Kung Fu Jong

De Jong's kung fu kick has been the buzz around town this morning. So Spain won, and most people are happy (not the crowd in orange T-shirts I met last night near Damascus Gate). Last night I was out for dinner with an old classmate. He had a major operation - had his spine fixed with metal rods. Poor chap was in bed for 4 months, unable to walk. So it was good to see him again - walking slowly. We chatted alot over dinner.

Jerusalem is still full of events; demonstrations in several places, including our street this evening when Jewish students marched and sang and shouted slogans. I was warned in the street to stay indoors otherwise I'll be spat at. Muslim shopkeepers closed their stores earlier to avoid trouble too.

Anyway I'm easily exhausted and need rest. The sisters at the office are very nice and cook something for me everyday for lunch (was living on diabetic biscuits for the past month). It's usually fish and veg, and they do it very well. It gives me the energy to work through the rest of the afternoon.

And the "Rise" people, thx for the air purifier. it's coming in handy these few nights.

Another Sunday

More action in Jerusalem - demonstrations in Sheikh Jarrah, and probably demonstrations in Silwan (Siloam) area as well. I can hear helicopters down in that quarter right now.

We had to work overtime yesterday. Didn't quite like it as I had to travel down to En Kerem (birthplace of John the Baptist). But the friars there are very kind and hospitable so it made work more pleasant. The weather has been diabolically hot.

This morning's readings on the commandment was great reflection. The Parable of the Good Samaritan was triggered by the lawyer's question about the great commandment - love God and neighbour; a commandment that is deep in our hearts (cf 1st reading) and which Jesus gave the supreme example by dying for his neighbour (2nd reading). As the parable suggests - it's not looking for our neighbour that should occupy us but whether we are being a neighbour to others. It takes two to be a neighbour, so dn't wait for the other side to make the first move ... it may be an eternal wait. Start being a neighbour today... after all, it's written deep in your heart.

Summer time

There is never a dull moment in summer here in the Holyland. Yesterday the 12 day march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem ended at our doorsteps. It's a solidarity march in support of the release of captured soldier Gilad Schalit. Over 2000 supporters crowded Independence Park. But they were antagonised by ultra orthodox Jews who had opposing ideas; they held a demonstration across the street. Police and soldiers were everywhere to separate the two opposing camps.

And did you see the Israeli soldiers on patrol in the West Bank dancing? All in good fun of course ... no one will be prosecuted as security was not compromised. It was all over BBC (and CNN too).

I think the ice cream sellers are making it big this week. It's so hot everyone on the streets are eating ice cream or frozen yoghurt. And any shop with an air-con will always have people crowding inside.

The promise to rejuvenate Israel in today's reading (Hosea) is very comforting. The images of dew and flowers and verdant meadows is what we all desire in this hot, dry summer thata's turning the area into a desert.

Football fizzle

After years of rancorous accusations that Pope Pius XII did not do enough to save Jews during the Nazi persecution, now Haaretz publishes a report saying independent researchers in the Vatican secret archives have proof that the Pope has done more than is known to us today. http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/pope-pius-xii-saved-thousands-of-jews-1.300589 

The Old City has been tense for a couple of days now. Soldiers are stationed everywhere from Damascus Gate down to the 3rd Station. The security camera blimp has been floating above the Wailing Wall/Silwan area as well.

Meantime I'm sure the pain in my foot is due to the fall 4 years back. Even when I'm lying down the pain can be excruciating. I'll have to wear my ankle guard again.

Football fever is dying out now that Brazil was sent packing home. Flags are taken down and interest in the World Cup has fizzled out even before the finals are fought out. Disappointing.

This week our readings come from Hosea. Very interesting stuff. Hope you're following it!

Bunion trouble

Yesterday - Sunday was a hot but breezy day. I didn't feel like going anywhere as the sun just hits down on you. But I had to go to Dominus Flevit - the church halfway up the Mt. of Olives that commemorates Jesus weeping over Jerusalem - there was the gathering for prayer of the beginning of the Custody Chapter. It was a nice gathering. People whom I haven't seen for a long time came back for this meeting... Syrians, Lebanese and Egyptians.

So as a matter of fact, I didn't rest during the weekend, much as I wanted. Worked and worked. My cough is much better now but I've got a longtime problem that's really crippling me. It's bunions! Actually only one. On my right foot - it's moderate, not bulgy or unsightly. But it's making my walking very painful. It's not the bunion rubbing the shoe but the bones that are moving inside the foot. The loose bones I think are due to the fall I had 4 years back in Bethlehem. But what a bother.

All the students have left for their summer vacation. The canaries are all brooding. The 3 surviving babies I have put into the large cage. I get some photos for you to see. And the petshop owner explained why all the baby canaries in Israel (not just ours) are dying this year - it's the lettuce! Too much insecticide and the baby birds eat it and die. Aweful.

I'm still looking for the tomb of the prophet Amos. Big mystery.

No rest day

This week's readings on the prophet Amos is really exciting. Yesterday we saw the climax of God's punishment - hunger. Not hunger for food or water but hunger from God's Word. He would no longer speak and humans would no longer hear his voice ... and they will languish. What a terrifying threat!

I've been working overtime ... and feeling so tired. Yesterday I just trudged home at 11pm and fell straight to sleep. I don't know how long I can continue with this. It's totally exhausting. But next week we have the Custodial Chapter and I'l have to work overtime again. it'll be fun though because all the delegates from Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Cyprus, Argentina, USA will be back for a week's fraternal sharing.

Today ought to have been my off day and I was really ready for a rest. Got up late ... 6am. But was called up for a meeting at 8am. Had to rush off after cleaning the courtyard and birdcages. There was also a funeral from Bro. Joshua who died in Haifa yesterday. Got home for lunch and tried to rest in the afternoon but ... phone calls, visits etc... I gave up. Decided to clean my room instead. And Fr Vincenzo came visiting.

Healthwise my infection is clearing up. Not totally cured yet but hope it does soon. The weather is cooling off and it helps.

Pharmacy day

Last Sunday I was at the SuperPharm to buy medicine (what else?) and the pharmacist Signora Clara, an argentinian jewess who's known us for like umpteen years, mentioned that the World Cup is good. It takes violence off the streets, she said emphatically - "everybody stay at home, watch football. nobody fighting, nobody stealing." You know what? She's right .... the protests in Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah have all died out because "everybody at home, watch football". But what a World Cup this has been ... England, Italy, Cameroon all gone ... France .... duuuuuuhhhh no one is even mentioning France over here.

Yesterday I walked one and a half kms to the phamarcy ... not SuperPharm but Jaffa Gate Pharmacy where I get loads of medicine for Mother Theresa's sisters. This time I got lots again because the sisters sent a message for me to buy more stuff like eye-pads, antiseptic liquid etc. It's terrible under the heat to walk all that distance. I chose to walk back through the alleys again. I like it ... it's quiet. And it passes by the sisters' convent so I dropped off the medicine to them. They were adoring the Blessed Sacrament when I came by ... oops.

And in the night there were lots of fireworks from the muslim quarter.... weddings. It's popular this time of the year. One thing about summer is the muezzin from the mosques sing early in the morning ... 2.30am then 4am. Bound to wake you up. It's so loud the double glass windows shake. Can't wait for winter to come back.