Shortly after 7 a.m. our bus rolled from the hotel toward the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, bound for the Dome on the Rock. This is one of the holiest Islamic shrines in the world, initially completed in 691 AD and built on the site of the Roman temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, which had in turn been built on the site of the Second Jewish Temple which was destroyed during the Roman Siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The Dome of the Rock is in its core one of the oldest works of Islamic architecture. The rock also bears great significance for Jews as the site of Abraham's attempted sacrifice of his son.
The site's great significance for Muslims derives from traditions connecting it to the creation of the world and to the belief that the Prophet Muhammad's "Night Journey" to heaven started from the rock at the center of the structure. From here, Muhammad climbed a ladder to heaven and conferred with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah about how many times a devout Muslim should pray in a day, offering the number of 500. Eventually a compromise was reached between this group and the number is today 5.
NonMuslims are not allowed inside the structure, and it is a point of occasional conflict between Muslims and Jews as evidenced by the recent shooting there, but today we saw no sign of problems and only a beautiful, crisp morning with a slight breeze and plenty of sunshine.
From here, we journeyed by bus to Bethany, the site of the miracle where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and recounted in the Gospel of John (John 11:1–44). Lazarus and his two sisters were dear friends of Jesus and he visited them often. While away, He received a message that Lazarus was ill and that help was needed. Upon arrival, Jesus found that he had been dead for four days. They roll away the stone and Jesus called for him to come out, and he did. The miracle of the raising of Lazarus is said to explain, in large part, the crowds seeking Jesus on Palm Sunday. It also led directly to the decision of Caiphas and the Sanhedrin to plan to kill Jesus.
After Mass, we left Jerusalem for a mini-oasis where we had lunch and some of the group had camel rides. I kind of felt bad for the lot of these poor camels and hope that they're treated well, but not sure they were.
The Church of the Dormition was the next stop on Mount Zion, the highest point in ancient Jerusalem. It is the place where the Virgin Mary died, or "fell asleep". For the first time on the trip, though, Cheryl and I were simply too tired and needed a break. We stayed on the bus. I hope the Holy Mother will forgive us for not visiting her site.
Itai was sensing our flagging energy so he kept us going with a short walk to a local ice cream shop, indicating that dairy before dinner was more than acceptable, so we all trooped down the hill. My sister Mary and I shared a small cup of coffee ice cream and yes it made the world seem a little better. On, then, to our farewell dinner.
Our group gathered on the eve of our departure at a nice Armenian restaurant in Jerusalem, and were treated to heartwarming remarks from Aimee Walton, her husband Dave, Father Schalk, Itai the guide, and several others in our group. Gifts were exchanged, we chowed down and jumped back on the bus for the hotel. We leave here at 6:10 a.m. for the airport, leaving here at 11:45 a.m. for Toronto where we arrive about 4 p.m. ET. Another four hour layover there, and then we take our final plane to Columbus to arrive about 10 p.m. tomorrow night.
We've had a fabulous time but, as always, are eager to get back home to see the Buckeyes beat Penn State and pick up Gracie Lou Freebush Mace from the spa, not necessarily in that order of course. I'll be posting one final musing on the meaning from the last couple weeks after I've had time to digest it mentally, so be sure and take one more look in the next couple days for my final thoughts, and thank you for reading!
NonMuslims are not allowed inside the structure, and it is a point of occasional conflict between Muslims and Jews as evidenced by the recent shooting there, but today we saw no sign of problems and only a beautiful, crisp morning with a slight breeze and plenty of sunshine.
From here, we journeyed by bus to Bethany, the site of the miracle where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and recounted in the Gospel of John (John 11:1–44). Lazarus and his two sisters were dear friends of Jesus and he visited them often. While away, He received a message that Lazarus was ill and that help was needed. Upon arrival, Jesus found that he had been dead for four days. They roll away the stone and Jesus called for him to come out, and he did. The miracle of the raising of Lazarus is said to explain, in large part, the crowds seeking Jesus on Palm Sunday. It also led directly to the decision of Caiphas and the Sanhedrin to plan to kill Jesus.
We were fortunate to celebrate Mass today at the Church of St. Lazarus, the site of the raising miracle. It had beautiful mosaics on each of the walls in the church depicting the events of the raising, including the one shown which depicts Jesus commanding the stone to be removed from Lazarus tomb. Time for him to get busy and prove, again, his divinity. What is touching about this, too, is the friendship he felt with the sisters and his reward to them for believing.
After Mass, we left Jerusalem for a mini-oasis where we had lunch and some of the group had camel rides. I kind of felt bad for the lot of these poor camels and hope that they're treated well, but not sure they were.
Both Ray and Cheryl decided they needed a ride, so the handler took them about 30 yards away in the parking lot and turned around. Lunch was a very welcome ice cold Diet Coke, a foot long hot dog with mustard, and then back on the bus for our final afternoon of visits.
The afternoon consisted of short stops at a number of sites. The first of these was the house of Caiaphas, the priest who worked with Pontius Pilate to ensure Jesus death.. Excavations have suggested that this place has pottery and silverware (steel) that could only belong to a high priest's house. Held overnight in a nearby dungeon, it is likely that Jesus was scourged by Caiaphas before receiving the same treatment the next day from Pilate. Here, too, was where Peter denied three separate times knowing Jesus, so the church on the spot of Caiaphas house has a cock along with the cross at its very top.
The Church of the Dormition was the next stop on Mount Zion, the highest point in ancient Jerusalem. It is the place where the Virgin Mary died, or "fell asleep". For the first time on the trip, though, Cheryl and I were simply too tired and needed a break. We stayed on the bus. I hope the Holy Mother will forgive us for not visiting her site.
The next stop, though, was one not to pass up - the Church of St. John the Baptist built on the remnants of earlier
Byzantine and Crusader churches, a common theme in Jerusalem. And, inside are the remains of an ancient mosaic floor and a cave where, according to Christian tradition, John the Baptist was born.Itai was sensing our flagging energy so he kept us going with a short walk to a local ice cream shop, indicating that dairy before dinner was more than acceptable, so we all trooped down the hill. My sister Mary and I shared a small cup of coffee ice cream and yes it made the world seem a little better. On, then, to our farewell dinner.
Our group gathered on the eve of our departure at a nice Armenian restaurant in Jerusalem, and were treated to heartwarming remarks from Aimee Walton, her husband Dave, Father Schalk, Itai the guide, and several others in our group. Gifts were exchanged, we chowed down and jumped back on the bus for the hotel. We leave here at 6:10 a.m. for the airport, leaving here at 11:45 a.m. for Toronto where we arrive about 4 p.m. ET. Another four hour layover there, and then we take our final plane to Columbus to arrive about 10 p.m. tomorrow night.
We've had a fabulous time but, as always, are eager to get back home to see the Buckeyes beat Penn State and pick up Gracie Lou Freebush Mace from the spa, not necessarily in that order of course. I'll be posting one final musing on the meaning from the last couple weeks after I've had time to digest it mentally, so be sure and take one more look in the next couple days for my final thoughts, and thank you for reading!
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