VIA DOLOROSA - STATIONS OF THE CROSS

On Fridays, we have an opportunity to go with the Franciscans and join them in the Stations of the Cross. Several hundred people walk the narrow streets and follow the Franciscans through each station. The experience of seeing so many people still following us, waiting for us, and some even joining us added to the Stations. 

The Stations follow the beginning of the end of Jesus' life and this experience has left me amazed at how many people still follow Our Lord, Jesus Christ. As we went along the Via Delorosa, which is the road that follows the stations, thoughts came of the crowd that was around Jesus waiting to see his death some two thousand years ago.   Was it as crowded as those of us doing the stations?

We entered the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and arrived to a pretty full church. At Calvary they stopped the line so the Franciscans could do the last stations. The stations end at the Holy Sepulcher where again, a full house stood in awe of the Franciscans processing in and honoring the tomb of Jesus. On the walk, there were Muslims trying to get through, and other pilgrims who did not know about the event, but just like the Holy Sepulcher, the people stood in awe of such a large gathering. 

This was a very powerful experience to see literally, the world stop because something major was about to happen. Jesus Christ had died on a Friday and rose again!

 AT THE WAILING WALL 

Today we had the chance to visit the Wailing Wall, or more properly called the Western Wall.  This is a very holy site for the Jews.  Many believe that this is the last remnant of the Temple.  In actuality, this wall is really just a retaining wall that supported the temple mount, the ground on which the Temple was built.  The wall itself seems to be arbitrary. It is what the wall stands for and has come to mean that makes it such a powerful place of prayer. Because the Muslims control the actual Temple Mount, the wall is the closest that the Jews can get to the actual Temple site in order to pray. The Jews come to this spot to lament the destruction of the temple and pray for its speedy restoration.  When visiting one can see literally thousands of prayer requests to God written and placed in the cracks of the wall. The place has developed into a place of prayer that is much more than simply lamenting the Temple. Now faithful Jews use this place for many types of intercessory prayer as well as other liturgical events as well.

            During our visit we were given the chance to pray at the wall; some of us even took the time to write our own prayer intentions and place them in the wall as well.  For many of us this was a powerful moment.  It was an opportunity to unite with our Jewish brethren in prayer.  I am sure it will be a moment few of us will forget.

JERUSALEM AT THE TIME OF JESUS

Model of the city of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus

On Saturday, our group took a trip to the Israel Museum and saw several interesting displays. First was a scale model of the city of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus (circa 30 A.D.). This model was built to a scale of 1:50 and is over 21,520 square feet in total. The model gave us a glimpse into what the structures and buildings at the time of Jesus would have looked like, and opened our imaginations to the scripture in a whole new way. After our guide spoke about the model city, we had a few minutes to explore the model. 

Model of the city of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus

We gathered around the reproductions of the places we read about in the Gospels. We looked upon the 2nd temple on the temple mount. He pointed out the palace of Herod and the palace of Pontius Pilate. We even saw the spot of Calvary as it would have looked at that time Jesus was there. 

Next, we moved as a group into the museum display of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Dead Sea scrolls are over 1900 years old and are in extremely good condition! In the dark, climate controlled room, we moved from station to station, reading the translation of the scrolls and feeling extremely grateful for the opportunity to see them with our own eyes. So how does an experience like this impact us as we continue our pilgrimage? I think that one way these experiences impact us is by revealing to us how the things of the past help us to unlock our understanding of our faith now and in the future. Both the ancient model of Jerusalem, and the Dead Sea Scrolls are so important to us precisely because of their relation to the Life of Jesus Christ. The scrolls, which foretold the life of the Messiah that was to come, and the model of Jerusalem, the place where the Messiah walked, taught and healed the sick, help us to understand both the divinity and humanity of Jesus. The more we understand about the humanity and divinity of Jesus, the closer in relationship we grow with Him. And the closer we grow with Him in relationship and prayer, the more prepared we are to follow and go where He calls us, and to do the work He asks of us.

The Dead Sea Scrolls

ST. ANNE'S CHURCH AND THE POOL OF BETHESDA

            We celebrated this Sunday’s Mass at the Church of St. Anne in the Old City of Jerusalem, which tradition holds stands on the site of the home of Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mary. As with so many other churches in the Holy Land, the present church is not the first on this site, the others having been destroyed by succeeding waves of invaders.  The current one was built by the Crusaders in 1140 and has been under the guardianship of the White Fathers of France since 1856.  The church is noted for its excellent acoustics, which added to the beauty and solemnity of the Mass.  After our Mass had ended, successive groups of pilgrims stood on the steps of the sanctuary to test the acoustics.  Again, as with many other sites in the Holy Land, these groups came from around the world:  a group of Indonesians sang Alleluia over and over at the top of their lungs, some growing very emotional, followed by a French group, and then a very animated group from Zimbabwe, shaking castanets and dancing as they sang.  There were also groups from Korea and Poland when we visited. 

Pool of Bethesda

            The church is adjacent to the ancient Pool of Bethesda, which is mentioned in John’s Gospel as the place where Jesus healed a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years (John 5:2-9). Excavations have uncovered just a part of the pool, which lies 33 feet below today’s ground level.  The Gospel story tells us that the waters were believed to have healing properties; the first person to enter the water after they had been stirred up “by an angel” would be healed.  The paralytic was never able to enter because he needed help to go down to the water, and could never reach it first.  His encounter with Jesus was life-changing:  Jesus had compassion on him and healed him, telling him to take up his mat and walk.  It was not necessary to enter the pool that day, for Jesus’ words were enough.  Our visit to the Pool of Bethesda served as a reminder to us to look to Jesus with confidence as the one who can heal us of all our wounds, whatever they may be.  

Pool of Bethesda

ISRAEL - DIVERSITY AND TENSION

Similarities and differences, is a phrase used to describe many things from culture, religion, and people. Over the course of our time here we've been able to witness the tensions within and around Israel. Within her borders remain tensions between Muslims, Jews, and Christians but also Christians and other Christians (e.g., the Orthodox, Armenian, Coptic). This doesn't mean that there isn't genuine cooperation or friendship, but there is a sense of reservation in many interactions. It's clear that there are many claims, such as this land is “mine” and that land is “yours.” In Jerusalem there isn't much land and the land that does exist is precious.

There's a certain tragedy to the many barricades that exist but, at the same time, one can recognize that a holy place or a place of prayer needs to be protected. It needs protection from turning into a museum just as much as it needs physical protection from age and long use. Even though Christians and Jews share a great deal, there isn't a sense of one place, or even one Scripture, being called “ours.” It certainly strains the thought of us becoming one in Christ. But this city, a great city of symbols, reflects the human condition yet again: divided, quarrelsome, and fearful. It would be foolish to not see ourselves in this city: divided hearts, quarrels in our homes, and fearful of what the future holds. Yet it is this city that Christ entered. It was also here that he healed and taught. And it was here that he was established as the new Temple, when he was on the Cross. It is here, as in all places, that he reigns.

Christ must be established in our hearts if we are going to see any change in ourselves and in our homes. Pilgrims who walk the streets of Jerusalem do not seek consolation from the city herself, but from the one who can to redeem mankind through Jerusalem. Underneath layers of discontent and problems sits a man who draws the world to himself. We as pilgrims can see this, and we come here to affect the same change around the world. 

 BEHOLD, WE GO UP TO JERUSALEM

Jerusalem

We have arrived in Jerusalem and are staying very close to the old city. Contained within the walls of this ancient city are a number of holy sites commemorating the Passion of our Lord.  Chief among these is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which contains the tomb of Jesus as well as the sight of the Crucifixion, Calvary.  It is a unique privilege to pray at this sacred place and to do so for the next few weeks.  It seemed as if each one of us could not wait to head over there with our bags barely unpacked.

The Calvary Chapel

We are also beginning a new regime of classes immersed in study and contemplation of scripture.  It is already apparent that the words come alive with vivid images from the places we have visited. A number of us had a chance to follow the Stations of the Cross at the very places where they happened. Along with about a hundred other pilgrims, we squeezed through the narrow streets full of many sounds, smells, and sights that Jesus would have known well.  This pilgrimage is helping us to learn about Jesus, to walk in his footsteps, and develop intimacy in prayer with him whom we desire to serve. 

CAPERNAUM - THE TOWN OF JESUS

Modern church in Capernaum

This last week, we spent some time in Capernaum (a city alongside the Sea of Galilee). According to the scriptures, Capernaum is the site of St. Peter's home (Matthew 8: 14-15), which eventually became the center of Jesus' ministry. A sign flanks the side gate that reads, "Capernaum, the town of Jesus." Underneath the Modern Church are the remnants of St. Peter's home alongside the ancient church ruins from the Byzantine period. 

The remnant of the synagogue

Next to the church is the remnant of the synagogue where Jesus was known to have taught (Matthew 9:8). The later Synagogue is unique in that it incorporated elements of Roman and Jewish architectural styles (the Roman capitals were adorned with both the Star of David and the menorah). It was in Capernaum that Jesus promised the Eucharist in the "Bread of Life" discourse: “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:22-59) Much of our history has it's roots in this significant city, as reported in the scriptures (the paralytic was healed here).

Capernaum - at St. Peter's statue

After visiting Capernaum, we stopped at a crusader fortress in Northern Israel called Belvoir overlooking the Jordan valley. It is the only place where all of its parts have been excavated. Our visit was highlighted by the panoramic view of the area.

Belvoir - a crusader fortress

ON THE MOUNT OF BEATITUDES

We spent some time at the Mount of Beatitudes this last week. If you remember, this was the place where Jesus delivered his groundbreaking sermon revolving around anger, love, and morality (Matthew 5-7).  

A beautiful, eight-sided church marks the Mount of Beatitudes. It overlooks the Sea of Galilee and it is truly a “deserted place” (Mark 6:35). A deserted place, however, does not necessarily mean an arid, desert like environment (which is sometimes the case with mountains in the Holy Land). On the contrary, the Mount of Beatitudes sits upon a luscious field of green grass and fields. Mountains usually relate to an encounter with God. Jesus’ ascending the mountain evokes another figure who went to bring God’s Law: Moses. The law Jesus delivers, however, proves itself to be truly revolutionary in its message.

While Jesus is delivering his sermon, he mentions the presence of “wild flowers” and “birds in the sky” (Matthew 6:26-29) to demonstrate total dependence of God. While on the Mount of Beatitudes, it is easy to forget the worries of life while being caught up in the sheer beauty of the view. It is no wonder Jesus used his surrounding to demonstrate his point. It is true that the Mount had been landscaped for this particular purpose, but just beyond the Church property is something truly to behold.

Every day should be lived in the spirit of the Mount of Beatitudes. The life of a Christian necessitates our being “caught up” in the sheer beauty of God’s creation. God’s grace, moreover, is constantly falling upon His people. The “worrying” that marks Western Civilization is truly meaningless when considering the greatness of God’s love for his people.
Much more can be said about this life-giving Mount, and we encourage you all to revisit this account in scripture. May God continue to bless us, so that we might be counted among the “blessed”.

CESAREA PHILIPPI

Today we had the amazing opportunity to witness the faith of the Christ's followers. Today we visited Caesarea Philippi.  It was here that Christ asked his followers “who do you say that I am?”  They responded that He is the Son of God.  Many times we take this for granted, so much so that it might seem like a no brainer, but when we learn that he asked them this question amidst the various temples dedicated to many pagan gods, we get a better picture as to what this really meant.  Here Christ is among all these pagan gods and he asks his followers who do you think I am?  Which one of these gods am I?  They rightly answer none, of course. 

Being here in a place where the disciples gave testament to Christ was a great experience.  Sitting and meditating on the level of faith they must have had has given many of us a renewed sense of what our own faith looks like in us, as well as a desire to strengthen it in the face of the world we live in today.

HOLY SITES BY THE SEA OF GALILEE

Church of the Multiplication of Loaves

We were blessed today to celebrate Sunday Mass at the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves near the Sea of Galilee. As its name suggests, this church is at the site where Jesus fed the five thousand. Benedictine monks from Germany administer the church and they celebrated the Mass in German and English. In addition to our group, there were pilgrims from Austria and a group of Filipino soldiers serving on a peace-keeping mission with the UN. 

Church of the Primacy of Peter

Just a few hundred feet down the road on the shore of the lake is the Church of the Primacy of Peter, also known as Mensa Christi (Table of Christ). The dominant feature of this church is a large rock in front of the altar that extends outside the walls of the church towards the shore. Tradition holds that this is where Jesus appeared to some of his apostles after his resurrection, where he had them lower their nets into the lake, pulling up so many fish that their nets nearly broke. This is also where Jesus established Peter's primacy over the other apostles: Jesus asked Peter three times, "Do you love me?" and then said, "Feed my sheep." At this site, we ran into pilgrims from India and Poland. 

Church of the Primacy of Peter

These holy sites by the Sea of Galilee are very tranquil and beautiful. Knowing that Jesus stood in these very places and conducted most of his ministry around here, I am left searching for words that could convey the experience of being here. It is from here that Jesus first preached the Gospel, and from here that the good news of our salvation began to spread throughout the world. And now people who have received this message are returning to the place where it began, in order to grow closer to Christ.

 AT THE SEA OF GALILEE

When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Caperna-um. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea rose because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, but he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. (John 6:16-21)

Saints Matthew, Mark, and John all mention the Sea of Galilee, although St. John also calls it the Sea of Tiberias. St. Luke refers to the Lake Genesaret. It lies 660 feet below the level of the Mediterranean Sea, and is approximately fifteen miles long by eight miles wide. Its maximum depth is 165 feet. Most of Jesus’ lakeside ministry was confined to the north half (Magdala, Tabgha, Chorazin, Sower’s Bay, Capernaum, Bethsaida, Kursi). In those days, the area was densely populated and ran a thriving fishing industry.

Early this morning at about fourth watch of the night (between 3 and 6am) I noticed a boat with a fisherman casting out nets for fish in the Sea of Galilee. Despite heavy rain and dark sky, he did not give up. After a few minutes he went into the deep. Looking at him, I recalled the passage from the Gospel of John cited above.

Sunrise at the Sea of Galilee

Jesus sends us into very challenging mission. Our life is a mission, thus each one of us is a missionary in this sense. This mission can be quite dark, with strong wind, and the water rising high. When danger comes and we have no control over the boat, we start to panic, lose hope and faith because it seems that God is absent, and there is no one out there to rescue us. The only feeling that we experience is fear. Let us recall troubling waves that we encounter almost every single day. By the troubling waves I mean disordered feelings, and sensual desires hitting into the boat of our life: anger, loneliness, sadness, injustice, rejection; etc. What they show is that we are weak, and without God we can do nothing but drown, go down. These troubling waves show us the truth about ourselves. If we live in fear and surrender to fear, we start to be blind and falsely perceive people and everything around us including God Himself. “When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat."  

In dangerous situations, it often seems that “God is absent”, but He is present all the time, even though we might not feel His presence. Interestingly, when the disciples saw Jesus present physically in their boat again, “immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going”. In other words, we need to put our trust in God, and have faith that He is closer to us than we are to ourselves, especially when we are being flooded with high waves of water. He is present in the boat of our body – the soul. If we have difficulty believing that God is in us, let us at least believe that He is near the boat of our life and always keeps a loving eye on us: “they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat”. Jesus comes to His disciples in order to disperse the dark clouds of anxiety and fear. "It is I; do not be afraid."  God casts away all fear transforming it into peaceful water.

ON MOUNT TABOR

Today we visited the site of the Transfiguration, that awesome moment in Scripture where Christ is revealed in his glory alongside Moses (the great Prophet of the Law) and Elijah (the great prophet). Jesus is transfigured before three of his beloved disciples in this manner to show that A) he is the Son of God and B) that he is in accord with the great prophets of the Jewish Tradition. The mountain looks out all around a lush, green landscape. Apart from the wind and the bell tower, it is serene and quiet.

It is here we are taught a valuable lesson, not by Jesus transfigured, but God the Father. The Apostles who were there, Peter, James, and John, were awestruck and terrified at the site. In Matthew's account Peter was the first to come to his senses. He got up and spoke, “It is good that we are here. Let us prepare three tents” (cf. Mt 17:4). Tents may also be said as “tabernacles” since the Arc of the Covenant was also kept under a tent. Peter was recognizing holiness, not asking for a sleepover. He recognized holiness and God's glory and responded the only way he could. But then a strange thing happened: God the Father interrupts Peter. It says “while he [Peter] was still talking … a bright cloud cast a shadow over them” (v. 5) and said “This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

Notice that the moment we recognize holiness, or see God, or something godlike we feel the need to do something about it. God, the Father, whom Jesus obeyed unto death, stops us before we even begin: “listen to him.” Make yourselves passive. Wait for his voice. The disciples become even more afraid at this. It was here that Jesus touched them—a personal gesture—and said “Rise, and do not be afraid” (v.7). Not only did Jesus touch them, he bid them to rise with him. Those are his words to us at this holy place.

 When we encounter God He does not want us to please Him or do something special. In fact that's what so often gets us into trouble. How much trouble—born of good and bad intentions—could be halted if we simply listened to Him? Peter was right when he said, “Here is holiness!” But he was wrong when he said, “Here's what we must do about it.” May we recognize God as Peter did, but listen as the Father commanded.

ON MOUNT CARMEL 

Today we visited Mt. Carmel, which overlooks the town of Haifa.  As we were driving up the mountain to visit the monastery we made a stop to look over the hillside to the Bahai temple.  It sported an impressive golden dome and was surrounded by enormous gardens.  This might be familiar to some of us who are not far from Evanston where another one of their temples is located.  There are, reportedly, only ten temples in the world and they are renown for their architectural beauty.

            Mt. Carmel and its chapel likewise were extraordinarily beautiful.  It was built upon the cave where the prophet Elijah prayed and encountered God.  We were privileged to celebrate Holy Mass there and had some time to pray at the foot of Elijah’s cave.  It turned out to be a busy day as we also traveled to the coast into a city known for its medieval fortifications, Akko.  There were ancient walls and fortresses built by the Crusaders seeking to protect the religious sites in the Holy Land.  Much of these structures in the city of Akko (or Acre) were still intact, attesting to its sturdiness and durability.

"DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU"

A good friend of mine always likes to remind me that Jesus' first public miracle was turning water into wine. We went to Cana and the priests in our group celebrated mass in the town where the miracle took place. As we entered, we saw many couples renewing their marriage vows. I can only imagine the feelings that the couple in Cana that was having the time of their lives but the wine was running out. It was the last thing on their minds and would have caused a disaster. Jesus was able to save the newlyweds from a disaster and the miracle also shows the power of Marian intercession because it was the Virgin Mary who let Jesus know "they have no wine" (John 2:3). 

        After Cana, we went to Zippori National Park or Sepphoris where there are ruins of an ancient city. It is located in the lower Galilee, halfway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee. The historian Josephus described it as “the ornament of all Galilee” and features an impressive archeology site dating back to the Hasmoneans who settled there in the 2nd century BC, as well as subsequent Byzantine, Arab and Crusader ruins. Sepphoris is most famous for its Byzantine mosaics, including a woman’s face known as the ‘Mona Lisa of the Galilee’ and a well-preserved zodiac featuring Greek deities on the synagogue floor.

        Some scholars speculate that Joseph may have worked there as a builder. That alone showed me the gift of the carpenters and all the skills that they had. Our guide told us that a carpenter back then is like a modern engineer. Joseph's young apprentice, Jesus, may have laid some of the stones there!`           

"LET IT BE DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD"

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). After visiting the site of the Nativity, we have made our way to Nazareth to encounter the “prequel” to the Lord’s birth. This prequel, however, hinged on the response of a young girl named Mary (Luke 1:27). The Program for Priestly Formation encourages sincere devotion to the Blessed Mother. The Church assumes that her priests will have a deep affection for the woman who, through an act of supreme trust and humility, submitted herself to the Lord’s will. It’s not difficult to see, therefore, the importance of Mary in a priest’s life—a life rightly oriented towards trust and humility.

The Church Fathers properly saw the acts of God in the Old Testament as prefiguring Christ. Is it possible to suggest, however, that all salvation history hinged on the Annunciation? St. Bernard of Clairvaux has a beautiful homily the Church reads in the Divine Office before Christmas. He speaks of all creation “holding its breath” as it anticipates Mary’s response to the Archangel Gabriel. The wisdom of the Prophets, the justice of the Judges, and the power and might of the Kings culminated in the response of a “virgin betrothed to a man names Joseph” (Luke 1:27). Seemingly insignificant, Mary later underscored this fact in her Magnificant, “he has thrown down the mighty from their thrones but lifted up the lowly” (Luke 1:52). The Father has always had a privileged place for the lowly in his salvific work. 

Most of us will spend our lives as parish priests. We will participate in a long line of seemingly insignificant pastors who, because of our commitment to a particular geographical area, will reach a small group of the Lord’s flock. This calling, however, is necessarily a participation in God’s love for his people. The parish priest intimately knows the needs of his sheep. The parish priest truly smells like his sheep, as Pope Francis encourages. A story is told that Pope John XXIII once received a group of priests at the Vatican. The majority of the priests held dignified positions in the curial and seminary systems. One priest, however, was a simple country pastor from the outskirts of Rome. Each priest introduced himself and, as is customary when meeting the Pope, genuflected to reverence his ring. This continued until the country pastor approached the Pope and introduced himself as a simple pastor. Hearing this, Pope John XXIII took the priest’s hands into his hands, genuflected, and commented that the parish priest “had the most important job of all.”

Our commitment to parish priesthood is not necessarily a life of glamor and notoriety. It is safe to assume, however, that God works with the seemingly insignificant. Perhaps an experience with the Lord will hinge on our ministry? It is obvious, therefore, that Mary’s role is more than previously thought. 

Mary, Mother of God and Priests, pray for us who have recourse to thee. 

VISIT TO THE ANCIENT TIMES

At the remains of the ancient Roman theatre

We started on the road today to begin a very intense part of our pilgrimage.  For the next ten days we will be visiting sites almost non-stop.  Today we made our way up to Galilee, and stopped at Caesarea Maritima as well as the edge of Mount Carmel.

The ruins of Herod's port cities

            In Caesarea Maritima we saw the ruins of one of Herod's great port cities.  From his garden you got an amazing view of the Mediterranean Sea. With its rich blue water and cool sea breeze it was a nice change of pace from many of the desert places we have been so far.  This site also held a mini gladiator style arena, where over 250,000 people lost their lives in various blood sports.  In addition to all of this, it was also the site of the imprisonment of St. Paul as well as a crusader fortress.

            The next stop we made was to the edge Mount Carmel.  This was the site where Elijah killed the 450 prophets of Ba'al.  In all there wasn't much to see at this site other than the view.  From the rooftop one could look out over the entire countryside, into the fertile Jazreel Valley.  In one direction you could even see the site that is supposed to be the place of the last battle between Heaven and Hell, which we will visit later.

View from a side of Mount Carmel

            In all, today was tiring yet very good.  It was good to get a change of scenery, and I think all of us are looking forward to life on the road in Galilee. 

 “LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL” 

Monastery on the Mount of Temptation

This time we were blessed to visit the Monastery of the Mount of Temptation where Satan subjected Jesus to a triple temptation after forty days of fasting (Mt 4:1-11). This took place after Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River, and right before His public ministry.  It reminds us of the temptation of Adam and Eve who, by entering freely into temptation, rejected God’s will. Jesus, as the New Adam, is totally obedient to the will of the Father. He refuses to use his power for his own benefit and accepts whatever God wills. The devil supports his proposal by an appeal to the scriptures, Ps 91:11a, 12. Unlike Israel (Dt 6:16), Jesus refuses to “test” God by demanding from him an extraordinary show of power. [4:9] The worship of Satan to which Jesus is tempted is probably intended to recall Israel’s worship of false gods. His refusal is expressed in the words of Dt 6:13.

The rock where Jesus was tempted after forty days of fasting

Each one of us is tempted in many ways. Satan shows his hatred towards those who desire to do the will of God and stay close to Him. The evil one will use all his strength to deceive and mislead in order to bring God’s people – his enemies to a fall. We need to keep in mind that priests and religious are Satan’s number one enemy, for they destroy his business (which is taking souls away from God). Our earthly life is a state of exile and a battlefield against the evil one. However, we need to approach this battle with faith in Jesus Christ who, by His life death and resurrection, conquered Satan. Therefore, even though we face many temptations, we have great weapons to repel the enemy: humility – the root of all virtues, obedience, prayer and fasting. 

"God only permits temptations to assail us that we might grow. The more tried trails we endure, the more must we run to take refuge in God. Temptation is the water that washes us clean: the strongest temptations are like hot water which cleans us better. When you are tempted, no matter where you are, kneel before the Lord and say: Lord, I renounce Satan and his works; I want nothing but Your Spirit. And you will see that you always be victorious if you are faithful to these words." (Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified, OCD, 1848-1878)

"THIS IS MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM ALL PLEASED"

The Jordan River

Today our group drove to the Jordan River, about an hour or so away and several thousand feet lower.  No one knows the exact spot where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, but the place we visited still drew us into the holy moment that took place somewhere along the river over 2000 years ago.  After praying Daytime Prayer together, we had some time for quiet meditation along the river bank. Despite the many pilgrims, the place still has a peaceful atmosphere.

The river at this spot and on the day we visited is only about twenty feet across, and on the other side is the country of Jordan.  The land on either side of the river is desert, utterly barren land.  The river appears to be the only source of life here, and reeds and grasses that rise over our heads line either bank. While there, we reflected on the events of Jesus’ baptism. He purified these waters when he descended into them.  Part of Jewish custom involves a daily ritual cleansing done in a pool of water called a miqvah. The size of the miqvah can vary, but one essential requirement is that the water must be flowing.  The pouring of water in baptism reflects this practice of ritual cleansing. 

When Jesus descended into the gently flowing waters of the Jordan, he purified the waters that wash us clean in baptism through the forgiveness of sins.  Just as the Jordan gives life to a dry, colorless region, so too the waters of baptism give us the hope of eternal life.  At Jesus’ baptism, the voice of the Father was heard from heaven declaring, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”  Through baptism we all become beloved sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father.  And this new identity of ours can give life to us, life infinitely richer than the natural beauty we encounter here in the Holy Land.