The Disciple

It was easier when there were fewer of us.Sometimes there were just half a dozen of us, mingling with the Twelve and Jesus himself. Like brothers, we linked arms as we walked, and no one complained. Jesus pointed to a flock of birds overhead, "Be like them." And it was easy to get shelter for the night: servants of big estates led us to the extra beds, or we slept on the straw-softened floors of a barn, or on a cushion of grass with starlight swirling above us. In the morning servants greeted our Master with proper respect, and they fed us fresh bread and fruit. Some went to the gate with us. As we walked to the next village, Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven, and we prayed to our God, the God of Abraham, and Moses, and David. He said, we are all part of the Kingdom of Heaven. He called Our God "Our Father, " and so do we. Of course, my father had different ideas. I knew he would one day summon me home, but he seemed satisfied I lived according to the Law... I witnessed more strangers arrive, listen to Jesus and become disciples. I no longer lived in ordinary time, all places were made holy by His presence. Was this the life I expected? Once from a hillside I watched Jesus, far below, address a crowd of five hundred. Suddenly I was asleep and what I was saw was the purest landscape of my life. It was simply peace on earth. A brilliant white light was shinning, at its center a brighter yellow blazed. Slowly it became the figure of Jesus, whose right hand was raised, and He blessed me...A moment later, I was in midst of the crowd at the base of the hill, and the voice of Jesus was sweet in my hearing.