Walking with Mary in Lent -5

Journey 5

Next morning, back on the road again and way on its way, the caravan arrived upon a Roman road block. These blockades were security checks, or that’s what the mercenary soldiers said, when they stopped to search them. Romans were disliked intensely. Their countenance was always severe, and their manners rough and careless. They were godless and disrespectful to the Jews; few even spoke the language. Distrusted and feared, children ran from them, hiding in their mothers’ skirts, crying. They were requiring the regular Roman tax, which totaled from one to five percent of a man’s income. Faithful Jews already had other voluntary temple taxes, decreed since Moses, to pay for the sacrifices and incense. So, paying an added half shekel or half an ounce of silver was an onerous burden for the people of Nazareth.

The “tributum” as it was called, was truly the "tribute" that Romans demanded from those, under their control. Most of these taxes were placed upon the goods of travelers, collected as transit tolls or “portoria” at town gates and harbors.

One of the villagers picked a fight, refusing to comply. He was rejecting to pay now arguing he had no goods. In doing so, he was unwittingly, putting the whole caravan in danger of total confiscation.

Mary looked on, picking up more than she wished to know. The hardened soldier to the left, had his hand on the stilt of his sword. His quivering upper lip denoted withheld aggression. He stood ready to pounce on the attack, awaiting for the order. His mouth watered with anticipation. He wanted blood.

“Thomas, stop!” yelled the man´s wife as she hid behind other trembling onlookers. The fighting continued, turning into a power-play without signs of stopping, but neither giving signs of growing out of proportion.

Meanwhile, Mary´s eyes met those of the chief centurion, who shifted, some distance away, supervising his men. For a long time their eyes locked together searchingly, venturing into each other´s souls. Suddenly he took a step back, aghast. Color escaped his lips and his face froze.

His mind raced through the recent memory of a life-changing experience. His eyes shone, alit with hope and unutterable joy as he remembered.

‘Yes’, he recalled.. ‘Jhesus had entered Capernaum, when he had been seeking help for his beloved servant, bedridden and dying, at home. In desperate hopelessness he had asked Jhesus for help’.

"Lord," he remembered saying, "my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly."

‘Jhesus had immediately offered to go to him. But how could he? His home was undeserving of such distinction’. Grasped by unknowing assurance he had gone on….

 “Just say the word. You are, as myself, a commander and surely, with your authority, my servant will be healed”. ‘Yes, it had been a miracle!’

Awe-stricken he thought to himself, ‘This is his mother’, and went on, recalling… ‘Jhesus was from Nazareth. Definitely, there was the same hue of holiness about them’.

The centurion started transfixed, towards Mary.

“Blessed are you among women, because blessed is Jhesus, the fruit of your womb”, he said in deep reverence, as he came up to her.

Mary´s eyes swelled in tears, deeply moved by this man´s faith. This centurion's servant, whom his master had valued so highly, was healed because of his loving faith, she somehow knew.

Just then, the centurion called out “Jair, come forth”. A sturdy middle-aged servant came forth; his hardy face and white hair depicted someone knowledgeable and honest, with the likes of someone, Greek. “This is your real Master´s mother”, he said, “and I command you to take care of her. Go with them into Jerusalem, and be free.”

The servant broke down in deep gratitude; Mary, deeply moved.

Such had been the compassion evoked, that the belligerence had stopped, and all were standing around, aghast. ‘Had the centurion let his servant free? Had he commanded him to guard and travel with Jews? Was this the mother of him, so talked about; the miracle-maker?’

“In tears myself, I marvel at faith and pray to be as trusting”.

What is righteousness?

There is nothing more radical than fighting for righteousness.

Yet how can you target it, when everybody’s perception of righteousness, is subjective?

Righteousness honors life. It dignifies man, flaunting the full meaning of dignity, as it ignites inner light.

Despite its cost, you stand tall when you do what is right, whether recognized or not. You can still look people in the eye; shed a tear in outbursts of compassion; flush at public recognition. Innocence is repaired in righteousness, shedding the lurid shadow of guilt that tags you, forever bringing you down. Righteousness makes living, less burdensome. It keeps you humble as it stands, unreachable. It keeps awe and wonder alive, when choosing to do what is right.

But how do we know what is right? How can we recognize it as an option, as we choose our path through life?

Righteousness stems from good will. Though ‘wishful thinking’ is not enough to generate a ‘good’ act, it motivates good intention.  In itself, the subsequent act may not have a ‘good’ result but, if the intention behind it is ‘good’; if generated before the act´s consummation (a priori), it appeases the soul. Good acts stem from peace.

Wrongdoing comes from turmoil. It re-acts aggressively or defensively, instead of responding to conflict, from inner peace. It justifies ‘bad’ acts, after they have been done (a posteriori). Though the motivating force behind it, be not consciously directed to doing wrong, the need to cover it up defensively, justifying its intention, is in itself a reflection of guilt. Guilt stems from wrongful intention. Whether the deed, in itself, is right or wrong, is hard to judge. Its effect may, in fact turn with time, or have hidden benefits. It depends on the significance given by those, affected.

Righteousness is constructed, both by the doer and by those affected by an act. It is not limited to a person or an act. It is the pulsating living force, that motivates life. It has movement of its own and is, therefore, unattainable. Nobody owns it. Its movement is released by ‘good’ will. Volition, both creates it and destroys it. We recognize it by its movement. It is alive; it cannot stand still; it cannot be possessed. Nobody is the owner of right. We can only travel on its back as it drives life, on. Resisting it is death-prone.

We choose righteousness; both, to do right, and to receive it. It does not come from judgment.  It is a choice. If we receive acts graciously, we can turn wrongdoing into righteousness. Gratitude is the grace that receives wrongdoing and its after-effect, into goodness, reverting its negative flow.

Righteousness is identified by its movement. It gives peace. If an act done, gives peace, it is right. ‘Good’ acts can only be generated from this inner peace. It is not about right and wrong, but about inner balance.

Keep it simple. It is the flow of life.