- 11 - Through the Homeland of Jesus     Fr Joseph Kappil     Jerusalem The Home Town of Jesus   "I was glad when  they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord!' Our feet are standing within  your gates, O Jerusalem..." (Ps 122:1-9).    
The whole of Ps 22 is the beautiful song that arises in the heart of a pilgrim who sets out for the city of Jerusalem and the Temple situated in its centre. The first three verses of this psalm express the thoughts of the mind and the joy in the heart of the pilgrim at the beginning of his pilgrimage, and at its conclusion when he reaches Jerusalem. The pilgrim, who begins his journey with his eyes set on the holy city, and with his heart filled with expectation and enthusiasm, recalls at his arrival in Jerusalem, what a moving and happy experience his pilgrimage has been! In the 4th and 5th verses, the importance of the city of Jerusalem is highlighted. Jerusalem is the only place and centre where all the tribes of Israel can offer praise and thanksgiving (King David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, established it there and made the city the centre of the life of worship). Jerusalem was also the place where was situated the court of Justice for passing judgment. (1 Kings 7:7 states that King Solomon built a magnificent palace and the Hall of Justice). Verses 6-9 are a pilgrim's prayer for peace, prosperity and glory for the city of Jerusalem.
 
Our pilgrimage through the homeland of Jesus, has now reached its most important focal point-the sacred city of Jerusalem. It is a holy city where took place the last scenes of Salvation History that came to its fulfillment in the life of Jesus. Jerusalem was witness to all the events that happened during the Holy Week. It was during this week that the Paschal Mystery of Jesus was fulfilled. During the public life of Jesus, the main venue for his proclamation of the gospel and missionary activity, was the land of Galilee lying on the north of Palestine. All the same, Jesus went to Jerusalem several times every year-particularly on the pilgrim festivals of the Pasch, the Pentecost and the Feast of the Tabernacles. Whenever he set foot in Jerusalem, he taught in the city and on the precincts of the Temple, proclaimed the gospel and healed numerous sick people. The city of Jerusalem is situated about 165 kms to the south of the land of Galilee. When the time came for Jesus to complete his life-task, he bade farewell to the land of Galilee, which he loved so dearly , and set forth for Jerusalem. Towards the end of that journey, he reached Bethany which is around two and a half kms east of the city of Jerusalem. From this place, Jesus made his entry into Jerusalem, accepting the kingly welcome accorded to him on Hosanna Sunday. This last arrival in Jerusalem was accompanied by a ceremony which was never before given to Jesus or accepted by him. It served as an initiation to the last days of Jesus when the sacrifice of his life on the cross would take place in Jerusalem. All the great mysteries beginning from Palm Sunday to the end of Jesus' life, took place in Jerusalem-the Last Supper in the Upper Room, the institution of the Eucharist, the prayer of agony and the sweat of blood in Gethsemane, the way of the cross from the house of Pilate till Golgotha, the death on the Cross at Golgotha and his glorious Resurrection. Jerusalem was witness to all these great events.
 
Jerusalem, the most sacred city for a Christian! It is a holy city of pilgrimage. Right from the beginning of Christianity, people went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This phenomenon has been continuing even to this day without a break. Uninterrupted streams of pilgrims flock to Jerusalem from all parts of the world. Unmindful of the long, tedious journey, defying the lurking dangers along the way, facing even the challenge of death, people keep thronging to Jerusalem. With hearts over- flowing with emotion, hands reverently clasping the Holy Bible and absorbed in fervent prayer, they wend their way along the streets of Jerusalem and are lost in deep meditation on the Holy Eucharist as they ensconce themselves in the Cenacle.
 
They prostrate in Gethsamene uniting themselves with the agonizing cry of Jesus and participate in the singing of hymns of lamentation . Bearing a wooden cross on their shoulders, they trace their steps towards Calvary, along the streets once drenched in the tears and blood of Jesus . There, they kiss the rock anointed with Christ's blood and anoint it anew with their tears of repentance, bow in reverence before the sepulchre of Jesus, experience inner purification and become spiritually renewed. Just as the hearts of the disciples bent for Emmaus, began glowing and burning in the presence of Jesus while listening to his words, the heart of every man visiting Jerusalem, glows and burns with the love of Jesus.
 
This holy city of Jerusalem was the backdrop for the enactment of the great mysteries God had designed for the salvation of man. We, pilgrims to the Holy Land, are now in this sacred city. We are going to pass through the places hallowed by the passion, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.
 
Jerusalem is sacred to every Jew. It stands erect in the mountainous country of Judea like a city built on a hill.
 
Ordinarily, the Jews come in groups, from every nook and corner of Palestine as well as from other countries, immersed in the spirit of prayer, chanting hymns and reciting psalms, with hearts filled with rejoicing. After participating in the festivities, they present their votive offerings and pray for the mercy of the Lord. Those from far-away countries travel long for weeks and months together in order to come to the holy city. This is the city of God- a place specially chosen by God. A pilgrimage to Jerusalem is, therefore, a pilgrimage to his presence. In this city stood the only Temple of the Jews; in this Temple were conducted the liturgical services. Right at the centre of the spacious forty-two- acre Temple premises, situated in the heart of the city is the splendid Mud Bahai rearing its stately heights into the vast stretches of the sky. Within this was the holy of holies permeated with the presence of God. To pray and offer sacrifices in this presence, was a great boon,the fulfillment of a life-time dream. Today Jerusalem teems with resident Jews and pilgrims. At the mention of the very name of Jerusalem, every Jew is overcome with joy and pride, because Jerusalem is extremely dear to him. All the past glory as well as hope of the future, fills his mind. This is the Moriya mountain where the patriarch Abraham brought Isaac, the son of promise, to sacrifice him according to God's command. Later, it became the city of the great kings beginning from David.
 
A city that reverberated to the divine words of the saintly prophets and rendered holy by their footprints! A holy city where all the pilgrim feasts were celebrated with great pomp and splendour! Jerusalem has absorbed into herself all the magnificence of the ancient days. It is also a city brimming with expectations for the future, because the glory of God is yet to be revealed. With great hopes the Jews are awaiting the coming of the Messiah.
 
For a Muslim, the city of Jerusalem has an aura of sacredness. Muslims believe that it was from Jerusalem that Mohammed Nabi, the prophet of God, ascended into heaven, and on receiving divine revelations from heaven, descended to the earth. The holy rock on Mount Moriya, is very precious to them. It is difficult to keep count of the numerous Muslims who come in big crowds, particularly on Fridays, to honour the holy rock and pay obeisance to it. The great Dome of the Rock, standing in a protective manner over the holy rock has a hoary past of several centuries, yet proclaims its splendour and glory.
 
Thus Jerusalem is the holiest city for the followers of the three monotheistic religions in the world-the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims. The sound waves of the prayers and worship of God that arise from the numerous churches, synagogues and mosques dotting the city, proclaim its holiness to all the world. Every day the city teems with pilgrims belonging to all these three religions. There is no other city on the face of the earth that has so much historic religious importance as Jerusalem!!
 
 
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