Easter Monday

Remains of byzantine
church in
Emmaus - Nicopolis

Traditionally Easter Monday is when everyone goes to Emmaus to celebrate the breaking of bread and the 2 disciples' recognition of the Risen Christ. Only problem is: which Emmaus? There was a pilgrimage to Emmaus Qubeibeh where the Custos celebrated Mass for hundreds of people, ending with the blessing of bread. Near Latrun is another Emmaus, so-called Nicopolis from it's byzantine name where another liturgy took place. Then there're 2 other Emmaus along the same road. I guess identifying the real Emmaus is more difficult than identifying the Risen Lord.

What a dreadful sandstorm today. Reports say it is the worst sandstorm in 4 years. Visibility was terribly limited and there's sand everywhere. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/worst-sandstorm-in-four-years-engulfs-israel-as-heavy-air-pollution-recorded-across-country-1.512883  People are warned not to go out and do strenuous work. And poor asthmatics like me must remain indoors. My asthma is really bad. But the new medicine is providing quite a relieve. Plus the exhaustion of the Easter celebrations, I managed to sleep a little longer than usual. Got up at 6.30am. That's a record .... since I usually get up at 4am.

As today's the last day of Pesach, all shops in the Israeli side of the city is closed. I had to go to East Jerusalem to buy some necessities. Got caught in the middle of battle: some suppliers were demanding money from a hardware shop that owed them money. Some 50 people gathered in front of the shop, taking sides. Then tempers flared and fights broke out. I tried to get out of the way by staying inside a shop. The fight spilt out into the streets. Strangely the police station is just 50 metres away but no Israeli police showed up. It's in such kind of situations that the Resurrection of Christ become significant. Otherwise life is hopeless and people merely pawns to circumstances.