Pilgrims in the Holy Land /2

continuation...

Day 4

We visited Ein Karem, where Holy Mass was celebrated at the

Church of the Visitation. Here, Magnificat tablets in Filipino are

displayed on the church walls. At the Church of St. John the

Baptist, we also admired the Benedictus (Canticle of Zechariah)

tablets in Filipino.

These two accomplishments were made possible through the

initiative of previous pilgrims of Catholic Travel Inc.

Next stop was Bethlehem, site of the Basilica and Grotto of the

Nativity.

This was the most moving stop for most of the pilgrims, who

sang ''Silent Night, Holy Night'' with tears streaming down their

cheeks. They patiently queued for their turn to kneel and kiss

the ''Star of Bethlehem,'' where Jesus was born.

Next we visited Shepherd's Field, where the angel appeared to

the shepherds and announced Jesus' birth.

The last stop of the day was the scale model of Jerusalem. Our

guides, Frank and Simon, narrated the history and importance of

the architecture and layout of the scale model.

Day 5

We posed for a group picture at a site near the Hebrew

University which offers a panoramic view of the city of

Jerusalem.

Then we proceeded to the Church of Dominus Flevit, where

Jesus wept over a city that did not recognize or need Him.

In this place where Jesus shed tears of sorrow and compassion,

we acknowledged our need for peace that comes from

reconciliation with God and with one another. The priests heard

the confession of the pilgrims as a rite of reconciliation.

Next stop was the Garden of Gethsemane, site of Jesus' spiritual

agony, where he yearned for the comforting presence of his

apostles who were then asleep.

We spent time reflecting on our readiness to suffer to do God's

Will even if we have to do it alone.

Afterwards we walked to the Church of the Agony in the

Garden, where we reflected on Christ's surrendering His Will to

God and prayed for child-like trust and dedication to the Will of

God.

We then entered the Church of St. Peter of ''Gallicantu,'' site of

Peter's ''triple denial.''

Next stop was the Mount of Olives, followed by the Pater

Noster Church where Jesus taught His disciples the Lord's

Prayer. On the wall of the church can be read versions in

Filipino and Visayan.

At the Coenaculum, where Jesus ate the Passover meal, the last

Supper, and where He washed his apostles' feet, Bishop Reyes

administered the renewal of vows to the nine priests.

We proceeded to the Church of Dormition, where the Virgin

Mary fell into eternal sleep.

We had a unique supper at Cardo-Culinaria Restaurant. For our

last stop, we visited the western portion of the Wailing Wall

where Jews come to pray and to mourn the destruction of the

Temple. It is the sole wall of the temple complex to survive the

Roman destruction of the city.

Day 6

First stop of the day was the Church of St. Anne, one of the

best preserved and finest examples of a church built during the

Crusader period. Close to this church are excavations which

uncovered two large rectangular pools (the Pools of Bethesda)

where Jesus performed one of His miracles--healing a crippled

man who had been ailing for 38 years.

We were then taken to the Temple Mount whose center is the

Dome of the Rock. It was at this site that Jesus taught during

the Feast of Booths.

Father Lopez writes in his book: ''Three beautiful rites

characterize the Feast of Booths: the water libation ceremony,

the lighting of the great candelabra in the center of the temple

area, and the rite of facing the temple.

''The first expresses the hope for a Messiah who will definitely

interpret the Torah, the well from which Israel drinks.

''The second anticipates the joy of God's final visitation.

''The third is a recognition of Yahweh as the one true God to

whom all praise and allegiance are due.''

In this context, we acknowledged that Jesus is the source of

living water and light of the world.

After a Holy Mass at the Ecce Homo Convent, we trekked along

the Via Dolorosa, which features nine of the 14 stations of the

cross (five are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre). This

church has the tomb of Jesus and the place of crucifixion under

one roof.

We reflected on the fact that amid hatred and scorn, torment

and agony, Jesus responded by uttering: ''Father, forgive them

for they know not what they do'' (Luke 23:34).

We promised to offer our sins and guilt to the Cross and

anticipated receiving forgiveness, peace, joy and salvation.

Next we stopped at the foot of Calvary (Golgotha), after which

we spent the remaining hours in a restaurant by a lake.

At the appointed hour, we checked in at the Ben Gurion

International Airport and boarded El Al Airlines for Hong Kong,

where we took the connecting flight to Manila.

Postscript

The trip brought us pilgrims close to one another and allowed

us to share insights and ''healing'' experiences.

Some of us said they experienced a change in their ''old selves''

which had been marked by pride, selfishness and mistrust.

Others were just too happy with the increased time for prayer,

meditation and reflection, after having been overwhelmed with

so many distracting activities in the past.

Still others found time to build a climate of interior stillness in

the Lord, and were rewarded with a feeling of consolation.

A number said they were no longer quick to judge or criticize

others, and were more tolerant and understanding.

Some asked forgiveness for their moodiness, mediocrity,

impatience, and irritability, and for closing their eyes and hearts

to the needy.

A priest said following the footsteps of the Lord made him more

passionate in delivering homilies and serving as Christ's

disciple.

Monsignor Veneracion aptly summed up all these in his homily

during one of the daily masses by using the Filipino word

pagbabago (change or renewal).

He said three words could be derived from this word:

o Pagbaba--meaning we should go to a lower level or be more

humble in our thoughts, feelings and dealings with others.

o Bago--meaning we should change for the better, and discard

old habits and adopt new ones.

o Go--meaning we should move on with our lives, learn from our

experiences, and not be burdened with our past.

Indeed, we should move forward and try to inspire others by

reforming our lives.