Grottoes

You haven't wholly landed in the Holy Land until you get out into the hills themselves. Last Monday a group of us hiked out from the Lion's Gate in Jerusalem, past the Church of Saint Stephen, to come to the base of the Mount of Olives. There we literally went into the hill, as we came to the Tomb of Mary, and descended into the darkened grotto.



Cared for by the Orthodox, it represents the place prepared for Mary's final rest, until events happened otherwise, and the Queen of Heaven went to heaven.

Immediately adjacent is the grotto favored by Jesus during his time in Jerusalem, where he went often to pray. It was here that he brought his disciples after the Last Supper. Cared for by the Franciscans, it now houses a small altar.

A few paces away, next to an olive grove filled with trees that date back to the time of Christ, with gnarled massive trunks, is the Church of All Nations, built by contributions from around the world.



Here the large rock is found where Jesus was alone in the moments prior to his arrest by the chief priests. Cherished by the early Christians, it is still recalled daily in the first sorrowful mystery of the rosary, the Agony in the Garden.



You have to walk through the Kidron Valley to get back to Jerusalem from Gethsemane. Believed to be the place of the Last Judgment, it is full of the tombs of Muslims, Jews and Christians who wanted front row seats for the big event. Both Joel and Zechariah in the Old Testament refer to this valley of judgment. Joel 3:1-2 calls it the Valley of Jehoshaphat ('God will Judge'): "For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehosh'aphat, and I will enter into judgment with them there, on account of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations, and have divided up my land." Again in 3:14 Joel reads: "Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision."

A grotto dedicated to one of the twelve, Saint James, is there. This tomb, known as the tomb of Zechariah, is right next to it.



One of the Muslim accounts of the Last Judgment describes two bridges being built over the valley, extending from the Mount of Olives to Mount Moriah (in Jerusalem), one bridge being made of paper, and one made of iron. Everyone will be directed to one bridge or the other. Of course, you and I would want the bridge of iron, right? But the narrative unfolds, and in fact the bridge of iron collapses and sends everyone plummeting to their doom, while the bridge of paper brings those on it over to safety. Being of course a vivid reminder that sometimes God's directive for us is better than the choices we would have made for ourselves . . .