I have enjoyed this journey with you - hope I haven't bored you! I learned a lot :)
Take care all as you welcome your pilgrims home with a refreshed spirit.
Here are a few pictures to leave you with:
Emmaus
Olive Trees in the Garden of Gethsemane
Olive Trees in the Garden of Gethsemane
VIA DOLOROSA
Some final words from Father Alex:
I can hardly believe that as I write this my trip is nearly over. Tomorrow evening at 11:53 pm my flight takes off back to the United States. There are so many lessons I have learned, so many new friends I have made, and so many ways that God has touched my heart. I feel refreshed in spirit, thought I admit my legs are very tired from all the walking!
We spent the day visiting the sites that served as moments in the Jesus’ last week of life before his death on the cross. The only site we visited that was not in sync with that was our first stop, the site of Christ’s Ascension. Liturgically, the Feast of the Ascension occurs 40 days after Easter. It is always on a Thursday. On that day we as Christians celebrate that when his time on earth had ended after the resurrection that he was lifted bodily into heaven. Many people find this strange. But the key is to remember that Jesus goes to heaven body, soul, and spirit to be with God. The humanity that he has taken on is now fully redeemed. And best of all, because he has gone to be with the Father in heaven he can now be everywhere. This feast is important. The most interesting part of that site was a piece of rock which claimed to have been where Jesus had stepped. In fact you can almost see a footprint.
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