shrek!

In the past few days, a few of us were busy with digging up the archives of the Flagellation monastery in find out more about Fr Allegra. Remember he was the founder of the Studium Biblicum in Hong Kong and translated the Bible into chinese. He also taught here in Jerusalem (my school) several times. As part of the 100th anniversary of his birth celebrations, several of us here were asked to write articles about him (including me) and hence the big dig up. And we learned so many things about him through the letters, postcards, chronicles that were left behind here by Frs. Bagatti and Saller, former superiors who have since died.

So I'm busy writing an article about Fr Allegra. Got to finish it soon as the dateline is almost up - I think I'm the last one!

Yesterday I bought "shrek" (no not that cartoon monster) - some people pronounce it as "shrak". It's a large very thin round bread that can be rolled up. Very fragrant. I also bought a bottle of orange/ginger marmalade to go with it. It tasted fantastic .... have been very hungry lately as I've not been eating house food, meaning it's mainly a bread diet. The new medicine is pulling my BP really low - it's never higher than 120/64.

And today I bought half a kilo of "tut" (mulberries) to share with the guys sitting around me during meals. They liked it. Its nice to be able to share things with people around you - some appreciate it, some don't - but that's the package you get with community living. And I guess that's the deal you get in family life as well. You didn't get to choose who your brothers and sisters are; they're simply there with you. I think tomorrow's Solemnity of the Holy Trinity is a good reminder to us about what community is about - the Father, Son and Spirit sharing a bond so close they form one being (in the Creed we say "...one in being with the father"). That's the ideal all our human communities try to imitate and achieve. The reality may be pretty hard to stomach, but that should not deter us from struggling to reach the ideal - or worse to lose the ideal and become cynical. Imagine living a life without ideals and goals ........ floating on the river of life but never knowing when, where, what or why.

a little hope

This week has been quite extraordinary. The earthquake in China has hit everyone here even in Israel. Not only have the friars here shown concern and compassion; actually the first person to come up to me and asked if I had relatives affected in Sichuan was our cook Khalil. He spoke of his sadness. People living around my area has also shown such concern, the first question always if I had any friends or relatives affected by the earthquake. Then they would express their sorrow and shock at the terrible tragedy and offer prayers. Yesterday a friend from a Brasilian TV crew called to ask the same thing. It was very touching. She said "I want you to know that we feel very close to your people right now and we are praying for you all." This tragedy has shown me the hidden goodness of people here in this war torn country - they still find a place in their hearts to weep for others' sorrow while they suffer they own pains. There is something good in everyone - and from this, there is hope for our world.

Thanks

Thanks for the quick response to my (our) appeal for the Kassis family - Andrew Chau (Canada) and Agnes Leung.

Today's continuation of Jame's letter (1st reading) tells us that faith without good works is empty. I was pleasantly surprised by Pastor Kong Hee (City Harvest Church, Singapore) who preached that James was correct and Christians (protestants) should put good works and faith together. That is quite different from the traditional protestant theology of salvation by faith alone, not good works. Pastor Kong, young man and vibrant preacher, has solid theological studies - which is often lacking in many other tv evangelists. last week I heard him quoting St Thomas Aquinas. Now that is something! Our own catholics don't even know who Thomas Aquinas is!

So people, search your hearts and put your faith in action - do some good work and help.

help

Fr Vincenzo has returned to Cairo today. He has been in Italy for treatment of thrombosis and is hopefully getting better. Everyone here is still worried for him. He called me last week and said he thanks you all for your kind generosity which is helping the poor kids get a decent meal, and several children to study in school.

Now I know your generosity and how the earthquake in China is pulling at your heart-strings; but I have another appeal to make. This appeal comes also with the urging of several friars of authority here in Jerusalem for my help in this matter. It concerns a Catholic family that is in dire need. The family is well known to us and the father works very hard to support his family (7 persons in all), and believe me, we friars here all know how he slogs to bring the bread home. Because he's an honest hard-working man now in trouble, the friars each are trying to selvage what they have to contribute to help him. I'm also offering the little that I have. But I turn to you now for help. If you can spare a little to alleviate the situation, we friars here will be very grateful to you.

You can leave your offering with Katie at our office in Leighton Centre, room 1104 and make sure to write "Kassis family' on a note. I shall acknowledge your offering on this blog as usual, and we will remember you at Mass and in our prayers. Thanks.

Today's Mass reading is from the letter of St. James. In it he tells us to love the poor because God has chosen them to be rich in faith. Now is the chance for you to live this message.

Matthias the Apostle

The Hamsin winds (southern desert) are on us. Everyone feels disoriented and ill. It saps the energy off you. Everyone is listless and unable to concentrate or sleep at night. And of course with many heads of state here in Jerusalem for the 60th anniversary, we have helicopters flying overhead the whole night - and day as well. All this weather and logistical changes are throwing our routine upside down.

And talking about changes, I decided to change my medicine because my asthma was too bad. Changed to Normitan 25. Any advice on this brand? It sure lowered my BP - way down to 120/67. Everyone got worried and told me to take coffee and suger. There was no asthma attack this morning after I took it, but now I'm wheezing big time. I guess I must change the medicine again - maybe to another family of drugs that're not beta-blockers.

Today is the Feast of St Matthias the Apostle - and I bet many of you don't know who he is. Yes he's one of the twelve but no one ever mentions him!!!!! I told the lunch Bible Encounter group that just as Matthias was chosen to replace Judas, so we are called to a mission sometimes in the middle of our lives; a change of course and plans. Sometimes God does these things in our lives, and I wonder if we're prepared to take the challenge. So what do you have to lose? It's God calling anyway - time for change!

Central Perk

The earthquake in China is horrendous - coupled of course with last week's Myanmar cyclone disaster - it jolts humanity back to reality that despite all the high tech inventions, Mother Nature still commands the earth and we are in constant need of God's sustaining help. It reminds me of Pentecost Sunday's responsorial psalm (bet you can't remember it) which says "You [God] take back your Spirit and they turn to dust; you send forth your Spirit, and the world is renewed". Now more than ever need we pray for the Holy Spirit's help for the peoples of these two countries.

And to top that upset, I've been having diarrhea and stomach cramps for the past week. Finally found out today it's one of the side effects of the medicine I'm taking for the BP. Gotta change it soon.

Despite my exhaustion, I went out to the Dominican Ecole Biblique (Bible School) for dinner last night as Fr Thomas Chui (Mainland Chinese priest studying there) invited me for the umpteenth time. Couldn't push it off anymore so I went. It was the solemnity of the dedicaiton of the Dominican Basilica of St. Stephan (it's where they buried St. Stephan after he was stoned to death - see Acts of the Apostles). Solemn vespers was chanted in french - simply magnificent in the basilica. Then we had dinner. I had the chance to share the table with Fr Chui and his thesis director Fr Adrien Schenker - a world famous biblical scholar, and Fr Terence, a young Irish Dominican friar - brilliant young chap. We spent a lovely evening chatting and then I went home. But before that I invited them to our monastery for lunch today.

It was very nice that all three came for lunch today. Fr Schenker is very well respected here in our school and we were very honoured to have him with us. Lunch conversation flowed from french to italian to english to chinese. it was abit complicated to follow, but it worked out. We then showed our guests the terrace panorama of Jerusalem and our school. Then they left for the Dominican priory at 2pm.

I've read Fr Schenker's books, some connected with my own thesis, and was really honoured to have finally met him in person. Imagine my surprise when he saw me for the first time in the Basilica sacristy yesterday evening and said he had heard alot about me and knew that I was in Jerusalem and that he was happy to finally meet me in person. My BP must have shot way up! One of the "Central Perk" moments of my life. Was too excited to sleep last night!

No new canaries

The rest of the students returned from their Jordan excursion last evening. The house is full again. Massimo Luca, who went with the students to Jordan, came to tell me they were going out for dinner and if I wanted to join them. Well I was feeling exhausted and I don't want salt in my food (can't escape that when eating in restaurents) so I said no thanks. At the same time Jean Paul telephoned to ask me to join another group that's gathered in Pavel's room for munchies and chat. I went over and stayed for about 10 minutes before returning to my room. Its very nice to have these guys around.

But I couldn't finish my two pieces of work as originally planned. Just didn't feel up to it. Will start again today. Everyone else who's been in Jerusalem these two days can feel the oppressive weather - yellow dusty days (hamsiin winds from the southern desert that's hot) and cold nights. People are falling ill alot lately. And the psychological tension in our area isn't helping.

No new baby canaries today - everyone was guessing at breakfast how many new ones will hatch today.

We're back into the Ordinary Weeks of the liturgical calendar. That's when the priest wears green vestments. Hopefully you'll start reading up on the daily Mass readings or join our Bible study groups soon. There're no major liturgical celebrations to keep you on the high during the ordinary season, so joining a group for the next 30 weeks before Advent will be a good sustaining backup for you.