Christ is risen!

"... and the stone was rolled away ..."

Christ is risen! He is truly risen!

Christos anesti! Alethos anesti!

El masih qam! Haqan qam

Easter Sunday at last. Was at the Holy Sepulchre last night at 11pm for the Office of Readings (Vigil) and procession around the Empty Tomb. Finished at 1.30am but had to meet Hidri (whom some of you have sponsored) who came from Tel Aviv to join the Easter liturgy. Managed to go home at 2.30am but hardly slept because at 4am was back at the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate the first Mass of Easter inside the Empty Tomb. It was a rare privilege. Remembered you all inside the Tomb during Mass; all the family, friends, students, benefactors, living and dead.

Last night's Vigil at the Empty Tomb was especially meaningful when a little girl went up to the Altar of the Appearance to Mary Magdalene, knelt down, clasped her hands, closed her hands and prayed. It was very very beautiful.

Holy Saturday

Good Friday: the body
is brought down from
the Cross on Calvary

My asthma has still been commanding my Paschal Triduum. Have remained in my room all the time due to the crippling and suffocating malady. Yesterday though I wanted to attend the night Funeral Procession in the Holy  Sepulchre, had to call it off as I was afraid once the doors of the Basilica were closed and I became sick inside, there'd be no way for me to go out and get help. Anyway here're a couple of photos borrowed from Fra Sandro.

The theme of humble service which occupied my mind while at the 6th Station Chapel was further confirmed by Pope Francis' impromptu speech at the prison where he washed the feet of 12 men and women, christians and muslims. "It is the example of the Lord. He was the most important but he washed the feet of others. The most important must be at the service of others" Then at the Chrism Mass he said  "We need to go out, then, in order to experience our own anointing (as priests) ... to the outskirts where there is suffering, bloodshed, blindness that longs for sight, and prisoners in thrall to many evil masters," http://www.jpost.com/International/Pope-prays-for-Muslim-brothers-on-Holy-Thursday-308174  Then today's Haaretz news is disturbing as it brings to my doorstep what the pope was talking about. 7 and 8 yr old palestinian boys are arrested by Israeli soldiers for throwing stones. But how come 18 yr old Jewish youths who beat and assault arabs are never arrested? Mind you I don't condone stone-throwing ... but neither do I see such blatant injustice as correct.  http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/twilight-zone/aged-eight-wearing-a-mickey-mouse-sweatshirt-and-placed-in-israeli-custody.premium-1.512461  This Holy Week has been an acute awareness of how in this modern world, the accuser is always right and justified; and the accused is always guilty no matter what. It rings loudly of what happened 2000 years ago when an innocent Jesus was accused by the High Priests and Pilate and judged guilty no matter what.

Good Friday: the body is anointed
with myrrh and incense

Today marks Land Day for the Palestinians. It commemorates the day when the Israelis confiscated most parts of Palestine and sent its arab inhabitants out as refugees. As this coincides with our Easter Triduum and the Jewish Passover, the military are not taking any chances in case of violence.

Good Friday

Last night was simply awful as my asthma crippled me totally. I couldn't go to Gethsemani for the vigil and adoration as planned. Simply too weak. Prayed for you all in my room though.

Protestants perform the Way of
the Cross

This morning I left early to make the Way of the Cross ... 5am to be exact. But already by 4.30am lots of pilgrims had began making their devotion. Prayed for you all at every Station. The Holy Sepulchre was closed so I finished the Stations outside the courtyard. Also recited Office of Readings and Lauds. On my way home, navigating through the groups of pilgrims at 6am, I managed to enter the 6th Station which was very quiet. Stayed there to pray for you all for some 15 mins. It's the Station of Veronica wiping the face of Jesus. Couldn't stop thinking of this significance - doing good for others, and the words of Pope Francis to serve others humbly. I guess this is mean meaning of this Good Friday - service.

Crowds packing the
1st Station

Back home, I put myself down at the courtyard for some 5 hours to make sure the thousands who came to start the Way of the Cross went smoothly, with no clashes, thefts or quarrels. Firas and Majed were also at hand to keep the order. It was not easy but we managed to steer every group safely without problems till the official Way of the Cross started. The crowds in the street were so many, the devotion was stalled for almost half and hour.

Meantime the air was tense. The soldiers closed the Old City to muslim men under 55 yrs. Streets and City Gates were closed. Soldiers everywhere. It's due to the coincidence of our Good Friday with the Jewish Passover ... and in the light of the violence by muslims for the past 2 weeks, Israeli soldiers were taking no chances. This won't let up till after Easter Sunday when Passover also ends.

Maundy Thursday

The Holy Sepulchre was packed this morning as the Patriarch and bishops came to celebrate the Mass of the Last Supper including blessing of the Chrism. Tonight there'll be meditation and adoration at the Garden of Gethsemani. Will be going to pray for you.

Sr Vincenta and her
lamb cakes

Back home Sr Vincenta was busy baking and baking for Easter. She  baked cakes in the shape of a lamb and coated them in white icing. She doesn't like making them though and hope next year we can buy them from a bakery. Hahahahahaha I had to take a photo of her icing it because it may the last year we'll have home-baked lamb cakes.

Early this morning I had to go to the doc in Tel Aviv. 5am to be exact. Had a heavy dose of some medicine ... because on the way home I had a dreadful bout of diarrhea and cramps. Along the highway there is no toilets. So the taxi could only stop some 30 mins later at Emmaus. Poor me. Anyway I hope to get better and this evening I can go to Gethsemani and pray for you all.

Thanks to Francis Shu, Rose Chiu, Clara Siu, Maisie Kwok, Chan Ling, Catherine Wong, Bruno, Julia, Gedeon, the Cavero family for medicines, Beryl for the mushrooms. Will be praying for you all at the Holy Sepulchre tomorrow. But I must confess though that whenever someone in need knocks on my door, I usually help them with the gifts you gave me even though I know you want me to use it for my medical fees. I can't say "no" to the poor around me. Especially not in Holy Week.

Holy Wednesday

Holy Tuesday was rather uneventful. The weather was strangely hot and cold though ... the sun beats down heavily but in the shadows, the temperature can drop by 3-4 degrees. Dreadful chill. There was the solemn singing of the Passion according to John at our Flagellation Chapel (2nd Station of the Cross). However I had classes and could not attend.

Ma'amoul from my
good friend Firas

Today Holy Wednesday, the Passion is sung at Gethsemani. Again I have to work the whole morning and cannot join in. Which is just as well because these past 2 weeks my asthma has become so bad, yesterday I blacked out for lack of oxygen. Luckily Sr. Vincenta was nearby and called for help. I was suffocating because I could not breathe in any air. My face turned blue and I started panicking. Too late. Blacked out.

Ma'amoul cookies are being baked in every arab christian house this week.Originally cookies for weddings and other social feasts, they have taken a religious character. Christians make them in the shape of the Crown of Thorns and the Sponge that was raised to Christ's lips while dying on the Cross. They're filled with walnuts, figs or dates. I've been getting some from my friends. Really delicious and light ... good for breakfast or tea.

Palm Sunday

Bishops, Patriarch and Custos
walk down the Mt. of Olives

Yesterday was Palm Sunday. The procession with palms from Bethpage down the Mt. of Olives into St. Anne's Church (Sheep's Pool) in the Old City was a lot smaller than we expected. Several reasons: security blockades due to Obama's visit, security measures for the Jewish Passover tonight, fewer tourist groups ... I think many people felt it was less joyous than last year.

This year I did not buy a palm branch. There were very few on sale and I was too busy to go look for them. Too bad. Our Good Friday (Passover) is just 3 days apart form the jewish Passover but 2 weeks apart from the Orthodox Christian Passover.

Crowds waving palms

The weather was pleasant though. It was warm again but the nights remain cold. The guys from Mondo X came after the procession and took 4 quails, 4 canaries and 10 echiums to their mountain residence in Tabor. They'll take good care of the birds and plants ... only thing is I forgot to leave them instructions. Will have to call them later.

Our sisters, Singaporeans and
many other people came to the
5th Station for Mass

This morning was the Mass at the 5th Station of the Cross - "Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carries the Cross". Mass is celebrated there once a year - on Holy Monday. I had the 6.30am slot. Remembered you all during Mass. Then there is the 7am solemn Mass with the singing of the Passion at the Flagellation tomorrow. The Lenten rigours only get more demanding this week.

Saturday before Palm Sunday

Momentous evening yesterday when the PM called Turkey to apologise for the Marmara incident. Done at the tarmac with Obama next to him. Totally unexpected. The sandstorm did blow in something good. Turkey and Israel need to co-operate in the face of the chaos in Syria.

Goodies for Easter!

The Jewish Passover takes place in 48 hours. By now many homes and restaurants have cleared out all leaven. But nothing doing for me. Just received packs of goodies from home - pineapple tarts, kuah lapis, bak gua and cookies. It may be a little late for Chinese New Year but it's just in time for Easter.

This afternoon was spent busy preparing cages for the birds that I'll give to Mondo X. They're coming down from Mt Tabor to join in the Palm Sunday procession and will pass by my way. I'm giving them 4 quails and 2 pairs of nesting canaries. That will be nice for the guys of Mondo X ... adding more birds to their managerie of turkeys, ducks, chickens ... all of which are raised to be served at the Casa Nova restaurant.

Yes tomorrow is Palm Sunday. That means tonight we'll be up at midnight for prayers till pass 1am. Then Masses in the wee hours of the morning before the solemn Palm Mass at the Empty Tomb. The procession itself will take place at 2.30pm from Bethpage up on the Mt. of Olives down to St Anne's Church in the Old City. We're expecting huge crowds.