BLESSED BE WITH THEE

Mary kept the secret, and she cared it in her innermost soul of what the Angel declared to her. She is not telling her husband. Being humble makes her fearful to honestly tell and find the right words without the tinge of conceit. She hides this secret the Lord God entrusted her, like a valuable treasure; she is waiting for the right time from heaven to manifest and proclaim the wonders to happen that can bring her in a state where Our Lord God is pleased.

Mary acknowledged to Joseph her joy, if she could visit her cousin Isabel. Joseph is kind in nature; he is good in heart, and he stayed on guard, doubled his work, and stay awoke all night to double his earnings to fulfill her wish, a loner and unsocial Mary, his good wife. And with all his heart, he authorized Mary to carry out the plan to travel. Joseph is a poor man; his small earnings from his carpentries is just enough for them to live a just life, and so therefore, he cannot quit his work.

Joseph took advantage of Mary’s travel to Ein, Isabel’s town. He entrusted his wife to some of his relatives to look out for her. The roses were in bloom when Mary left Nazareth to Ein; it was springtime. Joseph escorted his wife to a location forty thousand feet far from their town. The short time separation from the Virgin gave Joseph a feeling of congestion when he returned home; it was discontent. Zechariah’s wife Isabel, took care of Mary after Anne’s death. She took the responsibility of a foster mother or the second mother for Mary ever since Mary became parentless.

Now that Mary is married, she promised old Isabel to pay her back in her good works, for Isabel takes care of her when she was young, residing in Zion’s Temple. To make compensation and restitution to old Isabel, is one of Mary’s most intent to cross town and leave Nazareth for a while.

The very young and beautiful traveler, riding in a humble brute, surrounded by religious women going to the very same destination. They are on their way into the mountain of Judea, where Zechariah live. The Ein-Karem City is at the outmost end of Judea, forty thousand feet from the direction south of Jerusalem. The roads are dangerous, and it is unsafe, especially for women to travel the rocky hills and rough roads they are trailing. This can jeopardize their lives.

Some professional writers insists on those days that Mary could have traveled by herself, but this assessment cannot be possible, to re-consider how dangerous the roads she tracks. Volney (Count Constantine de Volney-French Historian), and other historians who knows the old custom from the orient, “no one cross-town alone, they should be together or by groups.”

There is also the need to be careful in the land exposed from the Arab Muslims like those in Palestine, that can jeopardize travelers. Why is it, St. Joseph, a very smart man with a beautiful wife, a young virgin, fifteen years of age, would let her go through a long journey, as far as five or six kilometers, and venture that could end up in a desolate place where there’s no resting area? But there was a known resting area on their way they called “caravansary or caravanserai.” (Hostel). A torn down shelter, the only resting area for travelers when the night falls. A mountainous place that looks like a cauldron for herds of lambs, ready to get slaughtered.

As the travelers crossed Issachar, Manasseh, Samaria, and Benjamin lands, they passed by the Zion’s Temple, where they pay respect. They thanked God and praised Him for their safe journey. Then they continued to the Priest’s City with the boastful minarets, where they stopped to eat. Then they left and trailed the left side, went upward to the glorious land of Ain, in the area where the travelers were not noticed by these vicious and rabid creatures in a place called, “via sangrienta,” or the “bloody ways.”

One of Mary’s relatives from that group went ahead to inform Isabel that Mary is on the way. The mother to be of John was in the field, in a hut, a hut that is partly ruined. She received the news. The relative informed her that Mary came to visit. Isabel immediately ran to the street, with her arms wide open. She welcomed her cousin Mary, overjoyed for her arrival. When the Virgin Mary saw her cousin old Isabel, welcoming her, she too was overjoyed, with gladness in her face and filled with good cheer, she bowed her head to the ground, and pleasantly said:

—“Blessed be with thee!”

Elizabeth, suddenly felt her womb moved in a very unusual way, a vibration that is not normal.

The sweet and respectable words of Mary became a pleasing reverberation to Isabel’s heart. Isabel’s face was so alive like she came back to life, and her blood rose and flowed into her vein like she was forty years younger again. The mysterious words of the Nazarite made Isabel uttered these words:

—“Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”

Then, she looked at Mary. Mary’s face remained in her humble gentle smile, and she abides in silence. Isabel continued to talk:

—“And whence is this to me, that the mother of My Lord should come to visit me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

Isabel, the noble wife of Zechariah, was stunned when God Almighty whispered to her soul, that from the back of her eyes, a vision believed to be in the coming future the “Throne of Glory,” intended by God for her cousin.

But listen to what the Virgin Mary spoke about, the meaning and the delightful song of the New Testament. The Holy Scriptures is the most important to know, the books with the never-ending doctrines of Christianism.

Mary replied to Isabel like this:

—“My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He hath regarded, the lowliness of His handmaiden: For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me Blessed.

For He that is Mighty hath magnified me: and Holy is His name. And His mercy is on them that fear Him: throughout all generations. He hath showed strength with His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek: He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich He hath sent empty away: He remembering His mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: As He promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed forever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

—“The Virgin Mary,” said the Abbot Orsini about Mary’s visit. —“Stayed for three months in heathens town and she lived not far from Ein’s downtown, in the direction of a flowery, and beautiful plain land, a house located where Zechariah often visited. Zechariah owned two houses from this flat land, further from each other. The first house is where the cousins met, located on the west side of Jerusalem, and the second house where John the Baptist was born.”

“There, where David’s child, the bright fortune teller, as Mary watched and observed the stars scattered in the sky; then, turned her melancholic eyes towards the vast immensity of the sea, with every stroke of its’ waves, collides its’ vigor strength on Siria’s seashores. She was mesmerized by the earth’s complete wholesome of its’ content without any deficiency from the smallest, and tiniest creations; its’ amazement and astonishing entirety, from every strand of those flowers, the wings of the tiny little animals; through the wholeness of the world wandered around the brilliance of the wholesome darkness of the night, that woke the profound wonderment of the Virgin. Her fascination with God’s creation.”

—“What a gigantic!” in the mind of this child’s prophets. —“What a gigantic, an enormous being that commands the morning star to designate the fate, in what allocation it can be adored. That commands thunders, and the bolts of lightnings when face to face with The Immortal Being, simultaneously saying:” —“Here we are!”

—“How grand indeed!…..That His kindness is equal to His Mighty Power. He gave goodness of hearts to every humans, and to animals, to know the good, and what could kill them. He gave what is necessary and needed for every baby and for every different kind of animals in the forests.”

In this manner, David the singer, was emulated for his enormous belief in God. The Virgin Mary is inviting, and welcoming the world to go along with her praising God, the Creator.

As Mary wandered in the forest, on her way to the woods, she closely observed beautiful scented flowers where she enjoyed watching. One day while cruising in the forest, she touched an unscented flower, which the Arab’s called, “Arthimeta of Artemether.” (sweet annie). At the touch of Mary’s blessed hand, the charmed floret released its’ pleasing and delightful sweet fragrance and spreads all around, and now this flower is beloved by the eastern people. These flowers breed became known for its’ charming aromatic scents, its’ delightful sweet fragrances she possessed ever since, just by the Nazarite’s touch.

At the back of this ostentatious house of the Hebrew Pontiff is a garden. An extraordinary garden called, “Paradise Gardens of Persia.” The Israelite slaves made it. They created these gardens similar to Cyrus town gardens, and Semiramis gardens.

In those gardens, are the most beautiful trees from Palestine. Its’ elegance gives pleasures to the beholder’s eyes. The sweet fragrances of grapefruits, and the flowing crystal clear water, running through its’ meandering gorgeous creek where alluring branches are hanging down, giving its’ shades by the wayside.

Isabel’s fear of what can happen to her can make her vulnerable in her old age. Hope makes her feel secure. But Isabel’s apprehension and worries vanished with Mary’s careful protection for her. Precious conversations with these two women can make a person holy and innocent.

One is very young and pure, unknowing badness, like Eve when the Creator first created her, and the other one with so many experiences in life because of her old age is very respectful to God. One is expecting a child in her womb while barren for a long time. A child inclined to be a prophet or more than a prophet, while the other is anticipating a blessed child in her Immaculate womb, “The Way,” or “The Bearer,” a “Carrier.” “The Highest!” A leader that will save Israel.

When the flowers are in bloom, illuminated by the moon’s gloomy light in this pleasing night. The plants and flowers in the wilderness, the leafy green trees under the lattice of grapes. These are the ingredients for the rich’s food and wealthy Zechariah, the “deaf,” and the “mute.” His minor lambs fed with scented grasses from the mountain. His fishes from Sidon. His honey, straight from the bee house taken from the hollow at the base of an old Encina trees. (Evergreen Oaks). The delicious aratiles from Jericho, can even be served on Cesar’s long dining table. (aratiles-cherries or manzanitas). The Armenian’s Apricots, Pistachios from Aleppo, and Watermelon from Egypt. Wines from the mountain of Ein-Gedi. The wines that are kept and hidden by Zechariah’s butler in a stone raft. These wines served primarily on a marble’s table, where pretty wine glasses are arranged in circles. The slaves are the one’s to pour wine in the glasses with their happy faces. Austere and simple Mary eats very small, whether in abundance or in poverty; few fruits are good enough, and sometimes a half-cut of bread and a cup of water from Naphta springs.

Mary became like a real daughter to the sweet and loving old Isabel. These are how their three months had passed. Zechariah, on the other hand, who became deaf, and mute for doubting God’s messenger was waiting for the Holy agreement from heaven, asking for mercy from the blessings taken away from him, could be given back again.

At last! the long awaited day came. Isabel gave birth to a one shining bright child, a boy. The good people of Ein celebrates the newly born child, everyone are overwhelmed and fascinated by the event. But everyone’s attention turned to Zechariah’s face with his eyes full of tears, pointing at the child, a new born child, a gift from God Almighty, given to him.

The relatives gathered together to talk of what name could be given to this priest’s child? Everyone agreed to a name “Zechariah,” from the fathers name. But Isabel highly disagrees. She announced to their relatives, with her stern voice, she says:

—“I disagree: He will be called John.”

Still, everyone asked the old priest’s approval. By the hand sign, everyone asked of what name could be given to the child? Zechariah, then asked for a flat wood with wax spread on it, and a piece of prong, a pointed piece of stick, and without hesitation he wrote the following:

—“John is his name.”

Everyone was stunned and surprised! Zechariah is deaf and mute. How did he able to write what his wife had just said, while he can’t hear? Because his sufferings from his sins had ended. From the Almighty, God’s eternal power, the fierce of His everlasting Might, that what was taken were given aback to the Hebrew Priest. The blessings given were stopped for nine months, and given back again through the value of His Eminent Power.

The Angel Gabriel’s prophecy to Zechariah was fulfilled; after nine months of being deaf and mute, Zechariah can speak and hear again, just like before. The whole town had their discussions, and debated with their disagreements from each other about this big miracle.

At last! The goodbyes! The time has come for the Virgin Mary to return to her beloved relatives. After the goodbye’s, hugs and her praises for the new mother, she returned home to Nazareth, accompanied by Zechariah’s slaves.

The birth of Bautista is noble and just like a Hebrew Prince. People feasts for a few days and celebrated the newly born child John Bautista in Ein’s town, feasts given by his father, Zechariah.

A few more years had passed, and the Jews saw that John is the son of a wealthy priest, and Jesus is the son of a poor carpenter. The Jews acknowledged the first from the second. With this, the Son of God, for their gain, is just an ordinary person, unworthy and without nobility. In contrast, John was highly regarded, and privileged, the top kid.

John lived in the desert.

Jesus lived in Nazareth, unknown, but not until three years before His noble death on the Cross.

The Mahometan Muslims, according to the reported news of the Greek named “Herbelot,” from his book “Biblioteca Oriental.” St. John the Baptist nobility cannot be forgotten, where they called him, “John-son of Zechariah.”

From the book of Saadi Shirazi, entitled, “Gulistan,” (The Rose Garden – a Persian Literature). He mentioned about Bautista’s grave, respected in Damascus Temple, where the Muslims prayed. An Arab Prince who made himself famous for visiting the Temple intentionally as a pilgrim, he is a Khalifa or Caliphate, and his name is, “Abd-elMalek.” He insists to buy the church from the Christians, and he made an offer of four thousand dinars (double gold), but the Christians refused to sell the church. For this, Abd-elMalek armed his men and took the Temple by force for the refusal, of what his money cannot buy.

We will go back again in the end, to the life of John the Baptist. But right now let’s go back to Nazareth, where so many events and facts are awaiting us.

I will be posting my next episode, at the last week, 30th of November 2020.

To be continued………………………………………….

THE ANGEL GABRIEL

Nazareth: Galilee’s flower met and received the pure bosom of this loving couple.

Jesus: Roses in the wilderness and lilies in the valleys, a creation was made in the Immaculate womb of the “Star of the Sea.”

Joseph and Mary are living in joy and peace in St. Anne’s poor house. The Patriarch Joseph is doing his work as a carpenter from a small house, its’ size is twelve feet in width and twelve feet long, and it is sixty steps away from Anne’s house. He kept the old custom, an old belief from the east, that woodworks in the house should be done far from where the wife lived. Joseph is truly a merciful man; he built a stilt chair beside the house’s door where he worked. The Palm trees next to this stilt chair gives shades to the travelers. A comfortable and cool resting place for tired, exhausted and hungry voyagers that needs some refreshing relaxations; cold drink to quench the thirsts, a good bread made by the Virgin Mary to quell hunger. A good resting place and shades to defend them from the sun’s fiery heat and a good man with a sweet smile on his lips that offers hospitality in his humble ways.

There, said Orsini. This is where the hardworking carpenter makes a ploughs, yokes and harrows, and he would sometimes build Nipa Huts in villages.

There, said St. Justin Martyr, there in that area from sometimes ago, where a person of God helped his father from rough, and hard works.

Joseph’s arms are strong, and not once that this Saint, a laborer, with the help of his axe, tilted and chopped big woods from Carmel. Mary, on the other hand, the pure and the Immaculate wife of Joseph, the esteemed and Beloved “Virgin of Zion,” with her thin, soft hands would grind wheat and knead dough, to make a round shape, omelets.

Every day she is covered with thick and solid headcover, carrying a heavy water jar on her head, a bucket commonly used by the Nazarenes. She would trail the road they called “The Naples’ Road,” on her way to spring, a creek (known in the present time called “Mary’s Spring”). This spring is not too far from their town, and she always filled her jar with water.

After her household chores, the Virgin Mary will then starts to deal with kneading rough linens, and while doing this work and entertained by it, she also waits for Joseph’s arrival from work. Hard work, and soaked in sweat at Joseph’s arrival, Mary then, will hand him clean linen for washing, and prepare the dinner table, the table made of fine wood, white and smooth, just like the builder’s heart. Mary will set the table, serve fruits and dried vegetables, their every day food that would only be consumed by David’s great-grandchildren, “Joseph and Mary.”

The Hebrew’s are truly economical, you can hardly trust them in times of needs; a glass of water and a darkened tawny bread is all they eat for the whole day, and will not be noticed their weakened state in times of work.

While these Sainted couples are sharing the pauper’s food at this hour of six in the afternoon, sunset from the west is sending them its’ last rays of light at the back of these gorgeous clouds from Palestine’s sky.

The Nightingale’s birds from the nearby trees are singing with their serene voices, very tranquil and encouraging, like welcoming the coming darkening sky, the nightfall. The gloomy birds, the doves of Carmel are making sounds; their chirpings are heard at the high-end point of the trees, calling their fellow associates that wandered around from their nests.

Two months had passed, the admirable couple, Joseph and Mary’s estimable house, the house of the coming Messiah, is protected and shielded by an Angel of Peace with his white wings.

One afternoon (according to a priest Father Drexelius, on Friday in the twenty-fifth of March), Joseph went to Mount Carmel. The sun is hiding from the west; it is not giving its’ fair amount of sunlight on earth. Time had passed and the sun’s gloomy light turned into dusk, a slight beam of light is like departing from its’ own gorgeous footsteps. Its’ darkening sky and the powerful night is nearing to unfold, but Joseph is still nowhere near home. The Virgin Mary is quietly waiting under her lattice of vegetations and honeysuckle plants. Her eyes are focused, looking at Jerusalem’s direction, gazing at heaven’s immensity. In her notion, she is trying to locate the exact site of Zion’s Temple.

Her lips colored in rose are like cleaves of Mount Alps slightly opened, soft and amicable. She is quietly whispering into herself, and from the bottom of her heart, those soft whispers are nothing but her early evening prayers when she was in the Temple. She prays to Jacob’s God.

The crisscrossed branches of the lattice, were decussated, parted ways, and divided into two when this handsome young man walked through. He was well built, wearing a white tunic, and coming from out of him is this radiating, oozing light; its’ rays of lights are sparkling, emanating, it exudes from within. The Angel St. Gabriel, the messenger of Good Favors, good favors for an everlasting healing of restoration from Almighty God, is standing beside her. Mary sensed the presence beside her; then, she slowly turned her head to her side, and what a surprise! An Enlightened Angel standing right next to her! Mary was frightened and in awe at the same time, and she was like nailed to the ground where she stands. The Angel is illuminating the Virgin Mary, dispersing his bright light coming out from his eyes, gazing at her; staring at Mary. He raised his hand as a sign of respect to her; and he spoke to Mary with his pleasant sweet words:

—“Greetings to you! You are full of grace; the Lord is with you; Blessed art thou amongst women.”

Mary’s eyes are fixed to the ground for fear. She can’t open her lips to find words, like a flower that once felt a drop of dew, sprinkled all over her from heaven, and made her petals slowly bloomed to open, and caused her stalks to bowed down to the ground, in like manner to the Virgin of Nazareth, where her passionate heart bloomed into its’ hearing from the secretive words coming from Heaven’s messenger, where she bowed her forehead in reverence, slowly, like a melting candle, in fear that her gaze might be taken disrespectful. Like Moses in fear of God in the “Burning Bush,” that for a single look to Almighty God may cause him to die.

—“Do not be afraid.” With his sweet voice, St. Gabriel continued his words, and he bowed down his shining forehead. —“Because you obtained graces in the eyes of God Almighty, you will conceive and you will give birth to a baby boy, and you will name Him “Jesus.” He will be Eminent, and He will be called “The Son of the Most High.” God will grant Him His Father’s Throne, and He will rule Jacob’s house forever and ever, and His Kingdom will have no end.”

—“How could this happen, for I know not any man?” Mary’s soft replied, because she can’t understand in her mind, of how can she become a mother, and stay pure at the same time, bestowed and promised to remain a virgin, alongside at the altar of God, in Zion’s Temple.

St. Agustin says:

—“The Virgin Mary has no doubt, and she can’t comprehend it in her mind, in what way she can fulfill or accomplish a miracle.”

—“The Holy Spirit will come down to you.” The Angel explained. —“The power of the Most High will keep you in His Secret Might. However, the Divine you are going to bring forth will be called “The Son of God.”

The messenger of God, the Angel, left proof affirming his truthful words to the chosen Virgin. The Virgin is like a beloved vessel, chosen and made to store a nine-month old called “The Divine Word.”

—“Isabel your cousin,” St. Gabriel said, —“is conceived with a child. Although she is old, she is with a child, and she is now six months pregnant. Isabel is considered barren and cannot bear a child, but nothing is impossible with the will of God.”

Mary is like a melting candle, consumed to so many blessings given to her by the Almighty God. She felt she is unworthy to be the chosen one by the Almighty. But even so, she bowed her head down with her wholesome humble self and responded saying:

—“Here I am, the slave of Beloved Senor; Let it be done to me according to Thy Divine Word.”

In an instant, the Angel vanished, and the “Divine Word,” Incarnate, for He is destined to bear sufferings, and die on the Cross. From then on, Mary thought of her cousin Isabel to visit her, for she owes her many favors. Mary is true to being a charitable person; she knows that Isabel is quite old. To see her cousin is a significant consideration, and she wants to be useful to others, it makes her happy!

Before we enter the door of the wealthy relative of the Nazareth’s flower, let me tell you in a few words about the Father of St. John the Baptist.

Let us hear what Prince Ataulfo de Orleans y Sajonia said when he mentioned the Book of St. Luke:

—“In Herod’s days, the King of Galilee, there was a priest named Zechariah, from the priest’s descendants in Abea. These clans are one of those descendants that took turns to minister in the Temple. His wife named Elizabeth or Isabel, like Zechariah, is from Aaron’s descendants.

Both of them are Holy in the eyes of God. They both complied with the laws and obeyed God’s Commandments. Zechariah was appointed to offer frankincense in the Temple when an Angel of God appeared to him. While he stands at the right side of the altar, he looked at the Angel’s face, so venerable and calm. His whole body suggested that He is God sent. Zechariah’s entire body trembled, that the Angel had to calm him down and counseled him.

—“Don’t be afraid Zechariah, my appearance to you should be of gladness and not to fear; your prayers reached heaven, and God heard you. To make you believe, your wife Isabel, while old and barren, will conceive, and you will be given one child. You will call him John, which will bring gladness to the entire Israel.”

—“His arrival in this world is the reason for you and for many to celebrate the beginning of one big festivity, like an advanced revelation for the future fate, that he is going to become a “Grand Nobility.”

—“He is a man in the eyes of God; he is destined to perform a great obligation alongside with the Messiah. This revelation would not belong before he comes to act upon it.”

—“He will be saintly, and he will be respected even in his mother’s womb, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will bear and endure not to eat meat in his entire life, nor drink wine. He will be determined to stand and preached to his own people, and he will restore their faith to Almighty God.”

—“His emergence will come first before the arrival of the vanquisher or the conqueror. He will as well be the first to walk with the Holy Spirit and be like Elias in goodness and virtue. He will be very sharp and fortuitous in preaching the doctrines of God, and he will teach their children to bring their hearts back to life, their faith in God, and their love and respect for their parents.”

—“He will enlightened the minds of the unbelievers, and he will make them believe. They will be forced to obey and pursue the road to wisdom of the blessed, and he will prepare their ways for the coming of the Almighty God, for this chaste town will pursue to receive with all discretion the commandments of the New Testament.”

This is how far Ataulfo’s commentaries could go. “Ataulfo de Sajonia.”

Zechariah observed the Angel filled with joy and gladness, but nesting in his heart is big doubt. He listened with the messenger’s words, and he heard it with his ears, with all his pleasures, but his soul would not believe.

God granted him to have a child, none other than Bautista, undoubtedly, he is going to be “Jesus’s way, and Jesus’s messenger,” but this fortunate priest still would not believe God’s proclamation, and he says:

—“I am old, and my wife is the same. How will I know if what you’re telling me is true?”

God’s messenger trembled in anger for Zechariah’s lack of faith. The Angel’s eyes bursts out rays of light coming from heaven. The radiance of bright light strikes the priests tongue for his lack of belief.

—“I am Gabriel.” The Angel’s reiterated words. —“I am one of the Angels that dwells at the foot of Almighty God’s Throne. The Sovereign Authority, where God sends His Angels to His people to receive His messages. He sends me to you, but because you did not believe my messages from God, from now on, you will be deaf and mute until the day that all my proclamations are fulfilled.”

Zechariah despaired, and he lost heart. He was not able to finish his works inside the Temple. God granted him a heavy punishment, and Zechariah is in woe. Grieving, he left the crowded Jerusalem, and he traced some part streets of Galilee, and some prosperous road to Samaria, then he followed the big part of Judea’s land. After days of journeying, he finally arrived in Ain’s town where he owns a house and a big part of land, this is where he lives.

His wife greeted him. Isabel was very happy and she has her smile on her lips. This fortunate wife wanted to tell and reveal to her newly arrived husband, the soon mother to be of John; the blessings and graces that God Almighty granted them. But this lack of faith priest cannot hear her wordings, and he cannot replied back to her questions. He cried, river of tears rolled down his eyes. He pulled deep breathing from his chest from the punishment he received from God. Isabel embraced him and kissed him, and with gladness in her heart she said:

—“The God of Jacob heard my prayers. I am a mother now! I can feel the pulsation of a new person in my womb, and you are not telling me anything?”

Zechariah is forcing himself to say something, he closed open his mouth, but no words came out! This can’t be, for he is now deaf and mute. He groaned and he sighed, and he pulled deep breathing from his chest, but he fell to the ground in an instant, at the foot of his wife, weakened.

To be continued……………………………….

THE GOLDEN RING

MOSES SAID: “Let them be accursed for those who don’t leave a child in Israel.”

For this reason and according to this law; Mary should get married.

Bautista’s parents, who became a martyr from that provocative Queen’s pride, is visiting Ain, a small town 40,000 feet far from the South of Jerusalem. They did not listen to Mary’s continuous request. Mary, who they treated like their own child, requested and tried to forced them to let her stay in Zion’s Temple for the rest of her life. David’s clans and Juda’s clans and all the relatives were called for this reason. (If Bautista is John the Baptist, is this mean that Mary was adopted by Zechariah and Elizabeth and treat her like their own child?)

One of David’s grandchild cannot refuse to bear marriage. Prophets foretold that from the fresh tree of a leafy branch will come along the awaited Messiah to deliver Israel and erect a flag that symbolizes triumph and life for the Maccabees. To erect the flag upright at the Temple’s top, those unconsecrated Temples of the unclean Romans.

Desiring to take revenge, the Jews are glad as they fantasize a surprise attack that can shock the Tiber’s slaves in fear.

Oh! If they can only see and read the words written in red from their noble flag:

—“Who’s Gods and Goddesses can be like you……………….Oh! Everlasting God?”

For God is Hebrew’s hope since the Assyrians attacked them with their triumphant armies and took them as captives to Euphrates shore. Israel wept; the tears they shed are for the afflictions from these nasty Babylonians. The sweet and jingling sounds of Juda’s harps are gone, and the worshipful goblets from Zion’s Temple seemed to lost it’s value and were just left at the foot of the Goddess Belo, like it could give healing to these vicious Gods and Goddesses of Babylon.

The hope of Abraham’s town is Mary; she is the violet’s fragrance of Nazareth; the King’s fresh rosebud of singers, and she should marry the man the same race as she is; with the blood as pure that flows from the blue vein of the “Star of the Sea.”

According to its’ sacred history, this splendid Virgin had twenty-four admirers to capture her heart. Joseph is one of them, a carpenter from Nazareth, and Agabus, a nobleman from Jerusalem.

Joseph is poor, and a humble man; small earnings from his hands works are his way of living. He is a lot older than Mary. (according to some proficient writers, Joseph is 80 years old when he married; but based on Hebrew law, an older man cannot marry a young lady, which concludes that he could be in his 40’s). (In my own opinion, 80 years old could be the right age when he married, because at that time people live a long life, up to 300 years, and 80 could still be as strong as a young man).

Joseph’s noble head has so much white hair on it, while Agabus was young, wealthy, and well built. He’s got noble blood, and one of his relatives was influential in Judea.

The other one can only render a poor and hard life, but the other one can provide a comfortable and prosperous life. Joseph cannot give the luxury of beautiful clothes; a humble poor’s fisher coat was all he could afford, and on the dinner table was the worker’s hard bread. On the other hand, Agabus can offer and laid on her feet expensive clothes from Egypt; her hands and arms can wear valuable jewels, gold and pearls from Persia (Iran).

But the priests did not evaluate and consider Mary’s luxury and wealth, they chose the poor carpenter from Nazareth because God reminds them about the prophecies of Isaiah.

—“One is to appear a “varas” – (a thief, a robber) from Jacob’s vein, and from his vein will arise a precious flower”.

That night, twenty-four of the Virgin’s admirers went to the Temple to pray for help and guidance. Each carried a tree branch, and each left these tree branches at the altar’s foot in the Temple after they prayed. An old legend was told by St. Germain, attesting and confirming that from Joseph’s dried tree branch came to bloom a fresh flower the next day. Joseph the son of Jacob, from Nathan.

Agabus had lost his hope from this miracle that heaven had shown him, and he felt that all doors closed on him. Defeated, he cut his tree branch into pieces, then he ran and hide into Mount Carmel, imprisoned himself in a cave. After he recovered from his desperation, he joined Elias and became one of his disciples.

Agabus’s bitterness and resentment are massive. But just as big as his faith and beliefs were, his anguish was just as significant. Desperation made him desire to die, but he had his conversion first, he was christened and died with honor as a Saint.

The day came, for Mary’s tutors and her caretakers to proclaim her designated husband’s name and his personality, and with no hesitation, Mary accepted it.

The Temple’s modest work won’t be long; the Holy House of God’s perfumes, the accessible works will be substituted with hard works for the poor’s wife. But Mary has a brave heart and hoping that God would give her the strength to support her heavy burden.

She was destined to be the carpenter’s wife; she did not take it as a lowly life, but instead, she took it like everybody else, that all Israelites have their jobs and work for a living. Even the rich and the wealthy has to learn how to work and earn a living just like everybody. Unless a child was trained the other way, like stealing or robbing, and this was strictly mentioned in their law, to not let this be a paradigm.

Joseph, a poor carpenter! But in his vein flows down a royal blood, he is from David’s descendants.

Joseph and Mary’s engagement happened according to their customs from the old time. In front of their relatives and some priests, the groom presents the engagement ring he bought for a low price. A smooth golden ring for his other half, and these words goes with it:

—“If you allow and agreed to accept this pledge to be my true wife.”

The quick agreement was made, and the scribers wrote:

“I, Joseph son of Nathan, told Maria, Joachim’s daughter that you are my wife from Moses law and for the entire Israel. I promise to praise you, feed you, and clothe you, according to Hebrew’s spouses’ customs. Beginning today, I will give you the amount of two-hundred Zuz of my earnings, and I promise that besides clothing and food and other things that you may need, I am not going to forget my sweet love.”

This is where the marrying couple and the witnesses signed the contract papers and pursued the said agreement, and this is what it says:

“Mary agreed to be Joseph’s wife, and this came from the bottom of her heart when she completed and executed the widowhood, or the money that she is going to receive if she became a widow. Based on her property, she added Eight Hundred Zuz more from the said money.”

Five months of preparations from the bride’s relatives, for the second ceremony is the most important for the Israelites.

At last! The said time came……………….first Wednesday is the chosen day in the month of January. A Jewish customary day, to exact the wedding on first Wednesday of January, for they believe that this day brings good luck for the newlyweds.

From the peaceful and calm strait sea of Galilee spreads the silver ray of light from the moon, when a group of maidens with their nice clothes, their party clothes, walking a narrow road, in cheerful manners, dancing and prancing, going to Mary’s house. The slaves, holding the torches are their beckon of lights on the street. Their glittering golden linings on their scarves, their sunken crowns (from Persia) on their heads, the ornaments of diamonds sequenced from their garments, that sparkles from the glowing lights of torches, make the night glitters. These Virgins social circle are all worn out but did not find this celebration tedious.

The marching bands harps and flutes sounded out their pleasing music. Friends and relatives waved their palms and myrtle branches for celebrations.

Then the Committee began to walk to the Temple. Joseph is leading the group with his joyous friends. He is wearing on his righteous head, sulfur with salt, wrapped around his head, and it crowned him.

The dancing began, and shouting goes along with it, an indication of a big celebration. Women are spraying essences of sweet perfumes, fragrances to Mary’s clothe and showering her with beautiful flowers while they’re walking and shouting aloud.

—“Let us praise, let us praise David’s niece.”

Big crowds of spectators and guests are waiting at the Temple’s stairs. They could barely see the bride, the glimmer of her coming, along with her maidens, as she gets near from the distance, can be seen by the flickering lights of their candles. The bride and her crowds finally arrived, and together with her spectators and guests, all shouted aloud and say:

—“Blessed art thou that cometh!”

There are no words for their indescribable joy and happiness that showeth from everyone’s hearts, with two hearts tying the knots, these humble and tamed lovers like Joseph and Mary.

Without any errors, God reserved this young woman as the Mother of Jesus, her road to bitterness, where God gave her and vested this one day of joy and celebration here in Jerusalem. Just like her Son, in the same fate, with their bitter tears, will downpour at the top of this Mount Calvary, Golgotha!

The Paragon (Varang) holds an umbrella for the newlywed and walks them to the tent. The husband and wife, Joseph and Mary sat down under this royal tent. Mary’s face was covered with veil, and Joseph’s shawl was wrapped around his neck.

—“Here.” Joseph said as he put the second golden ring to Mary’s finger. —“You are my wife now, according to Moses law and the whole of Israel.”

—“Cover her head entirely with your shawl, your slave.” the highest priest instructed Joseph. (I believe this is for submission, because of what happened from Adam and Eve).

—“Yes, right now.” the Patriarch Joseph replied as he unfolded his shawl at the same time, and covered Mary’s head entirely.

Then one of the relative pour wine into a goblet; the relative then, took a sip of wine from the goblet for a taste, then passed it to the newlywed for them to drink.

Then the priest throw a handful of wheat in the air for abundance, and from there, he took the goblet from the husband and wife and handed it to a six-year old child, and the child broke the glass with a piece of utensil made of silver.

The wedding ceremony is now completed, and the celebration began. While the guests are debating and arguing with their different issues, Joseph whispered to his wife and said the following:

—“You are going to be my Mother; I will respect you like God’s shrine.”

The celebration lasted for seven days, and in the eight days, the newlywed left Jerusalem to return to Nazareth. According to their custom, some relatives should accompany the couple, and at the first station is where they part ways; with sadness and tears in their eyes, they said goodbye!

to be continued……………………………….

THE VIRGIN OF ZION

A few days had passed, Mary’s parents followed by a group of relatives in their festive clothes, went to the Temple. Joachim is carrying a white, perfect and unblemished sheep by the hand, intended for God’s offering. Anne, his wife is with Mary, and in her hand is a small amount of flour needed for offerings, wrapped in a piece of white cloth.

Let’s listen to what Abbot Orsini has to say for ushering Mary: (Abbot – is a head superior)

—“People from the other town, trailing churchyard from the outer side needs to stop, and if not you will be punished by death!”

The Pharisee’s from the group of King’s guards had increased in numbers, and the Doctors, the Honorable Maidens are all gathered together under Solomon’s porch. The Committee stopped for a while from the marble stairs intended for the married couples. (People from the other town and the women’s courtyard are ten meters away from this area).

The Pharisee’s laid out their “Tefillin” or “Mezuzzah” (a small boxlike leather cases holding slips inscribed with certain Scriptures passages. Using leather thongs, they fastened one on their foreheads and one in the right arms for honor and dignity). Their proud heads are covered with one of the “Tallit” (“Talet” in modern Hebrew).

“Tallit” is a type of garment that cover their heads, a prayer shawl worn by religious Jews. A mantle of white and clean wool decorated with some purple ropes (granada), or cords colored in blue; the brave Herod’s Captains are wrapped and covered with their proud mantle (Monastic vesture), with gold bells or buttons attached to the robe. The Virgin’s heads from Zion’s temple are fully covered for respect to the Angels of the Sanctuary’s Holy place.

This child, where God is very pleased, and her honorable escorts arrived at the bronze door that closes to those who should not enter this sacred place. Then the Nicanor door opened to bring in the offerings. The offering of oneself, an oblation of oneself to God (on the far west of the women’s court was the Great Nicanor Gate, which stood at the Great East side of the Court of Israel).

Entering the Nicanor Gate displayed the amazing and magnificent beauty of Zerubabbel’s Temple, decorated with jewels and crowns; most are the Temple’s offerings. The door covered with gold and the walls constructed with big rocks, smooth rocks engraved with autumn leaves, which became very popular and made known to the east’s old buildings.

Everyone was astonished! Everyone was respectable to the House of God. The midst of this church is magnificent in greatness and with its’ grandeur immensity, it is marvelous! But her charm and beauty are not as exquisite and fantastic as before; its’ former brilliance and excellence are lesser; something that can’t be explained is obvious.

From its’ most respectable and noble ceremonies, priests are not anointed with oil, the Holy oil of God like in the olds, and the “Ark of the Covenant” is gone.

But a new day should arise from the east and the new beginnings starts to brighten up again. The priests and some men wearing frock coats are gathered together from the last step of the stair. They offered their hands to Joachim to take the offering, a sacrifice lamb for abundance. These God’s Ministers foreheads are not coiled with laurel or wrap with fresh branch of celery. Unlike these priests of idols, with their miters look-alike on their foreheads, their miters are looped with thick linens; their long white coats made of fine linens are not too broad, tightened by their long sashes embroidered with gold, this can only be worn inside the Temple.

These priests of idols are the one’s to slay animals for everyday offerings. When the priest of idols suspended his sash to his left shoulder, and he says: “Echaneos,” that means “to take-off,” he is now ready to take the offerings. He grabbed the lamb from Joachim’s hand, and turned it upside down towards the north, and pointed the Blessed machete towards the neck, then through Jacob’s God, he prayed along with it.

The blood drips down to a copper glass, to hold and reserved. It’s intent is to apply and rub it to the altars horns. The “Altar’s Horns,” they call are in four corners of the shrine; these are four hollowed pillars where they apply and rub the animal blood, which they slaughtered inside the Temple.

They collect the internal parts, like the heart, stone, liver and other parts of the slaughtered animal, and piled up in a golden plate. The helpers, 18 for the most, will take these internal parts to the water well inside this particular room where they wash them carefully, then they take it back to the slayer.

One at a time, these helpers will hand it back to the slayer in preparation for rituals. The slayer will need to sprinkle it with frankincense and salt; then he climb the stairs with his bare feet. At the top of the altar is a sacrificial bonfire, lit-up. The ceremony starts by pouring wine and blood on each internal parts followed by a small amount of flour melted with boiling oil, a pure olive oil in a goblet.

At last! The offerings are placed on top of the burning woods, the woods that came from Sichem’s forests. Each woods used for this ceremony are meticulously inspected before being skinned by the Temple’s high ranking officials.

Leftovers from these offerings are the chest, and the fan-shaped muscle from the armpit intended for the attendees. The helpers handed the bits of what’s left to Anne’s husband Joachim. He then distributed it to their near relatives according to their town’s customs.

The trumpet last blasts from the priests were heard all over the long and extensive porches of the courtyard; the offerings are still burning from the sacrificial altar, when one of the members from the Temple of the women’s churchyard came downstairs, to finish the ceremony.

Anne and Joachim are next to each other. Joachim is carrying Mary by his arms; a black veil covered Mary’s head when they approached one of the Ministers, a disciple of God. They offered this young servant of God, Mary. Weeping, Joachim said the following:

—“I came here to offer this gift bestowed on me by Our Lord God.”

The priests were pleased to receive and accepted this young offering in the name of the Angels that gives abundance to Mother’s wombs.

A vital will, a young servant given in trust for safekeeping, a compensation for returning a favor from a request granted. The priests praised the Sainted couple, like praising their Pope Eli from the past, and just like a deja vu, that can be compared in the same circumstance, when they praised the Sainted couple, fearful of God, Elkanah and his fortunate wife Hannah, in the same manner.

(The Pope Eli mentioned here is a high ranking Pope of the Jews from Samson’s descendants, that died instantly from sitting down when he heard the news that the Philistines subjugated the Ark of the Covenant in the year 1112 before Christ was born).

The priest, then, raised his hands to the whole assembly and bowed his head for the Pope’s blessings; then he spoke with these words:

—“Oh Israel! May God turn His lights on you; You are bountiful in everything, and may God give you His peace.”

Happy songs of Thanksgiving, with priests participations and their harps they ended the ceremony, a celebration for the “Noble Virgin.”

This is the ceremony that happened from the Temple of Zion, from the last days of November. Zechariah the prince of priests from Ain town, a relative of Joachim and Anne, is the one who received the very young virgin from her mother’s hand to stay and be with the other virgins in the house of God. From that day on, the Holy and devout Matrones (nuns) are answerable and accountable to priests for taking care of the beloved. Given in trust, they looked at her with compliance, and because of her beauty and goodness, this very young lady was renounced.

Mary’s change of residence to the Temple is not that of a servant nun, but for contemplation, and strictly to remain virgin. Since Mary was rendered to God in the Temple, her parents moved to Jerusalem because of their frequent visit to her. Anne cannot live far from her daughter.

The Temple’s Virgins have their routine every day. The sun is their time clock. The night is coming when they see the Tabor’s mountain turned red from the sun’s reflection; and when the eagles left their dark nests from Lebanon’s mountain, and watch them fly, circling the white and high Minaret of Jerusalem; It is time for their every day cleaning routine, to wash themselves and get ready for the night prayers. Mary was wearing her modest head coverings that night, the “virgin veil” they called; followed by her associates at the foot of the altar, their heartfelt voices are heard singing the prayer called “Estro,” (or “estrus” – which means “inspiration.” This is the very first prayer, carefully preserved and kept by the Jewish).

Unknown to the Virgins, God is listening and hearing their prayers, coming from the earth’s dusts, where it slowly rise up, and ascends to the Holy of Holies, it finally reached His House, the “Paradise.” Here is what it says:

—“Oh God!………We honor your Holy name; may Your name be respected in this world created by Your Holy Will. May You make Your Kingdom reign; may You redeem us all, and may the Messiah come now.”

As the virgins sings their harmonious songs in the Temple with their harps, the town’s people are solemnly responsive to them; with their foreheads bowed down to the ground, they say:

—“Amen! Amen!”

The virgins then, would repeat the psalm part, the prayer with it’s golden lesson from the Prophet Aggeus and Prophet Zechariah. Here is their psalm prayer:

—“Beloved Senor will free those who are in bondage; the Senor will give sight to the blind.”

—“The Senor will defend the strangers; He will care for the orphans and the widows, and will destroy the ways of sinners.”

—“The Senor’s Kingdom will reign forever; your God Oh Zion! shall reign with His Kingdom in all generations.”

Mary stayed and remained in Solomon’s Temple until the age of 15. She was the ideal model from all those times. She was good and holy to her associates. Embroidery and reading sacred books are her hobbies in her leisure time. She is no comparison in threading linen, where her expertise is threading the “shirt front.” She is so good in threading that a slogan was made and reached our time! It says:

—“The thread of the “Noble Virgin.” (or could it be “The knots of the Noble Virgin?”)

Saint Dionysius, the Areopagite, lived at the same time as Mary. She was 15 years of age at that time. Here is what he says:

—“Her luck was no comparison to no one. Behold her pure and bright light when she stares, and she has a sweet voice. She is very beautiful, and she dazzle shines with her bright light. I wish to worship her like a Goddess, but it’s just, that I know there’s only one God.”

Saint Epiphanius from the 4th Century, a considered Saint. Here is his description of the “Noble Virgin.”

—“She is a little taller from the average height; her skin color is golden like that of a Shulamite, a color similar to that grain of wheat from Egypt, her hometown; her hair is reddish; her eyes are so alive. Her appearance is petite, quiet, and unsocial; like the olive, she is like a supplication to God and the person in power. Her black eyebrows are refined and elegant in shape; her nose is not that high; her lips are like a rose in color. Pretty and gorgeous is the shape of her face; her fingers are long and candle-shaped.”

According to their opinions and expert attributions, all the treasures are piled up to Mary, pertaining to her beauty, love for God, and her fellow people, bravery, and holiness. The values, righteous anger, the importance of redeeming her fate, from the time she accepted the will of God with her pure heart, here with the dwellers, the very first pulse of a new life, none other than just a woman. That God shoots an arrow to His love, from the blast of His breath, that it all happened. God chose her and called her from the earth for the time to come to be the Paramount, the upmost designation, His Mother.

He made Mary more purer than Susannah, more beautiful and braver than Esther (a Jewish girl who saved her people from being destroyed); to be more chaste and calm than Abigail (wife of David); be more prompt than Deborah (a fortune-teller who lead the Hebrews and free them from slavery of the Canaanites). She can bear hardships, courageous from long sufferings, more patient and tolerant than the famous Maccabee’s mother.

We are going to finish our description of Our Lady, “The Noble Virgin,” from this word: “That Mary speaks very little; she is ladylike and modest; despite being young and beautiful, she doesn’t want to be seen often.

The consistency of the situation and when everything is determined. Alas! The time has come! To initiate and to begin! To drown the “Noble Virgin,” with her tears!

Then it began! The severe trials God destined for her!

Zecharias, head of the priests and Mary’s relative, went to her room and say”

—“Cover your head and follow me.”

—“Where are we going?” Mary asked.

—“A person is in his deathbed right now, and he is in his last breath; God is calling him from within, but before he leaves, he wants to render you his precious blessings. To grant you his last benediction.”

—“My Father!” Mary screamed in distress.

—“Yes! Your Father!” the priest soft replied.

Joachim died just like the Saints, surrounded by his family, hearing their prayers, and the weeping of his relatives and friends. Mary closed her eyes as Joachim breathe his last breath; then he’s gone. Mary and her mother ushered the corpse to it’s last house (grave).

But Oh! It’s vicious strikes blasted! Not just once! More severe attacks followed, and it drowned her “Mary the unblemished,” in the sea of deep sorrow, and loneliness. It all began! The devastation of her broken heart drifted in this ruthless and severe thrusts; it pierced her heart where thousands more are waiting.

The light of death does not surpass the house of widowed Anna. With her rough veil and bare feet, Mary clothed in black and still mourning from her father’s death, when a second messenger came to the Temple to inform her of her mother’s condition. “Anne is dying.” Stricken with grief for the second time, she holds her heart, appalled; she ran escorted by one of the Matrones (nun), to her mother’s death bed.

It was night when she reached the house. Beside the door of Blessed Anne’s house was a dirge. She was lamenting and wailing grievously.

—“Woman, is my mother dead?” Mary asked.

—“Virgin, not yet.” the woman replied. —“But my weeping and wailing is an indication that she is near death.”

Heaven’s dew in the morning greeted Anne’s way to God’s Throne.

Mary is now completely alone, and parentless, an orphaned. She is now liberated, owning her own self. But she chose God’s house for her refuge. With her torn and broken heart, she mourned and grieved hard, but she endured it quietly.

Coming from the bottom of her Immaculate heart, and her soul that defined the beauty of her tears, her heart bursts out the unending Love forever!

Mary held her face up to Heaven, filled with grief, and her eyes are weeping, she said”

—“Oh My God! Let your will be done.”

Then Mary light-up the Synagogue’s candle, this candle of mourning, the silent witness to her grief and anguish, she prayed for her mother and father’s death.

Once a week for 11 months, Mary fasts; she doesn’t eat. She directly fasts from the date she became parentless.

Besides being poor and orphaned, Mary had tutors to educate her, and she has caretakers to look up to her.

Zecharias, Elizabeth husband, and their son John the Baptist, Christs comedian, became Mary’s tutor. Joachim chose him to be Mary’s tutor before his death.

to be continued…………………………………..

STAR OF THE SEA

MARIA

We are going to start the book of “The Noble Virgin.”

Zorrilla a renowned writer, a Spanish poet wrote about the Virgin, and Murillo, a noble painter in his time, with his luxurious and elegant paintbrush, that with every stroke of his brush is a profound revelation of Mary’s beauty. They both concluded, without knowing each other, the feeling of denigration from Mary’s immense beauty and superiority. A humble Virgin with her Paramount beauty gushed forth pearls of tears from her sweet eyes. A Mother grieving and weeping in Golgotha or Calvary, mourning from the death of Her Son, is immeasurable. Mary’s Grandeur is from Heaven, where no human intellect on earth could ever comprehend.

Jose Zorrilla y Moral was a Spanish poet and dramatist who became a National Laureate. In his early years, Zorrilla was known as an extraordinary fast writer.

Born: Feb. 21, 1817 Valladolid Spain

Died: Jan. 23, 1893 Madrid

Murillo (Bartolome Esteban Murillo) a Spanish painter and a Baroque Painter known for his religious works. He produced considerable numbers of paintings of the Virgin Mary.

Born: Dec. 31, 1617 Seville Spain

Died: April 3, 1682 Seville Spain

Forgive me, of my little humble self, if I am of high spirited for being bold and daring to talk about your heartbreaking and distressing story. My Christian faith that makes me brave from my lack of strength. Your Honorable name may give me color from my pale mind; to you I hope to end my heavy burdens.

NAZARETH: The Virgin’s town, where God was born, still wrapped with His last shroud, covered by the dark night, quietly sleeping at the end of this charming terrain, the plain land of Jezreel.

YOUR HIGHNESS: “God Almighty!” From the highest will of his heart. Our Creator puts you into a haven of two hills like two loving mothers, to protect her children from the sudden attack of the wicked storm.

Nazareth, a blue dove from the far east, you placed your nest in the shades of Mount Hermon and indulged yourself from its’ fragrance sent to you from Canaan, this garden that was once desired by the Israelites from the Zabulon clans.

Nazareth, a delicate flower, a lily from plain land, from your heart enshrined those pearls from the orient, the granule of gold of Chistianism!………………………..Jerusalem!

Zoara and Beirut looked at you and watched you; they insulted you through pride, for their avarice of being the only Queen of Palestine, because they don’t know that you are commissioned to be the refuge, the respectable, the prophecies of the prophecies, a spring with the unending stream of healings from the heart; the beautiful and the charming bright light from the sun of faith and hope.

From the desert came down a mist from heaven. God greeted you from His Throne, with His bright light coming from the heart of the purest of pure; the Angels welcomed you, singing their beautiful and harmonious songs from heaven’s dazzling light, because the prophecies shall come to pass.

A beautiful child, a girl, like a star of the morning, from the pure bosom of her chest, escaped the very first heave of her breath to release the sorrows of pain. The very first cry of this newly born babe, signals a new life has begun, a child that cometh as Our Mediatrix forever and ever.

She was born without the luxury of the warm, comfortable bed, wrapped in linen made from Egypt. She was not adorned, and decorated with Persian’s gold. Her clouts (diapers) are not perfumed from spikenard’s incense and not steamed from myrrh of essential oils; the aromatic, biotic materials released fragrances when burned from the perfumed burner made of silver, a ritual that can only be made to a Hebrew Princes.

A miserable and rough fabric wrapped around her young body; a small cottage is her house, and a few needy and poor women from their town surrounded her bed; these women who receiveth her very first smile.

This weak child was born intended to be the Queen of Heaven, The Mother of the Angels, and Our Lord God’s housewife, “Our Father.” Conquerors of lands will offer their scepters as their gifts to her foot; the Kings will bow down in front of her with their proud crowned heads. The afflicted will invoke her affirmation and kneel to worship her in every shrine built by her faithful Christians. She will be a powerful solution to every problem, the universal healer of humankind from their ailment. She is the embossed of the defiled and the desolate from the sea of life. She will comfort the mournful, saddened and the grieving. Her noble name will be continuously called from the embittered moment of their lives because God chose her to be humanely human in the flesh, a mortal being with her graceful manner, to conform our dreadful sins by her not so precious blood. She is the righteous tree, shining and free from the sins that we inherit from Adam, down to the sins of the last generation, until the end of time. Her name is as sweet as the honey bee from the lips of those who are afflicted.

But don’t be forwarned of what can happen:

Nazareth, from Galilee’s lower side of town, there lived a nobleman named Joachim from Judah’s tribe, descendants of David, to Nathan. His wife was named Anne (means: “Goodness of Heart.”) They are both good in the heart; they are faithful and obey God’s commandments. But God’s eyes are far from them; Anne can’t conceive from their twenty years of marriage. In no time, Joachim can break and abolish their matrimony that bears no fruit. Anne can give Joachim the divorce that can be granted immediately under the Pharisee’s law. A merciless law where women considered a possession like a slave. A law that makes men more powerful with no regard to feelings and emotions of women. Anne lived a life of sorrow and sadness; married and childless in Israel is considered damnable. But Joachim loved his wife, and agreed with what God bestowed on them. Amid praying, working, and beg for charity, they prayed dearly with all their heart to grant their request to have a child, to dissipate the lewdness they are bearing. With so much fasting, and praying, their faith and hope to God were heard, their request were granted, the prayers that came from two pure loving hearts.

At last! A palpitation, a pulse from a womb, a seed of a new life. Emotionally overjoyed and true to her husband, she told him immediately. Months had passed, then days, then nights, and finally the moment has come; it was Saturday morning in September, blood propelled through, bursts from within, a new life was born, the pulsation, the heartbeat, throbbing from this new babe. Anne is now a mother, and Joachim presents his newly born child to his families, relatives, and friends in no time. A beautiful child valued like a granule of gold from Egypt’s merchants.

According to the Israelite’s customs, after nine days of giving birth to a child, the family should gather together at the husband’s parent’s house to give name a child. The father should choose the name, and in Joachim’s mind being his first child, the name should be a lovely name, a meaningful name still unknown, and haven’t been assembled in letters. But God had chose a unique name for her that will unite to her wholesome, because God enclosed her heaven’s unending sweet songs.

The name is “Miriam” (Maria), a name in Sirach means, “The Paramount; The Superior; The Upmost,” and in Hebrew means, “The Star of the Sea.”

Will there be more names that can be appropriate, worthy of holding the utmost, and supreme commitment? A pledge of a Virgin from her pure and Immaculate womb destined to carry the Martyr of Calvary!

Like St. Bernard says:

—“Truly that Mary is that beautiful, and the shining star that gives light to the tempest, and stormy sea of life in this immense world!”

A young girl that at the age of eight was seen in public openly cleaning the Temple. The Temple where they offer white sheep to the altar or two white doves if poor, and for the wealthy and rich is the golden crown. Anne is poor, a lonely woman, and can only offer one white dove for her sufferings. But to compensate God’s irreplaceable blessing that was granted to her, she promised God to offer her only child to be the “Handmaid,” for Maria to serve God in the Temple, but like a little rosebud that she also needs to be shaped and learn good from the bad.

Anne nourished Maria by breastfeeding her. Mother’s in Juda are the one to take care of their children, they devote themselves raising their children in Godly ways, and obligated to keep them pious. This beautiful girl is far from being affectionate to play with other children like her; she grew up praying most of the time, and contemplating. She is with precision, and with providence to God, but she most appreciate the sweet loving of her parents. She was the most admired, and beloved by the good and friendly people from her town, Nazareth.

Her eyes colored in blue, just like the heavenly sky from the east, she is the shining star from God in Heaven, her lips colored like nectar, similar to a rosebud, a tiny rosebud designed by God, a unique flower, different from those flowers circling the meadows of Jericho. Her pure and sweet smile is full of joy for those who greet her. Her curly and reddish hair, dashed with gold, are laid out like little drops of rain on her shoulder. Her wool coat, modest and delicate, colored in blue, covered her young body.

Springtime came, and all the surroundings are like new again. Trees, plants, and flowers are in bloom, and fresh again, the season of growth and a time to start anew. One afternoon, Maria’s father took her for a walk to show her around Esdraelon’s bountiful land. It was a beautiful day; the sun was warm and bright, and Maria was a little tired from running around chasing butterflies, and she decided to sit under a big tree, where no Arab merchants ever used for their resting place. She was delighted and in content for the pleasure of viewing her colorful surroundings; after the good sightseeing, she stopped and glared at the sky. She stood and gave a long and sweet stare at the bright light coming from the heaven of Galilee. Her father watched her with love and care, and observed her with a smile on his lips with no intention of distracting her; he believes and presumed that God could be whispering to her.

On their way home, her white and thin slender hand, like turpentine would pluck some sticks of narcissus, anemones, and lilies; and while walking, she would smell the aroma of their sweet fragrances. Most of the time, she would have her father pick some fruits for her; any fruits they see on the road, like sycamore and bananas. When they returned home, she would greet her mother with her sweet kisses and then she would give her valued picks, the fruits, and beautiful flowers to her mother and say:

—“Father thought of you, and so we brought this for you!”

The time came, and Maria reached a certain age, for her Presentation in the Temple. Her parents betrothed for her to become one of the Virgins in Israel. Joachim’s families, and relatives are inclined to escort Maria, because in Hebrew law, the families or relatives must render themselves for the ceremony.

And so, the small group of people left Nazareth, and head their way to Jerusalem. It was rainy season. The Cison river is dried up in summetime, but it is overflowing, flooded with reddish, and muddy water, a landslide in this rainy day. The travelers would usually avoid this river that can give a sure danger to their journey. A river that can give catastrophic threat to passersby when it’s flooded, this river is known in it’s chronic name as, “The torrent of Cison.”

So, the travelers decided to avoid, and deviate their route to Mount Carmel’s hillside, where the sweet smell of it’s fragrances coming from the hills are common, and the residents are accustomed to it, and from the Sharon’s terrain, they can see the bountiful and sandy desert land, a beautiful ambience that is often visited by the travelers from Galilee. This is where they have grown the grapefruits or pomelo’s, the palms and coniferous trees; a place where it is most visited. Very often are the Galileans.

Traveling for days, they finally arrived at their destination, the crowded city of Jerusalem, and from the wall of Jerusalem, they entered the gate of Ephraim.

to be continued………………………………………….

A PLANNED ATTACK THAT DID NOT TAKE PLACE

—“Are you sure my friend Uries, that these groups of merchants from Egypt, under the guise of looking poor like beggars, but behind these they are carrying valued treasures?” asked Dimas

—“The goods they are carrying are sacks of wheat that is nourished, grown, and ripened from the water of Nile, but in the midst of those sacks of wheat are two small boxes made from alexandria containing the treasures. One box is full of powdered gold in high quality, and the other box is full of valued, and precious, high-grade diamonds, and all this for Cesar. The carriers had no knowledge that from those sacks of red wheat are hidden immense treasures. These cargos is in the name of a wealthy merchant from the City of Caesarea. From that Port of that City, parked a Roman chariot that would carry those diplomats to the City.” Uries told Dimas……

—“We need to be truly good to get those treasures. To make my gigantic mountainous beasts come down here in this kind of weather can make them curse you, if we don’t get those treasures.” Dimas replied.

—“But I am wondering, why from this enormous amount of treasures, that it should be guarded by a group of armed men?” Dimas asked.

—“The merchants from Egypt are truly fearful, and they absolutely hate the Romans. They are afraid that the hired Roman soldiers are the ones to confiscate their merchandise.” Uries explained.

—“Are you sure, you are not mistaken from making this plan?” Dimas is doubtful.

—“God is the only one that don’t make mistakes. But I assure you that we are going to succeed.” Uries replied.

—“What percentage did you promise your tipster?” Dimas asked.

—“I did not promise him anything.” Uries replied. —“He demanded for some portion, so, therefore, let’s give it, or we lose this deal.”

—“You’re brilliant, Uries.” Dimas complimented Uries.

—“Captain, I am 40 years old now, and I had known this profession before I even learned how to walk.” Uries told Dimas. —“My father is just like me, we are interested and love to own other people’s belongings for free. My father had known all along that he could benefit from me since I was a child, and he trained me well to be a spy right off the bat. But I took this profession like a game; I played with it. I did this in pure and accurate performance. With a sharp mind and quick-witted instinct, I was an expert at the age of 12. I am not bragging, Dimas: All the retired bandits in Palestine are looking up to me, I am their model, and considered a genius in the field of thievery. I was not able to become a Captain for two reasons:

—“First because I am not greedy, but don’t think that I said this because you are greedy. No! I don’t believe you are.”

—“Second, because being common and ordinary can make me able to get done more for the group, and I can live free at the same time, fly under the radar.”

You are aware when I leave the group from 10-15 days once in a while. In those days, I go all over, visiting the clans and tribes. I am a Jew when I am in Judea, a Galilean when in Galilee, and a Samaritan when in Samaria; I change name and family lineage when needed; I can be a merchant here and a priest there; I can gain entrance from one house to another, and because of my sweet tongue, I can easily charmed people and became their friend in a short time; I get along well with their households in no time without difficulties. I can find out about their secrets, gain access, and infiltrate their businesses and enterprises. When I have all the information I needed to get, I return to Mount Ebal’s castle, where the gangs are waiting. From there, I informed them the business operations, how much money or treasures are on the way, when, where, and how the process works. Giving them the factual information about the business activities. The information I give them of how the procedures works, can make it easier for them to manage the situation needed for a big-time loot. In this way, they can avoid sleeping in a cliff, and it is truly cold to get soaked in the water from waiting, just to get the valuable items like the black barley or a grasp of that yellow wheat. After I tell them all this satisfying information, can they come out to pick the fruits of my works.” Uries told his story to Dimas.

—“You are a very intelligent friend, Uries.” the Captain replied. —You deserve a grant of two fractions of our heists.”

—“Oh! my friend Dimas.” Uries replied. —“People don’t know how to return favors. I assure you, all my hard works, all the information I obtained from spying, and the efforts and sacrifices I made in life will be nothing. I’d still be hanged from the tree just like what they did to my father, an intelligent man like me.”

Dimas laughed at his friends’ remarks. But Uries, is telling the truth, he is the most talented and intelligent bandit from the group.

—“Believe me Captain.” Uries continued. —“Humans are not built to work; if we analyze and study the human anatomy, you’ll see its’ hands are inclined to be lazy, it is made to outstretched, and not to work like dig the land and hold the large hoe. Laziness is human nature; to work is his enemy and not suitable for us. Humans are active and diligent, and they work for the reward of a future retirement. We work hard while we are young, and in the end, we enjoy the sweet haven of laziness.” then Uries yawned, it was getting late, the resounding thunder from heaven was heard.

—“A bad night.” said one bandit.

—“A deluge night could be worse than this.” replied by another.

—“I would rather stay here for the night and not come out there for a haul, that can get worse from this kind of weather.” one more commented.

—“Uries is a lazy man, and he won’t let us have a good time out there in this kind of weather.” one more reacted.

Everyone’s comments end up to nothing, they have no choice but to come out that night, because this is a big dish out.

—“Lower your voices guys, because we are here.” Uries warned. —“This is the road where they should pass by dawn.”

—“All needs to get ready now, and wait!” exclaimed one of the bandit.

—“Go on! Position yourselves, find a good place to hide.” Dimas ordered.

—“Wrapped yourselves really good, and don’t sleep! As soon as I give my first signal, can all come out, and get near me at once!” Dimas continued.

The bandits hid themselves fast, in between rocks. Dimas and Uries wrapped themselves as well with their blankets then walked to their location beside the big tree, where they paid no attention from the heavy rain. They stand beside the big tree near the road, where they assumed the merchants would pass their way. After half an hour, they heard a bird chirping from the woods, which is very unusual for a bad weather like this in the middle of the night. Uries was alerted, he knows how this works. He held his head up immediately and looked to the direction where the sound is coming from.

—“What’s happening?” Dimas whispered.

—“I don’t know yet. But I had my suspicion that there’s bad news from that bird sound.” Uries replied.

—“From what I know, bird sounds are not bad.” Dimas said.

—“I know, but that bird sound in particular is exceptional, it is not from a bird but a human.” Uries replied.

—“A human!” Dimas was alarmed; he got hold of his dagger right away!

—“Don’t be afraid, that’s a friend. A spy that works for me for a long time now.” Uries said.

Then Uries responded, making the same sound bird alike. In an instant, a person entirely covered with mud and soaking wet with water, emerged from out of nowhere; it was evident that the person was in disguise. The person standing in between Dimas and Uries, said:

—“Peace be with you, my friend Uries.” greeted the person.

Dimas was stunned! Seeing a person standing right in front of them, he was speechless. He fully observed this muddy person and admired his expertise, the capability to get close to them, without any noise, and not even a sound of a small creak was heard.

—“Any news, my friend Adan?” Uries asked. (Adan is considered red. Adan in Hebrew name means, the son of Adam, the man of the red earth.)

—“There’s one unexpected event that failed our plan, something went wrong.” the new guy said. “These group of merchants are on their way now to Jericho. A big group of Roman soldiers heavily guards them. Two rows of Roman soldiers lined-up on both sides, and in their midst are the Egyptian merchants.” Adan continued.

—“For the sake of Isaac, please make it clear of what do you mean?” Dimas was impatient.

—“It seems like, I still haven’t been understood.” the spy continued.

—“There’s news of a big upheaval from the town of Israel that makes everyone tremble. Everybody is fearful of this barbarous Herod inside his Palace.” the spy said.

—“The only news you hear in Mount Samaria are the howls of wolves.” the Captain replied.

—“Therefore.” the spy said. —“Hear this: In Holy Land, there are three Chaldeans that came to visit the kingdom, they are from Judea, and they came looking for the promised Messiah. But merciless Herod desired to imprison these foreigners. He dispersed all his soldiers to stop and identify every foreigners that comes and go; every merchants, including the merchants from Egypt got affected by this disturbance; every cargos are inspected and scrutinized. The merchants from Egypt that you are waiting for, here in this canyon, by this time now, are on their way to Jericho and surrounded by the Kings’ soldiers from Jerusalem.”

—“In this case, those treasures are?” Dimas asked.

—“Without being detected, won’t befall to the hands of Herod.” the spy replied right away.

Dimas tightened up his shoulders and was thrilled that he still get a chance to get those treasures, but anxious at the same time that he may not succeed to win it, and with his embittered face, he said:

—“My final announcement for the night is, this operation is a failure. We should carry on and wait for a good chance in the future. But we better not loose those cargos of wheat. We cannot afford to let this go!” Dimas was furious.

—“I feel the same way, Captain!” Uries replied. —“But who knows, Herod might confiscate those goods of wheat and re-sell it to the market. In this way, we don’t have to do anything but to buy those wheats.”

—“Can you manage this deal, if this happens?” Dimas asked.

—“With all my heart.” Uries replied.

—“Then go to Jericho! And we will stay and wait in the castle.” Dimas commended.

—“Captain, my money pouch has nothing in it.” Uries said, giving Dimas a hint for some money.

—“Here’s my small money bag, it has twelve Hebrew mines in it.” Dimas responded. (Mina or Mines-Minae, a varying ancient unit of weight or money used in ancient Greece and Asia, equal to one-sixtieth of talent.)

—“That is good enough to buy those wheat, if it ever be put to the market. But to remind you that you don’t have to buy it, if you can get it for free! That command is in the decree of our law.” Dimas said it frivolously.

They all laughed, then Uries, took the money and then, get ready to go.

—“Go with me Adan!” Uries said to his friend.

—“Let’s go.” Adan replied, still upset from their failed mission.

Uries, and his friend Adan left immediately. As soon as the two left, Dimas gathered his people, gave a brief explanation of what had happened and the decision they made, and what should be done. There was no objection from the group, from hearing all the plans made, but some are still upset and angry from the failed operation.

As Uries, and his friend Adan head their way to Jericho, the bandits went straight to Mount Samaria on their way to the Castle. It was a “call-off” for the night. The heavy rain stopped, and the night was very dark. The bandits can hear the resounding thunder from afar off. They were all quiet, and their heads are drooped down as they walked. The feeling of annoyances from that cold night was intense, a small mistake can get serious. It was a disappointing night, and everyone was frustrated; a simple little frisk is an overwhelming mockery; if someone stumbled or slipped, it will alleviate into a big horrifying insult and be ridiculed.

In their mind, they left the comfort of their Castle that night with the probability of obtaining more wealth, the leisure of staying in the Castle for a dreadful night like this, is a pleasure. They were expecting a big success for the night, but it was a loss. They are all covered with mud from their waist down below; they are all soaking wet from the rain. Their effort that night is not paid-off, and their wealth did not gain a single penny.

As they get near the Castle, and when they are about to cross the rocky hills, they heard some footsteps coming towards them. The footsteps are getting near their direction. Dimas got alerted and ordered his people to stop and hide in the nearby woods, and others hide on the rocks. As they hide, on the narrow road beside the cliff, came walking a respectable old man, wrapped around him is a Galilean blue mantle.

In his hand, held two straps of cords attached to a bridle, guiding a donkey. Riding on it is a woman holding a babe (a child). The baby is sleeping on her lap. The Mother was fully wrapped of a mantilla, colored in Corinth Blue. The Mother is quietly weeping, and the old man was slowly walking.

The roaring thunder that night was non-stop; it continuously rumbling up in the firmament of heaven near this miserable and heartbreaking travelers. The old man came to a halt as he turned the corner. He was tracking this forked road when he saw one of the bandits stand-up from where he was hiding, and came towards the old man; he pressed his dagger’s end point to the old man’s chest and shouted:

—“Stop, or you’re dead!”

The old man, stepped back, two steps backwards, for a retreat. The woman was stunned, she screamed! She gets a gripped of her chest, and tightly held her child at once, and cried:

—“God of Sion, save my baby Jesus!”

NOTE:

Now my Beloved readers! Allow me to go back.

In the end, we will find out who are these travelers, and what the bandits did to them. These bandits lead by Dimas in Mount Samaria.

to be continued………………………………………….

THE BAPTISM OF THE BLOOD Part 2

• 

The bandits are on foot, walking, jumping, and hopping from one rock to another. They are in rocky hills, on their way to execute their mission, to where the spy had directed them to go.

They were on a journey to accomplish a crucial task. It was midnight when the bandits reached this isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top (Butte), a not so high mount where they stopped to rest. Uries, the oldtimer member from the group, is very much accustomed to this kind of work. He separated himself from the rest of the group, to explore and examine the vicinity, and to his estimation, those merchants that they are preying, are not far from them.

Uries is an expert from crawling. He is the most skilled from the rest of the gangs. He crawled like a snake, he can get near to his subject without any detection, and he can obtained any necessary object he desired. He started to crawl to not be seen from that mount top. He reached the edge of the cliff without being spotted; with his thick and robust hand, he hold on tight from a tree root and swayed himself, hanging like from the cliff, he peeped on to see how high he was from where he stands, and how deep the ridge was. The moon was bright, giving Uries a clear sight of the surroundings, and from the top he scrutinized, encompassing the circumference of that wilderness, then he returned to his group.

—“Talk to me!” the Captain said when he saw Uries coming.

—“It is trustworthy and accurate.” Uries replied. —“This group of merchant is resting through the flat land of Joppa (Jaffa). Everybody’s asleep, the camels and everyone; the moonlight was bright, and it gave me the distinct sight of a glaze that looks like a hat of the Roman soldier.”

—“Could it be that it is your imagination?” the other one exclaimed.

—“My eyes are sharp!” Uries cried. —“and I rarely made mistakes, especially at night.”

—“We got nothing to doubt.” Abaddon said. —“They must have met these soldiers as they passed through one of those cities and went along with them for accompaniment.”

—“They probably requested some soldiers to escort them from Shechem town.” Uries suggested.

—“So, what are we going to do?” asked by another.

—“In the name of the living God! What are we going to do? Well, let us all go down to flat land, and if they are Roman soldiers or Herod’s soldiers, let’s take their heads and carry them back to the castle as sign of our success.” Dimas proposed, full of excitement.

—“The young man has it’s integrity.” the Captain exclaimed. —“Let’s all go down now.”

The bandits, then all stood up, tightened their belts from their waist, they tested their machete, a quick drawn from their cases, and off they went to carry out their mission, to attack the merchants. They finally reached the resting area, and carefully without any noise, they’d able to get near where the merchants are, and they quietly besieged these merchants bamboo stilts. The merchants who were at the first hour of their sleep were attacked by surprise. They were half awoke and they don’t know what was happening at first. As they realized that they were ambushed, a surprise attacked, they all freaked-out and panicked-stricken, fearing for their lives, they rushed to escape leaving their belongings, the camels, and worthy merchandise to the bandits.

• 

But three Roman soldiers were left behind, they cried for help. They quickly jumped up, mounted to their horses, armed themselves, and with their right hands, they pulled their scary short swords. The short swords that made the whole world surrendered. (A Gladius sword was a sharp sword with a length of around 24 inches or 60 cm. It also doubled-edged and ideal for close-range combat as it excelled at both slashing and thrusting).

The three Roman soldiers, chased the bandits fearlessly. The Roman soldiers are known to their heroic battle, especially in Herod’s time. The Roman soldiers from Palestine are specifically best known not to withdraw, and not to pulled back from the clash, they are unafraid. It is considered a big embarrassment for them, and a coward to retreat from the battle, especially in front of their fellow soldiers. The Roman soldiers from Palestine are from the slave clan; they were always despised and weighed-in as no value of importance from the children of Tiber.

They are the Roman Legionaries, the professional soldier of the Roman Army. The foot soldiers of the IX legion are stalwart, superbly trained, and well prepared for war. On Valhalla, they have put their earthly training to good use, fighting endless battles against horrific foes. They are loyal to their Commander, always letting their Commander lead the way in battle, and they are loyal to each other, always advancing in tight formations to shield their fellow soldiers from concentrated enemy attacks.

Herod’s Roman Legionnaires are on their way back to Jerusalem, but by chance, they accidentally met these group of merchants, and they joined them altogether on their journey. The Roman soldiers had a motto, that everytime they get into a battle, they shouted “A War!” then followed by the words, “Marte Minerva!”

Marte consists of two heads. God of War, and Minerva Goddess of Wisdom. The two bore the motto: “Cum Marte Minerva.” (Mars with Minerva), which was also the title of the First Regimental March. Mars was the God of War and didn’t stop at trifles. Minerva was a bloody whore. (Nothing personal guys, I myself is a whoe, hahhaa, just another writer.)

As the Roman soldiers chased the bandits fearlessly, they cornered them at some distance. One of the soldiers shouted, “War!” and the rest responded, “Marte Minerva!” They all aimed their swords at the bandits’ heads. But the Israelites are not weak; they are not cowards. They are the children from the town of Jerusalem; they are the “Mountain Lightning.” They are the fierce soldiers of the wilderness, soaked with blood and the wizard in danger. Their famous alias, known as the “Mountain People of Mount Ebal,” gave them the strength and confidence to be bold and fearless. The two groups clashed with each other, they fought. The Romans are in a position to fight until the end. There was no room for escape, and to pull back is not an option.

The battle was over, but the Roman soldiers death costs the Samaritans dearly. Abaddon, the aged leader, aimed to stab the horse chest, was struck at his neck by the soldiers sword, the blood poured down the ground, then he breathes his last breath. Two more from the bandits died just like their leader.

Dimas killed one of the soldiers with his own hand, he thrusts his dagger to the soldiers’ chest, pierced him to death. But, as he stood up to leave, he was suddenly struck from his head by one of the soldiers, a severe blow to his head that moved him, and he swayed, and was about to fell down. The soldier was about to hit this brave young man for the second time, but thanks to Uries quick move, a fast action, piercing the soldier from his side, killing the last Roman soldier instantly.

Through its’ gloomy and soothing light, a beautiful and clear moon witnessed this bloody battle that ended six lives and wounded five of them. The bandits won the battle. As they prepared to leave, they started to gather and collect all their spoils, the camels, and the treasures. The wounded has to ride the camels. Dimas was wounded too, but he stayed alert and conscious; he assembled the gangs altogether for a brief instruction.

—“My colleagues, before we leave, let us bury the dead first so that we can praise our departed ones, and we should not leave any signs or marks from this distressing place of what had happened, because this can be their reason to persecute us in the future.” Dimas explained, as he was exhausted.

Dimas’s good reasoning made the bandits agreed with him to his command. They quickly dug massive grave and buried all the dead, the Roman soldiers and the Samaritans, altogether in one colossal grave. The bandits left the place in silence; no one dares to say something, and with their sad faces, they slowly started to walk. Dimas was walking with them, two teardrops rolled down his cheeks; he was mourning for the old man’s death, that treated him good, a faithful and honest man, where he called Dimas as “his son.” Dimas beheld this as a great favor from the old man, to survive, and to get through his life, he can’t stop crying.

It was noontime when they reached Mount Ebal. They were just a few steps from the underground entrance when they all came to an abrupt halt.

—“What are we going to do with these camels?” Uries asked Dimas like he was the leader now.

—“Let’s put down all our loads altogether. Now, let’s position these camels to face towards the sea and pushed them away. Drag them to the direction afar from here and let them go wherever they want to go.” Dimas said.

—“Why don’t we sell them by tomorrow in Bethel?” suggested by one.

—“I told you all, to lose all that can be traced from us.” Dimas cried. —“We could be tracked down by the authorities with these camels.”

—“You’re right!” exclaimed by another bandit.

The bandits, then moved and let loose the camels from their cords. They positioned these camels to where Dimas instructed them, then released the camels, pushing them. The camels, then bolted and started to run, accelerating their speed, they all ran in haste leaving Mount Ebal bounded to the west.

• 

They watched the camels leave, ran away until they’re all gone. Then, they turned around and headed back to the underground tunnel. They started to gather their loots, these treasures that they vested too much blood, and with esteem, they brought them inside the castle. It was a long haul and they were all tired.

The night was sad. They were all gathered in one place; in front of them were their trophy, the winnings, the costly treasures they’d loots for that day. The group was quiet, they are having a meeting, making plans. They proposed that Dimas be their new leader. The decision was made, and Dimas accepted the offer to be their new leader. Dimas stood up as the groups’ new leader; he took hold of his power and asserted his authority. He made new rules for them to follow and he made them took an oath from these three decrees:

—–First, they have to defend children, even to give their lives, until death. Children from ten years old below, should be safe under their watch.

—–Second, to respect the elderly, even if they are criticized and insulted by the elderly’s.

—–Third is to bury the dead, they won’t have to leave the dead unburied, even if there’s a chance to execute this holy task.

Dimas rules did not end there. He has a lot to address the gang. Dimas explained to them and informed the gangs that they are forced to this kind of lifestyle, and this is their luck, their risk of taking the chance venturing in this kind of life. That this is nothing to be proud of, and if needed, every battle they have to fight should not be fought as violent and brutal like before. Since they had no wish other than to become rich and wealthy, and aspire others to become poor, this all can be done, to hide under the shadow of their flag. Under the guise, and Pretending to follow the rules, to take the right sides like the Israelites. They should establish themselves as good citizens for their country’s sake, that’s been enslaved and disrespected by these barbaric Romans.

Dimas’s speech touched them, and like a sharp knife, it pierced them from the bottom of their hearts. His colleagues felt regrets from their killings, the bloodstream they spilled on the ground, the wasted time they undermined in assailing from their onslaught, aggression and extortions.

• 

Their heartrending meeting made them all like new again. These bandits felt like they are more closer to each other this time, like it was a brand new start for them. Abaddon was forgotten, although the memories lingers on once in a while as they talked, but they carry forward, pursued and celebrated their new leader. They drank all night until they all became intoxicated, rolling down the floor having fun in the deep of the night, up till all fast asleep.

From then on, Dimas’s group continued to their old lifestyle, in aggression, assailing people in desolate areas. But slowly and in an assured manner, they gradually carry out their plan to live a clean life. They casually started to heal themselves, to become morally good. Time goes by, and their group achieved a total acceptance from society, and they became law abiding citizens. Obedient to the commandments, and in faith. They became free from all things. But the only one they hated the most is Herod’s soldiers, for they had their eyes on them, constantly watching their moves.

Note:

Now, let us go back to the second chapter of this story we are reading.

On that night of fiery lightning, we saw eight bandits walking fast in the Mountain of Samaria’s zigzag roads. Eight ravenous bandits lead by a young man, armed and wrapped by it’s shawl made of camels’ hair. This young man is Dimas, and he is leading this group by then for six months, and every day, Dimas is gaining respect and love from his members.

Now that we clarified this young man’s life, Dimas………….let’s follow him in that dark of the night through the hilly lands he walked on.

to be continued…………………………………………………………

THE BAPTISM OF THE BLOOD Part I

From that day on, this orphaned young man from Jerusalem, Dimas, was accounted from these feared gangs, the Samaritans, as one of their owns.

His youth, bravery, and well built body, his elegant look in the midst of these soulless gangs, is one of the big reasons of whereby he was respected. Besides from this, Dimas began to respect and admired Abaddon. Abaddon, who grew old and developed gray hair from being a bandit, took Dimas as his own son. Abaddon’s hollowed heart that never learned how to feel, but by luck of chance, this young man Dimas, right in front of his face, highly regarded by Abaddon, this bold and daring young man is ready to embrace his new life. He developed a feeling of love, the love of a father to a son. Abaddon idolizes Dimas. Dimas’s bold and fearless approach in life, his witted intelligence that Abaddon never find from no one.

Dimas was taught about Holy Scriptures by a Rabbi, best friend of his father, he has the advantage from this ferocious comrades because he can read and write fast in Hebrew.

There are times, when they can’t come out from their hideout, upon receiving some tips from the informant, the spy, to alert them that it is not safe for them to come out and do some criminal activities. In this case, Dimas would read books for the bandits for their past time, a religious entertainment and relaxation. At one time in the past, Dimas bought a book from Sechem’s town, a town located between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, a book entitled “Pentateuch.” The Pentateuch book are consists of five books itself, from the Old Testament named: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deutoronomy.”

Dimas would read this Holy Words of the Patriarchs, written for Abraham’s grandchildren. These Holy Words that was declared to “Moses the Prophet.” Moses the narrator, and the educator of their faith, a declaration of Philosophy and an amazing Theology. The declaration, an attestation of HIS HIGHNESS, THE ALMIGHTY GOD, an inheritance, the endowment for the Israelites, where the renowned Captain and the Savior is the most entertaining story from these groups of criminals. These gangsters who were outcasts from society, their hidden lives in the caves like the preying animals from the field.

Dimas sometimes would tell these gangs, by his sweet and amusing stories, the importance of the words, of the one who gave Mount Sinai the “Commandments.” The story of the “Commandments” from Mount Sinai, given by God to Moses, is a very unusual story to these bandits, and new to their ears. Upon hearing this story, these ravenous gangs shouts aloud, overjoyed from excitement. This new associate, the young man Dimas, was most admired by these gangs. He was the favorite, and he was sometimes teased, and give him the advise to change his name. For them, the name Dimas has no meaning in Hebrew.

—“We love you like our own.” Shouted by one of the bandits. —“Let’s name him David ( meaning “Beloved”). This name is conforming and very becoming to his personality.”

—“No, no.” Said one of them. —“Because Jehovah sent him to us, we should call him “Samuel,” which means, “placed by God.”

Dimas was smiling, he was elated while listening to his comrades arguing, but in the end, he finally convinced them that there’s no better name for him. The name his father gave him is irreplaceable, it is appropriate, and he is entitled to carry this name.

After a few months, Dimas slowly managed to get their affections through good talks and reasoning. He analyzes and explains that they can never obtain honors from the eyes of the Israelites from being an outlaw; they have to change their lifestyle. Dimas want their groups to be brave, be an independent, daring soldiers. He wishes for them to become solid with each other, to be able to combat the Romans and Herod’s soldiers successfully. He thought about battling these Romans and Herod’s soldiers in the Hilly mountain of Samaria, for slaving Judea. But his barbarous colleagues are not in agreement to abandon their lifestyle, to leave their habits but to keep the old ways.

Their lifestyle, in killing and stealing, is what they are used to. These bandits grow old in this kind of profession. They are shaped for this kind of life. For them, this is like their twin, a second soul. Breathing the last breath is the only awareness to escape and to separate from this lifestyle. It was evident to Dimas, that to carry out his proposition is to wait for that day to come. To force is not the right move to put this into action; it has to happen at the right moment. Getting new people, young ones in particular are in mind too. Young ones that have not been molded yet, with fresh ideas, and have not been influenced by the corrupt and damnable world. Dimas is willing to wait for the definite time to come.

It was a peaceful night, the sky was bright and clear. Those whitish steamed clouds that looks like little drops of dew could be seen hovering around the clean edge of the land. Their inaccurate rotation is oscillating in a translucent blue sky, a very pretty scene to look at. A gorgeous and a charming night, absolutely beautiful, the sweetness of its pleasure, the delightful aroma of its vast lands, sent to its bosom, and from up above, the sky is smiling.

A peaceful night offers it’s charming beauty to a soul, but a peaceful day can only communicate through senses. The sun can pull tears from our eyes, while the moon can bring lamentation to our hearts. The sweet and the good of night is analogous, likened, like Our Creator, while the day declares its power and strength of the Almighty God. So therefore, while one cries tears of joy with its sweet aromatic moisture, the other one, with its abundance from its radiance, its shining light can dried-out the comfort of its warmth.

The world is like a desert, uninhabitable wasteland, if not for the sweet smell of the night. The quiet and lovely moon is a friend of those sensitive and affectionate souls. Its bashful and melancholic light is pleasing to our eyes; we laid our eyes on it, like we lay eyes on the one we love. The admiration of an imprisoned heart, with its pure and clean mind can melt to a quiet and graceful beauty.

She is the amorous mother of the poor. The mother of the proud and the most disobedient, they don’t regret weeping in front of her; they cry tears of anguish to lessen the pain from their hearts and to lessen the load they carry in life. The light She poured down from Her wholesome is full of unending healing from the Almighty God to its immense land; to give hope to the souls who carry the load of poverty, a relief from the hopeless hearts. The endless healing, an abounding spring that flows through the meadows green grasses, that gives life and fragrance to its gentle caress of the cool air from its violets. The beauty from up above that flows down to earth is the reason to live. VIVA! long lives!

At last! The moon is the reason for the angels from heaven to smile, and the moisture from the sky sent by God every night is to tell the deprived:

—“HOPE AND WAIT, FOR I HAVE NEVER FORSAKEN YOU!”

to be continued………………………………………….

The Corpses

• 

Dimas followed all Uries advised for him. He trailed the roads where no one walked through, and after three days of walking, he arrived in Cedron’s creek and entered Priest’s City through the Judiciary door and continued to the lower side of Jerusalem. This is where he bought his dagger with the promise to pay.

On that day, the owner was busy in his store. He happened to be doing some works for his merchandise, the knives. He is embedding, shaping the blade of one of his daggers. He is sharpening the blade’s end point, and thoughtless of somebody he knows is on the way, Dimas is thinking about the store owner, to give him an amazing day. The person who owed money from that store owner is on his way to pay his debt.

—“May the peace of Almighty God be with you!” Dimas entered the store.

The worker held his head up while continuously working his right feet rotating the whetstone; then he stared at this young man standing in front of him, smiling. The owner was looking at this young man without any concern of who could this be?

—“Don’t you recognize me?” Dimas asked.

—“I’m sure I’ve seen you somewhere.” The attendee replied.

—“It’s been fifteen days now that in this place you gave me your affection, a compassion. You gave me your favor, a chance for a credit. You let me keep the knife I bought from you and allowed a promise to pay. So I am here to pay my debt.” Dimas stated.

—“OH!” The store owner shouted aloud! It all came back to him; he remembered this young man, he perceived and understood.

—“Yes! I am that young man you trusted, you trusted me to keep the knife and trusted my word to promise to pay.” Dimas explained. —“It was priced for two shekels, but I promised to pay more than your asking price.”

—“I now remembered.” The store owner cried. —“And you promised to pay me.”

—“With twenty ounces of Romanian silver.” Dimas interfered, then draw out silver coins for the price he promised to pay. He put the coins on the table next to the grindstone. The coins made some noise as he dashed it to the table. It clanged.

The sound of the silver coins was music to the Jew’s ears. He was so pleased, and he smiled. His face came to life, bright and lively.

—“I am thunderstruck! I can’t believe that you fulfilled your promise to me.” The old man was gratified.

—“You trusted me, and I kept my promise. I am glad that you did not lose hope in me.” Dimas was thrilled.

—“You’re right! God is my witness, and I am overjoyed that it’s that so because this only means that you became successful and benefited to some work.” The old man replied.

—“Not much, but I am on my way to achieve my goal to become wealthy.” Dimas said.

—“Did you inherit some wealth from a relative?” The Jew asked.

—“No.” Dimas replied.

—-“You must have found some treasures from Solomon’s Palace.” The Jew made a jest.

—-“That’s far off statement.” Dimas countered.

—“Then……………..what is it?” The old man was curious.

—“I can’t reveal to you where my wealth came from.” Dimas responded. —“You probably don’t remember my name anymore, you will understand someday. My name is Dimas, embed that on your forehead, the complete letters, that five letters that complete my name D-I-M-A-S.” Dimas directed.

—“God of Reasoning!” cried the Jew. —“You are the one who killed that Pharisee Isaac; that selfish and greedy old man. Perhaps his soul is burning in hell now!” The Jew blurted out.

—“True, I killed him, and he deserved to die. I used that dagger you let me keep. I thank you in my father’s name, and to your benefit, I paid you twenty ounces of Romanian silver.” Dimas stated.

And again, Dimas did not wait for the store owner to utter more words to reply. He left the store and went his way. The store owner was shocked and could not believe what had just happened. He was left behind in the store with his jaw dropped, amazed.

Dimas, then went to the gravediggers to direct him to where his father’s remains was. After his father’s corpse was preyed on by some street dogs, the remains were thrown into a garbage dump, where the lepers dead bodies were thrown too. He still had some silver coins left from his pouch, two thousand obols. He strongly desired and avowed to give his father a meaningful momentous, at least, a burial. The respect he deserved, a father who he owes his life.

He is in a quest to find some remains from his father’s corpse. In this garbage dump, he slowly searched one at a time any familiar to his eyes, pieces of clothing, some body parts, or perhaps bones that can be recognized. He was considering that birds could’ve eaten it, their strong beaks that can break bones, those crows that fly around in that disgusting place.

Two rounded tears welled in his eyes, then slowly rolled down his cheeks. As he managed to hold his head up high in heaven; he first honored the Temple of Sion and whispered the following words.

—“Oh! My father! you are in heaven now. You were good to me when you were here! I admired you and imitated your good manners when I was with you. You can see your son’s burdens now. Please let me know and let me recognize your remains, and so I can collect them all together and give you a burial you deserved.” Dimas cried.

Dimas can’t hold his tears any longer, and he bursts out crying; he can’t stop his tears, he is weeping uncontrollably. He wept for a while until it is all out, emotionally drained; he dried his tears then gave a long, heartrending sighed like he was relieved from a heavy burdens. Once again, he faced this heartbreaking scene and tried to find his father’s bones; with his dagger, he turned and dug the remains, scouring, turning bones one at a time, searching all over until it’s all piled up to his feet.

He was so determined to find his father’s remains, every single bones is of importance like it’s a precious stone, worth a treasure. He has so much love for his father; the only thing he could think of is to find any remains that are familiar to his eyes, he paid no attention to his surroundings. The intense heat of the sun and his burning skin is not of concerned, he is sweating, perspiring heavily. And every drop of his perspirations are dripping down the ground while digging the muddy swamp.

Like the locusts head consumed by what he’s doing, every part of the human body he dug up gives him hope. Could it be the one? Will he ever find at least one? But instead of finding his father’s face, he finds some faces that are unknown to him. This makes him go away for a little while, get some fresh air, and relieved his sick stomach. He would cry and wept bitterly, then turned around again to continue and dug up more.

Every time he cried is a relief from his broken heart. He grieved from the reality that he can never find any remains from his father’s corpse. A grudge that can never escape, the truth for failing, that even a small bit of his father’s body part if found could be worth a burial.

Deep tired and out of breath, Dimas helplessly sat down under the tree, absolutely overshadowed from being hopeless to find any of his father’s remains. Then, a gruesome idea came to mind.

—“Yes!” Dimas said to himself. —“That’s it! This night, I’ll go to Josafat Valley and look for the grave of that old arrogant Pharisee, that old man who scorned and mocked my father’s corpse. I’ll pull the slab tile from out of his grave’s cover and drag his perfumed corpse out from the grave, that swindler, and I’ll take it here in this garbage dump. I’ll trash it to this dirty place, exposed it to this preying animals, and be eaten by these predators. His accursed corpse will be torn apart, and his flesh will be scattered all over.”

A dark thought came to mind; a horrifying idea, a ghastly rage out of control. Then Dimas stood up and shook his head, ready to put his idea into action. An indication that something terrible is about to happen. His rage that can burn his head into ashes, a fury that came out from hell. His gnashing teeth, the fuming and sunken eyes, the growling expression from his face gave him the form of a well built body. A gorgeous built of a warrior ready for war. A frightening appearance from hell. A ferocious emergence prepared to battle.

—“I am a good person.” Dimas said to himself. —“But I was pushed to the edged. A sea of blood in front of me and an accursed life. I will be punished to die on the cross, and my body will be thrown and be exposed on the streets, torn apart into pieces and be scattered all over. This is all your fault greedy old man! You have a heart of stone, and I damned cursed you! Be accursed like a misused woman, a devalued woman, and I place a curse unto your tenth generation, that I will finish them all and be vanished from the face of the earth! While I am still young and strong, that I hold this knife for my revenge.” Dimas is intensified.

Dimas has too much anger, exhausted out of rage, he sat down, drooped down his head then covered his face with his two hands. He was in that position in a long time. The afternoon breeze, the wind blew it’s air in those trees, but Dimas is still in the same position. The night came, and the cold wind blows it’s howling sounds in the woods, and Dimas is like, still not moving from that same position.

From the sky, the moon is shining it’s shy light, cool in the eyes, it’s demure light is gleaming towards the high and sculpted Tower of David. The Stork birds are coming out and hop-hopping, and settled to those tall and slender towers of Jerusalem, the unusual Stork birds that’s giving it’s sad noise, a disturbing sounds that attracts attention. Then the night birds started to come out giving it’s hooting sounds, one hop and settled in a tree where Dimas was. Dimas was helplessly prostrated at the foot of this tree. Those night birds, their soft sad sounds ushered it’s hooting, carried by the cold wind, down to Dimas’s ears that abruptly woke him up; he arose and immediately looked around in his surroundings like he came out from a deep sleep.

The ferocious face he had earlier was gone and is now replaced by grief. His eyes that are still wet from grieving, those fiery tears he had a while ago, had vanished and are now replaced by the sweet and a meek face. A long sighed of a painful emotion was released from his chest to relieved his sad feelings.

—“Never!……………………..in any way!……………..never!” He said to himself. —“Never in my life will I ever disrespect corpses. Never will it happen that I will not help children and old people, especially the elders.”

Dimas took an oath to respect the dead, to respect the innocence of young children. He made a promise to himself, a commitment to carry out this promise unto his next life.

—“Forgive me, my father! I took an avenged for you and end a life, but let me respect those corpses that the worms eat underground for their food and for them to live.” Dimas whispered to himself while crying.

From all those hours, Dimas’s calm composure at that foot’s tree was a powerful time for him. He felt so bad, emotionally absorbed from battling the desire to take revenge. But at last! Darkness came to light! His desire to do evil was replaced to do good. He sobbed, a forgiving heart, true to his feelings. Behold! a loving heart, with all it’s painful trials in life, at his young age, had chosen to forgave, the forgiveness that’s coming from his heart was achieved, and LOVE triumphed once again!

He rejected the very first abominable plan he made; the horrifying idea that came to mind. And now the only one left to choose is the Mountain of Samaria. He turned around and started to walk, to return, back to the castle. It was late afternoon when he reached the mountain, the afternoon was turning into dusk. It was the fourth day when he gets near the camp. He continued to walk, ahead of him is the tower built in a strong foundation, the castle where the bandits dwell. He traced the road he used with Uries, the underground tunnel, then Dimas used the entryway he had known, the same entrance he used when he left. He gets inside the castle, it was empty, there’s no one there, he went straight to the kitchen. The kitchen was cold and dark; he sat down and laid to the floor and wait.

Dimas is a young man, a teenager. In this stage, where it’s hormonal development and sleep is insufficient, and from a long journey, Dimas could not hold on to stay awoke, and he finally fell into deep sleep. He sleeps in comfort like when he was still in his father’s house. Midnight came, and Dimas is still fast asleep, he did not sense the arrival of the bandits; he was not alerted by their coming, he was in a deep sleep. The esoteric stairs’ descending sound from that square entryway came down, and the noise of the bandit’s laughter and conversing voices did not woke Dimas up.

They came with plenty of loots, and with their ferocious faces, portrayed a delightful and a merriment day. The room was dark, and they are all busy discussing and checking their ravages. They did not notice the young man Dimas fast asleep in the corner of the room. The leader commands his members to light up their torches. The darkened rooms, the walls, the dark corners, brightened up as they light up the torches, and to their surprise, Dimas, fast asleep in the corner of that cold and hardwood floor of that kitchen.

—“He kept his promise to me!” Abaddon exclaimed. He was amazed by this young man’s word of trust! —“We can benefit from this young man.”

to be continued………………………………………………

DIMAS MADE A COVENANT TO PAY HIS DEBT FOR HIS KNIFE

• 

For these bandits, killing every day is nothing, just like drinking one shot glass of wine, even if they know that their lives are in danger. These are the people who don’t have a good upbringing, their deceitful clans that most grew up in prison, and some relatives sentenced to die; these people are used to this kind of life. For them, this is their excitement in life; this is where they find their high. They idolized and gave respect to bold, daring and fearless; this gives them the power to their domain.

As for Dimas, this unbearded young man that may say “still has milk on his lips,” with his bright sparkling eyes, that gives a genuine stare, simple and honest is an indication of his youthful innocence. His gentle smile with no malice is just as pure, candid and sincere that can be easily trusted. His inexperienced in life, with a pure heart and soul, is his charm to these bandits. He doesn’t even feel the fear of being threatened that these are the most dangerous gangs in front of him. The risk of being endangered, the sharpened machete of these bandits that they carry, can kill him in no time.

These accursed bandits, these terrors that fear no one, but feared by most, especially by the Samarian farmers, are boastful, and the only one who can attack them and can defeat them is the one that holds a strong mind, bold, daring and fearless in heart. But these bandits are taken aback and thrown off guard by their weak mind; Dimas’s affection captured them. Their admiration for this daring young man in front of them is quite a challenge from their most feared and dangerous reputation. Their criminal and hardened hearts were captured by this young man’s high spirited bravery, he is talented and witty; they noticed his extraordinary ability to manipulate the situation.

—“No one touches him!” Shouts by one of the bandits. He had a white beard, an elegant look, and a strong body built, and by him wearing expensive clothing, he was recognized as the leader.

The leader observed Dimas in a while and asked a question; “Who are you?”

—“I am one of you!” Dimas replied. “I am new to this rewarding lifestyle. Your gangs are very well known to this work; I want to learn your moves and strategies, and I beg you to train me of your expertise to your secret knowledge.” The bandits then looked at each other, and they all laughed aloud.

—“You guys are laughing.” Dimas said, followed by his own laughter. “I am happy too because this is a sign that I am welcome, and we are now friends. Therefore, as a friend, I asked in advance if it can happen to lend me twenty ounces of Romanian silver.”

Everyone was silent, no one moved for awhile, it was an alarming circumstance.

—“You all must be overwhelmed at me, and I understood that.” Dimas continued, but he noticed that no one responded.

—“I am new to this group, my shocking and unexpected request to lend me money is a startling statement, but I could’ve told you first and foremost the warranted facts of what is behind this surprising disdain.” Dimas explained.

Everyone was shocked and surprised by this young man’s boldness and straight forward action. Some stand-up, to put the incident to a stop. But the leader made a sign and give the signal to all calm down and listen first.

—“For the sake of our ferocious God who has dominion to all of us, I beg you to sit down first and stop staring at me like I am an amazing person.” Dimas exclaimed.

Dimas relates his story in a few words of what had happened to him, from his father’s death in Jerusalem and the events that followed. After narrating his story, it was silent. Everyone was quiet, speechless. It is all halted, no one could break the silence in the air. Then the leader broke the stillness in the air, and the only words that came out from his mouth:

—“No one touches this brave guest!” In a compassionate voice.

Then he slapped his right knee and with an open hand, he pulled his long round pouch made of animal skin hanging from his waist, and grab a handful of silver coins, a drachma, as the hand could grasp and hand it to Dimas, and in a trembling voice, the leader said:

—“There is the money, and pay your debt.”

—“Thank you, old man!” Dimas said in a loud and excited voice.

—“Dimas will show you that you did not plant into a dried land.” Dimas exclaimed, giving his assurance to the leader.

—“My name is Abaddon.” The leader introduced himself to Dimas. “I am a Samaritan, but don’t forget; just as quick as I trust a person, is just as quick that I kill you.” The leader threatened him.

—“I will not forget! And if you let me go, four days from now before the full moon and from here to Jerusalem is three miles walk.” Dimas responds in excitement.

—“May the grace of God and may his peace be with you through all your journey.” The leader gave his blessings to Dimas; then he called one of the bandits and said:

—“Uries, escort this young man to the secret road underground through the Romanian crossroads.” The leader commanded.

—“Are we going to blindfold him?” Uries asked the leader.

Abaddon observed Dimas meticulously; he calculates him, trying to feel the young man’s worth of trust. Dimas stared back to Abaddon with confidence and audacity; the calm and dignified appearance that Dimas gave the leader gives him the conviction that he is a truthful person. Abbadon, confident and assured at what he saw from Dimas, then turned to his member and said:

—“I am convinced of him; and I trust his entire words, don’t blindfold him but take him to the long road.”

Uries, then walked to the squared entrance on the floor, lifted the cover and then descended, followed by Dimas.

• 

They were walking underground for half an hour; it was dark, the air is heavy, and the cold air underground is gently creeping into their skin, the soft cool breeze that gently touches their skin cools down their body temperature. The smell of saltpeter (Potassium Nitrate) in the air keeps them from breathing a little harder.

—“In Jacob’s name!” Dimas shouted. —“If you don’t guide me by the hand, I will lose my head from these protruded rocks, that looks like it’s ready to plunge on my head.”

—“Reach me and don’t be afraid to follow me, we are walking into a delicate underground road, but don’t worry, because the headspace is so high, even Goliath can have his battle array here and still survive, for it has too much headspace.” After Uries said this, he handed the tip of his shawl to Dimas, and Dimas grabbed it by the hand.

Once in a while, this venturing young man feels the light touch of cold air coming from the cracks between the rocks, a passageway for fresh air from the cave’s thick atmosphere.

—“Those big cracks from between those rocks, are they used for breathing?” Dimas asked.

—“Those are other passageways.” Uries responded. —“If ever Herod’s soldiers found out our hiding place, they still have a hard time to find us and catch us, because of those different passages.

Dimas is learning a lot from these group; he found out and understood that these groups are very intelligent and accustomed to this kind of work. It gladdens him. For his lifestyle is similar to them and not far from what they do. This assured him that he is secured associating with this group.

At last, the bandit came to an abrupt halt and said:

—“We are here! Help me lift this heavy rock.” Uries said.

Dimas obeyed. He was amazed when he saw that it was an opening. Dimas came out first from that big crack, and he saw that the bright moon is transmitting it’s string silver light and spreads all over the vast bare land from where he stands. He looked around and carefully scrutinized the vicinity and the surrounding area.

—“I can’t see the castle.” Dimas said, kind of lost.

—“We are at the opposite side of the mountain.” Uries responded. —“But don’t worry about it, since we are tired and sleepy, we have to go!”

—“Let’s go!” Dimas said and started to walk.

• 

They started to descend from that steep mountain, coming down like two goats stumbling down to those rocky hills to reach the secure flat land. The moonlight gives the night a bright light, and the slight breeze of warm air could barely touches each leaf from it’s branches.

—“You know how to read stars, for you guys are taught into it; your group is skilled for this, what time do you think it is now?” Dimas asked.

Uries held his head up and carefully watched the sky and observed the stars. Then Uries answered:

—“It is still early, the night is new, and you probably be in Bethel before the cock crows. When you get there, keep on walking towards the east; there you’ll see a creek that will take you through Jordan’s coasts. Then turn to south until you reach Jericho; from Jericho to Jerusalem, you see hordes of stores followed by barter traders; you won’t get lost. Aside from that, the Roman road they called will take you to the Holy City, but I have some recommendations for you, the road made by the Romans is not safe for us; but instead, take the street where the wolves are; humans do not use those streets. Believe me Dimas, it is a thousand times better for you to walk alone in the field than to walk with people in Cesar’s roads.” Uries strictly advised Dimas.

—“Thank you! I will follow your advise.” Dimas assured Uries.

—“May peace be with you, and we come to a point where we have to part ways. Take this road, and this will take you to Bethel. The moonlight is bright, and the night is clear, there’s no danger in Samaria if I want a good sleep, not like in Herod’s palace.” Uries hinted Dimas.

—“But before we part ways, I would like to ask you for something.” Dimas said.

—“What is it?” Uries replied.

—“Upon my return to the castle, what entryway should I use?” Dimas asked.

—“Through the same rampart, just like we did a while ago, and if we’re not there, wait for us.” Uries replied.

—“Good! I’ll see you in a few days.” Dimas answered.

—“May God Jehovah be with you, and may you fulfill your wish.” Uries waved goodbye to Dimas.

—“I wish you the same.” Dimas humbly responded.

Then they part ways. Dimas went on his way, he traced the small street going to Bethel, and Uries went headways to that steep rocky mountain back to his dwelling place. He was whispering to himself:

—“This young man will have a good fortune; he is arrogant, it’s true, but I will bet my sword made of Damascus and part of my loots for a year that everyone wishes the same, that he may obtain a good fortune, and may he have a safe return.”

Dimas is on his way, and he start to feel the silver coins in his pocket in a pouch that the bandit leader lends to him, and he said to himself:

—“My very first high risk for a good chance is quite successful, and for this money, I won’t lose my honor, and if ever I have the opportunity to seek my father’s corpse, I may be able to give him a decent burial that he deserves for his memory. I should hurry-up, for there’s a saying: Pay your debt and you live on the rest.”

to be continued…………………………………………….