Rain at last

Our Internet connection was cut for almost 24 hours since yesterday. Everyone was upset, to say the least. Most of our work were stopped. It got me thinking about how 20 years ago we worked without the Internet and we survived .... so it was like living in the good old days without computers. You know what? Yesterday we chatted more, we laughed more, we got to know each other more ... really! I spoke with a couple of students whom I never got to speak to though I've seen them for over a year here in school. Hmmmm computers can be a hindrance to human contact.

And yesterday Marco defended his thesis. It was a very crowded hall. And he had a home-cooked party in the evening - great pasta and fish.

But the highlight yesterday was the rain. We didn't expect it as the sky was not dark and threatening as it was before. But it suddenly came in the midmorning. Rain, at times very heavy.... right through into the night. We think the rains might have knocked out our Internet connection as it knocked out the power for the lights in the streets. Our area's streets were all dark. But it rained and we're all very happy. Now if only it'll last for the next few months!

Strange weather

Wow, the newspapers say 150,000 Orthodox Jews went to the Tomb of Rachel to pray yesterday. You don't know how small the Tomb synagogue is .... And why the crowd? Because they believe Rachel grants anything you ask her. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1256799046590&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

And now Jewish settlers who take up home in Arab neighbourhoods are complaining about the Muslim call to prayer at 4am. Welcome to the neighbourhood, guys! We've lived with this for the past 800 years if you haven't yet known. But we live and let live. Now that Jewish Israelis are complaining, you can be sure the govt. will do something about it. You might say that's a good sign, to stop all that noise at 4am .... but you know what? first it'll be the muslims, then it'll be us. Sooner or later, they complain that churches are ringing the bells to loud and early and will ask the govt. to stop us. Not a good sign.

The change of weather from hot and dry to humid and cold is playing havoc with us old folks. Many of us are suffering pain in the joints. My arthritis in the fingers have returned big time, all swollen and very painful. Same with the ankle. And yesterday most of us had headaches as well. So everyone is taking things slowly these few days.

Press the bell

Today is the Jewish memorial of the matriarch Rachel - wife of Jacob. Thousands of Orthodox Jews descended on the frontier with Bethlehem where Rachel is buried.

But for us Catholics we celebrate the pilgrimage to the River Jordan. Once a year a ceasefire is declared by Jordan and Israel so that we Franciscans can go down to the river and celebrate Mass on the ancient site which commemorates the Baptism fo Christ. I didn't go though because I had to study. But the Mass will be broadcast on Eternal Light Webcast. So stay tuned!

I gave my usual Monday talk to the Missionaries of Charity, but this week an elderly indian MC father came along. He looked familiar but I couldn't place him. So after the talk I asked if I had seen him on WebTV with Mother Teresa. He said it was possible. Then I realised he is the co-founder of the MC congregation, Fr. Sebastian, of the contemplative branch. It was a great honour. And he refused to let me kiss his hands. He gave me his memoirs of Mother Teresa, signed personally too.

Another false alarm as dark clouds and thunder overwhelmed us this morning. The enormous drops of rain came for not more than a minute then everything packed up and blew out to the east. The sky was bright again, very hot and dry. This is certainly bad for winter. It's going to be a hot and dry Christmas.

Meantime I read about the Malaysian govt. banning the use of "Allah" as a term for God in the Bible because it is an exclusively muslim term. Honestly ...... come over to the Middle East and you hear Allah mentioned in every Christian liturgy. Here where Islam and Christianity were born, we don't have such problems - problems of fear. Here our lines are clearly drawn and no one feels threatened by the other because of evangelisation. When one religion begins to claim exclusivity over things and bans others from using it, you know it's in its death throes ... it's fighting a losing battle. And the battle is not from the outside, some external force or another religion. It's the battle within, of losing the confidence and faith of/in its own adherents; of losing conviction in its own traditions and tenets. And so clutching at straws, it begins banning this and that in order to draw up a safe structure and perimeter in which to keep the status quo. It won't work. History has taught us.

And the big talk around town is the two pilots who forgot to land the plane and overshot by 150 kms in the air! Good luck to you guys who're flying in the near future! Maybe attaching a buzzer on each passenger seat like in a bus would be an easy and cheap solution. Half hour before you want to get off, just press the buzzer.

Segregation in action

A Jewish woman was beaten up by a rabbi when she did not walk on the women's side of the street. Street segregation is becoming common where orthodox Jews live. Now there's talk of segregating seats in buses ........ sounds like America before the civil rights movement. Now when I walk on the road or take a bus (like ever!) I'll have to watch out which side I'm on. I don't want orthodox Jews jumping on me. It's bad enough having our muslim neighbours beat me up.

Well the guy who died this morning turns out to be a Catholic living in one of our buildings behind our monastery. 26 yrs old. Had his tonsils taken out yesterday but bled to death last night in his house when no one realised what was happening to him (they left him in his room and closed the door). Then again that family is not known to be very caring - I've lived in a room directly opposite their apartment 18 yrs back ... so I know it first hand. If I'm not wrong the guy who died used to throw the family rubbish into our monastery every night when he was supposed to empty it in the dumpster out on the main road. He was still throwing rubbish into our courtyard just a few weeks ago. And imagine he was a Catholic living in our Franciscan apartment for free and now will be buried in our franciscan cemetary. Believe me when you live here long enough, you'll meet some of these ingrates who have not a slice of conscience.

Thanks and new sponsorship

Thanks to

1) The Jesus' Follower's group (Alice Lee, Maria, Alison etc...)

2) The Cavero family

3) Paula Leung

4) Rose Chiu (St Andrew's group)
5) Angel

With your kind donations, we are able to sponsor a Catholic boy Raed Sabella in Bethlehem. He is handicapped and goes to a special school with special transportation. It has become too costly for his family to send him to this special school (they have 3 other sons to care for) and so the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa) have asked for your generous help. Now his school fees and registration fee are paid through your kindness, but this transportation is not yet settled. It costs 130 shekels (approx. US$35) a month.

Fool's rain

Some breathing space after the Sunday riots. This is almost an impossible place to live in. Today I just heard from those students who live up in Terra Santa College and the Salesian Seminary that they're happy they're living some 2 km away and outside of the Old City and they don't plan to ever live inside the Old City ever. So good luck to me.

It rained yesterday morning - for 20 miserable seconds. The sky had darkened considerably and a very cold wind blew. Claps of thunder added to the drama. We all were waiting at the door of our roof terrace .... and we saw the first drops. It was a happy sight. Then it poured ... and stopped after twenty seconds. The sky cleared, the thundered rumbled off to Jordan and the sun came out again. Talk about anti-climax. Everyone was disappointed.

Let's hope no more riots this weekend and lots of rain instead!

kids

The backstreet that leads to Herod's Gate was taken over by a group of violent kids : boys between 10 - 15 yrs old. Its our backstreet and backgate of our school where 3 weeks ago someone burnt a sofa at our gate. Now the kids blocaded the street with rubbish bins and threw stones at anyone who passed by the main road. Lots of innocent people (especially tourists who were stupid enough to stop and take photos .. YES they actually took photos and thought it was funny until several were hit on the head) were hurt. The stones were sizeable, some 8 inches across and very sharp at the edges.

Locals gathered at the cross-roads shouting at the kids to stop but to avail. Finally the riot police arrived - a dozen or so backed up by regular soldiers. They charged into the street and the kids fled. After several minites the riot police came out and the area cleared. But I was at the terrace watching everything and I saw an apparently innocent local boy who stood at the crossroad signalling to someone inside the street - and the kids came back out from hiding throwing stones again.

Riots end

The violence in the streets have subsided but the war of words began. Both sides are warning each other of consequences if further provocations are made. Our doorman Majed was in a fix because his 3 sons were blocked inside the Temple Mount where their school is. The police had closed all the entrances into the area. Parents stand worriedly waiting for their children to be released - just outside our garage. Some time later the girls were released - some merely 7 or 8 years old, crying hysterically. The boys were released several hours later.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1123409.html
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1123399.html
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1256150043976&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

More riots

2nd round of clashes this morning in the Temple area. Let's see later this afternoon if the rioting will spill into the streets, out of the Old City and into the New. We're ready to close our moanstery gates if any sign of deterioration is sensed.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1256150040063&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8324539.stm

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1123399.html#

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/10/25/israel.holy.site.arrests/index.html

New violence

New violence broke out just now in the Temple Mount. The Jews are commemorating the great Rabbi Maimonides who entered the Dome of the Rock mosque 843 years ago. Today there is a call for Jews to repossess the Mosque. Muslims began to enter the Mosque and block the Jews from entering. The muezzin was shouting over the microphone for muslims to come and protect the mosque. I can hear shots being fired. The police helicopter is flying over the mosque.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1256150040063&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

This may be the spark that will start the 3rd Intifida. Everyone has been trying to avoid it .... but who knows how this will development in the next few hours?

Faith and trust

There's alot of noise here in Israel over the Goldstone report that accuses Israel of war crimes during the Gaza war. But here's one reporter who actually touched the raw nerve of the entire issue. See http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1256150025547&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

He ends with the interesting insight into the scriptural reading of the synagogue of this week - the story of Noah. It begins with Noah as a righteous man who was rescued from the flood while everyone else died because of their sins. But once the flood subsided and Noah got off the ark, this righteous man got drunk and himself sinned. Did God not know this beforehand? Was God playing double-standards? These are questions that torture our minds as we try to unravel the mystery of God's eternal plan. In faith, we can only say that only God knows what He is doing ... and we can only trust that it all works out for good.

Chinese jews

Yes they're here .... finally the chinese Jews from Kaifeng have finally arrived. It was an ancient jewish community from the Tang Dynasty that has lasted to this day. And they've immigrated to the Promised Land. Wow this is a big thing, ok? They're ancestors came from Persia or Syria to China a thousand years ago and now for the first time, some descendents get to actually enter the Promised Land. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1256150030852&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Meantime Christians supporting Israel get their fingers burnt. Each year they offer millions of dollars to help Jews but the rabbis, after accepting the money, condemn christianity. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1256150032346&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Weather report: still cold in the evenings. The sun sets by 5pm and things get pretty dark.

Cold

The temperature fell as forecast. In the nights and mornings it's pretty chilly. And there's a dampness in the air. You can smell it. But it never rained. The days though get pretty hot.

This morning the Salesians had their Dies Academicus - they invited the Rector of the Lateran University, Archibishop Fisichelli to speak on the priesthood. It was quite a crowded affair. I was there, not so much to join in the conference but more to work. But it was good to meet some of the Jordanian diocesan seminarians whom I knew earlier this year during Holy Week. I promised to visit them in their Beit Jalah seminary but never really could fulfill it. But I really should.

Anyway I'm pushed to the limits to finish my research. My qualification paper was finally approved by the Council last week. The dean called me to his office and read the giudizio (judgement/assesment) on my paper and its approval. Now I must study extra hard. Feels like breaking point. Pray for me!

Married clergy?

Don't be surprised if you move home to another area and attend Sunday Mass at a Catholic Church who's parish priest has a wife and several children..... openly.

Why? That's because the Vatican is preparing to receive some half million Anglicans with their clergy and bishops into the Catholic Church. Entire Anglican parishes have asked to enter the Catholic Church as a result of some of the decisions the Anglican Synod has made recently.

Of course, entry into the Catholic Church should not be based on disagreement with their own denominations ... that's not a good reason at all. Rather it should be based on a conviction that the Catholic Church holds the truth of revelation.

So soon you'll see "new" catholic churches around your area .... those former Anglican parishes that have become Catholic. They will keep their own rite of the Mass and their own prayer traditions, just like the Eastern Churches do.

So it's a good thing ... unity in diversity. But my only fear is those many Catholic men who want to be priests but also want to get married may decide to join the Anglo-Catholics and we'll have a greater shortage of celibate priests in our Roman tradition.

Heat Wave

It's been officially declared by the Jerusalem weather station that yesterday (or right now) was a heat wave - 34 degrees. Right now, which is half an hour past midnight, it's 27 degrees. I only slept for 2 hours and I'm awake because of the heat. It's dreadful. I've drank 1.5 litres of water since I woke up and am finishing my 2nd 1.5 litres. We're lucky here I guess because Beer Sheva in the desert, it's 36-38 degrees.

From the forecast, this afternoon should be cooling off to about 27 degrees. Then suddenly it'll drop to 17 degrees on Wednesday and hopefully rain. Well I'm certainly praying for rain . .. big rain.

And continuing from yesterday's thought about how fast 2009 is slipping away .... maybe it's good to look back and see if we've done any good deed so far. Made someone happy? Said something nice? Make 2009 something worth remembering ..... do something nice for someone!

Not an option

It's 32 degrees today. I'm not feeling too well with this heat. And neither are the others. I think I need to drink more water. My eyes are bloodshot and the nose is still bleeding on and off.

And probably I'm tired. Have been reading and doing so much work, I've hardly had time for meals and sleep. I've decided I'll eat only one main meal and skip either lunch or dinner so i can have more time to study. The pressure is on .... big time.

And soon it's going to be the end of the liturgical year and Advent comes round again. So what have you done this year so far? 2009 is slipping away fast. Don't lose it!

And just to share with you what someone said to me this morning: Growing old is not an option, but muturity is.

Lawlessness abound

The dreadful desert storm is letting up a little. The yellow-brown sky is turning blue again, but the heat is still hanging relentless over us.

A dreadful tragedy yesterday when 6 members of a family were stabbed and burned during the birthday party of one of the grandchildren. "The country is lawless" says a neighbour. That's exactly how everyone is feeling right now. It's not just a matter of Jew against muslim, arab against israeli, but as we've seen the last few months it's within israeli society itself - jew against jew, arab against arab. Solving the problem isn't about more policing, stricter laws, better education and economy .... it's about going back to the basics .... the ten commandmants; the law God gave so that human society can function in peace. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1255694828621&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1121628.html

Meanwhile the tourists are back with a vengeance; literally thousands have crowded into the Old City yesterday. There was hardly any space to walk in the streets, let alone the churches.

Miracle baby

It's the desert demon that's causing all the restlessness - that's what the bedouins call it - the demon of the sands. The sky is yellowish-brown with dust and sand; a stifling heat hangs over the air like a blanket, suffocating everything beneath it. It is humid and not a breeze is blowing. This makes people feel tired and listless in the day, and sleepless in the night. Everyone's feeling it ... the demon of the sands "slouching towards Bethlehem to be born" (remember that poem? The Second Coming? Was it Yeats?)

There's a big wedding going on behind somewhere our house. Fireworks falling into our courtyard, organised spontaneity erupting every few minutes in the alley behind our school. They don't seem bothered by the desert demon. In fact the fireworks are meant to scare him away. Well it's the 2nd day of festivities for them .... so they must be very rich.

And I have to work overtime to get my research done. The demon is not helping obviously. But I must trudge on ahead.

By the way did you see the video of the pram and the baby falling into the railway tracks and the train ran over it? And the baby was unhurt? That WAS a miracle.

Teresa of Avila

Today is the feast of St. Teresa of Avila. Strange that her feastday is celebrated on Oct. 15th when she actually died on Oct. 4th. But its a long story. You see the calendar they used back in the 16th century was not Gregorian but Julian system. I think in 1582 the Gregorian system was imposed by Pope Gregory (of course) by adding 11 days into the calendar. These were inserted on Oct. 4th so suddenly in that year, Oct. 4th became Oct. 15th. So the feast of St Teresa, which originally was Oct. 4th became Oct. 15th. Hope I got the facts right here!

Anyway she is a great saint. You should read up a bit about her life.

I'm back into work by analysing the structure of Wis. 11 and 12. This part is fun. But also very tricky.

School has of course started and lots of students are busy signing up for new courses. It's good to see some old friends again. And Sr. Maria, the spanish sister who used to work in our library, is back after a 3 year break. Welcome back!

One minute of fame

It's slowly coming to the fore that many of us are having sleepless nights - from the old to the young. Everyone is feeling restless and by 2am or 3am, we're waken up and cannot fall back to sleep. Apparently it's the change of weather - it gets cold, humid but suddenly can be very hot and sweaty all within an hour. Anyway the result is everyone looks like a zombie by 7am. Sounds strange that the weather can play so much havoc with our bodies. Maybe that explains my nosebleeds.

Today we're having a big event in our school - we're filming a short introduction to our school and it involves everyone.... literally from the janitor to the dean. Sinead is the project manager (remember she's the secretary of the Secretary of the School) and she's been busy arranging for all the students, profs and film crew to be ready on the word "go". It'll take a couple of weeks' editing before it can be launched on the Internet. I'll let you know. Yesterday the crew took 5 hours to edit a 4 minute clip for the Custody's website! Capturing the images, choosing the right music, co-ordinating the sequence .... wow it was all so specialised! Anyway there's lots of excitement in the hallway throughout the week ... it's the chance of a lifetime to get your one minute of fame in a prestigious school. Students were told to come in their official dress, ie. habits, roman collars or civil dress if they're laity.

And I'm happy to say my studies is moving ahead .... pray my paper gets approved this week so I get promoted to the next level!!!

Saints in heaven

OK, so I'm back on prednesone. Can't help it because the wheezing and breathlessness had become so bad I could hardly walk. The nebuliser isn't working. So I'm back on the pred. Starting 20mg 2x for 2 days, then down to 15mg 2x for 2 days, then 10mg 2x for 3 days and 5mg 2x for 4 days. I think this weaning is ok. Not getting withdrawal symptoms yet so must be the right dosage. I went to get a new pack from my pharmacist and she kept shaking her head and saying "don't take that! you should stop". Well I could, just that the side effect of NOT taking it is to die of asthma.

And my nose just bled again as I was typing. Strange goings on. Feels like the body is falling apart.

The weather has warmed up, and the rain clouds have blown away. Crowds of tourists are coming back after last week's shootout in my area. Hopefully common sense and peace will return to our very disturbed neighbourhood. Succoth ended yesterday with the feast of Simchat Torah (the joy of the Torah) - which I always compare with our Bible Sunday. Now with no more feasts (jewish, muslim or christian) these weeks, we can expect some peace and quiet.

I was particularly happy that Damian of Molokai and Jeanne Jugan were canonised. Next month a local arab nun who founded the Sisters of the Rosary will be beatified. A few more saints in heaven to pray for us.

By the way the weekday readings have switched from the prophets to the letters of Paul. I'm trying to figure out why.

St. Damian of Molokai and St. Jeanne Jugan

It's Sunday again. As is my usual routine, I try to watch some religious programme on the computer. Today there was a film on St Damian of Molokai. The Pope is canonising Damian today at St Peter's Bsilica. An incredible story. St. Damian was maligned and misunderstood by his very own congregation, superiors and bishop even as he worked selflessly for the lepers in Molokai. He was isolated by obedience because his superiors accused him of pride, stubbornness and embarrassing the state and church by highlighting the plight of the lepers. And ironically, it was the protestants and Anglicans who came to the aid of Fr Damian. The Anglican and protestant churches admired him and saw him as a saint ... while his own church accused him and castigated him. He was supported and praised by non-Catholics such as Robert Louis Stevenson and Mahatma Gandhi at a time when the Church would not mention his name. Fr Damian's leprosy was less a source of pain than the unjust treatment he received. It took the Franciscan Sisters to break the deadlock and start a mission on the island to help Fr Damien, when no one else wanted or were allowed to join Fr Damian.

One memorable phrase from the documentary is: "Fr Damian showed that the lepers were worth dying for." I wonder how many of us can say that about those we fear and despise.

Fr Buscemi and I went for a walk and we spoke about Damian. He said there's a very good film on Damian's life that I should watch.

Also today is the canonisation of Jeanne Jugan, the foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor. She too suffered very much, maligned by the clergy and congregation; forced to live in silence in the novitiate even though she was the foundress, forced not to reveal the true founding of her congregation and she died unknown and forgotten. It was only after her death that the truth came out and her sisters realise that Jeanne Jugan was their true founder. Her work with the aged poor is world-reknown now.

St Damian of Molokai and St. Jeanne Jugan, pray for us!

Expecting more violence

Today is definitely a stay-in day. Everyone is expecting big trouble in and outside the Old City as mulsims come into the Old City to pray. Entry will be barred to men below 45 yrs as usual. Apparently even arabs from the north cannot enter Jerusalem. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254861898633&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull And the arrest of the sheikh last week will not help. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254861904540&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Infact Hamas has called all muslims to converge on the Old City and declare a "Day of rage" http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1119801.html

And a notable rabbi has warned Jews that it's against Jewish Law to enter the Temple Mount area (the Dome of the Rock esplanade) - something that all Jews know - for fear of stepping on the Holy of Holies which no one knows exactly where today. Orthodox Jews comply with this, but the Zionists will still try to enter. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254861897361&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Thanks

Thanks to:
1. Jesus' Followers
2. Rose Chiu
3. Maria (Jesus' Followers)

Rain again

Yesterday morning at about 9.30am we had a sudden storm - very heavy rain for about 20 minutes. Some people say there were hailstones as well. It certainly dropped the temprature down by almost 8 to 20 degrees. It was so cold I had to borrow a sweater to keep warm. Then at midnight another storm broke. Everyone's hoping this rain will continue to pour. We need the rain after 10 years of drought.

And today the Israeli papers are talking about the 3rd intifada. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1119366.html# and new rumours that Israelis are digging under the Temple Mount (where the two major mosques are situated today). http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254861888430&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Also the olive harvest has begun, and Israeli settlers are vowing to stop Palestinians from harvesting olives in their own fields - olives are the main staple for the palestinians. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254861886552&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

The US is now so worried at the unabated violence here in the Old City, it is sending Mitchell back to urge for calm. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1119400.html

Jerusalem March

An unbelievable day as the annual Jerusalem March got underway this morning till afternoon. 70,000 people marched from Mt Scopus (near the Mt. of Olives) down to downtown Jerusalem (New City of course) and turned down to the Old City Jaffa Gate before dispersing. It's an annual event to fete Sukkot, but due to the riots the past week, security was beefed up to 2000 soldiers! The streets were blocked, traffic held up and while it was a festive walk, one cannot miss the tension in the air. Thousands of soldiers were deployed at every road corner. I had to walk home after work right in the midst of this crowd and my first gut-reaction is run away because large crowds are targets for suicide bombers. But my hurting feet and severe asthma decided I had to take this shortest route otherwise I'd be very very sick. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254827718382&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull While security chief Barak insist the recent riots is not the beginning of the 3rd Intifada, arabs in the streets are not only calling it THE 3rd Intifada but has even given it a name "the Independence Intifada".

Meanwhile a sheikh has been arrested for inciting the recent riots. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254756252176&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and the Rabbi of the Wailing Wall is urging all religoius leaders in the Old City to restore calm and sanity http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254827720894&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Meantime BBC is catching up with the news of the riots http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8292184.stm

I don't know how long I can take this tension anymore.

All is "calm"..... while rioting continues

More riots yesterday. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1119115.html# and http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1119122.html and the ironical Jerusalem Post article headlined "Calm.." and "no unusual incidents" then goes on to describe a 16 yr old arab stabbing a soldier, arab youths burning debris through the night, jews get stoned by arabs on the Mt of Olives. Actually that article reflects what local society is like - all that violence is normal. That's life here. Either that or the editor should fire the journalist. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254756248883&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

One thing to note in these few days rioting, alot of the violence is now caused by youths between 13 yrs to 19 yrs, much younger than before.

Frankly many of us here in the Old City, I mean locals, believe the 3rd Intifida has started.

New riots

New riots in the Old City and city gates. Not a nice sight. We already heard shouting and protests as early as 6.30am when we were celebrating Mass (actually there were only 3 of us for Mass). http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1118913.html and http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254673319539&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8289555.stm

The streets have a heavy military presence. I see the soldiers have changed to an all black uniform to distinguish them from the rioters and save themselves from friendly fire. Most locals are staying away from the streets. Jews are apcked in the thousands today to receive the ancient priestly blessing from the priestly descendents. But by now they'd all go home and stay away from the streets. It's the muslims who'll be protesting because they cannot enter their mosque to pray - in fact most cannot even enter the Old City.

At 9.30am our faculties celebrated the inaugural Mass for the school year. Our theological and post-graduate students and professors were joined by the Salesian semianrians and professors as well as the White Fathers' seminarians and professors, and lots of lay students as well. The church was packed. The Salesians presided at the Mass. Let's pray that the students will receive a proper formation this year, acquire Wisdom and live the Gospel.

Flocks

As we celebrate Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), and you celebrate Mid-Autumn festival, birds are gathering to fly south to Africa. You can see huge flocks early in the morning taking flight.

It's also the time of the year when flocks of a different nature are flying into Israel - the so-called Jewish Messianic evangelical christians. They come on Sukkot to fulfill the prophecy of the prophet Zechariah that gentiles will join Jews in celebrating Sukkot. This year 7000 have arrived, boosting the economy but angering orthodox Jews who see these christians as nothing but wolves inisheeps' clothing. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254673317623&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Overdosed

Overdosed on my asthma medicine yesterday evening. Thought I was going to die. I bought a nebuliser on Saturday as my asthma has become severe again. But since all the explanations were written in russian or arabic (although the machine is marked "made in China"), I thought I'd add 25 mg or more of ventolin into the tube for breathing. Must have been too high dosage because after a while I could feel my heart thumping very hard. Hands were tremoring uncontrollably. And legs were so weak I couldn't stand. It was all so wobbly and I was very faint. I dragged myself slowly off my study table to my bed but felt I needed fresh air. So when my legs were better, I walked out to the terrace. There was a cool breeze and a lovely full moon. The riots have died down and there's silence in the streets. Bro Rosario came out to join me and we chatted for some 20 minutes. I felt better and went back to my room. Well, so much for self-cures. Now looking again at the instructions in russian I think it's trying to say 5mg of ventolin and 25mg of saline solution mix for the nebuliser.

Jordan joins in

Now Jordan has joined the row that Israel keep the Temple Mount open. I can imagine soon Syria and Lebanon will do the same, then really the violence will become interntional. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254393091294&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Happy Feastday! This morning there was solemn Mass celebrated at our Custody's main church of St. Saviour. As is the usual custom, the main celebrant of the Mass is a Dominican friar. And on the feast of St Dominic, it's a Franciscan who presides at their Mass. It's an ancient custom that goes way back ... apparently Francis and Dominic were friends.

Yesterday evening's Vespers and Transitus was simple and nice. Religious from all other congregations came to join in, as well as local christians. The liturgy recalled the death of St Francis, how he asked the Gospel of John to be read, a psalm sung and finally the Canticle of the Sun. Then he died, lying naked on the floor because he wanted to be poor up to the very end of his life. Surrounded by his brothers, they wept as the Little Poor Man breathed his last breath. I think scholars suggested that Francis by then was emaciated due to his severe fasting, blind, possibly with stomach ulcers, liver and kidney dysfuntion. And of course anaemic because his 5 wounds kept bleeding every day right up to his death. Can't help thinking of poor Fr Johannes Sweetser who died last week. And Daniel Cavero who loved St Francis. And so many others whom I knew. Today they will celebrate with St Francis in heaven. They are so happy. You know, people are captivated by Francis because he was a normal person like us, and he had dreams and aspirations. But instead of following the crowd, he dared to be different. He chose to be poor while his world chased after wealth and greed; he chose simplicity while the world complicated itself; he chose joy while the rest of the world sought to hate and revenge. And this paradox is our daily experience; it struggles within us. How wonderful to be joyous, uncluttered and simple. No double talk, no hidden agendas, no greed. Francis was truly a free man.

More riots this morning at our place. I saw soldiers and police in the streets while on my way up to St. Saviour's. Helicopters flying above. It looked pretty tense but I didn't realise how serious until I read the news. Better stay indoors. The police have closed the Mosque again and no one could enter to pray. Well there were muslim rumours that the police were letting Jews enter the Mosque to pray - today being the 1st day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Let's see how things will develope today. Check out http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1118665.html# and http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254393091294&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Rosary procession in Nazareth

It's October, the month of the rosary. If you haven't had the chance to pray th rosary in the Holyland, then watch Eternal Light Webcast. There's a candle-light procession on Saturday evenings at the Basilica of the Annunciation (Angel Gabriel appears to Mary) and the rosary is recited there. Hundreds of people join in. You can join in too .... virtually through the web.

Go to http://elwebcast.blogspot.com 

Transitus

Yesterday being the first Friday after the riots of last Sunday, the military presence in the Old City was incredibly huge ... people were saying it's like the Intifada ("resistance" 1989 and 2001) all over again. I personally saw numerous young men below 45 yrs prohibited from entering the Old City. I could enter and exit only because I have an ID card and am a foreigner. The Dome of the Rock was closed even for prayers and those older than 45 yrs who could enter the Old City blocked the streets of the Muslim Quarter, kneeling and praying at noon. They blocked the whole of the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) from our monastery all the way down to the 5th Station. It was very very tense.

Tonight we celebrate the Transitus ("Passing") of St Francis. The friars will sing vespers and commemorate the death of St Francis by reading the last moments of his life. It will be a solemn affair.

Tomorrow morning there'll be a solemn Mass at 10am. But I'm so tired with all my studies I can hardly move. I'm not going. Have missed dinner for 3 straight evenings because I fell asleep a few minutes before vespers and didn't wake up till midnight. Was terribly hungry last night though. The instant noodles were a great help!

Anyway the worse news ever ..... all my hardwork rewriting my paper .... well it's lost. Couldn't find it in my computer even though I'm sure I saved it there. Some other guys also came to help me search in the 3 computers and no result. It just disappeared into thin air! And now I have to redo the WHOLE thing in 2 days before consignment dateline strikes!!! Why do these things happen to me? I figure computers give me more problems than solutions. I've lost so much info. from my research as it is.

Ring of Fire

Unbelievable and frightening - another earthquake ... this time in Tonga .... after the tsunami in Samoa and the two earthquakes in Indonesia. All centred around the Ring of Fire. And I predict this is not the end. There'll be one in Japan and California soon. 

It's apocalyptically frightening. What is God telling us?

Feast of St. Therese

That's Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face ..... or as we call her in chinese, the "Little Theresa". Her "little way" to heaven consists of embracing the little ordinary fusses in life - squabbles, jealousies, talkback, sickness. She doesn't see them as virtues ... but opportunities for greater things to come.

Today also happens to be the birthday of Fr Buscemi, who turns 65. No one knew about it. It was only after lunch, when I walked down the corridor with him that he told me. Then he offered some sweets to those of us who gathered in front of his room. He's a good man; thorough in his research and methodology.

The sofa that was burnt yesterday at our backdoor was removed to the main street by someone. But the walls of the school remain black all the way up to the 3rd floor. I want to take a photo of it and show you all how bad the situation is becoming inside the Old City. Things are NOT good, and someone remarked that this is only the beginning. There was alot of consternation and anger among the christians who knew about this. Some were saying soon they'll enter our monastery to burn and kill us if we do not openly protest or do something. St. Therese, pray for us!