As winter rolls in, the situation in Gaza turns for the worse. First it was the Gazans who fired rockets into Israel, breaking a truce : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7702311.stm
Israel responded last night with an incursion: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7709603.stm
Whatever the case, it's the people who have to suffer: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7708670.stm
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
hold on .......
That muslim and christian scholars are coming together to agree on common ground is good and laudable; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7706977.stm
but we cannot compromise on basic truths like the Trinity and the divinity of Christ and the reality of the Eucharist. And read this first http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7708169.stm before you tell me you agree on a common ground. And what about the persecution of Christians in Iraq? The question is: what is the bottom line for a common ground? Who is drawing that line?
but we cannot compromise on basic truths like the Trinity and the divinity of Christ and the reality of the Eucharist. And read this first http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7708169.stm before you tell me you agree on a common ground. And what about the persecution of Christians in Iraq? The question is: what is the bottom line for a common ground? Who is drawing that line?
Strategy to study
Yesterday was quite uneventful. I went off to St. Saviour's monastery to have my visa renewed but didn't have enough money to pay for it. Luckily there was someone there who helped me out, otherwise I would have had to go back - the walk up the hill is quite a task for me, not just because of left leg but also because I've been having bad asthma attacks these 2 days. Couldn't sleep the last 2 nights with the wheezing and coughing.
Anyway as things might have it, I met the Custos in the corridor while waiting to hand in my passport. He told me to meet him after a meeting with another father. So I waited - and then it was my turn. We had a good chat - he made me laugh alot yesterday - really funny. Oh well we also had a few serious issues to discuss but he was funny yesterday; alot more relaxed than in previous visits.
By the time I got back to the Flagellation, it was lunch. Ate a little as I have no appetite, with the pain in my lungs and all. (Haven't been down at the courtyard lately so the porter hadn't seen me for a week or so; when he saw me yesterday morning going to St Saviour's, he looked surprised and with hand gestures and arabic said "What happened to you? You became so thin. Are you sick?" ) And I couldn't study, just did half a sentence of analysis but I was too tired to focus. So I slept right through till this morning - well I actually took a sleeping pill for that. It took about half an hour to have effect, and I woke up 6 hours later.... And the ankle still hurts.
But this morning I was determined to get back to work so I locked my door, wore pyjamas and locked my clothes in the cupboard - that way I'll never leave the room. It works. Managed to get some work done this morning. Now I'll get back to the rest of the page.
Anyway as things might have it, I met the Custos in the corridor while waiting to hand in my passport. He told me to meet him after a meeting with another father. So I waited - and then it was my turn. We had a good chat - he made me laugh alot yesterday - really funny. Oh well we also had a few serious issues to discuss but he was funny yesterday; alot more relaxed than in previous visits.
By the time I got back to the Flagellation, it was lunch. Ate a little as I have no appetite, with the pain in my lungs and all. (Haven't been down at the courtyard lately so the porter hadn't seen me for a week or so; when he saw me yesterday morning going to St Saviour's, he looked surprised and with hand gestures and arabic said "What happened to you? You became so thin. Are you sick?" ) And I couldn't study, just did half a sentence of analysis but I was too tired to focus. So I slept right through till this morning - well I actually took a sleeping pill for that. It took about half an hour to have effect, and I woke up 6 hours later.... And the ankle still hurts.
But this morning I was determined to get back to work so I locked my door, wore pyjamas and locked my clothes in the cupboard - that way I'll never leave the room. It works. Managed to get some work done this morning. Now I'll get back to the rest of the page.
Free online course!
The Duns Scotus Bible Centre is offering another free online course - this time on the book of Apocalypse or Revelation. All you have to do is to register now (only registered students can enter the site) at dsbiblecentre@gmail.com and study at your own pace and leisure; individual for self-knowledge and spirituality or with a group for discussion and prayer.
This 16 week course will help you understand this apparently mysterious book; and you will find it not as difficult to understand as you had imagined. Each lesson is updated every 7 days.
This 16 week course will help you understand this apparently mysterious book; and you will find it not as difficult to understand as you had imagined. Each lesson is updated every 7 days.
Monday, November 3, 2008
First come, first served!
The rains didn't come as forecaste. It's bright and hot today. My visa runs out next week so I'll have to go renew it today. Hope it wouldn't be a hassle.
Yesterday evening our superior organised a 3rd Mass to be celebrated with Vespers. There were 12 of us for the Mass. Nice and simple - no songs. Yesterday's reading from Job was very powerful - Job was so sure he would see God face to face, it would be a happy moment for Job. The alternative reading from the Book of Wisdom tells us the meaning of death from a positive viewpoint - it is a relief from the burdens of this world. I know that death always brings about the pain of loss, and it's a necessary journey of katharsis for all of us. But with faith as Christians, we know there's something better waiting for us beyond death.
And I was thinking of some of my friends who died - like Boon Hwee who had a heart attack. He was only 18 and we went to secondary school and college together. And Kok Seng whom I heard died while on service, he was a military pilot. And all my family, relatives and friends. One day it'll be my turn to push up the daisies. I've been picking out my own plot in our franciscan cemetary on Mt. Zion but I don't know if I'll get it. It's first come, first served!
And talk about char siu bao without the char siu, yesterday was the big feast of Cardinal Newman - soon to be canonised. They opened his tomb so long venerated by pilgrims and found it empty! There were no bones in there! The mystery deepens.
Today is remedial exams for some of our students. They've been slogging the whole of last week. Me? I must get back to my work. It's so very difficult and demanding.
Yesterday evening our superior organised a 3rd Mass to be celebrated with Vespers. There were 12 of us for the Mass. Nice and simple - no songs. Yesterday's reading from Job was very powerful - Job was so sure he would see God face to face, it would be a happy moment for Job. The alternative reading from the Book of Wisdom tells us the meaning of death from a positive viewpoint - it is a relief from the burdens of this world. I know that death always brings about the pain of loss, and it's a necessary journey of katharsis for all of us. But with faith as Christians, we know there's something better waiting for us beyond death.
And I was thinking of some of my friends who died - like Boon Hwee who had a heart attack. He was only 18 and we went to secondary school and college together. And Kok Seng whom I heard died while on service, he was a military pilot. And all my family, relatives and friends. One day it'll be my turn to push up the daisies. I've been picking out my own plot in our franciscan cemetary on Mt. Zion but I don't know if I'll get it. It's first come, first served!
And talk about char siu bao without the char siu, yesterday was the big feast of Cardinal Newman - soon to be canonised. They opened his tomb so long venerated by pilgrims and found it empty! There were no bones in there! The mystery deepens.
Today is remedial exams for some of our students. They've been slogging the whole of last week. Me? I must get back to my work. It's so very difficult and demanding.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Today
All Souls' Day. Left for the Holy Sepulchre (Christ's Tomb) at 4.30am (Msgr Benedetto Rossi, who was here as part of the commission for Cesare's defense, left earlier at 4am). Celebrated Mass on Mt. Calvary at 5am - it was very quiet, no one around except an American pilgrim and Sr. Paracleta. Remembered all the souls on that spot where Christ was stripped off his garments, nailed to the Cross, died and was laid in the arms of his mother - everyone from family to relatives to friends and benefactors.
After that I went to the Crusader Chapel to celebrate the 2nd Mass. On All Souls' Day we can celebrate 3 Masses. I think some of us students will celebrate the 3rd Mass later in the afternoon today.
Last night as I was massaging my hurting left knee I realised that both my ankles had red spots all over - like blood vessels had burst just beneath the skin. It was alot! - and all the way up to the knees now. Getting scary. Small blotches everywhere. Any reason for that, you docs out there? Anyway the knee still hurts so I'm not going out for a walk - much as I want to on this sunny Sunday (still cold though). The forecast is rain this evening or tomorrow.
Must get back to work now.
After that I went to the Crusader Chapel to celebrate the 2nd Mass. On All Souls' Day we can celebrate 3 Masses. I think some of us students will celebrate the 3rd Mass later in the afternoon today.
Last night as I was massaging my hurting left knee I realised that both my ankles had red spots all over - like blood vessels had burst just beneath the skin. It was alot! - and all the way up to the knees now. Getting scary. Small blotches everywhere. Any reason for that, you docs out there? Anyway the knee still hurts so I'm not going out for a walk - much as I want to on this sunny Sunday (still cold though). The forecast is rain this evening or tomorrow.
Must get back to work now.
Yesterday
All Saints' Day. We celebrated the Mass with pomp - meaning singing the Mass of the Angels. Several of the fathers here left early for Jordan to attend the funeral and burial of Fr Piccirillo. But after being held up at the Israeli border (apparently the computer at the Immigration counters was not working!), most of the friars decided to return home as it was already too late for the funeral Mass on Mt. Nebo in Jordan (the mountain where Moses died). Only Fr Giovanni Loche and Prof. Pirone from our community decided to stick on and later in the day they were allwoed to cross the border. They had waited from 8am and they arrived at Nebo only at about 2.30pm!!! Just in time for the burial. At 4.30pm both immediately left for the border to return to Israel and got back home only at 10.30pm.
The previous evening at 5pm, Fr Cesare Mariano defended his doctoral thesis at our Aula Magna (Hall) - he was fiery and had some quick answers to the various comments and obsevations made by the commission of 4 professors. After that at 8pm he invited the whole community, his family and relatives and friends to a sumptious dinner at Al-Zahara restaurent - once one of the top restaurents in East Jerusalem. We had the usual Arabic salads, and then came the main dish - an entire lamb cooked in saffron rice. It was very very well done, and everyone enjoyed it very much. It was good to see Cesare again. Now he'll go back to his diocese in Italy and become a great professor! Good luck, Cesare!
My left knee was hurting very badly since I walked back from Terra Santa College for the Cardinal's talk. I was hobbling about the whole day and yesterday (All Saints) I decided not to go about but rested in bed instead (well for most of the day, since in the morning I did some gardening - pruned the geraniums for winter). I even managed to sleep for half and hour in the afternoon - pretty rare for me!
The previous evening at 5pm, Fr Cesare Mariano defended his doctoral thesis at our Aula Magna (Hall) - he was fiery and had some quick answers to the various comments and obsevations made by the commission of 4 professors. After that at 8pm he invited the whole community, his family and relatives and friends to a sumptious dinner at Al-Zahara restaurent - once one of the top restaurents in East Jerusalem. We had the usual Arabic salads, and then came the main dish - an entire lamb cooked in saffron rice. It was very very well done, and everyone enjoyed it very much. It was good to see Cesare again. Now he'll go back to his diocese in Italy and become a great professor! Good luck, Cesare!
My left knee was hurting very badly since I walked back from Terra Santa College for the Cardinal's talk. I was hobbling about the whole day and yesterday (All Saints) I decided not to go about but rested in bed instead (well for most of the day, since in the morning I did some gardening - pruned the geraniums for winter). I even managed to sleep for half and hour in the afternoon - pretty rare for me!
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