(Where Our Lord Jesus Christ was Born)
(The site of the Crucifixion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ)
I have visited shrines of apparitions of Our Mother Mary and saw birthplaces, uncorrupted bodies and tombs of Saints as well as Churches of great significance in different countries but something made me crave for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. At the back of my mind, all of my other pilgrimages would not be complete if I will not be able to see where Our Lord Jesus Christ was born, where He embarked on his ministry and made miracles and where he suffered, died and resurrected. I first planned to go to Holy Land in 2006, when a group of student priests went on a pilgrimage there. Unfortunately, I could not go out of Italy at that time because my permit to stay was not yet renewed. On December of the same year, I wanted to go and spend Christmas in Betlehem but I was discouraged by my friends because of Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah at that time. After two failed tries, my dream was realized as I joined the other Ilocano Priests studying in Rome on a pilgrimage. It was a perfect time for a pilgrimage- a Holy Week in the Holy Land is an experience of a lifetime. However, as the day of our departure fast approached, we were filled with anxiety upon hearing from those who have been there about how hard it is to come in and out of Israel (the removal of things from check in baggages for inspection and the interrogation by at least three immigration officers etc.). We were also afraid because of the recent killing of 9 Jewish seminarians by their Arab driver a week before our flight. Archbishop Yllana, the Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan who happened to be in our residence days before our flight told us that if we keep on allowing fear to engulf ourselves, we will never be able to visit the Holy Land. Here is the rest of our itinerary:
Day 1 (March 15): Arrival, Visit to Notre Dame Chapel (Click here)
Day 2 (March 16) Palm Sunday in Jerusalem: We concelebrated with the Most Rev. Antonio Franco, DD former Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines and current Apostolic Nuncio to Israel for the 9 am Palm Sunday Mass at the Notre Dame Chapel in Jerusalem. We joined the Palm Sunday procession from Bethpage near Mount of Olives to Jerusalem (following the original route of our Lord). Along the way, we met the healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez who invited us to join his pilgrim group and stay in their hotel free of charge. We already experienced the grace of God in our second day in the Holy Land. (Click here)
Day 3 (March 17)- Caesarea, Haifa, Nazareth, Cana: We visited the ancient port of Caesarea and the Church of Stella Maris in Haifa. We concelebrated mass with Fr. Suarez at the Church of Annunciation (the site where the Angel Gabriel told Mary about God’s plan) in Nazareth. Pilgrims who are celebrating their wedding anniversary renewed their vows at the Church of Cana where Jesus turned water into wine during a wedding feast. (Click here )
Day 4 (March 18)- Sea of Galilee, Mt. Beatitudes, Caphernaum, Tabgha and Jordan River: We crossed the Sea of Galilee (where Jesus walked on the water) on a boat captained by a Messianic Jew (Jewish Christian). We concelebrated mass in Mt. Beatitudes (where the Lord preached theBeatitudes). We visited the town of Jesus in Caphernaum and saw the ruins of Peter’s house. We also visited the Tabgha church where the multiplication of loaves took place. Lastly, we visited the Jordan River (where Christ was baptized). Click here
Day 5 (March 19)- Mt. Tabor, Jaffa: We attended mass in the Transfiguration Church in Mt. Tabor (place of Transfiguration). We also visited St. Peter’s Church in Jaffa. (Click here )
Day 6 (March 20)- Abu Gosh: We went to a Retreat House in Abu Gosh (between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem). We concelebrated the Mass of the Last Supper and we gave a retreat to the El Shaddai members from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa. (Click here)
Day 7 (March 21)- Good Friday in Jerusalem: After giving talks on the seven last word, we went back to Jerusalem and did the Via Crucis. Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we paid homage to the place where Christ was crucified, the stone where he was laid after he was taken from the cross, and the tomb where he was laid to rest and where He resurrected on the third day. (Click here )
Day 8 (March 22) Jericho, Dead Sea, Easter Vigil in Jerusalem: We visited the spot where the house of Zaccheus once stood as well as the sycamore tree purported to be the tree Zaccheus climbed to see Lord. We also went to the Mount of Temptation where Christ was tempted by the devil and where the the Qarantal Monastery is located. After lunch, we proceeded to the Dead See. In the evening we concelebrated the Easter Vigil Mass. (Click here )
Day 9 (March 23) Chapel of the Ascension, Church of Gethsemani, Wailing Wall: We visited and prayed at the small chapel where Christ Ascended into Heaven and the Church of Gethsemani where Christ spent his agony before he was arrested. The olive trees (thousands years old) are still there. We joined our Jewish brethren in praying at the “wailing wall” late in the afternoon. (Click here)
Day 10 (March 24) Ein Kerem, Bethany, Pater Noster and Betlehem: We were fortunate to have Sr. Aurora, SPC as our guide to the Arab Controlled parts of the Holy Land. We first visited and prayed at the Visitation Church (where the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth took place) and the Church of St. John (where John the Baptist was born) in Ein Kerem. We proceeded to Bethany where we visited the tomb of Lazarus and the Church of Martha and Mary (where their house used to stand). We also visited the Pater Noster Church in Mt. of Olives (where the Lord taught his disciples the Pater Noster). We sang the Our Father in Tagalog and Ilocano. In the afternoon, we went to Betlehem where we visited the Milk Chapel (where Mary nursed baby Jesus before they fled to Egypt), the Basilica of the Nativity (where Christ our Lord was born), and the Shepherds’ Field (where the angel appeared to the Shepherds).Click here
Day 11 (March 25) St. Peter’s Church in Galicantu, The Last Supper Room (Cenaculum), The Church of Dormision: On our Last Day, we visited the Church of Galicantu (where Peter felt remorse on his denial of the Lord upon hearing the cock crow), the Last Supper Room (where the Lord instituted the Eucharist), and the Dormision Church (where Mary went into her eternal sleep). Click here
I wish that every priest will be able to visit the Holy Land. Visiting the place where it all happened helps a lot in understanding the context of the Gospels.
My father used to tell me as a kid that truth can never be hidden because those who hide it know about it. It must have been providential that I chose the Gospel passage “I consecrate myself for their sakes now that they may be consecrated in truth (Jn. 17:19)” as the theme for my ordination to the priesthood. These words have seemingly permeated my innermost being because in the performance of my ministry, I made it a sort of conviction to involve myself on issues that call for transparency, honesty and accountability- the pillars of truth. In such undertaking, I have noticed that it is not an easy task to unravel the truth. There are instances when the truth is concealed in order to hide one’s wrongdoing. There are instances when even the obvious cannot be perceived by people who are unwilling to be bearers of truth. There are instances when the truth is hindered by people who play blind so as not to tarnish other’s reputation. And worst, there are times when people get killed for being mouthpiece of the truth. In the midst of such attempts to obscure the truth, I have noticed that the truth has its own way of manifesting itself. An example in recent memory is when the erstwhile champion of truth and transparency in public service Senator Joker Arroyo tried to point out bad faith on Jun Lozada’s part because he talked to other senators prior to his coming out in the open on his knowledge about the anomalies on the ZTE deal. Lozada proved him wrong by admitting that he talked even to his wife.
In the pursuit for truth, one should have patience and faith. No amount of threat, alibis, attempts to cover up and legal eloquence can conceal the truth. My recent endeavour in pursuit for truth has proven this all the more- with prayerful disposition, proof for truth comes out even as there are efforts to hinder it. No matter how uncertain the odds are, when the truth comes out it will shed light to what is obscure, both rendered and per se.
Through God’s grace, truth manifests itself and it should never be compromised by those who grasp it.
When I was a little boy my grandmother spiced up our conversation with wise sayings like "Keep your tongue between your teeth" and "Think twice before you speak once." The Scottish people would put it this way: "Keep your tongue a prisoner and your body will go free" and "A long tongue shortens friendships." My mother would also tell us, "Remember, one day you'll answer to God for every word you say."
The Bible mentions many kinds of tongues:
a flattering tongue (Psalm 5:9)
a proud tongue (Psalm 12:3; 73:9)
a lying tongue (Psalm 109:2; Prov. 6:17)
a deceitful tongue (Psalm 120:2)
a perverted tongue (Prov. 10:31; 17:20)
a soothing tongue (Prov. 15:4)
a healing tongue (Prov. 12:18)
a destructive tongue (Prov. 17:4)
a mischievous and wicked tongue (Psalm 10:7)
a soft tongue (Prov. 25:15)
a backbiting tongue (Prov. 25:23)
St. James also talks about the tongue. He says it's a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. He calls the tongue a fire, the very world of iniquity. James says it is untamable, a restless evil full of deadly poison, used both to bless God and to curse men. But James also told us that a man who doesn't stumble in what he says is a perfect(James 3:2-10) man.
I wonder how startled James would be today to find out how much man has "conquered." We've put men into big, fancy tin cans, and shot them off into space. We've sent men into submarines without coming up to the surface for months. Man has had the moon under his feet and he's left his footprints on the ocean floor as well. We've also put some fantastic canisters up into the sky, bouncing our voices off these satellites to countries around the world. Look at how we've harnessed the wind with giant windmills, and made the rivers and waterfalls drive our turbines. What incredible power man has over his world! And yet, he has still not conquered his own tongue.
In James 3: 6 the tongue is called "a sword." This sword has certainly damaged, bruised, wounded, and killed more people than all the swords in all the wars since history began. You've seen it many times. That newly married couple - so lovey-dovey for days and days on end. But one day the fellow lost his temper and slashed into the heart and affections of his wife with uncontrollable anger and with words he might regret forever. But it was said. The damage was done. How often we need to remember that old saying: We cannot call back the arrow we've shot into the air, the water under the bridge, or the spoken word, the bag full of feathers we threw into the air.
You liken yourself to a broken glass
It points out to your poignant and painful past
But, being broken should never be an obstacle
in living life on its normal cycle
Brokenness brings forth something that is good
It is one of the realities destined by God
Like a broken seed that grows into something new
A person needs to be broken in order to grow too
Your concern lies in gathering back the pieces
You should take the cue from your experiences
Look back and cure your past
Let them go so that they won’t last
Gathering the pieces of a broken glass
Can sometimes unravel what has come to pass
But if that is the only way to find a cure
It can very well lead to your again-being-whole
Should you not be able to gather all the pieces,
It should not make you slumber into sadness
Gathering the best pieces makes someone better
It surely makes you into a person much stronger
Diamonds emerge by carving out the precious from dirt
And so are you- a new you should come to birth
Tomorrow will be brighter as you trek a new path
The challenges should never bring you into slack
Today, the Feast of Epiphany (more popularly known back home as the Feast of the Three Kings or Magi) is celebrated in
As years have passed, I have given different homilies on this Feast. My favorite homily is putting emphasis on the meaning of Epiphany as self manifestation of the Lord. The Lord Manifests himself to us and we must respond. There is no better response than that shown by the Magi. The Gospel of
We are in the season of gift-giving and gift-receiving. Like our Christmas gifts, Jesus may come wrapped this Christmas. On the first Christmas, He came inside another person, His mother Mary. This Christmas, He may come inside another person, and the wrapping will not be impressive. We will be tempted to throw the package away, assuming nothing of value is inside. Like Joseph, we will be tempted 'to divorce her quietly' (Mt 1:19). In doing that, we will unknowingly divorce Jesus and therefore Christmas.
The innkeeper made the same mistake (Lk 2:7). The Messiah came in the package of a man and his teenage wife. The innkeeper wouldn't accept it. Jesus may come to us inside a poor man. He may come inside a person whom we dislike. Like the innkeeper, people often reject Him in these. He comes wrapped in a fetus in a mother's womb, but he is not allowed to be born by abortionists and free choice advocates; worst, as a fetus he becomes good only as a source for stem-cells being researched by the embryonic stem-cell advocates.
He may come wrapped in the Bible, but we see people who divorce themselves from the Bible and most people do not have time to read it.
We always hear messages saying that Christmas should be celebrated everyday. We are already doing that because Jesus always comes wrapped in the Holy Mass. That's why it's called Christ-Mass.
Let us be careful that we may not throw away a package with Jesus inside.
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to all!!!
