Sabbatical Journal 9 : O Holy City - July 16, 17 & 19

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Today Alene and I explored the Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, St. Stephen's martyrdom site and church, the Church of All Nations adjacent to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Dominus Flevit Church where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. 

A couple of days ago we explored the Old City of Jerusalem with a tour group and rushed through the Church of the Holy Sepulcher so today we went back and saw a bit more of it. After seeng the resurrected Jesus in a new way in Manoppello, we were struck by the focus in Jerusalem on Christ's passion and death. I loved the Garden of Gethsemane recreated by the Franciscans but I found I wanted to focus on Jesus' quiet prayer time there with the many trees and birds and lizards. The focus was largely on Jesus' passion. I found it meaningful to lean against the rock and pray with him, but for me that was not the only moment I could imagine in that place with Jesus. It was also a tranquil retreat for Jesus and his disciples. Likewise, at the Garden Tomb yesterday I could envision Jesus' burial place and prayed in thanksgiving for Jesus' sacrifice for us but was mindful that he is risen! Of course, this city is not where Jesus did most of his active ministry, and thus the focus here is on his saving death.
A refrain that Alene has often mentioned in this pilgrimage has been "do not look for the living among the dead." And yet... having imagined afresh that resurrection, I am freshly grateful for the sacrifice that Jesus made. I came to church of the Holy Sepulcher with gratitude in my heart. I have a new sense of gratitude for the martyrs of the church also. Having seen Cecilia's church in Rome, I was awestruck by the rocky place beneath the church of St. Stephen here in Jerusalem with orthodox icons depicting Stephen's death by stoning. The place of his death felt heavy in a way because of the gravity of his sacrifice, but it filled me with gratitude for the witness that Stephen showed to so many.
In the icon we see Jesus staring down at Stephen, and he looks grave as his beloved disciple is being killed. But I imagined Stephen in that moment, and the lifeline that that vision of Jesus gave him. He was not alone. He was witnessing life among the dead of his time. Calling them to new life, a life that would never end.
Hoy Alene y yo exploraba el Monte de los Olivos, el Jardín de Getsemaní, la Iglesia y el lugar del martirio de Esteban, la Iglesia de Todas las Naciones al lado del Jardín de Getsemaní y la iglesia de Dominus Flevit donde Jesus lloraba por Jerusalén.
Hace un par de días exploramos la Ciudad Vieja de Jerusalén con un grupo de turistas y corrimos a través de la Iglesia del Santo Sepulcro, así que hoy volvimos y vimos un poco más. Después de ver al Jesús resucitado de una manera nueva en Manoppello, nos sorprendió el enfoque en Jerusalén en la pasión y muerte de Cristo. Me encantó el Jardín de Getsemaní recreado por los franciscanos, pero descubrí que quería centrarme en el momento de oración tranquila de Jesús con los muchos árboles, pájaros y lagartos. El enfoque fue en gran parte en la pasión de Jesús. Encontré significativo apoyarme contra la roca y orar con él, pero para mí ese no fue el único momento que pude imaginar en ese lugar con Jesús. También fue un retiro tranquilo para Jesús y sus discípulos. De la misma manera, ayer en la Tumba del Jardín, pude imaginar el lugar de entierro de Jesús y oré en acción de gracias por el sacrificio de Jesús por nosotros, ¡pero estaba consciente de que él ha resucitado! Por supuesto, esta ciudad no es donde Jesús hizo la mayor parte de su ministerio activo, y por lo tanto, el enfoque aquí está en su muerte salvadora.


Un refrán que Alene ha mencionado a menudo en esta peregrinación ha sido "no busques entre los muertos a los vivos". Y sin embargo ... habiendo imaginado de nuevo esa resurrección, estoy recién agradecido por el sacrificio que Jesús hizo. Vine a la iglesia del Santo Sepulcro con gratitud en mi corazón. También tengo un nuevo sentido de gratitud por los mártires de la iglesia. Después de haber visto la iglesia de Cecilia en Roma, quedé asombrado por el lugar rocoso debajo de la iglesia de San Esteban aquí en Jerusalén con íconos ortodoxos que representan la muerte de Esteban por lapidación. El lugar de su muerte se sintió pesado en cierto modo debido a la gravedad de su sacrificio, pero me llenó de gratitud por el testimonio que Stephen mostró a tantos.

En el ícono vemos a Jesús mirando fijamente a Esteban, y se ve serio cuando matan a su amado discípulo. Pero me imaginé a Stephen en ese momento, y la línea de vida que le dio esa visión de Jesús. Él no estaba solo. Fue testigo de la vida entre los muertos de su tiempo. Llamándolos a una nueva vida, una vida que nunca terminaría.

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