Feast of the Presentation

Today's feast is pretty meaningful for us because it took place just several hundred metres from where we live. Unbelievable isn't it? The ancient staircase where probably Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus, and where they probably met Simeon and Anna, still exists. It's incredible living here ... you actually get to see the places the Gospels talk about.

This morning for Mass, we had the blessing of candles at the door of our Flagellation chapel. Then at the homily, Fr Buscemi reminded us that the feast is not simply to recall Jesus being presented in the Temple, but the readings point to the event where God comes to meet us.  It is an encounter with God. Do we encounter God in our daily lives? In little babies and old people? In the rejected and marginalised?

Berlusconi the Italian Prime Minister is here for a visit. Traffic jams everywhere! Tomorrow he'll visit Bethlehem and the Grotto of the Nativity.

But the biggest news in everyone's lips is - tomorrow it'll snow in Jerusalem. Well at least that's what the weather report says. I'm a little sceptical. It's too hot (10 degrees) and sunny today ... but like everything else here, things can change within an hour. Let's wait and see.