When Mary Lou and I were on our pilgrimage tour in the Holy Land in February, we walked the Via Dolorosa, or the Way of the Cross. The time we spent in Galilee, Nazareth and all the places of Jesus's ministry was deeply moving to me and I had apprehension about Jerusalem. Holy Week has always been hard for me, but I will admit that being in Jerusalem following Jesus's journey beginning on Palm Sunday brought new insights into my Christianity.
And then it was time for the Passion walk. We walked from our hotel in the Old City to the Way of the Cross at 5 a.m. and to my surprise, we actually carried a cross four at a time from station to station. The last stations are actually inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This was the second station after Jesus condemnation and when he is first given his cross. Mary Lou and I are the ones in the red coats carrying the cross.
I was so occupied with family the entire day and evening today but I frequently remembered the significance of Good Friday. I will never forget this experience.