2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Green is back ... at least for the liturgical colours. It's back to Ordinary Time ... and the Sunday Gospel readings revolve around Matthew's Gospel and it's message of God's Kingdom. Nice to keep that in mind when attending Sunday Mass.

The Russian Tower all
wrapped up

Way up on the Mt. of Olives, the huge tower of the Russian Orthodox monastery is wrapped up like a Christmas present. Besides obviously being renovated, I hear it'll have a gold roof.

Carpenters called to say they'll deliver the 12 tables and chairs for the library. I waited 2 hours in the cold, made 6 calls ... and finally they said they're not coming after all. Perhaps tomorrow. That's life here ... never rely on words. It's only words. "Today" means "tomorrow, or next day, or next week or next month". Asian efficiency is a dream here. Absolutely frustrating.

Anyway while waiting in the freezing street for those liars, I managed to catch up with my Jewish security friends. Everyone there looked tired and cold. Strasberg was especially tired ... he just had a baby last week and he has to wake up in the nights to care for his baby son Rafael. Two new guys became fast friends with me - Menachem and Ishai. Ishai was very nice and invited me to his house for the Sabbath meal. I'll definitely go once he can fix his schedule and is sure he'll be home. King Kong was so tired, while he was bodyguarding a group to the Wailing Wall, he walked into a pole and bashed his head.

Well if that's anything to go by, it heralds a long tiring week ahead of us.