Looking over Jerusalem - 'Jesus wept'

Day 4

Today has been a very full day, with a series of sights to see in a limited time. Fortunately, and unlike a lot of 'Holy Land tours' we have had a little time to reflect at each stop - not enough at every one maybe, but at some there would never be enough. Each conjures up so many different thoughts and emotions, each makes connections across time (history again - so much connects with that word here) and experience. To collect them all and transmit them will probably take a lifetime, well a lot of sermons anyway!. So rather than make you sit through them all here is a little bit of my reflecting from the church of Dominus Flevit on the Mount of Olives, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Then some photos and a few brief thoughts about each.

Looking over Jerusalem - 'Jesus wept'
Bright light,
illuminating and disguising detail – to bright to see clearly,
rely on a camera lens,
squint and turn away.

Temple and mosque,
church tower and golden dome.
Pebble covered grave and construction crane.
Building and dying,
hoping and despairing,
pointing to heaven and struggling in the dust.

‘Jesus wept’

Gathering for prayer;
looking for the best snap;
Jubilate Deo drifting on the breeze.
Listening or hearing,
deaf or ignoring.
Birds and grasshoppers;
an insect tickling my wrist,
walking over my page.
Cars, trucks and tour buses.
Time standing still while rushing by.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:they that love thee shall prosper. (Psalm 122)