Dormition Abbey's Mystery Painting

ADVENT

I love this painting!!

Just look at them. They are so joyful! They are so happy!

When I got home and was looking at my pictures, this one was between two different places I visited and I couldn't remember where it was taken! Egads!!!! Was it the last picture I took here, or the first picture I took there...???

So I began to search. And I guess no one else was as enchanted with it as I was, because several days on Google (and I'm a pretty good searcher!) only turned up one single photo of it. The photo was labeled "Lower Chapel in the the Basilica of Dormition".

So at least I wasn't nuts! And I was able to concentrate my search. But I am still baffled! I cannot find out anything about it. I was most surprised that the brochure I got at the Basilica did not mention it. Although it did mention every single other side altar in the Chapel and the Crypt, the only thing I can find that even begins to match my memory is the statement "The first two altars on the northern wall have no particular design so far..." I can only guess that the brochure is from before this painting was done, and it's just temporary until another altar mosaic is installed! Heaven forbid!! !!!

The Dormition Abbey has been renamed the Hagia Maria Sion Abbey. I've also seen it called the Basilica of Dormition and Church of the Dormition. So good luck if you are trying to find it on Google! LOL!

But just look at Mary and Elizabeth in this painting.

They were kin. Some references say kinswoman. So they knew each other, were related. Maybe they didn't see each other often since they lived in different towns. My goodness, it was approximately 100 miles from Nazareth to Ein Kerem! Maybe that made any time the were together that much sweeter. They loved each other and enjoyed being together. Even though Elizabeth was much older than Mary, they were friends.

Now Mary finds out from the Angel Gabriel that she is to bare the Savior, the Messiah! Wow! She must have been elated!!

Mary also knows that her beloved relative Elizabeth is also pregnant, has been blessed with a miracle!

"She sent with haste to a Judian town in the hill country". Lk. 1:39. With haste. She is going quickly to Elizabeth. She is overjoyed at her news and wants to share it with her friend, her kinswoman. Plus, she is so happy for Elizabeth to have conceived in her old age! Maybe she is just twitching with excitement! Oh the miles must have seemed endless as Mary made her way to Ein Kerem to see her!

There, in the distance! She sees Zacharia's house! Does her step quicken? Does her heart? Is she becoming breathless with her excitement?

And then there is Elizabeth, calmly going about her daily routine. She has no idea Mary is on her way. No email, no phone, no letter. She doesn't know her young family member is so close!

The news of her pregnancy is no longer a shock to her or Zacharia, but at 6 months pregnant she is never without a constant reminder of the miracle! Other mothers know, the width of your stomach out in front, bumping into things, making your clothes tight, catching every spill! The pressure on your back at night, on your bladder all the time, the new always-tired feeling. At 6 months, she can already feel his movement.

And she knows her baby is a boy! Stop and think how astounding that was 2000 years ago!!! It's a boy, and his name is John. She is secure in that knowledge because her faith is great.

And like any woman who carries a baby, especially a first-time mother of her extraordinary circumstances, she must bask in her pregnancy. Just revel in every little change to her body. She basks in it; wears the knowing smile of having a delightful secret. Being in constant touch with an invisible visitor that only she can hear and feel, only she is aware of.

Maybe she is sweeping or grinding something or sewing...maybe doing her daily work a bit mindlessly, daydreaming about her baby, maybe humming to herself and to John. Does she stop now and then to rub her belly? Even in her old age, I'll bet she has no complaints for any backaches or fatigue. She doesn't care because her dream of having a baby is coming true! Her prayers have been answered! Any discomfort will be brushed aside as nothing compared to the ache of an empty womb. She is the miracle of motherhood.

Then, Elizabeth hears something, a visitor! And she recognizes Mary's voice immediately and her heart leaps with joy -no wait -it's the baby!! And Elizabeth has full immediate knowledge! Mary will bare the Messiah! Little Mary is to be the mother of the Savior of Israel! The answer to thousands of years of prayers of her people! The time has come and a Deliverer is on the way! Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and with happiness and joy!

She grabs Mary in a loving embrace and blesses Mary! With just a few words from Elizabeth, Mary knows that she understands and believes. The two of them - how blessed they are, and they both know and acknowledge it! They both realize that they are part of God's salvation of their people - their embrace, their hug, their touch conveys so much! The love in their eyes for each other! Is that a tear?

I sat under this painting and I felt such joy! I could not stop smiling!! On my trip we rarely had time to stop to enjoy the site we were visiting. But this time, in this place, we did get a few minutes. The colors, the expressions on their faces...it was just awesome - and I knew it! I knew I was feeling something special and wonderful!

I wanted to stay, to sit, to meditate. I wanted to just look at the beautiful mosaic which was effecting me and just smile.

All the times I had hungered for a spiritual experience! And I knew I was having one, I knew I was touching something special!! I was aware of the wonderfulness of it while it was happening.

I smile now just remembering, just looking at the photo. And see that girl in the corner peeking through the door? I'm going to claim that is me. Watching. Smiling.

I will forever love this image of Mary & Elizabeth, I will never forget.

Thank you God for allowing me to feel your presence in my mind this day.  Thank you Jesus for allowing your Mother to smile down on my heart this day.  Thank you Holy Spirit for allowing me to feel your essence in the lasting effects in my soul, still today.  Amen.


**Update:  Mom thinks this lovely painting is the layout for a future mosaic.  I hope she is right!!!!  The this beautiful image will be here forever for everyone to fall in love with as I did!

2012 Pilgrimage to Israel - Day 9

 

St. Joseph in Nazareth

ADVENT
Luke 1: 18-25

St. Joseph's Church in Nazareth is within the same complex as the Basilica of the Annunciation.

At the time, I wasn't exactly sure what site I was visiting or what made this place a stop on our pilgrimage and thought it was just a lovely church dedicated to St. Joseph beside the Basilica.

The funny part is that I researched and read and looked at pictures and tried hard to know about all the places I was going ahead of time. (It helped some, but in a lot of cases I realized a lot more about the site once I returned home and began this project.) Anyway, the internet said this place was called the The Church of the Nutrition and also The Church of Joseph’s Workshop.

And to confuse matters even more, the postcard I purchased here is titled "Church of the Holy Family". So I'm not going to take any responsibility nor feel bad for not knowing where I was or what I was doing here. (Again, I'm sure Hillel told us and I missed it or just couldn't process all he said at the time. As I've said before and will say many times, Hillel was amazing in his knowlege of everywhere and everything in Israel!)

So, here was this little church which was so small and plain compared to the giant Basilica. Someone made the comparison that it was a "solid and unpretentious building, very much in the shadow of the imposing Annunciation basilica — just as St Joseph himself lived in the shadow of Jesus and Mary." Thought provoking!

Most churches had decent-sized courtyards in front of them so the fact that we went up a small sidewalk and had to turn right to enter this church was very uncommon. The front of the church was almost up against a wall.

Altar of St. Joseph's Church

Inside the church was very typical of what we had been seeing in the structures built over sacred sites but on a smaller scale. A large nave with the very tall, wooden roof and tiny windows, separated on both sides by a arcade (row of arches supported by columns) with aisles on the side with a much shorter room. I believe this is a lot like the great hall of a castle.

 

Rear of St. Joseph's Church facing the Entrance Door

I have to admit that this was not a church that stuck out in my mind or excited me like some of the others. (I feel terrible saying that, I felt terrible feeling that way when I was there!) It was not particularly pretty nor did it have anything special in the way of decoration.

 Mom with her Patron Saint

There was a really beautiful statue of St. Joseph and Jesus as a child which was very nice (except for that hideous backdrop!). Mom was born on St. Joseph's feast day so she has always had a very special relationship with St. Joseph.

As the story goes, my grandparents had 4 sons Louis, George, Jerry & Kenneth. When my my mother was born on March 19th, all my grandparents friends said "oh, you must name her Josephine in honor of St. Joseph's feast day" and my grandmother's reply was something along the lines of "Are you kidding me? I've got 4 sons, I'm not giving my baby girl a boy's name!" And her name is Rosemary.  ; )

I did love this statue though, just look at the way the artist has depicted Jesus' face - so full of love. And Joseph's hand on his shoulder as protector and guide. God Bless St. Joseph for his role in taking such wonderful care of Jesus & Mary!!

St. Joseph's church is multi-leveled like all the others because it is built over a site which has been venerated for 2000 years, with numerous churches or buildings to mark the spot.

This church actually has multiple claims, including that it is built over the house of Joseph and the Holy Family, and that this is the place where he carpenter workshop was.

Of course, all of this could be true since Mary & Joseph would have lived in the same small town. They could have lived this close together. And when they returned from Egypt, it makes perfect sense that they might have settled in Joseph's original home or very close to Mary's parents. And Joseph's carpenter shop would have been right near their home, right?  

This is some sort of baptismal pool, but because of the mosaic floor they know that it is not from the time of Jesus, but might be from as early as the 1st century.

These steps lead down to a gated door which goes into a grotto where they think the actual site(s) are. It was very mysterious looking with that green light and the cool way the rails cast shadows on the steps & wall!

You'll notice there are papers at the bottom of the steps which look like kinda trashy, but those are notes written by pilgrims - prayers to St. Joseph and the Holy Family. Most of the sites we visited had this sort of thing happening. Many places have prayers, money, holy cards and pictures thrown down into them. It does detract from the beauty of the site, but I guess it is a common practice.

We didn't get to go down inside this cave, but behind the gate is a chamber with water cisterns carved into the rock by the early dwellers of Nazareth. Possibly the Holy Family?

They did have some archaeological excavations outside, between the Church of St. Joseph and the Basilica of the Annunciation. It was under this strange little building/porch. It was hard to see from above, but as we left, we walked down a set of stairs and were then level with the excavations.

 The plaque stated:

 "What is left of the ancient village consists of a network of grottoes and bits of walls from various historical periods.  Going backwards in time we found first the remains of the XVII century Franciscan monastery, then the palace of the crusader archbishop of Nazareth and the humble homes with some parts datable up to the VIII century B.C.  The parts that were carved out of the soft local rock are the best preserved: cisterns for storing rainwater, silos set on different levels for storing foodstuff, a winepress, cellars for full jars, stables with mangers for the live stock, a bread oven.  The farthest to the east is traditionally knows as the "Virgin's kitchen' because of its proximity to the sacred grotto."

Now I don't know which way is east, but from where I'm standing to take this picture, the Basilica of the Annunciation is to the right.

So I got to thinking about these ruins and meditating on the pictures I took. If this is where Joseph lived before his marriage to Mary, then this is possibly the site of his annunciation also. !!!

I thought about how the girls of the time all hoped and prayed to bare the messiah. Did the men also think like this? Did they hope and pray that they would be the father of the deliverer? Did they dream about it as the girls all did?

When Mary came to Joseph to tell him of her pregnancy, and that she was to be the mother of the messiah, how shocked poor Joseph must have been. I'm sure he thought she was either a liar or touched in the head! Poor Joseph. Since he was betrothed to Mary, how this must have hurt him. How confused and torn he must have been. He obviously loved her since he was going to "dismiss her quietly" to keep her from being stoned. Was his heart broken to think that Mary had betrayed him? So sad.

Luke 1: 18-25

But the Angel came to him as he slept and explains. Joseph woke and did as the angel instructed. How relieved he must have been! How happy to know that his beloved Mary had not deceived him, but was to be the mother of the savior of Israel! He knew the prophecies, had to be well-versed in the Torah and the words of the prophets. What a good man, what a holy man!

I'm sure he was chosen because he led a good life. God knew he would be the provider and protector of His son. Was Joseph ever scared of the awesome responsibility? Or did God grant him wondrous grace to be self-assured and confident in his roll? He just seems like he must have been a wonderful man or God would not have chosen him and Mary would not have loved him. He totally deserves this and any other church dedicated to his memory and his honor!

St. Joseph, I pray that my husband and sons be men like you.  I pray that they be good husbands and fathers.  I pray that they be good providers and protectors.  And I pray that they, like you, are holy and obedient to God and His will.  Amen.


2012 Pilgrimage to Israel - Day 4

Searching for a Spiritual Connection

I stopped in at St. Paul's Adoration Chapel for a few minutes the other day. The church is downtown and I try to stop in anytime I have business near there.

 

(this is not a great photo, I snapped it with my cell phone which doesn't do well in low light)

St. Paul's Adoration Chapel is in a small room directly off the altar of the 180 year old historic church. It just so happened that as I was in there praying I heard the sounds of the beginning of daily Mass.

(It was kinda weird since I was just on the other side of the wall, not 25 feet from the priest! I felt like I was hiding in a closet or something!)

I don't know what I was praying about at the time, but I had just gotten up to leave when I realized they were beginning the Gospel. I stood still and tried to listen to the Word. It was difficult. The priest had a very deep voice and although it was booming, it was muffled to my ears though the thick sanctuary wall. I couldn't catch many of the words.

I heard Joseph's name, and Mary.

I caught partial snatches of sentences.

I know what time of the year we are in liturgically, so I was able to narrow it down to one of a couple of stories, but couldn't hear. Stain and try as I might, I couldn't catch what was actually being said. It was frustrating.

I found myself feeling upset and sad.

And then I realized I was experiencing the same sort of anxious feelings I had when I was in Israel on my pilgrimage!

The crowds, the rush, the noise, the distractions...all worked to make it next to impossible to have any sort of heavenly experience at the various sites. They hustle visitors through so many of the sites, and although I understand their need to give everyone a chance. The lines are long and I'm sure there are pilgrims who would throw themselves on a site and remain there in prayer for a hour if left to it, heck-fire, I might be one of them! But they had to move us all along so the next person could have a slice of a moment with the spiritual. The longing to connect - to have an epiphany, some sort of divine bonding was very stressful....and the discouragement when it didn't happen made my heart ache.

For me, it made for a frustrating experience several times in the holiest of sites and I came away with a sense of discouragement at my lack of divine encounter... and to be truthful, maybe even a tiny bit of shame and not having been able to center my heart and mind to give the scared spot the honor it was due.

There I said it. I was ashamed that I couldn't connect with My Lord in the sites where He lived and breathed.

I was maybe even hurt. Why didn't I? What was it? Why weren't my prayers for an encounter answered? What was wrong with me that I could connect with the holy place??? Why was God holding himself back from me???

Well, it was an ongoing internal struggle during the entire pilgrimage and after I returned home too.

But back to my experience in the Adoration Chapel.

So I left feeling frustrated and sad and knowing that it was like the feelings I had experienced in Israel. And I thought about it as I drove away. And it occurred to me that if I want to know what the priest is saying, all I have to do is go to any missal or any one of a hundred websites to find out what the Gospel reading was (btw Mt 1:18-25. Thanks www.catholic.org!).

Any person on any day can read, meditate, savor, find meaning in and dwell on the Word of God. I can take my time, put it in my heart, grow a tiny bit more in my quest to be a good daughter of God and sister of Christ.

And then I realized that this is what I'm doing with this blog. I am taking my lack of spiritual encounter to the awesome religious site and am making that link by reading the stories in the bible, meditating on my photos, recalling the moments I was physically there, reminiscing on the sounds, smells, sites, feelings and putting it all together here.

I am turning my frustration (& embarrassment?) to peace.

I am so happy to have this journaling project to help me to take one of the most wonderful events of my life and use it to make many, many connections to God.

Lord, thank you for "holding out" on me during my pilgrimage so that I can link your Word with my experience for an even greater meditative encounter now which I can savor over time and enjoy to it's fullest.  Amen.

Basilica of the Annunciation - the Church

ADVENT

When we entered the upper Sanctuary of the Basilica of the Annunciation there was another pilgrim group on the altar celebrating Mass. It's hard to "tour" a site while Holy Mass is going on, but it happened to us when we were having mass a few times and although I vaguely remember people moving around the outskirts, everyone is respectful and I never remember there being any problem with it.

You can see how the railing surrounds the opening which looks down into the Grotto where the actual Annunciation took place. This is a huge church, and I can just imagine it filled with worshipers who are able to file past the cavity on their way to Holy Communion and gaze down into the Grotto where it all began.

We contented ourselves with quietly checking out the walls which were covered in mosaics donated from countries all around the world.

My Dad always told me if you can't says something nice, don't say anything at all. I don't always follow that advise, but I'm going to when it comes to the "mosaic" donated by the United States...

Oh well.

There was a gorgeous, giant stained-glass window across the back that was reflecting beautifully on the floor and it took me about 8 tries to finally get the photo I wanted of it.
 

I don't know what the deal is, and I can't find anything about it on the internet, but all the wooden columns and supports for the walls and roof had small circles cut into them as you can see from the close-up above. It gave the entire church a different look for sure.

 

This is the parish church for the local Catholic community of Nazareth and the inscriptions on the Stations of the Cross are in Arabic.

The main isle was beautiful in the natural light that came in from the dome overhead when we were there and Mom captured this lovely picture of it.

Fellow pilgrims look very thoughtful when contemplating the Basilica.

 

When I look at the faces in this photo, I feel like I can identify with them. Look how they are "pondering" this sacred place. Don't they look like they are really, intensely trying to understand? To grasp?

I recounted in an early post how I struggled to make a connection with this holy site (and others). I was filled with interior anxiety because I didn't feel some all-enveloping-warm-fuzzy from being there. I was straining within my mind to unite myself to this place and imprint it on my heart forever.

I was allowed to stand within 3 feet of the spot where Gabriel spoke with Mary and told her about her part in the salvation of the world.

It's just profound!

Mary had free will just like we all do. She could have easily said no to God's plan. And so can we. But she didn't, she said yes. And helped save us all.

She became the Mother of God, the Mother of us all!

I might not have had a heart-stopping mystical moment in the Grotto, but that doesn't mean I don't have a spiritual connection with Mary.

Dearest Mary, Thank You for always being available to me in all occasions.  You have always been a wonderful guiding light in difficult times.  I am so blessed to have you to count on to stand at any of the crossroads in my life and point the way to your son, Jesus.  Amen.

 2012 Pilgrimage to Israel - Day 4

Basilica of the Annunciation - The Grotto

ADVENT   Luke 1: 26-38

Our bus pulled up to the curb so we could all hop out. Nowhere to park that giant thing in this old section of Nazareth! I was amazed the entire time at the ability of our driver Mickey to negotiate the narrow streets and tight turns!

Basilica of the Annunciation

We had to walk up the hill to the Basilica of the Annunciation, which we could see rising over the buildings. The little street was bordered on both sides with neat little shops and markets and it was hard not to stop and spend time poking through them.

Streetside shop in Nazareth, Israel

The array of delicious looking fruits and vegetables was always so colorful! It was hard not to buy a little of this and that - even though there were many which I couldn't even identify!

More shops along the road to the Basilica of the Annunciation

The spices in baskets smelled absolutely heavenly from out in the street! I wished we had time to explore and sample! I would have loved to have taken some of this back to my kids, who both cook way better than I do!

So many things to see and experience, but watch where you are going because the Israeli drivers will not stop for you to get out of the street while you gawk at the goodies on the sidewalks!

The gate leading into the courtyard of the Basilica from the street

As happened multiple times on our trip, all of a sudden there would be a door or gate in a small alley or street, and wa-la! We'd be entering into a lovely courtyard before a famous church!

The Basilica of the Annunciation

Each courtyard is unique, and this one was full of mosaics of the Virgin Mary donated from countries all over the world, as was the inside of the upper chapel. (I'll save those for another time!)

To the left of the entrance was a terraced hill which led up to a courtyard overlooking ruins of ancient Nazareth and going higher still was the Church of St. Joseph.

As we stood in the courtyard listening to Hillel give us information from his extensive knowledge of history, The White Mosque began it's mid-day "call to prayer". They were broadcasting their message quite loudly (due to the close proximity of so many Christian pilgrims?) and everyone was forced to stop wait as we couldn't hear the person next to us, much less poor Hillel! I looked up to see if I could spot the minaret and instead saw a lovely church up on the hill above us!

the Salesian Church, Nazareth, Israel

I looked it up when we returned and found out is the Salesian Church, which has a convent and orphanage built by the French. It was very pretty sitting so white against the gorgeous blue of the sky we had that day!

Hillel finished and we entered the front of the church through a gorgeously carved door and found ourselves in the lower level of the church which contains the Grotto of the Annunciation.

The Grotto of the Annunciation

We came into the Grotto from the right side. Directly in front of us was an altar which is used for serving Mass in this holy place and was a 1/2 level below us. We walked around to the front on a balcony to get into line.

Above the altar the room had a beautiful hole in the ceiling which was directly in front of the altar in the upper church. The congregation must have been able to look down directly into the Grotto as they receive Holy Communion! How awesome!!

There was a long kneeler which ran most of the length of a rail above the altar with a view directly into the Grotto, perfect for meditation on the holy site.

Pilgrims praying before the Grotto of the Annunciation

Fr. T was at the kneeler - so deep in prayer. Others were there too; everyone looking so serene. They all seemed to be so spiritually connected to the site! I yearned to be like them! I new I was looking at a sacred site, but was having a hard time connecting.

Everyone was so respectful in the grotto, only whispering, except for the quiet rebukes from the brother posted beside the cave with his breathy "ssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhh". I stood in the line and tried to pray, tried to connect, tried to center myself in the spirituality of our location.

The Grotto of the Annunciation

The line circled behind the rail, around the altar and down a set of steps to a landing in front of an iron gate in which the sacred site was. When I reached the front of the line, I could look through the ornate iron gate into the sacred spot.  

"Here the Word was made flesh"

There was an altar there built over the spot venerated as the place where the Angel Gabriel appeared to little Mary.

The Grotto of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary

But I found myself focusing on a set of ancient stairs which led up and out of the area from behind it. My imagination started running - This was a room in a cave. The ceiling was still rock and I could imagine this as maybe a bedroom? A storage area? A kitchen or work area? There is no description in the Bible of the location , it just says "he came to her". Had Mary been upstairs and run down those steps to retrieve some item in this room? Was she down here doing some mundane household chore when the Angel Gabriel appeared to her? Maybe she was sleeping and he woke her up? Wow.

Well, I was still a bit perplexed (a neat word I stole from Mary's response to Gabriel's words to her). I didn't understand why my heart wasn't just soaring to be in this place!!

I looked at the old stairway and the ancient ceiling. I tried to pray, "Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee". Wow. This is where those words were spoken. Words I have said a million times. But I was frustrated that it just wasn't connecting for me.

"Ave Ave Ave Maria..." popped into my head. Ahhhhh. If I couldn't pray, I could sing. And the old song drifted through my mind. I took a few pictures so I could capture my moment in this place and then I had to move on as it was another pilgrim's turn to stand before the site of announcement of the coming of the Messiah.

By this time we were headed up a giant circular staircase to the right of the Grotto exit. Pilgrims from my group and strangers alike joined right in and we all spontaneously sang the song that is one of my favorites. It was a precious moment!

Immaculate Mary, thy praises we sing;
Who reignest in splendor with Jesus our King.
Ave, ave, ave, Maria! Ave, ave, Maria!

In heaven, the blessed thy glory proclaim;
On earth we, thy children, invoke thy fair name.
Ave, ave, ave, Maria! Ave, ave, Maria!

We pray for our Mother, the Church upon earth,
And bless, dearest Lady, the land of our birth.
Ave, ave, ave, Maria! Ave, ave, Maria!

I know, I know. Those aren't the words they sing nowadays. But those are the words I sang in 1966 at St. Mary's Catholic School in Sherman, Texas and those are the words I sang 46 years later as I finally made my spiritual connection in the Grotto of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, Israel!

Thank You Lord for sending the Holy Spirit to me in song when my heart could not find a prayer!  Amen.
 

Luke 1: 26-38

2012 Pilgrimage to Israel - Day 4 

Ein Karem in Judea

ADVENT   Luke 1:5-25

Ein Karem, which means "Spring of the Vineyard" in Hebrew, is the birthplace of Saint John the Baptist.

There a a couple of sites here of interest to Christians, two of which are the summer and winter homes of Zachariah and Elizabeth, St. John's parents. The Chapel of St. John the Baptist is the site of their winter home.

The walk up to the entrance of the churchyard at the Chapel has many "distractions" on both the left and right! I was good going up, but coming back down I bought rosaries made of rosewood and scented with rosemary.

  

The vendors stop at the gate which opens up into a good-sized courtyard with the entrance to the church.

 

I really loved this church! As you can see it is covered in blue and white tile and is just lovely!

 

I am a blue-and-white girl myself (as anyone who has ever been in my kitchen knows!) so I was really enchanted with the inside decor of this chapel.

I could have spent some time there just sitting and taking it all in. It had a happy, cheerful feeling to it. I don't know if that is how everyone feels, or just me because the blue-and-white had such a comforting feel to it which appealed to me. Maybe it was because this was at the end of our trip and I was unconsciously identifying with the sense of home it gave me? 
 

But as you see in the photo, there was another pilgrim group there holding Mass, so we quietly skirted around the inside edges of the church trying to be inconspicuous and didn't stay inside the sanctuary long.

Under the "modern" church, which was built in 1674, is a grotto where the actual birthplace of St. John the Baptist is. It is in a cave below the altar of the upper church.

We were allowed to go beneath the altar and venerate the spot as Mom is doing in this photo by praying at the site.

I actually had to do some research when I returned home to keep this all straight in my mind. (I'm sure our very-informative guide Hill-el explained it, but there were many times when I either couldn't hear him, or in his defense, was running my mouth to Mom or wandering off taking pictures.)

So from what I understand, Zachariah was one of many Jewish priests spread throughout the area to serve the people. He served in his little home-town where he lived with his wife. Maybe he had lots of time to devote since they had no children? In any case, every now and then, the priests would be called to go serve the big, main temple in Jerusalem. They would go there and serve for a week or two...sounds like a good plan to me.

Of all the priests only one would be chosen to enter the Holy of Holies. The inner sanctuary in the Temple in Jerusalem was where the Ark of the Covenant was kept and was called the Holy of Holies. As everyone who's ever seen an Indian Jones movie knows, The Ark of the Covenant contained the Ten Commandments, which were given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

The priests "drew lots" for the honor of entering the inner sanctuary, as they felt like this was the way to let God choose who entered. This must have been HUGE to them! I can imagine that having priests coming from all around the nation for such a holy event and getting chosen from the group! Wow, I can see where this might have never happened in someone's lifetime!! How unbelievably blessed Zachariah must have felt!

So the moment has come - I can maybe identify a little with how he felt. I was so blessed to visit so many holy sites and touch and kiss them. The feeling immediately beforehand is almost indescribable. There is such a feeling of longing and anticipation for meeting the spiritual, it's wonderful and exciting and stressful and anxiety-causing all at the same time!

Zachariah carries the incense and slowly enters the revered sanctuary where God resided.  
 

We know from the Gospel of Luke (Lk 1:5-25) that an angel comes to him. It's the annunciation to Zachariah of St. John the Baptist's coming. Elizabeth is wife will bare him a son.

Fast forward 6 months. The Angel Gabriel appears to a virgin, Mary, and announces the coming of Jesus the Messiah. (Lk 1:26-38).

Zacharia says to Gabriel "How will I know this is so? For I am an old man and my wife is getting on in year." We all know that Zacharias didn't believe and was struck mute.

Mary says to Gabriel "How can this be since I am a virgin?" But Gabriel does not punish her, he just explains.

Hmmmmmm.

So I am thinking about this. I don't understand the difference. Why is Zachariah considered an unbeliever? It's confusing and really kinda scary!

These two people both receive confusing and miraculous news. And to me, they responded almost identically. So why the difference in response?

Mary follows her explanation with "Let it be done to me according to your will." Maybe Zachariah would have also come around with a similar statement if he could talk? Or maybe he has little faith. What is the deal here? There is obviously a difference.

What if God calls me? What if I don't respond correctly? I want to be like Mary, I want to please God with my reaction! I certainly don't want to be like Zachariah.

What requests do I receive from God each day? How am I am responding?

If an angel showed up right this second, what would I do? How would I act? Am I ready for something like that? Would I have doubts? Would I be brave? Would I freak out?

Maybe Zachariah was expected to respond differently because he was a priest. He was, after all, inside the Holy of Holies. He was not caught off guard, he knew he was in the sanctuary where God was. Maybe God expected a more rapid and total belief from one who was suppose to be in the midst of deep prayer performing a very reverence act of faith as it was.

Mary was at her house. Maybe she was performing some mundane household chore. Going about her normal daily activities. Was her heart closer to God in her everyday life than a priest performing a hallowed deed?

The Bible says she was "perplexed". The Bible says Zachariah was "terrified and fear overwhelmed him". There is definitely a difference in those reactions.

Mary was young. Zachariah was old. Does our time living on this earth move us towards the skeptical as we age? Towards unbelief in the supernatural? Does the millions of interactions and experiences and worldly knowledge of our years cause us to lean towards doubt? Or was Mary's inexperience taken into consideration when she first questioned?

The saying "With greater power comes greater responsibility". I see examples of this in life all the time.

Zachariah was eventually give his voice back at the birth of his son. And when he could speak, he certainly did have marvelous and convicted words to say!

Oh Lord I pray that I will always answer with a resounding "YES" to you!  Let me please have the faith and fortitude to respond within your will.  I hope and pray in any event where you are speaking to me, I am not so shocked-amazed-confused-afraid that I react in a way that saddens you.  No matter if I am sitting in your holy presence in adoration of you or feeding the dog, Let me never disappoint you God!  Amen.

2012 Pilgrimage to Israel - Day 9