Small world

Mass today

Another Sunday celebration of the Eucharist at our little armenian catholic church. We're a very small community ... a dozen armenians, half a dozen african seminarians and myself. Our 2 armenian seminarians are in Greece studying the language and will soon be back with us when the airport reopens in September ... we hope. Still we're so happy to meet every Sunday and sing with all our hearts during the liturgy. We're restricted to 10 persons in the church but we're ok with that. The elderly parishioners don't come ... which is prudent.

And our african seminarians have learned to sing in armenian. Everyone appreciates that. It's a very difficult language but by joining in the singing, they showed they're part of the community. After Mass I brought both acolytes (today several of them couldn't come as they are making their retreat) to have brunch at a nearby cafe. We had lots of time to chat and laugh .... a good break for them from being locked down at home.

Last night over 5000 demonstrators battled police with water cannons and horses which went late into the night. Newspaper reports say protests erupted all over the country as never before. And everyone has noted there is no arab in sight. It's a totally israeli movement. The arabs have no interest in it as they gain nothing ... whether a new PM is elected or whether the pandemic is under control. It's quite a phenomenon.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-protest-against-netanyahu-government-across-country/?fbclid=IwAR3iXvLEEnE4HPapxEtjqeKeQCVVpBMZRQfKBb8y3NcLF901xmgzzI0QhNE

At the Post Office

I'm quite excited today because I've registered as an audit student to do a course on Coptic Christology with a coptic orthodox institute in Australia. Lockdown has given me lots of opportunities to discover more things, learn more things ... the world gets smaller even as I voluntarily isolate myself in my room.  

And talking about a small world ... I noticed at the queue to the Post Office a microcosm of Jerusalem: a catholic nun, a coptic monk, muslims, religious and secular jews, lay christians all wearing masks and waiting their turn to enter. No social distancing of course. A little world where there's no time for conflict ...