The Thirteenth Disciple

With Passover approaching, Jesus decided to be in Jerusalem again. This time we travelled through the middle of Samaria to offer healing in the towns there. Six of us went together: James and John, Andrew, Mary, Jesus and me. We were welcomed all the way - both by the gentiles and by the Jewish communities here. This was the first time that Mary had accompanied us on a journey. It was she who asked to come, and of course Jesus agreed, so we all stayed that first night as her guest in Magdala. We left early the next morning, going westward below the great cliffs behind Magdala, up onto the hills above Tiberias, then heading south past Mount Tabor and over the plains. In the first town we came to in Samaria, there were people who recognised Jesus from two years before. One called out his name, and he smiled and waved to him. A growing throng of excited people started following us, knowing that wherever Jesus went, the unexpected happened. They surrounded him in the market place, asking him to talk to them, to tell them about the way to the Kingdom of God. Here there were many beggars, some with infirmities, so that they were unable to work and forced to beg for charity. Jesus asked the people to bring anyone to him who wanted to be healed. Then he started to speak to those who had gathered: “God loves each one of us, He loves everyone equally. See your brothers here, unable to work. They are part of you, they are part of this town, all life is one in the body of God. If someone is sick in your home, you care for them. Friends and families help each other, so that the old and infirm are cared for within the love of their homes. Misfortune has left these people unable to work, and their misfortune is everyone's misfortune. What happens to them happens to all of you: they are a part of your community, and their care is for all of you. How you care for them reveals you to God - your actions show who you are, God knows the ones who care for these. “The path to God is love, it is the only way. Therefore, where there is suffering, bring love, and your love will ease a pain within the being of God. God is in everything and in everyone and feels what you do. There are no secrets from God, only truth and openness. What you feel in your heart is what comes to God. Feel love in your heart and love comes to God. “God is within you to make you live. Without the breath of God your body is dust. Love is what brings you life, and all love comes from God. Within each of you, there is a place for God.” Jesus then tapped his chest just above his heart, saying: “Here is your sacred place. In here, God is always present every moment of your life, bringing the love that makes you live. Know now that you are always in the presence of God. “Caring for such as these unfortunates, will draw them into the heart of your community, and show that you are a loving community. When the whole community cares, then it shines its love for the world to see. I tell you that loving God is not only speaking prayers in your Temple, it is being love in all you do, in living joyfully and in caring for all creation.” Then Jesus asked for the suffering ones to be brought to him, and we made a space around him to keep the people back. There were seven people there for healing. We brought them in together so that we could prepare them for Jesus: bringing our healing love to them, too; making their hearts ready to receive God when they went to Jesus. One by one, each of them was made whole. Afterwards, Jesus told them to go to the Temple to pray, and to thank God for what they had learned that day. To everyone he said: “Let your hearts so shine that you become a beacon of love for the world. In this way your town will know only love forever.” The people brought us fine refreshments for our journey: lemon water, bread and oil, cheese, olives, honey, various fruits, and some of those delicious date pastries that dissolved into bliss in my mouth. We travelled for four days through Samaria. Each night we slept outside in the hills, once close to a small community. It was such a pleasure having Mary with us to share our journey. She wanted a little more privacy, and had thought of the details of this before she came. She therefore fitted into our group as if she had been always with us. She was a great Apostle for Jesus, as well as being so very feminine, her presence both softened and uplifted us all. Indeed, Mary was a great blessing in each place we visited. She connected immediately with the women of the community, and was able to go easily into their homes and find who was sick and in need of Jesus’ care. She showed us, as she intended to, that there was a unique and important role for a woman on Jesus’ journeys. We came to Jerusalem on the eve of Passover. James and John went to stay with their family, and Jesus, Mary, Andrew and I stayed at Joseph’s, with his garden of serene peace and beauty. In Joseph’s home, Mary could feel completely at ease, allowed, as she was, to talk as an equal. This was more difficult for her to do in public, where the position of women was regarded by men as being different. To begin with, our presence went unnoticed amongst the great crowds, and the next morning we joined the stream of pilgrims flowing towards the Temple.