Major problems in Gaza as fuel supply stops and the winter cold sets in. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7719872.stm
Problems in Jerusalem as a muslim cemetary is partly to be destroyed to build a Jewish museum. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7715921.stm
And at home the computer system - and most of the electricity - was downed the whole afternoon. No known cause so far.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
More on the Unholy Fight
So here're the details of the fight .... It was the Feast of the Holy Cross for the Armenians and as usual for all rites, they make 3 rounds of procession around the tomb of Christ. Whenever a religious group does that, all other representatives do not enter the tomb as that moment it is being used by the celebrating rite - eg everyday at 4pm the franciscans make their procession and when they reach the tomb, the Greek Orthodox monk in charge moves out and lets our franciscan sacristan take over the charge.
So yesterday when the Armenians made their procession, the greek Orthodox sacristan refused to move out. A couple of Armenian monks tried to force him out and they got into a fight. Monks from both sides came to join in. Finally the Israeli police came to separate the two groups, but (as I was told but a muslim witness) an Armenian monk punched a policeman. The police immediately beat back the Armenians and arrested several monks on both sides.
It's a shame that it happened, especially at Christianity's holiest site. It plays into the hands of the enemies who use it to further blacken the name of Christianity. But the Christians themselves should reflect on their own behaviour ....
If you want to watch it, go to http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1225910073074&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and click on the video. Note when the police begin to beat up the Armenian, the video is cut. The beatup is shown instead in Skynews. http://news.sky.com/skynews/ The BBC version is alot clearer from a different angle. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7718587.stm
So yesterday when the Armenians made their procession, the greek Orthodox sacristan refused to move out. A couple of Armenian monks tried to force him out and they got into a fight. Monks from both sides came to join in. Finally the Israeli police came to separate the two groups, but (as I was told but a muslim witness) an Armenian monk punched a policeman. The police immediately beat back the Armenians and arrested several monks on both sides.
It's a shame that it happened, especially at Christianity's holiest site. It plays into the hands of the enemies who use it to further blacken the name of Christianity. But the Christians themselves should reflect on their own behaviour ....
If you want to watch it, go to http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1225910073074&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and click on the video. Note when the police begin to beat up the Armenian, the video is cut. The beatup is shown instead in Skynews. http://news.sky.com/skynews/ The BBC version is alot clearer from a different angle. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7718587.stm
Unholy brawl
Once again the Holy Sepulchre was the scene of an unholy brawl - didn't know when it took place today as I was there early in the morning. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1225910073074&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Solemn mass for Duns Scotus
This morning I was up at 3.30am to prepare to go to the Holy Sepulchre by 4.30am. But being sluggish and cold, I only managed to arrive there at 4.50am. Nevertheless I celebrated Mass in the Crusaders' chapel and then prayed the Divine Office at the Altar of Mary Magdalene.
Before I left the Basilica, the Missionary of Charity superior of Gaza stopped to chat - she was out for 3 days for prayer (if only you know how stressful living in Gaza is). The few sisters from the Jerusalem community were also there ... so the chat became a little longer. Anyway got home at 6.30am to clean the birdcage.
During dinner last night, someone said that the temp. would drop to 8 degrees! So I prepared my room for that! Turned out it wasn't as cold as expected - 15 degrees or so.
At 8.30am I left for the Basilica of the Agony (Garden of Gethsemani) which is down the valley on our east - a 15 minute walk from my house. Our Minister General and all the friars were gathering there for the closing of the 700th anniversary celebrations of Blessed John Duns Scotus. It was a solemn Mass with about 100 friars present. Add religious from other congregations, lay people etc... and the basilica was pretty crowded. The homily of the General was a reminder to all the friars that we should learn form the example of Scotus - otherwise we'd be experts and teachers of the Word of God but not living testimonies. I thought it was pretty good. As the Mass ended and the procession passed by me, the General stopped to shake my hands and said that we'll meet again. People around said it was a special stop because he didn't do it during the rest of the procession. Hhhhmmmmm...... Anyway I thanked him for sending me to the Holyland and his concern for my studies. On my way out of the Basilica, as the crowds were going out and the pilgrims were squeezing in, I bumped into him again and he shook my hands again and smiled as if to say "You know what I want to say" so again I thanked him and quickly moved on. Believe me .... there's going to be changes.
Yesterday morning I got out of bed thinking that it is going to be a watershed day. It's a turning point day. I thought that when I come home from my meeting with the Sec. Gen. I'll no longer be the same Lionel that left the house earlier. And I wasn't all wrong. Things are going to change.... like weather and the seasons, things move forward, things change.
Before I left the Basilica, the Missionary of Charity superior of Gaza stopped to chat - she was out for 3 days for prayer (if only you know how stressful living in Gaza is). The few sisters from the Jerusalem community were also there ... so the chat became a little longer. Anyway got home at 6.30am to clean the birdcage.
During dinner last night, someone said that the temp. would drop to 8 degrees! So I prepared my room for that! Turned out it wasn't as cold as expected - 15 degrees or so.
At 8.30am I left for the Basilica of the Agony (Garden of Gethsemani) which is down the valley on our east - a 15 minute walk from my house. Our Minister General and all the friars were gathering there for the closing of the 700th anniversary celebrations of Blessed John Duns Scotus. It was a solemn Mass with about 100 friars present. Add religious from other congregations, lay people etc... and the basilica was pretty crowded. The homily of the General was a reminder to all the friars that we should learn form the example of Scotus - otherwise we'd be experts and teachers of the Word of God but not living testimonies. I thought it was pretty good. As the Mass ended and the procession passed by me, the General stopped to shake my hands and said that we'll meet again. People around said it was a special stop because he didn't do it during the rest of the procession. Hhhhmmmmm...... Anyway I thanked him for sending me to the Holyland and his concern for my studies. On my way out of the Basilica, as the crowds were going out and the pilgrims were squeezing in, I bumped into him again and he shook my hands again and smiled as if to say "You know what I want to say" so again I thanked him and quickly moved on. Believe me .... there's going to be changes.
Yesterday morning I got out of bed thinking that it is going to be a watershed day. It's a turning point day. I thought that when I come home from my meeting with the Sec. Gen. I'll no longer be the same Lionel that left the house earlier. And I wasn't all wrong. Things are going to change.... like weather and the seasons, things move forward, things change.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Live prayerfully - pray livingly
The Minister General arrived at 6.25pm yesterday evening with the Custos of the Holyland, the Gen. Sec. for Formation, the Holyland Formation co-ordinator and Fr Enrique Bermejo - straight to the Flagellation Chapel where we were all gathered for Vespers. Fr. General presided and gave a short address to us all, remembering Fr Piccirillo who taught him (Fr. General studied his Licentiate here in our school in the 70s) and reminding us of the Synod of Bishops recommendation to use a wholistic approach to biblical studies.
During Vespers the Custos sat next to me and I was very happy - he made some funny remarks (whispered of course) before Vespers.
After Vespers we proceeded to the refectory for dinner. That's when the General (by the way it is not a military term!~ it simply emphasises his role as an international leader and not restricted to any one country or province) called me over and we greeted each other. As it was the dining room, it wasn't a place to talk much with him so I left it at that. But after dinner I caught up with him and we chatted with a few other friars. Fr General immediately recounted that in his address to the Synod of Bishops, he specifically mentioned Fr Allegra and his work. Then he went back to St. Saviour's monastery to pass the night.
And the dinner was stupendous - being Friday we abstain from meat so Bro Rosario our vice-superior came up with a seafood spaghetti that was fantastic; followed by the best baked salmon ever cooked by our cook Khalil. It was a fitting welcome meal for Fr General who is the successor of St. Francis of Assisi.
This morning we had Mass to commemorate Blessed John Duns Scotus, one of our most illustrious friar-theologians of the 13th century. After Mass I prepared to go to St. Saviour's monastery where the inauguration events of our school year will take place. Jadallah our handyman offered to drive me there since our superior, dean and guest speaker will also be in the car - he knows my left leg is not good and my asthma is severe enough to make my walk up to the monastery quite an ordeal. But I turned it down - imagine sitting in the car with so many bigshots! It took 35 minutes to walk up to the monastery but I made it. The hall was very crowded as our school includes our Philosphy and Theology departments (I think a total of 135 students), with other representatives from other academic institutions, the papal nuncio and many friends. Of course friars from all around the Holyland came also to pay their respects to Fr General.
The event began with an intro by our dean with last year's report of events. Then Fr Martinelli our guest-speaker spoke for an hour on St Francis and his spirituality and modern theology. We then had a break where everyone caught up with everyone else over drinks and snacks. The second part comprised a talk by Fr General on John Duns Scotus and finally a report by Fr Manns on the Synod of Bishops where he attended as an expert. On the whole I thought the talks this year were very instructional and relevant.
We got back home just in time for lunch - which was again great because the leftover salmon was mixed with macaroni - I loved it! And no salt too! I had 2 helpings!
Tomorrow Fr General will celebrate the High Mass at Gethsemani's basilica for the 700th anniversary of Blessed John Duns Scotus. I'll go for the Mass but will not concelebrate as I plan to celebrate it in the Holy Sepulchre at 5am tomorrow morning.
Anyway want to share with you a thought/message after all the talks these 2 days - don't divorce religion from your daily life. it is a false dichotomy and a destructive road. The person who works and eats and breathes and faces problems and laughs and cries is the very same person who kneels to pray to God. Don't relegate your religion to an hour a week at Mass while the rest of the week you live as if there is no God. Do what Duns Scotus did - think prayerfully and pray thoughtfully or in this case, live prayerfully and pray livingly. Everything is a unity despite the tensions that exists. They complement, not contradict.
During Vespers the Custos sat next to me and I was very happy - he made some funny remarks (whispered of course) before Vespers.
After Vespers we proceeded to the refectory for dinner. That's when the General (by the way it is not a military term!~ it simply emphasises his role as an international leader and not restricted to any one country or province) called me over and we greeted each other. As it was the dining room, it wasn't a place to talk much with him so I left it at that. But after dinner I caught up with him and we chatted with a few other friars. Fr General immediately recounted that in his address to the Synod of Bishops, he specifically mentioned Fr Allegra and his work. Then he went back to St. Saviour's monastery to pass the night.
And the dinner was stupendous - being Friday we abstain from meat so Bro Rosario our vice-superior came up with a seafood spaghetti that was fantastic; followed by the best baked salmon ever cooked by our cook Khalil. It was a fitting welcome meal for Fr General who is the successor of St. Francis of Assisi.
This morning we had Mass to commemorate Blessed John Duns Scotus, one of our most illustrious friar-theologians of the 13th century. After Mass I prepared to go to St. Saviour's monastery where the inauguration events of our school year will take place. Jadallah our handyman offered to drive me there since our superior, dean and guest speaker will also be in the car - he knows my left leg is not good and my asthma is severe enough to make my walk up to the monastery quite an ordeal. But I turned it down - imagine sitting in the car with so many bigshots! It took 35 minutes to walk up to the monastery but I made it. The hall was very crowded as our school includes our Philosphy and Theology departments (I think a total of 135 students), with other representatives from other academic institutions, the papal nuncio and many friends. Of course friars from all around the Holyland came also to pay their respects to Fr General.
The event began with an intro by our dean with last year's report of events. Then Fr Martinelli our guest-speaker spoke for an hour on St Francis and his spirituality and modern theology. We then had a break where everyone caught up with everyone else over drinks and snacks. The second part comprised a talk by Fr General on John Duns Scotus and finally a report by Fr Manns on the Synod of Bishops where he attended as an expert. On the whole I thought the talks this year were very instructional and relevant.
We got back home just in time for lunch - which was again great because the leftover salmon was mixed with macaroni - I loved it! And no salt too! I had 2 helpings!
Tomorrow Fr General will celebrate the High Mass at Gethsemani's basilica for the 700th anniversary of Blessed John Duns Scotus. I'll go for the Mass but will not concelebrate as I plan to celebrate it in the Holy Sepulchre at 5am tomorrow morning.
Anyway want to share with you a thought/message after all the talks these 2 days - don't divorce religion from your daily life. it is a false dichotomy and a destructive road. The person who works and eats and breathes and faces problems and laughs and cries is the very same person who kneels to pray to God. Don't relegate your religion to an hour a week at Mass while the rest of the week you live as if there is no God. Do what Duns Scotus did - think prayerfully and pray thoughtfully or in this case, live prayerfully and pray livingly. Everything is a unity despite the tensions that exists. They complement, not contradict.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Rahmbo is in.
Obama's message to Israel is loud and clear - he appointed his first official, as the Chief of Staff, Rahm Israel Emmanuel. Young, tough, no nonsense: Rahm ("Rahmbo" - he served in the Israeli army as a volunteer during the Gulf War) is known for his astuteness and staunch jewishness (see http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1225910057970&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1225910047157&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull ) Well Israeli news did not lose that and picked it up immediately. But I wonder what that signals to the arab world.
Yesterday as I was coming home from the New City, there were hundreds of soldiers at Damascus Gate. Looked like they were ready to stake out for long period because everyone had their dufflebags, food and even mattocks. Then I found out that there was a riot in Silwan (biblical Siloam and its pool - immediately south fo the Old City) because Israeli police tore down 2 illegal arab houses. Then much later I found out that north of the Old City another huge arab demonstration was taking place (I passed by there only hours before) to protest the building of an Israeli museum over an arab cemetary. Well you can imagine the security going around here. helicopters were flying above all afternoon.
Will have to teach a VC class now and then start work again on my paper. Our Minister General (that's the international head of our Order) is arriving this evening and I hear he's coming over to our place for dinner. He's here to open our school year but also to celebrate the 700th anniversary of Blessed John Duns Scotus, our 13th century Franciscan who upheld the Primacy of Christ and the Immaculate Conception - and consequently condemned and relegated to the back-waters of Theology until last century when the Pope declared Mary as the Immaculate Conception and hence exonerated Scotus; who eventually was beatified and his cause to sainthood is in progress. Tomorrow is his 700th anniversary of his death - so say a pray. He might just intercede a miracle for you .... who knows?
Yesterday as I was coming home from the New City, there were hundreds of soldiers at Damascus Gate. Looked like they were ready to stake out for long period because everyone had their dufflebags, food and even mattocks. Then I found out that there was a riot in Silwan (biblical Siloam and its pool - immediately south fo the Old City) because Israeli police tore down 2 illegal arab houses. Then much later I found out that north of the Old City another huge arab demonstration was taking place (I passed by there only hours before) to protest the building of an Israeli museum over an arab cemetary. Well you can imagine the security going around here. helicopters were flying above all afternoon.
Will have to teach a VC class now and then start work again on my paper. Our Minister General (that's the international head of our Order) is arriving this evening and I hear he's coming over to our place for dinner. He's here to open our school year but also to celebrate the 700th anniversary of Blessed John Duns Scotus, our 13th century Franciscan who upheld the Primacy of Christ and the Immaculate Conception - and consequently condemned and relegated to the back-waters of Theology until last century when the Pope declared Mary as the Immaculate Conception and hence exonerated Scotus; who eventually was beatified and his cause to sainthood is in progress. Tomorrow is his 700th anniversary of his death - so say a pray. He might just intercede a miracle for you .... who knows?
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Lost sheep, lost coin
Yesterday was a pretty rushed day. I had a VC bible sharing at 7.30am but 8am I had classes here so had to rush off. Finished at 11am and did some work on my paper then went off for a short lunch - because I had another vc lesson at 1.30pm. Had to leave halfway through lunch but that wasn't a good idea because our General Secretary for Formation from Rome was here for lunch and he had wanted to see me.
Since at 6pm he was giving a talk at St. Saviour's monastery, I thought I'd better go and see him. Went for the talk which was really good, and after that I had the chance to chat with him. He remembered his visit to our Bible Centre in February 2007 and the Wednesday evening class there, with all you guys present (meaning of course the regulars of our Wed. night lesson).
I decided to sleep early after that. Was simply too rushed for an old man like me.
Today I decided to take a day off - been having a bad headache for 2 days now. Took a slow walk out to the New City this morning at 9am and went way up beyond Ben Yehuda (the pedastrian Mall whre everything happens) to the petshop called "Jungle". Bought some seeds for the canaries, then went to the next petshop (the regular one that I go) to see the fish and birds and bunnies - that's my only chance to get near to pets now.
Next door was a non-kosher shop (wow .... there're only 2 of these in this area) and I found frozen wonton and xiao long bao (packed by chinese living here I think). Bought a pack (12 in a pack) each and steamed them for lunch since I had VC lessons right at lunchtime so I couldn't join the community meal. The xiao long bao was hideous - the skin was nice and transparent like har gow but inside was just dough and a little mashed shrimp which you can't even see but taste). The wonton was much better, with prawns, mushrooms, carrots(!). And it cost HK$40 for a dozen xiao long bao. Aiya..... anyway it was an experience.
Tomorrow is back to work. Just a thought on today's gospel reading - the famous Luke chapter 15 with the 3 parables. Today we read the 1st two: the lost sheep and the lost coin. The emphasis seems to be on the finding of what was lost and the rejoicing that accompanies it. Well I'd like to think for a moment what it feels to be the lost sheep and lost coin; and then to be found again. I think it's great to know there's someone out there who cares enough for me, to come searching for me. Do you feel someone out there cares enough like that for you?
Since at 6pm he was giving a talk at St. Saviour's monastery, I thought I'd better go and see him. Went for the talk which was really good, and after that I had the chance to chat with him. He remembered his visit to our Bible Centre in February 2007 and the Wednesday evening class there, with all you guys present (meaning of course the regulars of our Wed. night lesson).
I decided to sleep early after that. Was simply too rushed for an old man like me.
Today I decided to take a day off - been having a bad headache for 2 days now. Took a slow walk out to the New City this morning at 9am and went way up beyond Ben Yehuda (the pedastrian Mall whre everything happens) to the petshop called "Jungle". Bought some seeds for the canaries, then went to the next petshop (the regular one that I go) to see the fish and birds and bunnies - that's my only chance to get near to pets now.
Next door was a non-kosher shop (wow .... there're only 2 of these in this area) and I found frozen wonton and xiao long bao (packed by chinese living here I think). Bought a pack (12 in a pack) each and steamed them for lunch since I had VC lessons right at lunchtime so I couldn't join the community meal. The xiao long bao was hideous - the skin was nice and transparent like har gow but inside was just dough and a little mashed shrimp which you can't even see but taste). The wonton was much better, with prawns, mushrooms, carrots(!). And it cost HK$40 for a dozen xiao long bao. Aiya..... anyway it was an experience.
Tomorrow is back to work. Just a thought on today's gospel reading - the famous Luke chapter 15 with the 3 parables. Today we read the 1st two: the lost sheep and the lost coin. The emphasis seems to be on the finding of what was lost and the rejoicing that accompanies it. Well I'd like to think for a moment what it feels to be the lost sheep and lost coin; and then to be found again. I think it's great to know there's someone out there who cares enough for me, to come searching for me. Do you feel someone out there cares enough like that for you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
_et_Rahil_Halim_2.jpg)
