THE (The Resurrection) (Part 5 of 5)

“Do not be afraid for I know that you seek who was crucified. He is not here; ​ for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay.” ​ - Matthew 28: 5-6

Our last days in the Holy City of centered on the of the Holy Sepulchre. Commissioned by the Emperor Constantine, the enormous Romanesque Church was built over the Rock of where Jesus was crucified and the Tomb where He was buried, a mere forty yards away from the Cross - and ​ where He rose from the dead. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is carefully divided among the Greek Orthodox, the Roman Catholic, and the Armenian Apostolic denominations, although the Coptic Orthodox, as well as the Ethiopian and Syrian Orthodox Churches also play a small role. Once again we were witnessing the divisions so characteristic of the Holy Land – even within the Christian Community. Upon entering the Church, we were greeted by a stunning mosaic depicting the preparation of the Body of Jesus for burial with a marble “Stone of Unction” beneath the mosaic, complete with beautiful hanging candle lamps. Throngs of pilgrims streamed into the Church, ascending the staircase that led to Calvary, just to the right of the “Stone of Unction”. The staircase opened into three Chapels side by side, the center Chapel belonging to the Greek Orthodox, with an altar directly over the Rock of Calvary, the 12th Station. The adjoining Roman Catholic “Chapel of the Nailing of the Cross” marked both the 11th and 13th . Pilgrims gradually moved to the center Chapel and one by one knelt before the altar, reaching down a narrow hole in the floor to touch the Rock. Icons flanked the altar, most notably, the Crucifixion scene and our Lady of Sorrows standing beside the Cross. Votive candles seemed to cast a colorful hue reminiscent of the hundreds of candles held at the beginning of an Vigil Liturgy. Fragrant incense released a sweet-smelling aroma, calling to mind the blessing with incense of the gifts of bread and wine upon the altar in the Holy Mass. Although we were shoulder to shoulder in the tightly packed area in the small Chapels honoring the place where Jesus was crucified, there was nevertheless a reverential silence as people prayed, reflecting on the cost of our salvation. We returned to the main level to the “Chapel of Adam” built directly beneath Golgotha (Calvary), where tradition claims Adam had been buried. The New Adam, Jesus Christ, came to heal the children of the Old Adam through the Cross. We found our way to “The Chapel of the Crusaders” where we offered Holy Mass and called to mind the profound realization that we were actually receiving the fruits of His Sacrifice where Jesus suffered, died, was buried, and rose from the dead. Years later, I am still digesting the graces of that moment. As Catholics, we believe the supernatural spiritual reality that wherever Mass is offered in the world, it is in fact, mystically at the foot of the Cross. Truly, we enter into that One sacrifice that took place some 2000 years ago whose efficacy nourishes all who worthily receive Him throughout all time! The “Mystical Calvary” unites all the Saints in Heaven with all the faithful here on earth - at every Mass. We made our way to the Tomb and joined the long line of pilgrims that patiently waited to venerate the place where Jesus was laid to rest. The Tomb is enclosed in a “Little House” of marble known as the Edicule, which contains two very small rooms. The first room is the Greek Orthodox “Chapel of the Angel” whose small altar contains a relic of the actual stone that was “rolled back” Easter morning. The inner room has a marble slab covering the actual stone where the Body of Jesus was placed. Five pilgrims at a time enter the small doorway into the Tomb, the holiest place on earth, to pray for a few precious moments, reflecting on the complete “self-emptying” of Christ - that He actually died for us. In the early afternoon, we gathered for a leisurely lunch at a roof top café that overlooked the entire city and shared our thoughts about our extraordinary experiences in the Holy Sepulchre. Making our way through the narrow cobblestone passages of Jerusalem, we finally arrived at the Church of the Dormition honoring the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Body and Soul into Heaven. We began the next morning visiting the Church of St. Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary. The Romanesque Basilica was built in the 12th century over the home of St. Anne and St. Joachim. The Blessed Virgin Mary was born in a small cave just beneath the main level of the Basilica. We offered the Mass of the Immaculate Conception in the Sacristy Chapel in honor of our Lady. Just as Mass had ended, the air raid sirens blared once again. To our surprise, even the Holy City of Jerusalem had become a target for missiles in the growing tensions between the Israelis and Palestinians. Once the “all-clear” was given, we visited the Pool of Bethesda beside the Church where Jesus had healed the paralytic (John 5:1-15). We returned to the Holy Sepulchre for most of the afternoon to reflect on the extraordinary events that took place there – the events that we enter into every day through the Holy Mass! After dinner and a little rest, we returned to the Holy Sepulchre just before midnight for an extraordinary grace-filled experience. Since it was Saturday night, the Church remained open for the Vigil services. We walked through the dark and quiet alley ways of Jerusalem until we finally reached the Holy Sepulchre. We entered the candle lit Church and were greeted with loud and melodious chanting. Thuribles of burning incense drew many pilgrims to the Tomb where the Orthodox were conducting their lengthy service. A couple hours later, they gave way to the Armenian Service. Chanting and clouds of incense continued through the early morning hours until at last, the Catholics time had arrived promptly at 4:00 am. When we had arrived at midnight, our small group settled in various places in the Church to “watch and pray” as we waited for the Catholic Mass in the Tomb at 4:00 am. As I wandered around the Church, I thought about St. Mary Magdalene rushing to the tomb early on the morning of the Resurrection, seeking Jesus. I made my way up to the 12th Station to spend time at the foot of the Cross. As time drifted by and the Orthodox and Armenian pilgrims dispersed, I found myself all alone. As I look back on that moment now, I understand it as a tremendous grace. When I heard the bells being rung, I moved from Calvary to the Tomb. The Catholic Mass was about to begin. As the priest went into the Tomb to prepare for Mass, I joined the Sisters of St. Bridget and a couple other religious in our group for Mass in the Tomb. Like St. Mary Magdalene, we too experienced the Risen One. He entered our souls through His gift of the Eucharist – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, all made possible through the Paschal Mystery accomplished in this very place. Finally, we returned to the Hotel for a little rest before beginning our last day in the Holy Land. We boarded our bus for the short drive to the Bridgettine Convent where we had begun our pilgrimage several days earlier, giving us the opportunity to reflect not so much on how we had passed through the Holy Land, but rather, how the Holy Land had actually passed through us – our hearts and souls – and that we would be digesting the graces for years to come. Before we departed, I made one last visit to the Church at Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives. As I walked up the path that Jesus had taken into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, I turned around to look at the City of Jerusalem. Upon the slope of the Mount of Olives along the south side of the path there is a vast cemetery with hundreds of sepulchers (above ground as is the custom) facing toward Jerusalem. As the Sun was setting, it seemed to be resting directly over the Church of the Dormition off in the distance, shining upon Jerusalem, the Kidron Valley, and indeed casting a beautiful light upon the raised seplucures facing the City. This beautiful sunset seemed to tell the story of our daily pilgrimage: that the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Conception, who gave birth to the true Light of the world, was drawing souls to her son who said “I am the Resurrection.” May the merciful Rays of the Risen One shine upon us and one day draw us into the true Holy Land – the love of the Holy Trinity, Heaven.