January 28, 2010 – Day Twelve

ISRAEL

On the way to St Lazarus church- On the other side of Mt of olives referred to in Samaric language is Mt Tabor – means high mountain. 4BC King David wept at Mt of Olives at Absalom betrayal. 1 ½ from Gethsemane.

In St Luke, gospel says the Lord ascended from Bethany. In Acts it says Mt of Olives. It is the same location. In history the Mt of Olives served pilgrims as a camping place. It was a Sabbath walk to Jerusalem. 1 ½ miles was all they could walk on the Sabbath.

Bethany – I am the resurrection and the life. Aren’t there 12 hours in a day? March 21’st there are 12 hours in a day at the spring solstices. Exactly a week before Passover. He withdrew from Bethany and came back to be the Paschal sacrifice. Bethany means house of sorrow. – because Jesus wept here. 123 families lived here at the time of Jesus. Only 6 catholic families now.

Lazarus was rich. Olive oil business. The preserved Lazarus tomb. The Church of St Lazarus is the shrine of his resurrection. Mary could afford the 30 Denarius for olive oil because her brother’s business.

St Lazarus died. Someone walked two days to go get Jesus. Then brought him 2 days back.

Most people were buried in caves. Lazarus buried in a tomb with a lift off stone, above the ground. Those present were apostles, Mary (Greek) Martha (Aramaic) and Lazarus (Jewish), and Simon the leper. They represented four corners of the world. Lazarus died in Cyprus after he was resurrected.

Homily at St Lazarus Church

Garden of Gethsemane – One side of the mountain is the resurrection. Representing Jesus divine nature. ( East) The West side of the mountain facing the Eastern gate was the agony of Jesus- his human nature.

From the east comes the God of healing. I am the light of life. I will never leave you orphan.

Population of the old city is 40,000 people in 4 sq KM.

3000 Armenians

4000 Christian

12.000 Muslims

21,000 Jews – a lot of rich American Jews.

Basilica of All Nations – also called the Basilica of the Agony. Church built on the site of the rock of which Jesus sweated blood. There are 12 domes for the apostles and tribes of Israel. 1 st dome on the right is for America.

Passion walk takes place each Holy Thursday at midnight from Gethsemane to the Kidron valley to St Peter in Gallicantu.

Garden of Olives. Uproot a tree takes a bulldozer. A shoot could grow from the house of Jesse even if you cut it to nothing. UCLA carbon dated the tree root to 2000 years old here. Gesth = olive press.

Tomb of Mary. Greek Orthodox church. St John was away. Mary died, took her body to the tomb. St John went there her body was gone.

Grotto of Gethsemane, chapel, where Judas betrayed Jesus.

Mosque of the Ascension ( Acts 1)

392 Persians built an octagon church on this rock. All pilgrims would touch the rock and take with them the blessing. This is a crusader chapel. Each Ascension Mass is celebrated here. Here is a hole in the ground which held the pillar that served as screen. and separated the holy of holies from the people.