Quick look at last few days and today

Sunday was a day filled with visiting Marian sites. The Tomb of Mary, birthplace of Mary, and the pool of Bethsaida. Before those sites, we went to the Temple Mount and Western Wall (also known as the wailing wall).

Monday was probably my favorite day so far. We celebrated Easter Mass at the tomb of The Resurrection, went to the upper room (where 4 of the 7 Sacraments were instituted), Garden of Gethsemane, Rock of Agony, walked through the Kidron Valley to the home of Caiaphas (now it is the Church of St. Peter Galicantu) and got to go down to the cave prison Jesus was kept on Holy Thursday night. Which means that after Mass we basically did what Jesus did on Holy Thursday! What an amazing experience.

Tuesday was almost just as wonderful. We began early with The Via Dolorosa (way of the cross), had Mass on Calvary, toured the Holy Sepulcher, went inside the tomb of the resurrection, Dominus Flevit (place Jesus looked at the city of Jerusalem and wept), walked half of the Palm Sunday road, and ended the day with evening Eucharistic adoration at Gethsemane.

Today we are currently on our way north towards Galilee (Tiberius) with a stop in Cana (for Mass and married couples will renew their wedding vows) and Nazareth (to see the home of the Holy Family, St. Joseph's workshop, Church of Annunciation), and then to the Mt. of Beatitudes. 

I can't believe this trip is almost over. It has been such an amazing and spiritually renewing trip so far...and I can't wait for the next few days. 

Friday and Saturday...a great beginning

It has been a few days :) Every time I try to sit down and write, I either get interrupted to hang out with people...or the more often result is that I fall asleep. But, let me try to give you a few things I've been struck by the last couple of days.

On Friday we went to Ein Karem, which is the place of the Visitation. Then we went to the birthplace of John the Baptist, and the Church of The Nativity (had Christmas Mass in a Church near there).

I had a great sense that John the Baptist is a marvelous example for me. He had great amounts of humility and good will...he knew who God was, who he was, what his mission was, and lived to build the greatness of Christ even to his own seeming detriment. So many times I feel that I struggle with both of those virtues, so it was great to have this tangible experience to lean on in the future. 

We need to take time each day asking ourselves: who is God? Who am I? What is my mission? And how am I living it out?

Then on Saturday we went to the Jordan River (renewed our Baptismal Promises), Jericho to temptation monastery (where Jesus was tempted by Satan the first time during his 40 days of fasting), and then to Jacob's Well.

I don't want to say much about it here, but this is the first time we experienced the reality of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It is a hard reality to face.

But, on to the other parts: I have tried to vocalize my reaction to the experience at the Jordan...but I was simply blown away while we renewed our Baptismal Promises. It was such a moving experience to get to be where John called the Israelites to conversion to Christ and where he Baptized Christ into our death...so we can be Baptized into his life.

Then we went to Jericho which is the most ancient human settlement...10,000 years old! Reading all the stories in scripture I don't understand how they walked all of these places (they had to be in fantastic shape)...luckily we drove from the River to Jericho. :) Temptation Monastery was crazy. It is a labyrinth of many caves and now has a beautiful facade (it won't let me use that fun letter instead of c) on the side of the mountain. To get to pray where Jesus withstood Satan was powerful...asking for that same power to overcome Satan in my life. It was also very interesting getting to the monastery (which has been there since the 3rd century I believe-I don't remember exactly). We went up a gondola and then had to climb almost 200 steps up the face of the mountain.

Last for Saturday, we got to draw water from Jacob's Well. I actually helped bring the bucket back up to the surface! Jacob's Well is where Jesus met the Samaritan woman and asked for water...then talked to her about His life giving water. 

That day was amazing also! But, I need to go eat breakfast and then go to High Mass at the tomb of Jesus. Hopefully later I'll get a chance to talk about Sunday and today.

Always seek out time to be with Christ daily...it will change your life and bring you great freedom. I am praying for you always.

Quieting, surrendering, loving, living

The first day was very surreal. We got off the plane in Tel Aviv...and it seemed like there was an immediate sense of quieting. The quieting of my mind and soul...a huge wave of peace entered as we began this entry into Israel. On our bus, our tour guide struck a nerve. He said (I didn't write it down, so it isn't verbatim): if you came here to see beautiful place and artifacts, you have completely wasted your time...because America has more beautiful places. But, if you have come like the 3 wise men...searching for the great king to bring meaning and understanding and understanding to your being and wanting to live in the reality of the king...then you have come with the right mindset. 

The reason it struck me is not because I came only to see these places...but because I never really equated myself with the 3 wise men and why they journeyed to the nativity. 

Getting to the hotel, I was excited to see that they were still cleaning our room. So, within 30 minutes of being done traveling...I was standing in The Holy Sepulcher! My first distinct spiritual reality was that my life's identity...who I am...has it's center at this place! The fact that I could be there and give praise and thanksgiving for not only my life, my family and friends...but also for the ability to have true, real, deep freedom and Hope!

Today, Friday, we are going to the place of the Visitation and Nativity!!!! I can't wait to get to continue this spiritual renewal and strength!