A Friday At Calvary

Since arriving in Jerusalem on Thursday morning, we have been pretty active. Though we have only been here a few days, we have already visited the site of the ancient Jewish Temple, the upper room, and the Church of the Dormition of Mary. We were also able to see where Christ was condemned by Pilate, where he was scourged, crucified, and buried. We had Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and joined a large group of pilgrims to walk the via dolorosa: the path along which Jesus carried his cross to his death. Our first few days have flown by, packed with these and countless other experiences.

Our first few days have flown by, packed with these and countless other experiences. Because we have lived in Jerusalem itself for the past few days, we have gotten to see quite a bit of the city. In many ways, it's just like any other city. There is heavy traffic, lots of people, and lots of winding roads. The city is torn by political, social, and religious strife, and the streets are full of shops and vendors. But there is something that makes this city entirely unique: something happened in this city that changed the course of history forever. It is here that Christ died and rose. Jesus himself walked these streets!

During these first few days in Jerusalem, the reality of Jesus' Incarnation has alreaddy deeply impressed itself upon me. The ordinariness of the city was at first surprising. On Friday, we joined the Franciscan friars to pray the stations of the cross on the via dolorosa. As we processed, the vendors tried to sell us things and people jostled us around, busy with their errands. On the one hand, this could be annoying as I tried to pray, but this is the very world to which Jesus came. I cannot help but think that people tried to sell Jesus things as he walked through the streets. Seeing where Jesus walked, the same horizons he saw, the place where he died and was buried, and where he rose; all this has already changed the way I pray and read the Bible.

My favorite place so far has been Mount Calvary. It was here that Christ died for me, and I can touch the stone where his Sacred Blood was spilled. I can kneel in the spot the apostle John knelt when Jesus gave him Mary as his mother. It is here, in a heap of stone left in the middle of a quarry because it was no good, that Christ did something most extraordinary. Here Christ showed us the meaning of truly self-giving love, a love stronger than death. We are all so blessed to be in the Holy Land.