Look on Zion, the city of our appointed festivals! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet habitation, an immovable tent. ~Isaiah 33:20
Every pilgrim longs to glimpse Jerusalem. The bus takes us to a vantage point called Mount Scopus. We shade our eyes against the glare of the sun. The ancient walls still stand, encasing the Old City within the sprawl of a modern city. The golden Dome of the Rock, a Muslim holy site, sparkles.
A group of boys approaches us pilgrims, waving panoramic posters of Jerusalem which they want to sell us. The man with them is wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh.
During this Lent, how might you open your eyes to see the beauty, pageantry and history of your faith? Of other faiths?
Prayer: O Creator, let me glimpse your home.
This material is adapted from my book, Chasing the Divine in the Holy Land.
The photo is mine, taken from Mount Scopus in 2005. I know it’s a lousy photo, but it’s a reality check for what a real pilgrim really sees.
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