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Reflection by: Fiona Sng

Chronicles of a pilgrim – Day 13 

#sequelachristi2022

Day 13 began with us visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for mass.  I was excited to find out where we were going to be attending mass; especially because the Church of the Holy Sepulchre marks the pinnacle of our faith – where Jesus’s tomb is – and where He resurrected.

I felt awed when we entered the chapel for mass. There were beautiful figurines at the side (pic 1) reflecting the stations of the Cross.  I was also transfixed by a picture of Mary Magdalene and Jesus at the side of the chapel (pic 2).   

Today’s mass Gospel was on the resurrection in John 20:1-10.  The line that struck out to me was how “the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed”.

Father JP spoke in the homily about how the paradox of our faith is – where there is decay and death as Jesus lay in the tomb; out of this decay and death is where Jesus also resurrected.  For 3 quiet nights, He lay in the tomb.

How do we live our lives not out of despair but out of hope?  In spite of our woundedness from our families or others; and where we get disappointed etc; – can the resurrection give us life and refocus our vision on life?

How do I let faith integrate every moment of life? 

We proceeded after mass to visit the Tomb of Christ.  Inside, there were two chambers; in the outer chamber stood a pedestal containing what is believed to be a piece of the rolling stone used to close the tomb.  A very low doorway then leads to the inner tomb chamber, with a marble slab covering where the body of Jesus lay.  I said a prayer, placing my palms on the marble slab.  It was a very emotional experience visiting the tomb just for a couple of seconds.  At that moment, the depth of Jesus’ love for me of Him dying on the Cross left me fighting back tears.

The Tomb of Christ

In prayer, I wondered why it was that I struggle so much to see how He sees and believes.  Where I am going through changes and transitions and see uncertainty; He sees newness and life. Where I wonder whether He will be with me as I discern the little steps in my path to life; He sees my faith. In the areas of my life where I struggle to love myself, am weak, and fall into sin; He sees redemption and hope and loves me all the same.  

In the quietness of my heart, was I meant to only see and believe what He unravels to me at that moment in time?  Can I like the other disciple see and believe; over the doubts and fears as I go through living day by day?

From the picture of Mary Magdalene and Jesus, Mary Magdalene had wept at the loss of Jesus and His body and had thought him to be the gardener; until he had called her “Mary” did she recognize him.  How can I recognize and more the presence of God in my tasks and relationships? Can I see Christ resurrected as how Mary did?

Next, we went to the Rockefeller museum where we viewed archeological artifacts.  One exhibit included the lintels (mounted on the double doors of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre) too.

Following this, we headed to the Yad Hashmona Messianic Village, Biblical Garden where we had dinner.  The guide in charge of this place explained that this was an independent community of messianic Jews where some were also Israeli Jewish citizens. The name Yad Hashmona means “memorial to the eight”; where eight Jewish refugees escaped from Austria to Finland but were handed over by the Finns to the Nazis 4 years later where 7 of them were murdered at Auschwitz. A lone survivor made it to Israel.  This was during the time when the Finnish government collaborated with Nazi Germany in opposing the USSR, in an attempt to recover a region that Stalin had conquered from the Finns.

The guide explaining various facts about Yad Hashmona Messianic Village

This community began when a small group of Finnish volunteers felt called to build a Kibbutz of their own in Israel, and hence they convinced the government over time to build the village.  They wished to somehow atone for handing over the 8 Jews to the Nazis.  Here is where Jewish people can still believe in Jesus.  From the original 10+ people who had come to build the community of messianic Jews (in the 1960s to 1970s); 2 women still remained.

In this community, they build carpentry and guest houses; and engage in communal living. These Israeli Jewish people begin families; their children go to kindergarten and the army, leading normal Jewish lives.

Alike as a community journeying together on this trip; pre-dinner entertainment began with our guide illustrating the Jewish Passover (a depiction of the Last Supper of Jesus) and inviting 5 people in our group to don Jewish garments. It was described that the disciples would recline on their left arm and use their right arm to take food.  The Passover signified a Jewish feast – a celebration of freedom; on the backdrop of how the Israelites were once slaves in Egypt and were now free people.

Depiction of the Last Supper

Guess who it was imagined to be during the Passover/ Last Supper scene from left to right. It was John the Beloved disciple, Jesus, Judas the Betrayer, and Peter (on the far right opposite Jesus)!  It was hilarious how our 5 pilgrims acted this out with earthenware in the middle where we proceeded thereafter to have our meal of vegetables, chicken (with barley), lamb, etc

Dinner consisting of vegetables, chicken, and lamb

The dinner reminded me of how we pilgrims are journeying together; and like the Messianic Jewish community who probably had to go about their lives working, toiling, enjoying each other’s company, and tending to their families; we too were also spending those little moments of life with one another on this journey.  Was it also an invitation for me to relish these simple moments of life and hold them with me in the moments to come?

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