Day 9 - Jim Papile - Ein Karem

Today's Slideshow

Church of John the Baptist and Church of the Visitation, Ein Karem, on the southern edge of Jerusalem. Ein Karem, which means Spring of the Vineyard.  it is a very well-to-do Jewish neighborhood now, before the 1948 arrival of the official state of Israel it was an Arab neighborhood of some size.  In the early spring of 1948 in was the scene of considerable fighting, with the Israeli Army finally getting the upper hand.  Much of the village, and all of the village next door. Deir Yassin was destroyed.  Ein Karem is now a beautiful upscale neighborhood, Deit Yassin is a forlorn looking ghost town, some still standing, but in ruins. We were told that Israeli architecture students study the derelict houses as example of Arab homes pre 1948 war.

In Ein Karem there are two churches, that of St. John and that of the Visitation.  The Church of the Visitation is the prettier of the two, but harder to get to, as one must climb a steep hill side on ancient, slick paving stones.  It was lovey inside, and there was a stunning wall outside that had large marble plaques, in many languages, of the Magnificat, the words found in Luke's Gospel where Mary proclaims her willingness to bear the God-child.

Most compelling for me, though was a statue outside of the pregnant Elizabeth meeting the pregnant Mary.   Their appearances are very similar, and not just because of the sameness of the bronze, or that  they were dressed just the same.  Same flowing gown, same head scarf, and upon looking closely the slight protrudenances  of their bellies.  But their faces were very different.  Elizabeth was tired.  This pregnancy was wearing her out.  She was not a young woman, and the idea of chasing a toddler around must have felt overwhelming.  Concern showed around her eyes.  She was old enough, had seen enough to know what raising a child would take out of her and her ancient husband, Zechariah.  But she greeted her kinswoman with  kindness. 

Mary, on the other hand, looked very open and innocent.  Wide-eyed with her secret, both elated and frightened at the same time in a way that I think only first time pregnant women can be.  Mary had no idea what was ahead of her.  This Child quickening in her was a game breaker, a once in a universe human being. 

  Yet both women said yes to God.  There is no doubt in my mind that either one of them could have said no.  But they didn't.  And that changed the world.  Are we ready to say yes to God in this season of Advent.  I think we are continually asked, yet our fear makes us hold back.  Thank God Mary and Elizabeth overcame their fear, let us pray that we can do the same.