crippled

I've been having swollen finger joints, hips and knees for the past few days; bad enough to stop me from walking long distances. In fact some friends saw how bad the swelling was, they drove me home from work. Arthritis, that was what everyone thought.

Then I linked it with the awful, rasping, choking thirst I have had every night for the past week. I drank at least 3 litres (two 1.5 litre water bottles) during the night but still feel thirsty immediately after. And I thought it must be diabetes. Well yesterday I was really sick. Some friends said my face was terribly bloated and I was practically crippled by the swelling joints. Got some test-strips for the diabetes test ... the colour was between the 2nd highest and the 1st highest ... so it must be very high! Bad. Since yesterday I've been off all carbos and suger. Expect me to loose another 5 kgs! I'm practically living on raw veges right now.

Back to local news: Israel's IDF (defense force) has been holding the largest emergency drills for two days, creating chaos in the streets. Ambulances have been cutting across the city, helicopters flying even into the night .... the message seems to be: prepare for war. That's a subject everyone is talking about in the streets ... war is going to come soon. Either that or the earthquake.

And talk about natural disasters, did you see the meteor entering the USA? Search in CNN for the videos ... awesome bright light streaking across the sky and exploding. As Sinead would say: it's a message from God. Well, for my diabetes, it sure is a message.

The Gospel readings this week are all from the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. It must have been quite a challenge for Nicodemus, a Sanhedrin member steeped in religious tradition to hear the new teaching from Christ. It was a life-turning point.

Eucharistic adoration

Eucharistic adoration on Divine Mercy Sunday

Gathered at the co-cathedral of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem on Divine Mercy Sunday, clergy, religious and laity adored the Blessed Sacrament while meditating on Jn 20:19-31.

© 2010 Franciscan Multimedia Centre (Jerusalem) and Cancao Nova Holyland.

Holocaust Day

Monday was Holocaust Day. Despite having spoken about it on Sunday evening, I forgot about it on Monday. When the sirens sounded at 10.05am I thought a missile was coming our way. Got my survival pack quickly and went out to see what was happening. Then realised it was Holocaust Day.

The city has been very tense these past weeks. Talk of war is everywhere in the streets. Fighter jets flying overhead almost every other day. Gaza bombed several times so far. The tension will explode to violence soon.

And Independence Day is round the corner. Security has been stepped up, checkpoints are closed or are more stringent. Soldiers everywhere.

This morning as I was walking home from the Convent of Ivrea, I was thinking about the violence in the past month - the Passover riots in front and around my house. At that time I received several calls - all from muslim friends from the north - asking if I was alright, if I needed any help or to move out to their houses for safety. It was very touching, especially when you think they're all muslims. Yes there are still good people left in this world.

With the hamsin over, the weather turned around and it has become very cold again. 8 degrees or something in the night. People are getting sick left and right.

And earthquake in China. You noticed there's a major earthquake every week now. Sinead says it's a punishment from God. Well, I really won't dare to make a judgement. But the whole world seems upside down right now. Try reading the Apocalypse and frighten yourself!

The 8th Day

John's gospel says that on the 8th day after the crucifixion and burial of Jesus, he appeared to the disciples in the Upper Room and showed Thomas his hands and side. Well yesterday was the 8th day and we read that Gospel passage for Mass. It's amazing to think that the actual place is just a few hundred metres away from my place. But for the rest of you, blessed are you who do not see yet believe!

Yesterday saw one of the worst hamsins we've had. It's the desert wind that blows between Passover and Pentecost (50 days) and is called simply "fifty" or hamsin in arabic/hebrew. It's the wind that precedes Pentecost. We had fine sand all over our mouths and noses and hair. Eyes had to be closed most of the time. And the wind was very strong, making things fall off. Here're some photos of the desert sand caught between cracks on our terrace.

Yesterday was also Divine Mercy Sunday. Our Faustina nuns (They live in a building behind our monastery and take charge of our kitchen and chapels) celebrated it in a grand way at the co-Cathedral with the Patriarch presiding. Sadly it was also a remembrance Mass for their president and those who died in the plane crash. I'll put up the video of the Mass once it's ready. The Patriarch in his homily spoke of God's infinite Mercy to all; He's all forgiving and all merciful. And the greatest sign of that is here in Jerusalem where He sent His only Son to die for us as an act of mercy. There is no sin so serious that God cannot forgive.

Mass at Emmaus

Easter Monday, local Christians and pilgrims gather at the Sanctuary of Emmaus to commemorate the manifestation of the Risen Lord to his two disciples. After Mass, 800 loaves of bread were blessed and distributed to all as a reminder of Christ's presence among us today.

(c)2010 Franciscan Multimedia Center and Cancao Nova

Easter Sunday Mass

Mass at the Empty Tomb presided by His Beatitude, Patriarch Fouad Twal.

(c)2010 Franciscan Multimedia Center and Cancao Nova



Part 1



Part 2

Thursday

Fighter jets flying overhead the whole morning. Probably another bombing of Gaza.

Did you see Lin Yu Chun on Taiwan Talent? Branded as Taiwan's Susan Boyle. Stunning performance.