"Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?"

Each time Good Friday rolls around in the liturgical year, we sing this song (Were You There) as the cross is venerated. This ancient tradition dates back many centuries, and is a way for us to share our love and gratitude for Christ's sacrifice for us on the cross, which ultimately won for us freedom, salvation, and eternal life. For the past 31 years, I, too, have participated in this veneration of the cross. Yet, perhaps today, my heart was forever changed as I stood in the jail that Jesus was held in after his arrest, prior to going before Pontius Pilate on Good Friday, which lead to his crucifixion and his death. 

Our morning began early- very early! We awoke and gathered in the lobby to walk to the Via Dolorosa, where we would trace Jesus' steps on His final day on Earth as he made His way towards Calvary. As we reflected on his suffering at each station, I found myself immersed in His world and His struggle. Like how Jesus finished His walk on Calvary, so too was our walk completed there. We had the opportunity to venerate the stone on which His cross laid. We then participated in the sacrifice of the Mass in a chapel, also on Calvary. As Father lifted the consecrated host and chalice, I united my sacrifices and the prayer intentions everyone sent me to that of Jesus' continual sacrifice for us so that we might receive Him, be nourished by Him, and be transformed by Him. 

Church built upon the spot Jesus was scouraged and beaten on Good Friday. 

Station 5 on the Via Dolorosa

After Mass, we toured the rest of the Holy Sepulchre. It was interesting to learn that all of the Christian churches (Catholic, Armenian, Orthodox, Syrian, etc) own a piece of that specific church. Our guide took us to the part that the Catholic Church owns. We also saw a tomb similiar to how Jesus' tomb looked back in the day before a chapel was build upon it for veneration. Something I have been reflecting on while here in the Holy Land is being Christian. In the states, there is such division between Christians. If you ask someone their religion, you will hear things like "I am Catholic", "I am non-denominational", "I am an evangelical Christian", etc. Yet here, when someone asks what religion you are, they are wanting to know simply if you are Jewish, Muslim, or Christian. Despite the divisions of the many forms of Christianity present here, such as Roman Catholic, Byzantine, Armenian Catholic, Greek Orthodox, etc. there is a sense of unity, of being one in Christ, as brother and sister believers. How beautiful! 

My principal, Kevin, lecturing at Mass on Calvary. 

After breakfast, we saw the church that houses the tomb Mary was placed in before her Assumption into Heaven. In a church right next to that, we visited what used to be a cave. It was called the Cave of Gethsemane. Here, Jesus and his apostles went after the Last Supper. 

Church of the tomb of Mary

Cave of Gethsemane where Jesus gathered with His apostles to pray after the Last Supper 

Later in the day, we visited the house of Caiaphus, who put Jesus in jail and had him tried by Pontius Pilate. Here, we also stood in the jail cell Jesus was held in. How awful to think of my Lord and my God being there by himself that night....yet it was all for me and you. 

The hole of an old cistern used as a jail cell to hold Jesus prior to Good Friday

We also visited a church where Peter denied Jesus three times. Here we saw the Byzantine icons depicting the scenes of his denial and reflected on how holiness (being a Saint) isn't about how holy we are, but rather about how quickly we get up when we fall. Jesus is always there saying, "Come back to me..." whenever we fall. If only we understood how much He delights in us and desires us to be one with Him. 

Church of Peter's denial 

After lunch, we were blessed to have a tour of an exhibit on the shroud of Turin, the burial cloth believed to have been the cloth Jesus was wrapped in once his body was taken down from the cross and purified, before being placed in the tomb. 

Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice on the cross. Thank you for loving me and dying for me, so that one day I too may join you in a Heaven and glorify you for all eternity. Amen 

Our afternoon and evening was one of leisure, of which I will share in another post while on our bus ride to Galilee tomorrow. This three hour journey will take us to the heart of where Jesus lived and ministered, prior to his final week here in Jerusalem, for the remaining five days of our pilgrimage. 

Jerusalem in the background 

Blessings, 

Julie