Easter Sunday

Easter dawn over the Mt. of Olives
The Son rises

The Easter celebrations should have been joyous here in the very City that it all happened .... but for us in the Muslim Quarter, it was riots and disorder in the streets. Yesterday evening saw tensions as the police closed off the Al Aqsa esplanade to everyone. Protests grew in Bab Hutta area. During the Blessing of Fire at 9pm, street battles were being fought between muslims and Israeli soldiers 5 metres away. This morning more running battles ... we had to close our gates otherwise rioters might have entered to seek refuge and soldiers would have followed with tear gas and stun grenades. Many protesters were suffering from effects of tear gas. I went down to bab Hutta to take photos but the soldiers would not let me go too near.

French Students
Bible study

Later when we opened the gates, a hundred or so french students came in and occupied out courtyard because their original meeting place - St. Anne's Church/Sheeps' Pool - was closed due to the riots. They spent an hour divided in groups, studying the Bible and sharing faith experiences. A touching sight when you consider what other youths are doing on Easter Sunday.

Riots ended just before noon. Soldiers were still everywhere but the tensions died out. Probably because it got too hot for people to be in the streets. It went up to 18 degrees and the sun is relentless today.

In Haaretz online newspaper, there's an article that smacks of typical disdain and ridicule at Christianity. Purports that Christianity is a mixture of eclectic Jewish beliefs with pagan superstitions: ultimately its an invention
http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/.premium-1.586391

The Holy Fire being shared around
the Empty Tomb

Yesterday at about 2.30pm the Holy Fire "appeared" in the Holy Sepulchre and the Orthodox Christians were elated. It's supposed to come from heaven, appearing inside the Empty Tomb each Holy Saturday for the past 1000 years. For the orthodox, it's a confirmation of the Resurrection.

Tomorrow everyone will go to Emmaus to celebrate the apparition of the Risen Lord there. Problem is there are several rival "Emmaus" and each one has organised its own liturgy. Pretty confusing. But it's not a scientific test ... faith is not dictated by science. So long as you believe, and it makes you a better person ... then go to Emmaus ... whichever one you choose.