Divine Mercy Sunday

Our 3 beloved penguins

So it's Divine Mercy Sunday and our sisters - the Faustina nuns - are celebrating big. They organised a solemn Mass at the co-Cathedral with the bishop presiding. I offered to buy them lunch - Sr. Veronica wanted quiche - as our cooking staff is down to one (namely Nadia) and Sr. Vincenta isn't working because all 3 nuns are busy in the co-cathedral prettying up the place for the Mass at 4pm. But just my luck - today is the 1st day after Pesach and all the bakeries and restaurants are just opening after 1 week of non-leaven food ... so none were ready for most pastries, bread and other leaven food. I got them 3 large bourekas instead. Hope it's enough for lunch.

And the "fly-in" protests began today. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists from around the world are flying into Ben Gurion Airport to "occupy" it. Israeli security is frantic ... blocking them off, deporting them, refusing to let them land http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-blocks-entry-to-first-pro-palestinian-fly-in-activists-hundreds-more-expected-1.424321  ... they even got a 5-month pregnant tourist to sign an obligation form not to participate in any pro-Palestinian event. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-forces-tourist-to-pledge-to-avoid-pro-palestinian-activities-as-condition-for-entry-1.424385

And the weather is a sizzling 34 degrees. It's an early heatwave ... the type of temperature we usually get in August. Thank goodness it wasn't yesterday because the Holy Fire service was packed with people and the heatwave would have knocked out many people. Anyway since yesterday at 2pm when the Holy Fire descended, orthodox church bells have been pealing till right now. I'm getting a headache from the sound and heat. All I think of is "Mercy ... mercy ..."

btw a new free online Bible course on "3 Minor Prophets" is about to start. Sign up at dsbiblecentre@gmail.com