I have just worked out how to upload pictures onto the blog. Thanks Paul for your help. You might like to browse through earlier blogs where I have added pics.
John
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Mount Carmel
Tradition tells us that almost one thousand years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Elijah lived on Mount Carmel. Elijah was a contemplative: not one who escaped the reality of life, but one who sought God above all else.
You will be familiar with the account of Elijah expecting the voice of God as he dwelt in the cave. God was not in the powerful, earth-shattering earthquake, wind or fire. Unexpectedly the voice of God was heard in the sound of “sheer silence”. (1 Kings 19:12).
This powerful experience of God in stillness and silence for Elijah led us to see Elijah as the ‘father’ of the contemplative life.
In the early thirteenth century a group of monks formed together on this same site, Mount Carmel. These monks sought God before all else. As their communities spread around the world, they became known as the Carmelites.
I was delighted this morning to receive a ‘comment’ from the Carmelite sisters in Christchurch as we prepare to visit Mount Carmel tomorrow.
Sisters, on our visit to Mount Carmel tomorrow we will pray for you. I invite all pilgrims, especially those who have returned home, to join with us in prayer tomorrow (Thursday) for the Carmelite community of Christchurch. We pray especially in thanksgiving for the fidelity of their witness to God in our diocese of Christchurch. We pray too that God will bless our sisters with vocations of women who will continue this powerful witness to God in our diocese.
John
You will be familiar with the account of Elijah expecting the voice of God as he dwelt in the cave. God was not in the powerful, earth-shattering earthquake, wind or fire. Unexpectedly the voice of God was heard in the sound of “sheer silence”. (1 Kings 19:12).
This powerful experience of God in stillness and silence for Elijah led us to see Elijah as the ‘father’ of the contemplative life.
In the early thirteenth century a group of monks formed together on this same site, Mount Carmel. These monks sought God before all else. As their communities spread around the world, they became known as the Carmelites.
I was delighted this morning to receive a ‘comment’ from the Carmelite sisters in Christchurch as we prepare to visit Mount Carmel tomorrow.
Sisters, on our visit to Mount Carmel tomorrow we will pray for you. I invite all pilgrims, especially those who have returned home, to join with us in prayer tomorrow (Thursday) for the Carmelite community of Christchurch. We pray especially in thanksgiving for the fidelity of their witness to God in our diocese of Christchurch. We pray too that God will bless our sisters with vocations of women who will continue this powerful witness to God in our diocese.
John
the contemporaneous-ness of faith
dawn from the hotel room, across the sea of Galilee
A few days ago, when in Jerusalem, I blogged about my sense that "He is not here." You will recall the words of the angel to Mary at the empty tomb. Remember too the words of the angel at the Ascention: 'why do you stand here looking....'
As we journey around this holy place I have a deep awareness that Jesus is no more here than he is in Nelson Creek, Glenavy or Avonhead. It is very evident that many people who travel to this country do so with a strong awareness of the historical events that took place here. Yes Jesus was born here. He preached here. Jesus suffered and died in this land. It is important for these people with their historical agendas (or blinkers?) to know that Jesus probably sat on this stone, preached on that hill, or slept in that boat. These people are tourists who hopefully, by the grace of God, will (in their journey) become pilgrims.
I do appreciate their need and at times I too allow my curiosity about historical detail to cloud the true reality of the experience of Jesus present today. I thought about this after writing on 'modern architecture' yesterday. Today we visited the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth. http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/nazareth-basilica-of-annunciation. This church was opened in the late 1960's. It is modern and beautiful. As with the Capernaum church it is sensitive to its surroundings and is a sign of a life beyond which God is carrying us to.
So many churches we have seen pretend to be older than they are by imitating Roman or Byzantine style. Such architecture reinforces (albeit subconsciously) the sense that the life of faith was important to people a long time ago. The danger always is that we slip into the pattern of looking back with romantic nostalgia to a time when we think things were better. But this is not faith! It is romance. It is nostalgia. Faith an event that is alive in the present. Jesus is not simply the God-Man who walked this land two thousand years ago. Jesus is alive today in Geraldine, Timaru, Riccarton, Rakaia and Israel.
Faith is not a willingness to be guided by a wise teacher who lived a long time ago in Galilee. Faith is a contemporary reality since Jesus is alive today.
Here in Nazareth today I have prayed the First Joyful mystery several times: the Annunciation. At this moment, when the earthly life of Jesus began, everything changed. As a result we do not follow a distant deity, or an ancient prophet. We are invited into personal relationship with the living person of Jesus who is God-with-us.
Blessings & love
John
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Beatitudes, Zippori & Nazareth
Mount of the Beatitudes
There are three chapters of Matthew's Gospel given to a significant portion of Jesus teaching. We know these chapters (5-7) as the "Sermon on the Mount". This teaching of Jesus begins with the beatitudes and continues through forgiveness and authentic practices of faith. You might like to spend time as you continue your pilgrimage from home or wherever by reflecting on these chapters of Matthew.
Our first visit this morning was to the probable site of this teaching of Jesus. The hills above the Sea of Galilee even form a natural ampitheater. It is not difficult to imagine Jesus teaching and the curious crowds gathering to be nourished. http://www.my-holyland.com/site_intro.php?category_id=0&site_id=14
We celebrated Mass together at a small outdoor chapel overlooking the hills and the lake. As always we began the Mass by remembering those we pray for, you the pilgrims who continue to journey with God from home, and the many people whose prayers and intentions we carry. A regular pattern now is that when we finish Mass each day we take half an hour (more if possible) for our own personal prayer. These sacred moments to savour the beauty of God with us in the Mass have become for us a highlight of each day.
Mosaics in Zippori
One of the remarkable things about archeological discoveries in Israel (one of the oldest inhabited parts of the world) is that almost all excavation is relatively recent. The excavations at Zippori began only a few decades ago. The discoveries of a Roman city from the time of Jesus is breathtaking. Zippori is only a few kilometres from Nazareth and here in the period of Roman rule of Palestine (63BC - 313 AD) a city grew. http://www.pbase.com/kitkool/zippori
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Jewish–Roman_War
Many of the mosaics formed from coloured stone told the story of Roman and their encounters with humans. These mosaics formed the floors of some houses. Later, after Christianity became the religion of the empire (c325), the new Christians replaced their now-inappropriate ‘pagan carpets’ with new layers of mosaic flooring. Excavations here in the last thirty years have revealed these layers of civilization and belief.
Nazareth
I’m sure most people would name Bethlehem as the town of the incarnation; the place where God became human in Jesus. Yet we know that the event of the Annunciation almost certainly happened in Nazareth, the town that Mary and Joseph made home. I have moved into the Joyful mysteries today. The first Joyful mystery of the Rosary, the Annunciation recalls the event of God breaking into human existence in a new way. From this moment God became as vulnerable as any human, for nine months in the womb of Mary his mother.
There are three chapters of Matthew's Gospel given to a significant portion of Jesus teaching. We know these chapters (5-7) as the "Sermon on the Mount". This teaching of Jesus begins with the beatitudes and continues through forgiveness and authentic practices of faith. You might like to spend time as you continue your pilgrimage from home or wherever by reflecting on these chapters of Matthew.
Our first visit this morning was to the probable site of this teaching of Jesus. The hills above the Sea of Galilee even form a natural ampitheater. It is not difficult to imagine Jesus teaching and the curious crowds gathering to be nourished. http://www.my-holyland.com/site_intro.php?category_id=0&site_id=14
We celebrated Mass together at a small outdoor chapel overlooking the hills and the lake. As always we began the Mass by remembering those we pray for, you the pilgrims who continue to journey with God from home, and the many people whose prayers and intentions we carry. A regular pattern now is that when we finish Mass each day we take half an hour (more if possible) for our own personal prayer. These sacred moments to savour the beauty of God with us in the Mass have become for us a highlight of each day.
Mosaics in Zippori
One of the remarkable things about archeological discoveries in Israel (one of the oldest inhabited parts of the world) is that almost all excavation is relatively recent. The excavations at Zippori began only a few decades ago. The discoveries of a Roman city from the time of Jesus is breathtaking. Zippori is only a few kilometres from Nazareth and here in the period of Roman rule of Palestine (63BC - 313 AD) a city grew. http://www.pbase.com/kitkool/zippori
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Jewish–Roman_War
Many of the mosaics formed from coloured stone told the story of Roman and their encounters with humans. These mosaics formed the floors of some houses. Later, after Christianity became the religion of the empire (c325), the new Christians replaced their now-inappropriate ‘pagan carpets’ with new layers of mosaic flooring. Excavations here in the last thirty years have revealed these layers of civilization and belief.
Nazareth
I’m sure most people would name Bethlehem as the town of the incarnation; the place where God became human in Jesus. Yet we know that the event of the Annunciation almost certainly happened in Nazareth, the town that Mary and Joseph made home. I have moved into the Joyful mysteries today. The first Joyful mystery of the Rosary, the Annunciation recalls the event of God breaking into human existence in a new way. From this moment God became as vulnerable as any human, for nine months in the womb of Mary his mother.
Modern Church Architecture
Later yesterday afternoon we visited the town of Capernaum on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. This town was the home of Peter (where Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law). This town was also and also for some time (perhaps as long as two years) this the home-town of Jesus. Perhaps Jesus stayed with Peter. The home of Peter has been excavated - a home that would at least have been familiar to Jesus.
In 1984 a new Church was constructed over the octagonal Byzantine Church that had been built over the house of Peter. Many of the churches in Israel are relatively recent but built to look much older. They imitate a style which was common in Roman or Byzantine days. The 1984 Church is refreshingly authentic. It is sensitive to its surroundings (hills, lake and ruins underneath visible through glass walls and floor). Whereas tourists tend to chatter when in an old church there is something about this holy place that invites silence.
http://www.3disrael.com/north/the_modern_church.cfm
I couldn’t help but remember gratefully all the people who have (over almost fifty years since the planning began) made it possible for our own parish of Our Lady of Victories to have a modern church that raises the mind and heart to God.
John
In 1984 a new Church was constructed over the octagonal Byzantine Church that had been built over the house of Peter. Many of the churches in Israel are relatively recent but built to look much older. They imitate a style which was common in Roman or Byzantine days. The 1984 Church is refreshingly authentic. It is sensitive to its surroundings (hills, lake and ruins underneath visible through glass walls and floor). Whereas tourists tend to chatter when in an old church there is something about this holy place that invites silence.
http://www.3disrael.com/north/the_modern_church.cfm
I couldn’t help but remember gratefully all the people who have (over almost fifty years since the planning began) made it possible for our own parish of Our Lady of Victories to have a modern church that raises the mind and heart to God.
John
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
St Peter’s Fish
For twenty minutes today we were on the Sea of Galilee. Our first visit this morning was to a boat that had been recovered from the mud of the lake 25 years ago. This boat is known to be from the time of Jesus. http://www.allaboutarchaeology.org/galilee-boat-faq.htm
It is not in great condition so they put us on another boat to make the trip across the lake. Our boat was a bit bigger with room for each to find a place of solitude as we crossed. http://www.bibleplaces.com/seagalilee.htm
As humans our way of experiencing the reality that surrounds us is through our senses. My senses are heighted in these days as I see what Jesus would have seen view and hear sounds that would have been familiar to him. Here we are savouring the tastes that He would have known. When we were on the lake I realized that there is more of the water Jesus actually washed in in Lake Taupo that there is here! (evaporation, precipitation and all that). The Avon has more of the 'water Jesus touched' than the Jordan! But these hills are visibly unchanged and this was the skyline He saw.
The lake journey took us across to the land of the Gadarenes. We know this is where Jesus moved the evil spirits from the people to the pigs since it is the only cliff around the lake where the pigs would fall to their death. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_(demon)
Then to the restaurant where we ate the fish that Jesus would have eaten. Paul I thought of you especially today! I doubt if Jesus called it “St Peter’s Fish” but that’s what we call it today. The restaurant serves the fish, or pasta or pizza. I didn’t see anyone eat anything but the fish but the waiter told us that many Italians choose pasta instead of THE fish. I heard an American at the next table asking to have her fish filleted. Each diner is presented with a whole fish. They say the eyes are a delicacy, but I am much too delicate to think of trying. But the rest of the fish was good. Not a Rakaia salmon or Nelson Creek Whitebait or Bluff Oyster, but good fish. The fish peeled away from the bone easily. Sarah had learned in India that the cheek of the fish was the best part so we all tried this part (A bit close to the eye for my liking, but it was good!) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilapia
The winner in the experience was my personal appreciation of the reality of the incarnation: Yes, God did leave the heavens to take on human form. His human eyes saw these earthly hills. His human body was nourished by this particular fish...
And now, after His death and resurrection, He is closer to us than he was to his disciples in that boat. Then He was limited by human form. He could only be in one place at a time. Today, wherever we are, and whatever the messy, suffering and sinful reality of our human life, He is with us!
It is not in great condition so they put us on another boat to make the trip across the lake. Our boat was a bit bigger with room for each to find a place of solitude as we crossed. http://www.bibleplaces.com/seagalilee.htm
As humans our way of experiencing the reality that surrounds us is through our senses. My senses are heighted in these days as I see what Jesus would have seen view and hear sounds that would have been familiar to him. Here we are savouring the tastes that He would have known. When we were on the lake I realized that there is more of the water Jesus actually washed in in Lake Taupo that there is here! (evaporation, precipitation and all that). The Avon has more of the 'water Jesus touched' than the Jordan! But these hills are visibly unchanged and this was the skyline He saw.
The lake journey took us across to the land of the Gadarenes. We know this is where Jesus moved the evil spirits from the people to the pigs since it is the only cliff around the lake where the pigs would fall to their death. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_(demon)
Then to the restaurant where we ate the fish that Jesus would have eaten. Paul I thought of you especially today! I doubt if Jesus called it “St Peter’s Fish” but that’s what we call it today. The restaurant serves the fish, or pasta or pizza. I didn’t see anyone eat anything but the fish but the waiter told us that many Italians choose pasta instead of THE fish. I heard an American at the next table asking to have her fish filleted. Each diner is presented with a whole fish. They say the eyes are a delicacy, but I am much too delicate to think of trying. But the rest of the fish was good. Not a Rakaia salmon or Nelson Creek Whitebait or Bluff Oyster, but good fish. The fish peeled away from the bone easily. Sarah had learned in India that the cheek of the fish was the best part so we all tried this part (A bit close to the eye for my liking, but it was good!) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilapia
The winner in the experience was my personal appreciation of the reality of the incarnation: Yes, God did leave the heavens to take on human form. His human eyes saw these earthly hills. His human body was nourished by this particular fish...
And now, after His death and resurrection, He is closer to us than he was to his disciples in that boat. Then He was limited by human form. He could only be in one place at a time. Today, wherever we are, and whatever the messy, suffering and sinful reality of our human life, He is with us!
Faith, culture & practical signposts
This is a remarkable country. The city of Jerusalem (where we lived last week), is home to the three great monotheistic faiths. Within old city walls (an area of a few acres), the Jewish, Muslim and Christian people come to be at home, in the heart of the events that formed their faith.
Faith & Culture – in Christ there is no difference
In this ancient city there is no clear demarcation between faith and culture. Faith is not a part of life. Faith IS life. Faith determines what is done and what is not done. Faith determines what, when and where food and drink are taken. Faith decides how and when people work. Faith decides how people dress. Faith provides friendships and social networks. Faith for these people is known to be gift, since faith provides everything that a human person needs. God provides all.
Of course there are complexities and I am not here long enough to experience too much of the ambiguity and paradox. However such ambiguities do not render religious expressions invalid or insincere. Ambiguity is a reality of life and the mature person is one who is able to live with paradox.
This is precisely where religious practice and practices are most needed. Even the small details (for the Jew what is worn, or for the Catholic penance on Friday or fasting before communion) provide a sound touch-stone of stability. Most of all, when I fail or sin, when I lose direction in any way, I return to the signposts that are known (by generations before me) to be reliable. Once again I know the way ahead.
Signposts
I wonder if in recent years many Catholics have (without considering the consequences) discarded many of the little signs that guided us through each week. When the Church requirement to abstain from meat on Fridays was lifted, we were asked to personally adopt some other Friday practice of penance. Sadly very few Catholics are aware of this invitation and therefore each week overlook a practical and necessary signpost. For Catholics the Sunday Eucharist is the central weekly signpost. If we miss this sign, then our compass gives no orientation. Think of the compass at the magnetic pole spinning in every direction. How can I step into the next week with confidence without the confidence of good orientation? I need to know the way ahead.
An example of a tangible sign
I have always carried Rosary beads in my pocket. However many days have gone by when I have not used them. In these Holy Land days I have discovered the gift of the Rosary at a new depth. It is remarkable for me to see again that the mysteries of the Rosary are centered on the power of God and the life of Christ.
The spark of this new flame came for me in a Jerusalem stall where I saw Jewish prayer beads and Rosary Beads for sale together. Prayer beads of some kind are a normal part of many religious traditions. There must be something in the tangible fingering of beads as a companion to meditation.
Perhaps you have not prayed the Rosary for years. . . . an invitation: pick up your beads (or fingers – we have ten of those and that is useful) once again and pray the Rosary. You will find the prayers of the Rosary online – or call Lisa at the parish office and she will send you a Rosary prayer card. You might find this a helpful way of ‘pilgrimaging’ in these days wherever you are.
Notice the ‘new’ LUMINOUS mysteries named by Pope John Paul II. I have been praying these through these Galilee days:
The Baptism of the Lord
The Miracle of Jesus at Cana
The proclamation of the Kingdom of God
The Transfiguration of Jesus
The Last Supper.
These mysteries especially have been very significant for me since in the past three days our little group of four have visited the sites of all these events central to the life of Jesus.
Galilee
This morning we offered Mass for you all, and all those whose prayer intentions we carry in our hearts, on the shore of Galilee. The Mass was at an outdoor chapel within metres of the lake edge. Again, I am apprehensive about sharing the beauty with you who longed to be here, but I also have to say that we were right to plan an OLV parish pilgrimage to this place.
The physical beauty (for me at least) cannot match what we have in NZ at Banks Peninsula or Tekapo. But the knowledge that God in Jesus walked these hills, sailed these waters and knew these towns is a powerful reminder of the tangible reality of the incarnation. The Jews and Muslims are people of the book (Torah & Koran) and of practices. The Christian is a person living in personal intimacy with God in Jesus – God among us: on our roads, in our hills and in every human struggle and trial.
As the Jewish people have proclaimed at the end of every Passover Seder meal for two thousand years: “Next year in Jerusalem!”
Shalom
John
PS a hymn that has been in my heart these days. I have been humming the tune and praying these words as we travel:
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.
In simple trust like theirs who heard
Beside the Syrian sea
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow Thee.
O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee
The silence of eternity
Interpreted by love!
With that deep hush subduing all
Our words and works that drown
The tender whisper of Thy call,
As noiseless let Thy blessing fall
As fell Thy manna down.
Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.
Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm!
"The Brewing of Soma" by American Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier
Faith & Culture – in Christ there is no difference
In this ancient city there is no clear demarcation between faith and culture. Faith is not a part of life. Faith IS life. Faith determines what is done and what is not done. Faith determines what, when and where food and drink are taken. Faith decides how and when people work. Faith decides how people dress. Faith provides friendships and social networks. Faith for these people is known to be gift, since faith provides everything that a human person needs. God provides all.
Of course there are complexities and I am not here long enough to experience too much of the ambiguity and paradox. However such ambiguities do not render religious expressions invalid or insincere. Ambiguity is a reality of life and the mature person is one who is able to live with paradox.
This is precisely where religious practice and practices are most needed. Even the small details (for the Jew what is worn, or for the Catholic penance on Friday or fasting before communion) provide a sound touch-stone of stability. Most of all, when I fail or sin, when I lose direction in any way, I return to the signposts that are known (by generations before me) to be reliable. Once again I know the way ahead.
Signposts
I wonder if in recent years many Catholics have (without considering the consequences) discarded many of the little signs that guided us through each week. When the Church requirement to abstain from meat on Fridays was lifted, we were asked to personally adopt some other Friday practice of penance. Sadly very few Catholics are aware of this invitation and therefore each week overlook a practical and necessary signpost. For Catholics the Sunday Eucharist is the central weekly signpost. If we miss this sign, then our compass gives no orientation. Think of the compass at the magnetic pole spinning in every direction. How can I step into the next week with confidence without the confidence of good orientation? I need to know the way ahead.
An example of a tangible sign
I have always carried Rosary beads in my pocket. However many days have gone by when I have not used them. In these Holy Land days I have discovered the gift of the Rosary at a new depth. It is remarkable for me to see again that the mysteries of the Rosary are centered on the power of God and the life of Christ.
The spark of this new flame came for me in a Jerusalem stall where I saw Jewish prayer beads and Rosary Beads for sale together. Prayer beads of some kind are a normal part of many religious traditions. There must be something in the tangible fingering of beads as a companion to meditation.
Perhaps you have not prayed the Rosary for years. . . . an invitation: pick up your beads (or fingers – we have ten of those and that is useful) once again and pray the Rosary. You will find the prayers of the Rosary online – or call Lisa at the parish office and she will send you a Rosary prayer card. You might find this a helpful way of ‘pilgrimaging’ in these days wherever you are.
Notice the ‘new’ LUMINOUS mysteries named by Pope John Paul II. I have been praying these through these Galilee days:
The Baptism of the Lord
The Miracle of Jesus at Cana
The proclamation of the Kingdom of God
The Transfiguration of Jesus
The Last Supper.
These mysteries especially have been very significant for me since in the past three days our little group of four have visited the sites of all these events central to the life of Jesus.
Galilee
This morning we offered Mass for you all, and all those whose prayer intentions we carry in our hearts, on the shore of Galilee. The Mass was at an outdoor chapel within metres of the lake edge. Again, I am apprehensive about sharing the beauty with you who longed to be here, but I also have to say that we were right to plan an OLV parish pilgrimage to this place.
The physical beauty (for me at least) cannot match what we have in NZ at Banks Peninsula or Tekapo. But the knowledge that God in Jesus walked these hills, sailed these waters and knew these towns is a powerful reminder of the tangible reality of the incarnation. The Jews and Muslims are people of the book (Torah & Koran) and of practices. The Christian is a person living in personal intimacy with God in Jesus – God among us: on our roads, in our hills and in every human struggle and trial.
As the Jewish people have proclaimed at the end of every Passover Seder meal for two thousand years: “Next year in Jerusalem!”
Shalom
John
PS a hymn that has been in my heart these days. I have been humming the tune and praying these words as we travel:
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.
In simple trust like theirs who heard
Beside the Syrian sea
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow Thee.
O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee
The silence of eternity
Interpreted by love!
With that deep hush subduing all
Our words and works that drown
The tender whisper of Thy call,
As noiseless let Thy blessing fall
As fell Thy manna down.
Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.
Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm!
"The Brewing of Soma" by American Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier
Monday, April 26, 2010
Prayer Intentions
All the prayer intentions entrusted to the group are being carried in the prayers of our little group of four. We begin every Mass with a statement that this "Mass is offered for those whose intentions we carry on on behalf of whom we travel." This of course includes the intentions that any of the pilgrims who did not make it here were carrying. As in all prayer we express the intention either specifically or general terms and God takes over from there.
If you would like us to remember you or your intention in prayer in these days please send me an email or leave a comment on this page.
Blessings & assurances of our prayers
John
If you would like us to remember you or your intention in prayer in these days please send me an email or leave a comment on this page.
Blessings & assurances of our prayers
John
Never say Never!
Mt Tabor (Transfiguration) from the Nazareth cliff that the locals threatened to throw Jesus over.
I am constantly aware that the trip I am making these days is not the pilgrimage I had hoped for. We gather four around an altar for Mass and sit four at table for dinner. The team of four travelers is not the community of 30 we had expected to pilgrimage with. While I feel that disappointment I am constantly aware of the loss that the 26 back in NZ must feel. This is a grief for all of us but especially for you.
I remain apprehensive about doing this blog each day. I know that the pilgrims who read this from home will be confronted with the lost on reading every paragraph of our journey. Initially I thought I might do the first couple of days then fade out. However some of you have commented that you find these daily notes very helpful. So I will continue.
Yesterday and today we visited ancient cities. Jericho (yesterday) is known to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Today we visited Megiddo. This city was deserted before the time of Christ, but in the ten thousand years before then this city had been destroyed and rebuilt twenty-five times. Each time (sometimes within just a few hundred years of rebuilding) a conquering army would claim the city for themselves and build their own life on top of the ruins of the previous civilization. Twenty – five times this pattern was repeated!
This is why the writer of the book of Revelation saw Megeddo as a sign of great future hope. Death and destruction never overcome this place. In the book of Revelation this town is referred to as Armageddon (Rev 16:16), the place of the great future hope when Christ will return to welcome all who are willing to the real and lasting kingdom.
You were all very much in my thoughts in this place of hope. Our hopes of pilgrimage seem dashed, but (the message of Megiddo): never say never! Each time this city was destroyed it looked like the end, but God had other plans. I’m sure that as the last inhabitants secretly limped away from their destroyed town they could never believe that new life would emerge in this place. But then, twenty-five times, the city was rebuilt – and even now that the place lies in ruins, it is a sign for us of eternal hope.
For this reason, in 1964, Pope Paul VI as the first pope to visit the Holy Land came to Megiddo with a message of hope for the political and spiritual situation of the people of this land.
Never say never! We know that new life will emerge for all of us who are experiencing the loss of this pilgrimage.
Mt Tabor - Transfiguration
From a distance this mount is distinctive. It rises alone from the plain, and we know that Jesus took Peter James and John with him. There they had a glimpse of reality that faded anything they had previously called 'real' into insignificance.
I read a book a few years ago that saw the experience of Jesus transfiguration as a central event in our experience of liturgy. ("The Wellspring of Worship", Jean Corbon). Corbon's reflection was a turning point for me in my appreciation and understanding of what we do when we worship. On this mountain today the experience was renewed as I sat in a noisy corner. The central aim of the liturgy is not to express ourselves, but to allow God to reveal Himself. And God never misses an opportunity to reveal Himself.
I had hoped that today's visit to the Mount of Transfiguration would be a peaceful time, but peace was hard to find surrounded by tourists. I realised that I had a romantic plan for the visit. But God prefers reality to my romance and fantasy. Even in the noise, God was present.
Shalom
John
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Jericho, Jordan River & Galilee
Jerusalem is a modern city. It has a bustling daily life and locals and tourists swarm every quarter. Jerusalem is the HOLY city for the three great monotheistic faiths. Abraham (our Christian ‘father in faith’ is also ‘father’ for the Jewish and Islam people. These three groups, along with the Armenians, each have their own ‘quarter’ of the old walled city.
Within the walls of this ‘old’ city business and prayer abounds. There is little visible demarcation between the faith, the work and the culture of each of these groups. This is because it is unhealthy, unhuman even, to make such distinctions.
From our own point of view, to be Catholic is not to mark off a part of our life in a religious way. The healthy Catholic is one who prays as a Catholic, works as a Catholic and recreates as a Catholic. We therefore are not looking for a balance between different parts of our life. Rather we believe that the only way for us to live is by responding with a full ‘yes’ to God, and living every letter of this life in our prayer as in our work and recreation.
Many images from Jerusalem stayed with me as we journeyed from the city yesterday. My general sense is of people of faith (whether Christian, Muslim or Jewish) who were unashamed of their faith and its practices. Many of these practices seem excessive or pedantic to outside eyes, but for the people, these practices, like words, are important since they are the only visible vessels they have to carry the realities that sustain them.
Zacchaeus
Yesterday we journeyed north to Jericho. You know the story of Jesus encounter with Zacchaeus. This is the place. There is only one sycamore tree in the area and it is known to be very old – the locals know it to be at least 2000 years old. I tried to get Glenda and David up the tree for a photo in imitation of Zaccaheus but no luck.
Zacchaeus’ luck began with his own initiative in climbing the tree. He simply wanted to seek Jesus. His aim was not to follow, but, from a safe distance, simply to SEE Jesus. And, then his whole life changed. Jesus noticed him and called him. ‘Zaccaheus, I want to go to YOUR house NOW.’
In that encounter the life of this little man was changed for ever. Zacchaeus, who was used to living on the fringe of the group, was the centre of the story forever. Two thousand years later whenever people heard the name of the town ‘Jericho’, they would think ‘Zacchaeus’! All these years later this shy guy is the greatest money earner for the city and everyone is grateful to him. But he did NOTHING except follow his desire to see Jesus and climb a tree. Jesus did the rest!
How little Jesus needs from us!
I recall Pope John Paul II writing to priests one Holy Thursday saying that a more accurate translation of this story is that Jesus said to Zacchaeus: “I NEED to come to your house today”. Mutual need is what leads two humans to RELATIONSHIP. We can speak of Jesus’ ‘need’ since he seeks to be in personal relationship with each of us. It is Jesus willingness to enter this relationship with me that provides for every need I have.
Jordan River
My first glimpse of the Jordan was surprising. Many people had told me that it was more like a muddy creek than the river flowing “deep and wide” of the hymns. Travelling from the south the first glimpse of the river of Jesus’ baptism is where it has been channelled into a canal below a dam. Further north, where the lake of Galilee flows into the river, is the spot where the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist is remembered. It is an attractive part of the river. Despite the crowds it is a peaceful place. The river here is abundant with fish and many who aren’t looking for baptism happily feed the fish.
The Lake of Galilee
Our hotel in the city of Tiberius is on the shore of the lake. A peaceful place. The lake is not large – I think of Tekapo or Pukaki. The hills of the shore are visible all around. Today we will spend time around the lake.
John
Within the walls of this ‘old’ city business and prayer abounds. There is little visible demarcation between the faith, the work and the culture of each of these groups. This is because it is unhealthy, unhuman even, to make such distinctions.
From our own point of view, to be Catholic is not to mark off a part of our life in a religious way. The healthy Catholic is one who prays as a Catholic, works as a Catholic and recreates as a Catholic. We therefore are not looking for a balance between different parts of our life. Rather we believe that the only way for us to live is by responding with a full ‘yes’ to God, and living every letter of this life in our prayer as in our work and recreation.
Many images from Jerusalem stayed with me as we journeyed from the city yesterday. My general sense is of people of faith (whether Christian, Muslim or Jewish) who were unashamed of their faith and its practices. Many of these practices seem excessive or pedantic to outside eyes, but for the people, these practices, like words, are important since they are the only visible vessels they have to carry the realities that sustain them.
Zacchaeus
Yesterday we journeyed north to Jericho. You know the story of Jesus encounter with Zacchaeus. This is the place. There is only one sycamore tree in the area and it is known to be very old – the locals know it to be at least 2000 years old. I tried to get Glenda and David up the tree for a photo in imitation of Zaccaheus but no luck.
Zacchaeus’ luck began with his own initiative in climbing the tree. He simply wanted to seek Jesus. His aim was not to follow, but, from a safe distance, simply to SEE Jesus. And, then his whole life changed. Jesus noticed him and called him. ‘Zaccaheus, I want to go to YOUR house NOW.’
In that encounter the life of this little man was changed for ever. Zacchaeus, who was used to living on the fringe of the group, was the centre of the story forever. Two thousand years later whenever people heard the name of the town ‘Jericho’, they would think ‘Zacchaeus’! All these years later this shy guy is the greatest money earner for the city and everyone is grateful to him. But he did NOTHING except follow his desire to see Jesus and climb a tree. Jesus did the rest!
How little Jesus needs from us!
I recall Pope John Paul II writing to priests one Holy Thursday saying that a more accurate translation of this story is that Jesus said to Zacchaeus: “I NEED to come to your house today”. Mutual need is what leads two humans to RELATIONSHIP. We can speak of Jesus’ ‘need’ since he seeks to be in personal relationship with each of us. It is Jesus willingness to enter this relationship with me that provides for every need I have.
Jordan River
My first glimpse of the Jordan was surprising. Many people had told me that it was more like a muddy creek than the river flowing “deep and wide” of the hymns. Travelling from the south the first glimpse of the river of Jesus’ baptism is where it has been channelled into a canal below a dam. Further north, where the lake of Galilee flows into the river, is the spot where the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist is remembered. It is an attractive part of the river. Despite the crowds it is a peaceful place. The river here is abundant with fish and many who aren’t looking for baptism happily feed the fish.
The Lake of Galilee
Our hotel in the city of Tiberius is on the shore of the lake. A peaceful place. The lake is not large – I think of Tekapo or Pukaki. The hills of the shore are visible all around. Today we will spend time around the lake.
John
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Heading North
These Jerusalem Days have been significant to say the least.
We began with an enormous sense of loss. In the days since, we have become aware of implications of the loss of the pilgrimage we had hoped and planned for. There are many things that are not possible for a group of four. The tour operators have been in regular contact trying to ensure that our pilgrimage happens as we had planned as much as possible.
In many ways, the unfortunate turn of events has left us as a tourist group rather than a pilgrimage community. This is most noticeable for me at our daily Mass. Yesterday we had no option but to join with a group of Korean tourists for their Mass. Once we knew this had to happen we made the most of it and were uplifted by their singing and their prayer. On Tuesday we had to stop a priest in the street asking if there was a place for Mass. He generously took us to the chapel in his own home.
Yesterday we visited Ein Karim, the 'town in the hill country of Judah' where Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, the birthplace of John the Baptist. St John the Baptist is the patron of our Christchurch diocese. In each place we visit there are beautiful churches. But for me it is more the soil, the plants, the air and the sky that is uplifting: to see the hills that these holy people saw every morning and walked in each day. To breath their air and to see the plants that they would have been familiar with.
These small towns around Jerusalem have become suburbs and are filled with roads and cars. A couple of nights ago I visited a friend from NZ at Bethlehem University. This town is Palestinian territory and is surrounded by a wall. Visiting requires passing through a checkpoint. As I waited for Peter inside the wall conversation began easily with several of the residents. It was a privilege to hear and see their plight from 'the other side'. Until this moment my entire knowledge of this complex situation had been from one-sided western media.
Yesterday we visited the Dead Sea Scroll exhibit at the Museum of Israel. In 1947 a young Bedouin boy threw a stone into a hole and heard pottery break. On closer inspection he found pottery jars containing scrolls. The expert translators later realised that these scrolls contained the Old Testament as we have it today, written 2000 years ago.
Later, at the same museum, we saw a 1:50 scale model of the old city of Jerusalem. After wandering and touring the old city for three days, at last I appreciated the perspective from above. The significance of the temple, and the way of the cross leading to Calvary just outside the old city walls.
Today we head north to Jericho and the Sea of Galilee. While we return to Jerusalem for a couple of days next week it will be good to head to the greener north. Everything south of Jerusalem is desert, the north is more fertile.
We are in good spirits and looking forward to a change of scenery today.
John
We began with an enormous sense of loss. In the days since, we have become aware of implications of the loss of the pilgrimage we had hoped and planned for. There are many things that are not possible for a group of four. The tour operators have been in regular contact trying to ensure that our pilgrimage happens as we had planned as much as possible.
In many ways, the unfortunate turn of events has left us as a tourist group rather than a pilgrimage community. This is most noticeable for me at our daily Mass. Yesterday we had no option but to join with a group of Korean tourists for their Mass. Once we knew this had to happen we made the most of it and were uplifted by their singing and their prayer. On Tuesday we had to stop a priest in the street asking if there was a place for Mass. He generously took us to the chapel in his own home.
Yesterday we visited Ein Karim, the 'town in the hill country of Judah' where Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, the birthplace of John the Baptist. St John the Baptist is the patron of our Christchurch diocese. In each place we visit there are beautiful churches. But for me it is more the soil, the plants, the air and the sky that is uplifting: to see the hills that these holy people saw every morning and walked in each day. To breath their air and to see the plants that they would have been familiar with.
These small towns around Jerusalem have become suburbs and are filled with roads and cars. A couple of nights ago I visited a friend from NZ at Bethlehem University. This town is Palestinian territory and is surrounded by a wall. Visiting requires passing through a checkpoint. As I waited for Peter inside the wall conversation began easily with several of the residents. It was a privilege to hear and see their plight from 'the other side'. Until this moment my entire knowledge of this complex situation had been from one-sided western media.
Yesterday we visited the Dead Sea Scroll exhibit at the Museum of Israel. In 1947 a young Bedouin boy threw a stone into a hole and heard pottery break. On closer inspection he found pottery jars containing scrolls. The expert translators later realised that these scrolls contained the Old Testament as we have it today, written 2000 years ago.
Later, at the same museum, we saw a 1:50 scale model of the old city of Jerusalem. After wandering and touring the old city for three days, at last I appreciated the perspective from above. The significance of the temple, and the way of the cross leading to Calvary just outside the old city walls.
Today we head north to Jericho and the Sea of Galilee. While we return to Jerusalem for a couple of days next week it will be good to head to the greener north. Everything south of Jerusalem is desert, the north is more fertile.
We are in good spirits and looking forward to a change of scenery today.
John
Friday, April 23, 2010
"wherever you go, there you are!"
I remember some years ago reading a little book by an American writer Jon Kabat-Zinn. I had to pick it up in the bookstore because of the title: "Wherever you go, there you are!". This title was also the first line of the book, and much of the first paragraph has stuck with me. It continued something like: 'whatever you wind up doing, that's what you've wound up doing. Whatever you are thinking now, that's what's on your mind. Whatever has happened to you, it has already happened. The real question is: NOW WHAT?"
This thought came to me when our little Israel part of our pilgrimage team (which now spans the hemispheres) reached the church of the Holy Sepulchre. This church was built over the place of the crucifixion of Jesus, and the tomb of his resurrection. It seemed important for me to connect with the stone of Calvary beneath an altar in the church. For a few moments I knelt and touched this holy place on behalf of (I said aloud), "all members of the OLV pilgrimage who have returned home, and the parishioners and friends of Our Lady of Victories parish, especially those who specifically asked the prayers of our pilgrimage".
Then I moved to the place venerated as the burial place of Jesus (in another part of the church). There were crowds of people waiting to pass through a very small ‘chapel’ believed to be the place where Jesus was laid after being taken down from the cross. As I moved to join the queue I had an overwhelming and new awareness that “he is not here” as the angel said to Mary at the tomb. “Why do you look among the dead for one who is risen?”
And then I thought again of the Jon Kabit-Zinn paragraph. How often we look back to the past (even the recent past with its hopes) in a kind of nostalgic haze. The fact is that God is no longer working in my past – Jesus is alive and active in my present, whatever and wherever that reality is.
I had another pretty powerful awareness in that moment. In the Catholic Church we place ourselves closest to Jesus when we seek his risen presence in the sacraments. The sacraments are highways of grace and strength for grieving and struggling humans. This is the greatest gift of being a Catholic. We don't have to physically travel to meet God, God comes to wherever we are!
So, If what I had just realized again about the sacraments is true .... I turned from the tomb of resurrection and saw the light on at a confessional. I knew that instead of facing a historical reality I needed the present event. I walked towards the light, opened the door, and entered.
The priest looked up and smiled at me. I knelt before him and asked if he spoke English. He shook his head, and said “Italiano…little little English”. The only thing I can do in Italian is order beer and wine, and say thank you. He ushered me towards the confessional next door but I had already seen the other priest leave. I asked if I could make my confession to him anyway. I managed to communicate to him that I was a priest too. He smiled again and nodded.
So I realized that I had to express my sins using only the key words of each sin. As soon as I began I realized two things. My sin sounds much much worse when I articulate each sin in two words rather than two sentences. And, as we both realized, the key words of most sins are recongisable in every language. Sin seems to have a universal vocabulary! The priest (with almost no English) knew exactly what I was confessing.
But, much more significantly, the priest responded by communicating to me more powerfully than I have ever experienced before, that God loved me as a sinner. The real question was not about the details of my past, but about what God was waiting to do in me now. God’s love for me as a sinner gives me a new beginning. In this moment I taste true freedom again. As Kabat-Zinn put it: Now what!
It is now late in the evening and I am still overwhelmed by my experience of the risen Jesus present with me today. Nothing is more powerful than this knowledge. And this gift in the sacraments is available to each of us in Timaru, Geraldine, Christchurch, London, Jerusalem …
Blessings & love
John
PS. I was thinking about what I shared last night about us all being on pilgrimage still wherever the 30 of us find ourselves. An invitation: given that the grace of God is available to us through prayer and the sacraments wherever we are, how about making a decision as you read this to stay on pilgrimage for the duration of our planned pilgrimage. This is as simple as seeing the everyday encounters and events of your life each day as an opportunity to know that God is journeying with you. Re-embrace the sacraments to support you in this.
If you are family or friend of one of the pilgrims, join in with us. You may not have been able to travel on the pilgrimage, so now the pilgrimage has come to you. God never misses an opportunity to give us what we need!
This thought came to me when our little Israel part of our pilgrimage team (which now spans the hemispheres) reached the church of the Holy Sepulchre. This church was built over the place of the crucifixion of Jesus, and the tomb of his resurrection. It seemed important for me to connect with the stone of Calvary beneath an altar in the church. For a few moments I knelt and touched this holy place on behalf of (I said aloud), "all members of the OLV pilgrimage who have returned home, and the parishioners and friends of Our Lady of Victories parish, especially those who specifically asked the prayers of our pilgrimage".
Then I moved to the place venerated as the burial place of Jesus (in another part of the church). There were crowds of people waiting to pass through a very small ‘chapel’ believed to be the place where Jesus was laid after being taken down from the cross. As I moved to join the queue I had an overwhelming and new awareness that “he is not here” as the angel said to Mary at the tomb. “Why do you look among the dead for one who is risen?”
And then I thought again of the Jon Kabit-Zinn paragraph. How often we look back to the past (even the recent past with its hopes) in a kind of nostalgic haze. The fact is that God is no longer working in my past – Jesus is alive and active in my present, whatever and wherever that reality is.
I had another pretty powerful awareness in that moment. In the Catholic Church we place ourselves closest to Jesus when we seek his risen presence in the sacraments. The sacraments are highways of grace and strength for grieving and struggling humans. This is the greatest gift of being a Catholic. We don't have to physically travel to meet God, God comes to wherever we are!
So, If what I had just realized again about the sacraments is true .... I turned from the tomb of resurrection and saw the light on at a confessional. I knew that instead of facing a historical reality I needed the present event. I walked towards the light, opened the door, and entered.
The priest looked up and smiled at me. I knelt before him and asked if he spoke English. He shook his head, and said “Italiano…little little English”. The only thing I can do in Italian is order beer and wine, and say thank you. He ushered me towards the confessional next door but I had already seen the other priest leave. I asked if I could make my confession to him anyway. I managed to communicate to him that I was a priest too. He smiled again and nodded.
So I realized that I had to express my sins using only the key words of each sin. As soon as I began I realized two things. My sin sounds much much worse when I articulate each sin in two words rather than two sentences. And, as we both realized, the key words of most sins are recongisable in every language. Sin seems to have a universal vocabulary! The priest (with almost no English) knew exactly what I was confessing.
But, much more significantly, the priest responded by communicating to me more powerfully than I have ever experienced before, that God loved me as a sinner. The real question was not about the details of my past, but about what God was waiting to do in me now. God’s love for me as a sinner gives me a new beginning. In this moment I taste true freedom again. As Kabat-Zinn put it: Now what!
It is now late in the evening and I am still overwhelmed by my experience of the risen Jesus present with me today. Nothing is more powerful than this knowledge. And this gift in the sacraments is available to each of us in Timaru, Geraldine, Christchurch, London, Jerusalem …
Blessings & love
John
PS. I was thinking about what I shared last night about us all being on pilgrimage still wherever the 30 of us find ourselves. An invitation: given that the grace of God is available to us through prayer and the sacraments wherever we are, how about making a decision as you read this to stay on pilgrimage for the duration of our planned pilgrimage. This is as simple as seeing the everyday encounters and events of your life each day as an opportunity to know that God is journeying with you. Re-embrace the sacraments to support you in this.
If you are family or friend of one of the pilgrims, join in with us. You may not have been able to travel on the pilgrimage, so now the pilgrimage has come to you. God never misses an opportunity to give us what we need!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
The Road to Jerusalem
Friends, I was pretty apprehensive when Mike asked if I would take over posting to this BLOG. I have no idea what to write given the trauma we have all been through this past week.
What we had hoped for over so many months has not eventuated. My greatest struggle is that we were making this journey as people of faith ... we were doing this with God. Surely God could have kept his mountain in order and not punish us his friends.
As I write this I recall what Teresa of Avila used to say in prayer: "God, if this is how you treat your friends, it is no wonder you have so few of them."
Yesterday I learnt that if the pilgrimage did not continue then insurance would not cover those pilgrims who were already in Israel. This left us with no choice but to continue. I found this very difficult.
I arrived on Monday (after my own two days of adventures in JFK airport New York). As I boarded a flight I received a txt from Mike to say that almost all the rest of the group had finally got a flight departing four hours later from Singapore. This was the news I had prayed for. I could not believe it when 10 hours later arriving at Tel Aviv I got the message to say that the Singapore group was returning home. I was distraught and those who were around me at immigration were sympathetic. I tried to explain but as I spoke it all seemed unbelievable.
The news here today is of huge backlogs of people that will take weeks to clear into and out of Europe. The hotels and streets here are relatively empty (the locals say) because so many pilgrims are waiting in backlogs from Europe to get here. Hotels are expecting things to pick up only slowly as the tourists trickle in. You certainly made the right decision to return to the security of home when you did.
Arriving at the hotel I was met by Sarah. It was great to sit with her over a meal and to chat about all that had happened. Of course Sarah was dealing with the fact that her Mum Sue not arriving. I was dealing with the loss of my OLV family. We were perfect company for each other.
On arriving in Jerusalem late yesterday I went down to the Western Wall of the temple – known to many as the “wailing” wall. This is the most sacred place for the Jewish people – the only remaining wall of the temple that stood here in the time of Jesus. I found a seat and sat in prayer for a long time. It was dark. There were hundreds of Jews at prayer. Some prayed aloud. Others sat or stood in silence. Some were wearing full black with hats and prayer books. Others were young, teenagers in jeans and t-shirts, wandering up to the wall, kissing it and leaning forehead on arm against the wall. It was inspiring to see the old and the young, the pious and the perhaps once-in-a-month desperate visitor. All with circumstances they had to deal with that day and this week.
My circumstances were is just another environment ripe for the action of God. I remembered emailing you all when you were stuck in Singapore saying, whatever the circumstances, however unwanted, there God is at work. Since God can only work with what is going on for us at that moment. This reality is our place of need. And God never misses an opportunity to work a miracle.
As I sat there, up against the wall last night, I felt that God had let us down. No wonder God has so few friends? But then I remembered those other times during my life when I felt that God was not listening. All the times I wanted something and never got it. Then later, sometimes days later, other times years later I look back and see the bigger picture. However, even with this knowledge at the moment, I find it impossible to see the bigger picture. I have to settle for knowing there is one, and it is in His hands.
One thing is for sure, there is an Our Lady of Victories pilgrimage going on at the moment and there are still 30 people on it. Some of us are in Timaru. Some in Christchurch, Others in Geraldine, London, Frankfurt and Jerusalem. There is only one pilgrimage - just a bit more diverse and spread out than we had planned. For all of us this pilgrimage is happening in the same way that life happens - unexpected and unplanned. There is a great line in theology: "God writes straight with crooked lines." We have certainly experienced that this week! This is the stuff of pilgrimages throughout history: expect the unexpected! Whatever happens, God is present. God is at work.
If I don’t stop now this will be as long as a homily!
United in suffering, in grief – and in prayer.
With love
John
What we had hoped for over so many months has not eventuated. My greatest struggle is that we were making this journey as people of faith ... we were doing this with God. Surely God could have kept his mountain in order and not punish us his friends.
As I write this I recall what Teresa of Avila used to say in prayer: "God, if this is how you treat your friends, it is no wonder you have so few of them."
Yesterday I learnt that if the pilgrimage did not continue then insurance would not cover those pilgrims who were already in Israel. This left us with no choice but to continue. I found this very difficult.
I arrived on Monday (after my own two days of adventures in JFK airport New York). As I boarded a flight I received a txt from Mike to say that almost all the rest of the group had finally got a flight departing four hours later from Singapore. This was the news I had prayed for. I could not believe it when 10 hours later arriving at Tel Aviv I got the message to say that the Singapore group was returning home. I was distraught and those who were around me at immigration were sympathetic. I tried to explain but as I spoke it all seemed unbelievable.
The news here today is of huge backlogs of people that will take weeks to clear into and out of Europe. The hotels and streets here are relatively empty (the locals say) because so many pilgrims are waiting in backlogs from Europe to get here. Hotels are expecting things to pick up only slowly as the tourists trickle in. You certainly made the right decision to return to the security of home when you did.
Arriving at the hotel I was met by Sarah. It was great to sit with her over a meal and to chat about all that had happened. Of course Sarah was dealing with the fact that her Mum Sue not arriving. I was dealing with the loss of my OLV family. We were perfect company for each other.
On arriving in Jerusalem late yesterday I went down to the Western Wall of the temple – known to many as the “wailing” wall. This is the most sacred place for the Jewish people – the only remaining wall of the temple that stood here in the time of Jesus. I found a seat and sat in prayer for a long time. It was dark. There were hundreds of Jews at prayer. Some prayed aloud. Others sat or stood in silence. Some were wearing full black with hats and prayer books. Others were young, teenagers in jeans and t-shirts, wandering up to the wall, kissing it and leaning forehead on arm against the wall. It was inspiring to see the old and the young, the pious and the perhaps once-in-a-month desperate visitor. All with circumstances they had to deal with that day and this week.
My circumstances were is just another environment ripe for the action of God. I remembered emailing you all when you were stuck in Singapore saying, whatever the circumstances, however unwanted, there God is at work. Since God can only work with what is going on for us at that moment. This reality is our place of need. And God never misses an opportunity to work a miracle.
As I sat there, up against the wall last night, I felt that God had let us down. No wonder God has so few friends? But then I remembered those other times during my life when I felt that God was not listening. All the times I wanted something and never got it. Then later, sometimes days later, other times years later I look back and see the bigger picture. However, even with this knowledge at the moment, I find it impossible to see the bigger picture. I have to settle for knowing there is one, and it is in His hands.
One thing is for sure, there is an Our Lady of Victories pilgrimage going on at the moment and there are still 30 people on it. Some of us are in Timaru. Some in Christchurch, Others in Geraldine, London, Frankfurt and Jerusalem. There is only one pilgrimage - just a bit more diverse and spread out than we had planned. For all of us this pilgrimage is happening in the same way that life happens - unexpected and unplanned. There is a great line in theology: "God writes straight with crooked lines." We have certainly experienced that this week! This is the stuff of pilgrimages throughout history: expect the unexpected! Whatever happens, God is present. God is at work.
If I don’t stop now this will be as long as a homily!
United in suffering, in grief – and in prayer.
With love
John
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Pilgrimage Continues!
While the group is small - only 4 at present - the Pilgrimage must continue if insurance commitments are to be fulfilled. Therefore we wish Fr John and his small band our prayers and best wishes as they take our dreams and aspirations with them through the Holy Land. Who knows, if the travel situation improves, some may yet join them. Fr John will take over responsibility for posting new information each day or when he is able. He has promised not to make us too envious! God speed, Fr John, Sarah, David and Glenda.
Signing off
Mike
Signing off
Mike
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Most Pilgrims have now returned home
Dear Everyone,
All but two of the 30 people stranded in Changi Airport decided to reurn to Christchurch on the Monday night and we arrived safely this morning Tuesday 20 April. Our chances of getting back to Christchurch after last night were gradually drying up on us - it was now or possibly a week later. We know that Fr John made it to Tel Aviv and met up with Sarah George. The only couple with an outside chance of getting there is David and Glenda Prosser who decided to make independent arrangements given that they have plans extending 8 weeks in Europe altogether. We wish them well. We understand that Rosemary and Richard Milburn, stranded in London, will not now try for Israel and will make their way home when they can. The Pilgrimage then in over! But we did have a Pilgrimage, short though it was. Keep an eye on this blogspot for a while as I would like people who want to to share their experiences of their individual pilgrimages at Changi Airport and other places.
Warm Greetings
Mike
All but two of the 30 people stranded in Changi Airport decided to reurn to Christchurch on the Monday night and we arrived safely this morning Tuesday 20 April. Our chances of getting back to Christchurch after last night were gradually drying up on us - it was now or possibly a week later. We know that Fr John made it to Tel Aviv and met up with Sarah George. The only couple with an outside chance of getting there is David and Glenda Prosser who decided to make independent arrangements given that they have plans extending 8 weeks in Europe altogether. We wish them well. We understand that Rosemary and Richard Milburn, stranded in London, will not now try for Israel and will make their way home when they can. The Pilgrimage then in over! But we did have a Pilgrimage, short though it was. Keep an eye on this blogspot for a while as I would like people who want to to share their experiences of their individual pilgrimages at Changi Airport and other places.
Warm Greetings
Mike
Monday, April 19, 2010
Up and then Down
Dear Everyone.
First we were to leave at 1am to Dubai, Amman and then Tel AvIv. When our tickets were issued they were for the same flights but leaving 9.35am Monday morning. Regrettably, we were unable to board this flight - Emirates would not accept us for reasons not known to us. We are now back to waiting for Munich to accept us when open - that is looking like a long wait! We are working hard now to see whether some people might want to return to Christchurch - there are plenty of seats for tonight, but from the next few nights very few seats available. The Pilgrimage will continue for whatever number arrives in Israel but this may be quite a small group. In a few hours, Lufthansa staff come on duty and decision will have to be made. To recap, there are 24 of us here in the transit lounge at Changi and 6 in Singapore who cannot join us because they do not have a boarding pass and no flight to check their - we are in contact with them by phone. The Milburns are stranded in London until flights resume. Sarah George is the only one to make it to Tel Aviv - we should listen to Sarah very carefully from now on! Fr John is on a direct flight from New York to Tel Aviv and will arrive there in about 7 hours. It is currently 11am Monday here in Singapore. Please send message for anyone in the group by clicking on Leave Comment at the end of this message
Warm regards
Mike
First we were to leave at 1am to Dubai, Amman and then Tel AvIv. When our tickets were issued they were for the same flights but leaving 9.35am Monday morning. Regrettably, we were unable to board this flight - Emirates would not accept us for reasons not known to us. We are now back to waiting for Munich to accept us when open - that is looking like a long wait! We are working hard now to see whether some people might want to return to Christchurch - there are plenty of seats for tonight, but from the next few nights very few seats available. The Pilgrimage will continue for whatever number arrives in Israel but this may be quite a small group. In a few hours, Lufthansa staff come on duty and decision will have to be made. To recap, there are 24 of us here in the transit lounge at Changi and 6 in Singapore who cannot join us because they do not have a boarding pass and no flight to check their - we are in contact with them by phone. The Milburns are stranded in London until flights resume. Sarah George is the only one to make it to Tel Aviv - we should listen to Sarah very carefully from now on! Fr John is on a direct flight from New York to Tel Aviv and will arrive there in about 7 hours. It is currently 11am Monday here in Singapore. Please send message for anyone in the group by clicking on Leave Comment at the end of this message
Warm regards
Mike
Sunday, April 18, 2010
We may be off soon!
After an anxious and uncertain day, Lufthansa are doing n amazing job for us. There is a good chance that more than half, if not all or us, will leave at after midnight tonight for Dubai, Amman and from there to Tel Aviv!
We are quietly hopeful and prayerful and our mood has lifted at this answer to all the prayers we know have been storming heaven. God bless you all. I hope my next update will be from Tel Aviv
Mike Doolan
We are quietly hopeful and prayerful and our mood has lifted at this answer to all the prayers we know have been storming heaven. God bless you all. I hope my next update will be from Tel Aviv
Mike Doolan
Stuck at Changi!
We were, for a time in 3 separate groups - those who headed to Singapore for a stopover on Friday (6); those who flew to Singapore via Auckland (8) and those who flew direct from Christchurch(16). The 8 from Auckland only had their bags checked as far as Singapore, had to go through customs to collect them and then attempt to check back in. By that time, the flight to Munich was cancelled and we were stuck apart. Two very kind Lufthansa people worked to reverse our entry into Singapore and 3 hours later, 24 of us gathered in the transit lounge. The other 6 have returned to city accommodation and will be back for check in every day until we get a flight.We must stay in the airport and last night we were given a vacant departure lounge, rugs and sleeping bags and snack food by Lufthansa staff who could not do enough for us. We all managed some sleep. We have all our carryon bags in a big pile and guarded freeing up parties to explore the facilities which are vast - three theaters and a full size swimming pool among them. Megan has already had a foot massage! We are in good spirits but the prospect is a long wait of several days. However, we firmly believe that this is our best shot of making the Pilgrimage. Had we waited in Christchurch, the call may never have come. This way we are halfway there and now just need some more little miracles to help us along. Everyone sends their love - please keep us in your prayers.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Flight Disruptions possible
Our Pilgrims are setting out from home this week and unfortunately the Iceland Eruption may cause us some travel disruptions. The Milburns headed for London on Wednesday and it appears may have been diverted to Frankfurt. Marie and Leo, Jenny and Jim, Josef and Judy all left for Singapore this morning where they will stay overnight. The rest of the party is due out of Christchurch tomorrow, Saturday. Lets hope and pray that we reach our destinations safely, and that Fr John who is to meet us in Munich and Sarah George who is coming from London to Tel Aviv can make their flights. Prayers please everyone.
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