05/17/2022
Reflection by Hope Myer --
This morning we were all smiling and ready for a beautiful day in Jerusalem. I wrote that first sentence in the early morning not knowing that later in the day we would be full of emotions. Today we went to many places, my favorite being St. Mary of Agony Church. We got to sing "Come Thou Fount" and hear as our voices echoed. It was a beautiful moment to do as a group. Later in the day was more about the last day of Jesus's life as well as the 6 million Jews Killed in the holocaust.
In Matthew 26:36-46 we read about the last days with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. As we read these passages sitting in the garden ourselves, we pondered Jesus's feelings and thoughts in these moments.
The feeling continued when we went to Yad Vashem (the holocaust museum). There we read and heard some of the stories of the people killed.
The last part of our tour today was dedicated to the past prime ministers of Israel. We saw some who were for the people like Golda Meir, the first female Prime Minister of Israel. Some for peace like Yitzhak Rabin, who wanted to make peace for the people of Israel. Lastly we have the man for the people. Theodor Herzl, who is buried near Israel's Knesset, is known as the creator of Zionism (look it up, it’s a very interesting story).
Today was full of events but I want to add a quote from a man who helped save people in the holocaust.
"I would stand with God against man, rather than with man against God.“ — Aristides de Sousa Mendes
Psalms of ascent : for a class assignment we write our own psalms of ascent. This is just one from this morning were everyone read theirs on the way to Jerusalem.
Like nature's breath disturbing the quiet dessert
my eyes open to you,
as the understanding of the sacrifice you made.
Warmth like a hug in the middle of winter
Envelopes my soul.
As my price is paid in your blood
The blood of the king of kings
Like dust covering the mountains, your love washes down
As I imagine the pain you endured for me, my sins, my neighbor's sins.
Pain clings to pull me in like the darkness did that fateful day.
but you are there
You keep me in your hands
I look to the sky for your sovereign face
For your power and grace
Peace fills the heart and joy fills the soul
For the lord is my home and to him, I shall go
