Meeting the Custos

The weather is changing to warm now. People are going out in short-sleeves, so I think the cold will not return. That means keeping away the winter stuff. Spring flowers are blooming everywhere along the streets - anemones, cyclamen, mustard. Absolutely beautiful.

Yesterday I had a long day. had to go to Terra Santa College for a meeting; but stopped off at the supermarket first because one of the fathers asked me to help him buy something. After the meeting, I decided to stay back for lunch - the food at Terra Santa College is stupendous, the sisters here are incredibly creative with their cooking. Yesterday we had pasta in tuna but with soya and sesame oil - fusion food!!!!! It really tastes great! Then of course there's a whole range of other dishes for vegetarians or carnivores. And anyone who wants to fast, well just don't come and eat! After lunch I continued with the meeting till about 3pm and then I had to rush off to St. Saviour's Monastery to meet with the Custos Fr Pierbattista. It was a last minute arranged meeting but I needed some information from him. His secretary was a little nervous that I showed up without confirming the appointment, because Pierbattista has another important meeting an hour later and was busy preparing for it. Anyway she went and spoke with him, and returned to tell me to wait for another 15 minutes and he'll see me for 2 minutes. But before she could finish, there was his loud voice behind me saying "Hurry up! My time is precious! Only 2 minutes for you!" He was actually grinning and standing behind me! We had a good conversation and I got my information I wanted. Actually knowing how anxious he was over the coming meeting, I had to make him relax before asking him for the info. So I started with, "hey, we've not met for a long time to chat. I miss the old times when we were great friends and spend lots of time studying and chatting" (that was 12 years ago!) He melted and hugged me and said now that he's the Custos he now has little time for all this. Then of course, I asked for what I wanted and got it! Poor Pierbattista - he has such a difficult job as Custos; his hair and beard is now all white and his eyes are all tired. And he's 3 years younger than I!

Anyway all that walking yesterday (4 km up and down the hills) wore my knees down because once I sat down on my bed I couldn't get up. Both my knees just wouldn't work. They were alittle swollen and couldn't hold up my body. So I stayed in bed for an hour, put anagelsic cream and slept for an hour before going down for Vespers and dinner.

This morning heard the bad news that Osvalda's mother died. Prayed for her.

Today's 1st reading from Hosea is powerful. God says "What I want is love, not sacrifices; knowledge of God, not holocausts!". How much time a day do you spend loving God and neighbour? How much time a day do you spend knowing God - by reading the Bible and praying?