2010

2010 a new beginning .... the first day of the year .... and the news is "Jews still harass and spit at Christians, priests and nuns". http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1261364555978&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Good bye 2009

Last day of 2009. The weather was a gloomy gray with heavy clouds and drizzle. Thus the year ends.

The Jews in Israel do not celebrate our New Year as they use a Lunar calendar. But the festivity is so catchy they go ahead to celebrate under a different name - "Sylvester" ... named after Pope St. Sylvester whose feast falls on the last day of every year. The streets will be full of youngsters singing and dancing.

We here at home will have an hour's Eucharistic adoration with vespers tonight. Then we sing the "Te Deum" - the traditional thanksgiving before eating dinner - the last meal of 2009.

Later tonight at 10pm I have to preside at the Eucharistic adoration for our sisters in their private chapel upstairs. Then at 11pm I'll celebrate Mass for them.

Give thanks to God for 2009 and pray for a blessed 2010 beginning with Mass of the Mother of God.

Thanks for 2009

The last few hours before 2009 slips into eternity ... never to return .... and all becomes history and we use the past tense to refer to it. And what have we done with it ... 2009?

I think of the poor people I encountered in 2009, the hungry children of Musky asking for help, the handicapped in Bethlehem, the traumatised and mentally ill in Gaza, the Palestinian students who study in the morning but work in the afternoons to pay for their studies; I think of the helplessness that at times was so overwhelming it drew close to despair, the drug addicts on Mt. Tabor and their lonely struggles. 2009 leaves many profound memories - Fr Javier and Fr Johannes died; the Pope's visit in May ... so many things.

And time continues forward, not backward (cf Khalil Gibran's "The Prophet"). We move on.

The ragazzi (rehabilitating drug addicts) of Mt. Tabor (Mt. of Transfiguration) called me several days ago asking me to go up to visit them because they baked me a cake. Well I was there yesterday. It is always so good to be with these guys ... with all their pain and struggles and lonely journey to rehabilitation, these guys can still think of others and serve them. They are one of the most sincere and humble people I have met. And they baked me a cake. A lovely fruit tart actually. I'm sharing it with the community tonight. Everyone is asking why these guys are so close to me ... well I listen to them, I speak with them, and I laugh and cry with them. They know I care and they care for me. I think it was a nice end to 2009, spending it with the Mondo X ragazzi.

And as Christmas draws toward Epiphany, I'm having a horrible past 3 days physically - feet swollen like water melons and my left fingers are enormously swollen. The pain can be excruciating. It wasn't easy going up Mt Tabor like this, but the guys appreciated it.

Thanks to all of you for your lovely gifts which I treasure - from crocodile meat for my asthma to pyjamas, food to toys, medicine galore and of course all your love, prayers and greetings. I shall say a thanksgiving Mass for all of you tomorrow to end 2009 - and we sing the Te Deum as well. Then on Jan. 1st I'll say a Mass of Mary Mother of God to bless your new year.

Thanks for all that you have done for me in 2009.

2009 ending

Christians leaders of the Holyland meet the President for annual Christmas greetings. Don't know how much is gained from all that talk.

Hope it rains today as yesterday was unbearably hot and dry. And for those who missed Pope Benedict's speech in Bethlehem, watch it on Eternal Light webcast.

And as 2009 slips by, what have you been doing? Giving thanks?

Holy Innocents

The murder of Rabbi Chai is a terrible act of senseless terrorism .... it served no purpose but draw a united hatred for Palestinians and the lost of the Palestinian dream. Now it's infighting among the Palestinian refugees.

And 1,000 Orthodox Jews demonstrated again against Intel for opening its factory on the Sabbath here in Jerusalem.

And the difficulties of being a priest in the muslim Middle East is shared by the Nuncio. And a Christian convert shares his experience of persecution.

So that's how we start the feast of the Holy Innocents (Innocence) .....

Holy Family

It was a lovely warm day today. I was up in Nazareth today ... and being the Feast of the Holy Family, I celebrated Mass at the home of the Holy Family. Naturally I remembered you all and your families during Mass there. It was nice to be there for the feast. It's special.

Wow ... the events on American flights these few days are dramatic to say the least. Count me out when it comes to flying!

The Sisters of Mother Theresa thank you all for your generosity and pray for you during this festive season.

St Stephan's day

Nice to know the American Consulate people are treated like the rest of us when it comes to security checkpoints. However they risked being shot for resisting checks - not a very smart move. But at the end of day, I think Israel will come to a compromise and not check future US consulate vehicles .... it's the US after all. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1261364500043&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

It's St. Stephan a day ... a lovely phrase from "Murder in the Cathedral" by T.S. Eliot about Archbishop Thomas Beckett who was killed for not bowing to political pressure. It's my traditional Christmas reading ..... have you read it yet? I introduced Fr Tomislav to read Sense and Sensibility ... and he liked it. Jane Austen rocks!

Dec. 26th

The attack on the Pope was pretty scary. Saw that on TV? It sure sends shivers down local ecclesiastical circles to know breaches in security are so easy. Death or injury is just a split second away.

Midnight Mass at Shepherds' Field was unbelievable. Simply packed with groups of people from all over the world. Bethlehem too was packed with people. The March for Peace took place before Midnight Mass and the groups of marchers climbed up the hill to the Nativity Basilica with candles and torches.

Please know that for the past two days, all the people that you are helping through your generosity are praying for you here in the Holyland. You are not alone this Christmas .... your Holyland beneficiaries are with you.

Christmas Day

Happy Christmas! May the Christ Child be your joy, strength and consolation.

Christmas Eve

Tonight I will go to Shepherds' Field and celebrate Midnight Mass. Will remember you all in my prayers.

The sky is clear but the temperature is low ... nice weather for Christmas. I bet Bethlehem will be packed tonight. I'm avoiding the crowds as my left ankle is still swollen and I'm scared someone might step on it!

Despite the festive atmosphere, here in the Holyland, there'll always be attacks against Christians on feastdays - this time it comes from a pro-Israeli protestant group "International Christian Embassy". Can you believe that? http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1261364486360&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Cold day

The temperature picked up a little yesterday afternoon. But the nights are still very cold - 5 degrees or so. My trusty "hot air fan" gave up on me 4 days ago. Have been passing the nights in the cold .... in fact couldn't sleep because of the cold. Yesterday I finally got a new "hot air fan" - 119 shekels. That was the cheapest available. It is expensive living here ... I was talking about this to a local yesterday. Daily life is expensive - a piece of bread is US$1 (by the way I stopped buying my Sunday buns from the 8th Station a long time ago when the price was raised to US$2 a piece).

Yesterday morning I woke up with a very tight feeling on both feet - both were swollen like water melons. Don't know what went wrong. But my asthma woes might just be diagnosed after all .... as doctor friend in the US has been rigorously checking it out: allergy to the canaries.

Anyway yesterday I worked a total 18 hours non stop (no lunch or breakfast) and by 9pm was so exhausted I fell asleep while cleaning my room. Let's see if I can break this record by doing 24 hrs.

We even have a drought levy to pay because of the lack of rain. But hopefully more rain will fall this year so the levy can be suspended. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1261364466647&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Some more disturbing news against christians:

1) police raid church for illegal immigrants http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1136624.html

2) Jew for Jesus baker cannot get Rabbi's certificate to run bakery http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1261364466725&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

On a happier note, archaeologists have found a Jesus era house right in front of our entrance to the Annunciation Basilica and the church of St. Joseph. Well ... the dating of the house is a matter of conjecture. And the position of the discovery is not too convenient - directing under the only road in that area.

JP II

John Paul II is on the way to beatification and canonisation.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/12/18/pope.john.paul.sainthood/index.html

St Francis and peace

New York (CNN) -- Evangelical Christian leaders such as Pat Robertson have assailed President Obama's effort to engage Iran, and the results so far have not vindicated the president's approach as a diplomatic policy.

But if these leaders' goal is to bring Christian attitudes into the realm of public policy -- which, of course, is what they have called for time and again -- they might just as well be thanking the president for his new strategy. That is what the experience of one of history's greatest Christians, Francis of Assisi, teaches us.

Francis engaged Christendom's enemy, Egypt's Sultan Malik al-Kamil, by approaching him unarmed in the midst of the Fifth Crusade in 1219. The Crusaders had laid siege to Damietta, a city at the mouth of the Nile where 80,000 people were dying of disease and starvation.

The Christian forces were hoping to conquer Egypt, which would not only make it easier to take and hold Jerusalem but would deal a heavy blow against all Islam.

Francis actually believed what Jesus said in the New Testament about loving his enemy and took a much different approach than his fellow Christians.

His goal was to convert Sultan al-Kamil to Christianity through peaceful persuasion. He didn't succeed in that, but, amazingly, the two men found common ground and appear to have genuinely appreciated each other.

The sultan, who no doubt viewed Francis in light of an ancient Muslim tradition of reverence for holy Christian monks, permitted him to stay in his camp for several days, preaching the enemy'sfaith in the midst of the Crusade.

Francis was so influenced by the unexpectedly tranquil encounter with the sultan that when he returned home, he attempted to revise his order's code of conduct to urge that his friars live peacefully among Muslims and "be subject" to them as a way of giving Christian witness -- a revolutionary approach, considering that the Crusade was still being fought.

Francis' journey to the sultan's camp on the east bank of the Nile should be viewed as a mission of peace, since the sultan's conversion might have led to the end of the Crusade.

Francis, it should be said, was a tireless advocate of peace, a stance that stems from the trauma he suffered as a soldier and prisoner of war when he was a young man who saw his comrades massacred on the battlefield.

Since discussion of war and peace is -- even today -- so tinged with religion, it may as well be based on authentic religion. Francis represents what it means to be an authentic Christian. As Pope Pius XI wrote in 1926 on the 700th anniversary of Francis's death: "There has never been anyone in whom the image of Jesus Christ ... shone forth more lifelike and strikingly than in St. Francis."

I don't mean to liken Obama to Francis; there are few human beings in any era who would benefit from comparison to the saint of Assisi. In any case, their situations are very different. Francis was unarmed and powerless when he approached the sultan; there was no hint of coercion.

Obama, on the other hand, is arguably the most powerful person in the world. He can disarm his rhetoric, but it would not be possible for him to approach an enemy in the same powerless way Francis did.

Still, Francis' example tells those who call themselves Christian that they should refrain from weaponizing their words and should seek peaceful solutions whenever possible.

An organization called Charter for Compassion is taking this approach. Gathering together supporters such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, singer Paul Simon and Sheikh Ali Gomaa, the grand mufti of Egypt, it has sought to restore compassion as the center for morality and religion. It calls for a "return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate."

Obama, too, touched on the role of authentic religion in his Nobel Peace Prize speech on December 10. Citing both the World Trade Center attack and "the cruelties of the Crusades," he said, "Such a warped view of religion is not just incompatible with the concept of peace but the purpose of faith -- for the one rule that lies at the heart of every major religion is that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us."

Nearly 800 years ago, at a time when biblical passages were used to justify the Crusades, Francis of Assisi sought a return to true New Testament values. Whether through his famous love of animals or his stunning visit to the enemy in the midst of war, Francis helps us to remember that startling acts of compassion are sometimes the best way to stir hearts and minds.

For those who want to be guided by what Jesus would do, Francis of Assisi is a good place to start.

Editor's note: Paul Moses is the author of a new book, "The Saint and the Sultan: The Crusades, Islam and Francis of Assisi's Mission of Peace." (Doubleday, 2009). He is a professor of journalism at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Paul Moses.

4th Sunday of Advent

Yesterday was the scene of another massive ultra-orthodox protest that turned violent. It was against the carpark opening on the Sabbath. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1261244335605&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Today on the 4th Sunday of Advent, Fr Kaswalder preached a nice sermon. He noted that all the important events of the birth of the Messiah took place on the margins/outskirts of cities. Bethlehem was a town outside of Jerusalem, the center. Ein Kerem, the birth place of John the Baptist is out in the mountains. God works in our lives from the margins, the outskirts of life.

During Mass I was mesmerised by the 4 Advent candles burning. Sometimes after Vespers/Mass, I go to blow them out and sing "Happy birthday" and some of the friars passing by give me strange looks. Well it got me thinking today - is that why we have candles on birthday cakes and blow them out; just like we blow out the 4 candles on the birthday of Jesus? But blowing out candles is not a good sign - it's a symbol of extinguishing light, gathering darkness, death. So why do we celebrate birthdays by blowing out candles? we celebrate death? the end? extinction? If it symbolises the completion of years, then we should allow the candles to burn itself out rather than blow it out. Anyway I don't know. Maybe you have some thoughts on this.

Thanks

Thanks for your generous support for the poor and needy here in the Holyland:

1) Arlene and company

2) Mr. Terence Lim

3) Shirley and family

4) Fr. Paul Goh

5) Ms. Sharon Ong

6) Lorna and Legionaires

We will remember you all in Bethlehem at Midnight Mass.

4th Advent Sunday

A story shared by Deacon Wu

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the well needed to be covered up anyway so that no other animal or human would fall into it.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit its back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happens.

3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less from people but more from God.

Last day of Hanukkah

It rained the whole day and night - what a blessing! but yesterday it stopped. The sun was up from a few hours; but the clouds came and swallowed it up. The gusty winds brought the temperature down again.

Yesterday evening the Salesians here celebrated the 150th anniversary of their foundation. They had a solemn Mass at the Basilica of Gethsemani (the only church in Jerusalem big enough to hold a few hundred people). It was celebrated in a mixture of languages - arabic, italian, english. There was a big crowd of Salesian sisters and alumni. And the seminarians' choir was very good.

And today is the last day of Hanukkah. Being also the Sabbath, the streets are very quiet, the shops are closed (no jelly doughnuts) and everyone is warm in their homes, lighting the last candle on the Hanukkah menorah. For us Christians, the light is coming ... in a few days .... the true light of the world comes as a helpless baby in a manger.

I'm moving ahead with my research but Fr Buscemi, my 2nd moderator has pointed out a new direction that I have to take in the research. So more studies and writing.

O Wisdom

The expected violence on the Temple Mount did not take place ... at least there's no report about it in the news. I didn't around to find out. I moved out to another monastery in the New City. Got back at noon and found the roads in the Old City tense with soldiers standing on one side and local arabs on the other, each testing the patience of the other.

The weather is bitterly cold. Since last night a sandy wind was blowing. Visibility was reduced to 1km. It continued the whole day ... which made many people sick ... and I got my asthma. This evening it started to rain. And the temperature is falling. I had to wear woollen pjs last night and I still felt cold. Woke up at 3am shivering and wheezing. But no one is complaining - the cold just adds to the atmosphere of Christmas.

Today we enter Great Advent. We start singing the O antiphons for vespers and tonight it's "O Wisdom" - remember last year's blog on this? Check out the internet for "O antiphons" for a good catholic explanation. Hope everyone gets some "wisdom" this Christmas!

Anti-Christmas slogans

Extreme anti-Christian Jews and rabbis are calling to boycott and stop Jerusalem from celebrating Christmas .... so much for religious tolerance. Can you imagine what will happen if there were calls to stop jewish signs to be put up on Hanukkah? or muslim symbols on Ramadan? But of course ... christians are the easiest targets; they turn the other cheek. It's like shooting fish in a barrel.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1135512.html

St Vincent de Paul sisters

The Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul (Bethphage) wish you all a very Holy and Peaceful Christmas! They remember you all in their prayers this Christmas, and they sincerely thank you for your generous help to the 28 girls under their care.

Thanks

Thanks for the support and generosity:

1) Catherine Pang and Letty (for baby Abdel Masih's mother)

2) D. Lin, Auntie Yvonne, Paulette and Irene Teoh

3) Katherine Wong for Mass offerings

Powderkeg

Talk about powderkeg! Here's a news article with Jews saying they're going to retake the Temple Mount from the Muslims. They call for a mass pilgrimage to the Temple Mount (now the Golden Dome mosque and the Al-Aqsa mosque) to initiate this slow and non-violent takeover. It's planned for tomorrow. I don't want to know the consequence. I probably won't stay at home tomorrow either. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1260930874302&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Laughter the best medicine

Some laughs sent from home

KIDS IN CHURCH

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3.
The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake.
Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.
'If Jesus were sitting here, He would say,
'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'
Kevin turned to his younger brother and said,
'Ryan, you be Jesus !'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A little boy was overheard praying:
'Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it.
I'm having a real good time like I am.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the christening of his baby brother in church,
Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car.
His father asked him three times what was wrong.
Finally, the boy replied,
'That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3-year-old Reese :
'Our Father, Who does art in heaven,
Harold is His name.
Amen.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One particular four-year-old prayed,
'And forgive us our trash baskets
as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they
were on the way to church service,
'And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?'
One bright little girl replied,
'Because people are sleeping.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A father was at the beach with his children
when the four-year-old son ran up to him,
grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore
where a seagull lay dead in the sand.
'Daddy, what happened to him?' the son asked.
'He died and went to Heaven,' the Dad replied.
The boy thought a moment and then said,
'Did God throw him back down?'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A wife invited some people to dinner.
At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, 'Would you like to say the blessing?'
'I wouldn't know what to say,' the girl replied.
'Just say what you hear Mommy say,' the wife answered.
The daughter bowed her head and said,
'Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?'

Win some, lose some

A near disaster this morning when a Russian airline missed the landing TWICE and nearly ended landing on a highway for cars! http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1260877314398&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Careful where you walk/drive in Israel .... a plane might land on you!!!

And you're not any safer at the border because soldiers can blow up your laptop! http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1135243.html

The IDF (Israel Defense Force) is allowing free access for Christians into Bethlehem this Christmas - but wait, this ends only at the border of Bethlehem. Anything thereafter is up to the Palestinian authorities.... and of course there is no guarantee that Jewish settlers will not attack Christians. Hmmmmm I wonder where does that lead us? http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1260447440486&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

ok enough of bad news ... the weather has been cold and tomorrow the forecast is 6 degrees. Brrrrrrrrrr. I'm locking myself in the room, get the "hot air fan" on and hibernate with my books. Oh, and for those of you who were enquiring, my asthma has gone much better and my swollen fingers have reduced quite alot. I realised that after an hour's brisk walk around the city clears the lungs and I get less asthma attacks. Problem is my ankles can't take such walks. Well, you win some, you lose some.

X Factor winner

For all you X Factor (UK) fans (meaning no one but me and Sinead, and maybe Caitlin and Justin), Joe McElderry won!!! Yeah!!!! Too bad Stacey Solomon wasn't 2nd ... she has a great voice, but her stage presentability needs polishing. And Olly Murs? Actually I never thought he stood a chance ..... too much oohhs and aahs and "come on" .... he's a good entertainer but he needs to let go of those collateral noises he makes beside the song he sings. So Joe is going to sign a 5 million pound contract in the US. Like he's 18 yrs old and he's making almost US$7 million???? Sinead, go try out X Factor next year! Watch the announcement of the X Winner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7FIWMnlaUk and Joe's winning song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rwE8MH9kP0&feature=PlayList&p=iPSWjN5P6Vs watch Cheryl Cole his coach cry! and at the end all the finalists came back on stage ... Danyl, Jamie, Lucie, Lloyd ..... ok ok so I've been following X Factor for the past weeks .... well what else can you do when you're stuck in your room and need a break between studies? It's that feel-good factor that watching others make it big is a good booster that one day you can do it too! That's the Susan Boyle phenomenon.

Everyone was talking about Berlusconi's bash in the face .... mainly because most of our community is italian. Now that's a frightening lapse of security if someone could come up so close and bash the Italian PM in the face, breaking his nose, 2 teeth and cut his lips.

Meantime I'm having two important guests from Italy visiting. We had some time this afternoon sharing after 3 hours of meeting, and we discovered how much suffering we're all experiencing. It's such a difficult time when people are selfish and money-grabbing and ruthless ..... we can only pray. Anyway both ladies are very professional and we decided not to let setbacks block our work.

ok X Factor is over .... back to studies.

Thanks

Thanks for the generous help: Jeannie So, Rose Chiu, Shum Hon Chiu and Ma Po Ling.

More persecution

More christian persecution by muslims exposed. While you're enjoying Christmas, there're thousands others here who're huddling in fear.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1260447421970&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Something to share

A lovely acrostic poem a friend sent me:

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
J oy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
X alting God most high
Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

3rd Sunday of Advent

Yesterday was the coldest day we've had so far - 8 degrees during the day. Even the locals had their heavy coats, scarves and hats on. I was shivering the whole day through. My small "hot air fan" isn't quite enough to warm up my room.

Anyway the forecast is continuous cold weather this week, the highest is 9 degrees and the lowest will be 7 degrees. Mt. Hermon is snowing now ... heavy snow too. But there's no rain in our parts though. I wonder how the orphans at the St Vincent de Paul convent and in Nablus are doing. I hope they have enough heating. They might need the chemical heating pads you guys brought last year .... hope they're enough.

Talk about warmth: most of you would have put up the Christmas tree by now. It always creates a sense of warmth around the house. Let's go beyond the compulsory (tacky) ornaments and see some symbolic meaning behind each thing: what does the tree represent this Christmas? What do the lights represent? And each of the ornaments - the glass baubles, the ribbons etc.... what do they symbolise? Put your imagination into high gear! Put Christ back into Christmas!

Today being the 3rd Sunday of Advent, we get a rare reading from the prophet Zephaniah (he's read only once every 3 years in Advent). Zephaniah expresses the great expectation of God's coming. The Letter to the Philippians adds the note of joy. The Gospel of Luke speaks about John the Baptist's ministry .... he's the one who opens the road for God's coming as the Messiah.

Light of the World

More violence in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood. Palestinians try to storm and retake houses they were evicted from by Israelis. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1134468.html

The call to freeze settlements (note it's freeze and not stop) has brought the rightwingers to provoke Palestinian violence thereby justifying that a freeze in settlements is a national danger. Things don't look too good so far. I can imagine Christmas in Bethlehem is going to be tense as rightists may try to sabotage it.

It's Hanukkah today. And my favorite jelly doughnut is on sale in the bakeries. But I'm too busy to go buy one (or two!).

Here's the Hanukkah story:

About 2200 years ago, Greek kings, who reigned from Damascus, ruled over the land of Judea and the Jews living there.

One Greco-Syrian King, Antiochus Epiphanes, forbade the Jewish people from praying to their God, practicing their customs, and studying their Torah. Antiochus forced the Jews to worship the Greek gods. It is said that he placed an idol of the Greek God Zeus on the alter in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem.

In response to this persecution, Judah Maccabee and his four brothers organized a group of resistance fighters known as the Maccabees. They fought against paganism and oppression.

The tenacity of the rebels, which came from their steadfast faith in one God, is one reason this military victory has been so celebrated by Jews in future generations. In one battle near Beit Horon, Judah's small army is intimidated by the size of the enemy army and Judah tells them to have faith that God is on their side:

But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said unto Judah: 'What? shall we be able, being a small company, to fight against so great and strong a multitude? ...' And Judah said: 'It is an easy thing for many to be shut up in the hands of a few, and there is no difference in the sight of Heaven to save by many or by few; for victory in battle standeth not in the multitude of an host, but strength is from Heaven. They come unto us in fullness of insolence and lawlessness, to destroy us and our wives and our children, for to spoil us; but we fight for our lives and our laws. And He Himself will discomfort them before our face; but as for you, be yet not afraid of them." (The First Book of Maccabees)

Against great odds, after three years of fighting, the Maccabees succeeded to drive the Greco-Syrians out of Judea. Hanukkah proclaims the message of the prophet Zachariah: "Not by might, not by power, but by My spirit."

The Maccabees reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. They cleaned the Temple, removing the Greek symbols and statues. When Judah and his followers finished cleaning the temple, they rededicated it. On the 25th day of the month of Kislev in 164 BCE, the Temple was purified and rededicated.

According to tradition, when the Maccabees entered the Holy Temple, they discovered that the Greco-Syrians had defiled the oil which was used to Temple's menorah. Only one vat of purified oil remained - enough for only one day. It would take the Jews a week to process more purified oil. Then a miracle occurred. The Maccabees lit the menorah and it burned for not one, but eight days, by which time the new, purified oil was ready. This is why the Hanukkah Menorah has eight candles (not including the shamash candle used to light the others) and one reason why Jews celebrate Hanukkah for eight days.

It was on the Feast of Hanukkah that Jesus taught in the Temple (see John 10). And earlier in 8:12 and 9:5 Jesus says he is the Light of the World ... a nice image to compare with the lights lit on Hanukkah to remember the miracle of the oil.

Living Temples

Wow ... so the big news is Sinead found my blog! Like .... she said "I can actually hear your voice! It's so you! You write what you think!". Now I'm trying to see if that was a compliment or not. Sinead just got back from Ireland where her brother got married.

The opposition to the freeze in settlement building is gaining momentum. Thousands converged at the PM's house 2 days back. Now settlers destroy a muslim mosque. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1134455.html

And here is a WOW frank admission of how religiously directed Israel society is - even if it claims to be secular; Judaism is behind everything here. http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1134047.html

Tonight Hanukkah begins. It's the commemoration of the rededication of the Temple after its desecration by Syrian emperor Antiochus Epiphanes. Jews will light candles for 8 nights and eat jelly doughnuts. I like that part! Anyway this feast should trigger Christians to consider rededicating (consecrating) themselves to God. After all, we are the living temples of the holy Spirit.

By the way, I hope you guys are watching Fr Praveen sharing his reflections for Advent. Watch http://elwebcast.blogspot.com Spend 2 minutes a day for your spiritual life ... come on .... do something for your soul this Advent!

anti-climax

The highly-expected rains forecast this week never came ... well almost. We had a couple of days drizzle, that's it. My Jewish friend Eli the scribe asked me "What kind of a Holy land is this? What kind of a Promised Land? No rain! No blessing! We are cursed!" That sort of sums up what everyone is feeling.

And the highly-expected release of Schalit never took place (nor the 980 Palestinian prisoners released). Talk about a week of anti-climaxes.

Let's turn to the Scriptures for some Good News. We're into the 2nd week of Advent, and at the threshold of the 3rd week. The sense of expectation is there, that somehow God will intervene in our history and reverse the destruction we're bringing upon ourselves. And we know he did ... in a very anti-climatic way - born as a helpless baby in a manger in Bethlehem.

So ... what do we learn? That anti-climaxes play an important role in life and shaping history ... you just never know: the lousiest setback might just be a blessing in disguise. So watch your next step!

Thanks

Thanks for the swift response to Abdel Masih's mother:

Edith Cheung, Letty and May.

Thanks also to Faith Tours (S'pore) that organised a collection of daily necessities for the poor here in the Holyland.

Bad News

Received some bad news from Fr. Vincenzo in Musky. The mother of baby Abdel Masih (see photo on right column) will probably die while carrying her unborn baby. Please help in anyway you can ... prayers and financially for her operation and care for her babies.

".... Unfortunately I some some bad news. Last month the mother of Abdel Masih returned to her home village to visit her parents. There she suffered a heart problem. She was sent to hospital and put into intensive care.

I visited her at the Italian hospital several days ago. I spoke with her doctor. She has no chance of living if she is not operated on immediately.

The doctors decided to wait 2 months for her baby to be born, then she will be operated. The chances of her surviving is 50%."

Do something beautiful for Christmas, help a dying woman and her unborn baby. You can contact me or Fr Vincenzo directly.

2nd Sunday of Advent

The anticipated rains did not come. We're still waiting. Heavy storms we're told .... let's wait and we'll see.

Meantime more rumours are circulating that Gilad Schalit will soon be released. It must be terrible to be his parents worrying about his safety. It should never happen to anyone ... friend or enemy.

And Amir Khan (muslim) did it again ... whammo and slammed Salita (Jewish) into history. Like the report says, Khan is a pound for pound killer. I think the boxing ring will see more stuff from him in the coming years ... but also foresee early retirement. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/12/05/boxing.amir.khan.salita/index.html

We begin the 2nd week of Advent, with readings foretelling the promise of God's loving care coming to fulfillment. I certainly hope your Advent is an experience of God's loving care. Have you actually sat back and counted your blessings? No really ..... I mean it. Just take 15 minutes off whatever you're doing and write down the things you should be thankful for.

Better

There's forecast for a very wet Monday and Tuesday next week. I certainly hope so. We need the rain.

The computer seems to be playing up again ... not getting started, closing off windows automatically .... Must check to see if there's a virus.

My asthma is alot better compared to last week. The bloat is less, but the swollen joints are still around.

The sisters of St Vincent de Paul and Mother Teresa thank you all for your generous gifts to their orphans and needy. I'll post a message from them in the next blog. Watch this space!

Today

Pretty tense today when a group of Jewish tourists came out of the Western Wall Tunnel - the exit is directly in front of our monastery gates - and arabs boys began to throw stones at them. Security began chasing the boys ... luckily no one shot. I was in the street at that time and had to duck into the door of Ecce Homo convent to avoid the stones and possible gunfire.

Meantime attacks on christians continue - Jews who believe in Jesus call themselves "messianic Jews" rather than Christians as the term is derogatory among Jews.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1259243066926&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

I was feeling quite upset living in such a violent and anti-Christian place ... when I met my jewish scribe friend Eli who brought back the wonder, awe and specialness of living in the Holyland. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Ripped off

So my mobile was stolen in Greece this summer. Got a replacement but the store preset it to break down within 4 months. Didn't know that ... when went back to the store that offered to "replace" the s"spoilt" one. Ended up paying US$200 more for the replacement and found out I lost all my information like phone numbers, credit, messages etc. RIPPED OFF.

3 Chinese windchimes were sent to me. Cost no more than US$10 total. Israeli Customs and Excise wants me to pay US$100 tax for them. Our lawyers fought to get them released. Ended up paying the US$100. RIPPED OFF.

I'm so no good at this game called "life". People are constantly taking advantage of my ignorance and fear to make money. Easy victim, easy prey. But there is a God that sees and punishes.

Da pacem Domine in diebus nostris, quia non est alius. Qui pugnet pro nobis, nisi tu deus noster. (ancient hymn .. try and figure it out).

1st Sunday of Advent

So ... to those who still don't believe that Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream is Jewish and kosher - read this: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1259243012251&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Another Sunday. Didn't have time to clean much of my room though because I'm hebdom this week and had to preside the 8am Mass. But had enough time to do the basic stuff and .... setting up my Advent wreath.... which is no big deal. It's some green paper wrapped over wire. it's the cheapest thing I could get. And there are no purple candles so I got a weird white/orange/yellow type of candles (actually they're Sabbath candles). So my Advent wreath is really a hodge podge of stuff I gathered.

I managed to watch just a bit of my usual Sunday Christian movie. This morning it was based on the Great American Depression; how an American father had to leave town to look for a job, leaving his wife and 3 children back home. Then in a workers riot, the father gets blamed for seriously striking an official (which of course he didn't do) and ends up in jail. The mother gets all worked up but no giving up faith in God. The 3 children decided to run away and search for their father. That's all I saw. I'm sure it had a good ending.

Last night in one of my attacks of asthma, I could not as usual go back to sleep so I watched TBN (the protestant web TV which also broadcasts catholic programmes). It had a short film about a black american man who would not speak to his aged, stroke-stricken father because many years back he was embarrassed by his father who worked as a baseball clown (he provides the laughs during the intervals). And this guy was also angry that his father always spoke about striking out the legendary Babe Ruth. The film was set in the days when black segregation was still much alive in the US. He kept calling his father a liar. Now he has his own son, and he's trying to train his son to be a successful baseball player. His son secretly visits his grandfather and gets caught one day by his father. Then ... of course like in Luke's gospel ... angels show up and transport them all back in time when they witness how the old man (young back then) did actually strike out Babe Ruth in a unofficial game. But because of black segregation, this was never recorded nor taken seriously. The man regrets and reconciles with his father, and wins back his son. Happy ending.

Sounds like a simple story but I guess it does speak to us - about how we brand people, blame them even when we do not know the whole truth, that the truth sometimes is stranger than we think, people who are fixed with success and destroy other people's lives along the way.

This afternoon I had a meeting with the Custos. Its the only time we can meet because he is so busy and has no other time. We talked about Javier our classmate. And word had gotten to him that I was not well. He was pretty tough with his words, that I must go to hospital and stay there at least 3 days, get an operation if necessary (which he changed his mind when I reminded him what happened to Fr Piccirillo when he was operated). Anyway it was nice that he cared.

And so we enter into Advent. How are you starting this season? Try going on a retreat.

Sabbath

Ultra Orthodox Jews have been protesting at the Jerusalem Intel factory because it works on the Sabbath. Today secular and liberal jews countered by protesting for a free Jerusalem - free from ultra orthodox coercion and violence. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1131254.html

And I hope you read about the spitting by Jews at Christians - a rising violence here in the Old City.

Meanwhile today I went to buy medicine from the pharmacy - got Tamiflu as well because lots of people here are getting the flu and Tamiflu is getting sold out real quick. I made an order earlier this week and now I got a whole box! That simply means 14 little packs and it cost over 2000 shekels (almost US$650). I didn't have money on me to pay so I owe the pharmacy money. Don't worry I think I got enough to repay. Also got alot of other medicines I need. Then went home to do some work before I went off to see the doctor ... finally. Now I remember why I hate going to see the doctor ... I have to wait one and a half hours before it was my turn. It's so frustrating just sitting there waiting and waiting. And all the others ahead and behind me were fuming and cursing. Anyway got to my turn. The doc was worried and said it was serious but not to get back to prednesone steroids again because of the side effects (probably the bloat is a result of this.. plus the arthritic fingers and joints). So its back to the regime of inhaled steroids.

In the afternoon we celebrated a Mass for Fr Javier. Lots of teachers and friends showed up but few students ... the younger generation is very different or rather, indifferent. The Custos who was a good friend could not come because he was in Bethlehem for the solemn entrance : today is the feast of St Catherine the patron of our church in Bethlehem. He sent a message of condolances and sorrow. I cried during Mass. Javier was a good friend and classmate.

Finally

Finally one newspaper has the guts to confront the growing hatred for Christians by jews in yesterday's article about Jews spitting on Christian clergy. FINALLY.

Read all three pages on Jerusalem Post: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1259231077244&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

If Israel wants more tourists and pilgrims to come, it MUST stop these anti-Christ behaviour. Report to your nearest embassy any situations you witnessed when you were in Israel.

Folding paper

Last night was wild ... in the streets. The muslims celebrated the end of the Hajj and the climax of the Eid el Adha. Crowds were packing through our street outside (of course we locked our gates tight) all through the night. The muslim scouts started their procession at 9pm - loud, loud, loud drums and bagpipes. Then at 2pm youths were shouting in the streets and causing so much noise. At 4.30am the muezzins were singing at the top of their voices and the crowds packed into the Golden Dome mosque. This went on non-stop with every muezzin in town competing to be louder than the others. It was so loud and it went on for hours till 7.15am when suddenly everything just shut up ... absolute silence. It was such a deadly silence it became frightening! Everyone went home to enjoy their festive meal. Shops were all closed. The streets were empty. Thus the feast ended. For once you could through the Way of the Cross without any hawkers pendering their stuff.

For the 3rd time this week I was called up for emergency meetings. Half an hour notice. I had to drop everything I was doing and rush up to St. Saviour's monastery. Not easy when my asthma and swollen joints are killing me. But made it, half dead. Everyone always panics when they see me arrive because I'm all pale, gasping for breath and about to faint. The usual thing is "sit down, we'll get you a cup of warm water". And I want to say, "get me a coffin ... it's better".

I learned something new last night - you can't fold a piece of paper more than seven times. Try it.

One more day before the liturgical year ends and we begin a new year with Advent. Have you done what you wanted? said what you wanted? Don't start Advent carrying the baggages of last year. God forgives you and forgets all your past. He is greater than all our sins. Come embrace him anew this Advent.

3 days to end of liturgical year

Cold grey day today. The streets are filled with muslims as they celebrate Eid el Adha - commemorating Abraham sacrificing Ishmael (not Isaac). Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca, and the TV is showing 24 hours coverage of the events in Mecca. Huge crowds in the midst of rain.

Oh right now I see Dr Finkelstein ... an israeli archaeologist on an archaeological programme. I translated a couple of his essays years ago but I never knew who he was.

The canaries are huddling up because of the cold, and so am I. I should have bought a heater today when I accompanied Fr Buscemi out to buy some electrical stuff. As usual when I reach the shop I baulk at spending money, then go home and regret when I feel cold. Anyway Fr Buscemi treated me to a baguette shwarma which was fantastic!

Health news. The bloat is receding ... some people have remarked. I hope my asthma will recede too.

And ....... we have a new penguin!!!!!!

The liturgical year is ending in 3 days time .... what are you doing?

250,000 animal sacrifice

The talk about town is the eventual release of captured Israeli soldier Gilat Shalit. In the Israeli public there're vocal opposing voices. Proponents say exchange Palestinian prisoners for Shalit's release; opponents say terrorists should not be released.

The rains came as forecast, more of a drizzle really. The sky is a little dark but is pretty cold. Last night was so cold I couldn't sleep. And of course the asthma didn't help. Now I sleep sitting up because if I lie down, the fluids fill up my lungs and I choke.

Nepal tomorrow will slaughter a quarter of a million animals as part of a Hindu sacrifice - mind you it's 250,000 animals. Talk about extinction. The animals are beheaded and the heads are buried in a two acre field. And you ask "why?" Well I don't know. But St. Francis of Assisi would certainly have done something about it.

And the next day is a muslim feast. Damascus Gate is already festive - vendors pack the plaza to sell their wares. Even in the rain.

Aaaaaaahhhh

What a day to begin the week. Woke up at 2am with a sharp pain in my nose and sinus area. Turned on the light and found my nose was bleeding to high heaven .... had to wash up my face and clothes. I was quite scared as I never bled so much before. Anyway it stopped. But I was awake eversince.

So it's been terribly tiring. I tried to catch some sleep in the afternoon but was kept being disturbed by this or that. I give up. Will try to sleep early tonight instead.

As a result of this, I did little today. Well I was at the pharmacist's this morning to get some medicine (that the Post Office and Customs/Excise Office refuse to give me) but the pharmacist was out of it. Just my luck. So I'm home bloated as a whale, trying to sleep or at least rest. And doing some reading. Hope tomorrow will be nicer to me.

Sr. Alphonsine Ghattas

It was a hard week. Many things were happening, some things totally out of control. It was horrible, by any standards. And of course Fr Javier died. Rosario and I feel so bad about it. We just keep meeting up somewhere in the corridors, and he'd put his arm on my shoulder; or he'll just call my name. And we walk together up and down the corridor, nothing to say, just remembering Javier who used to walk with us just like that. Our school will celebrate a memorial Mass for Javier on the 28th.

Today too we celebrate the beatification of Sr. Alphonsine Ghattas, the foundress of the Rosary Sisters congregation. It's a totally Arab congregation of nuns working in the Middle East. She is the 2nd Arab to be beatified. The 1st is a Carmelite from Nazareth, Sr. Elizabeth. So today was a big affair for the local church. The Mass was celebrated at the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth because it is the largest church in Israel, even though the body of Sr. Alphonsine is in Jerusalem. Patriarchs, bishops and clergy gathered for this great event. I don't know what miracle she did. Will find out tomorrow.

This morning 3 different priests at 3 different places told me I'm bloated. Doesn't sound good. When I got into the kitchen, Nadia and Sr. Vicenta said the same thing. Nadia was worried ... her husband died less than a year ago and it reminded her of it. She kept telling me to go to hospital. Well I guess I should. Poor Sr. Vincenta was so worried she kept saying "we must pray" ... well I'll probably die from being slaughtered by the muslims opposite my house rather than any sickness.

Anyway like every Sunday morning, I try to watch a good Christian film on the Internet while cleaning my room. Today it was about some rough and tough college kids and a mechanic who eventually came to believe in Jesus Christ after the persistence of a pastor and the example of a car-mechanic. Nothing exceptional. But it does keep the atmosphere of a Sunday. What did you do for Sunday?