Posted June 28, 2006 Book: Journey in a Holy Land: A Spiritual Journey Author: M. Basil Pennington, OCSO Paraclete Press, Brewster, MA. 2006. Pp. 175 An Excerpt from the Jacket: Join Basil Pennington as he travels along the coast in Caesarea, in the hill country of Nazareth and Cana, down by the lake in Capernaum and Tabor, through desert shrines such as Jacob's Well and the mystical Qumran, in the holy city of Jerusalem, on Mt. Sinai, and finally, back to the beginnings of the Christian story, to Bethlehem. Anyone familiar with the Holy Land - sacred in all three of the world's Abrahamic faiths - will delight in Pennington's apt descriptions and reflections while in familiar places. Christians of all backgrounds will also appreciate his poignant meditations on the Cross, the Tomb, the Upper Room, the Temple, Stations of the Cross, Olivet, Bethany, and the Nativity. An Excerpt from the Book: I stand here with John, the disciple whom Jesus loves, feeling very helpless. There is a time for doing. And a time for being. And a time for being with. The three hours must have seemed an endless eternity. Three hours standing here, watching Jesus hang here, life flowing out, each breath more labored. There is nothing to do but let Jesus suffer and give all for us. This is difficult. We want so to affirm our worth or validity by doing. But we need to realize that ultimately it all comes from Jesus. Ours is to receive. There is much for us to do, but all that we are to do, can do, is by his grace and power, by what happens here on Calvary. "Greater love than this . . ." Standing here, watching Jesus, feeling with Jesus - at least in what little way we can - each moment makes that love more of a reality in our lives. Lord give us the grace and courage to stand more faithfully on Calvary. Table of Contents: Welcome to the Holy Land! En Route Istanbul, Vienna, Athens Arrival Tel Aviv, Joppa Along the Coast Caesarea, Larva Netofa In the Hill Country Nazareth, Cana Down by the Lake Capernaum, Tabgha, Tabor Desert Shrines Jacob's Well, Qumran and En Gedi In the Holy city The Cross, the Tomb, the Upper Room, the Temple, Stations of the Cross, Olivet, Bethany Sinai and the Upper Room Sinai, The Upper Room Back to the Beginnings Bethlehem, Ein Kerem The Last Days