The Tunic (Part 15)

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


  Livia rushed to prepare dinner for Cato.  She was very behind.  With any luck he would come home a little later today, and then she would not have to explain anything. When things were getting close, Livia asked, "Remus why don't you go outside and watch for Papa.  Maybe you could show him some of the trails you have been enjoying."
  "Yes, I want to show him my new favorite one! I hope he comes soon."  It wasn't long before Livia could hear Remus shouting.  "He's here!  He's here!" Livia watched as Remus pulled on Cato's hand to follow him.  Livia knew Cato would not be able to refuse him.  She smiled.  Everything would be ready by the time they returned.
  However, Cato did not look too pleased when they returned.  Livia wondered what was wrong.  Livia knew it was best not to question his mood, so she quickly served super avoiding his stare.
  "So, Remus tells me you had visitors today," began Cato.
  Livia quickly looked at Remus trying to determine what exactly he told Cato.  "....yes . . . two neighboring woman stopped by. . . . .They brought us some fresh bread."  Livia glanced up to read Cato's face. He was definitely staring harshly at her.
  "And?" question Cato.
  "And, I'm afraid Remus ate it all.  He was quite hungry."
  "It was very good, Papa!"
  "And what did you talk about?" inquired Cato.
  Livia could tell by the tone in his voice he was not happy.  "Oh, you know, just woman talk.  I thanked them for the bread, they told me about their family.  The two woman are sisters and live with their brother not too far from here."
  "Mama, I told Papa how their brother was dead but then Jesus told him to come out of the tomb!  Tell Papa that story. I really liked listening to that one.  They had lots of good stories about Jesus, but that one was my favorite!"
  "Yes, Livia, please tell me that one.  Please tell me how you talked to complete strangers about Jesus!  I moved you here to be safe!  Did you just jeopardize everything?!"  Cato's face was red and his voice harsh.  "I'm going to great extremes to keep my family safe, and you are willing to risk everything?  Did you tell them who I was?  Did you tell them what I did?!"
  Livia hated when Cato was upset like this.  She knew she had done nothing wrong, but she did not want to provoke him any further.  She just stared at her food and remained silent.
  Cato pounded the table.  "Well, Livia?  Will you not answer my questions?"
  Livia kept her eyes lowered.  Her voice quivered as she answered.  "Cato, I did not talk about you."
  Cato stared at Livia.  "What did you say, then?"
  "I stated only that we had recently moved here from Jerusalem."
  "Did you tell them why?"
  "Of course not."
  "Did you tell them about the tunic?"
  "No."
  "Why would they just come over and start talking about Jesus?"
  "Cato, the woman know Jesus very well.  They have heard him preach.  He has stayed at their house.  He brought their brother back ...." Livia thought twice before she finished her sentence.
  Cato stood up and yelled, "Jesus brought the man back from..... what?"
  Livia quietly let the words escape from her lips.  "Jesus brought Lazarus back from death."  Livia kept her eyes focused on her plate as she heard Cato storm out of the house.
  "Mama why is Papa so mad?  The woman were very nice.  I liked them."
  Livia did her best to blink back her tears as she softly answered Remus, "I liked them, too."

(To be continued...)

-Susan

The Tunic (Part 14)

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


  "Mama, Mama! I'm back!", yelled Remus as he approached the house.  Livia came out of the house smiling, eager to see Remus. She was very surprised when she saw the two woman with Remus.

  "Remus you haven't gotten yourself into any trouble, have you?," asked Livia.
  Remus laughed, "No, Mama.  I helped them carry their water to their house and they rewarded me with some delicious bread.  We brought some for you, too!"
  "Hello, my name is Martha and this is my sister Mary.  We were very fortunate to cross paths with your son today.  He was very kind to help us."
  Livia smiled as she introduced herself, "I'm Livia.  Please come inside."  As they walked inside Livia told the sisters, "We have just recently moved here. It is just a temporary arrangement.  You are the first neighbors we have met."
  "Where are you from?" asked Mary.
  "Rome, originally," answered Livia, "but we have been living in Jerusalem for over a year now."
  "Oh, is that were you met Jesus, in Jerusalem?" asked Mary.
  Stunned, Livia did not know how to answer.  Why did these woman think she knew Jesus? Livia bit her lip for a minute.
  "It's okay, don't worry.  We are friends of Jesus, too. Remus told us that both of you were  healed by Jesus. Please share your story with us.  We would love to hear it!"
  Livia quickly looked at Remus for an explanation who was completely oblivious to Lidia's stare and apprehension.  He was busy enjoying the bread. Lidia had no idea who these woman were or if it was even safe to talk to them. She could almost sense Cato's disappointing stare and his warning to be quiet.  Livia nervously looked at the sisters wondering what she should say.  "Well... I think it would be rude of me to just start talking about myself...You are the guests, please tell me about yourselves."  Lidia wondered for a second if she had successfully dodged their question.
  Martha and Mary loved to speak about Jesus and eagerly began to share their story.  Martha began, "Well Mary and I live down the street with our brother Lazarus," she paused for a moment to see if Lazarus name meant anything to Livia. " Lazarus was just recently very, very ill.  We sent word out to Jesus that he was in need of healing.  We waited.  Lazarus grew weaker each day and then...."  Martha wiped a tear from her eye and Mary reached over and gently squeezed her hand.
  "It is okay, Martha.  He is back with us."
  "Yes, I know, but it is still very difficult to remember that moment."  Livia felt slightly uncomfortable as if this moment was too private to be sharing, yet she desperately wanted to know what happened. Martha took a deep breath in and then clasped her hands over her heart as she let the words unwillingly escape, "He died."
  Livia gasped.  "Oh, I'm so sorry..."
  Martha shook her head and said, "Don't be.  It was a part of God's Plan. God allowed Lazarus to die, so that Jesus could bring him back to life!"
  Livia's eyes grew wide as she tried to understand what Martha was saying. In an instant she remembered Cato speaking of Jesus bringing a man back to life.  "Oh, I can't believe this," Livia thought to herself, "Is Lazarus the same man Cato was referring to?"
  "Jesus came four days after we had placed Lazarus into his tomb.  In the midst of us all mourning, Jesus came and I met him on the road. I remember His words vividly.  He said, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,  and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?'  I told Jesus that I believed that he was the Christ, the Son of God! I then quickly went to find Mary back at the house.  Together we showed Jesus Lazarus' tomb. The stone was rolled back and Jesus said in a loud voice,'Lazarus, come forth!'  And Lazarus walked out of the tomb still wearing all his wrappings!  Jesus brought my brother back to life! I was filled with incredible joy!"
  Livia could feel her heart beating with joy as Martha spoke each word. "Please tell me more," Livia begged.  "I want to know every detail!"
  Martha and Mary took turns telling Livia everything about Lazarus' death. Livia couldn't believe the close relationship the family had with Jesus. Both woman could repeat everything Jesus had shared with them. Hours passed before any of them even noticed.  Livia hung on every word the women spoke.  She desperately wanted to know everything about Jesus.  He was even more incredible than she had imagined.
  "Livia, please, tell us how Jesus healed you and Remus," Mary asked politely.
  Livia wasn't sure she should share her story.  What would Mary and Martha think of her if they knew her husband had been one of the Roman soldiers which had crucified their dear friend?  Livia knew she could learn so much more from these two.  Both of them believed without a doubt that Jesus, too, had been resurrected.  After all Jesus himself had said, "I am the Resurrection and the life!"  Livia thought quickly.  "I would love to share our story, but I"m afraid I must begin my chores before my husband returns.  Could we get together again soon?"
  "Yes.  We would enjoy that!  Next time you will tell us all about your encounter with Jesus!" said Mary.

(to be continued....)

-Susan

The Tunic (Part 13)

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

  Cato continued to search for the truth.  Day after day he searched for the body of Jesus without success. Even Jesus' closest disciples couldn't  be found.  All these unknowns made Cato very nervous.  He managed to find a small house just outside of Jerusalem in Bethany for Livia and Remus to live until things settled down. Cato still feared he may be punished for his role in Jesus' crucifixion.
  As the days turned into weeks, Cato found that people were more willing to speak about Jesus.  Cato was surprised to discover that Jesus was a man of peace and compassion.  His miracles were even more numerous than Cato had originally thought.  With each passing story, Cato yearned to learn more.  Jesus was far more interesting than Cato had imagined. His death made absolutely no sense.  
  Livia was not pleased with the move to Bethany.  She desperately wanted to learn more about Jesus.  She was afraid that living outside of Jerusalem would prevent her from ever meeting the risen Jesus.  Each night Livia would pray,  "Jesus make yourself known to me. I desire to spend my life thanking you."
  Remus seemed to adjust more quickly to the move.  He was always so happy now.  He was eager to discover the world.  Previously, he had thought his life would consist of sitting in a chair and watching the world go by.  Now that he was free of pain, every day offered unlimited possibilities.
  A week after they had moved to Bethany, Remus asked Livia if he could take a morning walk.  "Just promise me you will be careful and not go too far," pleaded Livia as she attended to her household chores.
  "Don't worry, I promise to be good," Remus replied with a smile.  As he made his way down to the end of a long road, he noticed two woman struggling with their basins of water.  "Could I help you carry your water?"  he asked.
  The women smiled.  "Thank you so much.  We are blessed to have a strong young man help us."
  Remus flashed the women a big smile.  He liked thinking of himself as strong.  "Well I wasn't always this strong," Remus answered.  "Before Jesus healed me, I could barely walk."
   "You know Jesus, too?!  Oh, we would love to hear how Jesus healed you.  Jesus is a close friend of ours.  He healed our brother as well.  Please tell us your story."
  Remus told the women about the fire and how he had been badly burned. "Walking hurt so much.  Usually I just sat, and sometimes, even doing nothing was painful.  Then my mom placed Jesus' tunic on me and I felt something change in me.  And now I can walk and run and carry heavy stuff! I'm healed!"
  The women were fascinated with Remus.  "Remus we made some fresh bread this morning.  Perhaps we could bring some to your mother. We would love to meet her and talk more about your healing."
  "Fresh bread sounds delicious!" replied Remus. "My mom and I are trying to learn more about Jesus.  Maybe you could tell us what he is like?"
  "We would love too!" answered Martha.  

(to be continued....)

-Susan