A Pilgramage To The Holy Land
by Janice Brewer
January 26, 2010 – Day Ten ISRAEL Jerusalem There is a monastery dedicated to Our lady of the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem. There are 750,000 people in Jerusalem. 1.5 million Jews, 240,000 Arabs, 7,000 Christians. It is 2,500ft above sea level. Mount of Olives is the beginning of the Judean desert. Jerusalem, God cursed it. There will not be peace till Jesus comes. Valley of Hinnom – where Judas hung himself. Called the campos santos because it was bought with the blood of Jesus. Acts 1:18-19 Was a trash dump then. In 1534 walls were built by Ottoman Turks. When Magi came, they came into these walls to see King Herod. They built the city walls with 6 gates the added 1 more to make it seven. Gates: 3 north
Gates : 2 East
Gates: 2 South 1. The Dung gate, - south- Jebusites would sacrifice 1 st born to an ugly god. Then used when trash was cleared out of the city. 2.Mount Zion Gate. – 1 south – Zion Gate also known as the Gate of the Prophet David because of the traditional location of David’s tomb on Mt Zion Gate 1 West
Visitation and birth of St John the Baptist Passed the valley of sorek. Path to go to Ashdod, land of the Philistines. Ein Karem name means Spring of the Vineyard. (Joshua 50) Border between Judah to the south of the spring and Benjamin to the north of the spring. Springs given to the Levites, the priestly clan, to make a living farming the land. Priest worked 2 weeks a year serving in the temple. The rest of the time made wine from the vineyards. St John the Baptist was a prophet. Prepare the way of the Lord. Darkness to Light. Zacharriah didn’t believe the prophecy. That’s why he became mute. Unable to defend himself. They lived in the town of priests families. Elizabeth pregnancy, she ran away to the woods. People talked because she was pregnant. She was humiliated. Our Lady lived with her family in Nazareth. She left with her family to go to the Passover celebration. 12 day trip. Came during Passover, left after Pentecost. 12 days to come, 12 days to go back. May as well stay 12 days plus 2. Rather than coming and going. Birth of St John is June24. Birth of Christ is 6 months after birth of St John. BVM enters village of Zachariah, goes straight to Elizabeth who is living in the woods hiding with her maids. She was filled with the Holy spirit ( Luke 1: 42) St Elizabeth came back to town after being filled with the Holy Spirit. She’s no longer afraid. Zachariah = god’s remembrance. John named God’s grace. He would deliver us from slavery and was a beautiful prophet. Herod the great gave order to kill the children. They knew each home with children because of the census. Child was slammed on floor. If child could not be found they would kill the mother. St Zachariah was murdered because he did not surrender St John. Mary’s spring. Josh 15 Water = life. No springs come from the top of the mountain, only the bottom. Not geologically correct. St Elizabeth his baby John in cave. Angel led Elizabeth to the woods and placed a stone in front of the cave. Church of the Visitation. Lower part of the church being humble, Upper part being decorated. Here is where JPII named Our Lady of the Universe. Church of St John and Martyrs. Family heritage is the best reference to say that this is the actual site. Place where St Zachariah was most likely killed here. Pilgrims came here to be martyred. Romans would cover the shrines so the Christians would not come, but they came anyway. The Romans actually were used to mark the spot of the Holy Sites. The Franciscans have to change out of their robes to come into town to get food supplies. The have things thrown at them. At times the Jews will not sell them food. 90 Catholic families used to live here. Now none. All the jews have taken the homes of the Christians. Several towns of ethnic cleansing. And then built a holocaust museum. Israeli refers to Zionist movement- a minority. The isreal social system pays 11% to national insurance. 15% for medicine. Bethlehem- Shepherd’s field. Aka Boaz and Ruth’s field. 3 city’s in Bethlehem means house of bread in English and Hebrew. In Arabic it means house of flesh! Town of Bethlehem on a ridge. The valley of Shepherd below the town. The shepherds field was the food basket of the area. They lived in caves. The Lord was born in the Fall/ winter. Abraham was a shepherd. Ruth and Boaz = shepherd. King David = shepherd. Jesus = I know my sheep and mine know me. The Dead sea scrolls were found by shepherds. 550 sites found and named by shepherd’s throughout Israel. Why would the Lord have angels appear to the shepherds? To show us the humble life of Jesus. They are the best eyewitnesses to everything. Always in the fields. People traveled on foot asking the shepherds which way to go. Shepherds were descendants for those who returned from exile. In Ezra the families are listed by name. Bethlehem was town of shepherds. Settlements go back 25,000 years. Elephant trunks were found. King of Egypt one day sent from Shechem to Lowerr Egypt asking for help from Bethlehem people. They were exiled and came back to live in caves. In Abraham’s time there was a water system here. 1 Kings 12 – fortifying town with walls against Egyptians Monastic life in Judean wilderness. Begun by monk from Gaza, a famous ancient harbor city. Gaza school for mosaic, all the art in churches. St. Cyril Gauze used in injuries was developed in Gaza. All along the path from Holy Land to Sinai were monasteries. They converted caves to churches. Church of the Shepherds built in the shape of a tent. Back of cave used as a stable. St. Luke’s gospel mistranslated. In Greek there was no such thing as an inn, it was a living room. Caves are warm in winter, cool in summer. Passion begins at the annunciation. The Basilica of the Church of the Nativity. Built in 537 AD Oldest Christian church in the world. During the time of Christ, shepherds lived in caves on the hills. Romans built a pagan temple in the middle of nowhere, over the spot where Jesus was born. It was dedicated to the god of love. Aphrodite. There were no houses , the edge of the desert. 339AD - St Helen built a proper church. It was called St Mary’s octagon shaped church. Destroyed in 529AD. Rebuilt in 614 AD as the Church of Nativity. When the Persians advanced, they saw the mosaics of the Maji on the church. The Maji had the same uniforms as the Persians. When they saw the mosaic, the said they said they should not touch this place, and didn’t destroy the church. At the time of Christ 1000 people in the area. Cisterns have been found under the tiles of manger square. Built by Justinian in 536 BC. 1009 At the church of the Nativity the order was given to the Muslims to destroy this church. They did not obey. 1563 the Turks took away marble and artwork. The priests lowered the entrance to the Basilica so that it couldn’t be robbed again. Parts of the Basilica Atrium – place of seekers Courtyard – where to mingle with people coming closer, could hear the Mass. Narthex – be in the church. A 2 year process. 1054 – great western schism 1092 – pope called for liberation of holy Land. Crusades began 1099 – 1187 Christians controlled the holy land 1187 – 1911 Turks/ Moslems controlled the Holy Sepulchral and Nativity and all the holy sites. Moslems were given keys to the churches. 1859 – fire in the church of Nativity. 8 friars were stabbed by Greek orthodox priests
Homily at The Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria at the Basilica of the Nativity St Catherine’s of Alexandria built by the Franciscans. st Jerome lived in the caves underneath. The Catholics celebrate midnight Mass here. Home of St Joseph. Mary and Joseph would have gone here to have the baby. Jesus was circumcised here. On the way back from Egypt, they would have come thru Bethlehem. 60 day trip on foot. 335AD the home of St Joseph became a church. The overlook of Jerusalem Private house of Caiaphas house. Identified by the ossuary. Outside the city. He would not defile the city by buying off Judas for thirty pieces of silver within the walls. The overlook- Jerusalem cross. Symbolizes the Passion of Christ. Dome of the rock is the center of the city. Jesus leaves and goes East to the Mt of Olives. (sweats blood and arrested) Dragged South to House of Caiaphas ( beaten and put in prison overnight church of St peter at Gallicantu). West to the Antonio fortress also known as Herod’s palace where he was judged by Pontius Pilate. and North to the crucifixion. |
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