Day 7: Journey to the Sea of Galilee

A journey without par. Walking from the small town of Illaniya to the Sea has been one of the most difficult feats that I have taken on this year. The Sun shone powerfully on me as I made my solitary walk.

 

 

The scenery became much more interersting as I drew nearer to the Horns of Hattin. There on a plateau that affords a precious first good view of the Sea of Galilee the Frankish King Guy was defeated by Saladin. As I neared the site of the battle I thought about how absurd it had all been. All that fighting to have a nearly empty Galilee and a State of Israel, neither Muslim nor Christian.

 

 

I climbed up Mt Arbel, the hightest point near or around the Sea of Galilee to witness the precious view from up above. It was beautiful and unforgettable. The crushing heat tired me out and I was just about incapable of continuing forward. It makes me consider the fact that a Pilgrim doesn't go on a Pilgrimage by his own volition. It's a vocation, a gift.

 

 

Finally I have arrived to the Sea of Galilee and visited the Magdala Center. The beautiful Pilgrim's center made for a special treat. I watched the sun set as I bathed in the beautiful lake upon which Jesus, my Lord and my God, walked. I hope to one day do the same.

Day 2: Prayer and Penance

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your Children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" (Mt 23: 37)

 

This was the view I had from the Chapel  Dominus Flevit (The Lord cried). Jesus lamented over Jerusalem before entering into it one last time to die there.

 

 

This stunning panorama captures the view Jesus had of Jerusalem as he lamented. The Dome of the Rock is now where the Temple was then.

 

I began the day considering the Death of Our Lord in Calvary located in the Holy Sepulchre Church. There I met a saintly German contemplative, Corina, whom I had the grace to pray with daily since I have arrived. I went to confession just a few paces away from the Crucifixion Altar. I imagined that this confession was the closest one I would have to Jesus' Death since He had really died there. Mass was in Latin and I enjoyed returning back to the Gregorian Chant. Two of the men at mass begin ridiculing the priest and the sacred worship and had to ushered out by guards. I'm glad I hadn't seen them myself as I would have been highly tempted to do more than usher them.

 

I visited the Dormition Tomb of Mary which was located Near Joseph  and Anne and Joachim's tombs. Where has Mary been all this time any way?

 

 

I came back to Gethsemani and this time I had the chance to enter into a grotto believed to be where Jesus was arrested. I could see how it could be there and not in the Garden of Gethsemani Church since he was "a stone's throw away as he prayed with greater intensity" (Lk 22).

 

I walked down to the Pool of Siloam and climbed up onto the City of David. I got to see where David would have looked down upon Bathsheba as she bathed and later committed adultery.

 

 

Along the way was Absalom's tomb as well as some other ancient monuments.

 

I walked through the Muslim burial site along the Temple/Jerusalem Wall to let the Jews know (as they believe that the Messiah will be entering into Jerusalem through that wall) that He would not be a "Clean" Jew by walking in.

 

The Ramadan worshippers were legion. I felt that I had returned to Rome to some measure. It felt like a Papal Mass exodus but in this case with an even older city.

 

 

After spending  more time in Prayer at Calvary and enjoyed a respite and some long needed food: Hummus and their version of Tortillas: Flat Bread. I could see Jesus eating this bread. 

 

I went back out to see the Sabbath beginning at the Western Wall. It was crawling with all sorts of Jewish men and women. I joined in in Worship and prayed some. Later I joined in at a Local Synagogue but found myself nodding off and heading back home. All in a day's work in God's Holy City.

 

Day 1: Western Wall to Bethany in Palestine

I was awoken by a beautifully delicious sunrise. I felt the gentle rays of light penetrating the curtains of my room.

 

 

The view from the roof of my whereabouts arranged for an instant panoramic experience.

 

I went for a quick job down some of the neighboring streets intent on getting lost and finding my way back. The shops were still closed and it seemed that the Holy City was still asleep.

 

I ran into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and went waltzing in. I walked right past a priest I recognized from my seminary days and feeling skimpy in my jogging gear I decided not to greet him just yet. I headed upstairs to see him begin Mass at the altar of the Crucifixion.

 

 

I headed downstairs and I found the sacristy to inquire about mass times at the Mount of Olives. This ended up with mass inside the Holy Sepulchre. There were just 6 or 7 of us inside the tiny cave of a Tomb where Jesus rose from the Dead.

 

 

I witnessed one of the pilgims pass out and fall over onto the altar. She awoke to my thinking: "We just witnessed a Resurrection…"

 

I visited the Western Wall - in Hebrew, "Ko-tel". I had brought a prayer with me from there and so I prayed it along with psalms from the Psalter.

 

 

After a long period with friends along the Eastern ramparts of Jerusalem we headed to the Last Supper Cenacle where Jesus celebrated the Feast of His Body and Blood. A flood of memories deluged my mind. A lot happened upstairs:

 

1. Jesus instituted the Eucharist
2. Jesus instituted the Priesthood
3. Jesus instituted the Apostolic Forgiveness of Sins
4. Pentecost: The Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles and the Church was born.
5. The Apostles hid from the world.
6. Jesus showed up after his Resurrection and said, "Be not Afraid!"

 

I'm sure those were just a few of the things that happened.

 

 

 Later that day after having a Falafel from Heaven I had the chance to do some of my own traveling. I went on to Bethany in Palestinian Territory. It is a very difficult neighborhood and not easy to get to on your own. I prayed at Martha and Mary's Home and grieved the death of a friend along with Jesus. That was the place where it is said of Jesus, "And Jesus wept" (John 11:35). I had been able to make it to the Mount of Olives and to pray in the Garden of Gethsemani. This beautiful place moved me also to tears to think of a friend who was to offer his own life for ours. I'm speaking of Jesus.

 

 

I was able to make it back into Jerusalem and Israeli territory by the help of Spanish Pilgrims but otherwise things were looking not all so easy.

 

After a quick swing through the Muslim Market and getting my daily dosage of fresh bread (for my hummus) it was back to Jerusalem.

 

 

All in all a beautiful day. 

A Prayer to the Sacred Heart

A Consecration Prayer to the Heart of Jesus
This unworthy prayer was written by me. Ed Sheeran's song Photograph accompanies this Consecration Prayer. It is a dialogue with our Lord who sings to us through the Song and lets us know how much He Loves us through His Heart. Make it yours.

Dear Lord,

We've spent the last few days considering what makes you tick. Your Heart.

Ed Sheeran sings in his song Photograph how

"Loving can hurt...but it's the only thing I know..." (Ed Sheeran, Photograph)

Heart of Jesus, If there is something you know how to do...it is to Love.

The Heart is the vital organ which gives life to the rest of the body. It functions without requiring a nervous stimulation from the brain. It 'beats on its own'. In Biblical talk the Heart goes beyond the material muscle it is what moves us, what is at the deepest core of our thoughts and desires. 

"When it gets hard you know it can get hard sometimes. [Loving] is the only thing that makes us feel alive..." (Ed Sheeran, Photograph)

Heart of Jesus, you felt the sorrows and the pain yet your only consolation was in loving us. 

"So you can keep me - Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans - holding me closer 'til our eyes meet - You won't ever be alone, wait for me to come home..." (Ed Sheeran, Photograph)

Heart of Jesus, I will not just keep the memory of you in a pocket but close to my own heart. I welcome you into my life, into my heart. Please, come into my home. I will wait for you.

"Loving can heal, loving can mend your soul - And it is the only thing that I know...And it is the only thing we take with us when we die..." (Ed Sheeran, Photograph)

Heart of Jesus, you showed us that your Love healed us, made us whole, brought us back to life. Let it be the only thing we know in life. Let the rest be left behind. You showed us how it was the only thing we take with us as you climbed upon the cross.

"And if you hurt me, that's O.K....Inside these pages you just hold me...I won't ever let you go...Wait for me to come home..." (Ed Sheeran, Photograph)

Heart of Jesus, I have hurt you so many times throughout my life. I want to hold the pages of your Divine Word, your Will for my life. I know you won't ever let me go and please grant me the patience to wait for you to come home.

"You can fit me...Next to your heartbeat where I should be - Keep it deep within your soul" (Ed Sheeran, Photograph)

Heart of Jesus, I invite you to beat deep within my soul, within my own heart. Let our hearts beat together. You are the Love of my Heart and my Soul. I give you my all. And let that be my last word.

Amen

SH Novena Day 7 of 9: Encouragement

John 16:33 - I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.

Dear Lord,

I look around and the sense I get is that you didn't conquer the World. The wars, the poverty, the chaos, that surrounds us seems to hem us in on all sides. How is it that we are winning a fight? As Christians and believers in a better World aren't we losing? But I know that at heart you continue on making a difference in my life - and if that be the case - then I can also go out make a difference in this World - . Let your encouragement resonate in my heart and let the hope from your Resurrection live strong in my life. Amen.

Sacred Heart Novena Day 3 of 9: Growth

Apse Mosaic of St. Clement Church - Rome, Italy

John 15: 1-5 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower." He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.

Dear Lord,

At the heart of your Gospel is a call to growth, both personal and spiritual. You ask us to be part of a Kingdom that as a "mustard seed that grows and puts out its branches for the birds" (cf. Lk 13:19). Let your Holy Spirit be purpose of growth for my life. Let my union with you, the branch be what breathes life into me and do not let me be afraid of the Father of Mercies who cuts away the excess so that I bear more fruit. 

Lord, you sought from the very depths of your heart to incorporate me into your new Life. Let my every heartbeat be yours and do not let me be parted from you. Amen.

Why I want to go to the Israel this Summer (Part 3 of 3)

Continued on from Part 2

How can I Encounter Jesus in the Here and Now?

After Jesus stepped foot on Earth He changed everything. Jesus isn't just a Game-changer. He is the Author of the sport. He makes it what it is. The Mystery of Jesus' Incarnation changed the nature of our approach to encounter God. Pioneer and explorer He made way onto Earth so that we could literally meet God here and ever since nothing has remained the same.

The Annunciation of the Lord (Philippe de Champaigne, 1644)

Though Jesus expressed to the Woman at the Well (Jn 4) that it was not upon this mountain nor in Jerusalem that God was to be worshiped soon after it is fact that even Jesus worshiped upon that particular mountain and in Jerusalem. Jesus joined the human community of those worshiping God and worshiped here on Earth. 

"Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”

Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem." (John 4:20-21

While our worship is not tied down to a place here and now our every worship embraces a location, a place and a time. We pray from the heart yet that heart beats within a body in motion. We are not 'condemned' or "entombed in our bodies" as Plato and the Ancient Greeks spoke of. We are gifted with our bodies, made as one, in body and spirit.

Jesus also was Body and Spirit. His every movement was measured by duration and he took on the full measure of the human experience. He, though God, knew what it was to be a human being yet retaining every measure of His Divinity. This mystery is one that we'll never plumb. It will allude us to the Gates of Heaven.

So why Israel? To gain ground, to get one inch closer. To get to know Jesus better and to know His World, His Life, His People, and to fall in Love with Him ever more. That is my reason to travel there, experience His Mercy, and get to know the environs in which He became Him.

Sea of Galilee, 1900

View of Mount Tabor, Nazareth, Israel

Jerusalem Today

Why I want to go to Israel this Summer: Mystery (Part 2)

Continued from Why I want to go to Israel this Summer (Part 1)

What does it mean to Encounter the Risen Lord? Where can I find God?

The Greeks of John 12 didn't seem to meet with Jesus. It is mysterious that Jesus would become all of a sudden cryptic, mystical and not down-to-earth. But maybe we are overlooking what is just under our noses. Mystery.

The term lost its touch indefinitely with the English Romanticists (think Conan Doyle or Poe). "Mystery" has merely become the catch word for all literary and theatrical genre in which there is something to be solved. This is perhaps the fruit of French Enlightenment which stood by the fact that all mysteries could be solved, all knowledge could be plumbed. A "Mystery" however is not that. A mystery is a problem that exceeds a solution. The Greek word "Mυστήριον" (mysterion) means secret or enigma. It in turn could be derived from an interesting set of words:

μύω (myo): to close or shut [one's wounds or eyes]

 στερεός (sterion): Solid  

Mystery is a genre in which we shut our eyes. We don't know. Who can plumb the depths of the Mystery of God, the Holy Trinity; Father and Creator, Father of Mercy; Son and Redeemer, made Incarnate for us; Holy Spirit and Counselor, Giver of Life? The simple answer is that no one can. Mystery is the place where we close our eyes. At this point it is not we who figure God out but God who lets us get to know about God.

Proclamation of the Kingdom of Heaven (Bl. Fra Angelico)

Where can I find God? In Mystery. It is the specific locus where God descends to us. Throughout the ages Saints and Scholars have used the term to plumb the depths of God-become-man: The Mystery of the Incarnation; The Triune Godhead: The Mystery of the Holy Trinity; But most originally Jesus himself would speak of "The Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven" (cf. Mt 13:11 also see Strong's Lexicon for all uses of "mystery") among other New Testament authors. 

"πνεῦμα ὁ θεός...God is Spirit" (Jn 4:24)

To get to know God doesn't mean to 'go somewhere' and get to know Him. Even reaching Heaven requires that we detach ourselves from the categories of when and where (through death) so as to encounter the God that transcends time and place. Heaven is where we no longer speak of "where" or "when". It is to be brought into the timelessness of God's "I Am" (cf. Ex 3:14; Jn 8:58). It is to be in the present tense yet exceed the present in Eternity.

But How can I meet Jesus here and now?

To be Continued...

Why I want to go to Israel this Summer (Part 1)

Of recent some people have heard that I was going to the Holy Land and have been curious as to why I have decided to take on this sojourn and what I was planning to do when I am there. Here are my poor efforts at unpacking an answer fit for a good question and an even better enquirer.

Israeli Desert

The average temperature in Israel in the month of July could boil and then fry an egg concurrently. The arid turf has the tough and rugged Mediterranean feel to it and pretty much is welcoming to your typical spaghetti western runaway bandit or lost Prairie Indian. Other naysayers have averted to the possible dangers that lie in an overseas trip to the Middle East, i.e. terrorist attacks on Christians, Arabic habibis (don't ask), and the myriad of infinite possible things that could go wrong.

Thus I agree with the Major Premise: It is not the ordinary challenge I would take on...I would rather do it in another part of the world more rugged and beautiful.

Something like this for example would suit my fancy (Mt. Kazbegi, Republic of Georgia)

There is however something so special about Israel, so much so that it is referred to as "The Holy Land" by Jews, Muslims, and Christians. "Holy" because of historic reasons. "Holy Land" because of its sacred nature as hallowed ground for several civilizations mutually considering it their own. Most importantly for me and - I hope for every Christian - is that it be the locus of their encounter with the Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ and Risen Lord.

What does it mean to Encounter the Risen Lord? Where can you find God?
St. John's Gospel narrates that Greeks came to meet Jesus. They said to Phillip:

"Κύριε, θέλομεν τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἰδεῖν...Lord, we wish to see Jesus."(Jn 12:21)

Phillip turned to Andrew and they in turn presented the petition to Jesus.

"23ὁδὲ Ἰησοῦς ἀποκρίνεται αὐτοῖς λέγων, Ἐλήλυθεν ἡ ὥρα ἵναδοξασθῇ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου...And Jesus answered them saying, 'The Hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified'"(Jn 12:23)

 The Encounter has not occurred as of yet but Jesus prefaces it with something very special. That those who have not encountered him upon encountering him would bring Him glory, that Jesus' Mission would be fulfilled.  Jesus then in a cryptic way says:

24ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν,ἐὰν μὴ ὁ κόκκος τοῦ σίτου πεσὼν εἰς τὴν γῆν ἀποθάνῃ,αὐτὸς μόνος μένει: ἐὰν δὲ ἀποθάνῃ, πολὺν καρπὸν φέρει...Amen Amen I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies upon it...it remains one. If it dies however, it bears much fruit." (Jn 12:24)

 This affirmation is not followed by a narration of Jesus' Encounter with the Greeks. In fact, no meeting is scheduled. Whether the following words were uttered in the Greeks' presence or not it is not clear. Whether it was John's senility upon writing the Gospel or if that those were simply the chain of events to occur are not certain. My simple reading of the situation is such: For us to meet Jesus...Jesus gave up His Life for us so that He could be even more accessible and 'user-friendly' to us. To state the case even more clearly: Jesus died for us so that we could say "We" with Jesus. Let's make things crystal clear: Jesus uses the image of the dying "grain of wheat" as his own life paradigm. Jesus' Death and Resurrection gives unto the eternal Multiplication of the Loaves, the true Miraculous Catch, or the Leaven of God's Kingdom.

This astonishing causation explains how we Encounter Jesus but we still do not have the answer to the question: What does it mean to Encounter the Risen Lord? Where can you find God?

To be Continued...

"And it Was Night" - Canonization Missionary Experience (Part 1): Crossing the Tiber

Saint John wrote these poignant words in his Gospel (Cf. Jn 13:30) as the first Holy Thursday Mass was ending in the Upper Room. Judas was leaving. Judas was selling Jesus out. It was a bitter pill for Jesus and Jesus wasn't happy, so much so that He said, "My Soul, my heart, is sorrowful even unto death" (Cf. Mk 14:34).

I'm still sure of it. There can be no darkness without light and in this darkness there are stars that shine out, stars that once were not but are now. They tell us, "You can make it too". These stars are the saints. They aren't saints for nothing. They're saints because they lived what we lived and proved that God existed and "loved them to the End" (Cf. Jn 13:1). This was my experience of the Canonization of two great saints, John XXIII and John Paul the Great. 

Faithful before a Relic of St. John XXIII in San Salvatore in Lauro Church - Rome, Italy

Don Piero Bongiovanni, parish priest of San Salvatore in Lauro Church in Rome joined forces with the Legionaries at our seminary to offer a few days of intense evangelization for those within and without His parish. Rome was packed and "white was the harvest". His parish isn't the best situated nor the largest but it was the one God chose. 

San Salvatore in Lauro is found between Castel Sant'Angelo and Piazza Navona

We began the mission getting off the train. Our walk from Stazione San Pietro to the Parish takes about 20 minutes. We did it in around 30. We wanted attention and we got some. Rather than taking the fastest way there we crossed St. Peter's Square and then walked down the Via della Conciliazione. Here are a few images as we reached our Parish stronghold. 

LC Brothers with the 2 Popes portrait

Getting some attention

On the Wall Street Journal

Group shot in St. Peter's Square

Crossing the Tiber - Castel Sant' Angelo

Reaching our Parish

Don Piero Bongiovanni beginning our Mission with the Relics of Sts. John XXIII and John Paul II

 

Part II: The Mission 

Padre Pio - Pray for Me

I didn't have a special devotion to Padre Pio. I found myself invited to join a group on a Pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo just a few weeks ago. God had a plan.



San Giovanni Rotondo - Church



 

Besides the awesome fact that I was on the trip with wonderful company and a guide who had met and knew St. Pio of Pietralcina years ago I didn't know quite what to expect. The grounds are now extensive. What was once a deserted town 'quite a ways a way' is still applicable (especially if you're travelling from Rome). Nevertheless, the Black and White stills hanging in the walls of the museum do not seem at all what we see today.

 

 

Statue of Padre Pio - Percile, Italy

 

 

At the center of the town stands the old Church of the Assunta (Our Lady of the Assumption). Within the small Church stands the Altar and Confessional where the 'Miracle Worker' performed his greatest miracles: Changing Bread and Wine to the Body and Blood of Jesus; Forgiving the Sins of the droves of people in search of Divine Mercy.

 

 

Brother Eric praying in the Choir Chapel of the Stigmata



For me the spiritual experience was in floor 'up above' of the Church - the Choir Chapel where Padre Pio received the Stigmata. Funny, Brother Eric, also felt it there. Padre Pio had prayed in the midst of the world's confusion, violence, and hatred to take upon himself - in reparation - for all things that hurt God to take the hurt upon himself.

 

There is something very priestly about it all.

 

I don't pray for stigmata or extra hurt but I do ask that our Lord bring down His Mercy and also offer the sacrifices of each and every day.

 

St. Pio, Pray for us!

 

 

 





On Earth as It is in Heaven

 

 

Gran Corno Peak during the Sunday climb

 

 Sunday was one of the most beautiful days of my life. I carried your prayer intentions-causes around my neck in a sleeve. I received 6 pages worth of prayer intentions and I spent most of the time in prayer. With me were a few friends from the seminary. They have been with me since practically day one of my vocation.

 

 As we reached further up into the mountains the air got thinner. Since I was without breath I prayed during much of the journey. One lesson I learned was just as when there is little oxygen no matter how much one inhales your body cannot recover and just so it is when you are without grace.

  

At 12 noon we reached our vertical limit. I confess, we didn't make it to the top. There was the possibility that since the trails are still snowed over we would have had to have pro gear (and thanks to a vow of poverty I didn't have crampons and an ice ax nor a guide). We stopped to pray a psalm and a decade of the rosary. I hope you joined me wherever you were. To date Gran Corno (tallest peak in the circuit) is the only mountain that I haven't been able to summit in my life.
I guess I'll have to be back this summer! Throughout the day I prayed (mainly because I didn't have extra breath) and this psalm came to mind.



Psalm 121

 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the LORD,

which made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:

he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel

shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is thy keeper:

the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day,

nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil:

he shall preserve thy soul.

The LORD shall preserve thy going out and

thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

 

 





View of Campo Pericoli - on the right is Corno Grande

 

 



After a long descent (some times I find them more difficult than the climb) we made it safe and sound to the base just about a vertical mile below. It's hard to imagine that I had climbed up a complete vertical mile up. Not only that climbed back down with a smile.

 

We visited a beautiful shrine dedicated to Blessed Pope John Paul II and I left our prayer intentions under his feet asking for special graces. 

 

"If you are what you should be you will set the world ablaze"

John Paul the Great

 

 

Here are a few things I'd like to share:

 

Video: 44 seconds of what life is like at 8576 ft (2614m)

Photo Gallery

PS: I hope we can do it it again this summer.