Happy Leap Day!

Because it’s 2016, our class gets the special privilege of an extra day in the Holy Land by virtue of a Leap Day! Although some guys think it’s just an opportunity for the teachers to squeeze an extra class day out of us, I like to think it’s an extra day to enjoy the 75-degree weather in Jerusalem. After a couple of weeks here, many have fallen into the nice routine of prayer in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, holy hours at the Notre Dame Center, laundry service down the street, and the many delightful coffee shops on Jaffa street. Those who enjoy “people-watching” would love the scene on this busy metropolitan Jerusalem street.  

This is a hidden treat of the pilgrimage: While we have learned much about Christ and the grace he offers us by his life and love, the learning reaches far beyond the holy sites. The culture of Jerusalem has me re-thinking the way I’ve viewed the world up to this point. The streets of Jerusalem are filled with people of every race, religion, and every other distinction we create. All are moving about vigorously in front of me looking for something. Many are focused on daily tasks of work and study, but surely there is more to this city, and more to mankind than this daily routine. In the faces of people here, it is easy to see a desire towards greater love, unity, and freedom. As a Catholic, I have come to understand the great interior freedom that Christ provides in the midst of all strife, oppression, and suffering. Regardless of the circumstances we face, if Christ is with us (and in us), who can be against us? 

These are the leaps I ask you to take with me this year (cheesy I know, right?). Take the leap to travel and visit other cultures which expand our understanding of the human condition. Then, once you’ve seen the common human longing for fulfillment, understanding, and joy, take the leap of faith towards the One who offers us “living water” to quench our eternal thirst. Many things bring fleeting happiness and even moments of lovely joy, but in the end the only lasting love is found in the person of Christ who offers an eternal dwelling place in his merciful heart. Do not be afraid. Leap! 

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

-Romans 8: 38-39

A Day at the [Dead] Sea

After Morning Prayer and Mass, we travelled to Qumran in the Judean Wilderness, about a mile from the shore of the Dead Sea. Likely, Qumran was home to a Jewish-sect called the Essenes. Essenes lived in community like monks. They also created the Dead Sea scrolls, which contain some of the earliest writings of the Old Testament. Found in the mid-20th century nearly 900 scrolls were discovered hidden in the caves above Qumran untouched for nearly 2,000 years. Among the scrolls are previously unknown prayers, commentaries and even “The Great Isaiah Scroll” the largest and best-preserved.

After Qumran we drove a short distance to swim at a beach along the shore of the Dead Sea. More precisely – we floated. The Dead Sea is the Earth’s lowest elevation on land and is over nine times as salty as the ocean. Meaning - once you step into the water and lay on you back, your body is supported and effortlessly floats on the surface. We were thankful for great weather and the break and enjoyedthe water. Thank you for you continued prayers. And know that we pray for you. God Bless!

The Source and Summit of Our Faith

We have seen many amazing holy places in our time here in the Holy Land. We have visited the place where Mary said yes to the angel Gabriel, and where our Lord was born. The places where our Lord started his ministry in Galilee, we have visited. And now we are here in Jerusalem, where our Lord was crucified and raised from the dead. It can be difficult at certain sites to meditate on what exactly they used to look like in the time of Jesus and his disciples.  However, despite all the new scenery and experiences, a constant devotion to prayer has kept us grounded and attentive.  One of the most cherished aspects has been Eucharistic adoration, something we have tried to maintain just as we do back home.  While the Holy sites are amazing in their own right, the source and summit of our faith still reigns supreme in the hearts of the 3rd theology class. Time in front of the Blessed Sacrament allows us to remove the distractions and revisit the Holy sites in silence within our memory.  Some places look like you might imagine, such as the Sea of Galilee. However, the Nativity and the Holy Sepulcher both look different, because they have been completely enshrined by basilicas over the years. Whether we ever return to these sites or whether we find ourselves describing them to people who will never have the opportunity themselves, our relationship with God flows from the Eucharist, something we all can cherish wherever we find ourselves. 

The Silence of Gethsemane

The Silence of Gethsemane

Is has been a week since we have settled in Jerusalem and by this time everybody usually finds his favorite place for prayer. And although the first place which comes to mind as the best for prayer is the Holy Sepulcher, with its being the place of the Crucifixion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, it is not my choice. The place which really spoke to my heart is the Basilica of Gethsemane, the place of Our Lord's agony.

Before the torments of scourging, humiliation, carrying the cross, being nailing to it, and death happened, Jesus was praying to His Father in the silence of the Garden of Gethsemane, with the company of Peter, James, and John. We can read that account in the Gospel's of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Let's here the account of Mark, in Mk 14,32-42:

"Then they came to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be troubled and distressed. Then he said to them, "My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch." He advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass by him; he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will." When he returned he found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." Withdrawing again, he prayed, saying the same thing. Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open and did not know what to answer him. He returned a third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. See, my betrayer is at hand."

This scene always strikes me with the humanity of Jesus. He, anticipating his suffering and death, struggles with the upcoming torment he will have to endure. Jesus, in this terrifying moment, turns to the Father, and with filial openness asks Him to take away the cup, meaning the suffering that is awaiting him. Jesus, the Son of God, is scared to death. And in this moment he accepts the will of the Father - "not what I will, but what you will."

The ominous atmosphere the of Jesus' internal struggle is perfectly captured in the Basilica of Gethsemane, designed by the Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi. Barluzzi designed many of the churches in the sacred places in Holy Land, but I would say that the Gethsemane Basilica is my favorite. The church inside is in deep blue and purple colors, which reminds of the evening when Jesus came to Mount of Olives after the Last Supper. The top of each column supporting the ceiling is pictured as the olive tree, which gives an impression that we entered with Jesus into the Garden of Gethsemane. The main mosaic in the center presents Jesus praying to the Father, and above that scene there is an Angel who supported Jesus in his agony (Lk 22:43). On the left side there is a depiction of Judas' kiss, which pointed Jesus to the soldiers to arrest the Christ. On the right side, however, is the scene derived from the Gospel of John, where Jesus pronounces the I AM to the soldiers who came to capture him (Jn 18: 4-8). In front of the altar is highlighted the stone on which Jesus was praying in his agony.

There is one more aspect which makes this place so special - silence. Surprisingly, silence is not that obvious in most of the holy places in Jerusalem. Many times prayer is interrupted by other groups of pilgrims coming and going, guides explaining the importance of these places, and murmur of conversations. Not so much in the Basilica of Gethsemane - even with tourists, the atmosphere of reflection and prayer in most of the times kept. It feels that the event of Jesus' prayer in his last hours brings everybody to silence and prayer.
Gethsemane is a very special place for me. It is the place of great trust in God in the face of inevitable pain and suffering. It is also a place of hope, that after the darkness of abandonment comes the light of Resurrection. In a way, the silence of Gethsemane prepares the shouts of joy in the Holy Sepulcher. 

Shalom!

 “For the peace of Jerusalem pray, may they prosper, those who love you. May peace abide in your walls” (Psalm 122).

          Shalom! This is how the Jewish people greet each other, with the word “peace.” The Muslims use the Arabic word salaam in the same way. It is not hard to see why this is a standard greeting for them given the violence that has plagued this region of the world. The sites we visited today were reminders of that deep longing for peace among the people here and at the same time how fragile the current peace is.

          Our guide took us out early in the morning for a tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. Our first major stop was at the Temple Mount, where the Temple, the center of Jewish worship, had previously stood. This is where Abraham demonstrated his faith by offering his own son to God, though not killing him because of the angel’s intervention. Now there stands the Dome of the Rock, a Muslim shrine memorializing their belief in Muhammad’s vision/mystical journey in which he traveled to Jerusalem and was ascended into heaven. This shrine has stood since 691 A.D. It is considered the third holiest site for Muslims.

          After seeing the top of the Temple Mount, we visited the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall. This is all that is left of the outer retaining wall that supported the Second Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. Despite the rain, there were still a number of Jews praying at the Wall. We too approached the Wall to pray. No doubt many of us prayed for peace here in the Holy Land. The Temple was the most important site for the Jews. It represented the presence of God in their midst. This land in general is so important for the Jewish people because the promises of God as they read them are tied to this land, especially Jerusalem.
        That these two major religions hold such great value to these sites yet in different ways, has led to continuous tension and at times violent outbreaks. As men preparing for priesthood we will be called upon to be ministers of peace, to allow peace, which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit to flourish in human hearts. Peace in the heart is the foundation for all external peace. Let us pray that the Prince of Peace may reign in our own hearts. Only then can we be instruments of the Spirit’s peace to others.

The Power of the Empty Tomb

"Because my friends, we do believe in the empty tomb.  We do believe that Jesus Christ has risen."  These powerful words were spoken to us by our tour guide a couple of weeks ago.  Now that we have arrived in Jerusalem, the power of these words has been realized.  Last week we celebrated Mass on Calvary.  Today, we had the chance to celebrate Mass in the Holy Sepulcher; the empty tomb of Christ.  It was there that these words came back to mind.  "Because my friends, we do believe in the empty tomb."   

            Before Jesus rose from the dead, only one apostle remained with Christ.  One Apostle clung to Christ with every fiber of his being and offered up his entire soul to the Lord. That Apostle was John.  The rest abandoned Christ.  They left.  They did not remain.

            But then Peter, John, and Mary Magdalene discover the empty tomb.  This time the one who remains is Mary.  The other "disciples went back to their homes" (Jn 20:10). Why does she stay?  She stays because of the depth of her love for the Lord. She does not yet realize that he has risen, instead she is distraught that "they have taken away her Lord" (John 20:13). And then, Christ comes to her.  At first she does not recognize him, but then he proclaims her name and immediately she recognizes that it is the Lord.  The Lord rewards her immense love with a task.  He tells her to go and announce that he has risen from the dead.  "Go and announce it to my brothers. For in this do resurrection and life consist: in further proclaiming the Good News, in carrying on the flame, in being a useful instrument in my hand that I may build up my kingdom in men's hearts, in letting my Heart go on beating in yours" (Balthasar). So she goes and delights in being used by her Lord to bring the Good News of the Resurrection to her brothers; the apostles.

The apostles, however, are hidden.  They don't want to be found.  They have heard the rumor from Mary, Peter, and John that Christ's tomb was empty.  They want to believe Christ is alive, but at the same time it terrifies them!  They left him to die on the Cross alone.  Then suddenly, he appears to them even though their door was locked; now somehow he is there.  What follows no one can imagine.  Christ "stood there in their midst and greeted them: 'Peace be with you!'" These words were more than a mere greeting.  To be more exact, these words brought healing.  The apostles, once afraid and full of guilt and shame for abandoning Jesus, were now standing in the midst of the resurrected Christ receiving his forgiveness.  And now they could "rejoice" (John 20:20).

The greatest act in human history takes place: Christ, the God-man, rises from the dead.  He overcomes death, he overcomes sin, and he overcomes sin's disgrace.  He first brings this news to the apostles.  He reminds them of his love for them in his greeting, "Peace be with you".  His presence is the sign that he has defeated death and they have no reason to fear.  But that's not all.  The Resurrection of Christ gives us "the power to become children of God" (John 1:12). So Jesus sends his apostles. "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” This time they would respond to Jesus' call for mission.  They would not leave him.  Instead, they "were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31).

Dear friends, this is why we want to be priests.  It is a response to encountering love personified. This was the experience we had today.  The Mass in Jesus' tomb reminds us that Jesus Christ has saved us, Jesus Christ loves us, and thus, Jesus sends us to bring his loving heart into the world.  This, my friends, is because we do believe in the empty tomb.  We do believe that Jesus Christ has risen."

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Since our arrival in Jerusalem, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, only a 10-minute walk from where we are staying, has been a preferred site for an early morning holy hour for many of us. Observing my brother seminarians, I have noticed that upon arrival the immediate draw is to the top of Calvary. Once the site of the Crucifixion, this spot has been reverenced ever since, and some of us spend the remainder of their time there in prayer, while others might go off to one of the other chapels within the church to pray. There is one chapel that I have found particularly conducive to meditation, providing a rich source of theological reflection – The Chapel of Adam.



The Chapel of Adam is located directly below Calvary, or Golgotha (the place of the skull). The Chapel Adam features a window in the back of its sanctuary that reveals a crack in the rock which runs all the way down from Calvary above to this site in the chapel below. The belief is that Adam’s tomb was located here, directly beneath the site of Our Lord’s crucifixion, thus, upon Jesus’ death on the cross, an earthquake split the rock on Calvary (Matthew 27:51-52), and Our Lord’s blood flowed into the cracked rock onto the bones of Adam.

Was Golgotha the actual site of Adam’s tomb? This belief, though highly contested, was posited as early as the 2nd century by Origen, based on what he interpreted as a Hebrew tradition about the location of Adam’s tomb.

We will probably never know the exact location of Adam’s tomb. Nonetheless, the image of the New Adam’s blood flowing directly down upon the remains of the Old Adam is powerful, reminding us that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

The idea that Adam's remains lie directly beneath the site of the Crucifixion has often been depicted by a skull at the foot of the cross in many paintings and icons as well.

As future priests, we thank all of our benefactors for enabling us to climb Calvary every morning to kneel at the foot of the cross. May God bless you in your charity, and may he also bless the Church with more vocations to the priesthood through the blood of His cross.