Jerusalem — Any day of the week here, the 4:30 a.m. Muslim call to prayer may wake you up. As a Christian in the Holy Land, it calls me, too. And, sure enough: If you head out the door to the Old City, you will be joining Muslims, Jews, and Christians headed to their houses of worship. I remember this from the last time I was here, at the beginning of Lent seven years ago: how completely safe I felt walking to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre before the sun rose. Everyone in the streets is about worshipping God — or is security making sure that nothing goes violently wrong.
I think I would find it hard to be an atheist in this city. (Well, except for the bad witness of believers not getting along, as happens.) So much points to God. For a Catholic Christian, being at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is mind-blowing. You climb up the short, deep staircase to Golgotha and join pilgrims in their Mass. During the Holy Sacrifice, we believe, Jesus truly becomes present, in union with that first sacrifice on Calvary. Here He is again. Here He gives Himself again. What wondrous love is this!
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