not far from the West Bank, maybe 2 miles north of Bethlehem. We had just awakened from a short night's sleep after 14 hour flight from Los Angeles. We had the first day of our Christmas Pilgrimage ahead of us. A few moments after shaking the sand from our eyes, we turned on the television out of curiosity. As the CNN "Word News Headlines" flared into view we were shaken by the announcement that a mass killing had taken place in San Bernardino, California. We prepared for our day with one ear on the news and one eye on preparing ourselves for a day out of the room, starting with breakfast.
This event served as the focus for our intercessory prayers for the next nine days. Most of us lived within 30 minutes of auto travel from the location of this human tragedy.
One year later, we are headed back to Jerusalem, Bethlehem and the myriad other holy places located in that part of the world. Once again we will spend the early evening in the Nativity Square in Bethlehem to celebrate the lighting if the Christmas Tree on the first Saturday of December. Once again we will be there with our heart full of prayer provoked and energized by the memory of San Bernardino.
The crowd will be cheering and happy. In the heart of what is Judea, turned Israel, to West Bank, people will be joined in unity of interest if only for a short while. There will be 40 of us standing together, a small cell of Catholic Christians shivering from the cool of the evening as well as from the emotion of being in Jesus' home town.
We assure you of our prayers. We ask for yous. We also remind you that the anniversary of the Mass Murder is on December 2. the survivors are still deeply traumatized. Please pray for them and pray for those who are helping them to recover.
God bless you all.
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