expectations, only about doing God’s will. He may even offend people to make a point. We’re all like the sinful woman: in need of grace to heal us of guilt, shame and despair. If we aren’t healed, we doubt our worth. We may even fall into self-hatred, as prostitutes do. Only by appealing to God’s unfailing acceptance can we regain belief in ourselves. Wasn’t it worth offending a few people to demonstrate the power of grace?”
Gabriel didn’t answer but walked on in silence, intent on catching up with Mary Magdalene. He held Nicodemus’ arm and pulled him along, reflecting on his words, which reminded him of their earlier conversations about forgiveness. He asked himself, Is Judith an adulteress who deserves to be stoned or sold into slavery? Or is she a wounded woman who, like the prostitute, needs love? Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as his heartbeat quickened. Remembering the anguish on Mary Magdalene’s face, Gabriel had to question Jesus’ methods. Yes, he had taught a lesson about forgiveness, but the woman he loved was suffering as a result. Couldn’t he have found a better way?
Sweat began to flow down Gabriel’s face. He raised an arm and wiped his forehead with his tunic. His head ached as he struggled with what to believe about Jesus. Could he trust this unpredictable rabbi? Would Jesus let him down?
Perhaps Nicodemus was right: Jesus had shown extraordinary grace to the prostitute to demonstrate God’s love. Or perhaps Mary Magdalene was right: Jesus had betrayed her. Gabriel must settle the matter for himself. To help him do that, he had to catch up to Mary Magdalene. Each step became more urgent than the last.
CHAPTER SIX
Present Day
The end of loneliness lies not in clever techniques for finding and keeping love, but rather in gaining insight into the essence of love itself—and into how one’s heart can become new. The insight and the newness are as closely related as salt and the sea. But the natural mind does not understand this; it is shrouded in illusion. Only by acknowledging the darkness can we take the first step toward the light. God’s own heart, in which the essence of love resides, invites us home. The briefest glimpse of this essence provides inspiration for the journey. Unlimited growth lies ahead, turning ignorance into deep knowing. The source of our greatest power.
—Brother Gregory Andreou’s Journal
Bethlehem
Monday, April 1
WE MUST DO THIS QUICKLY. THE ABBOT WILL BE COMING SOON.” Brother Gregory Andreou’s hazel eyes darted in all directions as he pulled Karim Musalaha into his modest room at the Holy Angels Monastery. Karim had been hiding at the monastery south of Bethlehem for nearly a month, still haunted by the attack at Qumran. Brother Gregory’s urgent tone reminded him of his attacker’s demanding voice, injecting cold terror into Karim’s veins. He still wondered where the man had come from and why he was so desperate to get the scroll. After such a vicious attack, Karim needed to know whether the scroll was worth fighting for. Only a language scholar like Brother Gregory could tell him, but Karim had to leave in an hour. It was time to see the translation—even though it wasn’t completely finished.
When Karim first took the scroll to Brother Gregory, the Greek Orthodox monk and scholar had informed him that, under the law, it belonged to the State of Israel. But Karim had persuaded him to begin translating it. After fending off the attack, Karim felt that he at least deserved to know what the writing said. Because of Brother Gregory’s good standing with the Government Antiquities Agency, he went along. Brother Gregory planned to finish the translation and then take it to the GAA along with the scroll, revealing what Karim had found.
Karim’s lungs heaved as he ducked into the dormitory-like apartment and watched the portly, white-bearded monk close and bolt the door. Brother Gregory’s appearance was a
Gabriel didn’t answer but walked on in silence, intent on catching up with Mary Magdalene. He held Nicodemus’ arm and pulled him along, reflecting on his words, which reminded him of their earlier conversations about forgiveness. He asked himself, Is Judith an adulteress who deserves to be stoned or sold into slavery? Or is she a wounded woman who, like the prostitute, needs love? Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as his heartbeat quickened. Remembering the anguish on Mary Magdalene’s face, Gabriel had to question Jesus’ methods. Yes, he had taught a lesson about forgiveness, but the woman he loved was suffering as a result. Couldn’t he have found a better way?
Sweat began to flow down Gabriel’s face. He raised an arm and wiped his forehead with his tunic. His head ached as he struggled with what to believe about Jesus. Could he trust this unpredictable rabbi? Would Jesus let him down?
Perhaps Nicodemus was right: Jesus had shown extraordinary grace to the prostitute to demonstrate God’s love. Or perhaps Mary Magdalene was right: Jesus had betrayed her. Gabriel must settle the matter for himself. To help him do that, he had to catch up to Mary Magdalene. Each step became more urgent than the last.
CHAPTER SIX
Present Day
The end of loneliness lies not in clever techniques for finding and keeping love, but rather in gaining insight into the essence of love itself—and into how one’s heart can become new. The insight and the newness are as closely related as salt and the sea. But the natural mind does not understand this; it is shrouded in illusion. Only by acknowledging the darkness can we take the first step toward the light. God’s own heart, in which the essence of love resides, invites us home. The briefest glimpse of this essence provides inspiration for the journey. Unlimited growth lies ahead, turning ignorance into deep knowing. The source of our greatest power.
—Brother Gregory Andreou’s Journal
Bethlehem
Monday, April 1
WE MUST DO THIS QUICKLY. THE ABBOT WILL BE COMING SOON.” Brother Gregory Andreou’s hazel eyes darted in all directions as he pulled Karim Musalaha into his modest room at the Holy Angels Monastery. Karim had been hiding at the monastery south of Bethlehem for nearly a month, still haunted by the attack at Qumran. Brother Gregory’s urgent tone reminded him of his attacker’s demanding voice, injecting cold terror into Karim’s veins. He still wondered where the man had come from and why he was so desperate to get the scroll. After such a vicious attack, Karim needed to know whether the scroll was worth fighting for. Only a language scholar like Brother Gregory could tell him, but Karim had to leave in an hour. It was time to see the translation—even though it wasn’t completely finished.
When Karim first took the scroll to Brother Gregory, the Greek Orthodox monk and scholar had informed him that, under the law, it belonged to the State of Israel. But Karim had persuaded him to begin translating it. After fending off the attack, Karim felt that he at least deserved to know what the writing said. Because of Brother Gregory’s good standing with the Government Antiquities Agency, he went along. Brother Gregory planned to finish the translation and then take it to the GAA along with the scroll, revealing what Karim had found.
Karim’s lungs heaved as he ducked into the dormitory-like apartment and watched the portly, white-bearded monk close and bolt the door. Brother Gregory’s appearance was a
Similar Books
