Today I want to share with you my visit to Golgotha, where Christ’s cross stood. Below the altar you see in the center, is a hole through which you can touch the rock of the hill itself–the hill where Jesus died. In the lit cases on either side of the altar, you can see the rock.
In the photos below, you’ll see the chamber where crosses were discarded after crucifixions took place. The second of the two photos shows the holes in the top of the chamber
through which the crosses were deposited. It is said that Jesus’ cross was discovered amidst the heap of them because when ill people touched that one, they were healed of their ailments.
To commemorate today, I share with you photos from the Holy Land. The photo above was taken from the Mount of Olives across the valley from where Jesus was condemned and carried the cross to His death. Quite an expanse of the city appears in that photo above. The gold dome that stands out most prevalently is the mosque built over the rock on which Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac. Carry your eyes about three fingers’ width to the left and you’ll see a little black dome of the holy sepulcher. That hill, where you see the dome of the holy sepulcher, is Golgotha. It is thought that the mosque (gold dome) is where the disciples stood and watched Jesus die, as from there they would have clearly been able to see the crosses stand on Golgotha.
Brothers and sisters:
I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,
Catholic Church just outside the upper room
that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over,
took bread, and, after he had given thanks,
broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come
to pass from this world to the Father.
He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.
The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over.
So, during supper,
fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power
and that he had come from God and was returning to God,
he rose from supper and took off his outer garments.
He took a towel and tied it around his waist.
Then he poured water into a basin
and began to wash the disciples’ feet
and dry them with the towel around his waist.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,
“Master, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“What I am doing, you do not understand now,
but you will understand later.”
Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered him,
“Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.”
Simon Peter said to him,
“Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.”
Jesus said to him,
“Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed,
for he is clean all over;
so you are clean, but not all.”
For he knew who would betray him;
for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
So when he had washed their feet
and put his garments back on and reclined at table again,
he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you?
You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am.
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet,
you ought to wash one another’s feet.
I have given you a model to follow,
so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”
Today we celebrate the solemnity of St. Joseph–truly, one of the greatest saints because his was the unique call from God to father Jesus.
I am not in Israel today honestly, but I do have photos I can share with you from my trip there a year ago. Here is a website actually that gives some details about the church.
This is the church in Nazareth believed to be built over the site of St. Joseph’s carpentry workshop
The original Greek of the Gospel of Matthew, which recounts the story of Joseph receiving God’s call to assume fatherhood of Jesus, demonstrates that when Joseph was preparing to “divorce Mary quietly” he did it fully knowing that the child she bore was Christ. The text transmits that Joseph was leaving the situation out of fear, not feeling worthy to fill the fatherly role being asked of him, whereas in English it sounds as though Joseph is leaving because Mary is pregnant by someone else and Joseph is simply trying not to shame her.
In reality, Joseph fully understands the situation, and it is the angel who must assure him, “Joseph, son of David!” that he is the one God asks to fill this unique
heading down to the crypt
role in His divine plan. With the utmost fidelity and humility, Joseph obeys the Lord and lives a life a great piety raising Jesus.
Mat 1:16, 18-21
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.
through which the crosses were deposited. It is said that Jesus’ cross was discovered amidst the heap of them because when ill people touched that one, they were healed of their ailments.
The Pilgrimage 