Stations of Life ~ As I See It

Viewer discretion is advised.  Graphic Contents.

Lent commemorates the passion and death of Jesus Christ.  In a Catholic world, meditating the Way of the Cross, the last moments on the life of Jesus Christ, is part of the tradition.  The Way of the Cross has fourteen stations.  The Passion, Mel Gibson’s movie made millions of dollars.  It’s very graphic.

Catholic means universal. One doesn’t have to be a Catholic to understand these Stations of the Cross.   These stations include all religions and belief system on Earth.  How would you as a person or organization or leader build a better world, a caring place, and a safe environment. 

In a more global view, the fourteen stations could be depicted as follows: 

The First Station: Jesus Is Condemned To Death
~ Kevin Carter

   The Second Station:  Jesus Carries His Cross
~ Homelessness 

 The Third Station:  Jesus Falls the First Time
~ The Fall of Saigon

  The Fourth Station:  Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother
~ World Press

 The Fifth Station: Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
~ Doctors Without Boarders

  The Sixth Station:  Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
~ Haiti Earthquake Response

 The Seventh Station: Jesus Falls A Second Time
~ World Trade Centre 9/11

 The Eighth Station: Jesus Speaks to the Holy Women
~ Desmond Tutu

 The Ninth Station: Jesus Falls the Third Time
~ Global Warming

 The Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
~ Israel Occupation

  The Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
~ Child prostitution

  The Twelfth Station:  Jesus Dies on the Cross
~ Abortion

  The Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down From the Cross
~ Japan earthquake

  The Fourteenth Station:  Jesus is Laid in the Sepulcher
~ Lest We Forget 

 

The world is in your hands, the future depends on you.  The choice is yours. 

Kýrie, eléison

 

Related article:

• Stations of the Cross

Ground Zero – Part 2

This gallery contains 1 photo.

  In the Jewish tradition, Passover is a holy celebration that coincides with Christian’s Good Friday, Looking at the wall that surrounds Bethlehem, I doubt that anybody can pass over it.  As the old saying goes, this too shall pass. … Continue reading →

Welcome to Bethlehem

This gallery contains 4 photos.

Regardless of travel advisory, people from all over the world wants to see where it happened. Regardless of personal belief, they want to visit where it all began. Regardless of culture, pilgrims and tourist mix together. Regardless where they came … Continue reading →

An Open Wall

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  This is more than a crack on the wall, it’s one of the gates of Jerusalem called St. Stephen’s Gate or Lion’s Gate. I spent more time on the walls of the gate, soaking up the atmosphere, listening to … Continue reading →

Walls of Jerusalem

This gallery contains 6 photos.

The walls of Jerusalem are originally built to protect the city from intrusion and a defense under the rule of the Ottoman empire. Inside these walls is the seat of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. The wall has so many gates … Continue reading →

A Mystical Garden

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Olive trees are in abundance in Holy Land but what I wanted to see, touch, hug and take a leafy twig is the olive tree where Jesus prayed at the Garden of Gethsemane.  I am pretty sure everyone that visits … Continue reading →

Jerusalem: Filmed for IMAX and Giant Screen Theaters

Jerusalem: Video Clip

If you have the time, please view the  breathtaking scenes on Jerusalem today. Don’t take too long, though, for it might be taken off any time soon because of copyright.

After a year of research and preparation, the giant screen film JERUSALEM advanced into production with an unprecedented aerial shoot throughout Israel and the West Bank.

The film will take the audiences on a spectacular tour of the Holy Land and the city once believed to be the centre of the world.

A 7-minute preview of a new IMAX film on Jerusalem. The aerial views are breathtaking and in HD Quality.

Star of Bethlehem: A Pilgrim Story

The Holy Land is not so holy when the Israelis occupy the land of the Palestine’s, the Muslims building mosque on top of the Christian church and the Christians are now a minority.  There is always trouble yet I went … Continue reading →

A Jewish Prayer

A Jewish Prayer 

Cause us, O Father, to lie down in peace, and rise again to enjoy life. Spread over us the covering of your peace, guide us with your good counsel and save us for the sake of your name. Be a shield about us, turning away every enemy, disease, violence, hunger and sorrow. Shelter us in the shadow of your wings, for you are a God who guards and protects us, a ruler of mercy and compassion…. Blessed are you, Lord, who spreads the shelter of peace over us, over His people Israel, and over all the world.

Source: Sacred Space

 Prayer for peace on Earth 

Pacem in Terris (1963) spoke to everyone about their belonging to the one human family and it shone a light on the shared aspiration of people everywhere to live in security, justice and hope for the future. Forty years later we are more obviously than ever the children of one global family. 

Today let me open my heart to the deep aspirations of those people who seem furthest away from me. As we Christians long for peace we remember our brothers and sisters of other faiths who share our longings.

 

Related links:

• Sacred Space: Buddhist Prayer
• Sacred Space: Muslim Prayer
• September Peace Challenge: And I Quote: Blessings of Hope

Stations of Life ~ As I See It

Viewer discretion is advised.  Graphic Contents.

Lent commemorates the passion and death of Jesus Christ.  In a Catholic world, meditating the Way of the Cross, the last moments on the life of Jesus Christ, is part of the tradition.  The Way of the Cross has fourteen stations.  The Passion, Mel Gibson’s movie made millions of dollars.  It’s very graphic.

Catholic means universal. One doesn’t have to be a Catholic to understand these Stations of the Cross.   These stations include all religions and belief system on Earth.  How would you as a person or organization or leader build a better world, a caring place, and a safe environment. 

In a more global view, the fourteen stations could be depicted as follows: 

The First Station: Jesus Is Condemned To Death
~ Kevin Carter

   The Second Station:  Jesus Carries His Cross
~ Homelessness 

 The Third Station:  Jesus Falls the First Time
~ The Fall of Saigon

  The Fourth Station:  Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother
~ World Press

 The Fifth Station: Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
~ Doctors Without Boarders

  The Sixth Station:  Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
~ Haiti Earthquake Response

 The Seventh Station: Jesus Falls A Second Time
~ World Trade Centre 9/11

 The Eighth Station: Jesus Speaks to the Holy Women
~ Desmond Tutu

 The Ninth Station: Jesus Falls the Third Time
~ Global Warming

 The Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
~ Israel Occupation

  The Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
~ Child prostitution

  The Twelfth Station:  Jesus Dies on the Cross
~ Abortion

  The Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down From the Cross
~ Japan earthquake

  The Fourteenth Station:  Jesus is Laid in the Sepulcher
~ Lest We Forget 

 

The world is in your hands, the future depends on you.  The choice is yours. 

Kýrie, eléison

 

Related article:

Stations of the Cross

Sunday, January 6, 2013 , Epiphany Day

Happy Three Kings.    It’s the last day of Christmas based on my tradition.  I have mentioned this on my post Gimme – Traditionally Speaking .  If you want to read more about the history see Britannica – Epiphany.

Last night I reminded niece Lucy to bring out her shoes for the Three Kings since she forgot last year and missed out on the treats.  She was thankful for the reminder.

For myself, I hanged these shoes on my door.  On my side of the building, my neighbours are mostly Christians.  I don’t know if they practice, though.  However, they understand what those shoes mean to me.

Shoes for Three Kings

 Needless to say, I received some treats from the Three Kings and then some.  Next celebration is Easter Sunday.  Mark your calendar that will April 7, 2013.

In my faith, today is also called Epiphany.  The meaning from Webster Dictionary is:
: an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being
: an intuitive grasp of reality through as an event usually simple and striking
: an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure
: a revealing scene or moment
: a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something 

Have you ever had an Epiphany?  I think I did.  And let me tell you this story that happened in 2011 Pilgrimage to Holy Land, Egypt and Jordan. 

Pandemonium!  Everybody was excited to go home after 21 days of being on the road as a Pilgrim.  People are coming in and out of their hotel rooms.  Checking each other’s luggage.  Sharing stories, pictures and laughter.  What did you buy to bring home?  What’s your favourite place? What, what, what?  Too many questions and I am starting to become tone-deaf.  I need some solitude.

I would like to stay longer and soak up the three world’s religion: Islāmic, Judaism and Christianity.  I want to be with the Muslims, Jews and Christians: and have an Interfaith Dialogue.  But good things must come to an end.

Last night at Jordan side:  I retreated to the balcony to find some peace and quiet, drinking tea and having a smoke.  The balcony is facing a beautiful garden and overlooking the Dead Sea.  I could see Israel from the balcony.  On a clear day, I could literally see the walls of the old Jerusalem.  On the right, I can imagine the location of Bethlehem, Nazareth and other geographical areas of where ancient time began based on the First and Old Testament.  This will be my last trip.  I have now covered the places of the Testaments.  The Bible will become truly alive in my mind and heart.  The readings during the mass will be more meaningful for my mind can conjure the places where I have visited.  Gratitude, I am filled with gratitude to my God for making it possible for me to experience the trip of a lifetime.

It’s dark.  Only a silhouette of the mountain is visible.  The lights were flickering across the waters.  Inside the hotel room, commotion ruled.

I settled in the dark, trying to calm myself down.  It’s good to be here, Lord.  I started speaking in my mind.  Careful that nobody will hear me for they already think I’m batty.  Don’t care.  Then, whispering softly, I raised my right arm, started waving goodbye to Israel.

Goodbye, Jerusalem
            Goodbye, Bethlehem
                        Goodbye, Nazareth

Oh, what is that?  A star?  A bright shining star that appeared so close and yet so far.  Hmm, is it a plane?  No, it’s not moving.  Ok then, as I made this schizophrenic dialogue within myself.  One asks; the other personality answers.  Oh, let me see.  That’s Jerusalem, that’s, Nazareth; that’s Bethlehem.  Aha!  This must be the STAR that the Magi saw.  Imagine that and it’s not even Christmas yet.

Last Night at Jordan – Nov 2011

 Excitement came rushing out of my body.  I must take a picture.  Made a quick dash inside the room, grabbed my camera and Neli, another pilgrim, to show her what I see.  This rushing must have only taken 15 to 25 seconds.  When I got out, the STAR is gone.  Oh, no.  It’s gone.  I was so disappointed and sad that I have no picture to show off about my last night.  Checked the horizon if there’s anything floating in the sky that is as big as the STAR.  No, it’s pitched dark.  Neli gave me “the look”, walked out of the room.  Later I followed for it’s time to check out.

At Frankfurt airport, I pulled Father Priest on the side and told him about my experience.  He simply said in his infinite wisdom, the STAR is meant only for my eyes to see.  No camera can ever capture it.  I was so moved by his explanation and tears of joy came out.

Picture, yes, I have a picture of the STAR; in the eyes of my heart.  I praise you, O Lord, for your works are wonderful.  Blessed be God forever.