Pray for peace

Adoration for peace

2 nights of intense bombings by Israel and Gaza. Over 30 dead in Gaza and 7 dead in Israel, both sides including children. Hundreds more injured by the air raids. On land, mixed Arab-Jewish towns and cities continue to see vicious attacks and lynchings with critical injuries on both sides. Para-military police have been called in to quell the violence but that doesn't seem to be enough so the PM is considering calling in the army. Experts are saying calm will come after a few weeks of more violence.

Deserted street

I called the M. Teresa's sisters in Gaza yesterday and they told me the Israeli airforce bombed the surroundings of the Rosary Sisters' convent in Gaza. Badly damaged buildings, but the sisters are safe though badly traumatised. Pray for them.

Yesterday evening I went to the M. Teresa's convent in Jerusalem for the weekly talk and adoration. Our filipino student, Fr. Abraham came along as well. We spent the hour in adoration for peace in the Holy Land. Hope everyone can do it in their own way. Only God can save us from this hatred and violence.

Yesterday was also Ascension Day and the celebration up on the Mt of Olives was very low key. We still have to keep social-distancing so we were encouraged not to join in. Only a handful of the important celebrants were up in the Crusader chapel of the Ascension for the Mass and prayers, and a few local religious attended. I guess things will continue to be low key, not just because of Covid but also the violence all around us. Let's see what Pentecost will have in store for us,.