Judith Ben Levi

Judith Ben Levi

quinta-feira, 14 de junho de 2012

21:03

It was the first sunny morning after so many stuffy and rainy days. Judith Ben Levi looked through the window of her small room and saw the streets of Capernaum begin to awake with the familiar sounds. How she loved her town!

 In fact, Judith used to live in the other side of the town where her family had been for years the owners of a prosperous business. Now, instead of her three stores home, she has this cellar room at the house of the son of Zebedee.

Not that she was ungrateful. Yes, she was very grateful to her good God! For generations He has been faithful to her, and her family. But her beloved husband Jacob Ben Levi was taken from her after so long an infirmity.  He suffered silently, never a word of complain came out of his mouth. His only desire has been to hear that the Messiah had come.

Then, one day, many years ago, his closest friend Simeon came to visit him. Simeon had chosen to live on the outskirts of the temple, and almost never left his quarters. The whole Capernaum was so surprised when they saw Simeon's figure, bended over his donkey, a light on his tired face coming to their home.

Jacob stood on his elbows, signing to her to bring water to refresh his friend. Simeon came once a year, faithfully to visit Capernaum and his only remaining friend from his childhood. He sat by Jacob's bed, and the light on his face has already told Jacob the good news. Simeon did not go through the ritual conversation with his friend, not even the greetings. His first words after he got his breath were: - I've seen him! Such a beautiful baby boy!

Jacob's dismay could not been hidden. His sick body fell on the folder of his bed. Poor Simeon! The long wait for the Messiah has made his mind sick. A baby?

Judith Ben Levi, Standing by the window is lost in these past reminiscences. At that day too, as she was much younger than her husband, she always tried to protect him, yet she knew he had not longer to live. How she had wished that Simeon would bring some good news. Not that nonsense about the Messiah! Instead of any information about their beloved Jerusalem, he brought this. He has seen the Messiah? And he was a baby?

She had left the room hastily to hide her frustration and her tears. Her children were playing outside; she could hear them, unaware of the pain and sadness of their parents. Only her Sarah was sitting quietly in the kitchen. She already had water boiling, to help her mother be hospitable to the far away traveler.

Sarah, with her sweet smile, and her blue eyes, said: - It`s alright, Mother. Everything will be alright now that he has come. - Simon? No, my child! His tidings…. I don't know… maybe he is sick too, in another way…. Oh! - No, Mother! The Messiah! He comes for the poor and the sick. And now he is here! He will grow, you know? Just like me!

And Sarah came, kissing away her mother's tears she went out to play with her brothers and sister.

Judith felt calmer after this, somehow comforted by her daughter's sweetness and confidence. She prepared a tray of food and took it to the room where the two elders talked huskily into the dim lights of the sunset.

When she came into the room, she heard the chanting from the synagogue, and the two men were now silent. Jacob was sitting straight in his bed, his face bathed with a radiance of accomplished waiting and faith.

The two friends silently partake the meal; Simeon was off in the early hours of dawn. Jacob breathed his last at the sunset of that same day.

And Judith Ben Levi had many questions on her heart, when she heard weeks later that Simeon too, came home, was once more on the temple and was found asleep forever in his bed two days later.

Now, Judith’s heart is heavy. Her daughter Sarah grew and is now married to Simon Bar Jonas, but most known as the oldest of Zebedee's son, also called Boanerges Son's. He is the head at his father's business of fishing. For Judith this is unbearable that Sarah can be married to such a man. His voice is thunderous as his whole being. Were Simon comes there is laughter, discussions, and he sets any matter with his voice or his fists.  Many a time Sarah has to intervene. And she just comes with her sweetness, and looks at her husband, and the calm and quietness of her goes, somehow, to him too, soothing, comforting.

From all her children, Sarah is the only one who can have a room for her mother. But in her pride, Judith doesn't want to be a burden to the son in law she doesn't fully approve. So she tries to help, fish cleaning, net mending, attending to the household. But now, Simon is seldom at home. This man from Nazareth with his strange teachings is said to ask for Simon's boat. And lately, some days he has no catch at all.

The nagging pain on Judith's head is much stronger now, and she feels also a little dizziness. At this moment, Sarah came into the room just in time to hold Judith as she fainted. - Mother! Help! Someone, please, help!

The servants rushed into the room to attend to Sarah's cries. They helped as she gently lay her mother back into her very tidy bed. Her eyes closed, her face pale, Judith's skin is hot of fever. Only last week Sarah had seen quite a few of their neighbors with the same symptoms. Although the old ones died, they were able to nurse the children and young ones to health again. Poor mother! She was so very careful to wash her hands many times, and always telling the children to follow the priests orders about washing hands and be careful with their foods because of this strange disease spreading in their villages.

One of the servants, at Sarah's instructions has brought a cotton cloth imbibed with vinegar, and they vigorously massaged Judith's temples and pulses, even making her swallow some of the acidic vine. 

_Oh! Mother, dear! Please, you will stay in bed today. You need to rest! Later on I will feed you myself with a warm broth. It`s already cooking, you know? Very slowly, with some herbs you taught me.

And seeing the distressful look of her mother, Sarah continued to talk, with her sweet voice, remembering how her mother used to do to her and her brothers and sisters when they were children.

_You know, she said by way of conclusion, Simon said he is coming today. The new teacher asked him yesterday to cross over to Galilee. It become late, they could not get back. But he is coming today. He sent a message. They are at the synagogue. You know, we could not go today. The women patio is always so full and hot at this time of the year. And we have so much to do! Now! That’s why you are sick too! But now you rest!

Judith did not answer her daughter. She just let her words of comfort drop into her heart. Sarah has this strange gift. She doesn't say anything special, but somehow she managed to take her out of that pit of sorrowful memories.

Jacob…. How she missed him still after all those years. Her husband refused to give up his hope for Israel. He died believing that the Messiah was here. The only thing she has seen is her people dying every day of sickness, poverty or the consequences of their breaking the Law.  They run desperate to the Romans, to the temple, sometimes even to the odious gods of the gentiles. And those smart enough to profit from the religious ingenuity of her people follow every new doctrine that appears. Now this new one, from Nazareth, they say!

Judith moved her head as saying No! It's not possible. Her people are once more being deceived! From the bottom of her heart she prayed: - Oh God of my father’s! Please, have mercy! Where are all your promises of old! I do not want to die, without knowing what brought that radiance to Jacob's face!

As the tears descended slowly through her face, Judith slept, and was awaked at noon by a knot on her door. She turned again to see the big frame of Simon's body trying to squeeze himself through the narrow door of her room. Her son in law was not thundering his greetings as normally. Instead there was a kind of… peace… yes… peace that came with him.

_Mother Judith! I brought someone who wishes to see you. Apologizing with his eyes, and his hands, Simon searches consent from his mother in law. Judith Ben Levi tried to raise herself, and a thought crosses her mind. - I'm in no shape to receive visitors today, Simon! But the words never came to her lips. Behind Simon, a person is now coming towards her. He is simply dressed, but has a royal composure. His face is serious, showing signs of weariness beyond his days. He is not tall, but he seems to fill her room with his presence. His eyes are intense upon her face as if he was speaking some kind of mysterious words to her. Judith felt all her being wanted to go to him. He was a much, much longer waited answer to all her inner thoughts and expectations. She felt like coming home as she fixed her eyes on him.

Simeon, looking from Judith to his guest, and to Judith again, has no words he can say as a way of introduction.

In a flash he is seeing the years dropping off Judith's shoulders. She is being washed in joy and in peace. All the sorrow, the pain is gone from her.

Finally, Simon finds something to say: - Mother, we call Him Master…He came here to…

_To heal, to save, to find…. Me! Says Judith, as the Master take her by the hand and brings her up. He didn't let go of her hand, but brought her in a kindly embrace. The frail woman was embraced by the Master. In His arms she found a resting place she longed for years. Simon did the peculiar gesture of him when he didn't know what to do or to say. Shaking his head and throwing his hands up, he left the room.

After him, came the Master, still with his arm over Judith's shoulders. She is now felling warm and strong. Her heart and her mind are at peace.

When the guests sat to supper, and Judith came with Sarah to bring the food, the Master received from Sarah's hand the basket of freshly baked bread. He looked at Sarah and Judith remembered that day, when Sarah had said…. He will grow… just like me. And then all came to her. The years passing… Jacob's and Simeon's death… the rumors about the Rabi from Nazareth.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of voices from outside. Looking through the window Judith saw many of her neighbors coming with their sick and troubled relatives. Carefully, not to steep on Sarah's flowers, they were gathering outside in the garden, by the door, on the streets.

_Simon, please, they asked. Let the Master come and help us!

The honorable guest at Simon’s house raises himself to go to the people; his people, the ones who were sick and in need of his words, his teaching, and his love.

Judith with her eyes cast down, dares to approach the Master. - Sir, can you please, tell me your name? Who are you?

_I'm glad you asked, Judith Ben Levi. They call me Rabi, but I was named Jesus. I was presented to God in the temple, by Simeon Ben Baruch, quite a few years ago.

_So you are…

Judith was suddenly alone in the soft light of the candles. A whisper came out of her lips:

_Jesus, The Messiah!