Part V, Holy Land

Mount Tabor, Jordon River, Jericho

May 26, 2022

Dear Friends, 

In this week’s letter, we will be leaving the beautiful area around the Sea of Galilee and making our way to the desert region of Israel. Along the way we will stop at Mount Tabor, where the Transfiguration took place, then the river, Jordon, followed by Jericho, and finally arriving in Jerusalem. With the wonderful memory of the sunrise from earlier that morning and the promise of a new beginning, I watched the scenery go by through the bus windows as we drove to the bottom of Mount Tabor. Here we had to take a smaller shuttle up to the top. It was quite a ride- a narrow road, lots of curves, with steep sides with no railings. I found this drive exhilarating because I have always thought of the tops of mountains as places to connect to God, and Mount Tabor is an example of just that. I was thinking about how at the top of this mountain is where God met earth by coming through Jesus, who stood as a bridge between, so that all of Jesus’s humanity fell away showing only His true divinity. This revelation, this insight, into Him, was seen by three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John. 

I had no idea what to expect at the top. Once at the top we went inside the church. I had never seen a church quite like this. Stain glass windows with peacocks in vivid colors behind the Altar is what I noticed first. Peacocks, I knew from my research in the early years, were a symbol of Divinity. Everyone seemed to be gathering around a spot on the floor and as we approached, I saw a flat rock, covered over by a see-through material, and knew this was the spot where Jesus experienced the Transfiguration. 

We had Mass here, sitting near this sacred stone, and then our usual ten minutes or so on our own. So, I found myself a seat away from the crowd and pulled out my journal, hoping a message of great significance would come through in such a high place. Therefore, I was surprised when the Father only said: “Child, today will lead to a major insight into Me. You will know and understand. Heads up and be at ease.”

I was surprised at the simplicity of these words when I had expected, hoped for something more. I think I was hoping for a revelation into a Mystery or something about my next step to Him. However, now as I have copied His words from my journal to this letter, I see they were very much in tune with the place for I would indeed later have a major insight into Him.

Soon after this writing in the church, we traveled back down the mountain and stopped at the coach park where our small tour bus was waiting. Nearby I watched a small cat scouring for food in a trash can and wondered if there was some food I could give her, but there was none. She came over and looked up at me, begging me, but I had nothing. I noticed then she was a nursing mother. I hated to leave her like that, hungry. I have grown quite fond of cats and the idea of them suffering is upsetting.

After leaving Mount Tabor we continued driving and I fell asleep waking up to drastically changed scenery. We were in a mountainous desert with occasional small patches of trees. This desert wasn’t sand, but dirt that blew up and lots of rocks. We did pass by an area of rows of olive trees that Youssef explained about, saying they were of a variety called, Syrian olive trees. He told us that they were the most common of the olive trees grown in Israel and that they were usually always grown on a plantation. 

The landscape did have a certain beauty to it but then we came into an area that was crisscrossed with barbed wire fencing with big rolls of barbed wire wrapping on top of the fences. The look was tortuous and I found myself wishing I was back on the Sea of Galilee. Gone was the happy shoreline, the greenery, and the gardens. It was about this time that Youssef told us that we would soon be at the Jordan River at the traditional spot where Jesus was baptized. Of course, he said, no one knew exactly where this spot was, but since early Christianity, this was where pilgrims had come too. He said this as we turned down a gravel road that crossed through a gated area that was open and past what looked to be abandoned military huts with Israeli flags waving in the wind over them. It looked very militaristic and I did not like it at all. The feeling of it. As we gathered our stuff to go down to the river, Father John suggested we take a bottle of some sort with us, if we had one, to gather water from the river. Otherwise, he did have some bottles we could have. We then came to a platform with descending benches that ended up at the shore of the Jorden River. This platform was just in front of this abandoned-looking military camp.  

As we walked down to the river, we could see groups being baptized along the bank. Some people, dressed in long white robes, were getting completely in the water. Others were just standing at the edge having water poured over them. Across the river- which was a very short distance across- about the width of a large creek, was the country of Jordon. Jordan Flags were flying close to the shore of the river in view of the Israeli flags, as though the two countries were in a locked standoff. 

On the Jordon side of the river, people were also being baptized. 

The river was very muddy looking. I couldn’t tell if this was from everyone being baptized and stirring up the water, from the desert dust, or both. I felt like I was in a daze and I will tell you I did not really feel prepared. 

I did get baptized again though- with water poured over my head and then I collected water in my glass water bottle to take back with me so I could do my own baptism. This was good because, as I said, I was too sidetracked to really focus on the baptism at the river. I was too focused on how close I was to the country, Jordon, a place I had never thought I would see, and the sight of these flags of the two countries facing each other. This was mixed with the excitement of being at this sacred spot and wanting very much to embrace the importance of the moment. I was trying so hard to make it important that I lost sight actually of what was happening. I kept staring at the river, enthralled that I was actually looking at the river Jesus was baptized in. Never had I ever thought I would actually see it!

After we were all settled back on the bus, everyone bubbling with excitement and talking, Youssef announced we were only a short distance to Jericho, one of the oldest cities in the world. We would stop there before heading on to Jerusalem. I knew we were going to Jericho today and I was excited about this. I was very curious. However, as we drove into the outskirts of the modern city of Jericho, we drove through a border patrol because Jericho is actually part of Palestine. I did not like the feeling this gave me, leaving Israel. I hadn’t done my research so I didn’t know that Jericho was in another country. We passed through easily enough though and then we were driving down crowded rundown streets with huge Coca Cola- signs on several buildings. Lots of people were on the streets, women covered in long black burkas, and old men sitting on rickety or plastic chairs smoking cigars in small groups. What I found most bizarre, was outside of several shops, hung blowup water toys like beach balls and kids inter-tubes in different shapes of characters. I’m guessing they are used in the Jordon River or the Dead Sea? It seemed bizarre to think of kids and families floating down the Jordon River where Jesus was baptized.

It wasn’t until I was back home that I found out that Jericho is located in a plain that has many rivers and that the area does flood from time to time. When I was in the Holy Land, though, I did not know this. The land was so very dry it was hard to imagine flooding here. I did, however, know that Jericho was near the Jordon River, and the Dead Sea. 

We were headed to see the layers of ruins of the older cities of Jericho and they were located at the top of a treeless hill. We would have to walk up to the top and so we got out of the bus at the bottom of the hill, parking next to a camel with a colorful blanket as a saddle, the reins held by a man wearing a keffiyeh, which is a traditional head covering, asking us if we wanted to ride. The poor camel looked very tired and dusty. We all said, no thank you, then began the long hot climb to the top. One thing for 206 Tours, they supply us with unlimited bottles of water and we were all glad to have water with us.

At the top, we could look down into the excavations of the layers of destroyed cities. It was so hot, though, that I did not get much out of the information. I could taste dust from the dry earth in my mouth and a feeling of desolation came over me. I don’t know why I thought I would like Jericho. Must have been the history buff in me and it being the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. I couldn’t think like a historian though as I looked at the ruins below me, thinking of the destruction, or at the pale dirt hills or mountains spread out around with no varying colors.

Then as I really looked at the beige rock of a hill in front of me, I could make out small buildings built into the cliff, the same color as the rock. Youssef was explaining that originally hermits had lived up there because this hill, known as Mount Temptation, was where Jesus came during the 40 days in the desert and where “S” tried to tempt Him. These hermit dwellings then eventually became monasteries.

I began thinking then about what Jesus might have been feeling and thinking up there all that time with very little water or food. How hard it would have been to turn away the food offered to Him by “S”.  His Divine self would have been strong, but I felt there had been a battle with His physical Being. Looking down He would have had a full view of Jericho, knowing that it had been destroyed for its wickedness. 

As I was thinking this, Youssef pointed out the place where one of King Herod’s palaces had been. When I thought of King Herod all I could think of was Herod murdering all the infant boys in and around Bethlehem close to the time of Jesus’s birth. This awareness I felt sure was something Jesus would have examined up there on this mountain, looking down on Herod’s palace. He would remember it was the threat of Him being King that had set Herod to do this. These thoughts might have been circling around him, along with the physical pain of hunger, thirst, heat, and weariness. Yet, He had conquered the physical body and embraced the Spirit. Therefore, overcoming earthly desires and limitations.

Standing there in the hot sun, the ground around the color of pale dirt, I had a better understanding of what “wilderness” meant.  I wanted to leave. The time each year of Lent would have a new meaning for me.

I was relieved when we finally drove back through the border patrol into Israeli territory. We arrived in Jerusalem early evening at a hotel close to the center of the city. We were supposed to stay at the Notre Dame, owned and run by the Vatican, but there was a graduation going on and so 206 Tours put us up in this other hotel. I heard we were quite close to the Muslim Quarter; however, I saw a young woman walking near the hotel in a mini skirt, confident and carrying a shopping bag. Then up the street another woman, elderly, wearing a full burka and pushing a shopping cart. This, I would discover, was a typical scene in Jerusalem. I thought, ‘Wow! These cultures seem to live side by side without issue!’ This was one of my first impressions of Jerusalem because I did not have much to go on. No expectation really. My impressions would change over the next few days.

The day had left a lot of impressions and feelings to sort through, but after arriving at the hotel I focused more on the baptism rather than Jericho, the bottle of water from the Jordon River with me. As I was headed to bed, I pulled my journal out thinking that I wish I had been more prepared at the river. That is when the Father wrote through me saying, “You, Child, were busy trying to organize everything in your excitement to know me and to take this step. I know. However, it was a grand event in that you overcame the past and embraced the future. I am so proud of you. Know that this is as it should be for you are absorbing all of this as it comes. Trust in the movement, in me.”

I woke the next morning to my alarm going off at 5:00 AM. Mornings on tours are always very early and we were to be at breakfast at 7:00 AM and on the bus by 8:00 AM. I always set my alarm two hours before because it has always been my custom to have coffee first (I had my own coffee press and kettle), then I write in my journal. As I had coffee, I let my mind unwind and it was during these first morning thoughts that I remembered the passage the Father had written on Mount Tabor the day before about me having an insight into Him. I was confused going back over the many events of the day before but could think of nothing. Sometimes this happens though and it takes a few days for me to fully understand the passages the Father writes. I had finished my coffee and opened my journal when the Father said, “My darling child, all is well. Your questions this morning are accurate and you have a right to ask me anything. The answer is as follows. You wonder to the insight within Me. This, Jody, came when you were aware of me within- at the Temple of Doom on top of the Mountain of Sin. I did overcome any and all temptations of the flesh and yes it was terribly hot and I was very thirsty. The ordeal was very hard and the temptation to soothe this pain was great but I did overcome the need to do so. You saw this and this is what you felt there and why you did not like it. It pleases me you came to that.”

I pondered this, thinking of my reaction to Jericho, and He continued.

“You also recognized this place because Jericho is a fallen city and you, child, have been there in the past. You know that it was toppled many times and you knew why. Trust me in this. You do not remember details but you recognize the depth that lies there beneath layers of sea and mud and now the stark pain. You, child, are of the land. So, you see, you recognize the place. Now, as far as today. You will have a chance to feel Me again, my Presence, and you will cherish this for it is a blessing to you. Understand this and allow Me to come through. The path is set before you and you are eager and ready. This pleases Me and Our Father. You, Jody, are here with Me.”

I sat there, mulling over the words, “lies beneath sea and mud…” I had heard similar words before in the first letter to the people back in 2001 when the Daughter is speaking. Now that I am home, I can share this quote from the earlier writings. The Daughter says, “The stirring within me shivers at the thought of drowned men lying deep in mud, for live giveth, not taketh. I speak from the past of worlds far away in a time gone. I am the seeker of the path of righteousness and I follow obediently. It is within me to follow my destiny now and forever. I pass through the Cross of David and am strong. For now, is the time of right and wrong…” The passage goes on and she is pleading with the people to change their ways and to let it be known that love presides over all. That there is hope in the future but only if they will let it happen. 

At breakfast at the hotel, I found myself pondering what Jesus had told me and thinking about the early messages to the people. Then we were off on the next part of the pilgrimage, which would be centered around the Nativity. First, we were headed to Ein Karem where John the Baptist was born and where Mother Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, lived, and then to Bethlehem. However, that will be in next week’s letter. Enjoy your week and God Bless- Jody