(The Tunic is a fictional story based on the Passion of Jesus. The story began on post March 18, 2019.)
Finally, Jesus made it through the streets of Jerusalem and to the Place of the Skull. Cato was surprised he was even still alive. The soldiers had to force some man off the streets to help Jesus carry his cross the rest of the way. He was in really bad shape. Next, the soldiers threw Jesus down on his cross and began to pound the nails into his body. Cato always hated that part. It was always difficult for Cato to witness the wrenching pain. Cato would ease his mind by telling himself criminals deserved this extreme punishment.
Together the soldiers pulled the cross up and into place. Now it was time for the soldiers to collect a little reward for a job well done. Jesus barely had much to divide up. There was his tunic though. It was seamless. That could be resold for some good money thought Cato. When another soldier suggested they draw lots for it, Cato quickly agreed. Cato could not believe his luck when he ended up winning the tunic! "Yes!" he yelled. "I guess this is a good day after all." He picked up the tunic and examined it. There was plenty of bloodstains to be removed, but he was sure he could easily sell it.
Cato smiled at the thought of his good luck and looked at the crowd. His eyes immediately found the woman he had seen in the streets. Her pain seemed to match the crucified Jesus. Cato looked up at Jesus and then at the woman. She had to be his mother. Cato had seen plenty of crucifixions and family members sobbing, but there was something very different about these two. There was no swearing or yelling or even anger. It was as if they were both resigned to accept this painful end. Cato shook his head. He would never understand these people.
A few hours later Cato heard Jesus say, "It is finished," as his last breath silently fell to the ground. Oddly, the sky darkened and the earth began to shake. Cato was scared. Was this going be the end for all of them? Some of the people began screaming and running away. Cato heard a fellow soldier say, "Truly, he was the Son of God," as he pierced Jesus' side with a lance.
Those words "Truly he was the Son of God" played over and over in Cato's mind. Did he just help crucify God's son? Which God? He tried to close his eyes to make sense of what was happening. With his eyes closed tight, Cato could see the pain filled eyes of Jesus' mother burning through his darkness.
(to be continued....)
-Susan
