanian counterparts.  By the time we left the passport control plaza on the Jordanian side of the border, we had also inherited a border security guard who accompanied us to Madaba and beyond.  As it turns out, today was a rather busy day in Madaba, thanks to the fact that the annual Haj is now complete, and faithful Muslims, who are in the majority in Jordan, are on their way back home.  Beginning on Tuesday of this week, there will be a festival, and preparations are in full swing.

In Madaba, we visited St. George's Greek Orthodox church (Christians count for a mere 2% of the population in Jordan), and then continued to Mount Nebo, the site of Moses famous conversation with God.  Pope John Paul II visited Mount Nebo in 2000, and there is evidence still today of that significant occurrence.  In addition, the church at the top of the mount, cared for by Francisican Friars, is under restoration, so the originals of the mosaic floors are inaccessible to visitors at the moment.  Thankfully, they've provided a series of pictures so we can see what they are supposed to look like.

A stop at one of the local mosaic stores allowed us to see craftsmen and their apprentices at work.  We also had a chance to see some of the finished products, and I believe that at least some of my fellow pilgrims will be carting some of the mosaic hardware home with them.

Visits to this holy site complete, we then set our sites on the city of Aman.  By the time we arrived though, the sun had already set, so it was difficult to complete the planned tour of the city.  This had to be postponed to early tomorrow morning.  I'll be sure to write about that, and about our visit to Petra when I'm back online.

Many sights

Ok, we're trying to listen.  At least some who have been reading are asking for pictures.  I'd love to share them with you (the count is officially over 400 at the moment, and rising).  At present, the plan is to assemble the pictures when we're back, and I can actually download them from the cards on which they are stored at the moment, and then I'll be able to share them with you.  Can you wait?

Saturday, November 13, 2010

At home and at play

The formal program for today began in the town of Bethany, not far from Jerusalem.  In fact, if Jesus was walking from one to the other of these cities, it would have taken little more than an half hour.  Bethany was the place where his good friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived.  Bethany was the place where he knew the tender love and welcome of friends.  This was the place where he came to be comforted even before he entered Jerusalem in those final days of his life.

We too came to this town, now a city in its own right, to celebrate in the House of the Poor as the Church of Mary and Martha is now referred to.  Here, we asked for the grace to be welcomed, and to welcome.  We gave thanks for the gift of friends, and we prayed for their good.  Even prayer space is at a premium in these places, as pilgrims arrive from all parts of the globe, competing for an altar, a place to pray, a moment to contemplate and an opportunity to have a prayer or two heard.

Continuing the theme of friends and comfort, today was a day for touring in the area, including a stop at Jericho, and a climb to the hilltop fortress of Masada, yet another of Herod's creations, the story of which has been written about and brought alive in film.  Actually scaling the walls of this place is an awe-inspiring thing, one not to be missed.

From the heights of Masada, we desended to 400 feet below sea level, to the shores of the Dead Sea.  Here we visited the world famous Ahava cosmetic company, and spent a few hours playing and floating in the sea.  After a float or two, and the odd mud pack (using the prized mineral muds found on the sea bed) it was time to set sail for home.  With the twilight hours upon us, we bid farewell to a day of fun and frolicking, a day of remembering and giving thanks, a day of praying and prasing.

All to be begun again tomorrow.

Caffene deprived

It's hard not the be Jewish in Jerusalem.  The Sabbath brought a whole new level of reality to these pilgrims, including elevators in our hotel which stopped at every floor without even as much as a button on it's floor indicator pannel being punched (too much work for the Sabbath).  For caffene adicts, Sabbath is a real challenge because it's forbidden to boil water.

How do non-Jews survive?

Friday, November 12, 2010

In and around the Holy City

Began the day today with Mass at the church of Pater Noster.  Now, imagine a place where the words of the Lord's Prayer are printed in mosaic all over the walls, inside and out, in I'm not sure how many languages.  Part of the tourist attraction (aside from actually celebrating the Mass) is to find the place on the walls where the Our Father is printed in a language you can understand.

Leaving Pater Noster behind us, we set off for the Garden of Gethsemane.  Yes, it's actually a real garden (walled in and complete with olive trees that are more than 2000 years old). The trees are still bearing olives!  There's yet another church nearby, dedicated to the suffering of Jesus.  It's decorated in colours hues of purple, the colour that symbolizes suffering and pain.

No visit to the Holy City would be complete without a walk through the Via Dolorosa and a moment or two dedicated to the recitation of the Stations of the Cross.  In our case, we recited them all, along the way, and it's amazing how this devotion comes to life when you consider that you're walking the actual way of suffering and pain.  Some of the physical structure of the walls of the city has been slightly altered, but the streets are still narrow, now cluttered with souvenir shops which compete for your attention.  Was it this busy in the time of Jesus too?

The Via Dolorosa ends at the Holy Sepulchre, the place where the tomb of Jesus lies.  Visiting it takes a lot of patience these days, because pilgrims must wait their turn to enter the crypt where they are given a mere 15 seconds to pray in silence before an Armenian priest does his utmost best to keep the line moving.  This place is dotted with all manner of Easter candles, reminders of the morning when the Church celebrates the Resurrection.

Ever heard of a Pascal Candle with a lightbulb attached?  There's one or two of them there too.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

O little town

Somewhere within the massive Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, there is a little chapel which resembles a crypt.  In this place, not far from the entrance to the church, we gathered to celebrate the Mass.  When we were finished, our little band set eyes on the place reported to be the birthplace of Jesus.  Whether this was indeed the place or not, pilgrims flock here every day of every year to pray and to give thanks for the miracle of the Incarnation, and we were among them.

Having visited the Manger, where there is always a Mass being celebrated, we then came up to ground level and made our way through other parts of the church, including Crusaders Cloister.  Next stop, the grotto where Saint Jerome spent countless hours translating the scriptures, and where he was eventually burried after his death.  Pilgrims still come to this place to pray in presence of his mortal remains.

Outside, we made our way to Shepherds' Field, where it is believed the shepherds were greeted by the angel and told about the divine birth.  It wasn't hard to imagine sheep in this place, and the shepherds who would have been outcasts by any standards, watching over their precious cargo.  Oh, yes you guessed it, there's a church there too.

The afternoon hours found us atop Mount Zion and in the church of Saint Peter in Galicantu, dedicated to the moment when Peter fulfilled the Lord's words about the cock crowing and him betraying ever having known Jesus.  Every one of these churches is a work of art, and most of them are now well cared for, but this building in particular would probably have been the house of Pilate, and thus the place where Jesus would have been imprisoned prior to his final day on earth.  Yep, the prison cell is also here for the visiting, and when they turn out the lights, it's REALLY dark there too.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

On the way to the Holy City

Yes, I've read the accounts of Jesus travels throughout the land of his birth, but actually travelling these roads adds a different perspective to the journey.  Along the way from See of Galilee, we managed to stop at the sea port of Haifa, and to take a moment to visit the picturesque city, including a photo op at the Ba'hai temple located here.  Don't worry, pictures are coming.

While atop Mount Carmel (from where these gardens cascade), we also stopped at the Carmel to celebrate the Mass at the Church of Stella Maris and to deliver a gift to the Carmelite monks who still live there and administer the property.

Coming down the mountain, we then continued to Cesarea, where we laid eyes on the famous Roman aquaduct which was built in the time of King Herod the Great, to bring water to that city.  Cesarea, you might remember was the city where Saint Paul was imprisoned, where Herod had one of his famous palaces constructed (the ruins of which are still standing today, complete with an amphitheatre and all the necessary components for a fortress worthy of the King).  Considering that this fortress and others like it were built before the end of the first century AD, one must marvel at the engineering feat accomplished by Roman inginuity, even though it also came with unbearable consequences for all those who had to live subject to its exacting rule.

From Cesarea, we continued up to Jerusalem, where we bedded down for the night.  Yes, I did say 'up' to Jerusalem.  The area of the Sea of Galilee is actually a few hundred feet below sea level, and Jerusalem is 400 feet above.  Do the math.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

For Pete's sake

The day began today at the Mount of the Beatitudes, where we celebrated an outdoor Mass overlooking the Sea of Galilee.  It's hard to imagine that all the stories (or most of the stories) of Jesus' public ministry took place around this body of water, the only fresh-water source in all of Israel.  They call it a 'sweet-water' sea.

On the Mount of the Beatitudes, we celebrate the Mass proper to the place, so the texts are (yep you guessed it) Matthew's account of the beatitudes, and the setting is perfect for reflecting on our own call to follow in the footsteps of the One who called us to be radical in our approach to preaching love.  Oh, and the Franciscan Sister who met us in the sacristy was so surprised and happy to finally find priests who could speak Italian that she would have given us the moon if it weren't the middle of the day.

Next stop on the tour was a place called Peter's Primacy: an access to the Sea where pilgrims can dip their feet into the water of the Sea and ponder what it must have been like for Jesus to meet his disciples on the shore of the Sea, to speak questions to Peter, who had only a short time before betrayed him three times, and to test him once again about how much the mortal one loved the Imortal one.  It wasn't hard to hear these same words spoken to us as we stood there, with wind on our faces, sunlight streaming, or approaching the rock where Jesus may have offered breakfast for his disciples.

The rock table where this breakfast was offered is called Tabga.  The rock is actually surrouded by a chapel and sitting in that serene silence one can easily picture the warmth and love with which Jesus must have invited his beloved disciples to share one last meal with him.  This tenderness reflects for us each time we hear the same invitation to come, to share a meal in the Eucharist, and then to continue the work that he confided to us.

On a day devoted to the ministry of Jesus, what better lunch offering could there be than to partake in Saint Peter's fish.  Believe it or not, each person who partakes receives a whole talapia, recently bathed in oil and prepared for consumption.  Food at its simple best, complete with a selection of salads ... and no there was no coin to be found in the mouths of the fish (any of them).  Who will pay the tax now?

Having consumed the fish, our next step was to set sail on the lake.  This was a wonderful opportunity, complete with a flag raising ceremony accompanied by strains of the Canadian National Anthem, and then time to reflect on the reality that we were travelling on the same lake that Our Lord once travelled, where he too taught.  The gentle rocking of the boat lulled us all into an apptitude for listening to the word that is still being spoken today.  Would that we could do this more easily, despite the busy-ness of our daily lives; life would probably be a whole lot different.

One last stop to complete the trip around the lake, and that in the city of Caparnum, where Jesus lived and ministered for so many years, where he told so many stories, where he cured so many in need.  This was the city in which Peter lived after Jesus' departure, in the house that once belonged to his mother-in-law.  Even today, the olive press in the public space may be used to process the fruit of the trees that still dot the landscape.  So much has changed since that day, and yet this place still stands still as a constant reminder of the man who came to change the world with words and actions that spoke ... that still speak so profoundly in a world that strans at times to deny him, at other times to resist the temptation to believe that our hearts can and will be changed for the good if only we would allow Him to do the work he came to do.

Monday, November 8, 2010

A walk though the shops

Today's adventure could probably most accurately be called, 'from Transfiguration to Annunciation' or 'from one 'tion to another'.

The entire day today was spent sightseeing around the Lake of Galilee, beginning at the Church of the Transfiguration, a visit to the top of Mount Tabor (oh, you need to see the buses here that have to drop us off at the first base camp, where we then board minivans for the remainder of the trip up the zigzagging cow paths to the summit of the mount (which actually rises ABOVE sea level).  It's hard to believe that much of this part of the world is below sea level, but the top of Mt Tabor, which is magestic above the valleys below, is actually only 200 feet above sea level.

Next stop ... down from the mount and then on to Cana, a quest which included a must-see stop at one of the famous wine shops (the water in Cana has funny properties, especially since Jesus visited there).  Actually the city of Cana was on his travel route, since he would often travel from Nazareth to Sephora with his father to practice their carpentry and stone-cutting skills, and Cana was the watering hole on the way.

Wine in hand, we next set sail for the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, where we celebrated the Mass, and then traced the steps from Mary's well (where she drew water on a daily basis) to her house (a mere 15 minute walk, at a leisurely pace), and then on to Joseph's place (which has also been transformed into a basilica complete with it's basement level which was the original Byzantine version of the church that still stands today under the care of the Franciscan Friars who care for the treasures of the Holy Land.

Lunch today consisted of a visit to one of the local watering holes where pita shells could be filled with falafel or shwarma (unless of course the pitas should run out, and then be substituted with Israeli baguettes).

OK folks, that's it for now.  Besides the editing team who is present at writing time is presuring me to complete this text, and I'm not so sure it's because they want to read them.  Talk again tomorrow ... more adventures await.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Baptism by ...

Entering into Israel proved to be amazingly simple compared to the departure from Canada.  Once through the initial barage of security, we were ushered out of the baggage hall and then met our trusty guide.  Ah, but I digress ... leaving the airport had to of course be delayed, thanks to some of our travel companions who had to 'steal' their way into a cup of gelato.

With the airport behind us, the next adventure began aboard a bus ... destined for the hotel not far from Tiberius (Northern Israel).  Along the way we stopped for a quick lunch at a kibuz where we met the furry rodents (aka catti felini) who freely roamed among the hungry patrons, hoping for morsels to fall from the tables of the rich.  No luck!

By mid-afternoon, we had stopped for a quick visit to the baptismal spot on the Jordan river, where we were encouraged to dip our toes (or our entire bodies if we so chose) into the holy water (which is still flowing but amazingly commercialized), and then made our way to the hotel.  It didn't take much for us to fall into semi-comatose conditions ... and it did almost take a bomb to wake some of us for the supper hour which awaited.

The food is amazing, but even that wasn't enough to hold us from the beds that were calling our names.

When Holy Terrors hit the Holy Land

One would think that leaving Canada is a pretty simple process, and experience has shown that normally it is, but it only takes one little thing to throw the plan off and then ...

Evidence this afternoon's adventure.  It began innocently enough in Sudbury (and in other parts of this fair land) when we each boarded the first flights.  Once we arrived in Toronto, the plan was to leave the hand baggage with others in the group, then step out the door to meet with my parents who were standing on the other side of the security door in Terminal 1.  This part went well, but when I tried to re-enter the secure site (with boarding pass and passport in hand), I discovered that the portal had somehow instantly slammed closed.

The problem: nowadays, the humble boarding pass is subjected to various security measures, including a magical wand meant to give 'clearance' to enter the secure zone.  However, with a boarding pass for an international flight, one is not allowed to enter the domestic boarding lounge.  Now what?  Travel companions are standing just on the other side of the door but I can't reach them.

To make a long story short, the airport staff had to have them paged, and then to instruct them to make their way to the international boarding gate where I would be waiting.  Ok, enough of that ... in short the rest went well, and we eventually made our way half way around the world ... and the adventure continues ....

Friday, November 5, 2010

They say 'Shalom'

So after what, a month of silence, it's time to write again ... I hope.  Actually as the sun sets on this day, there is but one more sleep before a little group of us (22 in all) will set off for the next adventure.  This person has already had the wonder of a pilgrimage in Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany.  Remember?  Now, tomorrow we set our sights to the Holy Land.

I'll try my best to keep you abreast of the developments as they happen, although I'm not planning to take this laptop with me, so it will depend on how often I can find access to the internet.  Stay tuned for the updates though; this tour promises to be the trip of a lifetime.