The Tunic (part 6)

(The Tunic is a fictional story based on the Passion of Jesus. The story began on post March 18, 2019.)



  The following morning Livia quickly began her daily chores.  She looked at the blood-stained tunic and half wished she hadn't agreed to clean it. She knew it would be time consuming and difficult.  She would have to draw extra water from the well, and since walking was too difficult for Remus, she would have to make two trips as quickly as possible while he remained at home. She kissed Remus on the forehead and promised she would return shortly.  
  As Livia walked to the well, she remembered the days when Remus would laugh and run circles around her.  Her hand instinctively brushed away the stream of tears.  She had no time for this pain today.  She had to stay focused. Perhaps this time they would find the right doctor to help Remus.  "Yes, this time will be different," Livia convinced herself.  "I will do whatever it takes to get the stains out of the tunic."  
  As she was filling her pitchers, she overheard some of the other woman discussing yesterday's crucifixion.  Livia remained quiet.  The woman were saddened and shocked that Jesus could heal others and perform countless miracles, but was not able to do anything to help himself.  It was hard for Livia to understand why he was crucified, he seemed to have helped so many. Livia thought how unfair life was for so many good people, especially for herself and Remus. "How can one day change everything....?" A question she had asked herself too many times.
  When Livia returned home she saw Remus was exactly where she had left him. He just sat motionless in his chair.  Livia kissed him on the cheek as she silently asked herself again, "Why?  Why did this have to happen to us?"  Livia was about to return to the well for more water when she decided it would make sense to start soaking the tunic.  Perhaps if it soaked long enough, the stains would be easier to remove.
  She poured some water into a basin and then submerged the tunic in the water.  Immediately, the blood was released from the fibers.  The water had been cool, but suddenly Livia felt a surge of heat pulse through her hands and arms. She looked down at her arms and couldn't believe what she was seeing.  The terrible scars on her arms were fading.  She no longer had any pain.  Her skin was smooth.  They looked like they did before the fire!  An incredible joy filled her whole body!  She was healed! She was healed!  But how?  This didn't make any sense. How could washing a tunic heal her?  It was the same water from the same well that she had used for months.  It had to be the blood from the tunic! Livia remembered Cato saying this man claimed to be the son of a god.  The women at the well said he had performed miracles. Could this man's blood be healing her right now?
  Livia's thoughts quickly turned to Remus.  "Remus I have to wash you right now!"
  "I don't want to.  I'm not dirty." Remus answered.
  Livia had no doubts that this man was a powerful healer.  "Remus, look at my arms!  The scars are gone! I am healed!  You need to put your legs in this water!"
  Remus had no idea what his mother was talking about.  He had never seen her act like this before.  He looked at her arms--her ugly scars weren't there. " Where did they go?"
  Livia quickly picked up her son with unusual ease and placed his legs in the water.  She took the tunic in both hands and rung it out over Remus' legs.  "Mom, that feels really warm."
  "Good," Livia said as she carefully placed the tunic over her son's legs. She placed her hands on top of the tunic and said, "Remus this tunic belonged to a man who performed miracles.  Some say that he was the son of a god."
  "Which god, Mom?"
  "I don't know, but if he heals you, I will spend the rest of my life searching for that answer.  His name was Jesus.  Let's both close our eyes and ask Jesus to heal you."
  Livia closed her eyes and begged that the blood of Jesus would heal her son. Over and over Livia begged for Jesus' help until her thoughts were interrupted-
  "Mom, my legs stopped hurting!"
  Livia opened her eyes and looked at her son.  He was smiling!  Remus was smiling again!  Again her whole body filled with joy as she slowly removed the tunic from Remus' legs. His scars were gone as well! Livia threw her arms around her son.  "Thank you, Jesus!  Thank you!"  This time Livia didn't stop the tears from streaming down her face. She had never been happier!

(to be continued...)

-Susan