“My Best Friend, Jesus” (Chapter 5: "Roman Child," Part Two)

“That is what hate will do to a man."

“My Best Friend, Jesus” © 2018 Mark H. Massé Case # 1-6279018701 United States Copyright Office

Welcome to SUCH FRIENDS, a new fictional series on my Substack platform, Massé Musings (markhmasse.substack.com). This week’s story (“Roman Child,” Part Two) is from my young adult religious collection, “My Best Friend, Jesus.” Hope you enjoy the read.

“My Best Friend, Jesus” (Chapter 5: “Roman Child,” Part Two)

“That is what hate will do to a man."

She smiled and stared past me with a blank expression, offering her fragile hand. I grasped it gently in my palm. Then Jesus held Claudia in his lap as one would clutch an infant. He rocked her slowly, and she started humming a most pleasant sound.

            “She is the daughter of a Roman soldier,” he said.

            “What? That is not possible.”

            “And why is that?”

            “Because anyone who has relations with a Roman is … .”

            “Stoned to death?”

            “Yes, that is our law.”

            “And that is what we Nazarenes did to her mother many years ago.”

            “When? Why did we not know about this?”

            “It happened during the time of your uncle’s death. It was retribution for his killing and the murder of other Jews from our village.”

            “But who was her mother?”

            “She was Teviah. Her own mother had died in childbirth, and her father abandoned Teviah when she was 12.”

            “Our age.”

            “Yes, our age. Still a child. But old enough to also be a mother.”

            My head was cluttered with too many thoughts.

            “I don’t understand what you just said.”

            “Teviah was with child after a Roman soldier assaulted her in Nazareth. No one was there to protect her. She tried to hide her shame as best she could. But when it was time for the baby to be born, her secret was revealed. And after her daughter, Claudia, was delivered, Teviah was banished to this cave. She was left alone to try and care for her child.”

            “Did no one help her? Not even our families?”

            “After it was revealed that she had been violated by a Roman, she was deemed unclean and unworthy. That is why she was banished.”

            “And treated like a leper.”

            “Yes, but it was even worse for Teviah because when Claudia was still young, the Romans returned. That is when your uncle and other men were murdered for throwing rocks at the soldiers. After their executions, many in the village blamed Teviah. They said the Romans had come looking for her. They said she had brought a curse on Nazareth.”

            “But that is not true. Teviah was innocent. Claudia was innocent.”

            “Yet, Teviah was considered an unholy sinner who had brought shame and suffering to our people. The law of Moses said she deserved to be stoned to death, and her child was to be blinded as punishment for having been born of Roman blood.”

            When the old woman began sobbing in Jesus’ arms, he rocked her and sang softly until she fell asleep. Then he gazed up at me with those wide brown eyes, and I felt a fire in my chest as if a flaming spike had been thrust in me.

            “And you still want to kill Romans, Ethan? Do you want to kill Claudia? For she is a Roman according to our law.”

            “Of course not,” I said.

            “Why not? Some would say it is your right.”

            I hung my head and asked for forgiveness.

            “I don’t know what to believe any more,” I said. “I am burning inside.”

            “That is what hate will do to a man,” he said.

            “Can you make it stop? Please, Jesus, help me.”

            He lifted Claudia’s frail hand and extended it to my chest.

            “I’m sorry for what our people did to you and to your poor mother, Teviah.”

            My pain eased, and I kissed Claudia’s hand before helping Jesus to his feet. He carried her into the cool depths of the cave, and I followed. We turned after several steps, and that’s when I saw glowing red embers from a fireplace in a room full of storage jars and two large wooden chests. Jesus placed Claudia onto her bed, which was framed by ornate carving, surely the handiwork of a skilled carpenter.

            “I will return tomorrow,” he said, and she whispered something to him.

            “She said she would like you to visit her again.”

            The air rushed from me as my eyes filled with tears.

            “But I am not worthy,” I said. “Because of the sins of our village.”

            “She has forgiven all of us long ago. Will you come here with me tomorrow, Ethan?”

            “Yes, of course. Yes,” I said eagerly.

            Every day for the next year until she passed away gently in her sleep, Jesus and I returned to that cave to care for Claudia, a Roman child.

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© 2023 Mark H. Massé

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