You Will Be Known Everywhere Because of Your Disguises
Jesus had, for perhaps the first time, a sense of somewhere. Somewhere was where he would never be, a place he might never see.
He had a growing sense of place. He wasn’t one for tribes or even nations, but he was seized by a sense of the specific. He considered roots. He thought of being a people. His dark skin spoke to him. So too his dress. And yes his language.
He was not in love with his language. It seemed harsh to him. Or pleading. He favored serene speech. A register that works for poetry.
Some words sang.
Jesus wondered if there was someplace where he would feel more at home. The cooking would be different. The customs new. The days exciting.
He began paying attention to people from other places. He looked for the strange and exotic.
“Abba,” he said. “All people are called the same way, right?”
“Absolutely, Jesus.”
“To love their neighbor. To love the stranger.”
“And the enemy, Jesus. The so-called sinner too. Forget no one, Jesus, even if you never lay eyes on them.”
“Will I ever go anywhere else than here?”
“I doubt it, Jesus. I think you will become known everywhere. Because of your disguises.”
“Disguises?”
“Your parables. Your stories. Your sayings. Mute the truth. Hide it away. Buy time.”
“Give an example.”
“Here, Jesus. ‘The ax will soon strike. Trees that don’t bear good fruit will be struck down. They’ll be thrown into the flames.’”
“How does that mute truth?”
“It causes people to scratch their heads. What you mean? What are you saying?The bad will be no more? Goodness will be all that remains? They would laugh in your face if you said it directly. Abba is goodness? Repent? You can be good too? Really? You will be accused of fomenting a belief that’s too simple. Even idiotic. Besides, it would requires people to change their ways.”
“You think the tree saying will go around the world?”
“Most likely.”
“Why do I need to buy time?”
“To get others to carry on when you are gone.”
Jesus felt cold pass through him. He shivered. “You are scaring me again,” he said.
“You are going to share the fate of many others. But as people understand that all you tried to do was share a word of goodness, they will see. Some will change. It will take a very long time. It will not be easy. But freedom will have its day, believe me. Try not to think about it.”
“Maybe I should run away,” Jesus thought to himself. He was walking home. “Join another people. Travel. Find another shore. Why not?”
He kicked at the earth.
He was too far in now. Abba was his holy love. There was a future with him everyone could have. No matter where their home was.
With what he knew now, he could say that with certainty.
