He is Alive!

My dear friends, I am here to tell you that Jesus is not dead but alive. We have seen him with our own eyes. We have touched him with our own hands and tongue. We have consumed him into our bodies. Jesus has risen and we are witnesses to these things. If every I was in awe in my life, this morning was one of those moments. We awoke and traveled the way of Jesus with his cross to the calvalry which is now inclosed in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We were almost alone and were able to touch and kiss the very rock upon which held the cross of our Lord and which his prescious blood fell upon. We then descended to reverence the pilar which Jesus was scurged at. We viewed the crack in the earth from the earth quake that took place when Jesus gave up his last breath. We then celebrated Eucharist in and around the tomb. The tomb is very small, only big enough for a few people. The group remained on the outside while Deacon Ken, a priest from Milan and myself celebrated the Eucharist in the tomb. The Word was proclaimed and homily given outside the tomb and the consecration took place above the slab where he was laid. Clearly the power of the Lord was upon us. OOOOOOHHHHHHH did I mention that it was the high mass. There are masses said every 30 minutes there from 5-8 in the morning. However there is one mass that is the high mass in which the Franciscan Monks chant all the mass parts. Its 45 minutes and YES WE CELEBRATED THAT MASS! WOW! We were all in tears as we declared victory over sin and death. There was one part in the Liturgy when I come out of the tomb with the consecrated Eucharist and elevate him to declare "Behold the Lamb of God, Behold him who takes away the sins of the world, happy are those called to the supper of the Lamb." Words cannot express the joy and jubilation of these words. These words are a declaration that Jesus is not dead but alive. He has risen and is alive among us. Alleluia is our battle cry. After an emotional celebration and internal felt experience of the Resurection, we had breakfast and visited the pool of bethesda where Jesus visited. We also visited the site where St. Steven was martyred. All in all it was a good morning. I feel alive in every way, truly a witness to light overcoming darkness. Those of you who are reading this, I assure you that there is no darkness in your life that Jesus cannot overcome. There is no sin that he cannot forgive. There is no place that he will not pursue you into inorder to give you life. His words to me at Calvary and in the tomb were: "I Love You." Everything he did was out of love for me and you. He shows us the depth of his love in the cross, in the tomb. He gave everything up for us. We have much to be thankful for and our life is how we thank him.

Love Freely Chosen

I write in awe and great pause at the mysteries encountered today.Throughout, the theme of Jesus freely choosing to suffer and die for us resounded. We began the day early with mass on the Mount of Olives. The altar was on the rock where Jesus sweat tears out in the midst of the intense pressure he felt. Our guide shared his take that this was the peek of Our Lord's passion. It was here that he was most in anguish and here that he chose not to back down and to go forward with giving his life to his Father and for the salvation of the world. It was a solemn and deeply intense place of prayer as we all were able to bend down on knees and kiss the rock after mass during personal prayer. I prayed for our parishes that we may persevere in the face of opposition, tests and trials. This is the first place Jesus actualy prays for himself to the Father..revealing his humanity and level of suffering. We walked out of Church among the 2100 year old olive trees in the Garden. If only they could speak to tell us what they saw. A little FYI, Jesus goes to the Garden to say YES to the Father to redeem the NO Adam said in the "Garden" of Eden. We then traveled to a lookout over the entire "Old City" which is the city in the time of Jesus' day. From there we were able to see the proximity of the Mt. of Olives, the Kidron Valley, Bethany, the place of accusation, the last supper, Herod's place and place of crucifiction. Please let me explain to you that this was truly heart moving to see how far and how long they pushed Jesus throughout the city while he was scurged, bleeding, etc. We then visited Pater Nostra where Jesus taught the disciples the Our Father. There is a cave there where Jesus taught the prayer, believed to be the same place where he ascended. We prayed the Lord's prayer there. The Church of the dormition was next. This is where Mary fell asleep. The story is told that she fell asleep and a grave was made for her. The whole time, her body smelled like roses. On the eighth day, her body disapeared . Mary 's presence in my own heart confirmed without a doubt the significance of this place. We all prayed a decade of the rosary to Our Lady in the lower church. To add to the depth of this moment, the upper room was only some 80 feet away. Here we entered a room that was not the original but one built on top of several. There were several countries there praying. We prayed a while realizing all the many mysteries of the early church: the last supper, washing of the feet, Judas' betrayal, the appearance of Jesus after his rising, appearance to Thomas and Pentecost. I pause in awe of just thinking about the significance of this place. On my heart the whole time was a question to Jesus: "What was on your heart as you ate this meal with your friends?" We had prayed on the Mt. of Olives where he sweat blood. His anquish must have been on his heart at the meal. Yet he chooses still to love in the midst of the darkness of betrayal. He chooses to love and show an example of being a servant (he gets up and washes their feet). This was personaly moving to me because the priesthood was confired upon the disciples in this place as well as the institution of the Eucharist. We ended the day at the Church of St. Peter in Galicantue.This is the sight where Jesus is put on trial before the council of the high priests who put him in their prison. They floged Jesus 39 times. Then they lowered Jesus with a rope, his hands tied, into a cistern where the water was up to his waist so he couldn't sit down. Reflect on Jesus, cut with open wounds in this dirty water overnight, cold and tired from the beating.
We all stood in this cistern and remained in silence and prayer. We ended the day here in preparation for tomorrow. We will wake up early 4:45 am and travel the Via Dolorosa (the way of the cross). Then we celebrate mass in the tomb of our Lord. Good night...its been full, powerful, awe filled day. Thanks be to God Fr. Michael.

Angels we have heard on high

We begin Tuesday with mass at the Shepherd's field. Here is wher the angels appeared to the poor shepherds tending their flock. We offered mass in a cave believed to had been used by the shepherd's at the time of our Lords birth. These shepherd would bring their flock into the cave and sleep at the entrance to protect against the wild animals that roamed the night. Mass was beautiful reflecting on the humiliy and simplicity of Jesus being born in a cave amongst farm animals. This impressed upon me the great accessibility Jesus comes in to offer his life for all and not just some. From here we visited the place of our Lord's birth. This sight in the possession of the Greek Orthodox, Armenian and the Roman Catholic Church. There was a long line of pilgrims eager to touch the sight of our Lord's birth. The wait was a prayerful reflection of Mary's heart and mind as she waited for the birth of her son. Hundereds of people filed in to just touch the spot in hopes that there prayers would be heard. This truly was a blessed moment for all of us. We sang "joy to the world" in the cave praying that peace and joy would resound in all points of the world that are desperate for peace. From here we visited the Catholic Church built adjacent to the church of the nativity. Under this church was the grotto of St. Joseph where he received the message from the angel to flee to Egypt for avoid the Herod's rath. This was a sight of many prayers for the parishs back home. I place all of the petitions I had from church on the place of birth and offered them up to God. How blessed we are to be here.

Overwhelmed with Mystery

O.K. We are back. I missed yesterday because of some complications with the hotel rooms. Lets pick up with the last two days as you can see from a few pictures. on 2-13-12 we first visited Magdala where Mary of Magdala is from. This is in very close proximity to the multiplication of the loaves spot and capernaum. Here we briefly talked about the close relationship Mary had with Jesus and how important the woman were in Jesus' public ministry. Mary's father owned a fishing fleet of around 264 boats in Magdala which made him a wealthy man. This would mean that Mary also had money to help fund Jesus' mission. We then visited the spot of the multiplication of loaves and fish. This was very close to the sermon on the mount (a half mile away...if you recall that Jesus preached to 5,000 there and they must have been hungry). There is a beautiful Church erected over this sight with beautiful mosaics dating back to the 4th Century. It was clear to see the proximity of the sermon from the miracle of the multiplicaton. These would have happened in clear view of the beautiful Sea of Galilee. We celebrated mass on Mt. Tabor. Yes, the mountain where the Lord was transfigured before Peter, James and John. This mountain is 1,900 ft above sea level and is certain to be the one that Jesus was transfigure on. There is a beautiful gold mosaic above the main altar that is radiant gold with the light coming through the windows of the Church. We sang and had a deeply moving celebration of Eucharist here as we realized why the Lord revealed his Glory. This event took place 8 days after the question to Peter of "Who do you say that I am?" Perhaps Jesus was not completely satisfied with their conviction so he pulls his disciples up the mountain that they would be convinced of his glory. Jesus would leave Mt. Tabor to go into Jerusaleum to be crucified. We finished the day off with the Church of the visitation. Here is where Mary traveled from Nazareth to spend some time with Elizabeth who was found with child. Elizabeth was 69 yrs old and 6 months pregnant. Here on the wall is the Magnificate of Mary which is written on the wall in most of the languages of the world. Elizabeth lived in a house, not a cave because Zachariah was a high priest (they were very well off). Mary presence was very palpable here,calling us into deeper humility and faith in the Father that in him all things are possible. We ended the day traveling into Bethlehem and having a nice meal.

Jesus' Ministry

Today we set out to encounter Jesus in his public ministry. We began our rather windy day with an early morning visit of our Lord at the Primacy of Peter. To help you enter in, if you read John 21:1-14 you will be familiar with Jesus asking Peter "do you love me?". We prayed on this very sight as the waves rolled in on a beautiful morning. The shores were filled with cround up shells from thousands of years ago. Peter's remorse was palpable there as we were all internally able to associate with Peter who had denied Jesus 3 times. We learned the significance of the 153 fish was because there are 153 species of fish in the sea. The number represents hoew Jesus' gospel is for all peoples. We moved from there to caperneaum were Jesus spent most of his public ministry. Here is where Peter's house was (the site of Jesus healing his mother in law. There is an octagon church excavated which became an early church for the Christians. Caperneaum was a prime site for Jesus to preach his message because it was a major passage way for caravans to going north and south. People would hear of his word and share it to great distances. Some 50 yards away is the synagogue where Jesus gave his bread of life discourse in John 6. We next celebrated mass in the mount of beatitudes. This is where Jesus Preached this sermon to over 5,000 men not including childrenthe acoustics are phenomenal and Jesus could have been easily heard From a boat or from the lower level of the hill. After a nice relaxing lunch we headed up the mountains to Caesarea Philippi where Peter made his first confession that Esus was the Christ. Here There is a huge rock face that holds the sight for ancient worship of foreign God like Zeus, pan,hermia , etc. there is a whole in which sacrifices were thrown into which also is a natural water spring. It was thought that if the sacrifice didn't come out with blood in the water then it was accepted by the god. Well after seeing this thank the Lord we believe in him. There were Rock niches all along the face of the wall where statues to gods were placed for worship. Interesting enough, this natural spring is a tributary into the Jordanfrom which Jesus was baptized. We all renewed our baptismal vows here inunison with Peter's declaration that Jesus was the Christ. All were overjoyed and playful with the renewed spirit of the natural refreshing spring and the renewal of spirit. We ended the day with a refreshing dinner and relaxing evening overlooking the sea of Galilee.

Mary's Day

What a beautiful day with Mary. We spent the whole day with her, visiting some very significant places of her life and our faith. As you follow, note that our itinerary has changed compared to the one posted previously. We began the day at Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle. Today in Israel is the Sabbath for the many Jewish people of the area ( the country is only 1.5%Christian). There is little to no work on the Sabath. Cana was a short 15 minute drive. When we arrived we were able to bless and have the present couples renew their vows there ( remember Cana is the first place Jesus began his miracles). There is a strong sense of Mary's presence here.  Mothers are a strong influence in the Jewish culture. Mary tells the servants to " do whatever he tells you.". This miracle of changing water into wine would reveal for the first time his divinity. We blessed those present who have lost their spouses. We went down into the crypt where the wedding ceremony would have occurred. There was the remains of an old cleansing basin that perhaps Jesus would have used to wash his hands before the ceremony. After we spent time in prayer. We learned that there were 6 jars at the party which is an incomplete number and thus impure. 7 is a perfect number for the Jews. We find the 7 th jar at the cross as the chalice we partake of at Mass collects the blood of completion that Jesus comes to bring "it is finished."
From here we moved to Nazareth. This was the home of Mary, place of the immaculate conception and place where Jesus grew up. We began in Jesus' home. Wow! FYI, Jesus grew up in a cave and these caves were under ground. There were steps leading down into a round room with an elevated rock in the middle on which they ate meals. In the back of each cave was a lower level where the animals were kept ( as well as the oven for baking bread). Again Mary was very present here as well as Jesus and Joseph. It is clear that Mary was an extremely strong woman walking twice a day a half mile one way to get water at the well. The town of Nazareth was extremely compact only holding a max of 250 residents in the time of Jesus. The whole town seemed a measure of 6-8 acres large. From here we moved to the cathedral of the annunciation. My friends I cannot express the beauty of this place. Each major country from around the world has donated a mural througout the church. We celebrated mass in the cript ( under the cathedral, which is the largest in the middle east.... p.s. the United States donated the altar in the cathedral.). For our mass we celebrated right next to the spot where Mary said yes. This was truly a blessed and overwhelming experience to call down the same Holy Spirit who became flesh in Mary's womb to now become flesh in the Eucharist. Truly we were all humbled to the power of Mary's Yes. Her yes changed the world. We were encouraged that our yes each day can constantly change the world as we receive Jesus in our Yes to his will. The power of this place, this town was quite overwhelming for most everyone as we sat and prayed with the power of this Place. We enjoyed lunch and then visited Stella Maris which means " Star of the Sea.". This spot looks over the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.....wow. She looks over all vessels as they pass by for protection. It is also home of the cave where Elijah hid from jezabell. (1 kings 18). This church is on Mt Carmel which is the center of the Carmelite order for the world. Elijah is the patron saint of fertility and of the sick. Couples daily come to pray to get pregnant and are often granted their prayer. Also we saw many lame come in to pray in the cave and ask for healing. The whole group lit candles and offered up prayers for the petitions we have carried with us and those of you back home. We ended the day with a beautiful view of the Mediterranean sea and nice dinner to celebrate the 11 anniversary of Magnificate Travel. ( more to come). Geralyn is working her hardest to get the pictures up..stay tuned Fr Michael.

pardon the brevity of the last blog, we are working in aramaic here and different rules....so 1 1/2 hour bus ride which exposed us to the perceived place of Mary's birth (Sipharis) a town but 5 miles from Cana where we will visit tommorrow. We celebrated mass as Chiesa Di S. Pietro Tiberiade which is St. Peter of the keys in the town of Tiberius overlooking the sea of Galilee. Everyone is tired and eager for a good night sleep. The schedule has been adjusted a bit from the previous posts. Tommorrow we go to the Church of the Nativity and renew wedding vows at Cana. I will share this tomorrow. The sea of Galilee is breathtaking. I am heading to pray on the sea shore before bed.

We have arrived safely in Jerusaleum . We had a smooth flight from Houston to Frankfort. Perry Calais was blessed to spend 8 hours with two infant children on both sides of him. One was nursing and one was crying (screaming)the whole time. Our transition into Tel Aviv was smooth. We had a 1 1/2 hour

Prayer Service Feb. 18

Days 10: Saturday, February 18, 2012

Trip Home:

During the flight home try to take some prayer time to recollect (re-collect) the graces of your privileged time in the land of Jesus, Our Lord.

Between naps this can be most helpful – blessed, because:

- When you get home there will be a backlog to attend…

- While your experience is fresh, you want to prayerfully attend to it. This helps one deepen and retain the gifts of the pilgrimage…

-  If you didn't journal during the pilgrimage, a few words now will help your recall later.

A few questions may help you get started:

1.  My faith, my heart was most touched by ….

(this can be more than one place, event, person…)

2.  I was surprised….

3.  The most beautiful place was….

4.  I felt closest to God…

5.  I would like to ask Jesus..

6.  I wish…

7.  I want to spend time praying with…

8.  If I were ever to return to the Holy Land…

9.  It made me sad…

Faith Conversation:

After speaking to the Lord about these and other topics that come to you, it would be an enrichment to share these reflections with a fellow pilgrim, or two, or three….

Prayer Service Feb. 17

Day 9: Friday,  February 17, 2012

Jericho, Mt. of Temptations, Greek Orthodox Monastery, Qumran, Dead Sea, House of Mary and Martha.

Today we travel out into the Judean desert to the ancient city of Jericho …..Here Joshua led the Israelites out of the forty years in the desert into the promised land…"and the walls came tumbling down"…..

Jericho was the scene of:

• Blind Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46)
• the publican, Zachaeus (Lk 19:1)
• the Parable of the Good Samaritan is set on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho (Lk 10:29)

Across the fertile oasis of Jericho the Mountain of the Temptation of Jesus rises. (Mt 4:1-11; Mk 1:12; Lk 4:1). After His Baptism, Jesus went to pray on this desolate, threatening mountain.  Here Jesus is tested by Satan, who questions, is this the Messiah? This passage makes clear the kind of Messiah Jesus is….What kind of Church Jesus builds….

He..It lives by the Word of God…

He..It does not challenge God's promises…

He..It adores and serves God alone….

On this mountain we see Jesus rejecting in anticipation the temptations His Church would have to live through.

• Jesus takes on our temptations
• Jesus is our example of fidelity to God's life within us.
• Jesus is even more than our example. In grace – God's life within us – Jesus empowers us to be faithful to the Divine Life of  Love, Truth, Fidelity, Gratitude, Peace. 

As we travel to Jericho, do you feel today more like

- Bartimaeus…

- Zachaeus…

- the wounded man on the way to Jericho…

-  the Good Samaritan…

-  Jesus on the mountain being tempted…

Recall the story you are attracted to… let it draw out what is in your heart at this moment…In trust speak your heart to Jesus, The Savior who loves you so…..

– Silent Prayer –

Lord Jesus, let anything in my mind, heart, attitude that is different from what is in Your mind, heart, attitude come tumbling down like the Walls of Jericho came down at Joshua's prayer…

SING:

Joshua at the Battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho

Joshua at the Battle of Jericho

And the walls came tumbling down. (3X)

We pray the Sorrowful Mysteries:

1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus

Prayer Service Feb. 16

Day 8: Thursday, February 16, 2012

Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Church of St. Ann, Pools of Bethesda, Ecce Homo Arch, Lithostrotos

Today, we enter into the Holiest moment of Jesus' life.

the DEATH and RESURRECTION

of JESUS of NAZARETH

our God, our Savior, Our Brother, our Lord

Jesus as we walk the very stone You walked as You carried my cross for me – join my heart to your suffering heart filled with Divine Love for me … for the world … for all Your people … Teach me to join my suffering to Your infinite suffering … Don't let me waste it in self-pity… resentment … unforgiving …. Like Mary, St. John, Mary Magdalen, Mary Cleopas strengthen me to accompany You, suffering, confident that with You there is always a Resurrection …

Thank You, Jesus, for bringing me to the very place of Your most holy Death and Resurrection…

May my walking in your footsteps bind my heart forever to Your Sacred Heart….

Let us pray the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary

1. The Baptism of Jesus

2. Jesus’ First Miracle at the Wedding of Cana

3. Proclamation of the Kingdom of God

4. The Transfiguration 

5. The Institution of the Eucharist

Prayer Service Feb. 15

Day 7: Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Mt. of Olives, Church of Pater Noster, Church of All Nations, Dominus Flanit, St. Peter in Galicantue, Dormition of Our Lady, the Upper Room of the Last Supper

Song:  "Stay Here"

Stay here and keep watch with me,

Watch and pray.

Watch and pray. (3X)

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem…I yearned to gather your children together…but you would not."

Song:  "Stay Here"  (2X)

What a holy pilgrimage we have these last days here in Jerusalem. Here the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord happened…Lord Jesus, what a privilege to pray in the Garden of Your agony…to pray the Our Father where You first spoke our most treasured prayer…to stand where You wept over Jerusalem and over my own sins and the sins of my world…to go to the spot where Your torture began…to visit the place of Your Mother's death, where you took her body and soul into heaven…Take the souls of my beloved dead into Your Kingdom…

silently name your beloved deceased……

And Lord, to go to the place of the first Mass, the Cenacle of the Last Supper…You know that Your time on earth is closing. You will not leave us…In Your Love You do the unimaginable:

He took bread and wine….

This is My Body…

This is My Blood…

Do this in memory of Me!

Song: "I Will Never Forget You"

I will never forget you My people.

I have carved you on the palm of My hand.

I will never forget you,

I will not leave you orphaned.

I will never forget my own.

Today we pray the Glorious Mysteries:

1. The resurrection of our Lord

2. The Ascension into Heaven

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit

4. The Assumption of Mary

5. The Coronation of Mary

Prayer Service Feb.14

Day 6: Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Bethlehem, Shepherd's Field, Church of the Nativity, St. Jerome's Chapel, Church of John the Baptist, Church of the Visitation

The Mystery of the Nativity of Our Lord fills our pilgrimage today. Emmanuel ….. God-with-us … "the open, historical, visibility of God" … Here is the Miracle beyond all comprehension …

Into the hill country near Jerusalem we will see the rugged country Mary of Nazareth traveled to be with her cousin Elizabeth, expecting a child in her old age …

Is anything impossible to God?    We enter into the joy of the two pregnant women both amazed at the mighty deeds of God . . . Can you enter into their joy,....  this image of the meetings of friends in the Lord….the great gift of spiritual friendship?…. Here John the Baptist was born and lived until he went into the desert and began to preach and baptize to prepare for the Messiah….As we leave we are amazed at the rugged land Mary traveled . . .

Then we come to Bethlehem, "House of Bread: … the birthplace of our Eucharistic Lord…Here the Maker of the Universe was given to place…Here the simplest marginalized shepherds are invited by angels to visit God-with-us…Here Wise Men, led by a drawing star ended their long search… they found the long Desired one.

Each of us has a "star" in our heart … a deep Desire that only God can fill … How do I name my hearts deep Desire?....How do I follow it to the Lord?....May our pilgrimage to Bethlehem put us in touch with our "inner star" drawing us ever deeper into the Mind and Heart of Jesus, our Savior…

Song: Deep within us, shared among us

May we ever keep

The Mind and Heart of Jesus Christ

We pray the Sorrowful Mysteries:

1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus

Jerusalem

The City of God, Jerusalem for 30 centuries has been the Holy City of God.  From Abraham's time it was Salem, the City of Peace. David chose Jerusalem as his capital, bringing the Ark of the Covenant there. Solomon built the great First Temple where the Ark would be praised and sacrifices given.

Prayer Service Feb. 13

Day 5: Monday, February 13, 2012

Mount Tabor, Jerusalem

- Song: "I Want to Sing"

I want to sing, I want to shout Your praise, O Lord!

Awake and sing my soul;

Awake and play my harp and zither!

Let the dawning day join in praise.

Right: I will celebrate Your love forever, Adonai,

Age after age my words shall proclaim Your faithfulness

For I claim that love is built to last forever

And Your faithfulness founded firmly in the heavens.

Left: The heavens are Yours and the earth is Yours

You formed the world and all it holds,

You created the north and south;

Tabor and Hermon hail Your name with joy.

Right: Happy the people who learn to acclaim You!

Adonai, they will live in the light of Your favor;

They will rejoice in Your name all day

And exalt in Your righteousness.

Left: You are our glory and our strength

You, by Your kindness, raise our fortunes

Our shield and our king

Belong to God, the Holy One of Israel.

Song: "I Want to Sing"

Today we should sing!

We travel to two not only holy but most beautiful Mounts.

Tabor, the place of the Transfiguration of Jesus….

Tabor is a Beautiful mountain overlooking the lovely, fertile, Esdraelon plain. Jesus tales Peter, James and John and climbs to the top of Tabor to pray.  There His divinity shines through His humanity.  He is transfigured.

"This is My Son, the Chosen One  Listen to Him."

Each of us have moments of Transfiguration… there have been the people…places…events … songs … stories … pictures … where God's Presence has shown forth for us.  Can you recall a time, place of transfiguration when you knew God was Personally Present to you… In gratitude recall this Gift of God in life ….

Like Peter we want to stay in the holy place forever; to "pitch our tent" there.  But Jesus moves us on to build the Kingdom in us, through us. However, in the sacred gift of memory we carry this gift of God's Presence, always.

On to Mt. Carmel, in Old Testament Times said to be Beautiful.  The word "Karem" became a synonym of "beautiful," "fruitful," "lavish." No wonder she who is God's sinless creature, our Mother Mary is called Our Lady of Mt. Carmel…We will honor the beauty of her total openness to God on the mount where Elijah disputed the false prophets, defending his faith…(1 Kings 18). Where the Prophet heard the Lord God not in the storm, but in the gentle breeze (1 Kings 19:13). Here the great Carmelite Order developed in the 13th century, placing themselves under the protection of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, God's Most Beautiful One…..

Who are Carmelites we have known… How has their faith, that reaches back to this holy mountain, touched ours? ….

After prayer at the chapel of Stella Maris we go to the New Testament town of Cana, the place of Jesus' first miracle…About four miles from Nazareth, Jesus and his new disciples came to a wedding feast of a family friend.  Mary was already present. This first miracle of Jesus deserves many days of meditation:

• Jesus' first miracle happens at the request of His Mother…
• A wedding of a man and woman in holy matrimony is the scene of the first miracle. This is no chance encounter. The gift of self in love is an expression of Creator God's eternal love for us….
• Commitment be it wedded, religious life, Baptismal, is a sign of God's Presence. We saw this today in Paul's imprisonment in Caesarea, in Mary's trust when Jesus did not seem to respond to her request that He come to assist their friend in their embarrassment of no more wine…..
• The joy of the wedding feast of family and friends is an image of heaven, the New Jerusalem, 

Where God's love replaces love for completion, jealousy, envy…

Where brotherhood builds the Kingdom of God…
Where Love reflects God's Presence in us, among us……

• Jesus turns water into wine!

Later, Jesus will turn wine into His Blood!...

Lord, this day, take my heart and turn it entirely to Your Love…..

Today we pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary:

1. Agony of Our Lord in the Garden

2. Jesus is Scourged at the Pilar

3. Crowning with thorns

4. Carrying the Cross

5. Crucifixion of Our Lord Jesus

Prayer Service Feb. 12

Day 4: Sunday, February 12, 2012

Mary's Well, St. Joseph's Church, Basilica of the Annunciation, Caesarea Philippi

Today is Mary's day!

We travel to Nazareth, the place of the Incarnation.

And the Lord was made flesh and dwelt among us. (Jn 1:14)

Returning from exile in Babylonia, the House of David was settled in several towns of Galilee.  The families of Mary and Joseph settled in Nazareth, a town of about 150 inhabitants in Jesus' lifetime.  This extended family was clan of the Nazarene, that is the "shoot of Jesse," father of King David. From this clan of David the Messiah, the Christ, would come…..

Here we will walk where the builder, Joseph, known to his neighbors as a "just man" and Mary, the sinless one walked,…prayed,…laughed,…danced,…cried,…worked,…slept,…ate,…and longed for the coming of the Messiah…

How human is Mary to me?... I know the story so well, does the end deprive me of feeling her confusion seeing an angel:

"Rejoice so highly favored! The Lord is with you… Do not be afraid; you have won God's favor.  Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and be called the Son of the Most High…"

"But how can this come about since I am a virgin?"

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And the child will be…called the Son of God."

"I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me…"

GOD IS WITH US!

All of us have "be it done to me" moments…  Usually it takes us longer than Our Mother Mary to surrender our control in loving trust in God….

With Mary of Nazareth can you recall your "be it done to me moments and bring our Mother into your place of pain and confusion…

Have you in prayer sat and entered into St. Joseph's confusion, hurt, disappointment, possible anger… It would be a painful wait before an angel would assure Joseph of God's amazing Incarnation in his betrothed…

Where have you had to learn trust by waiting on God's time….What did you learn?....

Song: Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace

The Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women

And blest is the fruit of your womb, Jesus

Holy Mary, Mother of God

Pray for us sinners now

And at the hour of death. Amen!

We pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary:

1.  The Resurrection of our Lord

2.  The Ascension into Heaven

3.  The Descent of the Holy Spirit

4.  The Assumption of Mary

5.  The Coronation of Mary