Mount of Olives

Jerusalem is a magnificent city. A very large city built on the hills. The town is packed with people and tourists. It is a city divided among the religions, Christianity only being 1% of the million people that live here. That was amazing to me. I thought as this being the place of Jesus more Christians would live here. Because of the turmoil between the religions of Jews and Muslims it is not so.

Our pilgrimage tour in Jerusalem does not go according to chronological order. So as you read and look at pictures they will not follow the order you would think. We did go to a lot of amazing places and the view was incredible. Our first stop of the day was the Chapel of the Ascension of the Lord. It was here that we were able to see the foot print Jesus left upon the rock before his ascension into heaven. Our next stop, The Pater Noster. This is the place where Jesus taught the disciplines how to pray the Lords Prayer. This is also called the Church of 164 Lords. Plaques of the Lords Prayer from all languages are hung throughout this space. Amazing to see. A spiritual moment for us was to say the Lord's Prayer in the cave where traditions holds that Jesus and the disciples prayed it too. 

The Garden of Gethsemane was extremely emotional. To look at the garden and know this was the place that Jesus sweat blood is truly moving. It is something to be standing on the spot where Jesus had his toughest days and felt abandoned. We all have feelings of abandonment. But to have the feeling that you are totally abandoned and to still have the strong faith to say, "Let your will be done not mine" is testimony to the depth of our faith. To kneel next to the rock upon which Jesus prayed to have this cup be passed from him was very emotional.

In this day we were able to visit the wailing wall, the upper room of the last supper (the same room Jesus appeared to doubting Thomas, and the tongues of fire appeared at Pentecost), the place of Peter's Denial and the Sacred Pit in which Jesus was kept after he was arrested in the garden.

In all, this was an emotional day. To be in the place where Jesus sacrificed his life for us is something that is hard to find words for. It is very powerful and moving. Not much talking was going on at this time among the pilgrims as I believe they too felt the depth of this sacrifice. Psalms 88 was read while we stood in the pit in which Jesus hung upon his capture. I encourage you to take a moment and read that psalm reflecting upon the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Peace,

Fr. John