Easter

Our Easter Sunday Mass

Yesterday was Easter Sunday and though we had our own celebration, we could not join the solemn one at the Holy Sepulchre where it all happened. I was told that the last time the Holy Sepulchre was closed during Easter was in the 13th century. We had to watch everything on live stream ... which was poorly done on a cellphone because the police would not allow a filming crew to enter. It would break the limit of 10 persons only in a religious service. We kept distancing in our chapel ... one to a pew.

In the Sepulchre, the Archbishop was alone with deacons and a couple of priests to proclaim the resurrection from the Empty Tomb. It was surreal. And a policeman was stationed inside to watch over the proceedings ... even taking videos to make sure everything went according to the law.

MC sisters' lunch gift

At noon I went to the pharmacy to buy medicine and the sisters of M. Teresa came to meet me and gave me lunch which they had prepared. It was nice of them to remember me. They cooked veggie rice with 2 chicken wings and a piece of cake. I was preparing to eat bread with canned tuna ... which is mainly what I eat during this lockdown. I took advantage of my outing to buy 10 pieces of bread for the coming week ... the bakery is opposite the pharmacy.

Today is Emmaus Monday. The Custos should usually preside at the basilica there and at the end of Mass, distribute blessed bread to everyone. This year only the small community of friars there celebrated it on behalf of the Church. No one can get there because it's inside Palestine and the borders have been closed for a month now.

Now we read the news that the govt. now is discussing if the country would again be put under strict lockdown again like last week to prevent large movements of people during the 8th and also day of the jewish Passover on the 15th. This time newspapers report it would last from Tuesday to Sunday ... thereby locking down also the Orthodox churches which will celebrate Easter Sunday then. This are certainly extraordinary times.