Pilgrimage: Jerusalem - Part 2

Window in Dominus Flavit Church on the Mount of Olives

Jerusalem is just too much for one day - we really need a WEEK to meander its old streets, visit the holy places, and eat just one more Phalaphel. 

Today we went out to the Mount of Olives where we met this guy with a camel - only $1 for a picture.  Anyway, the Mount of Olives is a long ridge that was once covered with rich, green olive trees.  It was here that David ran after learning of his son Absalom's treachery (2 Samuel 15:30); it was the hill on which Solomon built pagan altars for his foreign wives (1 Kings 11: 7-8); it was the crossing place for the scapegoat. 

Jesus, too, frequented the mountain often, traveling over it to visit His friends Lazarus, Martha, Mary and Simon the Leper in Bethany.  It was here that He gave a major address to His disciples (Matthew 24).  He spent the night before His arrest in the gardens at Gethsemane, where Judas brought guards to arrest Him (John 18). 

Many churches commemorate events in Jesus' life - for example, the Church of the Ascension - the traditional place from which Jesus Ascended into Heaven.  Also on the slope there is a tear-shaped chapel - Dominus Flavit - which marks the spot at which Jesus wept while recalling the dire future in store for the Holy City of Jerusalem (Luke 19).  Here we will pray the 1st Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary. 

Our group then headed to the Church of Pater Noster (where Jesus taught His disciples the "Our Father"), then to the Church of All Nations (also called the Church of the Agony) where we celebrated Mass right at the  very rock where Jesus had His agony: "Father, let this cup pass me by - but not my will, but Your will be done."  To imagine having Mass right there - where He sweat tears of blood on the night before His passion...

From there we went to Mount Zion and the Upper Room.  In truth, the actual site of the Last Supper is unknown, however there is a Tradition dating to 348 which locates the room in this area.  In the 5th century a church was built to identify the spot.  Here our group reflects on one of the Institution Narratives from the Scriptures (Mark 14:12-26).  Also here we visited King David's tomb.

Then we made a quick stop at Oscar Schindler's grave (we all know him from the movie "Schindler's List").  We then headed back to the hotel for dinner and our last night in Jerusalem.  It is EARLY TO BED tonight - because our flight to Germany leaves at 5am!  We have a 12:30 am wake up call!  OUCH!  No late night card games tonight!  I'll let you know how that flight goes in our next posting...  Stay tuned.