SCENE I
Jingle…JJingle…JJinggle!!!
“CO…M…(cough)…ING…(cough…)” I manage to blurt.
Dusting my gnarled wrinkled hands on my baking apron, I
grasp my walking stick…it has become increasingly difficult to get anywhere
without this helpful companion these days!
JJINGGLE!!!
“Oh…CO…M…ING…(cough)” Shuffle…tap...Shuffle...(cough)...tap…
JJINGGLE!!!
Impatient soul! Whoever? Maybe a merciless Roman!
Didn’t Shalome say that half the Praetorium had emptied itself into her inn
last week? She said they’d kept the kitchen fires ablaze all night long with
their wolfish appetite! And the crooks left the next noon without paying a single
denarii! Cold blooded Rome! They squeeze the blood out of our people and drink
it as if it were a goblet of savory wine!
Oh ADONAI…HIS NAME be praised…when will that Promised
Messiah come? Our eyes blur with longing for Israel’s true King! Peace be
within your walls Oh Israel!
JINGLE!!!
YES??? I lean over the wooden counter and fully expect
the red brush helmet.YES???
Why? It’s Hananiel! He must be truly favoured of God as
his name states for he’s blessed with whisps of curly raven hair, brownest eyes
ever, pinched pink cheeks! What a pleasant customer!
The little cherub spoke,”Mamushka…I need the freshest barley
loaves”
“My loaves are always fresh Hani! 1…2…3…4…5…Here you go!”
“We’re traveling to meet The Honoured Rabbi! Peace to
you Mamushka!” he mumbles as he places some coins in my palm and tumbles off.
The Honoured Rabbi??? Of late many an imposter has
risen, pulling out a magic or two from his satchel, swaying the hearts of the
people…all for a little while…then they all meet the same end. They die. And so
does their magic with them. But this Rabbi is different from our leaders I
hear. They say He speaks with the authority that one has when he has no secrets
to hide from probing eyes. But then who knows!
SCENE
II
“Rahael! Rahael! Into which heaven
have you ascended!!!
I put away the yarn and readied for
Shalome’s tantrum as she huffed into my cobbled backyard.
“The whole town is rumbling out to
meet The Honoured Rabbi and you sit here with shut eyes and blocked ears!” She
scolds.
“Listen Shalome… I don’t believe
every…”
“LISTEN Rahael! You must know enough
before you choose to disbelieve! Boz still has place left in his cart. Come
with us. Please!”
So here I am being wheeled out with
others…with a bemused face…a confused heart…in a long train of bouncy caravans.
Wheels…squeals…Dust…Cough…cough….
Someone breaks into an ancient
exodic hymn…a shrill tambourine…
Have mercy on your sheep Oh
ADONAI…HIS NAME be praised…they are like sheep with hired shepherds!
They kept up the singing the whole
journey through. Until the cows’ tinkles could be heard…the smell of fish…the
taste of salt in the air. Finally. Bethsaida.
SCENE III
“I AM The Bread of Life.”
But I bake the finest bread
for a living!
But am I really “living”?
My heart is a boiling cauldron of painful disappointment, warring rage and caustic bitterness…
Could I call this
“living”? Face it.
I should call it
cheating. Sigh… I’m so very tired… I can’t go on any more…
“Come to ME all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you
rest.”
REST? How inviting that
sounds… like a clean fragrant soft fluffy pillow.
My caged heart hasn’t
known it for decades…(Sob)…(Sniff…)
“He who believes in ME will never thirst.”
But why should I trust
You?
“For I Am the bread who comes down from heaven and gives life to the
world.”
Rabbi You mean, YOU are
the daily missing nourishing ingredient in my life?
“This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that everyone who
believes in the Son may have everlasting life.”
OH ADONAI…HIS NAME be
praised… Please help my unbelief! If only YOU could show me a sign…
One more thought…This
Rabbi certainly reads people’s thoughts! But Only GOD can do that right! Wait!
This is not just another Rabbi. Then could He be…
SCENE IV
“The Honoured Rabbi cares to feed us before camp breaks up!” an
animated murmur circulates amongst the crowds.
“But this is a mammoth audience…way too far from town…And I don’t
know just how many cartloads of loaves will be needed to feed them, Shalome!”
“Someone has offered The Honoured Rabbi, five barley loaves and
two fish!” another excited murmur.
Which fool is this anyway!!! Why??? Isn’t that Hananiel in the
midst of the Rabbi and His disciples??? WHY??? He’s offering HIM, MY barley
loaves!!!
The Rabbi, raises them up to heaven and thanks the Father. Now the
serving begins!
OH! OH! From where do these loaves keep coming from!!!
This is no magic!!! This is a miracle!!!
Magicians do magic. Only GOD does miracles.
OH! Here they come…my own barley loaves! Yes! NO! They smell
fresher than oven alright! They’re softer! They’re tastier! WHY! I haven’t
tasted exotic loaves like these in all my life!
YESHUA!!! OH YESHUA!!! (Sob… Sniff)
With trembling palms and tearfilled eyes I gaze at The Honoured
Rabbi, standing a stone’s throw away… WHY!!! He IS looking at ME! The kindest
smile! The deepest twinkling eyes!
And my heart bows over like a laden sheaf, in reverent awe…
MY LORD AND MY GOD!!!
When I arose…there was no more of that poison left in me.
So here I am being wheeled out with others…with a bemused face…a
transformed heart…in a long train of bouncy caravans. Wheels…squeals…Dust…(Cough…cough….)
Someone breaks into an ancient exodic hymn…a shrill tambourine…
“I’m so glad you chose to come with us, Rahael!” (A gentle
whisper)
“I AM SO GLAD I CAME, dear Shalome!” (An emotion loaded whisper)
A Prispiration based on St.John's Gospel Chapter 6
