Holy Land: A Pre-Lenten Journey: More questions...

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings….” (Matthew 23:37) This is just a portion of the scripture read to us when we finally found ourselves in Jerusalem, viewing the city from the Mount of Olives. Within these verses Jesus weeps for Jerusalem and as we sat listening to Kristina read, behind us was the Dominus Flevit Chapel. Dominus Flevit means “Jesus wept”. This chapel marks the spot where tradition says Jesus spoke those words recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. The Dominus Flevit Chapel, a view looking out from within the chapel and Matthew's words depicted on the altar of the chapel...

Jerusalem is still a city which evokes many emotions. This city is considered holy for the three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. As we sat in the Mount of Olives we took in the contrast of ancient walls and modern high rises, Christian churches, an Islamic Mosque as well as places significant to the Jewish faith. We heard scripture read, sang “Go to Dark Gethsemane” and were invited to have a time of silence for meditation and prayer. During this silence, the Isalmic call to worship began to be heard throughout the city. In the midst of this, one of our group, David noticed Hasidic Jews praying in the Jewish cemetery visible in the valley below the Mount of Olives. For me, it was a strange melding of senses, a coming together while still contrasting. I don’t quite know what to think of it.

As we reflected tonight, this complexity and the questions that come with it have arisen for many in this group. What will the city of Jerusalem mean for us? What does it mean to visit various places where Jesus is said to have walked, prayed, died, rose when we know that God is just as close in places back home? The questions I raised about pilgrimage in my first post are bubbling to the surface again. I feel that I, as well as many of my fellow travelers, have been fed by this trip and yet we are challenged to understand what part this particular city, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem” plays in our own faith story.

Our view of Jerusalem. The more crowded and bustling part of our journey begins (hence in this photo you not only see Jerusalem but other groups below us who have come to this holy city).

A few other photos from our day….

We traveled to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations today as well, however this morning before traveling to Jerusalem we traveled to Masada. Masada was built by Alexander Jannaeus (103-76 b.c.) and expanded by King Herod (73-4 BCE). It was here that the famous standoff between the Romans and the Jewish Zealots occurred.