The Sword of Ruth: The Story of Jesus' Little Sister

by V. M. Franck

  Chapter 16

  Ruth

  Inspecting the rose he had carved on the end of the staff, Ruth said, "Thank you so much, Uncle David. You did a wonderful job."

  She joined him on a bench in front of his home. Further down the courtyard Jacob assisted their brother, David, in assembling a large chest. Adjacent to each home, six in all, was a workshop. David, like most of her brothers, was a carpenter. Brother Jacob was the family gardener. He grew enough vegetables for everyone and sold the rest in Nazareth. In the off season he assisted the others with their work.

  The yard was filled with children. Sarah, James' wife, called to them. They scurried inside for the day's lessons. Sarah was a strict disciplinarian, unwilling to put up with insolence or disobedience. In her company they were always well-behaved.

  "I'm glad you like it," Uncle David said, beaming. "I know how important it is to you ladies, though you never did tell me why, exactly. Besides, you're my favorite niece, and, well, I was kind of hoping...."

  The big burly guy with curls hugging his shoulders grinned sideways. His beard was neatly trimmed, his hair combed and parted. He was more spruced up than he had been since his wife died a year earlier.

  "What's that?"

  "You know the new lady, Mariam? I was hoping...."

  "You're partial to her?"

  "She seems mighty nice, and that little boy of hers, Jacob, I like him so much. I was wondering if...."

  "If what?" Ruth liked to tease him. He had always been her favorite of her father's three brothers.

  "You know."

  "Why, Uncle David, you've gone shy on me."

  "Ruthie?" He put down his carving tools. It was a plea she saw in his eyes.

  "You want me to speak to her about you?"

  "I don't know why such a pretty woman would be interested in a gnarly old guy like me, but she sure is fine. I like Melanie, too. They all fit right in. Since Mayblee died, I've been powerful lonesome, even if we did fight all the time. I didn't think I'd want anyone else. But well, I thought.... It wouldn't be proper for me to speak to her myself."

  "That's old fashioned, Uncle David."

  "It's how I am, honey. The one thing Papa always said was to be respectful. If you're not, there's nothing left, he said. He had that big old face of whiskers and a merry look, most of the time. But he wouldn't put up with insolence. He said respect is sometimes more important than love."

  "Do you think so?" Ruth said.

  "Without respect, there is no love, not the real kind, anyway."

  "Okay, tell you what, next time we have a meeting I'll mention you, tell her what a nice guy you are and all. She's working out real well at Maria and Yeshua's. Been tending the garden mostly, I hear. She loves it so, Maria says."

  "I can't offer her much."

  "I wouldn't say that. You're one of the nicest guys I know. And your work is treasured because of all the pretty things you carve into the pieces you build. It's not like you're poor."

  "But I'm old and fat, and...."

  "You're only four years older than Yeshua."

  "Well, I am fat."

  "Got that from Grandpa, as I understand. It makes you huggable. Women like that."

  "So you'll speak to her?"

  "You bet." Ruth gave him a squeeze. "I've felt bad for you this last year."

  "We always so wanted more children, you know. Clara is, well, I'm afraid I spoiled her. She's not nice to her new husband. And our other babies died and then Mayblee. I was sure your mother could save her. But she was away and so was Yeshua, and you--you were down sick with the fever, same fever that took Mayblee." Tears gathered in his eyes. "I always wanted a passel, girls just like you. Some men want boys. But I don't see why. Boys can be so selfish, thinking of themselves all the time. But girls, well, most girls, when God made girls he made a fine gift. When's the next ladies' meetin'?"

  "Next week, three days after Sabbath," Ruth said.

  "And you think this staff will do the job?"

  "I know it will, you big sweety." She smushed a kiss to his forehead.

  "What you girls planning?"

  "To make the pledge up on the hill."

  "Can I come?"

  "I don't know why not."

  "Where's that husband of yours, anyway? I can't understand why he takes off and leaves a pretty thing like you in your condition."

  "I encouraged him to go. He's spreading the word about the coming days and what we need to do to prepare. Me and the baby are fine," she said, fondly patting her stomach. "John wanted me to stay here with Mother in case anything goes wrong. Mother Elizabeth thought it would be best, too. She knows about healing and such, but not nearly as much as Mother. Mother Elizabeth is excited about it. She didn't think John would ever make her a grandmother."

  "It's a boy, you know," Daniel said, coming up behind them. He coughed hard and cleared his throat, trying to quiet the rattling in his lungs.

  "You're sure?" Ruth said.

  "I'm never wrong about these things," Daniel croaked out.

  "What you going to name the little tyke?" Uncle David said. "After me, I hope."

  "We haven't decided," Ruth said. "John wants to name him after his father. But that doesn't seem right to me."

  "Whatever you name the wee one, I'm sure he'll be a jewel, just like you," Uncle David said.

  "Uncle David," Daniel said, "you're going to swell her head."

  "No chance," Uncle David said, "not this one. She's as sweet as a meadow flower in winter."

  The following week the women gathered at Ruth's family's complex. Fog hugged the knoll up back. The group climbing toward it chattered about their families. It was well after the morning meal and just before midday. The ones who lived out of the area had arrived the night before. Only Mother Mary and Maria spoke in whispered tones.

  Around the other side of the hill, the people of Nazareth, some 600 strong, ignored the women. Strangers regularly gathered at the Essene Community Center, a complex of homes around common courtyards, linked together by tunnels. There were five such groupings.

  Carrying the staff, Ruth led the group single file through the break in the rocks at the top of the knoll. The gathering of boulders formed a bowl. As a child Ruth and her cousins often met there to play. In the center of the bowl she eyed the hard packed dirt. She hadn't thought to bring anything to dig a hole.

  Daniel, a blanket drawn around himself, watched from the edge. He was puffing hard from the hike, determined not to act sick. Carrying a pickaxe Uncle David ambled over to Ruth.

  She hugged him. "At least you thought ahead. Thanks."

  "You're welcome, Ruthie." He whispered, "Did you talk to her?"

  "Yes." Ruth smiled and kissed his cheek. "She thinks you're handsome. I told her what a sweetheart you are."

  He grinned and began chopping a hole deep enough to ensure the staff wouldn't fall over. Ruth placed it in the hole. Uncle David tamped dirt in around it. When he was done it stood straight and steady. The women gathered about them.

  "Thank you, David," Mother Mary said, "for this exquisite rose. As you all know, Sara, Simon the fisherman's wife, is ill and won't able to continue. Since her baby died she's had one illness after another. I think by now you've all met Mariam. She has the love of the rose in her heart. Her goal has always been to help women. Her beliefs cost her all she had. She's one of the finest people I've ever met. Thank you for welcoming her. She will be taking Sara's place.

  "We gather today to pledge our commitment to the White Rose. If you can't do this for any reason, it is okay. Someone else will find their way to us and take your place.

  "As we've discussed, the Circle of the White Rose represents the perfection we are all capable of. There has always been opportunities for everyone to practice it, but so many things get in the way, things we think are more important as well as things pressed on us by others. The act of survival can
strip us of that perfection if we allow it. So life after life we miss what we truly are, what we are born to be, what we have always been. We are born again and again to fix it, and then for one reason or another we fail to do so.

  "Some of those, who distract us from our perfection, are men. Over time, they have taken it upon themselves to put words in God's mouth, making women second-rate, with no more rights than cattle. This is not in the interest of love. This is not in the interest of God either. God is not a sexist."

  "We women of the White Rose," Maria said, "have been born into this lifetime to help other women find the talents within themselves, show them forth and help create the world of love and balance. It won't be easy. It may at times be dangerous. Those in power want to stay in power, at any cost, including treachery and war."

  "Love is the antithesis of war," Ruth said. "Love does not kill. Love does not hate. Love loves."

  "So now," Mother Mary said, "in this moment I would like you to take these thoughts into your heart once more. Ask yourself if you are willing to commit to perfect love, the love that radiates within each one of you."

  Silence ensued.

  After a time Mother Mary said, "Is there anyone who feels they cannot commit to this?"

  One woman stepped forward. It was Celia, daughter of the Roman magistrate. Tears spilled from her eyes.

  "I can't," Celia said. "My father says if I do this he will...I mean he threatened to...I just can't."

  She rushed from the group and out of the rock enclosure.

  "We are sorry to lose her, but it's best we know this now. Is there anyone else who feels this is not truly their calling?" Mother Mary asked.

  No one stepped forward. No one spoke.

  "Okay," Mother Mary said. "Now we have a vacancy."

  She looked to the sidelines to see if anyone had arrived unannounced. Three others were present--her brother-in-law, David, her son, Daniel, and Melanie, daughter of Mariam.

  "I'd like to do it," Melanie said, shyly moving toward the center. "I feel it inside. I am of the rose. Please don't turn me away because I'm young. I will grow. I will become. I am the light. In me there is no darkness. I am the heart of God. In me is God's perfection. I am the soul of the One. In me there is no weakness. I can do this, if you give me a chance."

  She came to stand next to Ruth. Ruth slipped her arm around her in reassurance. The girl was trembling.

  "Is there anyone here who feels this cannot be, that a child cannot assume this task?" Mother Mary asked.

  There were murmurs, but no one spoke up.

  "I can reach the girls," Melanie said, her face beginning to glow. "If they won't listen to the adults, they might listen to me. I will work hard."

  "We accept you as one of us," Mother Mary said. "Now, I want each of you to extend your hand, which ever one is closest to your heart. One at a time cup your hand over the rose on the top of this staff. Hold it there long enough for it to imprint on your heart. I will go first."

  She did so. The others followed.

  When they were done, Mother Mary extended her hand again.

  "I place my hand on the rose, "she said. "Remaining in a circle, I want one of you to place your hand on top of mine, someone else on top of hers and so on until fourteen hands are stacked on top of the rose."

  The women complied, though it was difficult for the last few women to squeeze in close enough and place their hands on top of the others.

  "Now to the pledge," Mother Mary said. "Please repeat after me. I vow in my heart of hearts to be faithful in the service of the One."

  "I vow in my heart of hearts to be faithful in the service of the One," the thirteen said.

  "I promise to follow the Path of the White Rose wherever and whenever it takes me," Mother Mary said.

  "I promise to follow the Path of the White Rose wherever and whenever it takes me," the thirteen said.

  "I make a solemn promise to be faithful to the perfect love that lives in us all. I will protect it at all costs. I will do nothing to willingly injure the soul of another. I will do nothing to tarnish beauty. I am one with the Light. I am one with the Soul. I am one with All-That-Is," Mother Mary said.

  "I make a solemn promise to be faithful to the perfect love that lives in us all," the thirteen said. "I will protect it at all costs. I will do nothing to willingly injure the soul of another. I will do nothing to tarnish beauty. I am one with the Light. I am one with the Soul. I am one with All-That-Is."

  Mother Mary said, "I call on the Light to take me forward from this day to teach those who are ready to learn, to sew beauty where there has been none, to bring peace where there has been war, to bring kindness to those in need."

  "I call on the Light to take me forward from this day to teach those who are ready to learn, to sew beauty where there has been none, to bring peace where there has been war, to bring kindness to those in need," the thirteen said.

  "I promise to bring these things to those who manifest as women during this lifetime," Mother Mary said, her face lifted toward the heavens.

  "I promise to bring these things to those who manifest as women during this lifetime," the thirteen said.

  "I am the White Rose incarnate. I love all who live/have lived in every time period and of every persuasion" Mother Mary said.

  "I am the White Rose incarnate. I love all who live/have lived in every time period and of every persuasion," the thirteen said.

  With tears in her eyes Ruth gazed around the group. All were visibly affected.

  "Now and forever, so be it," Mother Mary said.

  Uncle David and Daniel wept.

  Chapter 17