Holy Tuesday

The Custos blessing the myrrh

According to Mark's Gospel, Holy Tuesday is marked by Jesus' testy confrontation with the Sadduccees, scribes and Chief Priests of the Temple. After the final challenge regarding the paying of taxes, his opponents kept silence and planned to kill him. Today our pilgrimage Mass is at Gethsemani ... recalling the passion in the garden.

Yesterday in the Custody, we celebrated the Mass of the raising of Lazarus in Bethany. The Roman Church commemorates the miracle of raising Lazarus from the Dead on Holy Monday and Mass is celebrated next to his tomb. The Orthodox churches celebrate this feast on the Saturday before Palm Sunday. Lazarus continued to live after that miracle and went to Cyprus where he became the first bishop there, and his 2nd tomb is found there. Myrrh, nard and frankincense were blessed during our Mass and these will be used to anoint the statue of the dead Christ on Mt. Calvary on Good Friday.

Mounted Police at the tram tracks

Military police have stepped up its presence in and around the Old City. Mounted police have been policing the streets yesterday and will continue to be around till after Pesach. The jewish Passover (Pesach) falls on the same day as Good Friday ... a rare occurrence ... and therefore security is super tight. I really do hope not to be here during the Triduum because the stress of being blocked at every street and corner, and the noise will be too much for me. The Chinese restaurants will all be closed for the jewish Passover so I won't be able to go there and pass some time away from the Old City. Let's see if there's a way to get out and celebrate the Triduum in peace.

One good news for the Triduum / Pesach ... public buses to Tel Aviv will be cut by 40%. Now that is fantastic. Except now I have to figure out if I have the time to go to Tel Aviv.  https://rejerusalem.com/cost-of-public-transport-from-jerusalem-to-tel-aviv-set-to-decrease/

Right now most jewish houses, restaurants and public places are cleaning out leaven. Blow-torches are used to burn out any trace of yeast on furniture and walls. Let's hope they'll have a good celebration this weekend  as we hope ours will too.