Rain!

The rains finally came! Last night after dinner there was rumbling in the air - the was a cold wet wind the whole morning, even drizzle - and then it burst. For the first few seconds you could see thedry dust from the ground bouncing with every drop of rain that hit the land; a layer of vapour rising as the water turned to vapour when hitting the hot hot stones on the ground. Then it came so heavily, with strong winds as well. The parched dry land was finally quenched with a 25 minute soaking. It really was good. And the air was clean and fresh again. And it was cool. I hope it'll rain everyday - we need it so badly here.

Move

Another day - the fever is still playing up despite the panadols that I'm taking. The weather is also changing alot, very chilly now and the forecast is rain during the weekend. I think we'll have to take our winter stuff out soon to use.

Heard a nice sermon about the Holy Family's flight to Egypt. They first ran away to Egypt to escape persecution but once there, they were told, after a while, to return to Israel, to escape the comfort and security of Egypt and return back to real life. So there are many meanings to escape in this Matthean story - each time to preserve life and continue God's mission, but always from something that threatens this mission. It may be outright persecution, or even from too comfortable a life. In any case, it was always a new beginning; a new opportunity to serve God. Time to move out fo the comfort zone?

Sick

Am down with a bronchial infection. Coughing, pain in the chest and fever all day. Must see a doc. Probably caught it from another priest who sat opposite me during meals. They never learn to cover their mouths when they cough.

Anyway I have resevations going to see my regular doc as the car that smashed through the crowd killing and maiming some people yesterday plowed through to the entrance of the hospital where I usually go to see the doc. It was a terrible thing and the carnage was horrific. Don't know if any tourists were hurt. Just 24 hours previously I was sitting on the same spot waiting for someone.

Anyway the fever is getting on me so I'll rest now.

Charity

As we reach the last week of Ramadan, each day the events at the mosque become more elaborate, longer and louder. It will climax on Friday. The streets will be crowded.

Meanwhile someone must have hacked into my blog and fiddled with it because I'm having lots of problems posting my updates. Sometimes the blog even changes sites. You guys ought to help me trace who is doing this.

Fr Niccacci, moderator of my thesis, came to see me yesterday morning. He returned from Italy only the evening before. He wanted to know how much I had covered, and we discussed how to further the research. He wnats me to hand in a paper of 25 pages this week. Tough. Can't do it. Need to bargain with him. Anyway he said that I'm not getting any holidays and any other assignments until I finish my work. Going to be a tough year.

I'll probably go visit the hospital in Nazareth tomorrow. My ankle and right hand is still aching very much and the doc in Jerusalem wants an xray done. He also wants my white blood count checked.

Just a short reflection on today's first reading from Proverbs "Do not refuse a kindness to anyone who begs it, if it is in your power to perform it." Try putting this in practice today - remember God's ways are not our ways, His thoughts not our thoughts; so do not calculate how much kindness/charity to show and to whom. If everyone believed in this, there would be no tragedy like the Marriott bombing in Pakistan, nor the cruel persecution of Catholics in Orissa (India) and Iraq. I was horrified to learn that a Catholic mother in Iraq was served a huge dish by some extremists in her house - only to open it and found her baby cooked in rice. It was reported on TV. Pray, and show charity ... it's the only weapon against evil and violence. Revenge will only beget revenge.

St Matthew's Feast

As you can see, the olives are being soaked for the next few days before we bruise them for pickling. That's alot of work. But all that work will be for the coming year - olives for every meal.

Last night our former superior invited me and Bro Rosario (my classmate from way back and now secretary of the school) to our Monastery of St John the Baptist in the Desert - an isolated place along the slopes of the Judean hill country near Ain Kerem. We had a cookout - or rather a couple of locals offered a stupenduous local dinner - roasted lamb and rice. There were about 10 of us and we could not finish the meal - it was so much! And delicious! Najib, one of the locals reminded us that that was how the biblical people ate whenever the Bible spoke of eating, especially of sheep. The preparation of the meat is practically unchanged. And we ate in the open air - the cool breeze blowing all the while, wild foxes yelping to one another - they could smell the meat and once we were gone, they would come and pick the bones we left behind for them. The oak tree under which we sat for our meal has many nuts still in the early stages - once Christmas comes, they would be ripe. Returning home at about 10pm (Rosario was driving), we encountered at the Old City, the muslim crowd who had just finished their prayers in the mosque. It was a very happy affair, everyone laughing, eating; hawkers everywhere selling food and other gifts squeezed in every conceivable corner. But there was order. This coming Friday is the last Friday of Ramadan - the Old City will be swarmed so the Way of the Cross will be cancelled.

Today is Matteo's feastday - St Matthew the evangelist. Unfortunately he will not be home for lunch to celebrate it as he has to go to university where he's studying modern hebrew. During the sermon he spoke of God's unfathomable Will whereby he treats equally the good and the bad; which humans find difficult to accept. God's justice and our justice are very different: His thoughts are not our thoughts, His ways are not ours. God wants everyone to be happy and whole, regardless. In fact last night I heard a sermon from EWTN that said "There is no sin so great that God will not forgive because He wants the worker at the 9th hour just as much as the worker of the 1st hour to share in His bounty." No one is left out, no matter how bad or late. Note that when the workers of the 1st hour complained, the owner did not retract but still gave the just wage to him.

Olive harvest

Yesterday's Gospel reading was very interesting. It's very short and mentioned the names of women who followed Jesus and helped him in his preaching tours. It may not appear to amount to anything, but when you see the whole picture it actually is part of a longer narrative - 4 in fact regarding women. Beginning with the Widow of Naim in Chapter 7, it then goes to the sinful woman who wiped Jesus' feet with her hair, then our passage about the women who helped Jesus and finally the mention of Jesus' mother who "hears the Word of God and does it." Intersperssed are stories of the male disciples who fail to understand Jesus' teaching. It appears that this series of passages on the women disciples show their active and important role in Jesus' mission, culminating in the role of Mary the listerner and doer of God's Word.

The olive harvest began yesterday and 4 of the friars went to Capernaum. Because of my leg, I did not go. But I might join in the harvest in Gethsemani later next week. Right now I'm resting the leg because it's been hurting quite abit.

William our Lebanese seminarian called me from Rome. We had lost contact throughout the summer holidays when he returned to Lebanon. It was good to speak with him again. His companions Ziad and Jihad are also doing well. They'll start studies soon in Rome at our university "Antonianum" near the Lateran basilica. Hope they'll study hard and graduate.

Now we're waiting for a new sister to come and take the place of Sr. Justyna. The Salesians inaugurated their new school year today. They have 49 seminarians - that's alot!

Weather changing

Yesterday I was reflecting on the coming Sunday's readings to some students. It's amazing how God's ways are not our ways - his compassion and mercy so overwhelming and absolute that people see it as injustice. Just see the Gospel reading for this Sunday. Today's readings give us lots of details about women who followed Jesus and supported his mission. It was pretty revolutionary back then - women walking freely in the streets and following men to join a rabbinic school! Jesus certainly opened horizons.

Well looks like we're going to have Livni as the new PM. And Lauren Booth, Tony Blair's sister-in-law has returned to Britain after a stay inside Gaza. She was one of the people in the boat from Cyprus that entered Gaza. See the article http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1221489063620&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull but Jerusalem Post also posted a picture of muslims having a feast. Well all the money goes to them, and its the Christians who get nothing and are suffering. This part of the news is never reported. The Free Gaza group is going to try another entry soon; this time with EU MPs joining. Well I think it's easier if they just asked for permission from the Israeli govt. and show that their stock is simply medicine and toys. No need for provocation unless the intention is to grab the headlines, and not truly humanitarian. See http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1221489051119&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Friday - stay home day. Will continue reading a book that deals with my thesis. Very interesting insights. Couldn't arrange my entry into Nablus yet. But will definitely do it soon. The ankle though is still hurting despite wearing the guard and using medicine. Must be the weather changing - that's what evryone is saying.

Goodbye Sr. Justyna

So Sr Justyna is leaving us too .... she was here only for 3 months and speaks pretty good english. And we like to banter alot ... and that helps keep the happy atmosphere in the house. She likes stones ... those from holy places; so I got here a stone from the Areopagus in Athens where St Paul preached; and more stones from the Abbey of the Three Fountains (Rome) where St Paul was beheaded. She was very happy. I hope she'll get posted to a mission where her gifts will be appreciated and put to good use. Bye Justyna!

News

Israel is awaiting what could possibly be the 1st woman PM after 30 yrs when Golda Meir was in office. There're lots of mix feelings in the streets but the general consensus is give her chance - everyone deserves a chance. Mind you though the stakes are high - security for the Israelis from terrorist attacks, negotiations with the Palestinians, controlling the settler violence. Some think its not worth taking the chance and better to deal with the devil you know rather than the devil you don't. Others think they have come thus far and not seen any progress so why not take a chance on new initiatives? And we goi'im (gentiles) stand by studying with concern what developes next in Israeli politics as it will also affect us.

And a stinging article by Jerusalem Post columnist M. Peretz on Sarah Palin. OUCH! See http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1221489055725&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull I'm just wondering at the back of my mind whether this article was meant to be an indirect parody of Livni (the possible next woman PM) as several such comments have been floating around the media.

Back to the house. Well Sr Justyna will leave us tonight. Don't know who is coming in her place.

The muslim prayers last night at the Dome of the Rock was really loud, and again youths were blowing up explosives outside our church. I finally had to close my windows in order to get some peace.

Just found out why I was having diarrhea for the past 3 days - I was drinking a lemon/mint cordial that had gone rancid. Threw it away. It was supposed to be kept in the fridge after opening and should be drunk in 5 days. I kept it in my room for 10 days. Thought the sour taste was part of the lemon. Well am learning something new everyday.

Feast of the Stigmata

Today is the Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis. That is, when St Francis (of Assisi) received the 5 wounds of Christ as he was praying on Mount La Verna (anglicised as Alvernia). He's the first stigmatist to be recorded in history. It comes a few days after we celebrated the Feasts of the Cross and Our Lady of Sorrows (at the foot of the Cross).

Fr. Artemio, the custodial vicar gave a nice homily regarding the Cross. He said "The cross seems like total absurdity, like "senseless suicide", as the philosopher Nietzsche put it. Nevertheless, it is this cross that shelters us, that we exalt because it is the basis of our faith. "Jesus reigned through the cross. Christ was crucified for your salvation, for mine." And it is this salvation, obtained not by the sword but by the wood of the cross, that was celebrated by the assembly today. The adoration of the cross that concludes the celebration is not, therefore, a veneration of pain, but gratitude for the salvation the cross obtained for the human race. It is this that allows Christians to sing, "O Cross, our only hope"."

St. Francis' experience of this Cross was so real he actually received the 5 wounds on his hands, feet and side. It was his 2nd birth - a 2nd chance in life, but life deeply embedded in Christ this time. This experience of redemption was so powerful that he used to say each time when he entered a church "We adore you Most Holy Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all the churches throughout the world, and we bless you; because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world."

Gaza violence

More violence in Gaza this morning. Pray that the Christians in there will not be affected. The checkpoint should be opened today but with this new conflict, the Israelis might close it again. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1221489043814&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and also http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7618208.stm

Olive harvest

Yesterday was the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. It always follows the Feast of the Cross. Someone said in the homily that Mary never faulted anyone even as she carried the dead body of her son from the Cross - she could have, but she didn't. She saw beyond the sorrow, that her son's death would bring eternal life to everyone; so her sorrow turned to mercy and compassion for others instead of anger and hatred and revenge. Something to think about.

And another Palestinian attack took place just at the junction of the Dead Sea and Jericho - popular tourist spots. See http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1221489038215&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and more violence in Gaza : http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1221467181553&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull But the big news is the fight between the rabbis of the Sephardic and Ashkenezi Jews over the appointment fo the Chief Rabbi - big consequences as they hold control over daily life in Israel and the deciding vote in the Parliament.

The weather has changed drastically, with the evenings and nights getting chilly. Time for the olive harvest (also grape and dates as the cold will ruin them) - we'll have to spend a day in Capernaum to harvest our olives there, then probably another day in Gethsemani to collect the olives there as well. We have to wash them, bruise them and pickle them for food for the coming year. Last year's harvest was very bad - all rotten olives; not just us but the whole of Israel.

images

It was good to meet with Michael, my Jewish friend who owns a bookstore here in Jerusalem. Some of us students used to frequent his bookshop many years back, but about 8 years ago I learned that he closed down and returned to the States. But last week I noticed a huge sign along the main road showing that he was back in business. So yesterday I decided to walk up to the New City and see if he's still around. Well, he was and he was very glad to see me too. We chatted and I browsed through the new 2 storey bookshop for almost an hour. Bought two booklets before going home for lunch. He invited me over to his house for Sabbath.

This morning I'm meeting another Jewish friend - Eli who is a professional scribe. He copies the Bible on genuine parchment and these scrolls are then sold to synagogues for use. I think Thiago and Loudinha, my Brasilian collaborators, will also be coming along. They want to see him at work.

Jobi and Cyriac, the two Indian students are back from Germany where they were studying the language. But they'll soon be off to India for a month's holiday. Matthew who was back last week, is off to Italy to preach a retreat. Fr Massimo Pazzini (our Syriac professor) left for Italy for his Silver Jubilee. The Dean and Fr Lino (Greek emeritus professor) also returned last night. Lots of movement. No one knows who's in and who's out. It's driving the cook crazy as he doesn't know for how many to cook.

Here's an interesting sermon from Rabbi A. Twerski. Using Prov. 27:19 "Just as water reflects a person's image ...." - he says "Solomon refers to reflection in water, not a mirror, and there is a great difference. A mirror will reflect an image from a distance, but water will only reflect an image only if one is close to it." So if we want to see God's image, we have to draw close to God.

and the PM reacts

Check out http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1221142466441&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Actually I pity the Border police and soldiers - ultimately it's they who are the receiving end of both sides.

Tit for tat violence

Another provocation by a Palestinian who entered Jewish land and stabbed a Jewish boy. In retaliation, Jewish settlers attacked the Palestinian village. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1221142461153&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

More on local violence : http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1221142463212&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Quo vadis?

Mid-Autumn Festival again. This year the feast does not coincide with the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles (Tents / Booths) called "Sukkot" because the Jewish calendar this year is a leap year - they have added one extra month. Hence Sukkot is celebrated one month later - the next full moon on Oct. 14th. Meanwhile mooncakes and lanterns must be everywhere, I imagine, back in Asia.

Today is also the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. I left for the Holy Sepulchre at 5am hoping to celebrate Mass in the Crusader Chapel. There was a huge crowd there already for the many Masses. There was also a small group of students from the Bible Institute in Rome, hoping to concelebrate in any Italian language Mass. The schedule is pretty tight because of the many groups there. Anyway they managed to join Fr Casimir in the Tomb of Christ. As for myself, the sacristan Bro Andrew decided to give me Calvary instead - where the Cross was raised. What a great place to celebrate the Feast. I said Mass in italian as there was a group there waiting already - mostly sisters (Spanish, Filipina and the Missionaries of Charity) - and italian being the common language used here.

I just read an interesting article on a Jewish sermon for the synagogue readings this week. There was a man rushing off to work when he passed by a rabbi in the street. The rabbi asked where he was rushing to, and the man answered "I'm rushing off to make a living". The rabbi then asked "And how do you know your living lies ahead in that direction? How do you know that it might not be back there and you are running away from it?" Something for us to think about huh? Reminds me of the story of "Quo Vadis" which recounts that during the persecution of Nero, Peter escaped by taking the ancient Appian road away from Rome. Along the way he met Christ who was walking in the opposite direction - towards Rome. Peter asked "Where are you going Lord?" (Quo vadis domine?) and Christ answered "To Rome to be crucified again". Peter realising his mistake, turned back to Rome and was crucified there. So where are we heading / going? Is the Cross the ultimate destination?

Weekend

The Ramadan Friday crowd must have been large, because Christian groups making the Way of the Cross are avoiding daytime. To the extreme that - there was even one group that made the Way of the Cross at midnight, and very loudly too. Coupled with that were the Ramadan prayers and muslim crowds throughout the night (tractors and other vehicles traverse our street only after midnight now to avoid the crowds as well), you can imagine how badly we slept.

The Pope's visit to France is really something. You can see it live on the EWTN website. The Notre Dame cathedral of Paris is magnificent.

I realised that all our doctoral students are here in school - working hard to complete their research. School officially starts on Oct 5th but not for the doc. students who must constantly catch up with datelines. I couldn't do much yesterday as I was terribly ill. The Missionaries of Charity came to visit me and bought me some yoghurt to give me some nourishment - couldn't eat anything yesterday at all. They really take good care of me. God bless them.

I'm planning to enter Nablus (West Bank) next week - where the aweful case of the woman giving birth at the checkpoint took place. No guarantee that it will be safe, but the Missionaries of Charity will be at the checkpoint to pick me up and protect me. They are well respected in these dangerous areas, but there are still some places in the West Bank where even they dare not go. The only parish priest in there is ill in hospital and I'll go to help out celebrating Mass for the sisters. The priest is an old gentle soul who holds fort in there. I gave him a cellphone early this year so he can be in contact with the outside world - he was very happy because now he can call out or receive calls as the phone lines are cut. He's luckier than the Greek Orthodox parish priest of Jacob's Well (which is in Nablus or biblical Shechem) who has to carry a gun everyday. Their bishop was murdered in there several years back. Will keep you updated.

tragedy

It's so very sad ...... and this is not the first time. Another woman forced to give birth in the streets and the baby dies. To quote the article "Between 2000 and 2006, at least 68 Palestinian women gave birth at Israeli checkpoints, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Of these 35 women miscarried, and five died in childbirth. "

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7612887.stm Can you ever fathom the despair?

Friday

It's my turn to clear the dinner table after meals this week. Not easy to carry 4 bottles each time to the fridge in the kitchen when my finger hurt. So anyway brought the 2nd lot of bottles and before they slipped from my hands, i wanted to push them quickly into the fridge. But bashed my left hand into something sharp (everything was dark - didn't turn on the lights and the fridge doesn't have lights). Now my left hand hurts. But no excuse - tonight it's carrying the bottles back again.

Friday again. Last night the prayers in the mosque were long; crowds were gathering into the esplanade and sitting around the ground while speakers were probably teaching them. I can see all this from my roof. This morning at 4.45am I saw the flash of the canon being fired. It sure was powerful - as usual the windows rattle when it does.

Now that Fr Bissoli has gone to guide a group, I'm taking over some of his job - feeding the cat (never knew we had one - never saw it. It's a big ginger Tomcat), water the plants in the courtyard, feed the tortoises. Guess what, the tortoises actually hiss when I pick them up - they make noises! Maybe tomorrow they will start talking to me.

Traffic problems

Just to give you an idea of how bad the traffic has become in Jaffa Street - check out http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1221034884447&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and see the photo. The shops all along Jaffa Street are suffering losses.

Local news

Some good news for Palestinian kids - they get 2 new schools. While the critics complain that it's too little too late, I think at grassroots level, people are happy their kids get to go to schoo - even if its just a fewl. See http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1220802297111&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

While on the Israeli side: we in the East always consider the Israelis to be one of the most intelligent peoples, so this news was a bit of a shocker : http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1220802293043&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Meantime the danger in the coastal cities is not terrorists but local mafias having an all-out gangland war. Check out http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1220802297705&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
and http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1220802297463&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
and the latest http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1221034879724&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Thanks

Thanks to Eliz So for the generous help to the Kassis family and Bethlehem's Caritas Baby Hospital.

but seriously folks ...

If you need a laugh, check out http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7607460.stm

Paralympic silver

Went to see Dr. ben Daniel yesterday. It was a hot slow walk up the hill to the hospital. Checked through the test-results and I'll have to go through another set of tests here (probably Nazareth where I usually do my medical tests; but I'll need transport to travel the 190 kms). Anyway it's still off-limits for yellow cheese, Coke, sweets etc....

My "arthritic" right middle finger still hurts alot and the doc thought if it still hurts, I should also get an x-ray done. We're not really sure if it's arthritic ... maybe I tore a ligament. It's almost 3 weeks that I cannot bend it and the pain at night sometimes wake me up. And my ankle - old injury because of my fall in Bethlehem. The doc explained that because of the pain in the ankle, I shifted my walking position, thus adding more strain on my calf, that's why it's all sore. Makes sense. Now I have to rest the ankle. I'm putting Voltaren cream on it but the pain is still there. Am also using the support to hold it together.

And some good news: Israel's Inbal Pezaro won a silver at the Paralympics in Beijing - good job!It was in the 100m freestyle.

A thought from Padre Pio: "Prayer is the best weapon we have, a key that opens the heart of God".

Autumn is coming

Spent most of yesterday at Terra Santa College doing some work. It was good to get some fresh air away from the Old City. Was told that there was a fight at Stephen's Gate after the afternoon Muslim prayers when the crowds were going out of the mosque. Vendors selling sweets had their wares thrown into the air.

Though I've always known it, it did struck me that Muslim schools close on Sundays. It reminded of the day when we heard Pope John Paul II died. All the muslim schools in the Old City closed in respect, and even some shops closed. It was touching to see how much the muslims respected the pope.

Yesterday was also the Feast of Mary's birth. Traditionally the Franciscans go to St Anne's Church (Bethesda Pool or Sheeps' Pool with the 5 porticoes where Jesus healed the paralytic - see John's Gospel) where tradition says Mary was born to Anne and Joachim, to celebrate a solemn Mass. The French ambassador was present at the Mass, as the church belongs to the French government - a gift from the Turkish overlords a century back.

Meanwhile groups after groups of Italians and Spaniards are flooding the Old City in pilgrimage - as well as Russain Orthodox who no longer require a visa to enter Israel. It's very crowded - adding to the Ramadan crush.

Everyone has noticed how the weather changed - it's chilly in the nights and mornings now. Autumn is falling on us quickly and some say this winter will be extra cold. But the days remain very hot and humid.

Padre Pio's feast will soon be round the corner. Here's a thought from him: "In meditation, it is the soul that speaks to God. In reading, it is God who speaks to the soul."

Sr Vincenta is back

The nights have become unbearably hot and humid - quite impossible to sleep. And the morning canon which is fired at 4.55am rocks the whole house. Mind you, most of us are already up because the muzzein starts singing the Koran at 4am and crowds have already gathered in the central mosque (Dome of the Rock). Yesterday being the Sabbath, soldiers and police were stationed every 10 meters all along Damascus gate down to the junction of the 3rd Station. Jews going down to the Wailing Wall pass by this road as well as the Muslims who go to the Golden Dome Mosque (Dome of the Rock) so tensions can flare up and there have been several stabbings recently (last few months).

Jadallah our janitor bought me some ktayyif (pancakes with walnut baked in honey - I dislike the cheese ones) and they tasted real good. Shared with the community this morning at breakfast. They were picked clean. Also the Missionaries of Charity bought me shrak (thin large round bread) that I shared with the community. It was finished just as quickly. The sisters also wanted to buy 1 kg of guavas but the guy was nasty and wanted to sell only the whole pack which is 2 kgs. So the sisters bought it anyway and gave me 6. It's nice eating tropical fruit again. Here in Israel they're beginning to plant exotic fruit like guavas, lychee, mangoes and rambutan. Pretty expensive though.

Matthew my Indian classmate came back yesterday - had his operation and is better now. Also Sr. Vincenta is back to help in the kitchen. She was here several years back and her presence will help lighten the load for Sr Veronica who is running between the kitchen and the sacristy, and Sr Justina who's specialty is washing dishes only.

I think I'll go out and take a walk today even though my right ankle and calf hurt - need to get some fresh air outside of the Old City.

Another thought from Mother Teresa: "In loving [Jesus] we come more and more into that oneness with him, and we allow him to live his life in us. And this living of Christ in us is holiness."

Blessed are the pure of heart

The reading for Mother Teresa's Mass was the Beatitudes. Coincidentally there was a talk on it on EWTN that I was watching on my computer. There was a reflection on "Blessed are the Pure of Heart, they shall see God." I always regarded this as pure of heart on earth, "see God" is the reward in the future, in heaven. But the interpretation was: if you're pure of heart now, you shall see God now .... in those around you. It's like a veil has been lifted and you see God in the people and events all around you. This sounds so much like Mother Teresa, who because she was pure in heart, could see God in the poorest of the poor; and served them as she would serve God.

So how about that for your reflection?

Meantime the ankle is still hurting and there is a soreness extending up from my ankle to calf. Couldn't see Dr. ben Daniel yet as it's Friday today.

harassed

Spoke too soon - last night the harassment began. Muslim youths lined our church wall with fire-crackers (real large explosives) and exploded them one after another at 11pm when we were asleep. The first explosion woke us up and I thought they must have blown up our metal gates. Went out to check, then a series of other explosions all along our church wall went off.

Wonder what they're going to do next. It's going to be a long month of sleepless nights. Been told that muslims have similarly been harassing Christian families throughout the territory.

And if you think I'm paranoid, check this out http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1220526718100&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull There are literally thousands of soldiers in the Old City to prevent riots, as usually occurs on Friday Ramadan prayers.

You just have to be here to understand the situation.

think

Mother Teresa said "Do you really know the living Jesus - not from books but from being with him in your heart?"

Feast of Mother Teresa

Feastday of Mother Teresa today. Celebrated Mass at the convent of the Missionaries of Charity. It's feels so at home to be with these sisters. They work so hard and sacrifice so much - it's awesome.

Today is also the first Friday of Ramadan. Last night the firing of the sunset canon gave me a fright - forgot about it and the boom rattled all the windows of our house (as usual). Then as the night wore on by 8pm, fireworks everywhere were fired. Knowing how jumpy I am, I had a terrible time surviving the blasts that went on the whole night. They sound like gunshots. I'll have to be psyched for Ramadan especially with these fireworks - last time when there was fireworks, someone took the opportunity to shoot and kill 2 police near my place. It sounds the same. And that was less than 2 months ago.

Youths are whistling throughout the streets and houses are lighted up for the feast of the night. Kids play outdoors and womenfolk are busy with the cooking. This is the time of year when they make maashi warra-a`innab ( rice and lamb wrapped in grape leaves - also called dolmades in greek) which I happen to like very very much! After dinner they sit in their courtyards or streets to enjoy the 18 degree breeze, dancing singing with the ubiquituous arab drum - which can be terrible with its booming sound especially at midnight when you're trying to sleep!!!!

Anyway it's our normal "Ramadan" mode - meaning we try not to go out on Fridays to avoid the crowd and unnecessary / unpredictable trouble. Also the Way of the Cross is cancelled during Ramadan so as not to provoke hostilities.

My ankle still hurts so I stayed in bed the whole afternoon to rest it. In fact i slept throughout the afternoon - which is awefully rare (4 hours in all). Missed breakfast and dinner but I don't feel hungry at all. Ulisse said I look much better having lost weight - less bloated was the way he put it. He still remembers me as the skinny guy back in 1992 - "like a matchstick" he says. Strangely my asthma came back for the last 2 days - something that hasn't happen for some time. I might be allergic to the bed linen, I think.

Ana Paula (Brasilian friend/colleague) sent me a beautiful photo she took of a Bible and a candle beside it. She's a very good photographer and a web genius. I have to contact her to followup on some projects we're doing together.

But back to the Feast of Mother Teresa: in a private revelation, Jesus said to Mother "My little one, come, come, carry me into the bodies of the poor. Come be my light, I cannot go alone. They don't know me so they don't want me. You come, go among them. Carry me with you into them. How I long to enter their bodies; their dark, unhappy homes."

School starts

Thanks to Jacqueline Wong (Rome) for her gift to the Gaza Catholics, as well as a few other friends who remain anonymous. Also the donation to help the Musky kids. Fr Vincenzo is coming to Israel in November and I shall see him about the progress of this project.

School has started here in Israel and suddenly it struck me how silent it was the past 3 months - no school bells ringing every hour and kids screaming and teachers yelling - believe me it is really loud from where I'm situated next to the Omariyya School.

At 4am the watchers walk through the streets of the Muslim Quarter (where I live) beating on a drum, calling people to wake up. They go to the mosque to pray and eat before the sun rises. The muezzin begins singing at about 4.30am for 20 minutes of so. Then as the sun sets each evening, a canon is fired from the Dome of the Rock mosque to signal the end of the daily fast, so muslims go home to eat with their families. The streets in our street is very pretty - lit up with lots of colourful lights. Its very festive.

And the weather has changed very much - humid and chilly every morning. It's spelling the beginning of autumn - and the jewish feast of Tabernacles will come round soon.

Thought for the day

Mother Teresa said "Holiness is not a luxury of the few, but a simple duty for you and for me."

friends

Met my friend and italian teacher Ulisse today. It was good to see him again. He taught me italian back in 1992. And boy has he grown old - well he said the same thing about me. Anyway we chatted for an hour and he had lots of good advice for me. He's pretty sharp and gets right to the point.

And talk about good advice - Thiago (from Cancao Nova Jerusalem) had some very wise words for me yesterday too. Got me reflecting the whole day....and night. Result - I got diarrhea. Hahaha ... but today it's his turn getting diarrhea. So I'm getting the last laugh now ... but honest, he hit the nail on the spot yesterday with a very acute observation about faith and prayer.

My left ankle is giving me problems again. I'll have to see Dr. Ben Daniel soon for that. Will keep you updated.

flying time

Mother Teresa said "Our works of Charity are nothing but the overflow of our love of God from within. Therefore the one who is most united to Him loves her neighbour most."

It was good to read that the Gaza check-point was opened for medical supplies to be brought in. Some of our Christians desperately need medicine. It is truly a work of charity if these medicine can reach the Christians.

Just saw a very enlightening documentary by Nat. Geo. on the Koran and Islam. Hope you guys will get to see it. Ramadan begins this week - and the best muezzin are at hand to sing their best during this month.

I noticed the squills flowering in the cemetaries - it's a type of autumn lily that has one long white flower spike. It's the sign that the rains will soon come, which is usually during the Jewish feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles / Tents).

All these point to one fact - the year is coming to its end and 2009 will be soon upon us. How time flies.