Pilgrimage: Mount Tabor - Mount of Olives - Jerusalem

PRELIMINARY NOTE: Tomorrow our group will be at the Western Wall at about 12 - 12:30pm Jerusalem Time (5-5:30am in the Eastern US).  There is an online webcam - some of you may want to tune in and see if you can see us!  Here's the address: http://english.thekotel.org/cameras.asp

Today our pilgrim group moved closer to the Holy City - to Zion - to Jerusalem.  Our day began with a visit to Mount Tabor - the traditional spot of the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17: 1-9), where we celebrated Mass. 

Then it was to the bus for the journey from the north - down the "Road to Jericho" that we just heard about at Mass on Sunday - toward Jerusalem.  We began with a stop at Meggido, a city dating all the way back to the 7th Century BC - amazing ancient history in this place. Then we moved to another archeological spot before heading town, past the Dead Sea, then ascending the hill toward Mount Zion - the City of David - Jerusalem.

As we climbed the mountain toward Jerusalem, we will sang and prayed the traditional Psalm of Assent - Psalm 122: "I rejoiced when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.'"

Then we arrived in Jerusalem - to this sign on our hotel - who knew!