Today was a lonely day. So I had organized a day where Elizabeth, Caitie, and I would go and do the stations of the cross from morning until 3pm. I didn't realize how hot it would be and how unrealistic it was for me to plan 6 hours of religious activities. At the end of the month, many of us are "churched out" and so we need to take it easy.
So they day wonderfully began with a group of 14 of us celebrating Mass at Golgotha!! It was at 8:15 and was very surprising that they gave us this spot since in the Church there are at least 7 other altars that they could have given us. This was a very special mass since many people were leaving on that Friday and so it was our last mass together...many of us who had celebrated mass each day during the month.
From there, Caitie and I went to the 3rd station to my favorite place to pray: the Armenian Catholic church where they have adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during the day, it is truly a wonderful place to go. We were there until 11, so about 1h30m and then we left to walk to the Mt. of Olives where Jesus agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane. Caitie went inside the garden and then I walked up a bit higher to Dominus Flevit or the church that commemorates where Jesus wept for Jerusalem. Then around Noon, we headed out of the Garden to make our way to Golgotha, where we were going to arrive at 3pm.
However, just before arriving and passing through Stephen or Lion's Gate, Caitie decided that she could not go....and I was left all alone (Elizabeth had earlier decided to go to a Museum)...so my two close friends here left me alone with Jesus....I can assure you, it was a lonely road...so the next 3 hours I walked the stations, stopping to pray, to look at the churches, and to observe the people all around me. It was hot....and there was a lot of commotion around everywhere. I read scripture and really took the time to appreciate the experience....I can tell you this...doing the stations of the cross in Old Jerusalem has been one of my favorite spiritual experiences while I have been here....it truly allows you to feel Jesus' sufferings and some of the horrible things he endured. The picture you see above is the at the 3rd Station (Jesus falls the first time).
So I arrived at the Sepulcher at 3pm and was able to pray on the spot of Golgotha just as a huge group of Russians arrived to pray. Then I waited outside as Elizabeth and Dr. Jones were going to meet me at 3pm...but it took them 30 minutes longer to get there since the craziness in Jerusalem makes it hard to be early.
Finally, we walked around, and ended the most wonderful day by watching a now familiar scene for me...Shabbat...or when the Jewish people celebrate at the Western Wall the beginning of their Sabbath. I truly wish you could one day be with me there to experience the joy!!
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