By now, the villagers from Nazareth were preparing to travel together to Jerusalem. The caravan would include whole families; donkeys, camels and some even took fowl for food. Dogs also came along to help protect them from outlaws and stragglers, waiting to rob them from their tents, animals and goods. Mugging was not uncommon at this time of the year. They would travel along the Jordan River for water, and stop periodically for the women and children to rest, and the animals, to quench their thirst. At nightfall, tents would be put up and woodfires lit, for prayers to be shared before mealtime.
Mary´s two daughters-in-law travelled with her and her grandchildren. Omar, was now old enough to be of great help, carrying the provisions that they had been preparing. She had packed gifts for her sons, Jhesus and James and their followers, by now, also part of the family. How she hated for them to be referred to, as “master” and “disciples”; one, placed over the other. They were all devout believers, praying and preaching hope in the love of God. There was such hopelessness, such strife, nowadays…no one believed much anymore, much less prayed. Temples had become marketplaces, mercenary meeting grounds with the spoil of the big cities. All had to be distrusted. There was always some hidden personal gain to be bartered for. How she feared for her sons… ‘lambs among wolves’, she often thought. She could only pray for them and trust God would protect them, as He did, her. He was always with her; ‘Even her guardian angel had come along, on the trip!’, she thought as she spotted her little featherless bird who had finally decided to leave his cage, deciding to follow along. ‘Good thing she had brought added seeds for pigeons and fowl along the way’, she mused.
The hustle and bustle all around, had a ring to it. Yes, there was also the little blind boy, who had learned to play the windpipe, and sat on one of the carts as everyone got their things together, playing cheerfully. It took all day to pack, but they were ready to leave, early next morning.
Mary was relieved when they parted and finally settled to rest in the family cart, now on its way. It had been hard work preparing the food, finishing the weaving and fixing the tent…but worst of all, bearing the constant growing worry. She closed her eyes and prayed on her prayer-beads, silently, safely inconspicuous.
The caravan would travel towards the southernmost mouth of the Sea of Galilee, to avoid the mountainous region of Mount Tabor, and follow down the Jordan River’s flow southward, towards the Dead Sea. It had been years since Mary had travelled, and wouldn´t have known the way, if she weren´t travelling with the village men who often sold their goods in Jerusalem, taking that same route at least twice a year. Feeling confident, Mary doze off.
The road was a rough, dirt path traced out by caravans. It had mud pits, wash-outs, and cave-ins. They had long debated whether to take the newly paved Roman highway that ran along the entire shore of the Mediterranean Sea, along the opposite side of Israel. They called it the “Via Maris”, but had decided against it because they would need river water for their animals. They chose instead, what the Roman’s called the “King’s Highway”, just east of Israel, along the Jordan River. It was however, much more dangerous since it was newly paved and much travelled by foreigners that exchanged their goods, in what Mary recognized as the Queen of Sheba’s mother country.
By the afternoon, the caravan sighted the Sea of Galilee at a distance. They arrived just in time to see the sun walk over its water. The effect was miraculous against the black clouds behind. The golden sunlight seemed to extend their pathway directly into its warmth. They thought to camp early, to fill their water skins and stone jars (since the Sea of Galilee is the lowest freshwater lake on earth). They washed up, fed their animals and prayed together, for blessings and protection along their way, before sharing bread and wine.
Later that evening, Mary walked up to the seashore, alone. It was a cool evening, refreshing after the dust-ridden heat. She dipped her hand into the soothing waters, as if caressing them and thanking them for always being there for Jhesus. Ever since a child, he had loved jumping into it and swimming far off. How she hated it! The Sea was easily 200 meters deep! Many had lost their lives in it. But it always seemed to befriend Jhesus. Even when he started fishing with Joseph, he returned triumphant with a shoal of fish, generously bestowed. Its ripples shone with memories under the moonlight.
Two years ago, Mary had travelled about 30 kms to Capernaum, with the village women, to take food and clothes to Jhesus and his fast growing followers. At first, it was Andrew, Simon, Philip, and Nathaniel who followed him from Bethabara. But now, the well-known fishermen from Galilee, Simon Peter and Andrew had joined them. They had told her about their meeting, as they ate the food she had graciously taken, from Nazareth.
Peter and his friends had been fishing all night without catching any fish. Disheartened, they returned onshore to find Jhesus wanting to join them, urging the boat back into deep waters. He had told Peter and his friends to throw their fishing nets back into the water. Unbelievably, they found they had caught so many fish that their nets began to break. Excitedly, Peter had called to his friends onshore, to get another boat to come to their aid. Their catch was so, that it filled both boats to the point of starting to sink. All, were in disbelief. It was obvious that it was all Jhesus’ doing.
The story hadn´t surprised Mary. Ever since he was a child, animals, birds, fish would all swarm around Jhesus, at his bidding. Since then, Peter and Andrew had become his followers. They even had other friends’ of Peter join them. James and John, two brothers, sons of Zebedee, also left everything and follow Jhesus. “They would all become fishers of men”, they told Mary, proudly, as they asked her for more bread to spread the cooked grains, butter and cheese she had brought.
She sat musing on the seashore, till she got cold and walked back to the tent to rest. “God, she said, please lead them not into temptation but deliver them from all evil”, she prayed for each and every one of them.
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