On the evening of Shabbat we had a big fireside here. They invited the BYU students studying Arabic in Jordan to come, plus the 80 of us and the faculty and missionary couples - it was a pretty big fireside. We started out upstairs and read about the Savior telling his apostles to go and secure a room for the Passover. Then we walked outside, across the balcony and down some stairs and across another balcony into the chapel/auditorium. We were very quiet as we felt the cool evening air and looked out over Jerusalem by night.
When we got into the auditorium/chapel (which has an amazing overlook of Jerusalem through the windows behind the stage) we saw that the stage was set up for the Last Supper. 13 of our boys went up and reclined on their pillows on their left sides around a low table. We read some scriptures, and then Brother Seely read scriptures and told us the events during meals (the woman anointing Jesus' feet) and in the Upper Room during the Last Supper. The boys acted this out silently as Brother Seely spoke, so we heard and saw Christ (also known as Dan, here) wash the disciples' feet, give the sop of bread to Judas, and institute the sacrament. It was very powerful. The boys sat down, and then one by one the other professors (so four in all, including Bro. Seely) spoke about the next chapters in John. We learned about Christ being the true vine, about being a disciple and a friend to Christ, about having great love for men, and about the nature of the Son and the Father. One thing that stood out to me was when Brother Ostler said, "There is a connection between how we live and how we see other people," referring to how Jesus still called Judas "friend" when Judas kissed him to betray him.
We had some songs and some testimonies and talked about things we've done here to prepare us for our lives. How in the Valley of Elah we practiced throwing stones so we can kill our personal Goliaths. How we can see pieces of truth in most other cultures and religions. How we had a pilgrimage here, not a tour; the difference between a tourist and a pilgrim is attitude, but we are pilgrims because we seek, long, and expect to be affected by what we will see. It made me wonder what I'm seeking for, and what, as the years go by, I'll see that I was affected by.
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"Should you sit upon a cloud, you would not see the boundary line between two countries.
...it is a pity you cannot sit upon a cloud."
-Khalil Gibran
...it is a pity you cannot sit upon a cloud."
-Khalil Gibran
"Ten measures of beauty descended to the world, nine were taken by Jerusalem." (Talmud: Kiddushin 49b)
4 comments:
Heavens. What an awesome and awe-inspiring experience, my dear. Indeed how very loverly. But yes, I would consider you a pilgrim, and definitely not a tourist. Just in your blogs it's easy to see that you are searching, not observing, and experiencing, not gawking. That's why they're fun to read--and as educational for us as the paths you've walked there are you to. Thank you, for that:)
I also went to Jerusalem, but sadly never had a chance to experience the triclinium fireside. I don't remember where I first heard about it, but after reading several other blogs about the same subject, I decided to create a video that would talk about the seating arrangement of the Last Supper at a triclinium. You might be interested in watching it. You can see it on my blog at: http://redeemer-of-israel.blogspot.com/2012/04/setting-of-last-supper-triclinium.html
I was curious as to how they did the washing of the feet. I hosted this year my own triclinium dinner and wanted to include washing of the feet, but thought it might be to sacred. How did they do it, while still making it sacred? I would love your thoughts.
That video did a great job explaining the triclinium! It was neat to watch. For the washing of the feet, it was very basic, with a low ceramic dish and some water and a cloth to dry the feet. They did it silently while our teacher read the account out loud, and that made the experience stand out, to see it happen as we were hearing about it. I believe our teacher also read some quotes from general authorities or from Jesus the Christ about the washing of the feet during this time, so it lasted a while, and explained what was happening and why, and it was very powerful.
Thanks for the extra details. I will have to consider maybe using this in future Passovers.
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