Kahlil Gibran Jesus the Son of Man

His words and His deeds as told and recorded by those who knew Him (1928

James the son of Zebedee: On the Kingdoms of the World Anna the mother of Mary: On the Birth of Jesus Assaph called the Orator of Tyre: On the Speech of Jesus Mary Magdalen: On Meeting Jesus for the irst Time !hilemon a "ree# Apothecary: On Jesus the Master !hysician Simon $ho $as called !eter: When %e and %is Brother $ere &alled &aiaphas: The %igh !riest Joanna the Wife of %erod's Ste$ard : On &hildren (afca : The Bride of &ana A !ersian !hilosopher in )amascus: Of Ancient "ods and *e$ )a+id one of his follo$ers: Jesus the !ractical ,u#e: On %ypocrites Matthe$: The Sermon on the Mount John the Son of Zebedee: On the -arious Apellations of Jesus A young priest of &apernaum: Of Jesus the Magician A rich le+i in the neighborhood of the *a.arene: Jesus the &arpenter A shepherd in South ,ebanon: A !arable John the Baptist: %e Spea#s in !rison to %is )isciples Joseph of Arimathea: On the !rimal Aims of Jesus *athaniel: Jesus Was *ot Mee# Saba of Antioch: On Saul of Tarsus Salome to a $oman friend: A )esire /nfulfilled (achael a $oman disciple: On Jesus the -ision and the Man &leopas of Bethroune: On the ,a$ and the !rophets *aaman of the "adarenes: On the )eath of Stephen Thomas: On the orefathers of %is )oubts 0lmadam the logician: Jesus the Outcast One of the Marys: On %is Sadness and %is Smile (umanous a "ree# poet: Jesus the !oet ,e+i a disciple: On Those $ho $ould &onfound Jesus A $ido$ in "alilee: Jesus the &ruel Judas the cousin of Jesus: On the )eath of John the Baptist The man from the desert: On the Money1changers !eter: On the Morro$ of %is ollo$ers Melachi of Babylon2 an astronomer: The Miracles of Jesus A philosopher: On Wonder and Beauty /riah an old man of *a.areth: %e Was a Stranger in Our Midst *icodemus the !oet: On ools and Jugglers Joseph of Arimathea: The T$o Streams in Jesus' %eart "eorgus of Beirut: On Strangers Mary Magdalen : %is Mouth Was ,i#e the %eart of a !omegranate Jotham of *a.areth to a (oman : On ,i+ing and Being 0phraim of Jericho : The Other Wedding1 east Barca a merchant ot Tyre : On Buying and Selling !humiah the high !riestess of Sidon : An 3n+ocation Ben4amin the scribe : ,et the )ead Bury Their )ead Zacchaeus : On the ate of Jesus Jonathan : Among the Water1lilies %annah of Bethsaida : She Spea#s of %er ather's Sister Manasseh : On the Speech and "esture of Jesus

Jephtha of &aesarea : A Man Weary of Jesus John the belo+ed disciple : On Jesus the Word Mannus the !ompeiian2 to a "ree# : On the Semitic )eity !ontius !ilatus : Of 0astern (ites and &ults Bartholome$ in 0phesus : On Sla+es and Outcasts Matthe$ : On Jesus by a !rison Wall Andre$ : On !rostitutes A rich man : On !ossessions John at !atmos : Jesus the "racious !eter : On the *eighbor A cobbler in Jerusalem : A *eutral Su.annah of *a.areth : Of the 5outh and Manhood of Jesus Joseph surnamed Justus : Jesus the Wayfarer !hilip : And When %e )ied All Man#ind )ied Birbarah of 5ammouni : On Jesus the 3mpatient !ilate's $ife to a (oman lady A man outside of Jerusalem : Of Judas Sar#is an old "ree# Shepherd2 called the madman : Jesus and !an Annas the high priest : On Jesus the (abble A $oman2 one of Mary's neighbors : A ,amentation Aha. the portly : The Keeper of the 3nn Barabbas : The ,ast Words of Jesus &laudius a (oman sentinel : Jesus the Stoic James the brother of the ,ord : The ,ast Supper Simon the &yrene : %e $ho &arried the &ross &yborea : The Mother of Judas The $oman in Byblos : A ,amentation Mary Magdalen 6Thirty years later7 : On the (esurrection of the Spirit A man from ,ebanon : *ineteen &enturies After$ard

James the Son of !ebedee "n the Kin#doms of the $orld

%&"' ( )(* in the s+rin# of the year Jesus stood in the market,+lace of Jerusalem and He s+oke to the multitudes of the kin#dom of hea-en. (nd He accused the scribes and the &harisees of settin# snares and di##in# +itfalls in the +ath of those who lon# after the kin#dom/ and He denounced them. 'ow amon#st the crowd was a com+any of men who defended the &harisees and the scribes0 and they sou#ht to lay hands u+on Jesus and u+on us also. 1ut He a-oided them and turned aside from them0 and walkked towards the north #ate of the city. (nd He said to us0 2My hour has not yet come. Many are the thin#s 3 ha-e still to say unto you0 and many are the deeds 3 shall yet +erform ere 3 deli-er myself u+ to the world.2 4hen He said0 and there was 5oy and lau#hter in His -oice0 26et us #o into the 'orth 7ountry and meet the s+rin#. 7ome with me to the hills0 for winter is +ast and the snows of 6ebanon are descendin# to the -alleys to sin# with the brooks. 24he fields and the -ineyards ha-e banished slee+ and are awake to #reet the sun with their #reen fi#s and tender #ra+es.2 (nd He walked before us and we followed Him0 that day and the ne8t. (nd u+on the afternoon of the third day we reached the summit of Mount Hermon0 and there He stood lookin# down u+on the cities of the +lains.

(nd His face shone like molten #old0 and He outsretched His arms and He said to us0 21ehold the earth in her #reen raiment0 and see how the streams ha-e hemmed the ed#es of her #arments with sil-er. 23n truth the earth is fair and all that is u+on her is fair. 21ut there is a kin#dom beyond all that you behold0 and therein 3 shall rule. (nd if it is your choice0 and if it is indeed your desire0 you too shall come and rule with me. 2My face and your faces shall not be masked/ our hand shall hold neither sword nor sce+tre0 and our sub5ects shall lo-e us in +eace and shall not be in fear of us.2 4hus s+oke Jesus0 and unto all the kin#doms of the earth 3 was blinded0 and unto all the cities of walls and towers/ and it was in my heart to follow the Master to His kin#dom. 4hen 5ust at that moment Judas of 3scariot ste++ed forth. (nd he walked u+ to Jesus0 and s+oke and said0 21ehold0 the kin#doms of the world are -ast0 and behold the cities of )a-id and Solomon shall +re-ail a#ainst the 9omans. 3f you will be the kin# of the Jews we shall stand beside you with sword and shield and we shall o-ecome the alien.2 1ut when Jesus heard this He turned u+on Judas0 and His face was filled with wrath. (nd He s+oke in a -oice terrible as the thunder of the sky and He said0 2Get you behind me0 Satan. 4hink you that 3 came down the years to rule an ant,hill for a day: 2My throne is a throne beyond your -ision. Shall he whose win#s encircle the earth seek shelter in a nest abandoned and for#otten: 2Shall the li-in# be honored and e8alted by the wearer of shrouds:2 2My kin#dom is not of this earth0 and my seat is not builded u+on the skulls of yor ancestors. 23f you seek au#ht sa-e the kin#dom of the s+irit then it were better for you to lea-e me here0 and #o down to the ca-es of your dead0 where the crowned heads of yore hold court in their tombs and may still be bestowin# honors u+on the bones of your forefathers. 2)are you tem+t me with a crown of dross0 when my forehead seeks the &leiades0 or else your thorns: 2$ere it not for a dream dreamed by a for#otten race 3 would not suffer your sun to rise u+on my +atience0 nor your moon to throw my shadow across your +ath. 2$ere it not for a mother;s desire 3 would ha-e stri++ed me of the swaddlin#, clothes and esca+ed back to s+ace. 2(nd were it not for sorrow in all of you 3 would not ha-e stayed to wee+. 2$ho are you and what are you0 Judas 3scariot: (nd why do you tem+t me: 2Ha-e you in truth wei#hed me in the scale and found me one to lead le#ions of +y#mies0 and to direct chariots of the sha+eless a#ainst an enemy that encam+s only in your hatred and marches nowhere but in your fear: 24oo many are the worms that crawl about me feet0 and 3 will #i-e them no battle. 3 am weary of the 5est0 and weary of +ityin# the cree+ers who deem me coward because 3 will not mo-e amon# their #uarded walls and towers. 2&ity it is that 3 must needs +ity to the -ery end. $ould that 3 could turn my ste+s towards a lar#er world where lar#er men dwell. 1ut how shall 3: 2*our +riest and your em+eror would ha-e my blood. 4hey shall be satisfied ere 3 #o hence. 3 would not chan#e the course of the law. (nd 3 would not #o-ern folly. 26et i#norance re+roduce itself until it is weary of its own offs+rin#. 26et the blind lead the blind to the +itfall. 2(nd let the dead bury the dead till the earth be choked with its own bitter fruit. 2My kin#dom is not of the earth. My kin#dom shall be where two or three of you shall meet in lo-e0 and in wonder at the lo-eliness of life0 and in #ood cheer0 and

in remembrance of me.2 4hen of a sudden He turned to Judas0 and He said0 2Get you behind me0 man. *our kin#doms shall ne-er be in my kin#dom.2

(nd now it was twili#ht0 and He turned to us and said0 26et us #o down. 4he ni#ht is u+on us. 6et us walk in li#ht while the li#ht is with us.2 4hen He went down from the hills and we followed Him. (nd Judas followed afar off. (nd when we reached the lowland it was ni#ht. (nd 4homas0 the son of )io+hanes0 said unto Him0 2Master0 it is dark now0 and we can no lon#er see the way. 3f it is in your will0 lead us to the li#hts of yonder -illa#e where we may find meat and shelter.2 (nd Jesus answered 4homas0 and He said0 23 ha-e led you to the hei#hts when you were hun#ry0 and 3 ha-e brou#ht you down to the +lains with a #reater hun#er. 1ut 3 cannot stay with you this ni#ht. 3 would be alone.2 4hen Simon &eter ste++ed forth0 and said< Master0 suffer us not to #o alone in the dark. Grant that we may stay with you e-en here on this byway. 4he ni#ht and the shadows of the ni#ht will not lin#er0 and the mornin# shall soon find us if you will but stay with us.2 (nd Jesus answered0 24his ni#ht the fo8es shall ha-e their holes0 and the birds of the air their nests0 but the Son of Man has not where on earth to lay His head. (nd indeed 3 would now be alone. Should you desire me you will find me a#ain by the lake where 3 found you.2 4hen we walked away from Him wuth hea-y hearts0 for it was not in our will to lea-e Him. Many times did we sto+ and turn our faces towards Him0 and we saw him in lonely ma5esty0 mo-in# westward. 4he only man amon# us who did not turn to behold Him in His aloneness was Judas 3scariot. (nd from that day Judas became sullen and distant. (nd methou#ht there was dan#er in the sockets of his eyes.

(nna the Mother of Mary "n the 1irth of Jesus

J=S%S 4H= S"' of my dau#hter0 was born here in 'a>areth in the month of January. (nd the ni#ht that Jesus was born we were -isited by men from the =ast. 4hey were &ersians who came to =sdraelon with the cara-ans of the Midianites on their way to =#y+t. (nd because they did not find rooms at the inn they sou#ht shelter in our house. (nd 3 welcomed them and 3 said0 2My dau#hter has #i-en birth to a son this ni#ht. Surely you will for#i-e me if 3 do not ser-e you as it behoo-es a hostess.2 4hen they thanked me for #i-in# them shelter. (nd after they had su++ed they said to me< 2$e would see the new,born.2 'ow the Son of Mary was beautiful to behold0 and she too was comely. (nd when the &ersians beheld Mary and her babe0 they took #old and sil-er from their ba#s0 and myrrh and frankincense0 and laid them all at the feet of the child. 4hen they fell down and +rayed in a stran#e ton#ue which we did not understand. (nd when 3 led them to the bedchamber +re+ared for them they walked as if

they were in awe at what they had seen. $hen mornin# was come they left us and followed the road to =#y+t. 1ut at +artin# they s+oke to me and said0 24he child is not but a day old0 yet we ha-e seen the li#ht of our God in His eyes and the smile of our God u+on His mouth. 2$e bid you +rotect Him that He may +rotect you all.2 (nd so sayin#0 they mounted their camels and we saw them no more. 'ow Mary seemed not so much 5oyous in her first,born0 as full of wonder and sur+rise. She would look u+on her babe0 and then turn her face to the window and #a>e far away into the sky as if she saw -isions. (nd there were -alleys between her heart and mine. (nd the child #rew in body and in s+irit0 and He was different from other children. He was aloof and hard to #o-ern0 and 3 could not lay my hand u+on Him. 1ut He was belo-ed by e-eryone in 'a>areth0 and in my heart 3 knew why. "ftentimes He would take away our food to #i-e to the +asserby. (nd He would #i-e other children the sweetmeat 3 had #i-en Him0 before He had tasted it with His own mouth. He would climb the trees of my orchard to #et the fruits0 but ne-er to eat them Himself. (nd He would race with other boys0 and sometimes0 because He was swifter of foot0 He would delay so that they mi#ht +ass the stake ere He should reach it. (nd sometimes when 3 led Him to His bed He would say0 24ell my mother and the others that only my body will slee+. My mind will be with them till their mind come to my mornin#.2 (nd many other wondrous words He said when He was a boy0 but 3 am too old to remember. 'ow they tell me 3 shall see Him no more. 1ut how shall 3 belie-e what they say: 3 still hear His lau#hter0 and the sound of His runnin# about my house. (nd whene-er 3 kiss the cheek of my dau#hter His fra#rance returns to my heart0 and His body seems to fill my arms. 1ut is it not +assin# stran#e that my dau#hter does not s+eak of her first,born to me: Sometimes it seems that my lon#in# for Him is #reater than hers. She stands as firm before the day as if she were a bron>en ima#e0 while my heart melts and runs into streams. &erha+s she knows what 3 do not know. $ould that she mi#ht tell me also.

(ssa+h called the orator of 4yre "n the S+eech of Jesus

$H(4 SH(66 3 say of His s+eech: &erha+s somethin# about His +erson lent +ower to His words and swayed those who heard Him. ?or He was comely0 and the sheen of the day was u+on His countenance. Men and women #a>ed at Him more than they listened to His ar#ument. 1ut at times He s+oke with the +ower of a s+irit0 and that s+irit had authority o-er those who heard Him. 3n my youth 3 had heard the orators of 9ome and (thens and (le8andria. 4he youn# 'a>arene was unlike them all. 4hey assembled their words with an art to enthral the ear0 but when you heard Him your heart would lea-e you and #o wanderin# into re#ions not yet -isited. He would tell a story or relate a +arable0 and the like of His stories and +arables

had ne-er been heard in Syria. He seemed to s+in them out of the seasons0 e-en as time s+ins the years and the #enerations. He would be#in a story thus< 24he +lou#hman went forth to the field to sow his seeds.2 "r0 2"nce there was a rich man who had many -ineyards.2 "r0 2( she+herd counted his shee+ at e-entide and found that one shee+ was missin#.2 (nd such words would carry His listeners into their sim+ler sel-es0 and into the ancient of their days. (t heart we are all +lou#hmen0 and we all lo-e the -ineyard. (nd in the +astures of our memory there is a she+herd and a flock and the lost shee+. (nd there is the +lou#h,share and the wine+ress and the threshin#,floor. He knew the source of our older self0 and the +ersistent thread of which we are wo-en. 4he Greek and the 9oman orators s+oke to their listeners of life as it seemed to the mind. 4he 'a>arene s+oke of a lon#in# that lod#ed in the heart. 4hey saw life with eyes only a little clearer than yours and mine. He saw life in the li#ht of God. 3 often think that He s+oke to the crowd as a mountain would s+eak to the +lain. (nd in His s+eech there was a +ower that was not commanded by the orators of (thens or of 9ome.

Mary Ma#dalen "n Meetin# Jesus for the ?irst 4ime

34 $(S 3' the month of June when 3 saw Him for the first time. He was walkin# in the wheatfield when 3 +assed by with my handmaidens0 and He was alone. 4he rhythm of His ste+s was different from other men;s0 and the mo-ement of His body was like nau#ht 3 had seen before. Men do not +ace the earth in that manner. (nd e-en now 3 do not know whether He walked fast or slow. My handmaidens +ointed their fin#ers at Him and s+oke in shy whis+ers to one another. (nd 3 stayed my ste+s for a moment0 and raised my hand to hail Him. 1ut He did not turn His face0 and He did not look at me. (nd 3 hated Him. 3 was swe+t back into myself0 and 3 was as cold as if 3 had been in a snow,drift. (nd 3 shi-ered. 4hat ni#ht 3 beheld Him in my dreamin#/ and they told me afterward that 3 screamed in my slee+ and was restless u+on my bed. 3t was in the month of (u#ust that 3 saw Him a#ain0 throu#h my window. He was sittin# in the shadow of the cy+ress tree across my #arden0 and He was still as if He had been car-ed out of stone0 like the statues in (ntioch and other cities of the 'orth 7ountry. (nd my sla-e0 the =#y+tian0 came to me and said0 24hat man is here a#ain. He is sittin# there across your #arden.2 (nd 3 #a>ed at Him0 and my soul @ui-ered within me0 for He was beautiful. His body was sin#le and each +art seemed to lo-e e-ery other +art. 4hen 3 clothed myself with raiment of )amascus0 and 3 left my house and walked towards Him. $as it my aloneness0 or was it His fra#rance0 that drew me to Him: $as it a hun#er in my eyes that desired comeliness0 or was it His beauty that sou#ht the li#ht of my eyes: =-en now 3 do not know. 3 walked to Him with my scented #arments and my #olden sandals0 the sandals

the 9oman ca+tain had #i-en me0 e-en these sandals. (nd when 3 reached Him0 3 said0 2Good,morrow to you.2 (nd He said0 2Good,morrow to you0 Miriam.2 (nd He looked at me0 and His ni#ht,eyes saw me as no man had seen me. (nd suddenly 3 was as if naked0 and 3 was shy. *et He had only said0 2Good,morrow to you.2 (nd then 3 said to Him0 2$ill you not come to my house:2 (nd He said0 2(m 3 not already in your house:2 3 did not know what He meant then0 but 3 know now. (nd 3 said0 2$ill you not ha-e wine and bread with me:2 (nd He said0 2*es0 Miriam0 but not now.2 'ot now0 not now0 He said. (nd the -oice of the sea was in those two words0 and the -oice of the wind and the trees. (nd when He said them unto me0 life s+oke to death. ?or mind you0 my friend0 3 was dead. 3 was a woman who had di-orced her soul. 3 was li-in# a+art from this self which you now see. 3 belon#ed to all men0 and to none. 4hey called me harlot0 and a woman +ossessed of se-en de-ils. 3 was cursed0 and 3 was en-ied. 1ut when His dawn,eyes looked into my eyes all the stars of my ni#ht faded away0 and 3 became Miriam0 only Miriam0 a woman lost to the earth she had known0 and findin# herself in new +laces. (nd now a#ain 3 said to Him0 27ome into my house and share bread and wine with me.2 (nd He said0 2$hy do you bid me to be your #uest:2 (nd 3 said0 23 be# you to come into my house.2 (nd it was all that was sod in me0 and all that was sky in me callin# unto Him. 4hen He looked at me0 and the noontide of His eyes was u+on me0 and He said0 2*ou ha-e many lo-ers0 and yet 3 alone lo-e you. "ther men lo-e themsel-es in your nearness. 3 lo-e you in your self. "ther men see a beauty in you that shall fade away sooner than their own years. 1ut 3 see in you a beauty that shall not fade away0 and in the autumn of your days that beauty shall not be afraid to #a>e at itself in the mirror0 and it shall not be offended. 23 alone lo-e the unseen in you.2 4hen He said in a low -oice0 2Go away now. 3f this cy+ress tree is yours and you would not ha-e me sit in its shadow0 3 will walk my way.2 (nd 3 cried to Him and 3 said0 2Master0 come to my house. 3 ha-e incense to burn for you0 and a sil-er basin for your feet. *ou are a stran#er and yet not a stran#er. 3 entreat you0 come to my house.2 4hen He stood u+ and looked at me e-en as the seasons mi#ht look down u+on the field0 and He smiled. (nd He said a#ain< 2(ll men lo-e you for themsel-es. 3 lo-e you for yourself.2 (nd then He walked away. 1ut no other man e-er walked the way He walked. $as it a breath born in my #arden that mo-ed to the east: "r was it a storm that would shake all thin#s to their foundations: 3 knew not0 but on that day the sunset of His eyes slew the dra#on in me0 and 3 became a woman0 3 became Miriam0 Miriam of Mi5del.

&hilemon ( Greek (+othecary "n Jesus the Master &hysician

4H= '(!(9='= $(S the Master &hysician of His +eo+le. 'o other man knew so much of our bodies and of their elements and +ro+erties. He made whole those who were afflicted with diseases unknown to the Greeks

and the =#y+tians. 4hey say He e-en called back the dead to life. (nd whether this be true or not true0 it declares His +ower/ for only to him who has wrou#ht #reat thin#s is the #reatest e-er attributed. 4hey say also that Jesus -isited 3ndia and the 7ountry between the 4wo 9i-ers0 and that there the +riests re-ealed to Him the knowled#e of all that is hidden in the recesses of our flesh. *et that knowled#e may ha-e been #i-en to Him direct by the #ods0 and not throu#h the +riests. ?or that which has remained unknown to all men for an eon may be disclosed to one man in but a moment. (nd (+ollo may lay his hand on the heart of the obscure and make it wise. Many doors were o+en to the 4yrians and the 4hebans0 and to this man also certain sealed doors were o+ened. He entered the tem+le of the soul0 which is the body/ and He beheld the e-il s+irits that cons+ire a#ainst our sinews0 and also the #ood s+irits that s+in the threads thereof. Methinks it was by the +ower of o++osition and resistance that He healed the sick0 but in a manner unknown to our +hiloso+hers. He astonished fe-er with His snowlike touch and it retreated/ and He sur+rised the hardened limbs with His own calm and they yielded to Him and were at +eace. He knew the ebbin# sa+ within the furrowed baark ,, but how He reached the sa+ with His fin#ers 3 do not know. He knew the sound steel underneath the rust ,, but how He freed the sword and made it shine no man can tell. Sometimes it seems to me that He heard the murmurin# +ain of all thin#s that #row in the sun0 and that then He lifted them u+ and su++orted them0 not only by His own knowled#e0 but also by disclosin# to them their own +ower to rise and become whole. *et He was not much concerned with Himself as a +hysician. He was rather +reoccu+ied with the reli#ion and the +olitics of this land. (nd this 3 re#ret0 for first of all thin#s we must needs be sound of body. 1ut these Syrians0 when they are -isited by an illness0 seek an ar#ument rather than medicine. (nd +ity it is that the #reatest of all their +hysicians chose rather to be but a maker of s+eeches in the market,+lace.

Simon $ho $as 7alled &eter $hen He and His 1rother were 7alled

3 $(S "' the shore of the 6ake of Galilee when 3 first beheld Jesus my 6ord and my Master. My brother (ndrew was with me and we were castin# out net into the waters. 4he wa-es were rou#h and hi#h and we cau#ht but few fish. (nd our hearts were hea-y. Suddenly Jesus stood near us0 as if He had taken form that -ery moment0 for we had not seen Him a+roachin#. He called us by our names0 and He said0 23f you will follow me 3 will lead you to an inlet where the fishes are swarmin#.2 (nd as 3 looked at His face the net fell from my hands0 for a flame kindled within me and 3 reco#ni>ed Him. (nd my brother (drew s+oke and said0 2$e know all the inlets u+on these shores0 and we know also that on a windy day like this the fish seek a de+th beyond our nets.2 (nd Jesus answered0 2?ollow me to the shores of a #reater sea. 3 shall make you fishers of men. (nd your net shall ne-er be em+ty.2 (nd we abandoned our boat and our net and followed Him. 3 myself was drawn by a +ower0 -iewless0 that walked beside His +erson.

3 walked near Him0 breathless and full of wonder0 and my brother (ndrew was behind us0 bewildered and ama>ed. (nd as we walked on the sand 3 made bold and said unto Him0 2Sir0 3 and my brother will follow your footste+s0 and where you #o we too will #o. 1ut if it +lease you to come to our house this ni#ht0 we shall be #raced by your -isit. "ur house is not lar#e and our ceilin# not hi#h0 and you will sit at but a fru#al meal. *et if you will abide in our ho-el it will be to us a +alace. (nd would you break bread with us0 we in your +resence were to be en-ied by the +rinces of the land.2 (nd He said0 2*ea0 3 will be your #uest this ni#ht.2 (nd 3 re5oiced in my heart. (nd we walked behind Him in silence until we reached our house. (nd as we stood at the threshold Jesus said0 2&eace be to this house0 and to those who dwell in it.2 4hen He entered and we followed Him. My wife and my wife;s mother and my dau#hter stood before Him and they worshi++ed Him/ then they knelt before Him and kissed the hem of His slee-e. 4hey were astonished that He0 the chosen and the well belo-ed0 had come to be our #uest/ for they had already seen Him by the 9i-er Jordan when John the 1a+tist had +roclaimed Him before the +eo+le. (nd strai#htway my wife and my wife;s mother be#an to +re+are the su++er. My brother (ndrew was a shy man0 but his faith in Jesus was dee+er than my faith. (nd my dau#hter0 who was then but twel-e year old0 stood by Him and held His #arment as if she were in fear He would lea-e us and #o out a#ain into the ni#ht. She clun# to Him like a lost shee+ that has found its she+herd. 4hen we sat at the board0 and He broke the bread and +oured the wine/ and He turned to us sayin#0 2My friends0 #race me now in sharin# this food with me0 e-en as the ?ather has #raced us in #i-in# it unto us.2 4hese words He said ere He touched a morsel0 for He wished to follow an ancient custom that the honored #uest becomes the host. (nd as we sat with Him around the board we felt as if we were sittin# at the feast of the #reat Kin#. My dau#hter &etronelah0 who was youn# and unknowin#0 #a>ed at His face and followed the mo-ements of His hands. (nd 3 saw a -eil of tears in her eyes. $hen He left the board we followed Him and sat about Him in the -ine,arbor. (nd He s+oke to us and we listened0 and our hearts fluttered within us like birds. He s+oke of the second birth of man0 and of the o+enin# of the #ates of the hea-ens/ and of an#els descendin# and brin#in# +eace and #ood cheer to all men0 and of an#els ascendin# to the throne bearin# the lon#in#s of men to the 6ord God. 4hen He looked into my eyes and #a>ed into the de+ths of my heart. (nd He said0 23 ha-e chosen you and your brother0 and you must needs come with me. *ou ha-e labored and you ha-e been hea-y,laden. 'ow 3 shall #i-e you rest. 4ake u+ my yoke and learn of me0 for in my heart is +eace0 and your soul shall find abundance and a home,comin#.2 $hen He s+oke thus 3 and my brother stood u+ before Him0 and 3 said to Him0 2Master0 we will follow you to the ends of the earth. (nd if our burden were as hea-y as the mountain we would bear it with you in #ladness. (nd should we fall by the wayside we shall know that we ha-e fallen on the way to hea-en0 and we shall be satisfied.2 (nd my brother (ndrew s+oke and said0 2Master0 we would be threads between your hands and your loom. $ea-e us into the cloth if you will0 for we would be in the raiment of the Most Hi#h.2 (nd my wife raised her face0 and the tears were u+on her cheeks and she s+oke with 5oy0 and she said0 21lessed are you who come in the name of the 6ord.

1lessed is the womb that carried you0 and the breast that #a-e you milk.2 (nd my dau#hter0 who was but twel-e years old0 sat at His feet and she nestled close to Him. (nd the mother of my wife0 who sat at the threshold0 said no word. She only we+t in silence and her shawl was wet with her tears. 4hen Jesus walked o-er to her and He raised her face to His face and He said to her0 2*ou are the mother of all these. *ou wee+ for 5oy0 and 3 will kee+ your tears in my memory.2 (nd now the old moon rose abo-e the hori>on. (nd Jesus #a>ed u+on it for a moment0 and then He turned to us and said0 23t is late. Seek your beds0 and may God -isit your re+ose. 3 will be here in this arbor until dawn. 3 ha-e cast my net this day and 3 ha-e cau#ht two men/ 3 am satisfied0 and now 3 bid you #ood, ni#ht.2 4hen my wife;s mother said0 21ut we ha-e laid your bed in the house0 3 +ray you enter and rest.2 (nd He answered her sayin#0 23 would indeed rest0 but not under a roof. Suffer me to lie this ni#ht under the cano+y of the #ra+es and the stars.2 (nd she made haste and brou#ht out the mattress and the +illows and the co-erin#s. (nd He smiled at her and He said0 21ehold0 3 shall lie down u+on a bed twice made.2 4hen we left Him and entered into the house0 and my dau#hter was the last one to enter. (nd her eyes were u+on H3m until 3 had closed the door. 4hus for the first time 3 knew my 6ord and Master. (nd thou#h it was many years a#o0 it still seems but of today.

7aia+has 4he Hi#h &riest

3' S&=(K3'G "? that man Jesus and of His death let us consider two salient facts< the 4orah must needs be held in safety by us0 and this kin#dom must needs be +rotected by 9ome. 'ow that man was defiant to us and to 9ome. He +oisoned the mind of the sim+le +eo+le0 and He led them as if by ma#ic a#ainst us and a#ainst 7aesar. My own sla-es0 both men and women0 after hearin# him s+eak in the market, +lace0 turned sullen and rebellious. Some of them left my house and esca+ed to the desert whence they came. ?or#et not that the 4orah is our foundation and our tower of stren#th. 'o man shall undermine us while we ha-e this +ower to restrain his hand0 and no man shall o-erthrow Jerusalem so lon# as its walls stand u+on the ancient stone that )a-id laid. 3f the seed of (braham is indeed to li-e and thri-e this soil must remain undefiled. (nd that man Jesus was a defiler and a corru+ter. $e slew Him with a conscience both deliberate and clean. (nd we shall slay all those who would debase the laws of Moses or seek to befoul our sacred herita#e. $e and &ontius &ilatus knew the dan#er in that man0 and that it was wise to brin# Him to an end. 3 shall see that His followers come to the same end0 and the echo of His words to the same silence. 3f Judea is to li-e all men who o++ose her must be brou#ht down to the dust. (nd ere Judea shall die 3 will co-er my #ray head with ashes e-en as did Samuel the +ro+het0 and 3 will tear off this #arment of (aron and clothe me in sackcloth until 3 #o hence for e-er.

Joanna the $ife of Herod;s Steward "n 7hildren

J=S%S $(S '=A=9 married but He was a friend of women0 and He knew them as they would be known in sweet comradeshi+. (nd He lo-ed children as they would be lo-ed in faith and understandin#. 3n the li#ht of His eyes there was a father and a brother and a son. He would hold a child u+on His knees and say0 2"f such is your mi#ht and your freedom/ and of such is the kin#dom of the s+irit.2 4hey say that Jesus heeded not the law of Moses0 and that He was o-er, for#i-in# to the +rostitutes of Jerusalem and the country side. 3 myself at that time was deemed a +rostitute0 for 3 lo-ed a man who was not my husband0 and he was a Sadducee. (nd on a day the Sadducees came u+on me in my house when my lo-er was with me0 and they sei>ed me and held me0 and my lo-er walked away and left me. 4hen they led me to the market,+lace where Jesus was teachin#. it was their desire to hold me u+ before Him as a test and a tra+ for Him. 1ut Jesus 5ud#ed me not. He laid shame u+on those who would ha-e had me shamed0 and He re+roached them. (nd He bade me #o my way. (nd after that all the tastesless fruit of life turned sweet to my mouth0 and the scentless blossoms breathed fra#rance into my nostrils. 3 became a woman without a tainted memory0 and 3 was free0 and my head was no lon#er bowed down.

9afca 4he 1ride of 7ana

4H3S H(&&='=) 1=?"9= He was known to the +eo+le. 3 was in my mother;s #arden tendin# the rose,bushes0 when He sto++ed at our #ate. (nd He said0 23 am thirsty. $ill you #i-e me water from your well:2 (nd 3 ran and brou#ht the sil-er cu+0 and filled it with water/ and 3 +oured into it a few dro+s from the 5asmin -ial. (nd He drank dee+ and was +leased. 4hen He looked into my eyes and said0 2My blessin# shall be u+on you.2 $hen He said that 3 felt as it were a #ust of wind rushin# throu#h my body. (nd 3 was no lon#er shy/ and 3 said0 2Sir0 3 am betrothed to a man of 7ana in Galilee. (nd 3 shall be married on the fourth day of the comin# week. $ill you not come to my weddin# and #race my marria#e with your +resence:2 (nd He answered0 23 will come0 my child.2 Mind you0 He said0 2My child02 yet He was but a youth0 and 3 was nearly twenty. 4hen He walked on down the road. (nd 3 stood at the #ate of our #arden until my mother called me into the house. "n the fourth day of the followin# week 3 was taken to the house of my bride#room and #i-en in marria#e. (nd Jesus came0 and with Him His mother and His brother James. (nd they sat around the weddin#,board with our #uests whilst my maiden comrades san# the weddin#,son#s of Solomon the Kin#. (nd Jesus ate our food

and drank our wine and smiled u+on me and u+on the others. (nd He heeded all the son#s of the lo-er brin#in# his belo-ed into his tent/ and of the youn# -ineyard,kee+er who lo-ed the dau#hter of the lord of the -ineyard and led her to his mother;s house/ and of the +rince who met the be##ar maiden and bore her to his realm and crowned her with the crown of his fathers. (nd it seemed as if He were listenin# to yet other son#s also0 which 3 could not hear. (t sundown the father of my bride#room came to the mother of Jesus and whis+ered sayin#0 2$e ha-e no more wine for our #uests. (nd the day is not yet o-er.2 (nd Jesus heard the whis+erin#0 and He said0 24he cu+ bearer knows that there is still more wine.2 (nd so it was indeed ,, and as lon# as the #uests remained there was fine wine for all who would drink. &resently Jesus be#an to s+eak with us. He s+oke of the wonders of earth and hea-en/ of sky flowers that bloom when ni#ht is u+on the earth0 and of earth flowers that blossom when the day hides the stars. (nd He told us stories and +arables0 and His -oice enchanted us so that we #a>ed u+on Him as if seein# -isions0 and we for#ot th cu+ and the +late. (nd as 3 listened to Him it seemed as if 3 were in a land distant and unknown. (fter a while one of the #uests said to the father of my bride#room0 2*ou ha-e ke+t the best wine till the end of the feast. "ther hosts do not so.2 (nd all belie-ed that Jesus had wrou#ht a miracle0 that they should ha-e more wine and better at the end of the weddin#,feast than at the be#innin#. 3 too thou#ht that Jesus had +oured the wine0 but 3 was not astonished/ for in His -oice 3 had already listened to miracles. (nd afterwards indeed0 His -oice remained close to my heart0 e-en until 3 had been deli-ered of my first,born child. (nd now e-en to this day in our -illa#e and in the -illa#es near by0 the word of our #uest is still remembered. (nd they say0 24he s+irit of Jesus of 'a>areth is the best and the oldest wine.2

( &ersian &hiloso+her in )amascus "f (ncient Gods and 'ew

3 7(''"4 4=66 the fate of this man0 nor can 3 say what shall befall His disci+les. ( seed hidden in the heart of an a++le is an orchard in-isible. *et should that seed fall u+on a rock0 it will come to nau#ht. 1ut this 3 say< 4he ancient God of 3srael is harsh and relentless. 3srael should ha-e another God/ one who is #entle and for#i-in#0 who would look down u+on them with +ity/ one who would descend with the rays of the sun and walk on the +ath of their limitations0 rather than sit for e-er in the 5ud#ment seat to wei#h their faults and measure their wron#,doin#s. 3srael should brin# forth a God whose heart is not a 5ealous heart0 and whose memory of their shortcomin#s is brief/ one who would not a-en#e Himself u+on them e-en to the third and the fourth #eneration. Man here in Syria is like man in all lands. He would look into the mirror of his own understandin# and therein find his deity. He would fashion the #ods after his own likeness0 and worshi+ that which reflects his own ima#e. 3n truth man +rays to his dee+er lon#in#0 that it may rise and fulfil the sum of his desires. 4here is no de+th beyond the soul of man0 and the soul is the dee+ that calls

unto itself/ for there is no other -oice to s+eak and there are no other ears to hear. =-en we in &ersia would see our faces in the disc of the sun and our bodies dancin# in the fire that we kindle u+on the altars. 'ow the God of Jesus0 whom He called ?ather0 would not be a stran#er unto the +eo+le of Jesus0 and He would fulfil their desires. 4he #ods of =#y+t ha-e cast off their burden of stones and fled to the 'ubian desert0 to be free amon# those who are still free from knowin#. 4he #ods of Greece and 9ome are -anishin# into their own sunset. 4hey were too much like men to li-e in the ecstasy of men. 4he #ro-es in which their ma#ic was born ha-e been cut down by the a8es of the (thenians and the (le8andrians. (nd in this land also the hi#h +laces are made low by the lawyers of 1eirut and the youn# hermits of (ntioch. "nly the old women and the weary men seek the tem+les of their forefathers/ only the e8hausted at the end of the road seek its be#innin#. 1ut this man Jesus0 this 'a>arene0 He has s+oken of a God too -ast to be unlike the soul of any man0 too knowin# to +unish0 too lo-in# to remember the sins of His creatures. (nd this God of the 'a>arene shall +ass o-er the threshold of the children of the earth0 and He shall sit at their hearth0 and He shall be a blessin# within their walls and a li#ht u+on their +ath. 1ut my God is the God of !oroaster0 the God who is the sun in the sky and fire u+on the earth and li#ht in the bosom of man. (nd 3 am content. 3 need no other God.

)a-id "ne of His ?ollowers Jesus the &ractical

3 )3) '"4 know the meanin# of His discourses or His +arables until He was no lon#er amon# us. 'ay0 3 did not understand until His words took li-in# forms before my eyes and fashioned themsel-es into bodies that walk in the +rocession of my own day. 6et me tell you this< "n a ni#ht as 3 sat in my house +onderin#0 and rememberin# His words and His deeds that 3 mi#ht inscribe them in a book0 three thie-es entered my house. (nd thou#h 3 knew they came to rob me of my #oods0 3 was too mindful of what 3 was doin# to meet them with the sword0 or e-en to say0 2$hat do you here:2 1ut 3 continued writin# my remembrances of the Master. (nd when the thie-es had #one then 3 remembered His sayin#0 2He who would take your cloak0 let him take your other cloak also.2 (nd 3 understood. (s 3 sat recordin# His words no man could ha-e sto++ed me e-en were he to ha-e carried away all my +ossessions. ?or thou#h 3 would #uard my +ossessions and also my +erson0 3 know there lies the #reater treasure.

6uke "n Hy+ocrites

J=S%S )=S&3S=) (') scorned the hy+ocrites0 and His wrath was like a tem+est

that scour#ed them. His -oice was thunder in their ears and He cowed them. 3n their fear of Him they sou#ht His death/ and like moles in the dark earth they worked to undermine His footste+s. 1ut He fell not into their snares. He lau#hed at them0 for well He knew that the s+irit shall not be mocked0 nor shall it be taken in the +itfall. He held a mirror in His hand and therein He saw the slu##ard and the lim+in# and those who sta##er and fall by the roadside on the way to the summit. (nd He +itied them all. He would e-en ha-e raised them to His stature and He would ha-e carried their burden. 'ay0 He would ha-e bid their weakness lean on His stren#th. He did not utterly condemn the liar or the thief or the murderer0 but He did utterly condemn the hy+ocrite whose face is masked and whose hand is #lo-ed. "ften 3 ha-e +ondered on the heart that shelters all who come from the wasteland to its sanctuary0 yet a#ainst the hy+ocrite is closed and sealed. "n a day as we rested with Him in the Garden of &ome#ranates0 3 said to Him0 2Master0 you for#i-e and console the sinner and all the weak and the infirm sa-e only the hy+ocrite alone.2 (nd He said0 2*ou ha-e chosen your words well when you called the sinners weak and infirm. 3 do for#i-e them their weakness of body and their infirmity of s+irit. ?or their failin#s ha-e been laid u+on them by their forefathers0 or by the #reed of their nei#hbors. 21ut 3 tolerate not the hy+ocrite0 because he himself lays a yoke u+on the #uileless and the yieldin#. 2$eaklin#s0 whom you call sinners0 are like the featherless youn# that fall from the nest. 4he hy+ocrite is the -ulture waitin# u+on a rock for the death of the +rey. 2$eaklin#s are men lost in a desert. 1ut the hy+ocrite is not lost. He knows the way yet he lau#hs between the sand and the wind. 2?or this cause 3 do not recei-e him.2 4hus our Master s+oke0 and 3 did not understand. 1ut 3 understand now. 4hen the hy+ocrites of the land laid hands u+on Him and they 5ud#ed Him/ and in so doin# they deemed themsel-es 5ustified. ?or they cited the law of Moses in the Sanhedrim in witness and e-idence a#ainst Him. (nd they who break the law at the rise of e-ery dawn and break it a#ain at sunset0 brou#ht about His death.

Matthew 4he Sermon on the Mount

"'= H(9A=S4 )(* Jesus called us and His other friends to the hills. 4he earth was fra#rant0 and like the dau#hter of a kin# at her weddin#,feast0 she wore all her 5ewels. (nd the sky was her bride#room. $hen we reached the hei#hts Jesus stood still in the #ro-e of the laurels0 and He said0 29est here0 @uiet your mind and tune your heart0 for 3 ha-e much to tell you.2 4hen we reclined on the #rass0 and the summer flowers were all about us0 and Jesus sat in our midst. (nd Jesus said< 21lessed are the serene in s+irit. 21lessed are they who are not held by +ossessions0 for they shall be free. 21lessed are they who remember their +ain0 and in their +ain await their 5oy. 21lessed are they who hun#er after truth and beauty0 for their hun#er shall brin# bread0 and their thirst cool water. 21lessed are the kindly0 for they shall be consoled by their own kindliness.

21lessed are the +ure in heart0 for they shall be one with God. 21lessed are the merciful0 for mercy shall be in their +ortion. 21lessed are the +eacemakers0 for their s+irit shall dwell abo-e the battle0 and they shall turn the +otter;s field into a #arden. 21lessed are they who are hunted0 for they shall be swift of foot and they shall be win#ed. 29e5oice and be 5oyful0 for you ha-e found the kin#dom of hea-en within you. 4he sin#ers of old were +ersecuted when they san# of that kin#dom. *ou too shall be +ersecuted0 and therein lies your honor0 therein your reward. 2*ou are the salt of the earth/ should the salt lose its sa-or wherewith shall the food of man;s heart be salted: 2*ou are the li#ht of the world. &ut not that li#ht under a bushel. 6et it shine rather from the summit0 to those who seek the 7ity of God. 24hink not 3 came to destroy the laws of the scribes and the &harisees/ for my days amon# you are numbered and my words are counted0 and 3 ha-e but hours in which to fulfil another law and re-eal a new co-enant. 2*ou ha-e been told that you shall not kill0 but 3 say unto you0 you shall not be an#ry without a cause. 2*ou ha-e been char#ed by the ancients to brin# your calf and your lamb and your do-e to the tem+le0 and to slay them u+on the altar0 that the nostrils of God may feed u+on the odor of their fat0 and that you may be for#i-en your failin#s. 21ut 3 say unto you0 would you #i-e God that which was His own from the be#innin#/ and would you a++ease Him whose throne is abo-e the silent dee+ and whose arms encircle s+ace: 29ather0 seek out your brother and be reconciled unto him ere you seek the tem+le/ and be a lo-in# #i-er unto your nei#hbor. ?or in the soul of these God has builded a tem+le that shall not be destroyed0 and in their heart He has raised an altar that shall ne-er +erish. 2*ou ha-e been told0 an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 1ut 3 say unto you< 9esist not e-il0 for resistance is food unto e-il and makes it stron#. (nd only the weak would re-en#e themsel-es. 4he stron# of soul for#i-e0 and it is honor in the in5ured to for#i-e. 2"nly the fruitful tree is shaken or stoned for food. 21e not heedful of the morrow0 but rather #a>e u+on today0 for sufficient for today is the miracle thereof. 21e not o-er,mindful of yourself when you #i-e but be mindful of the necessity. ?or e-ery #i-er himself recei-es from the ?ather0 and that much more abundantly. 2(nd #i-e to each accordin# to his need/ for the ?ather #i-es not salt to the thirsty0 nor a stone to the hun#ry0 nor milk to the weaned. 2(nd #i-e not that which is holy to do#s/ nor cast your +earls before swine. ?or with such #ifts you mock them/ and they also shall mock your #ift0 and in their hate would fain destroy you. 26ay not u+ for yoursel-es treasures that corru+t or that thie-es may steal away. 6ay u+ rather treasure which shall not corru+t or be stolen0 and whose lo-eliness increases when many eyes behold it. ?or where your treasure is0 your heart is also. 2*ou ha-e been told that the murderer shall be +ut to the sword0 that the thief shall be crucified0 and the harlot stoned. 1ut 3 say unto you that you are not free from wron#doin# of the murderer and the thief and the harlot0 and when they are +unished in the body your own s+irit is darkened. 2Aerily no crime is committed by one man or one woman. (ll crimes are committed by all. (nd he who +ays the +enalty may be breakin# a link in the chain that han#s u+on your own ankles. &erha+s he is +ayin# with his sorrow the +rice for your +assin# 5oy.2 4hus s+ake Jesus0 and it was in my desire to kneel down and worshi+ Him0 yet

in my shyness 3 could not mo-e nor s+eak a word. 1ut at last 3 s+oke/ and 3 said0 23 would +ray this moment0 yet my ton#ue is hea-y. 4each me to +ray.2 (nd Jesus said0 2$hen you would +ray0 let your lon#in# +ronounce the words. 3t is in my lon#in# now to +ray thus< 2"ur ?ather in earth and hea-en0 sacred is 4hy name. 4hy will be done with us0 e-en as in s+ace. Gi-e us of 4hy bread sufficient for the day. 3n 4hy com+assion for#i-e us and enlar#e us to for#i-e one another. Guide us towards 4hee and stretch down 4hy hand to us in darkness. ?or 4hine is the kin#dom0 and in 4hee is our +ower and our fulfillment.2 (nd it was now e-enin#0 and Jesus walked down from the hills0 and all of us followed Him. (nd as 3 followed 3 was re+eatin# His +rayer0 and rememberin# all that He had said/ for 3 knew that the words that had fallen like flakes that day must set and #row firm like crystals0 and that win#s that had fluttered abo-e our heads were to beat the earth like iron hoofs.

John the son of !ebedee "n the Aarious (+ellations of Jesus

*"% H(A= 9=M(9K=) that some of us call Jesus the 7hrist0 and some the $ord0 and others call Him the 'a>arene0 and still others the Son of Man. 3 will try to make these names clear in the li#ht that is #i-en me. 4he 7hrist0 He who was in the ancient of days0 is the flame of God that dwells in the s+irit of man. He is the breath of life that -isits us0 and takes unto Himself a body like our bodies. He is the will of the 6ord. He is the first $ord0 which would s+eak with our -oice and li-e in our ear that we may heed and understand. (nd the $ord of the 6ord our God builded a house of flesh and bones0 and was man like unto you and myself. ?or we could not hear the son# of the bodiless wind nor see our #reater self walkin# in the mist. Many times the 7hrist hsa come to the world0 and He has walked many lands. (nd always He has been deemed a stran#er and a madman. *et the sound of His -oice descended ne-er to em+tiness0 for the memory of man kee+s that which his mind takes no care to kee+. 4his is the 7hrist0 the innermost and the hei#ht0 who walks with man towards eternity. Ha-e you not heard of Him at the cross,roads of 3ndia: (nd in the land of the Ma#i0 and u+on the sands of =#y+t: (nd here in your 'orth 7ountry your bards of old san# of &rometheus0 the fire, brin#er0 he who was the desire of man fulfilled0 the ca#ed ho+e made free/ and "r+heus0 who came with a -oice and a lyre to @uicken the s+irit in beast and man. (nd know you not of Mithra the kin#0 and of !oroaster the +ro+het of the &ersians0 who woke from man;s ancient slee+ and stood at the bed of our dreamin#: $e oursel-es become man annointed when we meet in the 4em+le 3n-isible0 once e-ery thousand years. 4hen comes one forth embodied0 and at His comin# our silence turns to sin#in#.

*et our ears turn not always to listenin# nor our eyes to seein#. Jesus the 'a>arene was born and reared like oursel-es/ His mother and father were like our +arents0 and He was a man. 1ut the 7hrist0 the $ord0 who was in the be#innin#0 the S+irit who would ha-e us li-e our fuller life0 came unto Jesus and was with Him. (nd the S+irit was the -ersed hand of the 6ord0 and Jesus was the har+. 4he S+irit was the +salm0 and Jesus was the turn thereof. (nd Jesus0 the Man of 'a>areth0 was the host and the mouth+iece of the 7hrist0 who walked with us in the sun and who called us His friends. 3n those days the hills of Galilee and her -alleys heard but His -oice. (nd 3 was a youth then0 and trod in His +ath and +ursued His foot+rints. 3 +ursued His foot+rints and trod in His +ath0 to hear the words of the 7hrist from the li+s of Jesus of Galilee. 'ow you would know why some of us call Him the Son of Man. He Himself desired to be called by that name0 for He knew the hun#er and the thirst of man0 and He beheld man seekin# after His #reater self. 4he Son of Man was 7hrist the Gracious0 who would be with us all. He was Jesus the 'a>arene who would lead His brothers to the (nointed "ne0 e-en to the $ord which was in the be#innin# with God. 3n my heart dwells Jesus of Galilee0 the Man abo-e men0 the &oet who makes +oets of us all0 the S+irit who knocks at our door that we may wake and rise and walk out to meet truth naked and unencumbered.

( *oun# &riest in 7a+ernaum "f Jesus the Ma#ician

H= $(S ( ma#ician0 war+ and woof0 and a sorcerer0 a man who bewildered the sim+le by charms and incantations. (nd He 5u##led with the words of our +ro+hets and with the sanctities of our forefathers. (ye0 He e-en bade the dead be His witnesses0 and the -oiceless #ra-es His forerunners and authority. He sou#ht the women of Jerusalem and the women of the countryside with the cunnin# of the s+ider that seeks the fly/ and they were cau#ht in His web. ?or women are weak and em+ty,headed0 and they follow the man who would comfort their uns+ent +assion with soft and tender words. $ere it not for these women0 infirm and +ossessed by His e-il s+irit0 His name would ha-e been erased from the memory of man. (nd who were the men who followed Him: 4hey were of the horde that are yoked and trodden down. 3n their i#norance and fear they would ne-er ha-e rebelled a#ainst their ri#htful masters. 1ut when He +romised them hi#h stations in His kin#dom of mira#e0 they yielded to His fantasy as clay to the +otter. Know you not0 the sla-e in his dreamin# would always be master/ and the weaklin# would be a lion: 4he Galilean was a con5uror and a decei-er0 a man who for#a-e the sins of all sinners that He mi#ht hear Hail and Hosanna from their unclean mouths/ and who fed the faint heart of the ho+eless and the wretched that He mi#ht ha-e ears for His -oice and a retinue at His command. He broke the sabbath with those who break that He mi#ht #ain the su++ort of the lawless/ and He s+oke ill of our hi#h +riests that He mi#ht win attention in Sanhedrim0 and by o++osition increase His fame. 3 ha-e said often that 3 hated that man. (y0 3 hate Him more than 3 hate the

9omans who #o-ern our country. =-en His comin# was from 'a>areth0 a town cursed by our +ro+hets0 a dun#hill of the Gentiles0 from which no #ood shall e-er +roceed.

( 9ich 6e-i in the 'ei#hborhood of 'a>areth Jesus the Good 7ar+enter

H= $(S ( #ood car+enter. 4he doors He fashioned were ne-er unlocked by thie-es0 and the windows he made were always ready to o+en to the east wind and to the west. (nd He made chests of cedar wood0 +olished and endurin#0 and +lou#hs and +itchforks stron# and yieldin# to the hand. (nd He car-ed lecterns for our syna#o#ues. He car-ed them out of the #olden mulberry/ and on both sides of the su++ort0 where the sacred book lies0 He chiseled win#s outs+readin#/ and under the su++ort0 heads of bulls and do-es0 and lar#e,eyed deer. (ll this He wrou#ht in the manner of the 7haldeans and the Greeks. 1ut there was that in His skill which was neither 7haldean nor Greek. 'ow this my house was builded by many hands thirty years a#o. 3 sou#ht builders and car+enters in all the towns of Galilee. 4hey had each the skill and the art of buildin#0 and 3 was +leased and satisfied with all that they did. 1ut come now0 and behold two doors and a window that were fashioned by Jesus of 'a>areth. 4hey in their stability mock at all else in my house. See you not that these two doors are different from all other doors: (nd this window o+enin# to the east0 is it not different from other windows: (ll my doors and windows are yieldin# to the years sa-e these which He made. 4hey alone stand stron# a#ainst the elements. (nd see those cross,beams0 how he +laced them/ and these nails0 how they are dri-en from one side of the board0 and then cau#ht and fastened so firmly u+on the other side. (nd what is +assin# stran#e is that that laborer who was worthy the wa#es of two men recei-ed but the wa#e of one man/ and that same laborer now is deemed a +ro+het in 3srael. Had 3 known then that this youth with saw and +lane was a +ro+het0 3 would ha-e be##ed Him to s+eak rather than work0 and thenn 3 would ha-e o-er+aid Him for his words. (nd now 3 still ha-e many men workin# in my house and fields. How shall 3 know the man whose own hand is u+on his tool0 from the man u+on whose hand God lays His hand: *ea0 how shall 3 know God;s hand:

( she+herd in South 6ebanon ( &arable

34 $(S 6(4= summer when He and three other men first walked u+on that road yonder. 3t was e-enin#0 and He sto++ed and stood there at the end of the +asture. 3 was +layin# u+on my flute0 and my flock was #ra>in# all around me. $hen He sto++ed 3 rose and walked o-er and stood before Him. (nd He asked me0 2$here is the #ra-e of =li5ah: 3s it not somewhere near this

+lace:2 (nd 3 answered Him0 23t is there0 Sir0 underneath that #reat hea+ of stones. =-en unto this day e-ery +asserby brin#s a stone and +laces it u+on the hea+.2 (nd He thanked me and walked away0 and His friends walked behind Him. (nd after three days Ganaliel who was also a she+herd0 said to me that the man who had +assed by was a +ro+het in Judea/ but 3 did not belie-e him. *et 3 thou#ht of that man for many a moon. $hen s+rin# came Jesus +assed once more by this +asture0 and this time He was alone. 3 was not +layin# on my flute that day for 3 had lost a shee+ and 3 was berea-ed0 and my heart was downcast within me. (nd 3 walked towards Him and stood still before Him0 for 3 desired to be comforted. (nd He looked at me and said0 2*ou do not +lay u+on your flute this day. $hence is the sorrow in your eyes:2 B (nd 3 answered0 2( shee+ from amon# my shee+ is lost. 3 ha-e sou#ht her e-erywhere but 3 find her not. (nd 3 know not what to do.2 (nd He was silent for a moment. 4hen He smiled u+on me and said0 2$ait here awhile and 3 will find your shee+.2 (nd He walked away and disa++eared amon# the hills. (fter an hour He returned0 and my shee+ was close behind Him. (nd as He stood before me0 the shee+ looked u+ into His face e-en as 3 was lookin#. 4hen 3 embraced her inn #ladness. (nd He +ut His hand u+on my shoulder and said0 2?rom this day you shall lo-e this shee+ more than any other in your flock0 for she was lost and now she is found.2 (nd a#ain 3 embraced my shee+ in #ladness0 and she came close to me0 and 3 was silent. 1ut when 3 raised my head to thank Jesus0 He was already walkin# afar off0 and 3 had not the coura#e to follow Him.

John the 1a+tist He S+eaks in &rison to "ne of His )isci+les

3 (M '"4 silent in this foul hole while the -oice of Jesus is heard on the battlefield. 3 am not to be held nor confined while He is free. 4hey tell me the -i+ers are coilin# round His loins0 but 3 answe< 4he -i+ers shall awaken His stren#th0 and He shall crush them with His heel. 3 am only the thunder of His li#htnin#. 4hou#h 3 s+oke first0 His was the word and the +ur+ose. 4Hey cau#ht me unwarned. &erha+s they will lay hands on Him also. *et not before He has +ronounced His word in full. (nd He shall o-ercome them. His chariot shall +ass o-er them0 and the hoofs of His horses shall tram+le them0 and He shall be trium+hant. 4hey shall #o forth with lance and sword0 but He shall meet them with the +ower of the S+irit. His blood shall run u+on the earth0 but they themsel-es shall know the wounds and the +ain thereof0 and they shall be ba+ti>ed in their tears until they are cleansed of their sins. 4heir le#ions shall march towards His cities with rams of iron0 but on their way they shall be drowned in the 9i-er Jordan. (nd His walls and His towers shall rise hi#her0 and the shields of His warriors shall shine bri#hter in the sun. 4hey say 3 am in lea#ue with Him0 and that our desi#n is to ur#e the +eo+le to

rise and re-olt a#ainst the kin#dom of Judea. 3 answer0 and would that 3 had flames for words< if they deem this +it of ini@uity a kin#dom0 let it fall into destruction and be no more. 6et it #o the way Sodom and Gomorrah0 and let this race be for#otten by God0 and this land be turned to ashes. (ye0 behind these +rison walls 3 am indeed an ally to Jesus of 'a>areth0 and He shall lead my armies0 horse and foot. (nd 3 myself0 thou#h a ca+tain0 am not worthy to loose the strin#s of His sandals. Go to Him and re+eat my words0 and then in my name be# Him for comfort and blessin#. 3 shall not be here lon#. (t ni#ht ;twi8t wakin# and wakin# 3 feel slow feet with measured ste+s treadin# abo-e this body. (nd when 3 hearken0 3 hear the rain fallin# u+on my #ra-e. Go to Jesus0 and say that John of Kedron whose soul is filled with shadows and then em+tied a#ain0 +rays for Him0 while the #ra-e,di##er stands close by0 annd the swordman outstretches his hand for his wa#es.

Jose+h of (rimathea "n the &rimal (ims of Jesus

*"% $"%6) K'"$ the +rimal aim of Jesus0 and 3 would fain tell you. 1ut none can touch with fin#ers the life of the blessed wine0 nor see the sa+ that feeds the branches. (nd thou#h 3 ha-e eaten of the #ra+es and ha-e tasted the new -inta#e at the wine+ress0 3 cannot tell you all. 3 can only relate what 3 know of Him. "ur Master and our 1elo-ed li-ed but three +ro+het;s seasons. 4hey were the s+rin# of His son#0 the summer of His ecstasy0 and the autumn of His +assion/ and each season was a thousand years. 4he s+rin# of His son# was s+ent in Galilee. 3t was there that He #athered His lo-ers about Him0 and it was on the shores of the blue lake that He first s+oke of the ?ather0 and of our release and our freedom. 1y the 6ake of Galilee we lost oursel-es to find our way to the ?ather/ and oh0 the little loss that turned to such #ain. 3t was there the an#els san# in our ears and bade us lea-e the arid land for the #arden of heart;s desire. He s+oke of fields and #reen +astures/ of the slo+es of 6ebanon where the white lilies are heedless of the cara-ans +assin# in the dust of the -alley. He s+oke of the wild brier that smiles in the sun and yields its incense to the +assin# bree>e. (nd He would say0 24he lilies and the brier li-e but a day0 yet that day is eternity s+ent in freedom.2 (nd one e-enin# as we sat beside the stream He said0 21ehold the brook and listen to its music. ?ore-er shall it seek the sea0 and thou#h it is for e-er seekin#0 it sin#s its mystery from noon to noon. 2$ould that you seek the ?ather as the brook seeks the sea.2 4hen came the summer of His ecstasy0 and the June of His lo-e was u+on us. He s+oke of nau#ht then but the other man ,, the nei#hbor0 the road,fellow0 the stran#er0 and our childhood;s +laymates. He s+oke of the tra-eller 5ourneyin# from the east to =#y+t0 of the +lou#hman comin# home with his o8en at e-entide0 of the chance #uest led by dusk to our door. (nd He would say0 2*our nei#hbor is your unknown self made -isible. His face shall be reflected in your still waters0 andif you #a>e therein you shall behold

your own countenance. 2Should you listen in the ni#ht0 you shall hear him s+eak0 and his words shall be the throbbin# of your own heart. 21e unto him that which you would ha-e him be unto you. 24his is my law0 and 3 shall say it unto you0 and unto your children0 and they unto their children until time is s+ent and #enerations are no more.2 (nd on another day He said0 2*ou shall not be yourself alone. *ou are in the deeds of other men0 and they thou#h unknowin# are with you all your days. 24hey shall not commit a crime and your hand not be with their hand. 24hey shall not fall down but that you shall also fall down/ and they shall not rise but that you shall rise with them. 24heir road to the sanctuary is your road0 and when they seek the wasteland you too seek with them. 2*ou and your nei#hbor are two seeds sown in the field. 4o#ether you #row and to#ether you shall sway in the wind. (nd neither of you shall claim the field. ?or a seed on its way to #rowth claims not e-en its own ecstasy. 24oday 3 am with you. 4omorrow 3 #o westward/ but ere 3 #o0 3 say unto you that your nei#hbor is your unknown self made -isible. Seek him in lo-e that you may know yourself0 for only in that knowled#e shall you become my brothers.2 4hen came the autumn of His +assion. (nd He s+oke to us of freedom0 e-en as He had s+oken in Galilee in the s+rin# of His son#/ but now His words sou#ht our dee+er understandin#. He s+oke of lea-es that sin# only when blown u+on the wind/ and of man as a cu+ filled by the ministerin# an#el of the day to @uench the thirst of another an#el. *et whether that cu+ is full or em+ty it shall stand crystalline u+on the board of the Most Hi#h. He said0 2*ou are the cu+ and you are the wine. )rink yoursel-es to the dre#s/ or else remember me and you shall be @uenched.2 (nd on our way to the southward He said0 2Jerusalem0 which stands in +ride u+on the hei#ht0 shall descend to the de+th of Jahannum the dark -alley0 and in the midst of her desolation 3 shall stand alone. 24he tem+le shall fall to dust0 and around the +ortico you shall hear the cry of widows and or+hans/ and men in their haste to esca+e shall not know the faces of their brothers0 for fear shall be u+on them all. 21ut e-en there0 if two of you shall meet and utter my name and look to the west0 you shall see me0 and these my words shall a#ain -isit your ears.2 (nd when we reached the hill of 1ethany0 He said0 26et us #o to Jerusalem. 4he city awaits us. 3 will enter the #ate ridin# u+on a colt0 and 3 will s+eak to the multitude. 2Many are there who would chain me0 and many who would +ut out my flame0 but in my death you shall find life and you shall be free. 24hey shall seek the breath that ho-ers betwi8t heart and mind as the swallow ho-ers between the field and his nest. 1ut my breath has already esca+ed them0 and they shall not o-ercome me. 24he walls that my ?ather has built around me shall not fall down0 and the acre He has made holy shall not be +rofaned. 2$hen the dawn shall come0 the sun will crown my head and 3 shall be with you to face the day. (nd that day shall be lon#0 and the world shall not see its e-entide. 24he scribes and the &harisees say the earth is thirsty for my blood. 3 would @uench the thirst of the earth with my blood. 1ut the dro+s shall rise oak trees and ma+le0 and the east shall carry the acorns to other lands.2 (nd then He said0 2Judea would ha-e a kin#0 and she would march a#ainst the le#ions of 9ome. 23 shall not be her kin#. 4he diadems of !ion were fashioned for lesser brows. (nd the rin# of Solomon is small for this fin#er.

21ehold my hand. See you not that it is o-er,stron# to hold a sce+tre0 and o-er, sinewed to wield a common sword: 2'ay0 3 shall not command Syrian flesh a#ainst 9oman. 1ut you with my words shall wake that city0 and my s+irit shall s+eak to her second dawn. 2My words shall be an in-isible army with horses and chariots0 and without a8 or s+ear 3 shall con@uer the +riests of Jerusalem0 and the 7aesars. 23 shall not sit u+on a throne where sla-es ha-e sat and ruled other sla-es. 'or will 3 rebel a#ainst the sons of 3taly. 21ut 3 shall be a tem+est in their sky0 and a son# in their soul. 2(nd 3 shall be remembered. 24hey shall call me Jesus the (nointed.2 4hese thin#s He said outside the walls of Jerusalem before He entered the city. (nd His words are #ra-en as with chisels.

'athaniel Jesus $as 'ot Meek

4H=* S(* 4H(4 Jesus of 'a>areth was humble and meek. 4hey say that thou#h He was a 5ust man and ri#hteous0 He was a weaklin#0 and was often confounded by the stron# and the +owerful/ and that when He stood before men of authority He was but a lamb amon# lions. 1ut 3 say Jesus had authority o-er men0 and that He knew His +ower and +roclaimed it amon# the hills of Galilee0 and in the cities of Judea and &hoenicia. $hat man yieldin# and soft would say0 23 am life0 and 3 am the way to truth2 : $hat man meek and lowly would say0 23 am in God0 our ?ather/ and our God0 the ?ather0 is in me2 : $hat man unmindful of His own stren#th would say0 2He who belie-es not in me belie-es not in this life nor in the life e-erlastin#2 : $hat man uncertain of tomorrow would +roclaim0 2*our world shall +ass away and be nau#ht but scattered ashes ere my words shall +ass away2 : $as He doubtful of Himself when He said to those who would confound Him with a harlot0 2He who is without sin0 let him cast a stone2 : )id He fear authority when He dro-e the money,chan#ers from the court of the tem+le0 thou#h they were licensed by the +riests: $ere His win#s shorn when He cried aloud0 2My kin#dom is abo-e your earthly kin#doms2 : $as He seekin# shelter in words when He re+eated a#ain and yet a#ain0 2)estroy this tem+le and 3 will rebuild it in three days2 : $as it a coward who shook His hand in the face of the authorities and +ronounced them 2liars0 low0 filthy0 and de#enerate2 : Shall a man bold enou#h to say these thin#s to those who ruled Judea be deemed meek and humble: 'ay. 4he ea#le builds not his nest in the wee+in# willow. (nd the lion seeks not his den amon# the ferns. 3 am sickened and the bowels within me stir and rise when 3 hear the faint, hearted call Jesus humble and meek0 that they may 5ustify their own faint, heartedness/ and when the downtrodden0 for comfort and com+anionshi+0 s+eak of Jesus as a worm shinin# by their side. *ea0 my heart is sickened by such men. 3t is the mi#hty humter 3 would +reach0 and the mountainous s+irit uncon@uerable.

Saba of (ntioch "n Saul of 4arsus

4H3S )(* 3 heard Saul of 4arsus +reachin# the 7hrist unto the Jews of this city. He calls himself &aul now0 the a+ostle to the Gentiles. 3 knew him in my youth0 and in those days he +ersecuted the friends of the 'a>arene. $ell do 3 remember his satisfaction when his fellows stoned the radiant youth called Ste+hen. 4his &aul is indeed a stran#e man. His souls is not the soul of a free man. (t times he seems like an animal in the forest0 hunted and wounded0 seekin# a ca-e wherein he would hide his +ain from the world. He s+eaks not of Jesus0 nor does he re+eat His words. He +reaches the Messiah whom the +ro+hets of old had foretold. (nd thou#h he himself is a learned Jew he addresses his fellow Jews in Greek/ and his Greek is haltin#0 and he ill chooses his words. 1ut he is a man of hidden +owers and his +resence is affirmed by those who #ather around him. (nd at times he assures them of what he himself is not assured. $e who knew Jesus and heard his discourses say that He tau#ht man how to break the chains of his bonda#e that he mi#ht be free from his yesterdays. 1ut &aul is for#in# chains for the man of tomorrow. He would strike with his own hammer u+on the an-il in the name of one whom he does not know. 4he 'a>arene would ha-e us li-e the hour in +assion and ecstasy. 4he man of 4arsus would ha-e us be mindful of laws recorded in the ancient books. Jesus #a-e His breath to the breathless dead. (nd in my lone ni#hts 3 belie-e and 3 understand. $hen He sat at the board0 He told stories that #a-e ha++iness to the feasters0 and s+iced with His 5oy the meat and the wine. 1ut &aul would +rescribe our loaf and our cu+. Suffer me not to turn my eyes the other way.

Salome to a woman friend ( )esire %nfulfilled

H= $(S 63K= +o+lars shimmerin# in the sun/ (nd like a lake amon# the lonely hills0 Shinin# in the sun/ (nd like snow u+on the mountain hei#hts0 $hite0 white in the sun. *ea0 He was like unto all these0 (nd 3 lo-ed Him. *et 3 feared His +resence. (nd my feet would not carry my burden of lo-e 4hat 3 mi#ht #irdle His feet with my arms. 3 would ha-e said to Him0 23 ha-e slain your friend in an hour of +assion. $ill you for#i-e me my sin: (nd will you not in mercy release my youth

?rom its blind deed0 4hat it may walk in your li#ht:2 3 know He would ha-e for#i-en my dancin# ?or the saintly head of His friend. 3 know He would ha-e seen in me (n ob5ect of His own teachin#. ?or there was no -alley of hun#er He could not brid#e0 (nd no desert of thirst He could not cross. *ea0 He was e-en as the +o+lars0 (nd as the lakes amon# the hills0 (nnd like snow u+on 6ebanon. (nd 3 would ha-e cooled my li+s in the folds of His #arment. 1ut He was far from me0 (nd 3 was ashamed. (nd my mother held me back $hen the desire to seek Him was u+on me. $hene-er He +assed by0 my heart ached for his lo-eliness0 1ut my mother frowned at Him in contem+t0 (nd would hasten me from the window 4o my bedchamber. (nd she would cry aloud sayin#0 2$ho is He but another locust,eater from the desert: $hat is He but a scoffer and a rene#ade0 ( seditious riot,mon#er0 who would rob us of sce+tre and crown0 (nd bid the fo8es and the 5ackals of His accursed land Howl in our halls and sit u+on our throne: Go hide your face from this day0 (nd await the day when His head shall fall down0 1ut not u+on your +latter.2 4hese thin#s my mother said. 1ut my heart would not kee+ her words. 3 lo-ed Him in secret0 (nd my slee+ was #irdled with flames. He is #one now. (nd somethin# that was in me is #one also. &erha+s it was my youth 4hat would not tarry here0 Since the God of youth was slain.

9achael a woman disci+le "n Jesus the Aision and the Man

3 "?4=' $"')=9 whether Jesus was a man of flesh and blood like oursel-es0 or a thou#ht without a body0 in the mind0 or an idea that -isits the -ision of man. "ften it seems to me that He was but a dream dreamed by the countless men

and women at the same time in a slee+ dee+er than slee+ and a dawn more serene than all dawns. (nd it seems that in relatin# the dream0 the one to the other0 we be#an to deem it a reality that had indeed come to +ass/ and in #i-in# it body of our fancy and a -oice of our lon#in# we made it a substance of our own substance. 1ut in truth He was not a dream. $e knew Him for three years and beheld Him with our o+en eyes in the hi#h tide of noon. $e touched His hands0 and we followed Him from one +lace to another. $e heard His discourses and witnessed His deeds. 4hink you that we were a thou#ht seekin# after more thou#ht0 or a dream in the re#ion of dreams: Great e-ents always seem alien to our daily li-es0 thou#h their nature may be rooted in our nature. 1ut thou#h they a++ear sudden in their comin# and sudden in their +assin#0 their true s+an is for years and for #enerations. Jesus of 'a>areth was Himself the Great =-ent. 4hat man whose father and mother and brothers we know0 was Himself a miracle wrou#ht in Judea. *ea0 all His own miracles0 if +laced at His feet0 would not rise to the hei#ht of His ankles. (nd all the ri-ers of all the years shall not carry away our remembrance of Him. He was a mountain burnin# in the ni#ht0 yet He was a soft #low beyond the hills. He was a tem+est in the sky0 yet He was a murmur in the mist of daybreak. He was a torrent +ourin# from the hei#hts to the +lains to destroy all thin#s in its +ath. (nd He was like the lau#hter of children. =-ery year 3 had waited for s+rin# to -isit this -alley. 3 had waited for the lilies and the cyclamen0 and then e-ery year my soul had been saddened within me/ for e-er 3 lon#ed to re5oice with the s+rin#0 yet 3 could not. 1ut when Jesus came to my seasons He was indeed a s+rin#0 and in Him was the +romise of all the years to come. He filled my heart with 5oy/ and like the -iolets 3 #rew0 a shy thin#0 in the li#ht of His comin#. (nd now the chan#in# seasons of worlds not yet ours shall not erase His lo-eliness from this our world. 'ay0 Jesus was not a +hantom0 nor a conce+tion of the +oets. He was man like yourself and myself. 1ut only to si#ht and touch and hearin#/ in all other ways He was unlike us. He was a man of 5oy/ and it was u+on the +ath of 5oy that He met the sorrows of all men. (nd it was from the hi#h roofs of His sorrows that He beheld the 5oy of all men. He saw -isions that we did not see0 and heard -oices that we did not hear/ and He s+oke as if to in-isible multitudes0 and ofttimes He s+oke throu#h us to races yet unborn. (nd Jesus was often alone. He was amon# us yet not one with us. He was u+on the earth0 yet He was of the sky. (nd only in our aloneness may we -isit the land of His aloneness. He lo-ed us with tender lo-e. His heart was a wine+ress. *ou and 3 could a++roach with a cu+ and drink therefrom. "ne thin# 3 did not use to understand in Jesus< He would make merry with His listeners/ He would tell 5ests and +lay u+on words0 and lau#h with all the fullness of His heart0 e-en when there were distances in His eyes and sadness in His -oice. 1ut 3 understand now. 3 often think of the earth as a woman hea-y with her first child. $hen Jesus was born0 He was the first child. (nd when He died0 He was the first man to die. ?or did it not a++ear to you that the earth was stilled on that dark ?riday0 and the hea-ens were at war with the hea-ens: (nd felt you not when His face disa++eared from our si#ht as if we were nau#ht but memories in the mist:

7leo+as of 1ethroune "n the 6aw and the &ro+hets

$H=' J=S%S S&"K= the whole world was hushed to listen. His words were not for our ears but rather for the elements of which God made this earth. He s+oke to the sea0 our -ast mother0 that #a-e us birth. He s+oke to the mountain0 our elder brother whose summit is a +romise. (nd He s+oke to the an#els beyond the sea and the moutain to whom we entrusted our dreams ere the clay in us was made hard in the sun. (nd still His s+eech slumbers within our breast like a lo-e,son# half for#otten0 and sometimes it burns itself throu#h to our memory. His s+eech was sim+le and 5oyous0 and the sound of His -oice was like cool water in a land of drou#ht. "nce He raised His hand a#ainst the sky0 and His fin#ers were like the branches of a sycamore tree/ and He said with a #reat -oice< 24he +ro+hets of old ha-e s+oken to you0 and your ears are filled with their s+eech. 1ut 3 say unto you0 em+ty your ears of what you ha-e heard.2 (nd these words of Jesus0 21ut 3 say unto you02 were not uttered by a man of our race nor of our world/ but rather by a host of sera+him marchin# across the sky of Judea. (#ain and yet a#ain He would @uote the law and the +ro+hets0 and then he would say0 21ut 3 say unto you.2 "h0 what burnin# words0 what wa-es of seas unknown to the shores of our mind0 21ut 3 say unto you.2 $hat stars seekin# the darkness of the soul0 and what slee+less souls awaitin# the dawn. 4o tell of the s+eech of Jesus one must needs ha-e His s+eech or the echo thereof. 3 ha-e neither the s+eech nor the echo. 3 be# you to for#i-e me for be#innin# a story that 3 cannot end. 1ut the end is not yet u+on my li+s. 3t is still a lo-e son# in the wind.

'aaman of the Gadarenes0 a friend of Ste+hen "n the )eath of Ste+hen

H3S )3S73&6=S (9= dis+ersed. He #a-e them the le#acy of +ain ere He Himself was +ut to death. 4hey are hunted like the deer0 and the fo8es of the fields0 and the @ui-er of the hunter is yet full of arrows. 1ut when they are cau#ht and led to death0 they are 5oyous0 and their faces shine like the face of the bride#room at the weddin#,feast. ?or He #a-e them also the le#acy of 5oy. 3 had a friend from the 'orth 7ountry0 and his name was Ste+hen/ and because he +roclaimed Jesus as the Son of God0 he was led to the market,+lace and stoned. (nd when Ste+hen fell to earth he oustretched his arms as if he would die as his Master had died. His arms were s+read like win#s ready for fli#ht. (nd when the last #leam of li#ht was fadin# in his eyes0 with my own eyes 3 saw a smile u+on his li+s. 3t was a smile like the breath that comes before the end of winter for a +led#e and a +romise of s+rin#. How shall 3 describe it:

3t seemed that Ste+hen was sayin#0 23f 3 should #o to another world0 and other men should lead me to another market,+lace to stone me0 e-en then 3 would +roclaim Him for the truth which was in Him0 and for that same truth which is in me now.2 (nd 3 noticed that there was a man standin# near0 and lookin# with +leasure u+on the stonin# of Ste+hen. His name is Saul of 4arsus0 and it was he who had yielded Ste+hen to the +riests and the 9omans and the crowd0 for stonin#. Saul was bald of head and short of stature. His shoulders were crooked and his features ill,sorted/ and 3 liked him not. 3 ha-e been told that he is now +reachin# Jesus from the house to+s. 3t is hard to belie-e. 1ut the #ra-e halts not Jesus; walkin# to the enemies; cam+ to tame and take ca+ti-e those who had o++osed Him. Still 3 do not like that man of 4arsus0 thou#h 3 ha-e been told that after Ste+hen;s death he was tamed and con@uered on the road to )amascus. 1ut his head is too lar#e for his heart to be that of a true disci+le. (nd yet +erha+s 3 am mistaken. 3 am often mistaken.

4homas "n the ?orefathers of His )oubts

M* G9(')?(4H=9 $H" was a lawyer once said0 26et us obser-e truth0 but only when truth is made manifest unto us.2 $hen Jesus called me 3 heeded Him0 for His command was more +otent than my will/ yet 3 ke+t my counsel. $hen He s+oke and the others were swayed like branches in the wind0 3 listened immo-able. *et 3 lo-ed Him. 4hree years a#o He left us0 a scattered com+any to sin# His name0 and to be His witnesses unto the nations. (t that time 3 was called 4homas the )oubter. 4he shadow of my #randfather was still u+on me0 and always 3 would ha-e truth made manifest. 3 would e-en +ut my hand in my own wound to feel the blood ere 3 would belie-e in my +ain. 'ow a man who lo-es with his heart yet holds a doubt in his mind0 is but a sla-e in a #alley who slee+s at his oar and dreams of his freedom0 till the lash of the master wakes him. 3 myself was that sla-e0 and 3 dreamed of freedom0 but the slee+ of my #randfather was u+on me. My flesh needed the whi+ of my own day. =-en in the +resence of the 'a>arene 3 had closed my eyes to see my hands chained to the oar. )oubt is a +ain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother. )oubt is a foundlin# unha++y and astray0 and thou#h his own mother who #a-e him birth should find him and enfold him0 he would withdraw in caution and in fear. ?or )oubt will not know truth till his wounds are healed and restored. 3 doubted Jesus until He made Himself manifest to me0 and thrust my own hand into His -ery wounds. 4hen indeed 3 belie-ed0 and after that 3 was rid of my yesterday and the yesterdays of my forefathers. 4he dead in me buried their dead/ and the li-in# shall li-e for the (nointed Kin#0 e-en for Him who was the Son of Man. *esterday they told me that 3 must #o and utter His name amon# the &ersians and the Hindus.

3 shall #o. (nd from this day to my last day0 at dawn and at e-entide0 3 shall see my 6ord risin# in ma5esty and 3 shall hear Him s+eak.

=lmadam the 6o#ician Jesus the "utcast

*"% 13) M= s+eak of Jesus the 'a>arene0 and much ha-e 3 to tell0 but the time has not come. *et whate-er 3 say of Him now is the truth/ for all s+eech is worthless sa-e when it discloses the truth. 1ehold a man disorderly0 a#ainst all order/ a mendicant0 o++osed to all +ossessions/ a drunkard who would only make merry with ro#ues and castaways. He was not the +roud son of the State0 nor was He the +rotected citi>en of the =m+ire/ therefore He had contem+t for both State and =m+ire. He would li-e as free and dutiless as the fowls of the air0 and for this the hunters brou#ht Him to earth with arrows. 'o one shall o+en the flood #ates of his ancestors without drownin#. 3t is the law. (nd because the 'a>arene broke the law0 He and His witless followers were brou#ht to nau#ht. (nd there li-ed many others like Him0 men who would chan#e the course of our destiny. 4hey themsel-es were chan#ed0 and they were the losers. 4here is a #ra+eless -ine that #rows by the city walls. 3t cree+s u+ward and clin#s to the stones. Should that -ine say in her heart0 2$ith my mi#ht and my wei#ht 3 shall destroy these walls02 what would other +lants say: Surely they would lau#h at her foolishness. 'ow sir0 3 cannot but lau#h at this man and His ill,ad-ised disci+les.

"ne of the Marys "n His Sadness and His Smile

H3S H=() $(S always hi#h0 and the flame of God was in His eyes. He was often sad0 but His sadness was tenderness shown to those in +ain0 and comradeshi+ #i-en to the lonely. $hen He smiled His smile was as the hun#er of those who lon# after the unknown. 3t was like the dust of stars fallin# u+on the eyelids of children. (nd it was like a morsel of bread in the throat. He was sad0 yet it was a sadness that would rise to the li+s and become a smile. 3t was like a #olden -eil in the forest when autumn is u+on the world. (nd sometimes it seemed like moonli#ht u+on the shores of the lake. He smiled as if His li+s would sin# at the weddin#,feast. *et He was sad with the sadness of the win#ed who will not soar abo-e his comrade.

9umanous a Greek &oet Jesus the &oet

H= $(S ( +oet. He saw for our eyes and heard for our ears0 and our silent words were u+on His li+s/ and His fin#ers touched what we could not feel. "ut of His heart there flew countless sin#in# birds to the north and to the south0 and the little flowers on the hill,sides stayed His ste+s towards the hea-ens. "ftentimes 3 ha-e seen Him bendin# down to touch the blades of #rass. (nd in my heart 3 ha-e heard Him say< 26ittle #reen thin#s0 you shall be with me in my kin#dom0 e-en as the oaks of 1esan0 and the cedars of 6ebanon.2 He lo-ed all thin#s of lo-eliness0 the shy faces of children0 and the myrrh and frankincense from the south. He lo-ed a +ome#ranate or a cu+ of wine #i-en Him in kindness/ it mattered not whether it was offered by a stran#er in the inn or by a rich host. (nd He lo-ed the almond blossoms. 3 ha-e seen Him #atherin# them into His hands and co-erin# His face with the +etals0 as thou#h He would embrace with His lo-e all the trees in the world. He knew the sea and the hea-ens/ and He s+oke of +earls which ha-e li#ht that is not of this li#ht0 and of stars that are beyond our ni#ht. He knew the mountains as ea#les know them0 and the -alleys as they are known by the brooks and the streams. (nd there was a desert in His silence and a #arden in His s+eech. (ye0 He was a +oet whose heart dwelt in a bower beyond the hei#hts0 and His son#s thou#h sun# for our ears0 were sun# for other ears also0 and to men in another land where life is for e-er youn# and time is always dawn. "nce 3 too deemed myself a +oet0 but when 3 stood before Him in 1ethany0 3 knew what it is to hold an instrument with but a sin#le strin# before one who commands all instruments. ?or in His -oice there was the lau#hter of thunder and the tears of rain0 and the 5oyous dancin# of trees in the wind. (nd since 3 ha-e known that my lyre has but one strin#0 and that my -oice wea-es neither the memories of yesterday nor the ho+es of tomorrow0 3 ha-e +ut aside my lyre and 3 shall kee+ silence. 1ut always at twili#ht 3 shall hearken0 and 3 shall listen to the &oet who is the so-erei#n of all +oets.

6e-i0 a disci+le "n 4hose who would 7onfound Jesus

%&"' (' =A='43)= He +assed by my house0 and my soul was @uickened within me. He s+oke to me and said0 27ome0 6e-i0 and follow me.2 (nd 3 followed Him that day. (nd at e-entide of the ne8t day 3 be##ed Him to enter my house and be my #uest. (nd He and His friends crossed my threshold and blessed me and my wife and my children. (nd 3 had other #uests. 4hey were +ublicans and men of learnin#0 but they were a#ainst Him in their hearts. (nd when we were sittin# about the board0 one of the +ublicans @uestioned Jesus0 sayin#0 23s it true that you and your disci+les break the law0 and make fire on the sabbath day:2 (nd Jesus answered him sayin#0 2$e do indeed make fire on the sabbath day. $e would inflame the sabbath day0 and we would burn with our touch the dry stubble of all days.2 (nd another +ublican said0 23t was brou#ht to us that you drink wine with the unclean at the inn.2 (nd Jesus answered0 2(ye0 these also we would comfort. 7ame we here e8ce+t to share the loaf and the cu+ with the uncrowned and the unshod amon#st you:

2?ew0 aye too few are the featherless who dare the wind0 and many are the win#ed and fullfled#ed yet in the nest. 2(nd we would feed them all with our beak0 both the slu##ish and the swift.2 (nd another +ublican said0 2Ha-e 3 not been told that you would +rotect the harlots of Jerusalem:2 4hen in the face of Jesus 3 saw0 as it were0 the rocky hei#hts of 6ebanon0 and He said0 23t is true. 2"n the day of reckonin# these women shall rise before the throne of my ?ather0 and they shall be made +ure by their own tears. 1ut you shall be held down by the chains of your own 5ud#ment. 21abylon was not +ut to waste by her +rostitutes/ 1abylon fell to ashes that the eyes of her hy+ocrites mi#ht no lon#er see the li#ht of day.2 (nd other +ublicans would ha-e @uestioned Him0 but 3 made a si#n and bade them be silent0 for 3 knew He would confound them/ and they too were my #uests0 and 3 would not ha-e them +ut to shame. $hen it was midni#ht the +ublicans left my house0 and their souls were lim+in#. 4hen 3 closed my eyes and 3 saw0 as if in a -ision0 se-en women in white raiment standin# about Jesus. 4heir arms were crossed u+on their bosoms0 and their heads were bent down0 and 3 looked dee+ into the mist of my dream and beheld the face of one of the se-en women0 and it shone in my darkness. 3t was the face of a harlot who li-ed in Jerusalem. 4hen 3 o+ened my eyes and looked at Him0 and He was smilin# at me and at the others who had not left the board. (nd 3 closed my eyes a#ain0 and 3 saw in a li#ht se-en men in white #arments standin# around Him. (nd 3 beheld the face of one of them. 3t was the face of the thief who was crucified afterward at His ri#ht hand. (nd later Jesus and His comrades left my house for the road.

( widow in Galilee Jesus the 7ruel

M* S"' $(S my first and my only born. He labored in our field and he was contented until he heard the man called Jesus s+eakin# to the multitude. 4hen my son suddenly became different0 as if a new s+irit0 forei#n and unwholesome0 had embraced his s+irit. He abandoned the field and the #arden/ and he abandoned me also. He became worthless0 a creature of the hi#hways. 4hat man Jesus of 'a>areth was e-il0 for what #ood man would se+arate a son from his mother: 4he last thin# my child said to me was this< 23 am #oin# with one of His disci+les to the 'orth 7ountry. My life is established u+on the 'a>arene. *ou ha-e #i-en me birth0 and for that 3 am #rateful to you. 1ut 3 needs must #o. (m 3 not lea-in# with you our rich land0 and all our sil-er and #old: 3 shall take nau#ht but this #arment and this staff.2 4hus my son s+oke0 and de+arted. (nd now the 9omans and the +riests ha-e laid hold u+on Jesus and crucified Him/ and they ha-e done well. ( man who would +art mother and son could not be #odly. 4he man who sends our children to the cities of the Gentiles cannot be our friend.

3 know my son will not return to me. 3 saw it in his eyes. (nd for this 3 hate Jesus of 'a>areth who caused me to be alone in this un+lou#hed field and this withered #arden. (nd 3 hate all those who +raise Him. 'ot many days a#o they told me that Jesus once said0 2My father and my mother and my brethren are those who hear my word and follow me.2 1ut why should sons lea-e their mothers to follow His footste+s: (nd why should the milk of my breast be for#otten for a fountain not yet tasted: (nd the warmth of my arms be forsaken for the 'orthland0 cold and unfriendly: (ye0 3 hate the 'a>arene0 and 3 shall hate Him to the end of my days0 for He has robbed me of my first,born0 my only son.

Judas the 7ousin of Jesus "n the death of John the 1a+tist

%&"' ( '3GH4 in the month of (u#ust we were with the Master on a heath not far from the lake. 4he heath was called by the ancients the Meadow of Skulls. (nd Jesus was reclinin# on the #rass and #a>in# at the stars. (nd of a sudden two men came rushin# towards us breathless. 4hey were as if in a#ony0 and they fell +rostrate at the feet of Jesus. (nd Jesus stood u+ and He said0 2$hence came you:2 (nd one of the men answered0 2?rom Machaereus.2 (nd Jesus looked u+on him and was troubled0 and He said0 2$hat of John:2 (nd the man said0 2He was slain this day. He was beheaded in his +rison cell.2 4hen Jesus lifted u+ His head. (nd then He walked a little way from us. (fter a while He stood a#ain in our midst. (nd He said0 24he kin# could ha-e slain the +ro+het ere this day. Aerily the kin# has tried the +leasure of His sub5ects. Kin#s of yore were not so slow in #i-in# the head of a +ro+het to the head,hunters. 23 #rie-e not for John0 but rather for Herod0 who let fall the sword. &oor kin#0 like an animal cau#ht and led with a rin# and a ro+e. 2&oor +etty tetrarchs lost in their own darkness0 they stumble and fall down. (nd what could you of the sta#nant sea but dead fishes:2 23 hate not kin#s. 6et them rule men0 but only when they are wiser than men.2 (nd the Master looked at the two sorrowful faces and then He looked at us0 and He s+oke a#ain and said0 2John was born wounded0 and the blood of his wounds streamed forth with his words. He was freedom not yet free from itself0 and +atient only with the strai#ht and the 5ust. 23n truth he was a -oice cryin# in the land of the deaf/ and 3 lo-ed him in his +ain and his aloneness. 2(nd 3 lo-ed his +ride that would #i-e its head to the sword ere it would yield it to the dust. 2Aerily 3 say unto you that John0 the son of !achariah0 was the last of his race0 and like his forefathers he was slain between the threshold of the tem+le and the altar.2 (nd a#ain Jesus walked away from us. 4hen He returned and He said0 2?ore-er it has been that those who rule for an hour would slay the rulers of years. (nd fore-er they would hold a trial and +ronounce condemnation u+on a man not yet born0 and decree his death ere he commits the crime. 24he son of !achariah shall li-e with me in my kin#dom and his day shall be lon#.2 4hen He turned to the disci+les of John and said0 2=-ery deed has its morrow. 3

myself may be the morrow of this deed. Go back to my friend;s friends0 and tell them 3 shall be with them.2 (nd the two men walked away from us0 and they seemed less hea-y,hearted. 4hen Jesus laid Himself down a#ain u+on the #rass and outstretched His arms0 and a#ain He #a>ed at the stars. 'ow it was late. (nd 3 lay not far from Him0 and 3 would fain ha-e rested0 but there was a hand knockin# u+on the #ate of my slee+0 and 3 lay awake until Jesus and the dawn called me a#ain to the road.

4he Man from the )esert "n the Money,chan#ers

3 $(S ( stran#er in Jerusalem. 3 had come to the Holy 7ity to behold the #reat tem+le0 and to sacrifice u+on the altar0 for my wife had #i-en twin sons to my tribe. (nd after 3 had made my offerin#0 3 stood in the +ortico of them tem+le lookin# down u+on the money,chan#ers and those who sold do-es for sacrifice0 and listenin# to the #reat noise in the court. (nd as 3 stood there came of a sudden a man into the midst of the money, chan#ers and those who sold do-es. He was a man of ma5esty0 and He came swiftly. 3n His hand He held a ro+e of #oat;s hide/ and He be#an to o-erturn the tables of the money,chan#ers and to beat the +edlars of birds with the ro+e. (nd 3 heard Him sayin# with a loud -oice0 29ender these birds unto the sky which is their nest.2 Men and women fled from before His face0 and He mo-ed amon#st them as the whirlin# wind mo-es on the sad,hills. (ll this came to +ass in but a moment0 and then the court of the 4em+le was em+tied of the money,chan#ers. "nly the man stood there alone0 and His followers stood at a distance. 4hen 3 turned my face and 3 saw another man in the +ortico of the tem+le. (nd 3 walked towards him and said0 2Sir0 who is this man who stands alone0 e-en like another tem+le:2 (nd he answered me0 24his is Jesus of 'a>areth0 a +ro+het who has a++eared of late in Galilee. Here in Jerusalem all men hate Him.2 (nd 3 said0 2My heart was stron# enou#h to be with His whi+0 and yieldin# enou#h to be at His feet.2 (nd Jesus turned towards His followers who were awaitin# Him. 1ut before He reached them0 three of the tem+le do-es flew back0 and one ali#hted u+on His left shoulder and the other two at His feet. (nd he touched each one tenderly. 4hen He walked on0 and there were lea#ues in e-ery ste+ of His ste+s. 'ow tell me0 what +ower had He to attack and dis+erse hundreds of men and women without o++osition: 3 was told that they all hate Him0 yet no one stood before Him on that day. Had He +lucked out the fan#s of hate on His way to the court of the tem+le:

&eter "n the Morrow of His ?ollowers

"'7= (4 S%')"$' Jesus led us into the -illa#e of 1eithsaida. $e were a tired

com+any0 and the dust of the road was u+on us. (nd we came to a #reat house in the midst of a #arden0 and the owner stood at the #ate. (nd Jesus said to him0 24hese men are weary and footsore. 6et them slee+ in your house. 4he ni#ht is cold and they are in need of warmth and rest.2 (nd the rich man said0 24hey shall not slee+ in my house.2 (nd Jesus said0 2Suffer them then to slee+ in your #arden.2 (nd the man answered0 2'ay0 they shall not slee+ in my #arden.2 4hen Jesus turned to us and said0 24his is what your tomorrow will be0 and this +resent is like your future. (ll doors shall be closed in your face0 and not e-en the #ardens that lie under the stars may be your couch. 2Should your feet indeed be +atient with the road and follow me0 it may be you will find a basin and a bed0 and +erha+s bread and wine also. 1ut if it should be that you find none of those thin#s0 for#et not then that you ha-e crossed one of my deserts. 27ome0 let us #o forth.2 (nd the rich man was disturbed0 and his face was chan#ed0 and he muttered to himself words that 3 did not hear/ and he shrank away from us and turned into his #arden. (nd we followed Jesus u+on the road.

Melachi of 1abylon0 an astronomer 4he Miracles of Jesus

*"% C%=S43"' M= concernin# the miracles of Jesus. =-ery thousand thousand years the sun and the moon and this earth and all her sister +lanets meet in a strai#ht line0 and they confer for a moment to#ether. 4hen they slowly dis+erse and await the +assin# of another thousand thousand years. 4here are no miracles beyond the seasons0 yet you and 3 do not know all the seasons. (nd what if a season shall be made manifest in the sha+e of a man: 3n Jesus the elements of our bodies and our dreams came to#ether accordin# to law. (ll that was timeless before Him became timeful in Him. 4hey say He #a-e si#ht to the blind and walkin# to the +aralysed0 and that He dro-e de-ils out of madmen. &erchance blindness is but a dark thou#ht that can be o-ercome by a burnin# thou#ht. &erchance a withered limb is but idleness that can be @uickened by ener#y. (nd +erha+s the de-ils0 these restless elements in our life0 are dri-en out by the an#els of +eace and serenity. 4hey say He raised the dead to life. 3f you can tell me what is death0 then 3 will tell you what is life. 3n a field 3 ha-e watched an acorn0 a thin# so still and seemin#ly useless. (nd in the s+rin# 3 ha-e seen that acorn take roots and rise0 the be#innin# of an oak tree0 towards the sun. Surely you would deem this a miracle0 yet that miracle is wrou#ht a thousand thousand times in the drowsiness of e-ery autumn and the +assion of e-ery s+rin#. $hy shall it not be wrou#ht in the heart of man: Shall not the seasons meet in the hand or u+on the li+s of a Man (nointed: 3f our God hsa #i-en to earth the art to nestle seed whilst the seed is seemin#ly dead0 why shall He not #i-e to the heart of man to breathe life into another heart0 e-en a heart seemin#ly dead:

3 ha-e s+oken of these miracles which 3 deem but little beside the #reater miracle0 which is the man Himself0 the $ayfarer0 the man who turned my dross into #old0 who tau#ht me how to lo-e those who hate me0 and in so doin# brou#ht me comfort and #a-e sweet dreams to my slee+. 4his is the miracle in my own life. My soul was blind0 my soul was lame. 3 was +ossessed by restless s+irits0 and 3 was dead. 1ut now 3 see clearly0 and 3 walk erect. 3 am at +eace0 and 3 li-e to witmess and +roclaim my own bein# e-ery hour of the day. (nd 3 am not one of His followers. 3 am but an old astronomer who -isits the fields of s+ace once a season0 and who would be heedful of the law and the miracles thereof. (nd 3 am at the twili#ht of my time0 but whene-er 3 would seek its dawnin#0 3 seek the youth of Jesus. (nd for e-er shall a#e seek youth. 3n me now it is knowled#e that is seekin# -ision.

( +hiloso+her "n $onder and 1eauty

$H=' H= $(S with us He #a>ed at us and at our world with eyes of wonder0 for His eyes were not -eiled with the -eil of years0 and all that He saw was clear in the li#ht of His youth. 4hou#h He knew the de+th of beauty0 He was for e-er sur+rised by its +eace and its ma5esty/ and He stood before the earth as the first man had stood before the first day. $e whose senses ha-e been dulled0 we #a>e in full dayli#ht and yet we do not see. $e would cu+ our ears0 but we do not hear/ and stretch forth our hands0 but we do not touch. (nd thou#h all the incense of (rabia is burned0 we #o our way and do not smell. $e see not the +lou#hman returnin# from his field at e-entide/ nor hear the she+herd;s flute when he leads his flock to the fold0 nor do we stretch our arms to touch the sunset/ and our nostrils hun#er no lon#er for the roses of Sharon. 'ay0 we honor no kin#s without kin#doms/ nor hear the sound of har+s sa-e when the strin#s are +lucked by hands/ nor do we see a child +layin# in our oli-e #ro-e as if he were a youn# oli-e tree. (nd all words must needs rise from li+s of flesh0 or else we deem each other dumb and deaf. 3n truth we #a>e but do not see0 and hearken but do not hear/ we eat and drink but do not taste. (nd there lies the difference between Jesus of 'a>areth and oursel-es. His senses were all continually made new0 and the world to Him was always a new world. 4o Him the lis+in# of a babe was not less than the cry of all mankind0 while to us it is only lis+in#. 4o Him the root of a buttercu+ was a lon#in# towards God0 while to us it is nau#ht but a root.

%riah an old man of 'a>areth He $as a Stran#er in "ur Midst

H= $(S ( stran#er in our midst0 and His life was hidden with dark -eils. He walked not the +ath of our God0 but followed the course of the foul and the infamous. His childhood re-olted0 and re5ected the sweet milk of our nature. His youth was inflamed like dry #rass that burns in the ni#ht. (nd when He became a man0 He took arms a#ainst us all. Such men are concei-ed in the ebb tide of human kindness0 and born in unholy tem+ests. (nd in tem+ests they li-e a day and the +erish fore-er. )o you not remember Him0 a boy o-erweenin#0 who would ar#ue with our learned elders0 and lau#h at their di#nity: (nd remember you not His youth0 when He li-ed by the saw and the chisel: He would not accom+any our sons and dau#hters on their holidays. He would walk alone. (nd He would not return the salutation of those who hailed Him0 as thou#h He were abo-e us. 3 myself met Him once in the field and #reeted Him0 and He only smiled0 and in His smile 3 beheld arro#ance and insult. 'ot lon# afterward my dau#hter went with her com+anions to the -ineyards to #ather the #ra+es0 and she s+oke to Him and He did not answer her. He s+oke only to the whole com+any of #ra+e,#atherers0 as if my dau#hter had not been amon# them. $hen He abandoned His +eo+le and turned -a#abond He became nau#ht but a babbler. His -oice was like a claw in our flesh0 and the sound of His -oice is still a +ain in our memory. He would utter only e-il of us and of our fathers and forefathers. (nd His ton#ue sou#ht our bosoms like a +oisoned arrow. Such was Jesus. 3f He had been my son0 3 would ha-e committed Him with the 9oman le#ions to (rabia0 and 3 would ha-e be##ed the ca+tain to +lace Him in the forefront of the battle0 so that the archer of the foe mmi#ht mark Him0 and free me of His insolence. 1ut 3 ha-e no son. (nd mayha+ 3 should be #rateful. ?or what if my son had been an enemy of his own +eo+le0 and my #ray hairs were now seekin# the dust with shame0 my white beard humbled:

'icodemus the +oet0 the youn#est of the elders in the Sanhedrim "n ?ools and Ju##lers

M('* (9= 4H= fools who say that Jesus stood in His own +ath and o++osed Himself/ that He knew not His own mind0 and in the absence of that knowled#e confounded Himself. Many indeed are the owls who know no son# unlike their own hootin#. *ou and 3 know the 5u##lers of words who would honor only a #reater 5u##ler0 men who carry their heads in baskets to the market,+lace and sell them to the first bidder. $e know the +y#mies who abuse the sky,man. (nd we know what the weed would say of the oak tree and the cedar. 3 +ity them that they cannot rise to the hei#hts. 3 +ity the shri-ellin# thorn en-yin# the elm that dares the seasons. 1ut +ity0 thou#h enfolded by the re#ret of all the an#els0 can brin# them no li#ht. 3 know the scarecrow whose rottin# #arments flutter in the corn0 yet he himself is dead to the corn and to the sin#in# wind.

3 know the win#less s+ider that wea-es a net for all who fly. 3 know the crafty0 the blowers of horns and the beaters of drums0 who in the abundance of their own noise cannot hear the skylark nor the east wind in the forest. 3 know him who +addles a#ainst all streams0 but ne-er finds the source0 who runs with all ri-ers0 but ne-er dares to the sea. 3 know him who offers his unskilled hands to the builder of the tem+le0 and when his unskilled hands are re5ected0 says in the darkness of his heart0 23 will destroy all that shall be builded.2 3 know all these. 4hey are the men who ob5ect that Jesus said on a certain day0 23 brin# +eace unto you02 and on another day0 23 brin# a sword.2 4hey cannot understand that in truth He said0 23 brin# +eace unto men of #oodwill0 and 3 lay a sword between him who would +eace and him who would a sword.2 4hey wonder that He who said0 2My kin#dom is not of this earth02 said also0 29ender unto 7aesar that which is 7aesar;s2/ and know not that if they would indeed be free to enter the kin#dom of their +assion0 they must not resist the #ate,kee+er of their necessities. 3t behoo-es them #ladly to +ay that dole to enter into that city. 4here are the men who say0 2He +reached tenderness and kindliness and filial lo-e0 yet He would not heed His mother and His brothers when they sou#ht Him in the streets of Jerusalem.2 4hey do not know that His mother and brothers in their lo-in# fear would ha-e had Him return to the bench of the car+enter0 whereas He was o+enin# our eyes to the dawn of a new day. His mother and His brothers would ha-e had Him li-e in the shadow of death0 but He Himself was challen#in# death u+on yonder hill that He mi#ht li-e in our slee+less memory. 3 know these moles that di# +aths to nowhere. (re they not the ones who accuse Jesus of #lorifyin# Himself in that He said to the multitude0 23 am the +ath and the #ate to sal-ation02 and e-en called Himself the life and the resurrection. 1ut Jesus was not claimin# more than the month of May claims in her hi#h tide. $as He not to tell the shinin# truth because it was so shinin#: He indeed said that He was the way and the life and the resurrection of the heart/ and 3 myself as a testimony to His truth. )o you not remember me0 'icodemus0 who belie-ed in nau#ht but the laws and decrees and was in continual sub5ection to obser-ances: (nd behold me now0 a man who walks with life and lau#hs with the sun from the first moment it smiles u+on the mountain until it yields itself to bed behind the hills. $hy do you halt before the word sal-ation: 3 myself throu#h Him ha-e attained my sal-ation. 3 care not for what shall befall me tomorrow0 for 3 know that Jesus @uickened my slee+ and made my distant dreams my com+anions and my road,fellows. (m 3 less man because 3 belie-e in a #reater man: 4he barriers of flesh and bone fell down when the &oet of Galilee s+oke to me/ and 3 was held by a s+irit0 and was lifted to the hei#hts0 and in midair my win#s #athered the son# of +assion. (nd when 3 dismounted from the wind and in the Sanhedrim my +inions were shorn0 e-en then my ribs0 my featherless win#s0 ke+t and #uarded the son#. (nd all the +o-erties of the lowlands cannot rob me of my treasure. 3 ha-e said enou#h. 6et the deaf bury the hummin# of life in their dead ears. 3 am content with the sound of His lyre0 which He held and struck while the hands of His body were nailed and bleedin#.

Jose+h of (rimethea 4en *ears 6ater 4he 4wo Streams in Jesus; Heart

4H=9= $=9= 4$" streams runnin# in the heart of the 'a>arene< the stream of kinshi+ to God whom He called ?ather0 and the stream of ra+ture which He called the kin#dom of the (bo-e,world. (nd in my solitude 3 thou#ht of Him and 3 followed these two streams in His heart. %+on the banks of the one 3 met my own soul/ and sometimes my soul was a be##ar and a wanderer0 and sometimes it was a +rincess in her #arden. 4hen 3 followed the other stream in His heart0 and on my way 3 met one who had been beaten and robbed of his #old0 and he was smilin#. (nd farther on 3 saw the robber who had robbed him0 and there were unshed tears u+on his face. 4hen 3 heard the murmur of these two streams in my own bosom also0 and 3 was #ladened. $hen 3 -isited Jesus the day before &ontius &ilatus and the elders laid hands on Him0 we talked lon#0 and 3 asked Him many @uestions0 and He answered my @uestionin#s with #raciousness/ and when 3 left Him 3 knew He was the 6ord and Master of this our earth. 3t is lon# since our cedar tree has fallen0 but its fra#rance endures0 and will fore-er seek the four corners of the earth.

Geor#us of 1eirut "n Stran#ers

H= (') H3S friends were in the #ro-e of +ines beyond my hed#e0 and He was talkin# to them. 3 stood near the hed#e and listened. (nd 3 knew who He was0 for His fame had reached these shores ere He Himself -isited them. $hen He ceased s+eakin# 3 a++roached Him0 and 3 said0 2Sir0 come with these men and honor me and my roof.2 (nd He smiled u+on me and said0 2'ot this day0 my friend. 'ot this day.2 (nd there was a blessin# in His words0 and His -oice enfolded me like a #arment on a cold ni#ht. 4hen He turned to His friends and said0 21ehold a man who deems us not stran#ers0 and thou#h He has not seen us ere this day0 he bids us to His threshold. 2Aerily in my kin#dom there are no stran#ers. "ur life is but the life of all other men0 #i-en us that we may know all men0 and in that knowled#e lo-e them. 24he deeds of all men are but our deeds0 both the hidden and the re-ealed. 23 char#e you not to be one self but rather many sel-es0 the householder and the homeless0 the +lou#hman and the s+arrow that +icks the #rain ere it slumber in the earth0 the #i-er who #i-es in #ratitude0 and the recei-er who recei-es in +ride and reco#nition. 24he beauty of the day is not only in what you see0 but in what other men see. 2?or this 3 ha-e chosen you from amon# the many who ha-e chosen me.2 4hen He turned to me a#ain and smiled and said0 23 say these thin#s to you also0 and you also shall remember them.2 4hen 3 entreated Him and said0 2Master0 will you not -isit in my house:2 (nd He answered0 23 know your heart0 and 3 ha-e -isited your lar#er house.2

(nd as He walked away with His disci+les He said0 2Good,ni#ht0 and may your house be lar#e enou#h to shelter all the wanderers of the land.2

Mary Ma#dalen

H3S M"%4H $(S like the heart of a +ome#ranate0 and the shadows in His eyes were dee+. (nd He was #entle0 like a man mindful of his own stren#th. 3n my dreams 3 beheld the kin#s of the earth standin# in awe in His +resence. 3 would s+eak of His face0 but how shall 3: 3t was like ni#ht without darkness0 and like day without the noise of day. 3t was a sad face0 and it was a 5oyous face. (nd well 3 remember how once He raised His hand towards the sky0 and His +arted fin#ers were like the branches of an elm. (nd 3 remember Him +acin# the e-enin#. He was not walkin#. He Himself was a road abo-e the road/ e-en as a cloud abo-e the earth that would descend to refresh the earth. 1ut when 3 stood before Him and s+oke to him0 He was a man0 and His face was +owerful to behold. (nd He said to me0 2$hat would you0 Miriam:2 3 would not answer Him0 but my win#s enfolded my secret0 and 3 was made warm. (nd because 3 could bear His li#ht no more0 3 turned and walked away0 but not in shame. 3 was only shy0 and 3 would be alone0 with His fin#ers u+on the strin#s of my heart.

Jotham of 'a>areth to a 9oman "n 6i-in# and 1ein#

M* ?93=')0 *"% like all other 9omans would concei-e life rather than li-e it. *ou would rule lands rather than be ruled by the s+irit. *ou would con@uer races and be cursed by them rather than stay in 9ome and be blest and ha++y. *ou think but of armies marchin# and of shi+s launched into the sea. How shall you then understand Jesus of 'a>areth0 a man sim+le and alone0 who came without armies or shi+s0 to establish a kin#dom in the heart and an em+ire in the free s+aces of the soul: How shall you understand the man who was not a warrior0 but who came with the +ower of the mi#hty ether: He was not a #od0 He was a man like unto oursel-es/ but in Him the myrrh of the earth rose to meet the frankincense of the sky/ and in His words our lis+in# embraced the whis+erin# of the unseen/ and in His -oice we heard a son# unfathomable. (ye0 Jesus was a man and not a #od0 and therein lies our wonder and our sur+rise. 1ut you 9omans wonder not sa-e at the #ods0 and no man shall sur+rise you. 4herefore you understand not the 'a>arene. He belon#ed to the youth of the mind and you belon# to its old a#e. *ou #o-ern us today/ but let us wait another day. $ho knows that this man with neither armies nor shi+s shall #o-ern tomorrow:

$e who follow the s+irit shall sweat blood while 5ourneyin# after Him. 1ut 9ome shall lie a white skeleton in the sun. $e shall suffer much0 yet we shall endure and we shall li-e. 1ut 9ome must needs fall into the dust. *et if 9ome0 when humbled and made low0 shall +ronounce His name0 He will heed her -oice. (nd He will breathe new life into her bones that she may rise a#ain0 a city amon# the cities of the earth. 1ut this He shall do without le#ions0 nor with sla-es to oar His #alleys. He will be alone.

=+hraim of Jericho 4he "ther $eddin#,?east

$H=' H= 7(M= a#ain to Jericho 3 sou#ht Him out and said to Him0 2Master0 on the morrow my son will take a wife. 3 be# you come to the weddin#,feast and do us honor0 e-en as you honored the weddin# at 7ana of Galilee.2 (nd He answered0 23t is true that 3 was once a #uest at a weddin#,feast0 but 3 shall not be a #uest a#ain. 3 am myself now the 1ride#room.2 (nd 3 said0 23 entreat you0 Master0 come to the weddin#,feast of my son.2 (nd He smiled as thou#h He would rebuke me0 and said0 2$hy do you entreat me: Ha-e you not wine enou#h:2 (nd 3 said0 2My 5u#s are full0 Master/ yet 3 beseech you0 come to my son;s weddin#,feast.2 4hen He said0 2$ho knows: 3 may come0 3 may surely come0 if your heart is an altar in your tem+le.2 %+on the morrow my son was married0 but Jesus came not to the weddin#, feast. (nd thou#h we had many #uests0 3 felt that no one had come. 3n -ery truth0 3 myself who welcomed the #uests0 was not there. &erha+s my heart had not been an altar when 3 in-ited Him. &erha+s 3 desired another miracle.

1arca a merchant of 4yre "n 1uyin# and Sellin#

3 1=63=A= 4H(4 neither the 9omans nor the Jews understood Jesus of 'a>areth0 nor did His disci+les who now +reach His name. 4he 9omans slew Him and that was a blunder. 4he Galileans would make a #od of Him and that is a mistake. Jesus was the heart of man. 3 ha-e sailed the Se-en Seas with my shi+s0 and bartered with kin#s and +rinces and with cheats and the wily in the market,+laces of distant cities/ but ne-er ha-e 3 seen a man who understood merchants as He did. 3 heard Him once tell this +arable< 2( merchant left his country for a forei#n land. He had two ser-ants0 and he #a-e each a handful of #old0 sayin#< ;=-en as 3 #o abroad0 you also shall #o forth and seek +rofit. Make 5ust e8chan#e0 and see that you ser-e in #i-in# and takin#.; 2(nd after a year the merchant returned. 2(nd he asked his two ser-ants what they had done with his #old. 24he first ser-ant said0 ;1ehold0 Master0 3 ha-e bou#ht and sold0 and 3 ha-e

#ained.; 2(nd the merchant answered0 ;4he #ain shall be yours0 for you ha-e done well0 and ha-e been faithful to me and to yourself.; 24hen the other ser-ant stood forth and said0 ;Sir0 3 feared the loss of your money/ and 3 did not buy nor sell. 1ehold0 it is all here in this +urse.; 2(nd the merchant took the #old0 and said0 ;6ittle is your faith. 4o barter and lose is better than not to #o forth. ?or e-en as the wind scatters her seed and waits for the fruit0 so must all merchants. 3t were fitter for you henceforth to ser-e others.; 2 $hen Jesus s+oke thus0 thou#h He was no merchant0 He disclosed the secret of commerce. Moreo-er0 His +arables often brou#ht to my mond lands more distant than my 5ourneys0 and yet nearer than my house and my #oods. 1ut the youn# 'a>arene was not a #od/ and it is a +ity His followers seek to make a #od of such a sa#e.

&humiah the hi#h +riestess of Sidon to the other +riestesses (n 3n-ocation

4(K= *"%9 H(9&S and let me sin#. 1eat your strin#s0 the sil-er and the #old/ ?or 3 would sin# the dauntless Man $ho slew the dra#on of the -alley0 4hen #a>ed down with +ity %+on the thin# He had slain. 4ake your har+s and sin# with me 4he lofty "ak u+on the hei#ht0 4he sky,hearted and the ocean,handed Man0 $ho kissed the +allid li+s of death0 *et @ui-ers now u+on the mouth of life. 4ake your har+s and let us sin# 4he fearless Hunter on the hill0 $ho marked the beast0 and shot His -iewless arrow0 (nd brou#ht the horn and tusk )own to the earth. 4ake your har+s and sin# with me 4he -aliant *outh who con@uered the mountain cities0 (nd the cities of the +lain that coiled like ser+ents in the sand. He fou#ht not a#ainst +y#mies but a#ainst #ods $ho hun#ered for our flesh and thirsted for our blood. (nd like the first Golden Hawk He would ri-al only ea#les/ ?or His win#s were -ast and +roud (nd would not outwin# the less win#ed. 4ake your har+s and sin# with me 4he 5oyous son# of sea and cliff. 4he #ods are dead0 (nd they are lyin# still

3n the for#otten isle of a for#otten sea. (nd He who slew them sits u+on His throne. He was but a youth. S+rin# had not yet #i-en Him full beard0 (nd His summer was still youn# in His field. 4ake your har+s and sin# with me 4he tem+est in the forest 4hat breaks the dry branch and the leafless twi#0 *et sends the li-in# root to nestle dee+er at the breast of earth. 4ake your har+s and sin# with me 4he deathless son# of our 1elo-ed. 'ay0 my maidens0 stay your hands. 6ay by your har+s. $e cannot sin# Him now. 4he faint whis+er of our son# cannot reach His tem+est0 'or +ierce the ma5esty of His silence. 6ay by your har+s and #ather close around me0 3 would re+eat His words to you0 (nd 3 would tell you of His deeds0 ?or the echo of His -oice is dee+er than our +assion.

1en5amin the scribe 6et the )ead 1ury 4heir )ead

34 H(S 1==' said that Jesus was the enemy of 9ome and Judea. 1ut 3 say that Jesus was the enemy of no man and no race. 3 ha-e heard Him say0 24he birds of the air and the mountain to+s are not mindful of the ser+ents in their dark holes. 26et the dead bury their dead. 1e you yourself amon# the li-in#0 and soar hi#h.2 3 was not one of His disci+les. 3 was but one of the many who went after Him to #a>e u+on His face. He looked u+on 9ome and u+on us who are the sla-es of 9ome0 as a father looks u+on his children +layin# with toys and fi#htin# amon# themsel-es for the lar#er toy. (nd He lau#hed from His hei#ht. He wa #reater than State and race/ He was #reater than re-olution. He was sin#le and alone0 and He was an awakenin#. He we+t all our unshed tears and smiled all our re-olts. $e knew it was in His +ower to be born with all who are not yet born0 and to bid them see0 not with their eyes but with His -ision. Jesus was the be#innin# of a new kin#dom u+on the earth0 and that kin#dom shall remain. He was the son and the #randson of all the kin#s who builded the kin#don of the s+irit. (nd only the kin#s of s+irit ha-e ruled our world.

!acchaeus "n the ?ate of Jesus

*"% 1=63=A= 3' what you hear said. 1elie-e in the unsaid0 for the silence of men is nearer the truth than their words. *ou ask if Jesus could ha-e esca+ed His shameful death and sa-ed His followers from +ersecution. 3 answer0 He could indeed ha-e esca+ed had He chosen0 but He did not seek safety nor was He mindful of +rotectin# His flock from wol-es of the ni#ht. He knew His fate and the morrow of His consant lo-ers. He foretold and +ro+hesied what should befall e-ery one of us. He sou#ht not His death/ but He acce+ted death as a husband,man shroudin# his corn with earth0 acce+ts the winter0 and then awaits the s+rin# and har-est/ and as a builder lays the lar#est stone in the foundation. $e were men of Galilee and from the slo+es of 6ebanon. "ur Master could ha-e led us back to our country0 to li-e with His youth in our #ardens until old a#e should come and whis+er us back into the years. $as anythin# barrin# His +ath back to the tem+les of our -illa#es where others were readin# the +ro+hets and then disclosin# their hearts: 7ould He not ha-e said0 2'ow 3 #o east with the west wind02 and so sayin# dismiss us with a smile u+on His li+s: (ye0 He could ha-e said0 2Go back to your kin. 4he world is not ready for me. 3 shall return a thousand years hence. 4each your children to await my return.2 He could ha-e done this had He so chosen. 1ut He knew that to build the tem+le in-isible He must needs lay Himself the corner,stone0 and lay us around as little +ebbles cemented close to Himself. He knew that the sa+ of His s5y,tree must rise from its roots0 and He +oured His blood u+on its roots/ and to Him it was not sacrifice but rather #ain. )eath is the re-ealer. 4he death of Jesus re-ealed His life. Had He esca+ed you and His enemies0 you would ha-e been the con@uerors of the world. 4herefore He did not esca+e. "nly He who desires all shall #i-e all. (ye0 Jesus could ha-e esca+ed His enemies and li-ed to old a#e. 1ut He knew the +assin# of the seasons0 and He would sin# His son#. $hat man facin# the armed world would not be con@uered for the moment that he mi#ht o-ercomethe a#es: (nd now you ask who0 in -ery truth0 slew Jesus0 the 9omans or the +riests of Jerusalem: 'either the 9omans slew Him0 nor the +riests. 4he whole world stood to honor Him u+on that hill.

Jonathan (mon# the $ater,lilies

%&"' ( )(* my belo-ed and 3 were rowin# u+on the lake of sweet waters. (nd the hills of 6ebanon were about us. $e mo-ed beside the wee+in# willows0 and the reflections of the willows were dee+ around us. (nd while 3 steered the boat with an oar0 my belo-ed took her lute and san# thus< $hat flower sa-e the lotus knows the waters and the sun: $hat heart sa-e the lotus heart shall know both earth and sky:

1ehold my lo-e0 the #olden flower that floats ;twi8t dee+ and hi#h =-en as you and 3 float betwi8t a lo-e that has for e-er been (nd shall for e-er be. )i+ your oar0 my lo-e0 (nd let me touch my strin#s. 6et us follow the willows0 and let us lea-e not the water,lilies. 3n 'a>areth there li-es a &oet0 and His heart is like the lotus. He has -isited the soul of woman0 He knows her thirst is #rowin# out of the waters0 (nd her hun#er for the sun0 thou#h all her li+s are fed. 4hey say He walks in Galilee. 3 say He is rowin# with us. 7an you not see His face0 my lo-e: 7an you not see0 where the willow bou#h and its reflection meet0 He is mo-in# as we mo-e: 1elo-ed0 it is #ood to know the youth of life. 3t is #ood to know its sin#in# 5oy. $ould that you mi#ht always ha-e the oar0 (nd 3 my strin#ed lute0 $here the lotus lau#hs in the sun0 (nd the willow is di++in# to the waters0 (nd His -oice is u+on my strin#s. )i+ your oar0 my belo-ed0 (nd let me touch my strin#s. 4here is a &oet in 'a>areth $ho knows and lo-es us both. )i+ your oar0 my lo-er0 (nd let me touch my strin#s.

Hannah of 1ethsaida She S+eaks of Her ?ather;s Sister

4H= S3S4=9 "? my father had left us in her youth to dwell in a hut beside her father;s ancient -ineyard. She li-ed alone0 and the +eo+le of the countryside sou#ht her in their maladies0 and she healed them with #reen herbs0 and with roots and flowers dried in the sun. (nd they deemed her a seeress/ but there were those also who called her witch and sorceress. "ne day my father said to me0 24ake these loea-es of wheaten bread to my sister0 and take this 5u# of wine and this basket of raisins.2 (nd it was all +ut u+on the back of a colt0 and 3 followed the road until 3 reached the -ineyard0 and the hut of my father;s sister. (nd she was #ladened. 'ow as we sat to#ether in the cool of the day0 a man came by u+on the road0 and He #reeted the sister of my father0 sayin#0 2Good,e-en to you0 and the blessin# of the ni#ht be u+on you.2 4hen she rose u+/ and she stood as in awe before Him and said0 2Good,e-en to you0 master of all #ood s+irits0 and con@ueror of all e-il s+irits.2 4he man looked at her with tender eyes0 and then He +assed on by.

1ut 3 lau#hed in my heart. Methou#ht my father;s sister was mad. 1ut now 3 know that she was not mad. 3t was 3 who did not understand. She knew of my lau#hter0 thou#h it was hidden. (nd she s+oke0 but not in an#er. She said0 26isten0 my dau#hter0 and hearken and kee+ my word in remembrance< the man who but now +assed by0 like the shadow of a bird flyin# between the sun and the earth0 shall +re-ail a#ainst the 7aesars and the em+ire of the 7aesars. He shall wrestle with the crowned bull of 7haldea0 and the man,headed lion of =#y+t0 and He shall o-ercome them/ and He shall rule the world. 21ut this land that now He walks shall come to nau#ht/ and Jerusalem0 which sits +roudly u+on the hill0 shall drift away in smoke u+on the wind of desolation.2 $hen she s+oke thus0 my lau#hter turned to stillness and 3 was @uiet. 4hen 3 said0 2$ho is this man0 and of what country and tribe does He come: (nd how shall He con@uer the #reat kin#s and the em+ires of the #reat kin#s:2 (nd she answered0 2He is one born here in this land0 but we ha-e concei-ed Him in our lon#in# from the be#innin# of years. He is of all tribes and yet of none. He shall con@uer by the word of His mouth and by the flame of His s+irit.2 4hen suddenly she rose and stood u+ like a +innacle of rock/ and she said0 2May the an#el of the 6ord for#i-e me for +ronoucin# this word also< He shall be slain0 and His youth shall be shrouded0 and He shall be laid in silence beside the ton#ueless heart of the earth. (nd the maidens of Judea shall wee+ for Him.2 4hen she lifted her hand skyward and s+oke a#ain0 and she said0 21ut He shall be slain only in the body. 23n the s+irit He shall rise and #o forth leadin# His host from this land where the sun is born0 to the land where the sun is slain at e-entide. 2(nd His name shall be first amon# men.2 She was an a#ed seeress when she said these thin#s0 and 3 was but a #irl0 a field un+lou#hed0 a stone not yet in a wall. 1ut all that she beheld in the mirror of her mind has come to +ass e-en in my day. Jesus of 'a>areth rose from the dead and led men and women unto the +eo+le of the sunset. 4he city that yielded Him to 5ud#ment was #i-en unto destruction/ and in the Jud#ment Hall where He was tried and sentenced0 the owl hoots a dir#e while the ni#ht wee+s the dew of her heart u+on the fallen marble. (nd 3 am an old woman0 and the years bend me down. My +eo+le are no more and my race is -anished. 3 saw Him but once a#ain after that day0 and once a#ain heard His -oice. 3t was u+on a hill,to+ when He was talkin# to His friends and followers. (nd now 3 am old and alone0 yet still He -isits my dreams. He comes like a white an#el with +inions/ and with His #race He hushes my dread of darkness. (nd He u+lifts me to dreams yet more distant. 3 am still a field un+lou#hed0 a ri+e fruit that would not fall. 4he most that 3 +ossess is the warmth of the sun0 and the memory of that man. 3 know that amon# my +eo+le these shall not rise a#ain kin# nor +ro+het nor +riest0 e-en as the sister of my father foretold. $e shall +ass with the flowin# of the ri-ers0 and we shall be nameless. 1ut those who crossed Him in mid,stream shall be remembered for crossin# Him in mid,stream.

Manasseh0 a lawyer in Jerusalem "n the S+eech and Gesture of Jesus

*=S0 3 %S=) to hear Him s+eak. 4here was always a ready word u+on His li+s. 1ut 3 admired Him as a man rather than as a leader. He +reached somethin# beyond my likin#0 +erha+s beyond my reason. (nd 3 would ha-e no man +reach to me. 3 was taken by His -oice and His #estures0 not by the substance of His s+eech. He charmed me but ne-er con-inced me/ for He was too -a#ue0 too distant and obscure to reach my mind. 3 ha-e known other men like Him. 4hey are ne-er constant nor are they consistent. 3t is with elo@uence not with +rinci+les that they hold your ear and your +assin# thou#ht0 but ne-er the core of your heart. $hat a +ity that His enemies confronted Him and forced the issue. 3t was not necessary. 3 belie-e their hostility will add to His stature and turn His mildness to +ower. ?or is it not stran#e that in o++osin# a man you #i-e Him coura#e: (nd in stayin# His feet you #i-e Him win#s: 3 know not His enemies0 yet 3 am certain that in their fear of a harmless man they ha-e lent Him stren#th and made Him dan#erous.

Je+htha of 7aesarea ( Man $eary of Jesus

4H3S M(' $H" fills your day and haunts your ni#ht is re+ellent to me. *et you would tire my eyes with His sayin#s and my mind with His deeds. 3 am weary of His words0 and all that He did. His -ery name offends me0 and the name of His countryside. 3 will none of Him. $hy make you a +ro+het of a man who was but a shadow: $hy see a tower in this sand,dune0 or ima#ine a lake in the raindro+s #athered to#ether in this hoof,+rint: 3 scorn not the echo of ca-es in -alleys nor the lon# shadows of the sunset/ but 3 would not listen to the dece+tions that hum in your head0 nor study the reflections in your eyes. $hat word did Jesus utter that Halliel had not s+oken: $hat wisdom did He re-eal that was not of Gamaliel: $hat are His lis+in#s to the -oice of &hilo: $hat cymbals did He beat that were not beaten ere e-er He li-ed: 3 hearken to the echo from the ca-es into the silent -alleys0 and 3 #a>e u+on the lon# shadows of sunset/ but 3 would not ha-e this man;s heart echo the sound of another heart0 nor would 3 ha-e a shadow of the seers call himself a +ro+het. $hat man shall s+eak since 3saiah has s+oken: $ho dares sin# since )a-id: (nd shall wisdom be born now0 after Solomon has been #athered to his fathers: (nd what of our +ro+hets0 whose ton#ues were swords and their li+s flames: 6eft they a straw behind for this #leaner of Galilee: "r a fallen fruit for the be##ar from the 'orth 7ountry: 4here was nau#ht for Him sa-e to break the loaf already baked by our ancestors0 and to +our the wine which their holy feet had already +assed from the #ra+es of old. 3t is the +otter;s hand 3 honor not the man who buys the ware. 3 honor those who sit at the loom rather than the boor who wears the cloth. $ho was this Jesus of 'a>areth0 and what is He: ( man who dared not li-e His mind. 4herefore He faded into obli-ion and that is His end. 3 be# you0 char#e not my ears with His words or His deeds. My heart is o-erfull with the +ro+hets of old0 and that is enou#h.

John the belo-ed disci+le in his old a#e "n Jesus the $ord

*"% $"%6) H(A= me s+eak of Jesus0 but how can 3 lure the +assion,son# of the world into a hollowed reed: 3n e-ery as+ect of the day Jesus was aware of the ?ather. He beheld Him in the clouds and in the shadows of the clouds that +ass o-er the earth. He saw the ?ather;s face reflected in the @uiet +ools0 and the faint +rint of His feet u+on the sand/ and He often closed His eyes to #a>e into the Holy =yes. 4he ni#ht s+oke to Him with the -oice of the ?ather0 and in solitude He heard the an#el of the 6ord callin# to Him. (nd when He stilled Himself to slee+ He heard the whis+erin# of the hea-ens in His dreams. He was often ha++y with us0 and He would call us brothers. 1ehold0 He who was the first $ord called us brothers0 thou#h we were but syllables uttered yesterday. *ou ask why 3 call Him the first $ord. 6isten0 and 3 will answer< 3n the be#innin# God mo-ed in s+ace0 and out of His measureless stirrin# the earth was born and the seasons thereof. 4hen God mo-ed a#ain0 and life streamed forth0 and the lon#in# of life sou#ht the hei#ht and the de+th and would ha-e more of itself. 4hen God s+oke thus0 and His words were man0 and man was a s+irit be#otten by God;s S+irit. (nd when God s+oke thus0 the 7hrist was His first $ord and that $ord was +erfect/ and when Jesus of 'a>areth came to the world the first $ord was uttered unto us and the sound was made flesh and blood. Jesus the (nointed was the first $ord of God uttered unto man0 e-en as if an a++le tree in an orchard should bud and blossom a day before the other trees. (nd in God;s orchard that day was an aeon. $e are all sons and dau#hters of the Most Hi#h0 but the (nointed "ne was His first,born0 who dwelt in the body of Jesus of 'a>areth0 and He walked amon# us and we beheld Him. (ll this 3 say that you may inderstand not only in the mind but rather in the s+irit. 4he mind wei#hs and measures but it is the s+irit that reaches the heart of life and embraces the secret/ and the seed of the s+irit is deathless. 4he wind may blow and then cease0 and the sea shall swell and then weary0 but the heart of life is a s+here @uiet and serene0 and the star that shines therein is fi8ed for e-ermore.

Mannus the &om+eiian to a Greek "n the Semitic )iety

4H= J=$S0 63K= their nei#hbors the &honicians and the (rabs0 will not suffer their #ods to rest for a moment u+on the wind. 4hey are o-er,thou#htful of their deity0 and o-er,obser-ant of one another;s +rayer and worshi+ and sacrifice. $hile we 9omans build marble tem+les to our #ods0 these +eo+le would discuss their #od;s nature. $hen we are in ecstasy we sin# and dance round the altars of Ju+iter and Juno0 of Mars and Aenus/ but they in their ra+ture wear sackcloth and co-er their heads with ashes ,, and e-en lament the day that #a-e them

birth. (md Jesus0 the man who re-ealed God as a bein# of 5oy0 they tortured Him0 and then +ut Him to death. 4hese +eo+le would not be ha++y with a ha++y #od. 4hey know only the #ods of their +ain. =-en Jesus; friends and disci+les who knew His mirth and heard His lau#hter0 make an ima#e of His sorrow0 and they worshi+ that ima#e. (nd in such worshi+ they rise not to their deity/ they only brin# their deity down to themsel-es. 3 belie-e howe-er that this +hiloso+her0 Jesus0 who was not unlike Socrates0 will ha-e +ower o-er His race and mayha+ o-er other races. ?or we are all creatures of sadness and of small doubts. (nd when a man says to us0 26et us be 5oyous with the #ods02 we cannot but heed his -oice. Stran#e that the +ain of this man has been fashioned into a rite. 4hese +eo+le would disco-er another (donis0 a #od slain in the forest0 and they would celebrate his slayin#. 3t is a +ity they heed not His lau#hter. 1ut let us confess0 as 9oman to Greek. )o e-en we oursel-es hear the lau#hter of Socrates in the streets of (thens: 3s it e-er in us to for#et the cu+ of hemlock0 e-en at the theatre of )ionysus: )o not rather our fathers still sto+ at the street corners to chat of troubles and to ha-e a ha++y moment rememberin# the doleful end of all our #reat men:

&ontius &ilatus "f =astern 9ites and 7ults

M* $3?= S&"K= of Him many times ere He was brou#ht before me0 but 3 was not concerned. My wife is a dreamer0 and she is #i-en0 like so many 9oman women of her rank0 to =astern cults and rituals. (nd these cults are dan#erous to the =m+ire/ and when they find a +ath to the hearts of our women they become destructi-e. =#y+t came to an end when the Hyskos of (rabia brou#ht to her the one God of their desert. (nd Greece was o-ercome and fell to dust when (shtarte and her se-en maidens came from the Syrian shores. (s for Jesus0 3 ne-er saw the man before He was deli-ered u+ to me as a malefactor0 as an enemy of His own nation and also of 9ome. He was brou#ht into the Hall of Jud#ment with His arms bound to His body with ro+es. 3 was sittin# u+on the dais0 and He walked towards me with lon#0 firm ste+s/ then He stood erect and His head was held hi#h. (nd 3 cannot fathom what came o-er me at that moment/ but it was suddenly my desire0 thou#h not my will0 to rise and #o down from the dais and fall before Him. 3 felt as if 7aesar had entered the Hall0 a man #reater than e-en 9ome herself. 1ut this lasted only a moment. (nd then 3 saw sim+ly a man who was accused of treason by His own +eo+le. (nd 3 was His #o-ernor and His 5ud#e. 3 @uestioned Him but he would not answer. He only looked at me. (nd in His look was +ity0 as if it were He who was my #o-ernor and my 5ud#e. 4hen there rose from without the cries of the +eo+le. 1ut He remained silent0 and still He was lookin# at me with +ity in His eyes. (nd 3 went out u+on the ste+s of the +alace0 and when the +eo+le saw me they ceased to cry out. (nd 3 said0 2$hat would you with this man:2 (nd they shouted as if with one throat0 2$e would crucify Him. He is our enemy and the enemy of 9ome.2 (nd some called out0 2)id He not say He would destroy the tem+le: (nd was it

not He who claimed the kin#dom: $e will ha-e no kin# but 7aesar.2 4hen 3 left them and went back into the Jud#ment Hall a#ain0 and 3 saw Him still standin# there alone0 and His head was still hi#h. (nd 3 remembered what 3 had read that a Greek +hiloso+her said0 24he lonely man is the stron#est man.2 (t that moment the 'a>arene was #reater than His race. (nd 3 did not feel clement towards Him. He was beyond my clemency. 3 asked Him then0 2(re you the Kin# of the Jews:2 (nd He said not a word. (nd 3 asked Him a#ain0 2Ha-e you not said that you are the Kin# of the Jews:2 (nd He looked u+on me. 4hen He answered with a @uiet -oice0 2*ou yourself +roclaimed me kin#. &erha+s to this end 3 was born0 and for this cause came to bear witness unto truth.2 1ehold a man s+eakin# of truth at such a moment. 3n my im+atience 3 said aloud0 to myself as much as to Him0 2$hat is truth: (nd what is truth to the #uiltless when the hand of the e8ecutioner isalready u+on him:2 4hen Jesus said with +ower0 2'one shall rule the world sa-e with the S+irit and truth.2 (nd 3 asked Him sayin#0 2(re you of the S+irit:2 He answered0 2So are you also0 thou#h you know it not.2 (nd what was the S+irit and what was truth0 when 30 for the sake of the State0 and they from 5ealousy for their ancient rites0 deli-ered an innocent man unto His death: 'o man0 no race0no em+ire would halt before a truth on its way towards self, fulfilment. (nd 3 said a#ain0 2(re you the Kin# of the Jews:2 (nd He answered0 2*ou yourself say this. 3 ha-e con@uered the world ere this hour.2 (nd this alone of all that He said was unseemly0 inasmuch as only 9ome has con@uered the world. 1ut now the -oices of the +eo+le rose a#ain0 and the noise was #reater than before. (nd 3 descended from my seat and said to Him0 2?ollow me.2 (nd a#ain 3 a++eared u+on the ste+s of the +alace0 and He stood there beside me. $hen the +eo+le saw Him they roared like the roarin# thunder. (nd in their clamor 3 heard nau#ht sa-e 27rucify Him0 crucify Him.2 4hen 3 yielded Him to the +riests who had yielded Him to me and 3 said to them0 2)o what you will with this 5ust man. (nd if it is your desire0 take with you soldiers of 9ome to #uard Him.2 4hen they took Him0 and 3 decreed that there be written u+on the cross abo-e His head0 2Jesus of 'a>areth0 Kin# of the Jews.2 3 should ha-e said instead0 2Jesus of 'a>areth0 a Kin#.2 (nd the man was stri++ed and flo##ed and crucified. 3t would ha-e been within my +ower to sa-e Him0 but sa-in# Him would ha-e caused a re-olution/ and it is always wise for the #o-ernor of a 9oman +ro-ince not to be intolerant of the reli#ious scru+les of a con@uered race. 3 belie-e unto this hour that the man was more than an a#itator. $hat 3 decreed was not my will0 but rather for the sake of 9ome. 'ot lon# after0 we left Syria0 and from that day my wife has been a woman of sorrow. Sometimes e-en here in this #arden 3 see a tra#edy in her face. 3 am told she talks much of Jesus to other women of 9ome. 1ehold0 the man whose death 3 decreed returns from the world of shadows and enters into my own house. (nd within myself 3 ask a#ain and a#ain0 $hat is truth and what is not truth:

7an it be that the Syrian is con@uerin# us in the @uiet hours of the ni#ht: 3t should not indeed be so. ?or 9ome must needs +re-ail a#ainst the ni#htmares of our wi-es.

1artholomew in =+hesus "n Sla-es and "utcasts

4H= ='=M3=S "? Jesus say that He addressed His a++eal to sla-es and outcasts0 and would ha-e incited them a#ainst their lords. 4hey say that because He was of the lowly He in-oked His own kind0 yet that He sou#ht to conceal His own ori#in. 1ut let us consider the followers of Jesus0 and His leadershi+. 3n the be#innin# He chose for com+anions few men from the 'orth 7ountry0 and they were freemen. 4hey were stron# of body and bold of s+irit0 and in these +ast twoscore years they ha-e had the coura#e to face death with willin#ness and defiance. 4hink you that these men were sla-es or outcasts: (nd think you that the +roud +rinces of 6ebanon and (rmenia ha-e for#otten their station in acce+tin# Jesus as a +ro+het of God: "r think you the hi#h,born men and women of (ntioch and 1y>antium and (thens and 9ome could be held by the -oice of a leader of sla-es: 'ay0 the 'a>arene was not with the ser-ant a#ainst his master/ neither was He with the master a#ainst his ser-ant. He was with no man a#ainst another man. He was a man abo-e men0 and the streams that ran in His sinews san# to#ether with +assion and with mi#ht. 3f nobility lies in bein# +rotecti-e0 He was the noblest of all men. 3f freedom is in thou#ht and word and action0 He was the freest of all men. 3f hi#h birth is in +ride that yields only to lo-e and in aloofness that is e-er #entle and #racious0 then He was of all men the hi#hest born. ?or#et not that only the stron# and the swift shall win the race and the laurels0 and that Jesus was crowned by those who lo-ed Him0 and also by His enemies thou#h they knew it not. =-en now He is crowned e-ery day by the +riestesses of (rtemis in the secret +laces of her tem+le.

Matthew "n Jesus by the &rison $all

%&"' (' =A='3'G Jesus +assed by a +rison that was in the 4ower of )a-id. (nd we were walkin# after Him. "f a sudden He tarried and laid His cheek a#ainst the stones of the +rison wall. (nd thus He s+oke< 21rothers of my ancient day0 my heart beats with your hearts behind the bars. $ould that you could be free in my freedom and walk with me and my comrades. 2*ou are confined0 but not alone. Many are the +risoners who walk the o+en streets. 4heir win#s are not shorn0 but like the +eacock they flutter yet cannot fly. 21rothers of my second day0 3 shall soon -isit you in your cells and yield my shoulder to your burden. ?or the innocent and the #uilty are not +arted0 and like

the two bones of the forearm they shall ne-er be clea-ed. 21rothers of this day0 which is my day0 you swam a#ainst the current of their reasonin# and you were cau#ht. 4hey say 3 too shall swim a#ainst that current. &erha+s 3 shall soon be with you0 a law,breaker amon# the law,breakers. 21rothers of a day not yet come0 these walls shall fall down0 and out of the stones other sha+es shall be fashioned by Him whose mallet is li#ht0 and whose chisel is the wind0 and you shall stand free in the freedom of my new day.2 4hus s+oke Jesus and He walked on0 and His hand was u+on the +rison wall until He +assed by the 4ower of )a-id.

(ndrew "n &rostitutes

4H= 1344=9'=SS "? death is less bitter than life without Him. 4he days were hushed and made still when he was silenced. "nly the echo in my memory re+eats His words. 1ut not His -oice. "nce 3 heard Him say< 2Go forth in your lon#in# to the fields0 and sit by the lilies0 and you shall hear them hummin# in the sun. 4hey wea-e not cloth for raiment0 nor do they raise wood or stone for shelter/ yet they sin#. 2He who works in the ni#ht fulfills their needs and the dew of His #race is u+on their +etals. 2(nd are not you also His care who ne-er wearies nor rests:2 (nd once 3 heard Him say0 24he birds of the sky are counted and enrolled by *our ?ather e-en as the hairs of your head are numbered. 'ot a bird shall lie at the archer;s feet0 neither shall a hair of your head turn #ray or fall into the em+tiness of a#e without His will.2 (nd once a#ain He said0 23 ha-e heard you murmur in your hearts< ;"ur God shall be more merciful unto us0 children of (braham0 than unto those who knew Him not in the be#innin#.; 21ut 3 say unto you that the owner of the -ineyard who calls a laborer in the mornin# to rea+0 and calls another at sundown0 and yet renders wa#es to the last e-en as to the first0 that man is indeed 5ustified. )oes he not +ay out of his own +urse and with his own will: 2So shall my ?ather o+en the #ate of His mansion at the knockin# of the Gentiles e-en as at your knockin#. ?or His ear heeds the new melody with the same lo-e that it feels for the oft,heard son#. (nd with a s+ecial welcome because it is the youn#est strin# of His heart.2 (nd once a#ain 3 heard Him say0 29emember this< a thief is a man in need0 a liar is a man in fear/ the hunter who is hunted by the watchman of your ni#ht is also hunted by the watchman of his own darkness. 23 would ha-e you +ity them all. 2Should they seek your house0 see that you o+en your door and bid them sit at your board. 3f you do not acce+t them you shall not be free from whate-er they ha-e committed.2 (nd on a day 3 followed Him to the market,+lace of Jerusalem as the others followed Him. (nd He told us the +arable of the +rodi#al son0 and the +arable of the merchant who sold all his +ossessions that he mi#ht buy a +earl. 1ut as He was s+eakin# the &harisees brou#ht into the midst of the crowd a woman whom they called a harlot. (nd they confronted Jesus and said to Him0 2She defiled her marria#e -ow0 and she was taken in the act.2 (nd He #a>ed at her/ and He +laced His hand u+on her forehead and looked dee+ into her eyes. 4hen he turned to the men who had brou#ht her to Him0 and He looked lon# at them/ and He leaned down and with His fin#er He be#an to write u+on the

earth. He wrote the name of e-ery man0 and beside the name He wrote the sin that e-ery man had committed. (nd as He wrote they esca+ed in shame into the streets. (nd ere He had finished writin# only that woman and oursel-es stood before Him. (nd a#ain He looked into her eyes0 and He said0 2*ou ha-e lo-ed o-ermuch. 4hey who brou#ht you here lo-ed but little. 1ut they brou#ht you as a snare for my ensnarin#. 2(nd now #o in +eace. 2'one of them is here to 5ud#e you. (nd if it is in your desire to be wise e-en as you are lo-in#0 then seek me/ for the Son of Man will not 5ud#e you.2 (nd 3 wondered then whether He said this to her because He Himself was not without sin. 1ut since that day 3 ha-e +ondered lon#0 and 3 know now that only the +ure of heart for#i-e the thirst that leads to dead waters. (nd only the sure of foot can #i-e a hand to him who stumbles. (nd a#ain and yet a#ain 3 say0 the bitterness of death is less bitter than life without Him.

( rich man "n &ossessions

H= S&"K= 366 of rich men. (nd u+on a day 3 @uestioned Him sayin#0 2Sir0 what shall 3 do to attain the +eace of the s+irit:2 (nd He bade me #i-e my +ossessions to the +oor and follow Him. 1ut He +ossessed nothin#/ therefore He knew not the assurance and the freedom of +ossessions0 nor thr di#nity and the self,res+ect that lie within. 3n my household there are se-enscore sla-es and stewards/ some labor in my #ro-es and -ineyards0 and some direct my shi+s to distant isles. 'ow had 3 heeded Him and #i-en my +ossessions to the +oor0 what would ha-e befallen my sla-es and my ser-ants and their wi-es and children: 4hey too would ha-e become be##ars at the #ate of the city or the +ortico of the tem+le. 'ay that #ood man did not fathom the secret of +ossessions. 1ecause He and His followers li-ed on the bounty of others He thou#ht all men should li-e likewise. 1ehold a contradiction and a riddle< Should rich men bestow their riches u+on the +oor0 and must the +oor ha-e the cu+ and the loaf of the rich man ere they welcome him to their board: (nd must needs the holder of the tower be host to his tenants ere he calls himself lord of his own land: 4he ant that stores food for the winter is wiser than a #rassho++er that sin#s one day and hun#ers another. 6ast sabbath one of His followers said in the market,+lace0 2(t the threshold of hea-en where Jesus may lea-e His sandals0 no other man is worthy to lay his head.2 1ut 3 ask0 at the threshold of whose house that honest -a#abond could ha-e left His sandals: He Himself ne-er had a house nor a threshold/ and often He went without sandals.

John at &atmos Jesus the Gracious

"'7= M"9= 3 would s+eak of Him. God #a-e me the -oice and the burnin# li+s thou#h not the s+eech. (nd unworthy am 3 for the fuller word0 yet 3 would summon my heart to my li+s. Jesus lo-ed me and 3 knew not why. (nd 3 lo-ed Him because He @uickened my s+irit to hei#hts beyond my stature0 and to de+ths beyond my soundin#. 6o-e is a sacred mystery. 4o those who lo-e0 it remains fore-er wordless/ 1ut to those who do not lo-e0 it may be but a heartless 5est. Jesus called me and my brother when we were laborin# in the field. 3 was youn# then and only the -oice of dawn had -isited my ears. 1ut His -oice and the trum+et of His -oice was the end of my labor and the be#innin# of my +assion. (nd there were nau#ht for me then but to walk in the sun and worshi+ the lo-eliness of the hour. 7ould you concei-e a ma5esty too kind to be ma5estic: (nd a beauty too radiant to seem beautiful: 7ould you hear in your dreams a -oice shy of its own ra+ture: He called me and 3 followed Him. 4hat e-enin# 3 returned to my father;s house to #et my other cloak. (nd 3 said to my mother0 2Jesus of 'a>areth would ha-e me in His com+any.2 (nd she said0 2Go His way my son0 e-en like your brother.2 (nd 3 accom+anied Him. His fra#rance called me and commanded me0 but only to release me. 6o-e is a #racious host to his #uests thou#h to the unbidden his house is a mira#e and a mockery. 'ow you would ha-e me e8+lain the miracles of Jesus. $e are all the miraculous #esture of the moment/ our 6ord and Master was the centre of that moment. *et it was not in His desire that His #estures be known. 3 ha-e heard Him say to the lame0 29ise and #o home0 but say not to the +riest that 3 ha-e made you whole.2 (nd Jesus; mind was not with the cri++le/ it was rather with the stron# and the u+ri#ht. His mind sou#ht and held other minds and His com+lete s+irit -isited other s+irits. (nd is so doin# His s+irit chan#ed these minds and these s+irits. 3t seemed miraculous0 but with our 6ord and Master it was sim+ly like breathin# the air of e-ery day. (nd now let me s+eak of other thin#s. "n a day when He and 3 were alone walkin# in a field0 we were both hun#ry0 and we came to a wild a++le tree. 4here were only two a++les han#in# on the bou#h. (nd He held the trunk of the tree with His arm and shook it0 and the two a++les fell down. He +icked them both u+ and #a-e one to me. 4he other He held in His hand. 3n my hun#er 3 ate the a++le0 and 3 ate it fast. 4hen 3 looked at Him and 3 saw that He still held the other a++le in His hand. (nd He #a-e it to me sayin#0 2=at this also.2 (nd 3 took the a++le0 and in my shameless hun#er 3 ate it.

(nd as we walked on 3 looked u+on His face. 1ut how shall 3 tell you of what 3 saw: ( ni#ht where candles burn in s+ace0 ( dream beyond our reachin#/ ( noon where all she+herds are at +eace and ha++y that their flock are #ra>in#/ (n e-entide0 and a stillness0 and a homecomin#/ 4hen a slee+ and a dream. (ll these thin#s 3 saw in His face. He had #i-en me the two a++les. (nd 3 knew He was hun#ry e-en as 3 was hun#ry. 1ut 3 now know that in #i-in# them to me He had been satisfied. He Himself ate of other fruit from another tree. 3 would tell you more of Him0 but how shall 3: $hen lo-e becomes -ast lo-e becomes wordless. (nd when memory is o-erladen it seeks the silent dee+.

&eter "n the 'ei#hbor

"'7= 3' 7(&=9'(%M my 6ord and Master s+oke thus< 2*our nei#hbor is your other self dwellin# behind a wall. 3n understandin#0 all walls shall fall down. 2$ho knows but that your nei#hbor is your better self wearin# another body: See that you lo-e him as you would lo-e yourself. 2He too is a manifestation of the Most Hi#h0 whom you do not know. 2*our nei#hbor is a field where the s+rin#s of your ho+e walk in their #reen #arments0 and where the winters of your desire dream of snowy hei#hts. 2*uor nei#hbor is a mirror wherein you shall behold your countenance made beautiful by a 5oy which you yourself fif not know0 and by a sorrow you yourself did not share. 23 would ha-e you lo-e your nei#hbor e-en as 3 ha-e lo-ed you.2 4hen 3 asked Him sayin#0 2How can 3 lo-e a nei#hbor who lo-es me not0 and who co-ets my +ro+erty: "ne who would steal my +ossessions:2 (nd He answered0 2$hen you are +lou#hin# and your manser-ant is sowin# the seed behind you0 would you sto+ and look backward and +ut to fli#ht a s+arrow feedin# u+on a few of your seeds: Should you do this0 you were not worthy of the riches of your har-est.2 $hen Jesus had said this0 3 was ashamed and 3 was silent. 1ut 3 was not in fear0 for He smiled u+on me.

( cobbler in Jerusalem ( 'eutral

3 6"A=) H3M not0 yet 3 did not hate Him. 3 listened to Him not to hear His words but rather he sound of His -oice/ for His -oice +leased me. (ll that He said was -a#ue to my mind0 but the music thereof was clear to my ear. 3ndeed were it not for what others ha-e said to me of His teachin#0 3 should not ha-e known e-en so much as whether He was with Judea or a#ainst it.

Su>annah of 'a>areth0 a nei#hbor of Mary "f the *outh and Manhood of Jesus

3 K'=$ M(9* the mother of Jesus0 before she became the wife of Jose+h the car+enter0 when we were both still unwedded. 3n those days Mary would behold -isions and hear -oices0 and she would s+eak of hea-enly ministers who -isited her dreams. (nd the +eo+le of 'a>areth were mindful of her0 and they obser-ed her #oin# and her comin#. (nd they #a>ed u+on her brows and s+aces in her ste+s. 1ut some said she was +ossessed. 4hey said this because she would #o only u+on her own errands. 3 deemed her old while she was youn#0 for there was a har-est in her blossomin# and ri+e fruit in her s+rin#. She was born and reared amon#st us yet she was like an alien from the 'orth 7ountry. 3n her eyes there was always the astonishment of one not yet familiar with our faces. (nd she was as hau#hty as Miriam of old who marched with her brothers form the 'ile to the wilderness. 4hen Mary was betrothed to Jose+h the car+enter. $hen Mary was bi# with Jesus she would walk amon# the hills and return at e-entide with lo-eliness and +ain in her eyes. (nd when Jesus was born 3 was told that Mary said to her mother0 23 am but a tree un+runed. See you to this fruit.2 Martha the midwife heard her. (fter three days 3 -isited her. (nd there was wonder in her eyes0 and her breasts hea-ed0 and her arm was around her first,born like the shell that holds the +earl. $e all lo-ed Mary;s babe and we watched Him0 for there was warmth in His bein# and He throbbed with the +ace of His life. 4he seasons +assed0 and He became a boy full of lau#hter and little wanderin#s. 'one of us knew what He would do for He seemed always outside of our race. 1ut He was ne-er rebuked thou#h He was -enturous and o-er,darin#. He +layed with the other children rather than they with Him. $hen He was twel-e years old0 one day He led a blind man across the brook to the safety of the o+en road. (nd in #ratitude the blind man asked Him0 26ittle boy0 who are you:2 (nd He answered0 23 am not a little boy. 3 am Jesus.2 (nd the blind man said0 2$ho is your father:2 (nd He answered0 2God is my father.2 (nd the blind man lau#hed and re+lied0 2$ell said0 my little boy. 1ut who is your mother:2 (nd Jesus answered0 23 am not your little boy. (nd my mother is the earth.2 (nd the blind man said0 24hen behold0 3 was led by the Son of God and the earth across the stream.2 (nd Jesus answered0 23 will lead you where-er you would #o0 and my eyes will accom+any your feet.2 (nd He #rew like a +recious +alm tree in our #ardens. $hen He was nineteen He was as comely as a hart0 and His eyes were like honey and full of the sur+rise of day. (nd u+on His mouth there was the thirst of the desert flock for the lake. He would walk the fields alone and our eyes would follow Him0 and the eyes of all the maidens of 'a>areth. 1ut we were shy of Him. 6o-e is fore-er shy of beauty0 yet beauty shall fore-er be +ursued by lo-e.

4hen the years bade Him s+eak in the tem+le and in the #ardens of Galilee. (nd at times Mary followed Him to listen to His words and to hear the sound of her own heart. 1ut when He and those who lo-ed Him went down to Jerusalem she would not #o. ?or we at the 'orth 7ountry are often mocked in the streets of Jerusalem0 e-en when we #o carryin# our offerin#s to the tem+le. (nd Mary was too +roud to yield to the South 7ountry. (nd Jesus -isited other lands in the east and in the west. $e knew not what lands He -isited0 yet our hearts followed Him. 1ut Mary awaited Him u+on her threshold and e-ery e-entide her eyes sou#ht the road for His home,comin#. *et u+on His return she would say to us0 2He is too -ast to be my Son0 too elo@uent for my silent heart. How shall 3 claim Him:2 3t seemed to us that Mary could not belie-e that the +lain had #i-en birth to the mountain/ in the whiteness of her heart she did not see that the rid#e is a +athway to the summit. She knew the man0 but because He was her Son she dared not know Him. (nd on a day when Jesus went to the lake to be with the fishermen she said to me0 2$hat is man but this restless bein# that would rise from the earth0 and who is man but a lon#in# that desires the stars: 2My son is a lon#in#. He is all of us lon#in# for the stars. 2)id 3 say my son: May God for#i-e me. *et in my heart 3 would be His mother.2

'ow0 it is hard to tell more of Mary and her Son0 but thou#h there shall be husks in my throat0 and my words shall reach you like cri++les on crutches0 3 must needs relate what 3 ha-e seen and heard. 3t was in the youth of the year when the red anemones were u+on the hills that Jesus called His disci+les sayin# to them0 27ome with me to Jerusalem and witness the slayin# of the lamb for the +asso-er.2 %+on the selfsame day Mary came to my door and said0 2He is seekin# the Holy 7ity. $ill you come and follow Him with me and the other women:2 (nd we walked the lon# road behind Mary and her son till we reached Jerusalem. (nd there a com+any of men and women hailed us at the #ate0 for His comin# had been heralded to those who lo-ed Him. 1ut u+on that -ery ni#ht Jesus left the city with His men. $e were told that He had #one to 1ethany. (nd Mary stayed with us in the inn0 awaitin# His return. %+on the e-e of the followin# 4hursday He was cau#ht without the walls0 and was held +risoner. (nd when we heard He was a +risoner0 Mary uttered not a word0 but there a++eared in her eyes the fulfilment of that +romised +ain and 5oy which we had beheld when she was but a bride in 'a>areth. She did not wee+. She only mo-ed amon# us like the #host of a mother who would not bewail the #host of her son. $e sat low u+on the floor but she was erect0 walkin# u+ and down the room. She would stand beside the window and #a>e eastward0 and then with the fin#ers of her two hands brush back her hair. (t dawn she was still standin# amon# us0 like a lone banner in the wilderness wherein there are no hosts. $e we+t because we knew the morrow of her son/ but she did not wee+ for she knew also what would befall Him. Her bones were of bron>e and her sinews of the ancient elms0 and her eyes were like the sky0 wide and darin#. Ha-e you heard a thrush sin# while its nest burns in the wind: Ha-e you seen a woman whose sorrow is too much for tears0 or a wounded

heart that would rise beyond its own +ain: *ou ha-e not seen such a woman0 for you ha-e not stood in the +resence of Mary/ and you ha-e not been enfolded by the Mother 3n-isible. 3n that still moment when the muffled hoofs of silence beat u+on the breasts of the slee+less0 John the youn# son of !ebedee0 came and said< 2Mary Mother0 Jesus is #oin# forth. 7ome0 let us follow Him.2 (nd Mary laid her hand u+on John;s shoulder and they went out0 and we followed them. $hen we came to the 4ower of )a-id we saw Jesus carryin# His cross. (nd there was a #reat crowd about Him. (nd two other men were also carryin# their crosses. (nd Mary;s head was held hi#h0 and she walked with us after her son. (nd her ste+ was firm. (nd behind her walked !ion and 9ome0 ay0 the whole world0 to re-en#e itself u+on one free Man. $hen we reached the hill0 He was raised hi#h u+on the cross. (nd 3 looked at Mary. (nd her face was not the face of a woman berea-ed. 3t was the countenance of the fertile earth0 fore-er #i-in# birth0 fore-er buryin# her children. 4hen to her eyes came the remembrance of His childhood0 and she said aloud0 2My son0 who is not my son/ man who once -isited my womb0 3 #lory in your +ower. 3 know that e-ery dro+ of blood that runs down from your hands shall be the well,stream of a nation. 2*ou die in this tem+est e-en as my heart once died in the sunset0 and 3 shall now sorrow.2 (t that moment 3 desired to co-er my face with my cloak and run away to the 'orth 7ountry. 1ut of a sudden 3 heard Mary say0 2My son0 who is not my son0 what ha-e you said to the man at your ri#ht hand that has made him ha++y in his a#ony: 4he shadow of death is li#ht u+on his face0 and he cannot turn his eyes from you. 2'ow you smile u+on me0 and because you smile 3 know you ha-e [email protected] (nd Jesus looked u+on His mother and said0 2Mary0 from this hour be you the mother of John.2 (nd to John He said0 21e a lo-in# son unto this woman. Go to her house and let your shadow cross the threshold where 3 once stood. )o this in remembrance of me.2 (nd Mary raised her ri#ht hand towards Him0 and she was like a tree with one branch. (nd a#ain she cried0 2My son0 who is not my son0 if this be of God may God #i-e us +atience and the knowled#e thereof. (nd if it be of man may God for#i-e him fore-ermore. 23f it be of God0 the snow of 6ebanon shall be your shroud/ and if it be only of the +riests and soldiers0 then 3 ha-e this #arment for your nakedness. 2My son0 who is not my son0 that which God builds here shall not +erish/ and that which man would destroy shall remain builded0 but not in his si#ht.2 (nd at that moment the hea-ens yielded Him to the earth0 a cry and a breath. (nd Mary yielded Him also unto man0 a wound and a balsam. (nd Mary said0 2'ow behold0 He is #one. 4he battle is o-er. 4he star has shone forth. 4he shi+ has reached the harbor. He who once lay a#ainst my heart is throbbin# in s+ace.2 (nd we came close to her0 and she said to us0 2=-en in death He smiles. He has con@uered. 3 would indeed be the mother of a [email protected] (nd Mary returned to Jerusalem leanin# u+on John the youn# disci+le. (nd she was a woman fulfilled. (nd when we reached the #ate of the city0 3 #a>ed u+on her face and 3 was astonished0 for on that day the head of Jesus was the hi#hest amon# men0 and yet Mary;s head was not less hi#h. (ll this came to +ass in the s+rin# of the year.

(nd now it is autumn. (nd Mary the mother of Jesus has come a#ain to her dwellin#,+lace0 and she is alone. 4wo sabbaths a#o my heart was as a stone in my breast0 for my son had left me for a shi+ in 4yre. He would be a sailor. (nd he said he would return no more. (nd u+on an e-enin# 3 sou#ht Mary. $hen 3 entered her house she was sittin# at her loom0 but she was not wea-in#. She was lookin# into the sky beyond 'a>areth. (nd 3 said to her0 2Hail0 Mary.2 (nd she stretched out her arm to me0 and said0 27ome and sit beside me0 and let us watch the sun +our its blood u+on the hills.2 (nd 3 sat beside her on the bench and we #a>ed into the west throu#h the window. (nd after a moment Mary said0 23 wonder who is crucifyin# the sun this e-entide.2 4hen 3 said0 23 came to you for comfort. My son has left me for the sea and 3 am alone in the house across the way.2 4hen Mary said0 23 would comfort you but how shall 3:2 (nd 3 said0 23f you will only s+eak of your son 3 shall be comforted.2 (nd Mary smiled u+on me0 and she laid her hand about my shoulder and she said0 23 will s+eak of Him. 4hat which will console you will #i-e me consolation.2 4hen she s+oke of Jesus0 and she s+oke lon# of all that was in the be#innin#. (nd it seemed to me that in her s+eech she would ha-e no difference between her son and mine. ?or she said to me0 2My son is also a seafarer. $hy would you not trust your son to the wa-es e-en as 3 ha-e trusted Him: 2$oman shall be fore-er the womb and the cradle but ne-er the tomb. $e die that we may #i-e life unto life e-en as our fin#ers s+in the thread for the raiment that we shall ne-er wear. 2(nd we cast the net for the fish that we shall ne-er taste. 2(nd for this we sorrow0 yet in all this is our 5oy.2 4hus s+oke Mary to me. (nd 3 left her and came to my house0 and thou#h the li#ht of the day was s+ent 3 sat at my loom to wea-e more of the cloth.

Jose+h surnamed Justus Jesus the $ayfarer

4H=* S(* H= was -ul#ar0 the common offs+rin# of common seed0 a man uncouth and -iolent. 4hey say that only the wind combed His hair0 and only the rain brou#th His clothes and His body to#ether. 4hey deem Him mad0 and they attribute His words to demons. *et behold0 the Man des+ised sounded a challen#e and the sound thereof shall ne-er cease. He san# a son# and none shall arrest that melody. 3t shall ho-er from #eneration to #eneration and it shall rise from s+here to s+here rememberin# the li+s that #ace it birth and the ears that cradled it. He was a stran#er. (ye0 He was a stran#er0 a wayfarer on His way to a shrine0 a -isitor who knocked at our door0 a #uest from a far country. (nd because He found not a #racious host0 He has returned to His own +lace.

&hili+ (nd $hen He )ied (ll Mankind )ied

$H=' "%9 1=6"A=) died0 all mankind died and all thin#s for a s+ace were still and #ray. 4hen the east was darkened0 and a tem+est rushed out of it and swe+t the land. 4he eyes of the sky o+ened and shut0 and the rain came down in torrents and carried away the blood that streamed from His hands and His feet. 3 too died. 1ut in the de+th of my obli-ion 3 heard Him s+eak and say0 2?ather for#i-e them0 for they know not what they do.2 (nd His -oice sou#ht my drowned s+irit and 3 was brou#ht back to the shore. (nd 3 o+ened my eyes and 3 saw His white body han#in# a#ainst the cloud0 and His words that 3 had heard took the sha+e within me and became a new man. (nd 3 sorrowed no more. $ho would sorrow for a sea that is un-eilin# its face0 or for a mountain that lau#hs in the sun: $as it e-er in the heart of man0 when that heart was +ierced0 to say such words: $hat other 5ud#e of men has released His 5ud#es: (nd did e-er lo-e challen#e hate with +ower more certain of itself: $as e-er such a trum+et heard ;twi8t hea-en and earth: $as it known before that the murdered had com+assion on his murderers: "r that the meteor stayed his footste+s for the mole: 4he seasons shall tire and the years #row old0 ere they e8haust these words< 2?ather for#i-e them0 for they know not what they do.2 (nd you and 30 thou#h born a#ain and a#ain0 shall kee+ them. (nd now 3 would #o into my house0 and stand an e8alted be##ar0 at His door.

1irbarah of *ammouni "n Jesus the 3m+atient

J=S%S $(S &(43='4 with the dullard and the stu+id0 e-en as the winter awaits the s+rin#. He was +atient like a mountain in the wind. He answered with kindliness the harsh @uestionin#s of His foes. He could e-en be silent to ca-il and dis+ute0 for He was stron# and the stron# can be forbearin#. 1ut Jesus was also im+atient. He s+ared not the hy+ocrite. He yielded not to men of cunnin# nor to the 5u##lers of words. (nd He would not be #o-erned. He was im+atient with those who belie-ed not in li#ht because they themsel-es dwelt in shadow/ and with those who sou#ht after si#ns in the sky rather than in their own hearts. He was im+atient with those who wei#hed and measured the day and the ni#ht before they would trust their dreams to dawn or e-entide. Jesus was +atient. *et He was the most im+atient of men. He would ha-e you wea-e the cloth thou#h you s+end years between the loom and the linen. 1ut He would ha-e none tear an inch off the wo-en fabric.

&ilate;s wife to a 9oman lady

3 $(S $(6K3'G with my maidens in the #ro-es outside of Jerusalem when 3 saw Him with a few men and women sittin# about Him/ and He was s+eakin# to them in a lan#ua#e which 3 only half understood. 1ut one needs not a lan#ua#e to +ercei-e a +illar of li#ht or a mountain of crystal. 4he heart knows what the ton#ue may ne-er utter and the ears may ne-er hear. He was s+eakin# to His friends of lo-e and sren#th. 3 know He s+oke of lo-e because there was melody in His -oice/ and 3 know He s+oke of stren#th because there were armies in His #estures. (nd He was tender0 thou#h e-en my husband could not ha-e s+oken with such authority. $hen He saw me +assin# by He sto++ed s+eakin# for a moment and looked kindly u+on me. (nd 3 was humbled/ and in my soul 3 knew 3 had +assed by a #od. (fter that day His ima#e -isited my +ri-acy when 3 would not be -isited by man or woman/ and His eyes searched my soul when my own eyes were closed. (nd His -oice #o-erns the stillness of my ni#hts. 3 am held fast fore-ermore/ and there is +eace in my +ain0 and freedom in my tears. 1elo-ed friend0 you ha-e ne-er seen that man0 and you will ne-er see Him. He is #one beyond our senses0 but of all men He is now the nearest to me.

( man outside of Jerusalem "f Judas

J%)(S 7(M= 4" my house that ?riday0 u+on the e-e of the +asso-er/ and he knocked at my door with force. $hen he entered 3 looked at him0 and his face was ashen. His hands trembled like dry twi#s in the wind0 and his clothes were as wet as if he had ste++ed out from a ri-er/ for on that e-enin# there were #reat tem+ests. He looked at me0 and the sockets of his eyes were like dark ca-es and his eyes were blood,sodden. (nd he said0 23 ha-e deli-ered Jesus of 'a>areth to His enemies and to my enemies.2 4hen Judas wrun# his hands and he said0 2Jesus declared that He would o-ercome all His foes and the foes of our +eo+le. (nd 3 belie-ed and 3 followed Him. 2$hen first He called us to Him He +romised us a kin#dom mi#hty and -ast0 and in our faith we sou#ht His fa-or that we mi#ht ha-e honorable stations in His court. 2$e beheld oursel-es +rinces dealin# with these 9omans as they ha-e dealt with us. (nd Jesus said much about His kin#dom0 and 3 thou#ht He had chosen me a ca+tain of His chariots0 and a chief man of his warriors. (nd 3 followed His footste+s willin#ly. 21ut 3 found it was not a kin#dom that Jesus sou#ht0 nor was it from the 9omans He would ha-e had us free. His kin#dom was but the kin#dom of the heart. 3 heard Him talk of lo-e and charity and for#i-eness0 and the wayside women listened #ladly0 but my heart #rew bitter and 3 was hardened. 2My +romised kin# of Judea seemed suddenly to ha-e turned flute,+layer0 to

soothe the mind of wanderers and -a#abonds. 23 had lo-ed Him as others of my tribe had lo-ed Him. 3 had beheld Him a ho+e and a deli-erance from the yoke of the aliens. 1ut when He would not utter a word or mo-e a hand to free us from that yoke0 and when He would e-en ha-e rendered unto 7aesar that which is 7aesar;s0 then des+air filled me and my ho+es died. (nd 3 said0 ;He who murders my ho+es shall be murdered0 for my ho+es and e8+ectations are more +recious than the life of any man;.2 4hen Judas #nashed his teeth/ and he bent down his head. (nd when he s+oke a#ain0 he said0 23 ha-e deli-ered Him u+. (nd He was crucified this day. . . . *et when He died u+on the cross0 He died a kin#. He died in the tem+est as deli-erers die0 like -ast men who li-e beyond the shroud and the stone. 2(nd all the while He was dyin#0 He was #racious0 and He was kindly/ and His heart was full of +ity. He felt +ity e-en for me who had deli-ered Him u+.2 (nd 3 said0 2Judas0 you ha-e committed a #ra-e wron#.2 (nd Judas answered0 21ut He died a kin#. $hy did He not li-e a kin#:2 (nd 3 said a#ain0 2*ou ha-e committed a #ra-e crime.2 (nd he sat down there0 u+on that bench0 and he was as still as a stone. 1ut 3 walked to and fro in the room0 and once more 3 said0 2*ou ha-e committed a #reat sin.2 1ut Judas said not a word. He remained as silent as the earth. (nd after a while he stood u+ and faced me and he seemed taller0 and when he s+oke his -oice was like the sound of a cracked -essel/ and he said0 2Sin was not in my heart. 4his -ery ni#ht 3 shall seek His kin#dom0 and 3 shall stand in His +resence and be# His for#i-eness. 2He died a kin#0 and 3 shall die a felon. 1ut in my heart 3 know He will for#i-e me.2 (fter sayin# these words he folded his wet cloak around him and he said0 23t was #ood that 3 came to you this ni#ht e-en thou#h 3 ha-e brou#ht you trouble. $ill you also for#i-e me: 2Say to your sons and to your sons; sons< ;Judas 3scariot deli-ered Jesus of 'a>areth to His enemies because he belie-ed Jesus was an enemy to His own race.; 2(nd say also that Judas u+on the selfsame day of his #reat error followed the Kin# to the ste+s of His throne to deli-er u+ his own soul and to be 5ud#ed. 23 shall tell Him that my blood also was im+atient for the sod0 and my cri++led s+irit would be free.2 4hen Judas leaned his head back a#ainst the wall and he cried out0 2" God whose dreaded name no man shall utter ere his li+s are touched by the fin#ers of death0 why did you burn me with a fire that had no li#ht: 2$hy did you #i-e the Galilean a +assion for a land unknown and burden me with desire that would not esca+e kin or hearth: (nd who is this man Judas0 whose hands are di++ed in blood: 26end me a hand to cast him off0 an old #arment and a tattered harness. 2Hel+ me to do this toni#ht. 2(nd let me stand a#ain outside of these walls. 23 am weary of this win#less liberty. 3 would a lar#er dun#eon. 23 would flow a stream of tears to the bitter sea. 3 would be a man of your mercy rather than one knockin# at the #ate of his own heart.2 4hus Judas s+oke0 and thereu+on he o+ened the door and went out a#ain into the tem+est. 4hree days afterwards 3 -isited Jerusalem and heard of all that had come to +ass. (nd 3 also heard that Judas had flun# himself from the summit of the Hi#h 9ock. 3 ha-e +ondered lon# since that day0 and 3 understand Judas. He fulfilled his little life0 which ho-ered like a mist on this land and ensla-ed by the 9omans0 while the #reat +ro+het was ascendin# the hei#hts.

"ne man lon#ed for a kin#dom in which he was to be a +rince. (nother man desired a kin#dom in which all men shall be +rinces.

Sarkis0 an old Greek she+herd called the madman Jesus and &an

3' ( )9=(M 3 saw Jesus and My God &an sittin# to#ether in the heart of the forest. 4hey lau#hed at each other;s s+eech0 with the brook that ran near them0 and the lau#hter of Jesus was the merrier. (nd they con-ersed lon#. &an s+oke of earth and her secrets0 and of his hoofed brothers and his horned sisters/ and of dreams. (nd he s+oke of roots and their nestlin#s0 and of the sa+ that wakes and rises and sin#s to summer. (nd Jesus told of the youn# shoots in the forest0 and of flowers and fruit0 and the seed that they shall bear in a season not yet come. He s+oke of birds in s+ace and their sin#in# in the u++er world. (nd He told of white harts in the desert wherein God she+herds them. (nd &an was +leased with the s+eech of the new God0 and his nostrils @ui-ered. (nd in the same dream 3 beheld &an and Jesus #row @uiet and still in the stillness of the #reen shadows. (nd then &an took his reeds and +layed to Jesus. 4he trees were shaken and the ferns trembled0 and there was a fear u+on me. (nd Jesus said0 2Good brother0 you ha-e the #lade and the rocky hei#ht in your reeds.2 4hen &an #a-e the reeds to Jesys and said0 2*ou +lay now. 3t is your turn.2 (nd Jesus said0 24hese reeds are too many for my mouth. 3 ha-e this flute.2 (nd He took His flute and He +layed. (nd 3 heard the sound of rain in the lea-es0 and the sin#in# of streams amon# the hills0 and the fallin# of snow on the mountain,to+. 4he +ulse of my heart0 that had once beaten with the wind0 was restored a#ain to the wind0 and all the wa-es of my yesterdays were u+on my shore0 and 3 was a#ain Sarkis the she+herd0 and the flute of Jesus became the +i+es of countless she+herds callin# to countless flocks. 4hen &an said to Jesus0 2*our youth is more kin to the reed than my years. (nd lon# ere this in my stillness 3 ha-e heard your son# and the murmur of your name. 2*our name has a #oodly sound/ well shall it rise with the sa+ to the branches0 and well shall it run with the hoofs amon# the hills. (nd it is not stran#e to me0 thou#h my father called me not by that name. 3t was your flute that brou#ht it back to my memory. 2(nd now let us +lay our reeds to#ether.2 (nd they +layed to#ether. (nd their music smote hea-en and earth0 and a terror struck all li-in# thin#s. 3 heard the bellow of beasts and the hun#er of the forest. (nd 3 heard the cry of lonely men0 and the +laint of those who lon# for what they know not. 3 heard the si#hin# of the maiden for her lo-er0 and the +antin# of the luckless hunter for his +rey. (nd then there came +eace into their music0 and the hea-ens and the earth san# to#ether. (ll this 3 saw in my dream0 and all this 3 heard.

(nnas the hi#h +riest "n Jesus the 9abble

H= $(S "? the rabble0 a bri#and0 a mountebank and a self,trum+eter. He a++ealed only to the unclean and the disinherited0 and for this He had to #o the way of all the tainted and the defiled. He made s+ort of us and of our laws/ He mocked at our honor and 5eered at our di#nity. He e-en said He would destroy the tem+le and desecrate the holy +laces. He was shameless0 and for this He had to die a shameful death. He was a man from Galilee of the Gentiles0 an alien0 from the 'orth 7ountry where (donis and (shtarte still claim +ower a#ainst 3srael and the God of 3srael. He whose ton#ue halted when He s+oke the s+eech of our +ro+hets was loud and ear,s+littin# when he s+oke the bastard lan#ua#e of the low,born and the -ul#ar. $hat else was there for me but to decree His death: (m 3 not a #uardian of the tem+le: (m 3 not a kee+er of the law: 7ould 3 ha-e turned my back on Him0 sayin# in all tran@uility< 2He is a madman amon# madmen. 6et Him alone to e8haust Himself ra-in#/ for the mad and the cra>ed and those +ossessed with de-ils shall be nau#ht in the +ath of 3srael2 : 7ould 3 ha-e been deaf unto Him when he called us liars. hy+ocrites0 wol-es0 -i+ers0 and the sons of -i+ers: 'ay 3 could not be deaf to Him0 for He was not a madman. He was self, +ossessed/ and in His bi#,soundin# sanity He denounced and challen#ed us all. ?or this 3 had Him crucified0 and His crucifi8ion was a si#nal and warnin# unto the others who are stam+ed with the same damned seal. 3 know well 3 ha-e been blamed for this0 e-en by some of the elders in the Sanhedrim. 1ut 3 was mindful then as 3 am mindful now0 that one man should die for the +eo+le rather than the +eo+le be led astray by one man. Jesus was con@uered by an enemy from without. 3 shall see that Judea is not con@uered a#ain0 by an enemy from within. 'o man from the cursed 'orth shall reach our Holy of Holies nor lay His shadow across the (rk of the 7o-enant.

( woman0 one of Mary;s nei#hbors ( 6amentation

"' 4H= ?"943=4H day after His death0 all the women nei#hbors came to the house of Mary to console her and to sin# threnodies. (nd one of them san#< $hereto my S+rin#0 whereto: (nd to what other s+ace your +erfume ascendin#: 3n what other fields shall you walk: (nd to what sky shall you lift u+ your head to s+eak your heart: 4hese -alleys shall be barren0 (nd we shall ha-e nau#ht but dried fields and arid. (ll #reen thin#s will +arch in the sun0 (nd our orchards will brin# forth sour a++les0 (nd our -ineyards bitter #ra+es.

$e shall thirst for your wine0 (nd our nostrils will lon# for your fra#rance. $hereto ?lower of our first s+rin#.0 whereto: (nd will you return no more: $ill not your 5asmine -isit us a#ain0 (nd your cyclamen stand by our wayside 4o tell us that we too ha-e our roots dee+ in earth0 (nd that our ceaseless breath would fore-er climb the sky: $hereto Jesus0 whereto0 Son of my nei#hbor Mary0 (nd comrade to my son: $hither0 our first S+rin#0 and to what other fields: $ill you return to us a#ain: $ill you in your lo-e,tide -isit the barren shores of our dreams:

(ha> the +ortly 4he Kee+er of the 3nn

$=66 )" 3 remember the last time 3 saw Jesus the 'a>arene. Judas had come to me at the noon hour of that 4hursday0 and bidden me +re+are su++er for Jesus and His friends. He #a-e me two sil-er +ieces and said0 21uy all that you deem needful for the meal.2 (nd after He was #one my wife said to me0 24his is indeed a distinction.2 ?or Jesus had become a +ro+het and He had wrou#ht many miracles. (t twili#ht He came and His followers0 and they sat in the u++er chamber around the board0 but they were silent and @uiet. 6ast year also and the year before they had come and then they had been 5oyous. 4hey broke the bread and drank the wine and san# our ancient strains/ and Jesus would talk to them till midni#ht. (fter that they would lea-e Him alone in the u++er chamber and #o to slee+ in other rooms/ for after midni#ht it was His desire to be alone. (nd He would remain awake/ 3 would hear His ste+s as 3 lay u+on my bed. 1ut this last time He and His friends were not ha++y. My wife had +re+ared fishes from the 6ake of Galilee0 and +heasants from Houran stuffed with rice and +ome#ranate seeds0 and 3 had carried them a 5u# of my cy+ress wine. (nd then 3 had left them for 3 felt that they wished to be alone. 4hey stayed until it was full dark0 and then they all descended to#ether from the u++er chamber0 but at the foot of the stairs Jesus tarried awhile. (nd He looked at me and my wife0 and He +laced His hand u+on the head of my dau#hter and He said0 2Good ni#ht to you all. $e shall come back a#ain to your u++er chamber0 but we shall not lea-e you at this early hour. $e shall stay until the sun rises abo-e the hori>on. 23n a little while we shall return and ask for more bread and more wine. *ou and your wife ha-e been #ood hosts to us0 and we shall remember you when we come to our mansion and sit at our own board.2 (nd 3 said0 2Sir0 it was an honor to ser-e you. 4he other innkee+ers en-y me because of your -isits0 and in my +ride 3 smile at them in the market,+lace. Sometimes 3 e-en make a #rimace.2 (nd He said0 2(ll innkee+ers should be +roud in ser-in#. ?or he who #i-es bread

and wine is the brother of him who rea+s and #athers the shea-es for the threshin#,floor0 and of him who crushes the #ra+es at the wine+ress. (nd you are all kindly. *ou #i-e of your bounty e-en to those who come with nau#ht but hun#er and thirst.2 4hen He turned to Judas 3scariot who ke+t the +urse of the com+any0 and He said0 2Gi-e me two shekels.2 (nd Judas #a-e Him two shekels sayin#< 24hese are the last sil-er +ieces in my +urse.2 Jesus looked at him and said0 2Soon0 o-ersoon0 your +urse shall be filled with sil-er.2 4hen He +ut the two +ieces into my hand and said0 2$ith these buy a silken #irdle for your dau#hter0 and bid her wear it on the day of the +asso-er0 in remembrance of me.2 (nd lookin# a#ain into the face of my dau#hter0 He leaned down and kissed her brow. (nd then He said once more0 2Good,ni#ht to you all.2 (nd He walked away. 3 ha-e been told that what He said to us has been recorded u+on a +archment by one of His friends0 but 3 re+eat it to you e-en as 3 heard it from His own li+s. 'e-er shall 3 for#et the sound of His -oice as He said those words0 2Good ni#ht to you all.2 3f you would know more of Him0 ask my dau#hter. She is a woman now0 but she cherishes the memory of her #irlhood. (nd her words are more ready than mine.

1arabbas 4he 6ast $ords of Jesus

4H=* 9=6=(S=) M= and chose Him. 4hen He rose and 3 fell down. (nd they held Him a -ictim and a sacrifice for the +asso-er. 3 was freed from my chains0 and walked with the thron# behind Him0 but 3 was a li-in# man #oin# to my own #ra-e. 3 should ha-e fled to the desert where shame is burned out by the sun. *et 3 walked with those who had chosen Him to bear my crime. $hen they nailed Him on His cross 3 stood there. 3 saw and 3 heard but 3 seemed outside of my body. 4he thief who was crucified on His ri#ht said to Him0 2(re you bleedin# with me0 e-en you0 Jesus of 'a>areth:2 (nd Jesus answered and said0 2$ere it not for this nail that stays my hand 3 would reach forth and clas+ your hand. 2$e are crucified to#ether. $ould they had raised your cross nearer to mine.2 4hen He looked down and #a>ed u+on His mother and a youn# man who stood beside her. He said0 2Mother0 behold your son standin# beside you. 2$oman0 behold a man who shall carry these dro+s of my blood to the 'orth 7ountry.2 (nd when he heard the wailin# of the women of Galilee He said0 21ehold0 they wee+ and 3 thirst. 23 amm held too hi#h to reach their tears. 23 will not take -ine#ar and #all to @uench this thirst.2 4hen His eyes o+ened wide to the sky0 and He said0 2?ather0 why hast 4hou foresaken us:2 (nd then He said in com+assion0 2?ather0 for#i-e them0 for they know not what they do.2 $hen He uttered those words methou#ht 3 saw all men +rostrated before God

beseechin# for#i-eness for the crucifi8ion of this one man. 4hen a#ain He said with a #reat -oice< 2?ather0 into 4hy hand 3 yield back my s+irit.2 (nd at last He lifted u+ His head and said0 2'ow it is finished0 but only u+on this hill.2 (nd He closed His eyes. 4hen li#htnin# cracked the dark skies0 and there was a #reat thunder. 3 know now that those who slew Him in my stead achie-ed my endless torment. His crucifi8ion endured but for an hour. 1ut 3 shall be crucified unto the end of my years.

7laudius0 a 9oman sentinel Jesus the Stoic

(?4=9 H= $(S taken0 they entrusted Him to me. (nd 3 was ordered by &ontius &ilatus to kee+ Him in custody until the followin# mornin#. My soldiers led Him +risoner0 and He was obedient to them. (t midni#ht 3 left my wife and children and -isited the arsenal. 3t was my habit to #o about and see all that was well with my battalions in Jerusalem/ and that ni#ht 3 -isited the arsenal where He was held. My soldiers and some of the youn# Jews were makin# s+ort of Him. 4hey had stri++ed Him of His #arment0 and they had +ut a crown of last year;s brier, thorns u+on His head. 4hey had seated Him a#ainst a +illar0 and they were dancin# and shoutin# before Him. (nd they had #i-en Him a reed to hold in His hand. (s 3 entered someone shouted0 21ehold0 " 7a+tain0 the Kin# of the Jews.2 3 stood before Him and looked at Him0 and 3 was ashamed. 3 knew not why. 3 had fou#ht in Gallia and in S+ain0 and with my men 3 had faced death. *et ne-er had 3 been in fear0 nor been a coward. 1ut when 3 stood before that man and He looked at me 3 lost heart. 3t seemed as thou#h my li+s were sealed0 and 3 could not utter no word. (nd strai#htway 3 left the arsenal. 4his chanced thirty years a#o. My sons who were babes then are men now. (nd they are ser-in# 7aesar and 9ome. 1ut often in counsellin# them 3 ha-e s+oken of Him0 a man facin# death with the sa+ of life u+on His li+s0 and with com+assion for His slayers in His eyes. (nd now 3 am old. 3 ha-e li-ed the years fully. (nd 3 think truly that neither &om+ey nor 7aesar was so #reat a commander as that Man of Galilee. ?or since His unresistin# death an army has risen out of the earth to fi#ht for Him. . . . (nd He is better ser-ed by them0 thou#h dead0 than e-er &om+ey or 7aesar was ser-ed0 thou#h li-in#.

James the brother of the 6ord 4he 6ast Su++er

( 4H"%S(') 43M=S 3 ha-e been -isited by the memory of that ni#ht. (nd 3 know now that 3 shall be -isited a thousand times a#ain.

4he earth shall for#et the furrows +lou#hed u+on her breast0 and a woman the +ain and 5oy of childbirth0 ere 3 shall for#et that ni#ht. 3n the afternoon we had been outside the walls of Jerusalem0 and Jesus had said0 26et us #o into the city now and take su++er at the inn.2 3t was dark when we reached the inn0 and we were hun#ry. 4he innkee+er #reeted us and led us to an u++er chamber. (nd Jesus bade us sit around the board0 but He himself remained standin#0 and His eyes rested u+on us. (nd He s+oke to the kee+er of the inn and said0 21rin# me a basin and a +itcher full of water0 and a towel.2 (nd He looked at us a#ain and said #ently0 27ast off your sandals.2 $e did not understand0 but at His command we cast them off. 4hen the kee+er of the inn brou#ht the basin and the +itcher/ and Jesus said0 2'ow 3 will wash your feet. ?or 3 must needs free your feet from the dust of the ancient road0 and #i-e them the freedom of the new way.2 (nd we were all abashed and shy. 4hen Simon &eter stood u+ and said< 2How shall 3 suffer my Master and my 6ord to wash my feet:2 (nd Jesus answered0 23 will wash your feet that you may remember that he who ser-es men shall be the #reatest amon# men.2 4hen He looked at each one of us and He said< 24he Son of Man who has chosen you for His brethren0 He whose feet were anointed yesterday with myrrh of (rabia and dried with a women;s hair0 desires now to wash your feet.2 (nd He took the basin and the +itcher and kneeled down and washed our feet0 be#innin# with Judas 3scariot. 4hen He sat down with us at the board/ and His face was like the dawn risin# u+on a battlefield after a ni#ht of strife and blood,sheddin#. (nd the kee+er of the inn came with his wife0 brin#in# food and wine. (nd thou#h 3 had been hun#ry before Jesus knelt at my feet0 now 3 had no stomach for food. (nd there was a flame in my throat which 3 would not @uench with wine. 4hen Jesus took a loaf of bread and #a-e to us0 sayin#0 2&erha+s we shall not break bread a#ain. 6et us eat this morsel in remembrance of our days in Galilee.2 (nd He +oured wine from the 5u# into a cu+ and He drank0 and #a-e to us0 and He said0 2)rink this in remembrance of a thirst we ha-e known to#ether. (nd drink it also in ho+e for the new -inta#e. $hen 3 am enfolded and am no more amon# you0 and when you meet here or elsewhere0 break the bread and +our the wine0 and eat and drink e-en as you are doin# now. 4hen look about you/ and +erchance you may see me sittin# with you at the board.2 (fter sayin# this He be#an to distribute amon# us morsels of fish and +heasant0 like a bird feedin# its fled#lin#s. $e ate little yet we were filled/ and we drank but a dro+0 for we felt that the cu+ was like a s+ace between this land and another land. 4hen Jesus said0 2=re we lea-e this board let us rise and sin# the 5oyous hymns of Galilee.2 (nd we rose and san# to#ether0 and His -oice was abo-e our -oices0 and there was a rin#in# in e-ery word of His words. (nd He looked at our faces0 each and e-ery one0 and He said0 2'ow 3 bid you farewell. 6et us #o beyond these walls. 6et us #o unto Gethsemane.2 (nd John the Son of !ebedee said0 2Master0 why do you say farewell to us this ni#ht:2 (nd Jesus said0 26et not your heart be troubled. 3 only lea-e you to +re+are a +lace for you in my ?ather;s house. 1ut if you shall be in need of me0 3 will come back to you. $here you call me0 there 3 shall hear you0 and where-er your s+irit shall seek me0 there 3 will be. 2?or#et not that thirst leads to the wine+ress0 and hun#er to the weddin#,feast.

23t is in your lon#in# that you shall find the Son of Man. ?or lon#in# is the fountain,head of ecstasy0 and it is the +ath to the ?ather.2 (nd John s+oke a#ain and said0 23f you would indeed lea-e us0 how shall we be of #ood cheer: (nd why s+eak you of se+aration:2 (nd Jesus said0 24he hunted sta# knows the arrow of the hunter before it feels it in his breast/ and the ri-er is aware of the sea ere it comes to her shore. (nd the Son of Man has tra-elled the ways of men. 1efore another almond tree renders her blossoms to the sun0 my roots shall be reachin# into the heart of another field.2 4hen Simon &eter said< 2Master0 lea-e us not now0 and deny us not the 5oy of your +resence. $here you #o we too will #o/ and where-er you abide there we will be also.2 (nd Jesus +ut His hand u+on Simon &eter;s shoulder0 and smiled u+on him0 and He said0 2$ho knows but that you may deny me before this ni#ht is o-er0 and lea-e me before 3 lea-e you:2 4hen of a sudden He said0 2'ow let us #o hence.2 (nd He left the inn and we followed Him. 1ut when we reached the #ate of the city0 Judas of 3scariot was no lon#er with us. (nd we crossed the Aalley of Jahannam. Jesus walked far ahead of us0 and we walked close to one another. $hen He reached an oli-e #ro-e he sto++ed and turned towards us sayin#0 29est here for an hour.2 4he e-enin# was cool0 thou#h it was full s+rin# with the mulberries unfoldin# their shoots and the a++le trees in bloom. (nd the #ardens were sweet. =ach one of us sou#ht the trunk of a tree0 and we lay down. 3 myself #athered my cloak around me and lay under a +ine tree. 1ut Jesus left us and walked by Himself in the oli-e #ro-e. (nd 3 watched Him while the others sle+t. He would suddenly stand still0 and a#ain He would walk u+ and down. 4his He did many times. 4hen 3 saw Him lift His face towards the sky and outstretch His arms to east and west. "nce He had said0 2Hea-en and earth0 and hell too0 are of man.2 (nd now 3 remembered His sayin#0 and 3 knew that He who was +acin# the oli-e #ro-e was hea-en made man/ and 3 bethou#ht me that the womb of the earth is not a be#innin# nor an end0 but rather a chariot0 a +ause/ and a moment of wonder and sur+rise/ and hell 3 saw also0 in the -alley called Jahannam0 which lay between Him and the Holy 7ity. (nd as He stood there and 3 lay wra++ed in my #arment0 3 heard His -oice s+eakin#. 1ut He was not s+eakin# to us. 4hrice 3 heard Him +ronounce the word ?ather . (nd that was all 3 heard. (fter a while His arms dro++ed down0 and He stood still like a cy+ress tree between my eyes and the sky. (t last He came o-er amon# us a#ain0 and He said to us0 2$ake and rise. My hour has come. 4he world is already u+on us0 armed for battle.2 (nd then He said0 2( moment a#o 3 heard the -oice of my ?ather. 3f 3 see you not a#ain0 remember that the con@ueror shall not ha-e +eace until he is [email protected] (nd when we had risen and come close to Him0 His face was like the starry hea-en abo-e the desert. 4hen He kissed each one of us u+on the cheek. (nd when His li+s touched my cheek0 they were hot0 like the hand of a child in fe-er. Suddenly we heard a #reat noise in the distance0 as of numbers0 and when it came near it was a com+any of men a++roachin# with lanterns and sla-es. (nd they came in haste. (s they reached the hed#e of the #ro-e Jesus left us and went forth and met them. (nd Judas of 3scariot was leadin# them.

4here were 9oman soldiers with swords and s+ears0 and men of Jerusalem with clubs and +icka8es. (nd Judas came u+ to Jesus and kissed Him. (nd then he said to the armed men0 24his is the Man.2 (nd Jesus said to Judas0 2Judas0 you were +atient with me. 4his could ha-e been yesterday.2 4hen He turned to the armed men and said< 24ake me now. 1ut see that your ca#e is lar#e enou#h for these win#s.2 4hen they fell u+on Him and held Him0 and they were all shoutin#. 1ut we in our fear ran away and sou#ht to esca+e. 3 ran alone throu#h the oli-e #ro-es0 nor had 3 +ower to be mindful0 nor did any -oice s+eak in me e8ce+t my fear. 4hrou#h the two or three hours that remained of that ni#ht 3 was fleein# and hidin#0 and at dawn 3 found myself in a -illa#e near Jericho. $hy had 3 left Him: 3 do not know. 1ut to my sorrow 3 did lea-e Him. 3 was a coward and 3 fled from the face of His enemies. 4hen 3 was sick and ashamed at heart0 and 3 returned to Jerusalem0 but He was a +risoner0 and no friend could ha-e s+eech with Him. He was crucified0 and His blood has made new clay of the earth. (nd 3 am li-in# still/ 3 am li-in# u+on the honeycomb of His sweet life.

Simon the cyrene He $ho 7arried the 7ross

3 $(S "' my way to the fields when 3 saw Him carryin# His cross/ and multitudes were followin# Him. 4hen 3 too walked beside Him. His burden sto++ed Him many a time0 for His body was e8hausted. 4hen a 9oman soldier a++roached me0 sayin#0 27ome0 you are stron# and firm built/ carry the cross of this man.2 $hen 3 heard these words my heart swelled within me and 3 was #rateful. (nd 3 carried His cross. 3t was hea-y0 for it was made of +o+lar soaked throu#h with the rains of winter. (nd Jesus looked at me. (nd the sweat of His forehead was runnin# down u+on His beard. (#ain He looked at me and He said0 2)o you too drink this cu+: *ou shall indeed si+ its rim with me to the end of time.2 So sayin# He +laced His hand u+on my free shoulder. (nd we walked to#ether towards the Hill of the Skull. 1ut now 3 felt not the wei#ht of the cross. 3 felt only His hand. (nd it was like the win# of a bird u+on my shoulder. 4hen we reached the hill to+0 and there they were to crucify Him. (nd then 3 felt the wei#ht of the tree. He uttered no word when they dro-e the nails into His hands and feet0 nor made He any sound. (nd His limbs did not @ui-er under the hammer. 3t seemed as if His hands and feet had died and would only li-e a#ain when bathed in blood. *et it seemed also as if He sou#ht the nails as the +rince would seek the sce+tre/ and that He cra-ed to be raised to the hei#hts. (nd my heart did not think to +ity Him0 for 3 was too filled to wonder. 'ow0 the man whose cross 3 carried has become my cross. Should they say to me a#ain0 27arry the cross of this man02 3 would carry it till my road ended at the #ra-e.

1ut 3 would be# Him to +lace His hand u+on my shoulder. 4his ha++ened many years a#o/ and still whene-er 3 follow the furrow in the field0 and in that drowsy moment before slee+0 3 think always of that 1elo-ed Man. (nd 3 feel His win#ed hand0 here0 on my left shoulder.

7yborea 4he Mother of Judas

M* S"' $(S a #ood man and u+ri#ht. He was tender and kind to me0 and he lo-ed his kin and his countrymen. (nd he hated our enemies0 the cursed 9omans0 who wear +ur+le cloth thou#h they s+in no thread nor sit at any loom/ and who rea+ and #ather where they ha-e not +lou#hed nor sowed the seed. My son was but se-enteen when he was cau#ht shootin# arrows at the 9oman le#ion +assin# throu#h our -ineyard. =-en at that a#e he would s+eak to the other youths of the #lory of 3srael0 and he would utter many stran#e thin#s that 3 did not understand. He was my son0 my only son. He drank life from these breasts now dry0 and he took his first ste+s in this #arden0 #ras+in# these fin#ers that are now like tremblin# reeds. $ith these selfsame hands0 youn# and fresh then like the #ra+es of 6ebanon0 3 +ut away his first sandals in a linen kerchief that my mother had #i-en me. 3 still kee+ them there in that chest0 beside the window. He was my first,born0 and when he took his first ste+0 3 too took my first ste+. ?or women tra-el not sa-e when led by their children. (nd now they tell me he is dead by his own hand/ that he flun# himself from the Hi#h 9ock in remorse because he had betrayed his friend Jesus of 'a>areth. 3 know my son is dead. 1ut 3 know he betrayed no one/ for he lo-ed his kin and hated none but the 9omans. My son sou#ht the #lory of 3srael0 and nau#ht but that #lory was u+on his li+s and in his deeds. $hen he met Jesus on the hi#hway he left me to follow Him. (nd in my heart 3 knew that he was wron# to follow any man. $hen he bade me farewell 3 told him that he was wron#0 but he listened not. "ur children do not heed us/ like the hi#h tide of today0 they take no counsel with the hi#h tide of yesterday. 3 be# you @uestion me no further about my son. 3 lo-ed him and 3 shall lo-e him fore-ermore. 3f lo-e were in the flesh 3 would burn it out with hot irons and be at +eace. 1ut it is in the soul0 unreachable. (nd now 3 would s+eak no more. Go @uestion another woman more honored than the mother of Judas. Go to the mother of Jesus. 4he sword is in her heart also/ she will tell you of me0 and you will understand.

4he woman of 1yblos ( 6amentation

$==& $34H M=0 ye dau#hters of (shtarte0 and all ye lo-ers of 4amou>0 1id your heart melt and rise and run blood,tears0

?or He who was made of #old and i-ory is no more. 3n the dark forest the boar o-ercame Him0 (nd the tusks of the boar +ierced His flesh. 'ow He lies stained with the lea-es of yesteryear0 (nd no lon#er shall His footste+s wake the seeds that slee+ in the bosom of the s+rin#. His -oice will not come with the dawn to my window0 (nd 3 shall be fore-er alone. $ee+ with me0 ye dau#hters of (shtarte0 and all ye lo-ers of 4amou>0 ?or my 1elo-ed has esca+ed me/ He who s+oke as the ri-ers s+eak/ He whose -oice and time were twins/ He whose mouth was a red +ain made sweet/ He on whose li+s #all would turn to honey. $ee+ with me0 dau#hters of (shtarte0 and ye lo-ers of 4amou>. $ee+ with me around His bier as the stars wee+0 (nd as the moon,+etals fall u+on His wounded body. $et with your tears the silken co-ers of my bed0 $here my 1elo-ed once lay in my dream0 (nd was #one away in my awakenin#. 3 char#e ye0 dau#hters od (shtarte0 and all ye lo-ers of 4amou>0 1are your breasts and wee+ and comfort me0 ?or Jesus of 'a>areth is dead.

Mary Ma#dalen0 thirty years later "n the 9esurrection of the Soul

"'7= (G(3' 3 say that with death Jesus con@uered death0 and rose from the #ra-e a s+irit and a +ower. (nd He walked in our solitude and -isited the #ardens of our +assion. He lies not there in that cleft rock behind the stone. $e who lo-e Him beheld Him with these our eyes which He made to see/ and we touched Him with these our hands which He tau#ht to reach forth. 3 know you who belie-e not in Him. 3 was one of you0 and you are many/ but your number shall be diminished. Must your break your har+ and your lyre to find the music therein: "r must you fell a tree ere you can belie-e ot bears fruit: *ou hate Jesus because someone from the 'orth 7ountry said He was the Son of God. 1ut you hate one another because each of you deems himself too #reat to be the brother of the ne8t man. *ou hate Him because someone said He was born of a -ir#in0 and not of man;s seed. 1ut you know not the mothers who #o to the tomb in -ir#inity0 nor the men who #o down to the #ra-e choked with their own thirst. *ou know not that the earth was #i-en in marria#e to the sun0 and that earth it is who sends us forth to the mountain and the desert. 4here is a #ulf that yawns between those who lo-e Him and those who hate Him0 between those who belie-e and those who do not belie-e. 1ut when the years ha-e brid#ed that #ulf you shall know that He who li-ed in us is deathless0 that He was the Son of God e-en as we are the children of God/

that He was born of a -ir#in e-en as we are born of the husbandless earth. 3t is +assin# stran#e that the earth #i-es not to the unbelie-ers the roots that would suck at her breast0 nor the win#s wherewith to fly hi#h and drink0 and be filled with the dews of her s+ace. 1ut 3 know what 3 know0 and it is enou#h.

( man from 6ebanon 'ineteen 7enturies (fterward

M(S4=90 M(S4=9 S3'G=90 Master of words uns+oken0 Se-en times was 3 born0 and se-en times ha-e 3 died Since your last hasty -isit and our brief welcome. (nd behold 3 li-e a#ain0 9ememberin# a day and a ni#ht amon# the hills0 $hen your tide lifted us u+. 4hereafter many lands and many seas did 3 cross0 (nd where-er 3 was led by saddle or sail *our name was +rayer or ar#ument. Men would bless you or curse you/ 4he curse0 a +rotest a#ainst failure0 4he blessin#0 a hymn of the hunter $ho comes back from the hills $ith +ro-ision for his mate.

*our friends are yet with us for comfort and su++ort0 (nd your enemies also0 for stren#th and assurance. *our mother is with us/ 3 ha-e beheld the sheen of her face in the countenance of all mothers/ Her hand rocks cradles with #entleness0 Her hand folds shrouds with tenderness. (nd Mary Ma#dalen is yet in our midst0 She who drank the -ine#ar of life0 and then its wine. (nd Judas0 the man of +ain and small ambitions0 He too walks the earth/ =-en now he +reys u+on himself when his hun#er find nau#ht else0 (nd seeks his lar#er self in self,destruction.

(nd John0 he whose youth lo-ed beauty0 is here0 (nd he sin#s thou#h unheeded. (nd Simon &eter the im+etuous0 who denied you that he mi#ht li-e lon#er for you0 He too sits by our fire. He may deny you a#ain ere the dawn of another day0 *et he would be crucified for your +ur+ose0 and deem himself unworthy of the honor. (nd 7aia+has and (nnas still li-e their day0 (nd 5ud#e the #uilty and the innocent. 4hey slee+ u+on their feathered bed $hilst he whom they ha-e 5ud#ed is whi++ed with the rods.

(nd the woman who was taken in adultery0 She too walks the streets of our cities0 (nd hun#ers for bread not yet baked0 (nd she is alone in an em+ty house. (nd &ontius &ilatus is here also< He stands in awe before you0 (nd still @uestions you0 1ut he dares not risk his station or defy an alien race/ (nd he is still washin# his hands. =-en now Jerusalem holds the basin and 9ome the ewer0 (nd betwi8t the two thousand thousand hands would be washed to whiteness.

Master0 Master &oet0 Master of words sun# and s+oken0 4hey ha-e builded tem+les to house your name0 (nd u+on e-ery hei#ht they ha-e raised your cross0 ( si#n and a symbol to #uide their wayward feet0 1ut not unto your 5oy. *our 5oy is a hill beyond their -ision0 (nd it does not comfort them. 4hey would honor the man unknown to them. (nd what consolation is there in a man like themsel-es0 a man whose kindliness is like their own kindliness0 ( #od whose lo-e is like their own lo-e0 (nd whose mercy is in their own mercy: 4hey honor not the man0 the li-in# man0 4he first man who o+ened His eyes and #a>ed at the sun $ith eyelids un@ui-erin#. 'ay0 they do not know Him0 and they would not be like Him.

4hey would be unknown0 walkin# in the +rocession of the unknown. 4hey would bear sorrow0 their sorrow0 (nd they would not find comfort in your 5oy. 4heir achin# heart seeks not consolation in your words and the son# thereof. (nd their +ain0 silent and unsha+en0 Makes them creatures lonely and un-isited. 4hou#h hemmed about my kin and kind0 4hey li-e in fear0 uncomraded/ *et they would not be alone. 4hey would bend eastward when the west wind blows. 4hey call you kin#0 (nd they would be in your court. 4hey +ronounce you the Messiah0 (nd they would themsel-es be anointed with the holy oil. *ea0 they would li-e u+on your life.

Master0 Master Sin#er0 *our tears were like the showers of May0 (nd your lau#hter like the wa-es of the white sea. $hen you s+oke your words were the far,off whis+er of their li+s when those li+s should be kindled with fire/ *ou lau#hed for the marrow in their bones that was not yet ready for lau#hter/

(nd you we+t for their eyes that yet were dry. *our -oice fathered their thou#hts and their understandin#. *our -oice mothered their words and their breath.

Se-en times was 3 born and se-en times ha-e 3 died0 (nd now 3 li-e a#ain0 and 3 behold you0 4he fi#hter amon# fi#hters0 4he +oet of +oets Kin# abo-e all kin#s0 ( man half,naked with your road,fellows. =-ery day the bisho+ bends down his head $hen he +ronounces your name. (nd e-ery day the be##ars say< 2?or Jesus; sake Gi-e us a +enny to buy bread.2 $e call u+on each other0 1ut in truth we call u+on you0 6ike the flood tide in the s+rin# of our want and desire0 (nd when our autumn comes0 like the ebb tide. Hi#h or low0 your name is u+on our li+s0 4he Master of infinite com+assion.

Master0 Master of our lonely hours0 Here and there0 betwi8t the cradle and the coffin0 3 meet your silent brothers0 4he free men0 unshackled0 Sons of your mother earth and s+ace. 4hey are like the birds of the sky0 (nd like the lilies of the field. 4hey li-e your life and think your thou#hts0 (nd they echo your son#. 1ut they are em+ty,handed0 (nd they are not crucified with the #reat crucifi8ion0 (nd therein is their +ain. 4he world crucifies them e-ery day0 1ut only in little ways. 4he sky is not shaken0 (nd the earth tra-ails not with her dead. 4hey are crucified and there is none to witness their a#ony. 4hey turn their face to ri#ht and left (nd find not one to +romise them a station in his kin#dom. *et they would be crucified a#ain and yet a#ain0 4hat your God may be their God0 (nd your ?ather their ?ather.

Master0 Master 6o-er0 4he &rincess awaits your comin# in her fra#rant chamber0 (nd the married unmarried woman in her ca#e/ 4he harlot who seeks bread in the streets of her shame0 (nd the nun in her cloister who has no husband/ 4he childless woman too at her window0 $here frost desi#ns the forest on the +ane0 She finds you in that symmetry0 (nd she would mother you0 and be comforted.

Master0 Master &oet0 Master of our silent desires0 4he heart of the world @ui-ers with the throbbin# of your heart0 1ut it burns not with your son#. 4he world sits listenin# to your -oice in tran@uil deli#ht0 1ut it rises not from its seat 4o scale the rid#es of your hills. Man would dream your dream but he would not wake to your dawn $hich is his #reater dream. He would see with your -ision0 1ut he would not dra# his hea-y feet to your throne. *et many ha-e been enthroned inn your name (nd mitred with your +ower0 (nd ha-e turned your #olden -isit 3nto crowns for their head and sce+tres for their hand. Master0 Master of 6i#ht0 $hose eye dwells in the seekin# fin#ers of the blind0 *ou are still des+ised and mocked0 ( man too weak and infirm to be God0 ( God too much man to call forth adoration. 4heir mass and their hymn0 4heir sacrament and their rosary0 are for their im+risoned self. *ou are their yet distant self0 their far,off cry0 and their +assion.

1ut Master0 Sky,heart0 Kni#ht of our fairer dream0 *ou do still tread this day/ 'or bows nor s+ears shall stay your ste+s. *ou walk throu#h all our arrows. *ou smile down u+on us0 (nd thou#h you are the youn#est of us all *ou father us all. &oet0 Sin#er0 Great Heart0 May our God bless your name0 (nd the womb that held you0 and the breasts that #a-e you milk. (nd may God for#i-e us all.