Song

It's been difficult these few days. Jerusalem is calm and the weather is cool and balmy, like autumn should. But the news from the war zone is making everyone feel hopeless. Almost half the population of northern Gaza has been killed. Soon there will not be enough people to even reconstruct and form a social community anymore.

I received news that the sisters in our parish received some food and that would eleviate the hunger from the christians sheltering in our parish. They made a video of them praying with some of the parishioners on the Day of Prayer (Oct 27) as called by the Pope. We fasted rigorously and prayed. But God doesn't seem to listen. It's very sad. Families with only one or two members left.

Hre is a clip with the sisters sent of their prayer for peace

Stromata

We continue to fast and pray for peace and justice. This Friday the Pope has called for another day of prayer and fasting for peace in the Holy Land. More than anyone else in the world, we here in the Holy Land feel especially obliged to implore the mercy and compassion of God. But we need the support and solidarity of the Church outside as well.

Grocery shops open

Essential shops still continue to function. People need to eat and take their medicines. Today schools officially open again. The streets are full of school children. Parents go out to buy essentials. Masses and religious gatherings resume.

But still there's a palpable tension in the air. People speak in lowered voices. No one wants to draw attention. 

Food prices however have gone up. It's very expensive now so we keep to simple food. It is good to remind ourselves of the general poverty around us, and to show solidarity with them. There's no better time than now.

No words

Damascus Gate empty

Jerusalem is calm. Life is almost like normal ... during the day. Shops continue to open. People need to buy food and necessities, pharmacies and clinics work on as usual. Schools have reopened. A schedule of normalcy helps to alleviate the tension and fear.

But in the nights the streets are empty. Nobody goes out unless necessary. Police stop everyone at the City Gates. Even cars are stopped in the streets. There is a palpable fear in the air. Aggression and frustration are just beneath the veneer of normalcy.

I have friends on both sides. All are wounded, shocked emotionally and psychologically. We don't speak to each other because there are no words. We meet, we nod, we hug, we try to smile ... but there are no words. They are not needed. We all know and we all don't know. We all hope and we all lost hope. We live in a zone between night and day, black and white, life and death. 

Why? Lord have mercy

We fasted. We prayed. We wept. And a hospital and school were bombed in the meantime. Hundreds of innocent children killed. Why? why?

Lord have mercy on the killers. Lord have mercy on the dead. Lord have mercy on us who continue to suffer.

Take cover

Missile expoding over
the Old City

The war started on Saturday morning just as I was walking home from the MC convent after Mass. Sirens wailing and loud explosions to the south of the city. It went on for 4 or 5 hours till afternoon. The city was quickly deserted. Pilgrim groups were told to return to their hotels. Shops were told to close. We came under 48 hr curfew. Then on Sunday night the curfew was extended for another 48 hrs. School shut. No Masses. No gatherings. I'm teaching via Zoom so I'm not affected.

It's been a horrible massacre. I texted my Jewish friends to see of they are safe or needed lodging. I'd find rooms in our empty hostels for them. Thank God everyone is ok. But I also have friends on the Arab side of the war. Mother Teresa's sisters are in Gaza caring for some 60 or more handicap children and elderly. They have no shelter to protect them. And they say the bombing is very close to their convent. Pray for them.

Ooopps another siren .... and 3 huge explosions towards the south. Probably in the desert area of Gush Etzion.  The missiles won't hit our area ... we're next to the Al Aqsa mosque so it's haram if they hit it. But it was really loud ... my windows shook. OK just got news that some people were injured by the missiles just now. Several in Gilo in the south of Jerusalem and several in Abu Gosh west of Jerusalem. It'll be a restless night tonight.

What a way to start my retirement.

Retired

St. Francis in our
courtyard

The feast of St. Francis was well participated in our main church. Very crowded. The traditional Transitus ceremony was solemn as it recalled the last day of Francis' life. 

The rest of the week was filled with closing my work at the university library. On Oct 5 I officially retired from work there. It's been over 15 years when I was asked to reorganize the library (rebuilt physically as well) and unite it with the historical library from the main monastery 1km away. now the catalogues are united with a total of110,000 titles and some 2000 periodical titles. It's been a massive job. But it's done. We've saved lots of space and money as a result. Now I can withdraw and retire. Now I only have one smaller library to care for ... less pressure on my health. With my heart and kidney problems, I won't be able to handle so much work from now on. Time to slow down.

This week saw lots of violence all around the country - arabs fighting jews, jews fighting arabs, jews fighting jews, arabs fighting arabs .... unbelievable. Borders will be closed this evening because the jewish feast of tabernacles ends and another feast immediately begins Simhat Torah. More spitting attacks at our church with hundreds of orthodox jews pass our gate to harass us. Police are now stationed at our gate. Yesterday 3 were arrested and the day before 5 were arrested. Videos of their spitting at a Vietnamese group making the Way of the Cross has gone viral and International. Govt ministers immediately distanced themselves from these perpetrators though we know they need them for the coalition. Even the chief rabbis condemned it. I don't know how hopeful things will change. But I won't be surprised if these extremists will take revenge in some other ways, like hacking our websites etc.

Eve

 It's the eve of the feast of St. Francis. This evening we'll celebrate the Transitus. It's the traditional ceremony to recall the final moments of Francis' life. It's simple and moving. None of the profusion of Gregorian chants. Only 2 simple chants of a psalm and the transitus hymn. That's typical of early Franciscan tradition - still uninfluenced by benedictine or monastic spirituality - simple and poor to reflect the poverty espoused by the first followers.

Here's a trailer of Brother Sun Sister Moon ... make sure you watch the full movie tomorrow

2 Days more

 I'n trying my best to rest from the unusual events that required my attention. My feet are extra swollen and I've lost a lot of appetite due to exhaustion.  But the good news is that our Chinese migrant worker who has injured has been recovering well. Thanks for your prayers. He's able to stand wobbly for a few seconds and he has gained a little appetite. He's still attached to a machine that draws out blood from his lungs though. Thank goodness for some friends coming up here ... they've volunteered to bring some medicines for him. That'll be a great help.

It's 2 days to the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. I'm taking time off to rest and renew this season of Franciscan celebration. No class. Instead I'm asking all my students to watch the film "Bother Sun Sister Moon" in lieu of class. A Zefferilli classic made in 1972 with his typical fantastic cinematography, its simple beauty will touch you. Filmed in Assisi with a great cast (Alec Guiness as Pope Honorius) and music by Donovan. I think you can find it on Youtube or whatever media. I'll be posting some clips to whet your appetite.

(Francis before the Pope 1/2)

(Francis before the Pope 2/2)