THE SERVANT’S VIPERS

The old man and his grandson were very much entertained for telling and conversing to such stories and hearing countries’ old histories, when suddenly a hand parted the heavy coverings of Herod’s threshold’s doorway. From behind this fluttering rumpled silk, was to appear a hand, followed by a figure of the Roman General, Verutidio.

The brave soldier is wearing an attire intended for battle, with his big shoes called “botas” (military boots). On his head was a brass hat, his black beard and black hair similar to crow’s wings became as white from clouds of dust, and he is garbed with tens of his wool vestures colored in blue; wrinkled like its’ getting ready to break apart from the golden hook hanging from his shoulder. These all suggests that he traveled from afar riding his horse.

When Herod saw him coming in, he gently gave Achiab, sitting beside him, the signal to move. Then Herod sat on these huge pillows laying on the ground to receive the guest. The Roman came near and lay on the pillow like a household member and kissed Juda’s King’s hand in full respect.

—“Ah!” said Herod. —“At last, you finally thought of visiting this ill King, my brave General, for I thought I’d expect you to bringing good news about those Chaldeans.”

—“My Lord,” Verutidio replied. —“Those Babylonians and may Jupiter misguide them, for I am sure their god Belo is protecting them, and so it happened that they’d able to avoid our detection of persecution. My brave soldiers had searched everywhere, from Samaria’s mountain to its’ Carmel’s caves, to Juda’s wilderness, the road called “via sangrienta,” or the “bloody ways,” and the western oceans, its’ sandbanks, but all came to waste; not a trace of them had seen, not even their footprints.”

Herod looked to this General in front him, from head to toe, belittling him, and from his two red eyes can see the terrorizing sparks of anger. Then Herod moved, dragging his buttocks, he stands up from those pillows and approaches Verutidio, holding his grandson’s shoulder for support. And even from listening to Verutidio’s fearful voice, he still can’t understand the fact of what his General had declared to him, and Achiab can feel his grandfather’s trembling hands, piercing through his body for being enraged.

—“And what did my son Archelao said?” Herod’s hostile reply, cooling Achiab’s blood.

—“Your son,” the Roman answered, —“is in your place in Jerusalem, and wildly seething, like possessed by a fierce feeling of anger from hell.”

—“Oh! My illness can’t make me move in ease to stride.”

Then Herod’s hands caught his chest, stooped down to calm himself from the painful torment, having a hard time breathing, he ripped his fine scarlet shawl wrapped around his neck for he was like beaten by a venomous snake in his heart.

Verutidio was fearful of what can happen next, but he continued to talk:

—“May god Ceres withhold me of her help if what I tell you is not true, your son is also troubled from the Magi’s strange disappearance. My two eyes saw when he pulled his beard in severe anger when he saw the Herodians returned without the Magi’s Kings and I even heard that he is giving a big reward for the Magi;s heads. Believe me my Lord, that your son is truly furious in finding obstacles to fulfill your orders.” Verutidio explained.

—“Ah! Those Chaldeans have failed their words,” Herod said with his trembling voice; —“I really plan to play them, but I am the one who got played. Worst is that child they called “the world’s Messiah. Fortunately, everything is not lost………..the King’s escaped but the child will fall into my hands……………Cingo’s still had no chance to come back, and Cingo has the eyes of a clever fox, he is passive and careful like the “Jackals.”

Those words were like spoken by a fortune teller, for in a moment, the dark and ferocious Cingo from Ethiopia appeared.

Cingo is wearing a fine Arabic garment from Nigeria. His cloak was outlined with refined colors, his black coat is scattered with grana’s stems, and his linen turban gave him the feature of an entertaining posture to his black and shining face, a tough and fierce appearance.

To his chest, is stretch out flat cord in green silk, at the tip near the shoulder is hanging a small pumpkin ornament, with a cover of flat iron in gold; looking like a locket, His naked foot has dashes of mud and smeared with specks of dust. From his right hand restrained a cane. Coiled around his waist is a chamois leather belt with brass chain hanging in it. At his side is hanging a wide short dagger, hidden inside his wrinkled broad cape.

Cingo is the secret executor of Herod’s commands and the loyal spy of this Idumean King. When the King needs to know anything, or he wants a vengeance to let it happen, then he will call Cingo into his room. After Herod expressed what he wants, the loyal slave would remove his clothes and immediately wear what we saw today; with this garment and with his pocket full of money, he will walk or ride his horse, depends on what the circumstances demands. He will roam around the entire land of his Lord just like a common merchant. If his King condemned a marked man to die with no noise, then he will make a move forward, crawling like a snake through the bed of the condemned to die, he will open up his small pumpkin container to let out his tiny viper and crawl to the sleeping person’s neck, the locket of death. One simple prick of that tiny snake is a sure death of the bitten. But Cingo would not leave yet from the surrounding house of the condemned, not until he sees with his own two eyes the victim’s corpse. Only then will he return to the palace to inform his Lord’s fulfilled orders.

Herod smiled upon seeing Cingo, and this also was standing like a monument, proud of himself for a job well done.

—“My friend Verutidio,” Herod said. —“Wait for me in the receiving hall, I may still need your help. And you Achiab, you need to go, for it is your time to bathe. Go on.”

Achiab kissed his grandsire’s hand then left. Verutidio did the same, after giving Cingo a sullen look, for he exceedingly feeling bad, jealous of King’s love for Cingo, for he knows that he is more superior in position as the Roman General.

Herod and Cingo were left alone.

—“Talk to me now,” Herod said.

—“I brought you bad news, my Lord.” Cingo answered.

Herod grumbled but gave his slave a gesture to continue talking.

—“The Jewish people knew that their time of deliverance has arrived; they had nothing to converse amongst themselves in every corner but the Messiah’s arrival. Aside from the few shepherds from Bethlehem and two or three Hebrews, none had seen the Messiah. No one knows where it is, Jesus is the child’s name, and according to the news, He is the King of Juda; born in a stable in Bethlehem. We also have to consider this child, born in Ain’s town after six months, honorable than Jesus and regarded by the Israelites. The child’s name is John, son of a priest, Zechariah. So many wonders and phenomenon is going on, and these two children are the town’s talk.

—“Therefore Cingo,” Herod replied. —“Use your vipers to those two children.”

—“Oh no! I tried my Lord! But I was not able to execute this act. I used all my cleverness and ingenuity with tens and thousands of my money to search and investigate to find their residences, where they dwell, but all came to naught. I went to Bethlehem city, climb every stair, one by one, every house, but no one can tell me where the child is, they only shrug their shoulders and ended up saying: “I don’t know the child you are talking about.” But about this child “John,” Zechariah’s son, this was easy for me to find the location. And so I am waiting for your decision.”

—“In other words,” said Herod. —“People from Bethlehem intend to hide this Messiah? Alas! This only worsens the situation, of what they did! My plan is to just pluck some ear’s grains, but they stand on the way. Cingo, cutting grasses is grievously needed throughout the entire field.”

The slave bowed his head for respect, even if he doesn’t understand the significance of his Lord’s words.

“History is a noble book that Kings needed to obey. The book is an intelligent teacher that advises the best of course in time of life’s distress. Humans praise their King’s power for fear or perhaps for covetousness, but true and sincere history can teach without fear and not in need of desires. Historical’s bad examples should be used to stop the alarming undesirable cravings from the King’s heads. Amulius and Romulus, Athaliah and Jehoash, you are my desirable models through all my guilt. I will not forget you. Your blood will protect my blood, and your fallen crowns are the ones to defend the crown on my forehead.”

These finished words were spoken by Herod to himself like he’s alone inside his room, walking and seemed restless. Cingo’s presence did not stop Herod to speak about those doctrines of histories portraying the Idumeos’ cruel soul. For Cingo is deaf and blind to his Lord’s presence. His loyalty was tried not just a hundred times over. This is to affirm that this negro slave is dangerous, a heartless servant will not hesitate to cut his own throat from his Lord’s command, Herod.

Unfortunately, these cruel crowned Kings, lived their lives here on earth, like a curse to humanity or heaven’s misfortune, and for some reason had gotten lucky to find faithful servants, the executioners of their animalistic commands, and these servants don’t falter to bestow their own blood for their Lord’s scheme. For furies, crimes, the killings would usually often acquire supporters. Hardened souls, abominable people that licks the executioner’s hands soaked in blood are laughing and mocking at the same time, watching the tears of those innocent who have been condemned to death, kneeling at the slayers foot begging for mercy that cannot be attained. Cingo was one of those executioners, he will execute anyone his Lord’s desire even to a point of killing his own parents for his Lord’s cause, and Herod perfectly understood this fact; and for this reason, Herod doesn’t keep any secret from Cingo, because he is the executor of his bloody condemnations.

The Lord and the servant remained silent for a while. Perhaps Herod is contemplating, projecting a damnable plan, a horrifying proposal for the world to see: “The Bethlehem’s children’s beheadings.!”

Cingo is quietly waiting for his Lord’s command. The other one is roaming around his room, showing his pensive frowned face, while the other one is like nailed, standing on the carpet at the door’s entrance. Cingo was in that position when a loud trumpet sound startled him, followed by the tingling reverberations of swords and horse’s footsteps.

Herod came near the window facing the palace’s plaza, he parted the curtain and throw a glance at the square; but before he has the time to realize what was happening on the ground floor of his palace in Jericho, he heard a voice calling:

—“My father!…………..My father!

Herod abruptly turned his head around inside his room. The voice is from Antipater, the second son from Herod’s seven sons.

Antipater, our newcomer to get acquainted with our dear readers, and in here we intend to spend time, for he will act to perform a very important role in this story.

Antipater’s age is approximately twenty years old, with a normal height, red hair, and behave like a woman. In his blue eyes, bright and wide, portrayed a relentless attitude. He’s got a prominent nose, exceedingly high with a fine downward slope. His thick eyebrows, in an arched shape, are reaching each at the lower part of his smooth clean forehead, uniting in a sharp turn, pointing far down to his nose. A beard is not yet visible at his young age, he’s had a small reddish lips. His scarce teeth are hinting his deceitful and treacherous character. Through his wholesome fullness, is a handsome young man featuring a face that cannot be trusted by those who can read and recognize the outward aspect of human characteristics.

Well dressed, for therein is his passion. He can’t be dominated even though his father has been prohibiting him to do so. He had a taste of the Babylonian’s style of clothing for he loves to boast of his tiny feet white like milk, with its’ fingers are wearing numerous expensive rings, for his foot’s underlayer was a golden sole footwear. with a fragment of leash embedded with diamonds tied around his feet, barely hanging. A white shawl made of cashmere garnished with golden ruffles tied around his waist, highlighting are two kerchiefs in scarlet laces that covers his beautiful curvy figure down to his backside knee. The said shawl is open in few inches towards the armpit area, exposing his arm with a golden bracelet. A tiny lace embellished with little diamonds looking like a crown was tied securely around his soft hair, hanging were two green laces flapping at his back. In his ears are two golden earrings hidden from his loose curly hair. Antipater’s character is not to bring sword, for his aromatic clothing can give him the expression of Rome’s lovely damsel.

Herod hated Antipater, his son from his first wife Doria, from Jerusalem whom he had her killed. This womanish Prince had studied in Rome where his two brothers still residing. Aristobulus and Philip, seeming that they pledged to Augusto Cesar an obscene tribute of disapproval. Archelao, Herod’s favorite son, and Antipas were favored by Herod’s kindness. Aside from this, Herod had another son, where I will mention in the end.

As Herod turned his head, Antipater went fast near him, but Herod made an expression of disapprobation; but Antipater did not give his father a chance to talk for he quickly spoke this words:

—“My father, Augusto from Rome send you an emissary, escorted with lots of praetorian guards. Would you like me to let them in?”

Herod halted for a moment, then approached Cingo and whispered to him, and the negro slave immediately left and passed through the secret door. Antipater who heard those secret conversations of his father and Cingo bit his lips and cast a furtive glance to the secret door where the negro exited.

—“Let those emissaries from Rome enter the room,” Herod ordered after he laid his crown on his forehead and hanged his red cape on his shoulder.

Antipater smiled while he bowed his head and left the room of his father. After a few seconds, four of Herod’s slaves raised the wide and heavy curtains in his room to let the emissaries from Rome enter.

THE BEHEADINGS

Douay Rheims Bible: Matthew 2:16

Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry, and sending, killed all the men children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

THE VESTAL’S CHILDREN

While this is happening, Herod, on the other side, was tired of waiting for some news from his son Archelao to confirm any message about the Magi’s. Days had passed, and this merciless scallion was in his bed crying like a roaring lion that smells the flesh of meat and seeing his valuable captive escaping, the prey he dreamt, afraid that the Magi’s had slipped away. The soldiers are sweeping the entire Palestine. Every day were new groups of hired soldiers seeking the Chaldeans and looking for Jesus the Nazarite’s son. Still, it seemed that this exhausting effort was for naught, for grounds earth hides what they were pursuing, those they persecute, because God rolled down His secretive and protective veil.

Nevertheless, there is one more hope nesting to this hateful heart of Mariamne’s murderer; this hope is his son’s disposition not to let him know if the Chaldean’s able to escaped. When we met Herod again, he was leaning on a big pillow and still in his vacation house in Jericho.

His grandson Achiab, was sitting next to him, enthralled and busy looking in a world’s map. This printed map was in a sheep’s soft leather skin, and those outlined in red ink are towns subdued by the Romans.

Herod forgets his illness whenever his grandson Achiab is with him, conversing with him. The old man is pleasantly pointing out to his grandson through his golden stick the Roman Army’s oppressive attacks they went through. Achiab were keeping it all to himself, evaluating all his grandsire’s saying because he loves warfare.

—“What I want to happen grandpa,” Achiab said after a few seconds of contemplating, —“is for you to become a powerful King like our friend Octaviano Augusto.”

The Idumean smiled, the child’s unconscious admiration, a flattering statement of what Herod wants, but perhaps Achiab’s desire to bring this praising words into fruition. to make Herod happy for the remainder of his years life.

—“Look,” said Herod pointing out the red lines and pretending that he did not hear the acclaim words of his grandson. —“These tiny eagles with blue dots are borders or frontiers of the Roman Empire: on the west side is the Atlantic Ocean; the east is the Euphrates river; the north is the Danube river and the Rhine river; and on the south is the cascades or Cataracts of the Nile, the African deserts and the Atlas mountains. Here is Italy, where the Romans had cost them so much blood from Numa Pompilio through Cesar Augusto, our powerful friend.”

—“Here is Spain, the crowded and rich land with its children showed an ever faithful courage, with no comparison, a true love for their freedom. And here is Sagunto, the big and crowded city, the Roman’s ally. One day, Hannibal surprisingly appeared in front of his fortresses with one hundred fifty thousand Carthaginians, and announced to his people to surrender. Peace was reigning at that time and there was no reason to battle anyone. It was such an explicit declaration of war to his people, a total betrayal to his own country. Sagunto was known as the “Hero’s town,” and so therefore, in this great demand of courage, they fought to defend and protect their village to the best of their might. And so, they immediately asked Rome for help and waited for the back-up to arrive.”

—“But the back-up did not arrive, and at last, they realized that the support they have been waiting for is not coming, and they cannot hold on to this battle anymore, for help from the Roman’s Senate did not arrive. And so before the Saguntinians deliberately surrender, they made a huge bonfire, and ignited a massive fire at the Center Park. They impetuously thrusts themselves into that flaming, blazing fire, men and women, young and old. And as soon as Hannibal, the vanquisher set foot to infiltrate his town, the entire village, Sagunto was now just a pile of dust, a mountain of ashes, the burnt bones of his own people.”

When Achiab heard this story, of how Sagunto’s people demonstrated such a courageous act of might for their city, he shouted aloud and spoke at the same time saying:

—“Brave people! I salute you and respect you, forever your name is embedded in my memory.”

—“The astonishing bravery of Spanish people did not end there,” Herod continues while holding his golden stick. —-“Here, therein is Numantia, not long after were attacked by Scipio Africanus, although Numantia had the same courage like Sagunto. nevertheless the Romans betrayed Numantia also, just like what Hannibal and the Carthaginians did.”

By teaching this interesting, harrowing ordeal of different countries battling war, was the entertained Herod, the kind, the spoiler, good at pampering his grandchildren.

—“If you follow my stick with your eyes,” Herod continues, holding the golden stick in his hand roaming around the map, —“you will be able to see the extensive Kingdoms under Rome’s dominion, the taxpayers people to our friend Augusto. And here is Africa; this is where the wild Massinissa leads his agile Numidians. Hannibal the vanquisher, burned two encampments and even captured Zamas City. Here is Macedonia, and the unfortunate Perseus, the last King of Macedonia, subdued, defeated by Lucius Aemilius Paullus. He ushered Perseus to Rome as his captive where he was imprisoned and starved to death. Here is Greece, and the so-called British Isles, wherefore Julius Cesar was the first and foremost to climb the highest rocky mountains and its shores, and after a few more days, it had him subdued the Galia or France, Asia, Syria, the Pontus, Bithynia, and Pergamon’s Kingdom. If you follow the line, you will find Egypt, from up to here where Mark Anthony came to his triumph; Mark is Cesar’s best friend, he was exalted and achieved the title of being a real hero, but his heart overcame his fate, subdued as Queen Cleopatra’s slave. Mark learned to surrender everything to his Queen’s austere beauty. And at last! Here also is our beautiful Judea, the Kingdom I give to your father as his inheritance. And one day, you will also govern and reign this Kingdom like an heir, the Lord!”

—“Now, my dear grandpa,” Achiab said in his curious voice, common to teenagers, patting Herod’s beard. —“Tell me, those Kings in Rome, once inherit the Kingdom and recognized as the world’s Lords, will they be powerful immediately?”

—“Not my son,” Herod replied, —“the land they are reigning, the word they call “dominion,” had them expanded and broadened by invasions or conquests. Rome’s obligation has a remarkable history, like an unusual and exciting adventure.”

—“Geez! You know I really like histories,” the delighted Achiab responded.

—“So, therefore, hear my son and don’t forget that a King, though reigning a tiny Kingdom can get expanded and make it great through courage and intelligence.”

Herod stands up and at the same time left the table, and lays himself to a sofa. Achiab followed and sat beside his grandfather, while Herod continued to talk:

—“Amulius, King from the City of Alba Longa, situated in Castel de Lucio in the province of Italy. Its rich wilderness, peaceful blue sky, and the Meditteranean sea streaming graciously through its graceful shores, giving the honor, accounted as one of the most gorgeous, and the world’s affluent province.”

—“Amulius took his brother’s throne Numitor by force, and so Numitor wept bitterly, mourned over his fate in prison with his two children, the son named Lausus, and the daughter named Rhea Silvia. Amulius had Lausus killed, the successor of Numitor, and overthrown Rhea, imprisoned in a Temple worshipping the goddess Vesta. The Vestas priestesses, known as “vestals,” have the duty to care for that “noble light,” to stay lit, and if neglected and causes the light to run out, will immediately be punished to bury alive. Aside from this, the vestals can get married.”

—“But the goddesses allowed Rhea to escape, stolen from the Temple of this brave young man, that according to some was the god Marte, the god of war, he was portrayed as the naked youth wearing a helmet, a cuirass, and carrying spear, and worship by the Alba Longa’s children.”

—“But not long after, the unfortunate Rhea fell again to her Uncle’s hand Amulius, and not long after, she gave birth to two children in prison, named Remus and Romulus. But the King ordered one of his devoted servants to throw those two children in Tiber’s river.”

—“That night, the servant went to accomplish the pitiable mission entrusted to him by his Lord; but the servant, upon reaching the shores, the supposed grave of these two innocent babies’, had a second thought and laid them in grasses. By that time, thick clouds of the darkening night are parting their ways, clearing the moon, shining its bright silver rays, accidentally outshining, striking those two babies’ foreheads. The servant was horrified upon seeing the beautiful faces of those two babies’, and he was ghastly shocked and refused to perform this horrendous crime.”

—“So then, the servant grabbed those two children and held them in his arms again, then he walked towards the forest not too far from the river, and laid them carefully in the midst woods. Then he went running back to the Palace, letting the King know of his mission accomplished, the fulfilled errand.”

—“Since then, Almighty God stepped-in and cared for those two newly born babies.”

—“One wandering wolf who had lost her youngs approached the two babies’, the wolf made her rounds smelling the babies, but instead of devouring them, the wolf made a wondrous act and one at a time, she carried those babies in her cave, and there she breastfed them by her milk. Until finally, one day, some shepherds had discovered them.”

—“Remus and Romulus grew up with the shepherds, and their work was to care for the sheep.”

—“But Romulus has a rabid heart; that in little things without any importance or sense can make him furious, and often argue and brawl Amulius’s soldiers. Remus was brought one day as a captive and immediately imprisoned. With Romulus’s big ambition to avenge for his brother Remus, while he was persecuted too by the King’s soldiers, he started to roam Alba Longa’s surrounding streets, to find out of how his brother Remus can escape prison. Wandering around, looking for some information, one day, he stumbled into an old man, a remarkable venture, an extraordinary chance to meet the old Faustulus, the King’s servant, that once upon a time, he pardoned the lives of two brothers, for he cheated to his Lord. They talked, looking for some chance to freed his brother Remus, and as they talked, Faustulus found more and understand who Romulus was. The old man immediately declared to him their true identities, the lives they went through.”

—When Romulus understand and found out his birth story, he roars like a hyena imprisoned in a ring of fire, and his heart flared up. For this, he carefully planned a big revenge, an aggressive and a successful attack. He hoards some shepherds, daring like him, and one night he put their action to a surprise attack and killed his father figure Amulius. He freed his brother Remus and his grandfather Numitor, imprisoned in his dark cell. Numitor was in prison for forty years, and he developed a nervous breakdown and in near collapse. But their triumph reigned and they gained back their grandfather’s throne and lived the city life. But Remus and Romulus were used to live as a free citizens, and never will they give their submission to Kings and Lords. They were annoyed living the city life. After leaving the crown to their grandfather, they went and lived in the wilderness as hunters and huntsmen again.”

—“One day, when the two brothers had nothing to do, they thought of building a town of their own, to abide according to their will and to what they want, with their subordinates. They seek to find a place they both agreed upon. And after building their little city, the two brothers had gotten into a heated argument about who should lead and carry the noble name; and so they decided to whoever between the two of them, seen more eagles upon turning their heads should win. Remus said he saw ten, but Romulus testifies that he saw twelve. They started to quarrel, for both wants to reign. The altercation came to a big brawl, and Romulus’s violent act made him grabbed a mallet, a large hammer with its thick iron head, and strike his brother in the head, causing Remus to die on the spot.”

—“The first rock of Rome to build the city was soaked with the brother’s blood.”

—“Not long after Romulus was ordained as the first King of Rome by his people, at the time, he was almost eighteen years old.”

—“This new city became the inhabitants of the unemployed and criminals in the nearby town. Not even one woman was bold enough to enter those fortresses, inhabited mostly by men. It happened that one of Romulus’s engrossing deed was to steal or kidnap some women from Sabina, known as the “Sabinas.”

THE MERCHANTS II

Ancient history did not explain the legendary quest of how long the Holy Family’s adventurous journey, trailed those dangerous paths, from their hometown, “Nazareth,” through Al Matariyyah, that beautiful small town in Egypt. Their chosen new hometown where they lived for seven years in exile. If we consult the experts who followed the Blessed Virgin’s life and look at what they wrote, we can discover their different views of how the Holy Family traveled and crossed that enormous desert to accomplish their epic journey.

The Camels spent ten or twelve days traveling by foot, from Syria’s shores to Heliopolis, and even if there were no risks, if God’s willing, a traveler cannot cross that broad desert by walking alone. The person has to spend a whole month traveling, a dangerous path, knowing that he can innocently collide into his own death to that burning sand.

We should believe the experts, those intelligent writer’s viewpoints, that the Holy Family indeed joined the group of merchants from Syria’s border to carry out the dangerous tasks in the month of March. A tangible deadly course from that great vast desert, battling the fierce strong winds. It was absolute that these group of merchants certainly left Gaza, and after a few more hours were on their way. The Camel’s foot began treading Syria’s dried wilderness. They started to feel the desert’s moderate thermal heat as they gain entrance to that sandy dunes, welcoming the Arab’s fried faces, and for this, their behavior will change abruptly and stop conversing with each other. These will make them frown and worrisome would wrinkle their foreheads, and their demeanor would change like, water’s pouring on him.

From that, he would lay his legs on top of his Camel’s roughneck and fold his arms up to his chest, then closed his eyes to cover his sight and not see the extensive eerie desert. As he open up his eyesight once again, by simply looking ahead in a distance, can cause him a terrible thirst and force him to daydream. Beautiful, bountiful meadows, overflowing cool, clear water from Mecca’s garden. or like from his family’s sweet love waiting to repay him with their tender love from the hardships he endured from that long and dangerous journey.

The Arabs were like the Eastern children, they truly love to dream. His big fear from that wide isolated desert were equal to his custom’s deep devotion. It was forewarned that from Etham, Paran, and the Sahara’s sand desert, were the everyday telltale of different stories from these gluttonous graves, the devoured corpses swallowed by its gigantic, undulating beaming sand; the extreme heat that can consume the body, the tempest’s tornadoes that can bury travelers under the mountainous desert, the bandit’s venoms’, confident of their bows and arrows, and the beasts hiding, patiently waiting behind that hot glowing huge bare rocks. The sun’s scorching heat can cause a horrifying decomposition, and the pestilences were truly ordinary in this wilderness—all these, the rigid enemies, the need to battle, for travelers crossing the desert.

The Arabs know the dangers they can find in this huge desert, but they will face it through their mighty courage intended for them, for they are called “the mountain’s son.” His body is strong, just like his soothing imaginations, unique from frugality, because when they ran out of food, they have to conform for just a handful of dried beans throughout the day. Their obedient fast Camels, the Arab’s couriers, there in that lonely desert would not be caught, or left behind from his master’s durability and hunger that lasts. The Camels are very intelligent, like they understand that they were born to carry heavy loads and don’t look out for laziness, never they escape, and not even one cry of grievances breaks their burning hearts.

When his strong legs weakened from heavy loads, weighted down his neck, when his sunken head dangled down the ground, severely debilitated, and his gentle eyes started to close slowly for extreme fatigue, and then shudders his body, and tremble at the same time, is an indication to his master that his faithful Camel is dying.

At this point, the Arab will sigh, and quietly wait for a moment, then the faithful Camel will bend his legs to let his master alight from him. The master will then quietly get-off and remove his belongings from the dying Camel and move it to the next Camel. As the Arab look through his Camels eyes closing, he will at that instant pull his sword hanging from his waist and thrust it to his devoted animal’s neck. Then the Arab will walk away without giving a second look to his dying Camel; he believes that his machete did its job to save his animal’s life from suffering and won’t be eaten while alive by the devouring hungry Jackals from the desert. Nevertheless, after a few more hours, here comes the hungry Jackals and Hyenas to that Camel’s corpse.

Sunrise will come up the next day, shedding its steaming heat to the Camel’s skeleton, which by then, are scattered bones, spread all over the red hot sand. The sun’s scorching heat will melt those bones, turning them into white ashes, marking the red sands with white lines, the traveler’s landmark from this gigantic desert, pointing them the way they need to track and reach their desired destination, the borders. The skeletons white ashes serves a meaningful journey in that desert.

The night came, and the unbearable heat simmers down, gradually calming the sun’s intense heat. The cool moon starts to spread its silver rays towards that dreadful expansive desert, and the Arabs as expected, halted that days travel and hurl their tents for the night rest. The guides began to unload their belongings carried by their Camels, and tied their Camels down the studs shoved to the ground, around their tents. Preparing their meals for dinner, they quietly sat in front of a large open-air bonfire, eating their fruitful dates seeds and grilled grain omelets.

The Blessed Family spreads some palm leaves for their bed, besides that cut-off wood, a dried tree branch cut in half exposing its roots. Their ceiling was the sky scattered with stars shining above their heads. Destitute and no friends, they placed themselves far from the least of the leader’s servants, farther from the rest and perhaps praying her night prayers to Zion’s God. After a while, the old Arab man approached them, and from his hand was a small pot.

—“Galilea,” he said to Mary, —“the Arabs from this broad desert were forced to preserve and conserve food for the rest of our journey; but they know how to love children, to give their mothers reverence, and know how to please. Accept this; I am sharing my Camel’s milk with you, a ration, but perhaps I may not be able to give you even a drop of water for tomorrow.”

Without waiting for the response, he left and went back to his companions.

Mary accepted that excellent offer from the old Arab’s quality of generosity. Mary thanked him from the bottom of her soul.

The Galilean Virgin were not able to sleep throughout the night. Their closeness from those hungry and greedy from the desert exerts pressure from her fearful and sensitive heart. The threatening cries and unending bawling of these creatures encompassing her ears, bringing big fear in her heart, worrying a disaster might happen to her child she worships.

The Arabs are truly accustomed to the Hyenas raging chants, unlike the Blessed Virgin, the Arabs fears nothing, they were tight asleep, wrapped in their cloaks beside their Camels. But one stays awoke, walking back and forth around the big bonfire throughout the night. He would throw dried woods once in a while to keep the flame, those dried branches from those poisonous trees that grows apart from each other in that place to scare and keep the rapacious animals away. The flame lights spreading throughout that gruesome desert’s immensity, like a North star reaching, and nearing the moon. Not once the Blessed Virgin believed seeing some fiery eyes visible from a distance, the light reflections stretching out, reaching the Jackal’s crystal eyes in the darkness.

Once in a while, this escapee mother would hold firm to her beloved child, a sudden fear of shock, would turn her face pale, for why is that? A tremors from underground would shake her heavy body, a quake causing the sands to crack, emerging were the disgusting lizard and one abominable snake; the common creatures roaming this broad desert.

From the Arabs talented eyes, their expertise in this lonely desert, can make their bright sight recognize footprints, they can identify the kind of species, of what breed, the age, how big and how strong these creatures could be. What more puzzling were their analyzation on footprints, if it were from the recent past days or anew.

Just how embittered this amorous Nazarene had endured from fear of danger and hardships through this long journey. After one burning day of painful beating heat of sand strikes her soft face, like heaven’s fire hit this terrifying gigantic dunes, where the sand’s heavy impact causes her face to bleed. The sun’s flaming heat, nearly burned her beautiful eyes, her blistered lips were burning from the searing heat, and her mind got confused from this unbearable blaze. She became unconscious, dreaming, imagining, keeping to herself the beholding gardens, and in the woods were its alluring shades beside the spring’s cool water. She transfixed her awareness to that deceptive scenery, followed by her gleaming look to her imaginary leaves still in tacked to its stem, and beside were the grasslands, like she can hear the pleasant cascading streams flowing through her feet. But oh! Daydreaming was over, for the night comes again, and they have to put up their tents one more time. The moon’s blue light and the cool soft air are blowing gently through the night, touching her forehead, and made her conscious mind back again to normal, it awakened her from her sweet dreams. But coming back to her senses made her cry, she began to utter piteous lamentation. Crying in distress, she drop down her beautiful head to her child’s pure-innocent heart, like the soft Azucena that bends her stalks when the rain is nigh, for fear that her gentle flowers would not stand the pouring rain.

Although Joseph was the one who always gives strength to Mary’s heart, this made him sensitive too, they both stare to baby Jesus, and both pray together to God. They are very kind and penniless travelers, and they did able to borrow a Camel from that merciful Arab, a good start for a successful journey. Though lacking everything they need in that desolate desert, their faith made their hearts courageous, determined to overcome all obstacles in this quest.

“Mokalteb!” (an Arab word for finding a place or a cave, a hiding place in the desert, probably a deep well too, with water inside the cave).

For this reason, their Egyptian guide shouted with joy, “Mokalteb,” to these group of travelers, for finding a mokalteb. Just like a group of people that suffered a shipwreck in the middle of the ocean, and found an emergence, will shout the same, “Mokalteb!”

A repeat shout by all, will jump for joy, a scene that was hard to portray, a scream that made their Camel’s ran fast until their burning noses gasps for air, their necks would droop down through exhaustions, eager to dip their thick lips down to that clear water, where their sharp scents can smell it from a distance. For this, runners in full speed will set its course, human and animals, Lord and servants, racing with no convictions, their extreme thirst, willing to come down at once to that deep-well, “The Savior!”

The Holy Family was the last one to drink. The Mother of God, the Queen of all, puts forth her lips to that unclean water, washed-out after everyone quenched their thirsts and clean themselves up, the animals did the same, they drank, and bathe themselves. The already mired and nearly muddy water, had the Holy Family drink, into a once clean and sparkling clear water.

At last! After the unaccounted difficulties, from a distance, was the Giza City. The giant rocks, standing still in the City’s midst, and for four thousand years were never destroyed from the destructive hands of time. These monuments, built by their highnesses, the proud Kings who reigned Egypt, and from their servant’s sweat where they spent their time in hard labors, risking their lives, from beyond any doubt, were the beholding art of architecture, The unique structure of the complete monuments called, “The Pyramids!”

As soon as they saw those towering rock-like mountains, that historical Pyramids, the famed treasure of the first and foremost builders that built these said monuments, will the travelers shouts for joy. Thus, not for long, their Camel’s thicken soles will be treading these happy and prosperous prairies with their beautiful flowers scattered all over. The meadow’s sweet aromas would make them forget the heavy heat from that lonely desert. For this, the overjoyed Arabs with their monotonous voices would start singing, their faces dark lines will disappear. These intelligent Arabs, as they enter the City, with their dark eyes, would immediately seek to find that plentiful Nile. This Blessed river, when overflowed would turn into a vivacious garden; for Almighty God had chosen this Nile’s black sand to sprinkle His graces of abundance for a healthy and prosperous harvest.

Hereafter, the Blessed Virgin released a fresh of breath air, relieved after twelve consecutive days of bearing hardships. She looked over Egypt’s skies, the clear heaven, the eastern azure where sullen clouds are not in sight, but beddings of blazing glory, the Pharaoh’s City, a place where corpses have no issues, undisputed bodies (mummification). An everlasting Infinitum is possible in this place. The black sands of this Nile meadows were made for graves, an extensive excavation underground, and in here, the nibbling worms won’t agitate the long and peaceful death.

Giza, the Death’s Palace, proud Khufu’s plain field, he built this enormous grave intended for his burial. Like a giant mountain covered with rocks, built by one hundred thousand (100,000) people for twenty years, was a triumphant task for Khufu.

Egypt, where adulterers women were punished by cutting-off noses, engraved on their faces, a mark indicating their sinful wrongdoings. And the liars, for swearing, were punishable by death. Egypt, where they worship their Kings like God, but after he died, they would judge him like a wretched ordinary citizen and usually were not given the proper burial bestowed in their faith. And as they feast for their King’s death, they would make a wooden corpse and place it inside the beautiful coffin for show; while the guests are rejoicing, the host would point its finger and shout the following:

—“Look at this person; you would look the same when you die. So, rejoice now and drink more!” A total mockery for their dead King.

Egypt, the City where the intelligent and ignorant blend together in harmony, a place where they worship immortal souls, the Nile’s gods and goddesses; the cat’s head, the crocodile belly, and the eagle’s claw, just to mention a few. Egypt, where knowledge in arts can reach the highest level, and ignorance can result in a woeful means; in there, men do the weaving and interfere in the household chores, while women were the ones to hunt for jobs and compete the world; anything can be worshipped, except for God, while the big ousted the small.

The dangers are finally over; the Blessed traveler’s plight are now rest assured.

Heliopolis, the Sun City, where the towering rock-pillars, their fancy minarets, the Temple’s burnished brass bells, are all intended for the heathens; Heliopolis, Cleopatra’s chosen City; Heliopolis, where Phoenix used to migrate, are now resurrected, the resting place for his father’s remains at the top Sun’s altar; Heliopolis, that in its midst stood the known Temple of On, where Potiphar performed his duties as the Sun’s priest; Heliopolis, Egypt’s fine pearl, the City where Moses was born, this is where the Prophet Onias built a Temple, dedicated to Almighty God, he tried to work hard to achieve his task to make it look like Jerusalem’s Temple. The only difference from Zion’s Temple was the known Candelabrum with seven sticks, while Egypt had the golden lamp.

Beautiful Mary, the Galilean flower, thrust her sweet glare to that Palm forest surrounded with prairies, scattered with wild violets. From her blue eyes was a flowing one tear, a tear for herself, from seeing the crowded City, it reminds her of the big difference from her poor town, her wretched hut, and her friends since childhood.

As this group of travelers entered Cleopatra’s City, they stopped for a while, the sun’s delightful brightness blinded their tired eyes for a moment. So, Joseph hold on to bridle’s Camel where the Mother of God was sitting, bearing her son in her arms. Joseph ushered them into this big luxurious shady tree. As the Blessed Family get near the tree, the luxurious tree slowly bowed down, like the sheltering branches genuflect to offer this precious royal child her green leafy shades from the sun’s heat, the Heiress of all creations!

After resting for a few moments, the group continues to entering the City.

Heliopolis’s huge entryway, where the so-called idols are all situated beside the Temple, and as the Blessed Family passes through the stone ark, these idols started to fall one by one, slumping facedown to the ground, a salute for their true God!

The ran-away arrived at this City, seeking the unfaithful Egyptians. The Blessed travelers did not stay long in the City because it was expensive to live in Heliopolis, and it doesn’t suit their penury. After expressing their gratitude, thanking the Arab who provided for them, Joseph took his few things and carry the bag, while Mary took her child by her arms and the Holy Family left, exiting the City.

They trailed the pathways going to Al Matariyyah, a small village, covered with shades, the luxurious Sycamores. Al Matariyyah, a beautiful tiny town, the only place where you can find this rare sweet spring throughout Egypt.

The Galilean escapees, stopped in a place two hundred steps afar from town; no one knows these woeful immigrants, seeking refuge to these unfaithful citizens. One luxurious Sycamore tree became their comfortable refuge in their first night. It was dusk when they arrived at Al Matariyyah, and Joseph were not pleased to get into a town knowing no one. After some time, the Blessed Family settled and began to live their lives comfortably. Living in a lowly meager hut granted to them by the Egyptians, the striated swallow’s poor nest, the Blessed Galileans were now living in peace and harmony, far from the cruel Herod, the persecutors of God’s Beloved Son!

THE MERCHANTS

Gaza, City of Ports from the East, Philistines’ valuable pearl, at your foot was the Mediterranean’s flowing bluish, the sea’s current ever curving waves. To your minarets came the warm rushing wind blowing from the desert; the Arabs salute you! The merchants fully loved your sweet-scented fragrances, the aromas of your terrains, and the afternoon cool summer breeze before proceeding to enter the everlasting boundless dunes of Etham and Paran. Gaza is at the edge of Palestine’s wilderness and the first desert’s Oasis.

The cracked, torn tower where the Collared-dove can nest year-round, through these bird’s lasts, was their sweet soothing sounds emanating from a distance. The Rufous Nightingale’s, were singing their powerful sounds and beautiful rhyming, carried by the beguiling wind in the meadows scattered with dazzling beautiful flowers. Those thin, graceful white Gazelles, with their curved, ringed horns, were roaming around their mountainous hillsides, and from the rich greener pastures were the long-haired goats grazing.

When an Arab man was sitting in his Camel’s back and gave a penetrating look, analyzing the reddish boundless skies; when he saw what spreads on his foot, were dried, devoid, eerie and accursed sand; when his throat quenched from thirst and in desperation to find one more spring; then he will shout aloud to enliven and revive his Camel’s soul; then closed his eyes, imagining Persian’s garden in a pleasant, gorgeous terrain, scattered with flowers all over. And across those undulating, glowing hot sands that can dry throats and burn eyelashes…………….was Gaza, with tens of his fields, palms, cool springs, and peaceful people, truly merciful to strangers, good-natured and friendly to different races. In this mode, will the Arab sing and enrich his imaginations to give the stoic Camel an act of courage. Gaza was like Arab’s real town; his love and affection for those fortresses were equal to his love and respect for his tents and horse.

For leaving Gaza, and to enter and travel to Egypt was a point of no return. Reaching the Syrian flat land, will he turn around to look for his last goodbye. And if those palms and minarets were no longer in sight, realizing that the hot sand, steaming vapor’s air that burn skins were welcoming him, then he knows that this is a sign of dangers and undetermined adversities were awaiting him. For this reason, lamenting and extreme anguish will escape his lips. Perhaps tears of distress will flow through his bronze-colored cheeks.

Gaza City, the merchants meeting place from Jerusalem and Egypt, and the Arab’s business beehives; at the city’s edge, where they hurl their camping tents, and his ports were the marketplace. From there, they spread like honeybees looking for flowers to suck-up, to fill-up and make his business a fortune.

Gaza’s location was at the lengthy mountain ridge, where the sea waves were constantly beating it’s valleys. Watching from a distance were their white houses, looking like herds of sheep, and just like a group of goats going to bathe. In the year 599 before Jesus was born, Cyrus, King of Persia, built the fence around it, and after two months, he attacked them and triumphed. Since that attack, the destroyed fortresses were restored and became a charming resting place for his peaceful people, especially in the summertime. And one morning before sunrise, the Holy Family arrived in this City.

Just how much suffering the travelers had endured from the entire time they were traveling abroad. They sleep in the deserts, in the dark caves, slippery cliffs, and the filthy dense jungles at night. But according to history, in Bethlehem, there was a cavern where the Blessed Virgin stayed by herself throughout the day, while Saint Joseph went to Jerusalem, knowing that endangering himself was a certain. The purpose of the Patriarch’s travel to Herod’s City that persecutes them was unknown. Perhaps he’s looking for a group of merchants in the surrounding area but he did not find one. Maybe to sell his wife’s gems to use for their expenses, the help they absolutely need for their long and difficult journey.

Joseph stopped beside the Sycamore tree and helped Mary get off from that poor ride, and then he had her situated under that foot’s tree. Unloading some valuable items from the tired donkey, Joseph scattered them around the trees, the Nazareth’s Family’s entire treasure. Dimas kept his promise, for one white lamb was jumping beside Mary, and the Blessed Virgin was gently pointing to her child the bandit’s gift.

—“Mary,” said Joseph after he finished his works. —“God gloriously delivered us here at the desert’s doorway, safe and unharmed; God will also be the one to protect and keep us calm from the duration of our final destination, from this desert’s tremendous immensity.

—“God is Almighty,” Mary replied. —“For all the great and astonishing fascinations of humanity, were God’s wonder.”

—“Great is my pleasure and appreciation when you express your approval, but I have to leave for a moment. We also need to do everything we can so that our journey would not be too difficult. We are truly poor……………but I am hoping that we can save some money to afford your fare for the first conveyor to Egypt.”

Then Joseph went, holding the bridle, leading the donkey, and went to Gaza City. The fortresses were just about one hundred steps afar from their location. Mary was left alone bearing her child, sitting under the Sycamore tree’s shades. From her blue eyes, filled with sweetness and kindness, was a drop of tear flowing through, a quiet, silent tear for her gentle horse that served well throughout their journey. The Blessed Virgin gave her tears of emotional sadness, bidding her last farewell to her faithful mule, that never before will come a time for their complete separation, for Joseph was on his way to Gaza’s town to sell her good donkey.

After the Blessed Virgin wiped her flowing tears from her cheeks, she then spread a leather skin, a poor’s mat, and laid her child. Then she prepared a meal, palm leaves containing some fruit produce, a well served breakfast for her beloved husband’s return.

Since Mary was busy working and amused by her work, she did not notice that not too far from her was two Arab tents, surrounded with ten or twelve resting Camels. She did not also recognize the few people, moving back and forth near the water well, filling-up their big leather bags with water, then slowly lay it on top of their Camel’s curved backs—–the agile Camels, born intentionally for the desert.

One of these people was an older Arab, and if giving a quick glance can be identified as the group leader. He gives orders, not minding the excessive sweating of his comrades from the heavy works. This older man was walking to and fro with his arms folded. From their tent and across the broken hut was a water spring. As he turn around while walking, his eyes riveted to the Blessed Virgin under the Sycamore tree. Then in a sudden, the Arab turned pale like he saw a relative.

As he stand still, he carefully watched, fixated his eyes thoroughly to that Galilean woman who was too busy to her child. Mary did not heed that an Arab man was watching her. At last, he starts nodding his head, the quiet observer of the Blessed Virgin, then with his determined and outlined plan, he went to that tree where Mary and Jesus were resting.

—“Woman, peace be with you,” uttered the old man, then he bowed his head a little.

—“Arab, may that peace protect you,” the calmed Mary answered.

—“Forgive me if my questions may sound uneducated,” the Arab reiterated, —“but the manner of your clothing, to my viewpoint, were from Galilee?”

—“I am from Nazareth,” Mary’s soft reply.

—“And your child were also born from Nazareth?” the old man asked.

—“He was born in Bethlehem in Judah,” Mary said

—“Therefore, you are the fortunate Mary, the mother whom Abraham’s Angels sang and whom the Eastern Kings offered honors and respect!” asked by the surprised old Arab.

—“My child was the one who earned that big honor,” the soft reply of Mary.

—“Forgive me again for asking more questions, but what are you doing in this place? Isn’t this too far from your town? Where are you going?” asked the old man.

—“I am waiting for my husband, and I am going to Egypt,” Mary answered.

—“To Egypt?” the Arab man shouted, he was taken aback by Mary’s response. —“But I don’t see any Camels and companions to usher you?”

—“God is grand and merciful. Who can read his thought? I know nothing, other than I am going to Egypt.”

Mary’s mysterious words, the sweet and soft melody of her speech worries the old Arab, and he immediately responds like this:

—“Fortunate woman, Kings offered you honors in high regard, who lived in a stable and now preparing to travel to that enormous desert of Etham and Paran. A dangerous quest that will carry out by walking alone? With no instructions or guide? I respect you even if I don’t understand you. Please tell your husband, when he returned, that Arab Hassaf is leaving today to Heliopolis, the Sun City, and will continue to Alexandria. I am offering my friendship and my Camel. I will wait in my tent, hoping for his acceptance.”

That Hassaf was none other than the Arab who was at Elias’s water well and in Bethlehem. He bade farewell to the Blessed Virgin and returned to his companions.

After an hour, Joseph came back from Gaza City and went straight to his beloved wife. The old man was gloomy and seemingly contemplating. Mary greeted him with a smile on her lips and asked his reason for being lonely.

—“Why do you feel bad, my loving husband?” the affectionate Mary asked.

—“We may need to go on our own, with no guide to accompany us; we did not even know that endless ways. We don’t even have the Camel to make our journey quicker.” the Patriarch said.

—“God doesn’t forget his good people,” Mary replied in a caring voice.

—“God sent us a merciful merchant while you were at the City looking for some groups that we can pay and could take us to Egypt, but the old man was offering to usher us to Sun City without fare.” Mary’s voice was elated.

—“Is that true?” Joseph asked in amazement.

—“Hear me,” the Virgin continues. —“Can you see that old man walking around, with his arms folded to his chest in front of his tent? Well, that man was the group leader, that one standing beside those ruins? They are leaving right now to Heliopolis, and they offer to take us with them.”

Joseph was ecstatic, and he went right away to see the Arab man. This man offered Joseph one Camel for Mary to ride with no compensation.

—“Jew,” said Hassaf to him. —“I have nothing to offer you but just one Camel, the only one left. The rest of my Camels are all taken, rented by the merchants from Gaza. They are going to bring their merchandise to Alexandria. I am sorry, but you have to walk along with my servants.”

—“That is so sweet,” Joseph replied, filled with joy, —“I am fully satisfied to see my beloved wife and my child content and not worn out in this journey.”

Full of excitement and pleased to find a group of polite merchants that offers them favor, provided a relief, free of charge for generosity and kindness, Joseph the Patriarch forgot and did not care for the threatening hardships awaiting him from that immense desert.

All he wants was to have means of transport for his mother and child.

Preparing to leave, the Galilean put on top of the borrowed Camel, the Arab lend them, a big secured bag, containing his carpentry tools. His only hope in Egypt, to earn a living and cover all their needs for hard work, like when they were in Nazareth.

After a while, all were ready, the merchants from Gaza joined the Egyptians, and Hassaf the Arab man, ordered to put their tents away and begin to journey!………………………………………..

THE GOOD THIEF

When Mary and Joseph woke up from their sweet sleep under that “protective Palm tree,” the moon was directly illuminating, diffusing its’ cool gleaming light, penetrating thick, dense leaves, reflecting Jesus’s rosy forehead by its’ soft pearly glow. A delightful, captivating smile sparkles Jesus’s pink-colored lips, then he casts a beaming sweet glare mixed with loving affection towards his mother, a look that gave the Virgin’s soul an act of absolute courage, the Nazarite’s yearning hope in this crucial journey.

—“Is this just a dream?” the Virgin said, as she securely hug Jesus to her chest. —“Does the life of my life still a life? Oh, merciful God! You did not pour your blood over your cruel persecutors!”

—“Yes, Mary yes,” her husband replied. —“God’s Angels formally declared dangers to us, and they are the ones who also saved us from the brutality of their omnipotent power. But we are wasting time right now, and the night should guide us through the Syrian border. We can rest there and we’ll be saved from danger.”

The fragile soft petals of the heavily scented tuberose can be compared to the Virgin Mary. But still, she imposes her incredible courage, which we can only see in mother’s defending their children in danger. Leaving the forest where they rested, she wholeheartedly conformed and obeyed her husband and followed him like a martyr. But she developed a surge of anxiety, an awful shakes from nervousness and panic attack.

Aside from this arduous and troublesome journey, was their emotional bitterness, unbearable pain and the unthinkable sorrow!

Herod’s illness; the Israelites extreme rage, from the wealthy Roman’s hired soldiers was the boiling eruption of the settler’s hearts! And so, for every day, hordes of marauders thickens, afflicting that land. Head-on robberies and frightful massacres were carried-on in every corner. Going to a small village was an enormous danger for citizens. Men had to get together to gear-up, carrying their weapons to fulfill their short travel. They are not just a group of peaceful merchants but, like troops of armies armed for war, from so many dangers aimed at them in every corners at all times, those threats were not astute enough to feel safe.

After Mary and Joseph surmounted thousands of those difficulties, they finally reached the rebellious town of Samaria. They mostly hide to unknown caves in the daytime, and not more than once, they let the residing wild animals hurdle or pass through them. The Blessed Virgin had endured all these, the enormous sufferings caused by the Angels, and a martyr’s courage in adversity; dauntless for what she desires, a grieving mother is fearless. One hope of great courage, bold enough to save her child from her merciless enemies. She went through all the darkest nights, filthy thick jungles, and the threatening deep chasms of Palestine. The raging howling wolves were delightful to her hearings compared to the terrifying horse’s footsteps and the tinkling sounds of swords were like a nightmare. In every corners of her tense imagination was like the vicious Roman soldiers, smiling, roughly grabbing their beloved Jesus by force.

Mary and Joseph were roaming around, hiding like criminals, hunted down and persecuted by law; they walked along the remote areas of Galilee, and parts of Samaria’s streets. They avoid getting near the crowded Cities and very cautious about being seen by any one; they walk all nights and hide the caves in the daytime. No mother had suffered this terrible fear for her child, like the Blessed Virgin for Jesus.

It seemed that heaven deprived them of hope for inspiration, or was truly undergoing trials for endurance and perseverance? Every step of the way towards the border, to their destination, were always trouble of inconvenience, facing dangers. But in every string of disaster was an ever protection, a shield from the miraculous hands of God. Just how much more threats were in store for them to go through, before they get to Egypt?………………

If ever they made it through, traveling to Palestine is another dangerous tasks they have to attain. Different tribes from different villages, where most live in the wilderness and the outback. These ethnic groups were not welcoming to strangers. The travelers behaviors from these remote villages were not very convenient to these tribes, lacking civility or chose to follow their ancestor’s lifestyle is their desire, they still carry their past beliefs. They live in their own enclosed secluded societies, a dangerous path to tracking the wild back roads.

Reaching Syrian border were almost a safe refuge from that monstrous Herod, not to mention Egypt’s desert’s extreme heat! Can the Blessed travelers be able to cross those vast expansive dunes, and are said to smoke plumes of sands when the strong desert storm winds-up to that immense wilderness, that raging ocean waves that buries hordes of merchants? Those pathways where corpses were scattered all over, the tracks where the landmarks are Camels and human skeletons, mostly are merchants? Those terrifying Sahara’s, infested mainly by pirates who are hundreds more wicked and cut-throat than the Samarian bandits? It is a barren land where no single tree is in sight, not a water drop or a single chirping bird by dawn. There is nothing to hear but the cries of crows lurking around the dying travelers, or a Panther’s growl hidden in a cave, smelling the defunct corpses that died from the heat——all these, the only fate awaiting the Blessed travelers, Mary, Joseph, and the innocent child, Jesus! How can the obedient Nazarenes travel these lengthy sandy dunes that indeed, with no doubts can become their entombment from this undulating lonely desert?

But let’s don’t assume of what can happen, and let’s go back to Samaria.

It was a deep night, and it was raining towards the area where the Holy Family’s conveyed. Walking the remote moutainous hills, deep ravines, and seemingly bottomless chasms are the roads they were tracking. Joseph was leading, holding the donkey’s bridle, then all of a sudden a resounding harsh voice was heard, a powerful tone, a soaring howl from the hollowed rocks. Joseph came to an abrupt halt!

—“Stop or your dead!”

A complete stop on their tracks! Joseph was bewildered, Mary turned pale in fear that this person may grab their child. Nervous and in panic, she immediately hid her child inside the cloak she’s wearing. Ever since they left Nazareth, this was the first time they were stopped by some strangers, from their secretive journey, not knowing what could happen next. And not realizing what was this surprise attack, they quickly noticed that many people are coming out from the woods and rocks deep cracks, and in a matter of seconds, they were surrounded. Daggers were out and aimed directly to them, when Joseph admonished them in his sweet voice, begging:

—“What bad things have we done, this lamentable mother and her innocent child would be heartbreaking to plunge those weapons of death?”

—“You have a good reason, old man!” replied the man’s voice. —“No one from these outlaws will harm you and your family, not even your hem’s clothing; they had sworn on me, and I am in full confidence that none shall be omitted from their oaths, even if brutal Herod’s servants would put up crosses for them in Golgotha.”

Dimas spoke those amicable words, having a spirit of friendliness. Then in seconds, he split up his comrades in front of him to pass thru, and get near St. Joseph. At this time, Joseph was immobilized and he can’t move his lips to talk, so Dimas continues to speak:

—“You have nothing to be afraid of, old man; your white beard is a strong witness for your long life, you know how to protect yourself. For that pitiful woman holding her child, and in fear that the child might get hurt, she can uphold to find peace on our part, and there’s no way through any danger. If anyone dared to violate any of you, our daggers would find its’ way to eliminate and finish its’ course. But the night is getting chilly, and I can see that the mother and the child were cold, for they are soaking wet from the rain. Take my coat and wrapped it to them to stop their shivers.”

Then Dimas untied his coat in goat’s hair, hanging his shoulder then hand it to Joseph.

—“Oh! Thank you, thank you very much to you. You have a good heart and merciful. May God repay and recompense your kindness in the hour of your death.”

Joseph was crying like a child, recognizing, expressing his gratitude and appreciation, then he wrapped the bandit’s coat around the mother and child.

—“And now,” Dimas said, —“come and follow me; my Castle is near here, and if you don’t mind my invitation, to please stay with us until this storm passes thru. The wind is blowing hard, and it’s even winding up to our heads.”

The Blessed travelers accepted the thief’s invitation, and in a few moments, in the Castle’s kitchen, Dimas started a fire to dry their clothing. The bandit who shared his place was the one to serve and offer everything his guest’s needs. Dimas prepared a prosperous dinner that night, and he even produced two beds in Camel’s hair, for them to get a good rest from the exhaustion the Blessed travelers suffered from their journey. But before Dimas left the room, the thief went and asked the mother’s permission, “if he may at least kiss the child,” and immediately, Mary gave Jesus and spoke at the same time, saying:

—“Kiss him, my Lord, since you are defending his weakness.”

Dimas gave the Messiah a resounding kiss on his forehead, and then he exited the hall where his comrades are and spoke at the same time.

—“I can’t explain my feelings when my lips touched that child’s forehead. It seemed like I can easily breathe without difficulties, and my blood flows through as if my veins were cleansed!”

After a few more moments, all in the Castle are tight asleep. Everything was quiet except for the night birds, flying around the rampart’s top through the rift in between rocks, making sounds as night goes into deep midnight.

The next day was a bright sunny day. Dimas went straight ahead, leading to his guest’s room, where the Blessed travelers slept well. They were very pleased, and they greeted Dimas with their smiling faces, a deep sense of gratitude. A very kind Dimas ordered his cook to prepare a bountiful breakfast, then he pleads the Holy Family to see the Castle’s terrace and to catch some fresh air.

—“Sun is so good,” Dimas told them, —“follow me on the way up, so your child can breathe the mountainous fresh fragrances.”

The visitors granted Dimas’s request and followed him. They were puzzled by Dimas’s loving-kindness of generosity towards them. Jesus’s stare has magnetism towards Dimas, and he can’t turn his eyes away from that beautiful child. Something special is in that child, and he can’t explain that powerful stare that gave him the feeling of soul searching. For even, Dimas noticed that his guests are not telling him the reason for that midnight travel the other night, like justice was chasing them. But Dimas was not asking, he respects the unspoken and unrevealed secret.

They finally came to the rampart’s way and began to climb the narrow steep stairs to reach the Castle’s terrace. Dimas was carrying Jesus in his arms, then peered out the window, pointing the child those few sheep pasturing beside the Castle’s creek. Dimas was conversing the child, saying this:

—“Those sheep quietly grazing under the rampart’s shades are ours, and that little goat, white as his mother’s milk, I give it to you. A remembrance of my continuous offering to you as it grows, a criminal’s gift, the terror of the Samarian’s mountain.”

Jesus smiled, like he understands all those words spoken to him; he even patted the bandit’s long hair with his soft tiny hands, while the Blessed Virgin was tearful in secret, for her deep warmth thanksgiving to that person. Although he is covered with massive webs of transgressions, to care for her child, made Dimas filled with kindness. Joseph came near Dimas and approached him with sweet words; the Patriarch said this:

—“If you’re good, and you heart is still living inside you, loving and caring the unfortunates, why don’t you leave this cruel lifestyle, where it could lead you to misfortune sooner or later?”

—“Good old man,” the smiling Dimas replied, —“the wicked’s road is like a hill, so slippery, that when the first step is set in motion, it will be hard to navigate and control. I was good before……………….but I was deprived, corrupted by the already fouled society; it made me vile and hateful. I am in my mid-day now, and it’s too late for the healing.”

The Blessed Family stayed in the Castle until dusk. From those moments they spent there, Dimas, the merciful leader, showed them as never before an exceptional treatment.

As Joseph went to get his meek burro, one bandit, through Dimas’s command, leading in courtesy, took the mule, and tied it at the rampart’s entryway.

Just as the Holy Family prepared to leave, Joseph helped Mary to ride the tamed donkey. Dimas was carrying Jesus, but the God-child was staring at that person’s eyes who took care of him wholeheartedly, like he wanted to say goodbye. And so, he clasps his two little arms, embracing Dimas’s neck, then in a sudden, Dimas was stunned, one sweet voice, a fascinating sound like a harp suspended in the air, ringing its’ beautiful melody, blowing to his ears carried by the night wind, and it even speaks like this:

—“Your death will be great!…………..You will die together with me.”

Dimas was astonished; his mind was confused, for he thought he heard his father’s voice, coming from his deep grave. Who’s mysterious voice is that? Who spoke those words? The child he’s carrying in his arms was barely four months old.

From the astonishing event that just happened, a flash of emotion drained him, and he felt he is weakening. And in fear that he may drop that mysterious child, Dimas immediately handed him to Mary’s hand, that at the time was securely sitting at the mule’s back. Mary was smiling as Dimas handing Jesus to her hand, that beloved treasure of her heart. After the sad goodbye’s to everyone surrounding them, they left the Castle they stayed for good rest.

Dimas was very quiet; like a statue, he was standing, thinking as his eyes are watching the Blessed travelers moving away, but in his ears are those mysterious words. He remained standing at that old Castle’s rampart, looking through its’ glimmering light of Libano’s high summit mountain, watching those travelers disappearing in front of his eyes until its’ gone.

Dimas was anxious, bewildered for those words that came out from no other tongue that would likely talk, yet it’s Jesus, then he realized that darkness surrounds him. He startled, as he heard his comrades shouting, that it’s time to come out and rob the people from Samaria’s streets, their common activities.

Leading the gangs, he pointed out the zig-zagging roads where his miraculous guests trailed that way, then he spoke in his sincere words:

—“Oh! You that is great in beauty, very fortunate of all children. If ever the time comes that you should use your compassion again, remember me and don’t forget this event!”

Thirty-two years had passed, the Christ recompensed him! Upon the face of Calvary, these words were spoken, his hospitality’s continuation he had done, “THE GOOD THIEF.”

—“TODAY, I TAKE YOU WITH ME IN PARADISE!”

THE HOSPITABLE FOREST

The Blessed couple did not stay long in Galilee.

Simeon’s prophecies and it is in heaven’s writing, that this old man’s words will happen in the near future, “a knife will pierce this fortunate mother’s heart.”

It was mid-month of February. Joseph was fast asleep in the midst of night when all of a sudden, he abruptly got up gasping, catching his breath. For God’s words troubled his heart from his deep sleep, he received a warning from heaven. The mysterious words came to his hearings and this is what it says:

—“Get up! Get the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. Remain in there until I tell you to return, for Herod is seeking your child to kill him.”

DOUAY-RHEIMS BIBLE:

—“Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt; and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass Herod will seek the child to destroy him.”

These mysterious words from God are still reverberating Joseph’s ears, echoing from his hearings, he quickly got up and ran to his wife and child’s room, he softly knock at the door and peered in, he was shaken and trembling as he spoke.

—“Mary get up, we have to leave. Take the child and carry him in your arms, and prepare for long and difficult travel.”

Mary at that time was beside her child where he was asleep; the sudden appearance of Joseph startled Mary, Joseph was rattled and out of breath. She immediately got up to let Joseph in.

—“Leave Jerusalem?” the Virgin asked, —“and where are we going?”

—“To Egypt,” Joseph replied. —“That is how God instructed me; Herod is looking for our child to kill him.”

Mary can’t believe what she heard, screaming, she rushed to her child and swooped him by her two arms, tightly hugged him to her chest, like tightly hugging him will give her child the full protection from all dangers, the oppressor’s knife.

The child woke-up and gave his terrified mother the most charming smile, a smile not far from the bright sunshine of heaven after the big storm, giving Mary the comfort of loving feeling, a peace for the Virgin’s troubled soul. Then she turned around and looked at her husband, the Patriarch standing in silence at the door’s entryway and said:

—“Come in Joseph, calm yourself down and don’t be afraid; look at Jesus, he is smiling, and that smile is like a rainbow wiping out the dark clouds.” Mary said with joy in her heart, but troublesome is still a concern.

—“God commands us to take action now, the things I told you.” The old man replied in haste.

—“Let’s go, God in heaven will take care of us on our way.” Mary said, agreeing to God’s will.

The couple prepared quickly, all the necessary things they need for their journey, but they were so poor. Mary the Virgin, slipped a few cloth bands (diapers) for baby Jesus into a linen bag, and a few clothes considering her and Joseph, only what they need. While Joseph took their little savings he kept from the table and inserted it in a small leather pouch, to his waist, and went to the stable and ready the fairly white donkey that ushered them through Bethlehem two months ago. He laid the basket on top of the mule’s back containing food and one leather bag holding water. There, Joseph took the fairly good mule and guide him under the trellis, then went to Mary and let her know that everything is ready.

With Mary and Joseph’s hearts afflicted, the three left Nazareth distressed. They were heartbroken to leave the comfort of their home once again. The night stars were seemingly halfway in the midst of heaven, a dark night for their marvelous journey.

An Angel gave them precautions of big danger on their way, but the Angel did not explain how they can avoid this threat. From Nazareth to Egypt is 160 leagues, (one league has 20,000 feet). Aside from this, how can they walk on a rippling wavy desert sand, flowing with a series of small waves on a surface, and nothing to this extent, but to ride a tamed donkey? The Arabs are like herds of vultures that can unexpectedly and swiftly attack the merchants that are truly armed and prepared to do battle. Can the Arabs pierce them with their long spears and wound them with their curly daggers? These unfortunate travelers unarmed to do battle, with nothing to engage in any physical combat but to cry and beg?

But let us leave this viewpoint for now and discuss it at the end.

It was mid-day when they finally reached the sandy desert. The hot sunny sky was high and the heat was mounting to a steaming point. Fleeing in fear, they can certainly be seen in this broad daylight. On their way is a tiny forest, covered mostly with palm trees. This forest is owned by the Zabulon’s clan, they decided to hid and get some rest in that little forest, and because of those lushy, luxuriant trees, the place became a pleasant resting place from the sun’s heat. The fountain’s gushing sound of water carried by the Cison river is very refreshing to the Blessed couple’s extent, and the gentle breeze of fresh air calms the Holy Family’s roasting journey. The rustling sound of palm leaves from the soft cool wind, and the delightsome harmonious songs of birds, the lamenting intonation of the mountain doves, are the Holy Family’s familiar companions at all times. This became the temporary residence of the escapees, the hiding travelers.

The alluring smile of that child, the bright clear sky, and the meadows aromatic fragrance, with the delectable nature that calmly soothes Mary’s torn heart, in grief, is like a refuge. While Joseph was busy preparing their food, suddenly, some noises emanate in to his hearings. He came to an abrupt halt, intently listening:

—“Can you hear Mary?” He asked Mary.

For a few seconds, the asked person listened carefully. After hearing further, Mary’s rosy cheeks turned pale, then she tightly hugged the child Jesus to her chest. The child is not smiling this time; the mountain doves stopped chirping; the meadow birds singing like harps ended quickly, then in a matter of seconds, the dark clouds cast their shadows over the bright sunny sky, darkening the dense woods area.

—“I can hear,” Mary replied whispering. —“The tinkling noises is similar to swords sounds, and the vibrations of the clip clopping horses were like coming from the other side of this plain land.”

—“Yes it does.” Joseph replied. —“It seemed like they are at the mountainous side, of the Roman’s way going to Hepha’s coast. They’re maybe merchants from Ptolemaida or Tyre, on their way back to their ports.”

—“They might be Herodians!” Mary replied, slightly uttering these words, horrified.

—“Keep peace with your soul Mary.” Joseph said, full of affection to his wife. —“This forest is far from the main road.”

Then followed by a few moment of silence. Both are sensing their surroundings.

The horse’s footsteps are getting near every seconds. Mary grabbed Jesus and wrapped him with her cloak, then she turned her eyes towards heaven, praying. Joseph is beside Mary this time, in silence and in agony. His depressing look fastened down the roadside, where he’s hoping that it could be just some merchants coming out from that direction, but still stricken with fear in his heart that it could be the Romans.

All of a sudden, a man’s voice, bold and sharp, in strong and thunderous tone, near Joseph’s ears. It is deafening to these Blessed couple’s ears, with both hearts pounding like drums. Following this person’s voice was a pleasant song in modulation. A battle song, the lyrics are very clear, coming near the range of these forest’s fugitives.

—“These are the Romans.” Joseph’s soft voice. —“Even if I don’t fully understand everything they’re saying, in my opinion they are singing the famous “Gladiator’s song.”

Mary can’t speak, she can only worry about her child, the God-child she’s holding tight on her lap. The voices are advancing, getting near their hiding place, the Roman’s song carried by the cool wind and find its’ way to the Holy Family’s conscious hearings:

ROMAN ARMIES BATTLE SONG:

“Bread and Roman Circus the town asked their Emperor Caesar; for Saturn and Minerva are truly his next of kin, so he says; the blowing trumpets are sounding intended for the battle; and called truly through the Circus sands, this wrestlers that’s more enthusiastic; coming out are the roaring troops with striking elegance;

From the cave and through the ground arises, causing trouble to those forces; from the selected braves is the Mighty Agenor; Jupiter even if for his strong hands and Marte if for the heart; Grand Hercules in stature and authority, but Moloch is flexible when eyes are fixated and glancing;

So young but already arrayed, on the forehead that can’t get hundreds of crowns and coiled palms; laces in different colors all defeated in battle; as if the town smells the blood when he saw and figured out this courageous tree; and so the stadium were nearly destroyed from the aloud shouting and fallacious rampage;

From Homer’s Olympus, the entire gods and goddesses attended for him to rescue; because true offering for them is the bullet he defeated; the Patricians are welcoming him, but to Cesar is coming the worthy price of his hard work; Senates are honoring in full, for Rome can make them famous.

For his trident, the Thracians greetings he suppressed; the Frances in a golden chariot and even the English’s horse is the same to his triumphing indeed; no one can truly win, in wrestling and in different fights of competitions, even to Agenor the victorious Captain from Tiber’s shore to Hermon’s vast land.”

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After the battle hymn, the voices died down, and the horses footsteps are not that far anymore from the woods. The fugitives are holding their breath. And after a few more seconds, the peaceful and calm sightings in the midst of this colorful green forest were now like a danger zone for the inhabitants. The shining hats and the many spears made from Roman Thracians was a frightful sight from a distance. Everyone of them were riding their horses, so many of them that in a quick glance, they could be mistaken as the waving sea of Galilee, for their hats shines brightly when stricken by the moon beams reflections.

Mary was so fearful, she looked up to heaven once again, and in anguish she prayed:

—“Oh sweet palms! You raised your magnificent leaves through the heavens. You are more near to God than a sorrowful mother like me. I allow you to tell Him to let it happen, to not forsake my pure innocent child.”

Then a wondrous and marvelous performance occurred, miracle of miracles, the tree’s body bowed down all the way to the ground. Its’ long branches, the wide palm leaves, and with its’ fresh leaves covered the Holy Family.

Herod’s soldiers went by the side of this “hospitable” tree, and they did not see those fugitives hiding in the other side of those thick leaves. About thirty feet from the hidden escapees is a creek, with clear water flowing through. The Romans stopped and some get off their horses.

Then the soldiers started their casual conversations as they deter the necessary needs for a brief stop.

—“We are not forbidden in ordinances to drink water when thirsty, for finding a spring with clear water like this?” uttered by one horse rider, he then quickly took off his hat and fetched water from the spring to drink.

—“I swear in Jupiter’s name, that even if drinking water is punishable by ramrod (baqueta or baketa), on a clear spring just as this, I can’t be stopped when I’m thirsty. The flowing water beside my horse’s foot is very alluring.” (ramrod is a punishment bestowed upon the Roman soldiers when caught in wrong doings or guilty of crimes. Beaten by fellow soldiers until the offender dies.)

—“What do you think of this operation, my friend Cayo?” a soldier asked, after drinking the water, and then he handed his hat filled with water to one of his comrades still sitting on top of his horse.

—“To my notion, my friend Octavio,” said by the query, —“that King Herod will growl like a mad dog if we return without the Magi’s.”

—“Those foreigners from another country must have been swallowed by the ground, we can’t find them.”

—“I am glad about this turn of events. For we are the victorious Roman soldiers, and we are not here in Palestine to go after children or imprisoned people from another country that are not even resisting.”

—“Herod hired you, and he is the Almighty in Judah.” replied by one of the Herodians.

—“Herod is Roman’s chosen.” respond by the Roman. —“My God is a true God, in the entire Orient.”

This angered the Herodians, but he only bit his lips, then he plummeted his face to spring’s clear water to hid his shame.

—“Augusto Caesar,” said one of the Romans, —“and his dignitaries are deep asleep in peace, enjoying the appealing offer to them by their Imperial City. Venus is reigning instead of Marte; the swords are rusting in its’ leather cases; and the victorious winners through their success cannot warm the blood of Tiber’s children, but the Blessed forests are not polluted by Laurel’s fresh leaves from adorning Legion’s foreheads; their pouches are deflated for lack of the desired amount of treasures, their seized hauled spoils; the world is afraid to breath, their nervousness to angering the Romans, for their victorious eagle may win again from his surroundings coward countries. But this, my friends can’t stay that long, for the Capitol Armies are in need of war; like the blind in need of light; and the wild animals in need of their prey’s blood; the hungry in need of bread. Caesar should give us war, if he don’t want us to hold a plow, and to simply woven clothes.”

The soldier who spoke about this, is in his old age now. His eagle eyes, his burnt face from the sun, the effect of encampment, his grayish beard, and his elegant moves are his features that explains about this old warrior as one of the veterans from Roman troops, drafted in the army at the age of twelve, and will remain a soldier until his last breath.

For them, there is no better way to perish but to die in a battlefield, and die through their opponents swords. He is wearing a brass hat that covers the backside all the way down through his shoulder, where the face is fully exposed; a shield made of leather, covered with iron rings roundabout; his sandals arrayed with bronze nails, and a shawl hanging his shoulder with a silver buckle tightly bundled on both sides.

Around his vascular and muscular arm, is a wide sparkling bracelet. The end point of his spear is a flag in different colors, embroidered with Laurel crown, smoothly waving at the top. His brass hat is in fish shape with black plumage coming out from it’s mouth (plumahe).

His attire is the same as his fellow soldiers, the only difference are their hats, his comrades are wearing hats with extra lining for extra strength, made of different leather from different kind of animals, but they are not carrying spear with flag on top like this old soldier. This older soldier is riding the horse with no stirrups. Hanging from his left side is a short wide sword.

—“What ravenous wolf? When will your thirsty sword get tired of blood?” asked one of the horseman, the first time he said something. A golden eagle’s emblem etched his stainless steel hat, for a Roman Centurion leader. —“Are you still not satisfied from all your triumphs?”

—“A pure bloodied soldier is like clans of greedy in gold.” the old man replied, and he even raised his shield for recognition. —“For a curious and greedy person when hid one self a shekel can covet ten more; when ten shekels are obtained, he would crave for hundreds more; and when the desired amount is attained, he will die for more like mina or gold until the sought wealth is achieved. I am serving for five years now in a group they called “principales,” (Junior Officer). Through Senate orders, I was awarded to become the “Centuries” a leader of two soldiers; and when I saved a man from his sure death, the Senate awarded me again with the so called “civic crown” or “corona civica.” This makes me more greedy, so when Jerusalem was attacked, I said to myself:

—“Cayo, you should try to trudge-up those fortress, for your attained crown is sitting by itself in boredom and in great need of companion. That’s what really happened, I was the first one to climb the fortress, and I was awarded again by my General a “golden mural crown.” Then, from an event that I can’t remember, the Emperor awarded me this bracelet, and the Senate even offered me this flag, placed right here at the end point of my spear. But then, I can feel that my arms are still strong, I never went home without my shield, and I am honest when I talk: I still desire honors; I am a Decurion (cavalryman), a leader of ten men; but it can happen that if war arises, I will not be forsaken by the gods and goddesses to lead hundreds like you.”

—“Your jealousy is heavily laden my friend Cayo,” a smiling Centurion replied.

—“Mark Anthony is simply a humble soldier; and he became a consul, but he is stricter than a Centurion,” the old man answered.

—“All I can tell is this: Mark can be a thousand more than you,” the Centurion said.

And all are cracklin’ laughing, but Cayo is a strong army man, he laughed along with everyone and did not feel sentimental for what his companion had said. He even promised them that if Capitol’s Senate called him and handed him managing Rome’s fate, he says, that his fellow soldier’s hardships and sufferings will not be forgotten.

After a long pause, the Centurion commands everyone to continue their mission in finding the Magi Kings and the King God-child. They decided to trail the hilly roads of Cesarea’s shoreline, for Archelao, Herod’s son ordered them to go beyond and to not let the Magi’s board any coastal ship.

And while the horse’s echoing footsteps are fading away, the weakening Palm tree covering the Holy Family, slowly rose-up, returning to its’ previous form and position. This is how the Holy Family were seen, leaning the tree fast asleep. God perhaps predestined this incident to a grieving mother, to not hear Herod’s soldiers conversations looking for her child, and seeking the Magi’s further.

THE ELDERLY AND THE DIVINER WOMAN

A Hebrew woman is considered unclean for forty days after giving birth to a boy. Moses’s law commands that after forty days, the purification is complete whether a son or a daughter, the mother must bring a one-year-old lamb as an entirely burned offering (sin offering) to the priest at the entrance. The priest will present it before the Lord and make reconciliation for her. She will then be cleansed from her blood flow. This is the instruction for any woman who has a child, male or female. But if the mother cannot afford a sheep, she can bring two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for the entirely burned offering and the other for the purification offering. The priest will then make reconciliation for her, and she will be clean.

To obey this law, Mary has to leave City of David and move to Jerusalem. Israelites have such regulations for the purpose of enabling to have a relationship with the Holy God maintaining ritual purity. To do so they must be whole/clean before entering any sacred place, lest the Holiness of God destroy them.

In giving birth, the woman challenges the penalty of death on mankind for sinning against God in the Garden of Eden, for each birth insures the continuation of the race. Symbolically each birth strikes a blow on the head of the paradisiacal serpent, the champion of death. Giving birth was a momentous act of victory.

Mary and Joseph followed the regulations when Jesus was a newborn. As an adult however, Jesus showed that he was not especially concerned by becoming ritually unclean. He was not bothered when a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years and was “contagiously unclean” touched him. Jesus does not chastise but encourages her and says, “Take heart daughter, your faith has healed you.”

For us today with access to clean water and modern medicine, the purification regulations have little practical value. And for us who are followers of Jesus, they have little spiritual value, as in the New Covenant, there is no requirement of physical purity in order to have access to God’s presence.

In the Virgin Mary’s arms is Baby Jesus, and beside her is Joseph her good husband. They went to the Temple, and on the stairs there were offerings of different kinds. The Nazarene Virgin is poor, and she can only afford one pigeon to offer. At the time of their firstborn Son’s Presentation, the Holy Family were sitting at the synagogue’s entryway under the tall trees, and according to the gospel, that at the time there was a man in Jerusalem name Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. A Holy man paved his way to many people leading his way to the couple’s location. After kneeling at the couple’s presence, old Simeon took the child Jesus in Mary’s arms with his two hands, raised the child Jesus up to his face and recited these words filled with joy:

—“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel.”

The Blessed couple were overwhelmed as they watched old Simeon’s tearful eyes, gazing at the God-child face, they listen to his words of prophecies. Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother:

—“Oh! Fortunate Mother,” the old man continue after a few seconds of silence.

—“Blessed lady you found grace; you brought forth life; you became the Mother of Salvation. Your Divine Son will be brighter than the sun; He will end Israel’s dark some nights; this child is destined to cause of well-being to many and the destruction for some; His name will give strength for the weak and fear for the strong; and you who carried him in your womb, behold, swords will pierce through your heart, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.”

Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. The old man’s prophecies startled Mary, and she can’t help but admired his prophecies. She can envision from those words the pain that beset her life, destined by heaven. She remained silent, she can’t open up her lips for any words to say.

At that time an old woman named Anna was living in Jerusalem a diviner. She is Phanuel’s daughter from the Asher’s clan. She was very old. Her husband died after seven years of marriage. The good widow is living through penitence, fasting and praying, she is practically residing in the Temple, she never left the Temple, she stayed there day and night. Anna is respected by the Jews for having the knowledge of a true priest.

The baby Jesus was already in old Simeon’s arms by the time Anna arrived in the Temple. The diviner stand close to Simeon and upon seeing the child Jesus, her face change its color at once. Her heart leaped for glorious joy, she cried out full of admiration, then she spoke the following:

—“What is this? God that can’t be seen!”

Then with fascination, she fixed her eyes to Jesus, charmed and mesmerized. One outcry of excitement affirmed her lips, as she abruptly knelt at Mary’s foot with her arms straightened, beholding the Mother and child.

—“You are the Messiah’s mother, let me kiss your child’s foot.”

Anna is a respected visionary by her people in Jerusalem and for her intelligence. The town people, spectators and some passers by crammed around her to hear her words from seeing the child Jesus.

—“Oh, Israel!” Anna said with her tearful eyes looking up to heaven.

—“Oh, Israel! The fortunate descendants of Abraham and Jacob! To your prosperous land of Judah came down the powerful God! The Mighty God that will wave your noble flag in the entire East. Watch him!……….this is………………….. human in the flesh, seen by your fortunate eyes, inbound in God’s Mighty Power He possessed! Shower him with flowers and palm leaves, and the road where His Blessed Mother walks. Sing her hosanna for her Son’s glory…….Run, all you good women, the Blessed Israelites, the wise priests, the powerful leaders, spread this outstanding news, through Palestine’s remotest villages. Jerusalem’s children! Prepare it like its the Tabernacles Feasts, scatter oil and perfumes like in the Prince’s wedding, because for all these some performed offerings are still not enough, for He is the Messiah, the Savior’s persecuted clans.

Anna the fortune-teller, whose ears God whispered, the Blessed widow, left the Zion’s Temple and ran to the City street, shouting and proclaiming the Messiah’s arrival, God’s birth!

The crowded City of Jerusalem heard the proclamations, and the women along with some aged citizens came rushing through the Temple, leading and shoving each other to get near and kiss the Virgin Mary’s poor and rough cloak. For this whole clamor, they took Mary away, but the confusion surprised her by what was happening around her. Anna’s astonishing words made her cry with gladness, she can’t find the right words of what was just transpired. Tears of fine pearls ran down her beautiful face, but she rewarded them with her sweet and warmth smile for all the respect offered to her.

Like St. Ambrose said:

—“Not only the Angels, the Prophets, and the shepherds generated the Redeemer’s birth glorious popularity but also the Blessed Elderly of Israel that brightens the enlightening truth.”

—“Men and women, young and old testifies to this belief and made vigorous to so many miracles.”

—“A virgin conceived, a barren woman gave birth, Isabel prophesied, the Magi’s believed, the widow confirmed the wonderment of this event and was accepted by the Holy men.”

Then the chime sounded, Presentation in the Temple. “Room for the Firstborn” or Sala de los Primogenitos” time to offer the child. For this Joseph left his Blessed wife at the Temple’s patio and entered the house of Almighty God, carrying their Son.

But Oh! Like a despicable Hebrew, they treat Jesus with no importance in that room. Received from the father’s hand, an oblation of the God-child that’s not even regarded by the impatient Jew and a dreadful priest. A lowly sacrifice offered by the honorable Carpenter, they have given Jesus a dismal look at the “burnt offerings” shrine.

Thirst for gold hardened the hearts of many, a time that can’t be forgotten. They see Jesus as a rubbish of the world, for he was poor. Accepted in greed by the presenter and received from Joseph’s hand by a Levite priest, the presenter softly recites the obscene words that are not intended, and expected.

For this reason, Joseph, the virtuous Patriarch, covered his ears, asking himself why this person was mistreating him this way, while earlier, on the other side of the Temple’s entryway, everyone was worshipping his noble son.

According to Flavius Josephus, (Roman-Jewish Historian) to his book, “Jewish Antiques,” and John James Besnage of the Jews, that arrogance, pretentious, and greed of the Priest’s Prince’s in Jerusalem had reached its peak, from beyond imagination.

Extorting tithes are the Pontiff’s commands to their farm workers, the reason why some priests are living a miserable life with no other food other than figs and nuts. But even so, they can’t open up their mouth to refuse, for the accusation to disobey can end up in the Roman’s hands immediately.

One day, Governor Felix imprisoned forty priests, for simply giving “Jewish’s Congregation” to the synagogue’s Prince’s. One more damnable behavior that the Jewish’s hearts adapt, are to practice more on wickedness than selfishness for “vengeance.”

A person that don’t know how to build and accumulate anger, and who don’t know to avenge are not deserving to be called a “Rabbi.” For the truthful nearing end of the world’s destruction, Christ’s coming back in the world is exceedingly needed.

Jesus turned out to be the Humankind’s Redeemer. Through the blackness of darkness that covers the society, the bright beckon of light absolutely handed down by God, granted to come here and scatter the sparkling radiance of His light!

The unending Escola Pia Balmes tells us about these dark times, and we are repeating his words:

—“A truly horrible exposure of the ugly scenes sets to our societies eyes, while in the midst of this darkest times born Christianity. The society covered with beautiful, and colorful clothes, but the hearts remains wounded, a pain that cannot heal. The effect of a beautiful picture shown to our human eyes are covered by the magnificent regalia of conceit, and wealth, but behind the portrayals are the disgusting and the rotten. Manners and behaviors have no more basis. No more shame to foul and unclean works. Hearts impulses, and impatience are uncontrollable anymore. Punishment by law is no longer governed. Faith has no God, and minds are even soaring, carrying suspicions with wrong presumptions, the philosophers contemplation.”

—“People back then is a one deep mystery without understanding of its own prudence, and don’t know how to value its own majestic self, for they agreed to devalue and bring down their height to the animal level.”

—“While the majority of people are weeping to this disgraceful slavery, the famous fearless are celebrating their freedom with no uncertainties, with tens of their disgusting habits, on top of their gods and goddesses altars.”

—“Christianity emerged, but course of Politics was never altered, and He did not plan to oppose any governments; there was no intervention to whatever belonged to earth’s land; He brought humans two treatments in life of whom are called to the pathways of endless glory, and besides this, He sprinkled handfuls of no second healing to destroy the bad society, to give way for the seed of a new life; a slow procedure but sure mighty to fight the coming storm. This seed that will defend the world for its own destruction, a brilliant valuable seed which bring forth higher and pure lessons to give as a gift to every human race, young and old, men and women, rich and poor. Like the generous refreshing rain, gently pouring flowing through the dried farmland.”

After the necessary ceremonies required by Moses’s law, Joseph left the Temple. As he met his Blessed wife, they both left the Priest City and went to Nazareth trailing Galilee’s road.

THE MAGI’S ADORATION

After Herod left the Palace, the three Magi’s ordered to disassemble their tents and get organized to leave. It was just before dark, and the clouds are beginning to bestow the darkening shadows of the night from that blue sun rays of light from the East. Carrying hopes in their hearts, they left the Capital City of Juda and trailed the road through the gate called Damascus, while Herod’s Cavalries are exiting Doria’s gate going to Jericho.

It’s been two hours since the Chaldean’s left, moving and trekking the vast plains, navigating and climbing high hills. The sunlit’s still shining through Palestine’s terrain, giving golden light’s life. On their way is the water Well (known as the “Magi’s pond” or La Cisterna de los Magos). They stopped beside the Well for a quick rest and from the cold clear water they let their Camels quench their thirst.

As they ease up to enjoy the surroundings, the Star! The glittering Star suddenly appeared in the sky. Like the glistening of lightning, the Star fell fast from the heavens into their direction. The terrifying scene made the travelers close their eyes in shock, but some ran to hide, assuming that this sharp lightning would deliberately destroy them. But this falling fire from heaven did not hit the ground, it remained hanging in the sky not far from their heads, rushing its’ radiant light like a bright sun.

—“The Srar!…..The Star!” the troops repeated shouting, the slaves and soldiers. —“The Star!…..”Our Star!” the repeat echo of the Magi Kings, full of joy. Then they all lift their eyes to heaven like praying.

—“A miracle from Heaven! This is their God’s mysterious affirmation from heaven, a God we never worship, since we are Zoroaster’s disciples,” Gaspar’s aloud declaration.

—“Guide us to Your Divine Son’s birth site, and I will kiss His foot and adore His body.” Gaspar’s pleadings.

The Star’s only awaiting words from the heathen Kings. Then the sparkling shining Star began to move, and the Magi Kings followed the Star. They have let their Camels led the walking while their eyes are transfixed, enchanted to that magnificent Star.

Over the hills and through the high cliffs, they have been traveling for hours, not minding the threatening dangers that forewarned their every step. At last! From across the hills, God’s Star halted in an abrupt manner. Appearing from a distance, Judah’s Bethlehem, the noble and everlasting town, the Savior’s birthplace.

The Kings deliberately move to enter Jerusalem was disrupted by the sudden flash of the falling Star from heaven, like it escaped its’ grip from an unseen hand, and it even got stuck on a wrecked entryway, the animal shelter.

The Kings full expectation to find the Messiah in a big Palace surprises them. What they found instead was an amazement of disbelief. For where this magnificent Star chose to suspend is in that low destitute place. The Magi’s then, decided to get off their Camels and the slaves immediately untie their sandals and took them off. All at once, the Kings knelt and bowed their foreheads to kiss the ground of that lowly wrecked door, afterwards, they proceed to enter the cave, the animal’s resting place.

Inside is the newborn God-child lying in a grassy manger, the site where the child’s mother is beside him, gently watching Her child, giving the honor of love; while the whole time, the Star from heaven is illuminating, transmitting its’ graceful light, pouring warmth rays of radiance like the fountain of springs to that Mother and Son. The Magi Kings continued their way inside the cave to the manger’s foot, carrying remarkable faith in their hearts, overjoyed to give great honor and respect. The Magi’s knelt to the ground afresh and kissed the tiny feet of that already condemned newborn child, like He was thrown into that paltry stable, the animal shelter.

The East’s powerful Kings from Seleucia, that in one command will the slaves bow their heads in full respect, these Babylonians who worship their gods and goddesses are now giving their full respect and complete reverence to a lowly Carpenter’s child from Nazareth? These Wise Men from Persia? Can this be compared to Cimnastan’s dream? Can this be more mysterious and can’t be believed? Do they say that Dives descendants and Peris, these giants living in the City but only inside the Diamond? Those “Hada” or Duendes (Elves) from Mount Caucasus can change their forms in different ways? Where did they say that the Caspian Sea has the power to make and create, forever that with one stroke of a cane can they want to turn the sea into waterfalls with variation of colors?

All kneel to the Son of a lowly Carpenter, the three powerful Kings from the East, and much more in Christ’s Jesus coming back again that can’t be believed? Like the proposition to drain the oceans or turning a vast desert into a bountiful garden of the breathtaking Sahara in Euphrates shore?

Almighty God is the only one that can perform and reform that marvelous transformation, and the Son of God has to guide. Come near beside His Nativity, with His naked feet full of dust! Gaspar, Melchor and Balthazar, bowed their foreheads, kneeling in Jesus’s presence, these Great Kings adoring and worshiping the newborn child! Of how the East’s Prince’s worship their gods and goddesses, and in what manner they adore their human Prince’s and Princesses their Lords?

On that occasion, the Kings began to unravel their gifts intent for the Messiah. The marvelous boxes they were carrying, revealed the first box a pure gold from Nineveh’s river; the scented aroma of Yemen’s sweet perfume from the Arabs in the second box; and the “sacrifice” they called blood offering, an old custom slowly diminishing and forgotten from the heathen’s populations.

The white ponies and meek lambs that no longer lowering their heads under the slayer’s machete, and don’t lift their somber stare by the time of their death to God that ends their lives, are all over. “A birthing fount” from the Jewish’s stable accomplished to impel far off the blood offerings, the Synagogue’s old custom He throw away!

God’s forgiveness of charities is now born in the midst of humanities to pay so great, offering his own life for all. The one and only chopping board for the lost, and to free humankind to have the everlasting life. This chopping board from heaven to save the world.

In God’s heart, the three heathen Kings installed the foundation, the faithful Chaldean’s to bear the significance and gave the first step, and can’t even explain of how it happened so quickly that they adore and worship Mary’s Son. The gift of gold they offered, for He is King’s Land; the Myrrh for He is human; and Frankincense for He is God!

Mary is very pleased to watch the Royal Kings of Asia offering their honorable adoration to Her beautiful child. Mary is a loving Mother, her sweet and loving tears flows through, in the presence of these eminent foreigners from far away land, destined to kiss the tiny feet of Her beloved child.

In the presence of the three Magi Kings worshiping the child, Joseph at that time was not around, but if he had seen and watched the scene, this could presumably have made the shy and polite Carpenter from Nazareth rejoicing in delight. But that’s how God intended it to be, for Joseph’s presence may enter some doubts in the Pilgrims noble hearts, the three Magi Kings. Gaspar and his companions are truly intelligent in nature and can understand Hebrew language.

After the three Magi’s spent some time worshiping the Messiah, and after they offered their gifts and some treasures to His Saintly Mother, they began to prepare to leave, they walk backwards coming out of the entryway with no desire to turn their backs even for a second to the Mother and child. Leaving the place, they rode their Camels and continued to their journey.

The time before the Magi Kings left, as they entered the sacred cave, an older Arab and a young Hebrew man intermingled themselves with the Chaldeans’ slaves. The whole time the Kings are worshiping the Messiah, their eyes would throw a glance, and sometimes can’t help but stare at this astonishing Star. Unusually big and so bright, a miscalculation that can be mistaken as hanging in the cavern’s ceiling, emanating its’ brilliance towards the direction of the “God-child,” in the stable.

Not long after the three Magi’s left, the Arab man went near Jesus. He genuflected and folded both his arms across his chest, the fact that his body language is more honest than words, for with him is his great admiration. Then he kissed the grass where the child laid, and gently whispered the following:

—“You are truly the promised Messiah! You are my God, your Royal name will embed in my heart forever, and to my children throughout my generations.”

Then he left the place just like the three Magi Kings did.

The young Hebrew man, like the Arab, went inside, knelt and kissed the manger’s grass. Then he came out from the cave uttering the following:

—“The Messiah is born. The Almighty God’s heart is moved, driven to finally sympathize Jacob’s descendants. I believe Him, I will worship and adore Him as long as I live.”

Then the Arab went to Jerusalem with his head bowed down like in deep thinking. While portrayed at the young Hebrew man’s face is ample gladness, trailing the road through Mount Carmel.

The Arab is Hassaf, the Egyptian merchant, and the young Hebrew man is Agabus, the one who courted Mary, the outlandish mysterious man who sat with the Arabs at Elias’s Well.

The Almighty God can read human heart’s closed book, and the Magi Kings are true to their word. They guided their Camels leading towards Jericho, to honestly tell Herod everything that transpired, but God can see the Chaldean’s honest heart’s pure belief, and the abominable lies of Judah’s cruel King. God allowed to save the Magi Kings from danger, and so He sent them heaven’s messenger and announced to them the Jerusalem King’s treacherous plan.

The Magi’s “warning” happened in their sleep, according to the gospel, and so early in the morning, the very next day, Zoroaster’s disciples thanked their living Sun-God for the warning that could possibly occur. Instead of tracking the shores they call “Maldito Lago,” or the “Damned Lake,” going to Jordan river, they turned around and directed their Camels to “Gran Mar” or “Great Sea.” After trailing the perfumed plain land and the flowing cold sea of “Ben-buier,” they departed with faith in God and fled to the charming Syria’s shores.

Saint Thomas the Apostle, had reached India preaching the gospel, and in those days the Chaldean Kings were traveling the world. For the famed Messiah, they accepted and embrace Christening from the hand of Jesus’s disciple.

After this, Gaspar and Balthazar developed their faithful lives with burning fire in their hearts, and they began to preach the gospel, proclaiming the Holy doctrines and declaring the New Laws to those who can’t be humbled and subdued, those living in India’s remote jungles. The two suffered tremendous torment and died from the hands of these unbelieving tyrannous group.

Melchor, the youngest of the three Kings, described to us by the scriptures as the dark skinned man, escaped his death and went home to East Indies, where in Cangranora City, he hides.

In Caleencio City and through his own wealth, Melchor established himself, and made the City his home. For a heart filled with faith of Christianism he built a grand and magnificent church, in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, dedication of praises to her Most Holy Son.

There with bells on, Caleencio’s people were enamored and pleased to serve and worship Mary. Through Melchor’s teaching, honoring and acknowledgement to the Blessed Virgin Mary, faith to Jesus is increasing to a greater extent, and throughout history, belief in Mary continue to escalate until this time. Hence, the (natubaeng?) Hebrea’s cleanliness are maintained, where four are saying: (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)

—“From the East, born true faith from the Messiah, told by the Prophets.”

ACHIAB

Herod the Great had ten wives, twenty children, and a great deal of grandchildren. Doris was driven out and forbidden to set foot in Jerusalem. She can only get in Jerusalem on feasts days because of Mariamne. The same fate happened to, Malthace, Palada, Olimpiada, Fedrra, Elpide, Raxana, and Salome. All these became Herod’s wives, and all have been driven and kicked out with no mercy by the King from out of his Palace. They can do nothing but wailed and curse the sadist, Herod. As they were driven out of the Palace, all they can do are hug and wrap their arms around their children, the real victims, wounded in this separation, the venom full of betrayal by the heartless husband.

Their tears that dried up one day, and the passionate desire for revenge germinated their hearts. These women who were once are Queens, and are now fared badly. Their eyes are still swollen from their painful tears and in full avarice, lusting over their children’s Crown. They assess and estimate that they could go after, and pursue for their children’s Crown at Herod’s expense and also gain after their children. So, they began to make a plan, to hold on to their sharpened daggers to kill the wicked Herod, and thus been able to have their revenge to that barbaric savage.

Herod sensed the great impending danger that warned him; he became terrified and untrustworthy from most of his relatives. He had felt and seen hundreds of knives aiming at his head, and in any moment can be a reality and can carry out as the last stroke to his life. So, he thoroughly said these words:

—” I will kill them all: the dead cannot have their revenge anymore.”

From out of this action, he has to find a good reason not to be blamed by his friend Caesar, and Israel his slave. Of all the Princesses that Herod had rejected, Mariamne II is the one mostly in danger because of her extraordinary intelligence and dazzling beauty. Mariamne was accused of having sent her picture to Mark Anthony, and Herod assumed that they are already having an affair, so he had to execute Mariamne. Not long after this happened, Alejandro, Mariamne’s son, the much beloved by Hebrew people and worthy of the Crown, had met the same fate, the horrible last moment of his mother.

Because of this sensed threat, dreadful blood flows through once again that causes Israel’s executioner sleepless nights. Distrusts embedded his soul, the only one who remains on his side are his loyal slaves, who obtained more lavishness in life through his fears, and anxieties.

One of the most loyal servants who never departed the King’s side are the three Eunuch’s. They became so attached to him, Herod’s beloved and favorite. These three Eunuch’s duties are these: Siloc is like his Secretary; Ratt is his Head Chef, and Fararax is his Room Boy who make up his bed every day. Of all three, Fararax has the most complexed duty; he constantly hugs Herod in his sleep for he is constantly shaken from his horrible delusional nightmares.

Herod’s relatives saw that these three servants are his stronghold’s protection for this cruel King’s full being, and so they bribed, and bought off those three Eunuchs. But Cingo detected, and exposed the agile bribery that night, they apprehended and arrests the three, the plan to finish off his Lord’s life. They horribly tortured those three Eunuchs, and at last the three shouted out the planned rebellion about to carry out that night, Herod’s end.

Alejandro, Mariamne’s son heads this conspiracy, and so he died that night with the rest of the conspirators. At the end of this story, our dear readers will learn how Herod killed more of his six children.

This brutal King forced to drown the unceasing outcry of his conscience for he constantly remembers in his mind the brutality he performed to his children. This is why he made it certain that he should take good care of his grandchildren. And from the length of Herod’s sufferings, in his deathbed and with his dying breath, he made sure that these orphaned grandchildren would often surround him in his deathbed. He even made clear of whom they should marry when they grew up. From all of his grandchildren, Achiab, Archelao’s son is the one Herod loved most, where he prefers to perform the transference of Jerusalem’s Crown.

There are only seven people who can get near the King: Salome his sister, Alejo his brother-in-law, Cingo the Negro slave; Verutidio the Army General, his son Archelao, and Ptolomy his old “look out” guard. Aside from all these, the Israelites are accounted as his enemies, if ruling out the hired soldiers and the traitorous Herodians.

Herod’s life is like a dream of death. The last of his members are a thousandfold happier than their Lord.

Upon learning these clarifications of how the story goes, let’s go back to Achiab the minute he entered the King’s room.

—” Thanks to Marte, and he left you alone my beloved grandfather.” said Achiab while walking towards the old man.

Herod turned his head, and when he saw that it was his favorite grandchild, a smile peered from his smiling lips.

—” What do you think of me?” the proceeded asking of Achiab as he turned around in sphere at Herod’s presence to draw a good look at him.

—” Your not far resembling the real Caesar’s Captain.” Herod replied. —” But what is the purpose of all these preparations for you dreaming to be a soldier, now that everything is at peace?” Then Herod conveyed a puzzling remark to his favorite grandchild saying: ” Why rise from your dreaminess before the glimpse of dawn to Joshaphat’s valley?”

—” If you promise not to be angry with me, I will tell you.” said Achiab.

The young man was stilled for a moment before coming back to his consciousness fearing that Herod might be resentful of what he want to reveal to him.

—” Talk to me, and don’t be afraid Achiab, you know that within me is a giving person to you.” Herod replied.

—” Thank you Grandfather, if that is; Cingo is your favorite slave. He became my best friend when you appoint him to me as my teacher, and so I thank you. But old Ptolomy, your “look out” guard and your authorized teacher for me is very harsh and teaching me pure insanity. Never was he made the correct aim to our Archery’s target. And in our training for combating, he can’t even able to grab the opponents sword for defense. And whenever he rides your female horse from Syria, he often fell his way thru the horse ears down to the ground. Tell me Grandpa, every time you’re in a battle array with him, was Ptolomy brave?”

Herod the fierce executioner in Bethlehem softens his heart whenever he is in the presence of that child, like Samson at Delilah’s foot.

—” Ptolomy is a faithful servant, and so I forbid you to insult and ridicule him.” Herod’s gentle reply.

—” So then,” said Achiab. —” Let that old man be; I just don’t like you to be angry with me, but I will continue to tell you about Cingo. Yesterday, when he saw me that I can nail my aim, four hits in full, one after another on the spot, at the mid center’s Archery, he stomped his foot to the ground, and cried out loud:

—” For Jupiter’s name in Olympus! My Prince, my heart will perish if I leave you, now that you are an expert to your weapons!”

—” Are you leaving me?” I told him.

—” We are going to Jericho tomorrow, and god only knows how much I will miss my trainees when we return to Jerusalem.”

—” Why don’t you take me with you?” my repeated pleadings to him.

—” Prince Achiab, Cingo is only a servant.” His reply to me. —” Your Grandfather is my King; ask for his permission and I’ll be happy to see you riding on a horse beside me.”

—” And so from his great advice and to his big yearning to fulfill my desire, I came here Grandpa to tell you that I want to accompany you to Jericho. Don’t you want me to be with you, your grandson Achiab?”

—” Your father Archelao is the first one to allow to go with me.” said Herod.

—“Ah! Therefore, I may not be able to go.” said the grandson. —“But you are the King, we all obey you. Who would dare to oppose your orders?”

Herod is candid like those other cruel Kings, he softens when being praised and admired. Then he gently caressed Achiab’s chin before speaking:

—” You’re going with me.”

The young man jump for joy in haste and leaned on his Grandfather’s shoulder to kiss those whitish beard that made the Hebrew shakes. Then Achiab spoke with gladness:

—” You are so good to me my King and my Lord, you’re so good to me; and I promise you that as an inexperienced young man, I will be good, obedient and attentive.”

Then all of a sudden, Archelao entered the room, Herod’s son. He has a sad look on his face, and he’s looking worried. Then Achiab’s joyful face quickly vanished upon seeing his father’s somber face, looking weak in his sad behavior.

—” My Lord,” said Archelao, with his husky and shaking voice at Herod’s presence. —” From the towers horse racing track to Jehoshaphat’s valley, from Ephraim’s gate to Zion’s Temple is the ongoing cheering, the echoing jeering of people for the coming Kings from the foreign land. They came here looking for the newborn King of Judah. Who is this King that threatens our Crown?”

Herod’s face turned pale with every beat of his son’s words, but he managed to control himself and spoke:

—” You have nothing to fear Archelao, the Jews are not worth considering by Herod’s successor.”

Then he turned his conversation to his grandson:

—” Achiab, go! And tell Cingo that I want to leave now! And you’re going with me.”

Achiab kissed his forefather’s hand and left the room jumping for great joy.

Archelao was left alone with Herod, and the King spoke to him in a low voice.

—” You my son will stay here in Jerusalem, I am going to Jericho to prepare for my travel to Rome because I was formally indicted by your traitorous brothers and sisters: but before I leave, listen carefully of what I have to say to you, and don’t forget that from being loyal to obeying my orders will determine the transference of this Crown to your head in the near future. I told those Wise Chaldeans who causes this big uproar to our City, to come back to me as soon as they found out about this newborn King that they are looking for; If then, you have to manage and arrange to escort them to me to Jericho like prisoners, guard them amid the two walls of spears.”

—” Your wish is my command.” the delighted Archelao replied, for he has the same corrupt blood flowing in his vein as his father is. —” But sleep well for now my King, for you will reign in Galilee, even if we have to fill Cedron’s streams with human blood if needed.”

Herod peered out his window at that very moment, and the first burst of dawn came in and illuminate his room. He then waved his hankies from the window, and immediately the Trumpeters sounded the Trumpets aloud at the squares. Then he took his tiny silver cane and rang the big iron steel three times, giving the resounding reverberation reaching the farthest Palace’s corners. Bringing in an instant, Salome, Alejo, and Verutidio at the door.

—” And the doctors?” Herod asked his sister.

—” They are waiting at the squares, and they are going with you to Jericho.” replied Salome.

—” But what did they tell you?” the King asked in displeasure.

—” Like as usual, they are advising you to bathe often to Callirhoe Hot Springs.” said Salome.

—” Bah! This is really the end of these doctors; when they can’t do nothing anymore in curing their patient, their solution is to give yourself through the arms of nature. Let’s go!”

And they all leave the room. Verutidio the Roman General is leading, Herod is beside his sister Salome upholding his brother for support. Alejo is the last one to go, heading the stairs, carefully watching his steps down. Behind Alejo is old Ptolomy following quietly. As they reached the said Porticos, there waiting is the elegant four-wheeled wagon, a chariot as they exit the private Palace’s entryway. Cingo opened the Chariot’s door for Herod. He bend down his one knee to the ground as a stool for his Lord’s climbing the wagon. From the side of Herod’s Chariot is Achiab riding the beautiful female horse specifically ordered and trained from Syria.

One aloud voice! Long Live the King! The resounding voices at the square. Herod’s greetings, a big smile for his grandson and a big wave to his entire armies, and his troops waved back to him with hankies in their hands. From there, Cingo ordered like this:

—” To Jericho!”

—” To Jericho!” the repeat command of Cingo to Ptolomy and the old man shouted out loud, commanding the Roman Centurion to begin advancing.

A few more moments and the cruel King can be seen coming out from Jerusalem’s Doria’s gate. The mentioned gate is surrounded by Herod’s hired soldiers. And their Chariots left Jerusalem trailing Bethania’s road going to Jordan river’s shorelines on the way to his beloved City, Rome, the final destination.

Let Herod continue to journey minding nothing but a bloody scheme; let us go back and meet the pilgrims from the East, the Seleucia’s Wise Men!

THE WAY TO EGYPT

DOUAY – RHEIMS BIBLE

And after they were departed, behold an Angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph saying:

—” Arise and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him.”

—” Who rising up and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: he was there until the death of Herod: That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the Prophet Isaias saying: out of Egypt have I called my son.”

THE FOUR KINGS

—” He intensively searches not for the Christ child, but about the Star.”

——— St. John Crysostom _______

—” Wise men from Iran who came into my land looking for a newborn King, greetings to all of you,” Herod said after observing the Chaldeans.

These Magi’s, Zoroaster’s disciples, the good sun-god worshippers respectfully bowed down; and Gaspar the oldest from the three who understand the Hebrew language, replied:

—” We are hoping to find this King that brought us here, from Tigris shores through your City, but our guide vanished like a dream when we finally reached your City defended by the gods and goddesses.

—” I can’t comprehend you Chaldeans,” Herod responded through his sweet words, and with his limited education, he wants to find out of how these Kings able to reach his land; —” but I truly admired these Persian’s Wise Men. However, why did you not come to me first, straight here to my Palace and stayed here, like it is truly yours. Why do you have to pitch your tents from those rubbles, the ruined basement of that Singer King before seeing me?”

—” The Imperial God, who came into this world as Heaven’s Pilgrim, had built His resting place down here on earth, in the sun’s midst; and we, nothing more than mere humans, are simply the sojourners, the travelers of this land, surrendered to death and resigned. Exhausted, we pitched our tents to rest beside the ruins of David’s Palace, because from this Family Tree will come Israel’s (World) Savior.” Gaspar responded.

—” Therefore, the Noble Babylonians have such a great concern from a town that is not theirs?” Herod asked.

—” Anything from God’s proclamation to humanity are warnings from Heaven and should be of concern to all.” Gaspar replied.

—” And is that how your Ethereal God proclaimed your newborn King that’s made known to all?” Herod exclaimed.

—” Balaam prophesied that a Star would appear from the time that “A Great King” is born, and He is designated to accomplish the required victory from East to West.” said the Magi.

—” But there is not a sight of that Star here in Juda; my Wise Scholars never mentioned anything about that. How can you explain this mysterious thing to me? How can it happen that an Ethereal Hebrew God, the One True God, can show itself to this unbelieving land of pagans and not to his loyal follower’s land?” Herod’s questions are one after another.

—” Because no one can explain anything to the unbelieving pagans from that mysterious, and unexplained announcement of the World’s Creator.” said Gaspar.

—” If it is about Herod’s faith, he does not lack that.” a loud response of an ill King.

—” Therefore you should believe that a bright, brilliant Star rise and shine clearly from the East.” Gaspar replied immediately.

—” Shining all the time?” asked Herod.

—” Throughout the days and nights, it shines brilliantly at the top of our Camel’s heads, and guided our journey by its’ mysterious light without a definitive destination to Palestine’s vast sandy desert, from Seleucia to Jerusalem.”

—” Point to me of what direction in Heaven that Star is; I want to see it.” A very anxious Herod responded.

—” That can’t happen because the beautiful Star had left us when we caught the sight of your City’s Minarets from a distance.” Gaspar’s sad reply.

—” And what could be your conviction from that disappearance?”

—” That this is truly the King’s birthplace we are looking for.” Gaspar said.

—” And why a strong desire to see him?” Herod sarcastically asked.

—” To offer to his noble foot the fine pure gold that we picked from the wayside of Nineveh’s river, a common succession of ritual done to a Prince; a Myrrh designated and restricted to one-person, and Frankincense for the One True God. That we may be able to kiss his Holy Foot, to give our great reverence, and worship Him appropriately because he is made to known by Heaven!”

—” Wise Chaldeans, I admire your intelligence, I respect your beliefs. There is nothing here on earth that Herod could be proud of after God, but only the wise. Since you were brought here to my Palace by chance, I am asking for forgiveness, for my many questions that I made, asking for reasonable explanations, from that mysterious Star you followed all the way through here in Jerusalem. That is because of my innocence concerning this matter.”

Herod is a clever politician, and his admiration and his respect for wisdom is a make-believe. He wants to know the truth from the Magi’s mouths everything that happened from the time they left Seleucia. Sharp and very shrewd, the foreigners Kings did not notice intuitively, Herod’s monstrous and bloody plan developing in his mind. He knows that these Persians Kings has learned nothing but to tell the whole truth since their childhood. They considered lying as immodest and lewd like a smelly, ugly spot kind of blood that runs in the vein of the true and honorable gentleman.

Herod made an effort to ask as many questions as possible; he tried hard to ask and affirm of getting the whole truth from his guests, to carry out his plan and use this truth as a weapon against them.

Gaspar relates the whole story with all his prudence, being cautious about his understandings of how this one Star defies the routine with no reformation from Heaven. He also clearly explained the roads this Star traced for them, where they followed its’ ways to Jerusalem, which contradicts the proper courses of comets and planets like it has a mind of its’ own. It is truly mysterious and unbelievable if you did not see it, this big Star that puzzled them, with its’ splendor and shimmering beauty in Heaven’s realm, was never seen again in the cosmic space.

Herod listened in full reverence to Gaspar’s every words. Respectful and complacent, and not more than once he showed to pretend his admiration from these King’s profound words. While these Magi’s on the other hand, are not aware and observant of anything suspicious. They are also like those Scholars that spread and contribute their knowledge all over the world in good and humble ways. They don’t ingrain it in their hearts to use their expertise on treachery and evil pearls of wisdom. Unbeknownst to them, Herod prepared for them a trap; and so, after Herod finished his questioning and found out everything he needs to learn, with full respect, he made the Kings go and leave with this kind of treatment:

—” Go! Investigate and search good; everything that you can find about that child, and upon finding Him, to please let me know, so I can go and worship Him too; and with all my heart, I will offer Him the kind of festivity that your town gives to a Great Man, a newborn child.”

From the exceeding mere show, and from the King’s good attitude, the Capitol’s favored, the Magi Kings left Herod’s Palace filled with joy. When they were about to step down the stairs, Gaspar spoke to his comrades:

—” I hope Herod did not need to say anything wicked and killed enough that made him hated for the most. If not for the human blood that made Israel’s ground red, I may not have believed all the bad news about him.”

Not long after the Persian’s left that Juda’s King’s room, one door suddenly opens. The curtains that cover the said door parted by the one unseen hand, and a head with a thick black soft hair instantly peered out; a happy and friendly face leaned out as if it was speaking, contrary to a dark and grouchy face of that taxpayer’s King.

The newcomer, an added character to our historical story we are reading, had entered with no regard to Mariamne’s executioner’s bedroom. (This is herod’s room). He is a young man approximately twenty-two (22) to twenty-three (23) years of age, arrogant and with a beautiful face. The Roman clothing he is wearing is well-fitting to his robust and graceful elegant physique. Even at a very young age, and before the expected time, a bow can be seen hanging from his forearms, and at his back are the arrows and a dagger on his waist. The “Toga Pretesta” they call Toga Praetexta, is the clothing, a white toga with broad purple stripes on its’ border, wrapped around his body and can be clearly seen in his young and tender young figure, a stature not far from being athletic. Portrayed on his forehead is pride; his appearance is sharp and respectable. Behind his translucent, onion skin face, reflect the visible silhouettes of his bluish veins where the royal blood is flowing.

This handsome child’s name is Achiab, and he is one of the unaccounted grandchildren of Herod. Of all the people at home from Herod’s family, he is called and known as the “favorito.” He obtained his education in Rome through tutoring amid the prosperity and abundance of this Prince. His education was sponsored through Herod’s expenses, his loving forefather that love him so much, and this love is the one that stirred jealousy from Herod’s children, especially Archelao, Achiab’s father.