Wednesday

Xinjiang muslim pilgrims

Though the bad weather has ended and forecast was sunny for today ... it was everything but. The sky remains cloudy and gloomy and slight drizzle fell in the morning. And the wind is still very cold. People are complaining that winter is not going away ... but those who can remember winter 30 yrs back will remember it was a lot colder and lasted a lot longer ... all the way to Holy Week. Anyway the rain is good as the Sea of Galilee has risen in volume.

Tourists are flocking into the Old City in unbelievable numbers ... not just christians but muslims as well. Today there were countless Xinjiang muslims at Damascus Gate ... speaking turkish and mandarin. Holy Week is starting in 10 days and the Jewish Passover falls exactly on our Good Friday. The crowds of christians and jews will be enormous.

Village vendors at Damascus Gate

There was another stabbing attack in Hawara, the town just outside Nablus in Samaria this morning. I think it's the 2nd terrorist attack. That means entry into Nablus will be very difficult as road blocks will be set up all along the way. And jewish settlers will be waiting along the highway stoning arab cars that pass by the way. It's dangerous.

Meantime in Gaza the Hamas govt and terrorist group Jihad have ordered Gaza's to stop violent attacks at the border with Israel. Israel had last week granted concessions by widening the fishing boundaries (many Gazans are fishermen). The checkpoints and borders have reopened and I think some food and medical supplies are permitted to re-enter. That's good news.

It's 4th Wednesday of Lent ... so right now the Lenten pilgrimage celebrates Mass at our Condemnation chapel. There's a small crowd here in attendance with many friars singing solemnly the Passion. I have a high fever since this morning so I'm not going down. Just stay in bed and hope the fever goes away.