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| Sunday, 8 January 2006 |
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A dream came true this Christmasby Flores Sirimane This year I had an experience that made Christmas truly meaningful for me. I had the rare privilege of visiting the actual birthplace of Jesus. Along with some 50 other pilgrims I visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where a huge star on the floor marks the spot where Christ was born. This wonderful experience was part of a tour to the Holy Land that I joined on December 10. Although I had been told it would be difficult for me because of my age. I was very determined to make it. In fact it was very difficult at certain places. The walk along the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) for example was a steep climb, with stops at every station. But like others I was able to take my turn at carrying the cross a short distance. All the pilgrims were baptized at the River Jordan. We visited Cana of Galilee where, at a wedding celebration, Jesus performed his first miracle of converting water into wine. Married couples had their marriage vows renewed here. Many of us brought home bottles of Cana wine as souvenirs. At the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spent the night before his betrayal, we were allowed some time to meditate. Some of the olive trees in this calm and beautiful garden are said to be over 2000 years old. Among the other historical places we visited were the Sea of Galilee, where we were given a boat ride, the Church of the Multiplication (of the loaves and fishes), the Mount of Beatitudes (where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount) and the "wailing wall", the most sacred site for Jews. Here pilgrims placed little pieces of paper on which they had written the names of people for whom they had said special prayers. These were just a few of the many places in our seven-day itinerary, setting off at 7.00 a.m. daily to return only around 7.00 p.m.! It is indeed an experience to see with one's own eyes the places one has read about in the bible, where Jesus lived and died. Although I had visited the Holy Land once before, for me this second visit answered a very special prayer. |
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