Jerusalem the Lenten City

As expected, Land Day passed off with no incidents. No one observed the general strike ... economic concerns were more important. The military everywhere was not called upon to exercise their might. Everything was peaceful.

But all around our country is red alert - Syria, Jordan, Egypt .... things are not looking good. There is a weariness lingering in the air ... we're tired of violence. We are all very tired of this senselessness, lawlessness, peacelessness.

This is what Jerusalem's Old City looks like at 7.30am at 9 degrees. Sunny but chilly. The sky is limpid but the air is filled with the stench of war, hatred and tensions. Here the Word-made-Man suffered, died and was buried; on the 3rd day he rose in accordance to the Scriptures. And that's the way it goes for his followers as well.

And the Mt. of Olives with its numerous churches glistening under the sun, is a sad reminder of the last days of Christ on earth - the entry into Jerusalem on a donkey; the weeping over Jerusalem; the agony in the Garden of Gethsemani. It's Holy Week everyday there. In fact, it's Holy Week everyday everywhere here.

Land Day

Yesterday Palestinians prepared to celebrate "Land Day" commemorating the lost of their land to Israel. "Land Day" itself takes place today. Security was high; military and police were everywhere but I guess the pre-celebration passed off without any incident. In fact, I think most Palestinians ignored it. Shops used to be closed, a general strike observed, and youths would have gathered in the streets chanting slogans. This year nothing of that sort will happen in Jerusalem - life will go on as usual, no one mentioned even the name "Land Day". But outside Jerusalem there were some demonstrations in Lod (biblical Lydda). Let's see what will happen later today. In the streets, I hear traditional arabic ballads blasting from radios in many shops ... but it's young people listening to them ... a scary indication of a rise of nationalism, cultural identity such as when the Intifada was fomented.

And all I hear in the streets is "business is bad". Shopkeepers have stopped me in the streets and talked to me about tourists cancelling their trips because of the regional unrest (red alert in all neighbouring countries) and last week's bomb in Jerusalem killing a tourist (high alert in Israel). Groups have stopped coming and everyone is feeling the financial pinch. Not everyone is unhappy though .... for us at least, we have less trouble in our courtyards over the unruly tourists/"pilgrims" who eat and drink and litter in our religious sanctuary with the tacit cooperation of local guides. I say "Shut our doors!" to all these people. In fact, I want to celebrate "Land Day" here in our sanctuary - all these blatant and abusive behaviour of guides and tourists against God's church and us who care for it, constitutes a moral land grab of the places Jesus made holy by his physical presence. I'll call it "Unholy Land Day".

Another day

Tensions are still high in our area; soldiers and police are stopping more people to check IDs etc. Country is still on high alert.

Have been sleeping alot these two days ... with book in hand. Feeling tired most of the time.

Here are some photos of new flowers growing on the terrace after the cold spell we have had.

   

Feast of the Annunciation

The 1st ever Jerusalem marathon got off on a successful note in spite of the fact that the 1st 3 runners toward the finishing line made a wrong turn and ended up somewhere else! Still I think it is a very happy event in the face of the bomb blast a day ago. We show that we are not afraid and will not allow the lunatic fringe to determine our lives. As we once use to say during the 2nd Intifida, "Life must go on, and we will not let you stop it". Actually it was only a half-marathon (42 km) but possibly the municipality will organise a full marathon next year.

Security was tough to say the least. The entire country is still under high alert and every street corner police and soldiers stand by, stopping people and asking for identification. You can feel the tension in the air. Friday muslim prayers passed off without much incident. In fact it was rather subdued. The imam  of the Al Aksa Mosque did not deliver a fire and brimstone sermon as usual; and almost everything around were pretty low key.

Weatherwise the temperature has remained cold, damp and gray. The canaries are shivering outside - the females snuggled in their nests.

The Solemnity of the Annunciation was presided by me here at our place. It is of course the 19th anniversary of my ordination today. Yesterday in the heavy rain, I had gone to Talpiot to buy assorted bourekas (puff pastry with fillings - mushroom, potato, cheese, spinach) to celebrate the event. They were wiped off at breakfast! For lunch, knowing I can't eat many things, Khalil the cook baked 3 large salmon - absolutely delicious! I had a piece about 3 inches by 3. It was fantastic ... but I think my tummy had shrunk alot so I couldn't stomach the whole thing. Felt nauseous afterwards. Earlier in the morning I had 2 terrible cramps in the abdoman that sent me reeling on the floor. I was in the library and Osvalda next to me panicked. The pain passed and I'm much better now. Need to lie down alot though.

Anyway the motto of my ordination 19 years ago was "Be it done to me according to Your Word" - Mary's response to the Annunciation by the angel Gabriel. Hopefully we can all live this motto.

Big Freeze

The temperature has dipped so low the taps in our house have been iced over! It says it's only 4 degrees but it feels like below zero. A tempest is blowing outside and the rain is heavy. Let's hope this will help alleviate the drought we have been facing. Perhaps it will snow tomorrow morning.

The country is on high alert after the bomb attack yesterday. Police and soldiers in every corner. I took a bus to Talpiot to buy some pastries for tomorrow's feast  in this freezing cold weather; and you could see everyone was nervous in the bus. No one feels safe.

And the lady who died in the bomb attack yesterday was a Scottish christian, Mary Gardner. She worked with the Home of Bible Translators in Mevasseret Zion near Abu Gosh and was visiting Jerusalem when she was killed. We pray for her soul and for her family.

Meanwhile the revolt in Syria is getting fiercer and Libya is no better. There's simply so much turmoil and unrest. It is all so unsettling.

Central Jerusalem bombed

Terrorism has reached our city. Massive bomb exploded a few hours ago in Central Jerusalem in front of the Convention Center's bus stop. 1 dead, 30 injured. http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=213442 and http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/bomb-explodes-in-central-jerusalem-31-wounded-1.351377

I was speaking with a journalist friend at home when her daughter telephoned her to ask if she was alright. She was just at that place before coming to visit me. Then news started coming from overseas informing us of the bombing. Strange because we living in Jerusalem know nothing about it before overseas news.

The time has come to relive the horror of going out and coming in; the dread of not trusting the person standing next to you; the anger at the helplessness we find ourselves because a minority has chosen to threaten our lives.

Day after Purim

The sun has risen and it's 20 degrees now. Looks like nice weather except that the forecast is rain and cold for the coming days. People are getting sick everywhere. I'm running out of paracetamol to distribute. Someone actually came to ask me for a laxative as well. What? I don't run a pharmacy, people!

Healthwise, the stitches are healing and I'm walking longer distances. But once in a while, there's a sharp pain that makes me double over. They say it's expected. Still have 6 more days on my restricted diet and 2 months of not carrying anything heavy. Lost alot of weight ... the tummy looks like a crumpled plastic bag now!

Purim in Jerusalem was typically Jerusalem ... people wanting to celebrate but never having the guts to go all the way because of fear - fear of terrorists attacks in the streets, fear of religious condemnation for going overboard, fear of spending too much money, fear of gossip ... so Ben Yehuda Mall and other social places were festively fettered by emotional and psychological collars. It's like what Khalil Jibran said in his book "The Prophet" - to laugh but not with all of your laughter, and to cry but not with all of your tears. It's not really getting there ... for fear that doing something with all your heart and soul and might is a crime. It was alot wilder in Tel Aviv, I hear ... from someone who went there to celebrate till the wee hours of the morning. No, I wasn't invited. End of story.

Here's a new painting of Fr Allegra. As you know, he's a holy man and should have be beatified 10 years ago but due to unforeseen circumstances, his beatification was cancelled. He's known to have worked at least one miracle so if you're in need of help, pray and ask him for intercession!