Desert flower in the desert

Last Saturday, the youth of the kehillot gathered for the youth meeting in Jaffa. During the morning hours, they focused on preparing the activities that the youth will direct: Easter children's camp and some games for the day of the kehillot on Easter itself.

In the afternoon, after a shared lunch, two other "flowers" joined and among them Max, the new soldier. In the chapel of the monastery, at the foot of the altar, special gifts awaited each one of the participants… a bag with a bottle of water, a New testament with the Psalms, a pen and a page with instructions about what to do. Brother Albero explained to the young people that these are the tools for survival for a time in the desert. Each one was invited to set out and find a place of retreat, outside of the church, in the public park opposite, and there to distance oneself from one's companions in order to create a bit of "desert". The goal was to create an interior desert place, in the soul of each one in order to meet God there. The page of instructions explained how to live this experience fully and included a list of passages from the Gospel about the last moments in the life of Christ and passages from the Psalms, describing the suffering of the just man. Each one was asked to take note of his or her personal reflections and to jot down the verses that had made their impact. This meeting would be the last one before the great feast of Easter, and it thus provided the occasion to meditate on the Passion and the Resurrection of the Lord. It is not easy to create desert and enter into a time of inner silence, when around about there are tourists and pilgrims thronging to visit Jaffa and its sites. The challenge was great but parallel to the challenge in daily life, when one is submerged in the noise, the many activities, studies, and in this context it is difficult to hear the voice of God, who speaks to us in the inner desert.

The meeting ended in the chapel and each one shared his or her reflections with the others after an hour spent in silence. It was not easy for everyone to focus, to concentrate… many thoughts and distractions flowed through the head, however some of the participants experienced a time of intimacy. There is no doubt, eventually each one will find the treasure hidden in these moments of singular encounter with God and His Word.

In the name of the "Desert Flower" group, I take this opportunity to wish all the members of the kehillot a blessed Easter, may it be a time of real resurrection. We hope to see you all at Kiryat Yearim!