1st Sunday of Advent

So ... to those who still don't believe that Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream is Jewish and kosher - read this: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1259243012251&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Another Sunday. Didn't have time to clean much of my room though because I'm hebdom this week and had to preside the 8am Mass. But had enough time to do the basic stuff and .... setting up my Advent wreath.... which is no big deal. It's some green paper wrapped over wire. it's the cheapest thing I could get. And there are no purple candles so I got a weird white/orange/yellow type of candles (actually they're Sabbath candles). So my Advent wreath is really a hodge podge of stuff I gathered.

I managed to watch just a bit of my usual Sunday Christian movie. This morning it was based on the Great American Depression; how an American father had to leave town to look for a job, leaving his wife and 3 children back home. Then in a workers riot, the father gets blamed for seriously striking an official (which of course he didn't do) and ends up in jail. The mother gets all worked up but no giving up faith in God. The 3 children decided to run away and search for their father. That's all I saw. I'm sure it had a good ending.

Last night in one of my attacks of asthma, I could not as usual go back to sleep so I watched TBN (the protestant web TV which also broadcasts catholic programmes). It had a short film about a black american man who would not speak to his aged, stroke-stricken father because many years back he was embarrassed by his father who worked as a baseball clown (he provides the laughs during the intervals). And this guy was also angry that his father always spoke about striking out the legendary Babe Ruth. The film was set in the days when black segregation was still much alive in the US. He kept calling his father a liar. Now he has his own son, and he's trying to train his son to be a successful baseball player. His son secretly visits his grandfather and gets caught one day by his father. Then ... of course like in Luke's gospel ... angels show up and transport them all back in time when they witness how the old man (young back then) did actually strike out Babe Ruth in a unofficial game. But because of black segregation, this was never recorded nor taken seriously. The man regrets and reconciles with his father, and wins back his son. Happy ending.

Sounds like a simple story but I guess it does speak to us - about how we brand people, blame them even when we do not know the whole truth, that the truth sometimes is stranger than we think, people who are fixed with success and destroy other people's lives along the way.

This afternoon I had a meeting with the Custos. Its the only time we can meet because he is so busy and has no other time. We talked about Javier our classmate. And word had gotten to him that I was not well. He was pretty tough with his words, that I must go to hospital and stay there at least 3 days, get an operation if necessary (which he changed his mind when I reminded him what happened to Fr Piccirillo when he was operated). Anyway it was nice that he cared.

And so we enter into Advent. How are you starting this season? Try going on a retreat.

Sabbath

Ultra Orthodox Jews have been protesting at the Jerusalem Intel factory because it works on the Sabbath. Today secular and liberal jews countered by protesting for a free Jerusalem - free from ultra orthodox coercion and violence. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1131254.html

And I hope you read about the spitting by Jews at Christians - a rising violence here in the Old City.

Meanwhile today I went to buy medicine from the pharmacy - got Tamiflu as well because lots of people here are getting the flu and Tamiflu is getting sold out real quick. I made an order earlier this week and now I got a whole box! That simply means 14 little packs and it cost over 2000 shekels (almost US$650). I didn't have money on me to pay so I owe the pharmacy money. Don't worry I think I got enough to repay. Also got alot of other medicines I need. Then went home to do some work before I went off to see the doctor ... finally. Now I remember why I hate going to see the doctor ... I have to wait one and a half hours before it was my turn. It's so frustrating just sitting there waiting and waiting. And all the others ahead and behind me were fuming and cursing. Anyway got to my turn. The doc was worried and said it was serious but not to get back to prednesone steroids again because of the side effects (probably the bloat is a result of this.. plus the arthritic fingers and joints). So its back to the regime of inhaled steroids.

In the afternoon we celebrated a Mass for Fr Javier. Lots of teachers and friends showed up but few students ... the younger generation is very different or rather, indifferent. The Custos who was a good friend could not come because he was in Bethlehem for the solemn entrance : today is the feast of St Catherine the patron of our church in Bethlehem. He sent a message of condolances and sorrow. I cried during Mass. Javier was a good friend and classmate.

Finally

Finally one newspaper has the guts to confront the growing hatred for Christians by jews in yesterday's article about Jews spitting on Christian clergy. FINALLY.

Read all three pages on Jerusalem Post: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1259231077244&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

If Israel wants more tourists and pilgrims to come, it MUST stop these anti-Christ behaviour. Report to your nearest embassy any situations you witnessed when you were in Israel.

Folding paper

Last night was wild ... in the streets. The muslims celebrated the end of the Hajj and the climax of the Eid el Adha. Crowds were packing through our street outside (of course we locked our gates tight) all through the night. The muslim scouts started their procession at 9pm - loud, loud, loud drums and bagpipes. Then at 2pm youths were shouting in the streets and causing so much noise. At 4.30am the muezzins were singing at the top of their voices and the crowds packed into the Golden Dome mosque. This went on non-stop with every muezzin in town competing to be louder than the others. It was so loud and it went on for hours till 7.15am when suddenly everything just shut up ... absolute silence. It was such a deadly silence it became frightening! Everyone went home to enjoy their festive meal. Shops were all closed. The streets were empty. Thus the feast ended. For once you could through the Way of the Cross without any hawkers pendering their stuff.

For the 3rd time this week I was called up for emergency meetings. Half an hour notice. I had to drop everything I was doing and rush up to St. Saviour's monastery. Not easy when my asthma and swollen joints are killing me. But made it, half dead. Everyone always panics when they see me arrive because I'm all pale, gasping for breath and about to faint. The usual thing is "sit down, we'll get you a cup of warm water". And I want to say, "get me a coffin ... it's better".

I learned something new last night - you can't fold a piece of paper more than seven times. Try it.

One more day before the liturgical year ends and we begin a new year with Advent. Have you done what you wanted? said what you wanted? Don't start Advent carrying the baggages of last year. God forgives you and forgets all your past. He is greater than all our sins. Come embrace him anew this Advent.

3 days to end of liturgical year

Cold grey day today. The streets are filled with muslims as they celebrate Eid el Adha - commemorating Abraham sacrificing Ishmael (not Isaac). Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca, and the TV is showing 24 hours coverage of the events in Mecca. Huge crowds in the midst of rain.

Oh right now I see Dr Finkelstein ... an israeli archaeologist on an archaeological programme. I translated a couple of his essays years ago but I never knew who he was.

The canaries are huddling up because of the cold, and so am I. I should have bought a heater today when I accompanied Fr Buscemi out to buy some electrical stuff. As usual when I reach the shop I baulk at spending money, then go home and regret when I feel cold. Anyway Fr Buscemi treated me to a baguette shwarma which was fantastic!

Health news. The bloat is receding ... some people have remarked. I hope my asthma will recede too.

And ....... we have a new penguin!!!!!!

The liturgical year is ending in 3 days time .... what are you doing?

250,000 animal sacrifice

The talk about town is the eventual release of captured Israeli soldier Gilat Shalit. In the Israeli public there're vocal opposing voices. Proponents say exchange Palestinian prisoners for Shalit's release; opponents say terrorists should not be released.

The rains came as forecast, more of a drizzle really. The sky is a little dark but is pretty cold. Last night was so cold I couldn't sleep. And of course the asthma didn't help. Now I sleep sitting up because if I lie down, the fluids fill up my lungs and I choke.

Nepal tomorrow will slaughter a quarter of a million animals as part of a Hindu sacrifice - mind you it's 250,000 animals. Talk about extinction. The animals are beheaded and the heads are buried in a two acre field. And you ask "why?" Well I don't know. But St. Francis of Assisi would certainly have done something about it.

And the next day is a muslim feast. Damascus Gate is already festive - vendors pack the plaza to sell their wares. Even in the rain.

Aaaaaaahhhh

What a day to begin the week. Woke up at 2am with a sharp pain in my nose and sinus area. Turned on the light and found my nose was bleeding to high heaven .... had to wash up my face and clothes. I was quite scared as I never bled so much before. Anyway it stopped. But I was awake eversince.

So it's been terribly tiring. I tried to catch some sleep in the afternoon but was kept being disturbed by this or that. I give up. Will try to sleep early tonight instead.

As a result of this, I did little today. Well I was at the pharmacist's this morning to get some medicine (that the Post Office and Customs/Excise Office refuse to give me) but the pharmacist was out of it. Just my luck. So I'm home bloated as a whale, trying to sleep or at least rest. And doing some reading. Hope tomorrow will be nicer to me.