| The Place of the Skull
THE PLACE OF THE SKULL[1]
“O
death, where is your sting?” 1
Cor 15:55
Israel
Pilgrimage—1987
We gather at the base
of a mountainous rock
into which time has carved
the natural image of a human skull
…hence, its chilling name:
Place of the Skull
Above this mound lies Golgotha
where on the most significant day
in the history of the world
Jesus of Nazareth was crucified
between two thieves
I stare into the hollow eyes
of this ominous image
and am reminded of Ezekiel
and the dry bones
bones that took on flesh
and blood and breath
and came to life
before his very eyes
Life.
Life is what happens at Golgotha
Life that is victorious
over the skull and bones. Victorious
over the ominous face of death
Life. Everlasting life—
for all atoned of sin
who
believe
Maude Carolan Pych
[1]
There are two locations worthy of serious consideration as the place of Jesus’
crucifixion and burial, the traditional site lies within the Church of the Holy
Sepulcher, the other is Gordon’s Calvary (Golgotha/The Place of the Skull) and
the Garden Tomb. Ref. Grace Communion International
The pilgrims from Beth Israel Worship Center in Wayne, NJ, have returned from walking in the footsteps of Messiah Yeshua/Jesus. The final stop on their itinerary was the Garden Tomb near Golgotha.
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Sunday, November 24, 2013
GOLGOTHA: The Place of the Skull
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Blow a Shofar in Zion
| Blowing a shofar in Zion
MARCO SOUNDS THE SHOFAR
Israel Pilgrimage—2006
Marco bought a shofar in Galilee—
a long and spiraled Yemenite shofar
made from the horn
of a kudo antelope
With a deep and steady breath
Marco blasts its harrowing thunder
over the Mount of Olives
the Western Wall
the Jordan River
and just about every site
we visit in holy Zion
trumpeting its long distinctive wail
to jolt us from our complacency—
Wake up!
Warning all hearers:
Prepare! Repent!
Wake up! Oh Sleepers—
Wake up! and follow the Lord!
Anne brought her tambourine
from New Jersey—
It’s shaped like a Star of David
Colorful ribbons stream
from its six points
Like Miriam, Anne lifts it high
and dances with delight
praising Adonai with worshipful women
from all over the world
Their swirling skirts sweep the ground
It’s Shabbat, in Jerusalem
at the Western Wall
and I bought a tallit in Tiberius—
blue and white like the Israeli flag
with knotted fringes in the corners
to remind me God’s promises are true
a traditional prayer shawl
to wrap snuggly around my shoulders
like God’s strong and loving arms
enfolding me
as I pray
Maude Carolan Pych
Four to five hundred pilgrims from Beth Israel Worship Center in Wayne, NJ, continue to tour the Holy Land with Rabbi Jonathan. I'm sure they'll all be so mightily blessed that they'll never be the same.The above poem was written following my last pilgrimage and is one my series of poems of pilgrimage. If you'd like to read more, go to the Blog Archive on the right and click on September, October and November or scroll to the end for information about ordering my chapbook, "A Pilgrim's Quest".
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Sunday, November 10, 2013
The Jewel of the Whole Earth
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| View from Mount Scopus, Jerusalem |
MOUNT SCOPUS
Israel
Pilgrimage—2006
It’s nighttime—
We arrive at Mount Scopus
overlooking Yerushalayim[1]
The stars glimmer
in the heavens
and The City is lit up
like the jewel of all the earth
Wishful, I want
there to be fireworks
want the surroundings
to express the excitement
stirring inside of me—
Suddenly, I hear fireworks
boom, boom, booming
somewhere
although I cannot see
their luminous splendors
bursting in the sky
We partake of the fruit
of the vine—
our cup of blessing
as we prepare to enter in
Our rabbi prays
for the peace of Jerusalem
prays the Shema[2]
prays the Shehekianu[3]
covers his head
with a magnificent tallit[4]
embellished with
the Star of David and the Lamb
He lifts his hands and prays
the Aaronic Benediction
Our joy cannot be contained—
This is the City of Our Great King
I watch a tear
trickle down
my rabbi’s face
Maude Carolan Pych
Sunday, November 3, 2013
A Virtual Visit to the Springs of Engedi
The Springs of Engedi
AT THE
WATER BROOKS
Israel Pilgrimage--2006
We
stop briefly
at
a verdant oasis
in
the wilderness—
the
Springs of Engedi
where
long ago in a cave nearby
David
spared the life of Saul
A crystalline
waterfall descends
from
high above our heads
into
a sparkling pool at our feet
Our
rabbi tells us
deer
and ibex
hyrax
and rock badgers
roam
these hills
and
that in the shade
of
the caves
psalmists
of old
likely
scrawled
timeless
verses
My
mind’s eye
envisions
a son of Korah
sitting
upon a rock
at
the mouth of a cave
ministering
unto the Lord
on
a hot day—
Suddenly
a thirsty deer
appears
and begins
lapping
cool, refreshing water
from
the stream—
hence, Psalm 42
As the deer pants
for the water brooks,
So my soul pants
for You, O God…
We
begin to sing the psalm—
our
own souls thirsting
for
the Living God
of
the ages
as
our eyes dart about
searching
for deer or ibex
or
a snippet
of
Saul’s garment
shorn
by the blade
of
David’s swift sword
Maude Carolan Pych
Pastor/Rabbi Jonathan Cahn will be leading a holy land pilgrimage, which will begin this week. I pray that every pilgrim will have a deeply heart moving, even life changing experience in The Land.
I have self-published a chapbook of poems about pilgrimage. It is titled, "A Pilgrim's Quest". Scroll to the bottom of this blog for ordering information.
Pastor/Rabbi Jonathan Cahn will be leading a holy land pilgrimage, which will begin this week. I pray that every pilgrim will have a deeply heart moving, even life changing experience in The Land.
I have self-published a chapbook of poems about pilgrimage. It is titled, "A Pilgrim's Quest". Scroll to the bottom of this blog for ordering information.