Walk through Jerusalem

Thursday, 28 January, 2010

Today, we entered into another level of pilgrimage – we embarked on foot to see the old city of Jerusalem.

After Mass and breakfast, we began our day at Damascus gate, the gate in the northern wall.  At the Damascus gate, we could see the excavation which reached about 40 feet below us to the ancient Roman first-century road.  From ancient times, the main road north-south through Jerusalem began at this spot, and it is from here that Saint Paul (still called Saul) set out on the journey that would radically change his life.   And, after 2000 years, we who are children of the Gentiles to whom he preached returned to this gate to remember the events which we have heard.

From here, we walked south, through the road which followed the valley separating Jerusalem’s two hills east and west.  We were walking through the Islamic quarter, and saw the street which was the central market during the Turkish period.  We saw remnants of Crusader arches and streets, as well as Roman arches and some of the pavement which was set by King Herod.  As we continued down the hill, we walked back through 2000 years of history.

Then, after going through some security, we began our ascent of the Temple Mount.  Although not able to enter the buildings, we were able to get a sense of what it must have been like during the first century, and how many people would have been up near the temple during Passover.

From here, we went down to the Western Wall plaza, where Jews pray toward until today.  We also took some time to pray at the wall.  Thursday was Bar-Mitzvah day, so we saw a number of 13 year old boys becoming Jewish men by reciting the Torah and promising to live it.  It was quite impressive to see how joyous all the people were during these massive celebrations!

From here, we continued to walk down the slope to see the City of David.  We saw the ruins of the ancient royal palace, which at David’s time was the highest point in Jerusalem, only to loose its place to the temple built by his son Solomon.

Finally, we went to the Gihon spring which fed the ancient city.  This spring was channeled into the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus healed a blind man.

At this point, we were at the lowest point in ancient Jerusalem, and we began our ascent back to the top of the western hill, past the ancient royal acropolis, into the western wall plaza, up what seemed like 300 stairs to the Jewish quarter, up towards the Christian quarter, where we had a late lunch.

Being Christian unity week in Jerusalem, tonight the Benedictines from Dormition Abbey hosted vespers in the Upper Room, where on another Thursday night Jesus had instituted the Eucharist and the priesthood, where he also gave them the sacraments of Reconciliation and Confirmation.  So, although the day had already been long, a number of us went across the hill, back to the other side of Jerusalem, to pray.

Finally, after a long day, we all returned to the Notre Dame center, very worn out from a full day of walking up and down the hills of Jerusalem.