Maundy Thursday

Gethsemane basilica last year

It is surely one of the strangest Holy Triduum in living memory. All church doors closed ... not just any church but here in the Holy Land ... the churches on the actual places where the Passion took place.  This is extraordinary. We're under a curfew ... not just a lockdown.

The Last Supper Room is closed and the friars there celebrated the poignant event alone ... but on behalf of the whole Church. Gethsemane's basilica is closed ... the friars are making eucharistic adoration alone on behalf of the whole Church.

Last Supper Room

It's unprecedented. Even during the war, during the Intifada when muslim extremists threatened to bomb our churches, we went ahead with our celebrations. Now with a virus ... everything changed. In a way it's good. It makes us appreciate what we've taken for granted ... all the liturgies and celebrations.

The curfew has also restricted the jews form celebrating their Passover as a family event. It's even more unprecedented when the chief rabbis supported the social-distancing law and overrode tradition by allowing many other provisions deemed unacceptable in normal times ... like using telephones and computers to unite with family during the ritual. Soon at the end of the month, muslims will be celebrating Ramadan and already talk is that they too will not be allowed to visit and crowd around when the fast is broken every evening. Unusual times ... but I'm sure there're positive aspects.

Retreat today

It was nice to receive phone calls from former workers. People who worked on certain projects and then left. But in this crisis, they remembered and called to ask if everything is alright. I appreciated that. I myself have been calling lots of others to make sure they're ok. It's good to see the christian community caring for each other.

I spent the most part of the morning and afternoon on retreat. Read some homilies by Augustine and Cyril of Alexandria and John Chrysostom. Also Macarius the Egyptian. The weather was fine so I sat on our terrace enjoying the sun, facing the Mt. of Olives. The sermons were very inspiring ... but what occupied my mind was how sad most families in the City are ... living in tight quarters, not being able to see the sun or stretch their legs during this lockdown. Up on the Mt of Olives, families have huge gardens and fields. They are the lucky ones.

Curfew

Curfew

We've gone one step above a nationwide lockdown. Last night a curfew was decided. It will start at 3pm today and end tomorrow ... inanely to prevent jews from travelling to other cities to celebrate the Passover. All shops including pharmacies must be closed. It says in the directives that this will not affect arab neighbourhoods that do not celebrate the jewish feast. Well, where does that put me? I live in an arab neighbourhood but it's part of the jewish walled city. Very nebulous ... we'll have to see this afternoon if anyone is walking in the streets. Israel is employing helicopters and drones to keep the israelis indoors. It all looks so much like a war. It's all for our own good.

But we've been seeing videos of ultra-orthodox refusing to obey the rules, gathering in crowds to pray in public, spitting and biting police officers. Extremist settler jewish youths rioting and damaging police cars when arrested and forced to quarantine because one of them is infected. Though a minority and a marginalised groups ... their reckless and careless behaviour endangers us all .... and will only prolong the lockdown.

I guess if the curfew does include us, then I won't be able to throw the garbage since the collectors won't be working. That's one job settled. And being Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord's Supper is celebrated only in the evening ... and it's a private affair since no one is allowed to participate or walk in the streets. So I'll do a short retreat on my own.

If you need, take

Despite the terrible time of people losing their jobs, unable to feed their families, and falling sick to the virus ... there're still good news that uplift people. Yesterday there was a photo of several racks of vegetables left on the roadside with a note in arabic saying anyone who needs and can't afford, may take them free. It's heartening that there is still kindness and generosity. Especially among the poor, like the arab farmer who offered his produce for free.

I've also received lots of private photos from former students around the world ... indians packing thousands of food packs to give to the poor; syrians in the midst of war making masks and distributing food; filipino nuns bringing provisions to the slums .... In this crisis, we see who are the truly generous and self-sacrificing. And the Church is leading in this.

Nationwide lockdown

Holy Tuesday ... according to the gospels, it's the day Judas met with the chief priests to discuss how to betray Jesus and received 30 pieces of silver. Something to meditate on.

Empty Palm Plaza

Yesterday our superior and dean went to our grocery at our main monastery at New Gate. I took advantage to go with them because I needed to check on the other library. Travelling by a van is easier than walking because police stops everyone walking in the streets. Coming home in the van was very difficult ... as within an hour the police tightened the closure of the City. Every single car passing Damascus Gate was stopped and questioned. Then before entering Stephen's Gate from the west into the Old City we were stopped again by police who refused to let us enter and return home. We had to argue for some time before they allowed to enter. Our van was stocked with bread and spaghetti and when the police saw it, they were convinced we were just out to buy provisions. That's a valid reason to go out. The other is to see a doctor or the pharmacist.

Passover full moon last night

The streets outside the Old City were empty of people. Some areas with groceries and bakeries had people milling around them. But other than that, only police can be seen in all the other areas. Last night the PM ordered a total nationwide lockdown before the jewish Passover begins tonight. The fear is the entire nation moving around the country to get home and celebrate the feast. And spreading the virus. All intercity roads have been closed. The nationwide lockdown ends on Friday but will resume onApril 15th I guess, the last day of Passover. After that, the PM says things like be a little more relaxed but partial lockdown will continue to be enforced.  

And the egg crisis is partially solved. Egg is essential in the Passover meal ... to be eaten tonight ... but there was a nationwide shortage. That is a national crisis. Israel managed on short call to get a shipload of eggs from overseas to dock at the southern port of Ashdod. Passover meal is saved tonight.

Jerusalem Urbi et Orbi

Dominus Flevit chapel

It's Holy Monday. That's when Mark's gospel records Jesus "cursing" the fruitless fig tree while on his way from Bethany to Jerusalem's Temple. All the readings since yesterday till Easter Sunday are so different from me than it is for most of you. I actually live here. From my window I can see the Mt. of Olives and the route Jesus took riding on a donkey. The Temple was just 300m. from my room. And I live in the compound where Jesus was flogged, crowned with turns and carried his cross. Golgotha is 800m to my east ... everything is so real and vivid. It is alive. Yesterday when we proclaimed the Passion of Christ according to Matthew, all the places mentioned are just within 1km from where I live. It is very special. And I know many of you have not been here ... and those who have, have only seen the places for a few minutes. I'll be praying for you all in these places on your behalf. Living here is a privilege and a calling.

Shraq and kaya

Yesterday instead of the traditional Palm Sunday Procession from Betphage down to Jerusalem's Old City, there was a special prayer service at the Dominus Flevit chapel midway up the Mt. of Olives. The Archbishop was there with a small entourage. The whole service was live broadcast. After the prayers, the archbishop blessed the City of Jerusalem and the world, effectively it's an urbi et orbi blessing which the pope gives. Here the patriarch can give the blessing because Jerusalem is the Mother Church where the Incarnation and salvation was established. A relic of the True Cross was was used for the blessing. Very touching. It was a prayer for an end to the pandemic.

From my terrace I could see the whole service. But a sandstorm had struck us and the whole city is overcast with yellow clouds. Sand is everywhere. And I've started coughing as a result ... with a sore throat. So I'm not going down for our prayers in my house.

To those asking what I had to celebrate my birthday ... well we're under a lockdown. I celebrated by myself with 2 arab unleaven bread called shraq with kaya (coconut jam) which some kind people from S'pore gave me when they visited last year. And I was very happy ... a taste of home.

Palm Sunday

Mt. of Olives this morning

Holy Week has started. But strangely quiet. Today a sandstorm is blowing. The sky is yellow and the wind is hot. Small bits of sand are flying through the air and I've got a sore throat as a result. They're so fine they slip through the window sills and door cracks. And Palm Sunday on fall on this  day is significant ... it tells us of the perils ancient pilgrims had to face.

From my terrace I get a good view of the Mt. of Olives where Jesus rode the donkey down to the City. From the photo you can see the sand storm. The road coming down the mountain is deadly quiet. No one on the streets. After lunch only the bishops and a few assistants will walk down the route. The Archbishop has decided to stop at Dominus Flevit, the church where Jesus wept over Jerusalem, to say a prayer and bless Jerusalem and the world with a relic of the True Cross. It will be broadcast live. Click on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wW-JDH96KLo&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1m8GCWJlcImb-imaABcqGFQNZq3B1boZ4r295Eo_svrQyHNQxmUI_HED4

The tiny road where Jesus
rode the donkey

Locally a crisis is slowly looming ... a shortage of viral testing kits. Old Aged homes have become a new hotspot for cluster contamination. Calls for more total lockdown of other ultra-orthodox neighbourhoods. Police are still unsure how to enforce the face-mask law. Campers and beach-goers have been forced to pack up and go home. Ambulances and attendants have been stoned by ultra-orthodox jews when they enter the neighbourhoods to test for the virus. Insurance companies are saying there will be no payouts until after the Passover holidays which is April 15th. So much consternation. So much anger and fear. So much uncertainty. And the jewish Passover begins on Wednesday evening April 8th.  

The Custos has just written an instruction to us, telling us we are living in the actual places of the Passion of Christ. Since christians can no longer come to commemorate these events on Holy Week, then we must represent everyone on behalf of the Church. So know that I'll be praying for you all here in the Flagellation and Condemnation chapels this Holy Week.

Birthday lockdown

Almost empty street

The Sabbath has started and we're hours away from Holy Week. But this year in Jerusalem where everything we celebrate actually happened, the celebrations will be very different because of the pandemic. Only 10 celbrants are allowed for any of the liturgies ... and everyone will have to be satisfied with either watching a live telecast or praying the Divine Office as a substitute. I'm presiding over the Holy Week celebrations but I really hope someone else can substitute me. I've been warned a 2nd time today that as a severe asthmatic, diabetic and generally sick person, it's dangerous for me to be in a crowd .. the crowd being my community. I'll see what I can do.

I had to go to the pharmacy to buy my medicine this morning. That mean wearing a mask as it's now mandatory. Everyone else in the street  was wearing one. Some grocery shops were opened but they left their doors only half opened. A very crowded shop was the bakery. I got 4 pieces of bread as the pharmacy was directly opposite it. At the pharmacist there was a red tape blocking parts from going beyond half a meter from the pharmacist. I had to practically throw my money on the counter as I couldn't reach it with this barrier. 4 police were standing at the corner watching everyone go by. It was a very quick outing for me ... but I got to see the streets after 1 week in my room. It was surreal. Even during the Intifada and wars, it was never like this.

So it's my birthday today ... but i this lockdown there was no celebration. But thanks to the many well wishes sent by social media. It's another day to give thanks. Nothing more.

Weekend

My ranunculus on a cloudy day today

I've lost all sense of time ... after being locked in for 2 weeks and everyday is the same routine. Totally confused. And if I hadn't updated my blog ... it's simply because I couldn't remember. For the past 3 days I've been very busy re-doing the catalogue of our 1,100 titles of periodicals ... from A to Z. It involves typing an entire new list, checking if each one was subscribed, out of print or exchanged from another library. It was arduous and required a lot of concentration as I had 4 lists to counter check. Anyway today at 3pm I completed the catalogue. I only have to print it ... but that'll wait for tomorrow. After that I'll have a new project to keep me busy.

The weather has been cloudy and damp ... but with moment of sunshine. Officially it hit 25 degrees at noon but it felt colder than that. Holy Week won't be bright and sunny, that's for sure. The Orthodox ceremony of the Holy Fire which takes place on Holy Saturday will be restricted to 10 bishops of various orthodox denominations, and the fire will be carried by police straight to the airport to airplanes waiting to jet the flames to various orthodox countries like Greece, Russia, Bulgaria etc. There will be no crowds of pilgrims or locals to carry the fire through the streets. Less chaos I guess ... and a good thing too.

I'm enjoying all the beautiful flowers blooming on the terrace. This year is a bumper crop ... the ranunculus are amazing. The heavy rains in winter has done wonders for the bulbs. But let's hope summer really does come ... I'm missing the sun ... and the end of lockdown.