W: The Planner, The Chosen

by Alexandra Swann

  “That is what Hanukkah commemorates—even in the darkest moments in history, the spirit of God is always present to help those who resist evil. The Maccabees were allowed the privilege of witnessing the miracle of Hanukkah because they were willing to honor God, to stand up against evil and to fight for what was right, even if they died doing so. In the days of the Maccabees, people could be restored into right relationship with God only through reinstating the daily sacrifice in the Temple, but since the coming of Jesus, we live in the Age of Messiah, and we are restored into right relationship with God as we allow Him to rule and reign in our own hearts. And as we fight for the freedom to worship God and to teach our children to worship God, the Spirit of God will fight for us, just as it did for my ancestors, thousands of years ago.”

  Michael lit the center candle and used that candle to light the far left candle, and then he recited the prayer that his father had taught him:

  “Blessed are you O Lord Our God, King of the universe, who has given us holidays, customs and times of happiness to increase the knowledge of God and to build us up in our most holy faith.

  “Blessed are you O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and permitted us to reach this season.”

  Keith had been leaning against the wall listening, and now he spoke, “I have a question, Mike. Since Hanukkah is eight days, why are there nine candles? And why is one candle taller than the others?” Keith actually liked Michael, in spite of himself, but all of this religious stuff drove him crazy. Anyway, he wanted to see whether Michael knew the answer.

  The pleased expression on Michael’s face immediately made him wish he had not asked the question. “I’m so glad you asked. The candles represent the miracle of the oil. The oil represents the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of God on earth. None of these candles has any greater significance than any of the others—they tell the story of God’s faithfulness as a whole. But the center candle is the Shamash candle—the servant candle. It is the only candle that can be used to light any of the others. It gives light to all of them. My father used to tell us that the story of Hanukkah recounts the story of God’s faithfulness to His people, but it also foretells the coming of Messiah. It is a picture for us to remind us that just as the olive oil would supernaturally give light to cleanse the temple, in less than 200 years, the Holy Spirit would supernaturally bring about the birth of Jesus who would be born in a stable into the lowliest of circumstances and through His death and resurrection would cleanse the world of sin. For those of us who believe in Jesus, every part of the Menorah tells that story. In ancient rabbinical teachings, seven was the number for natural completion—in six days God created the world, and He rested on the seventh. But eight designated those things which were outside of the natural order and, therefore, possible only for God. So the eight candles remind us that the birth of Jesus was miraculous—an event that only God could orchestrate. The Shamash reminds us that He came as a servant, ‘For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.’ The lighting of the candles from the Shamash reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world who gives light and life to all who receive Him. And as we light the final candle on the final night we remember that the scripture teaches that God raised Him from the dead and gave Him a name which is above all other names. He is the Servant who gives light to the world, who has been elevated to sit at the right hand of God.”

  Now Keith really was annoyed. He had come down for the pancakes, not to hear a sermon. “That’s a nice story for the kids,” he smirked. “But you and I both know that in real life nobody comes to save you. Thousands of years of lighting candles and waiting for the Messiah—or I guess in your case waiting for the Messiah to come back—and where has it gotten you exactly? We’ve all lost everything; we’re living in an abandoned house we don’t even own waiting for the end. And we’re supposed to believe we live in the ‘Age of Messiah’? Give me a break! That ‘chosen people’ stuff has never worked out for anybody who has tried it. Millions of people who thought they were ‘chosen’ died in ovens or were shot to death and tossed into mass graves. But you know something—my parents thought they were ‘chosen’ too. My mom always told us that God had a special plan for our lives, and that each of us needed to try to find it and live it out.” With his hand he made a sweeping motion around the room. “Some plan, huh?”

  “Keith, please,” Kris tried to stop him. He was angry, and he was spoiling the evening with his rant. She looked at Michael and mouthed, “I’m sorry.” Michael ignored her and looked directly at Keith. He was calm but very direct.

  “Keith, do you know how the ‘chosen’ get to be the ‘chosen’? When they hear a call to stand up for Truth, to fight for God’s laws, they are the ones who respond. There may be millions of others who hear that same call and never respond to it; they go through life like sleepwalkers, as if nothing has happened. But ‘the chosen’ answer. I never actually met your mother, but I know her a little through Kris. I know that she was a special woman; I believe that she was right—God does have a purpose for each of your lives. But whether you find and fulfill that purpose is up to you. God will never force it on you—it’s entirely up to you to respond. The Maccabees were just one family, but they responded to the calling of God, and they changed their country’s future. If they had not responded, someone else would have—maybe not at that moment, but sooner or later, somebody would have responded and when they did, they would have been ‘chosen.’ Their story reminds us that God uses ordinary people in special ways when they respond to the leading of His Spirit. Being ‘chosen’ doesn’t mean you’re special—it just means you answered when you were called.”

  Keith looked down and said nothing. In a few minutes he left the room and went back up to the tower alone. Later that evening Kris climbed the watchtower stairs with some latkes, but Keith did not look at her or speak to her.

  For eight nights, every evening at sundown, Kris, Karyn, Jeff, Seth, Faith and Mitch watched Michael light the candles. After the first night Keith never came downstairs for the ceremony again, but whenever he entered the common room he noticed the Menorah sitting there, and it angered and bothered him. He did his best not to look at it, but then he would turn and catch a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye. He had seen hundreds of Menorahs—he had even taped a Hanukkah celebration when he was working in cable news. It had never meant anything to him until a few nights before when Michael had lighted the candles. Now all he could see was eight candles representing one miracle and a Servant candle elevated to a place of honor above them. It bothered him so much that he wished he had not heard Michael’s explanation. “The next time he wants to do something like this,” he muttered, “he can do it without me.” And he felt a deep sense of relief when the eight days finally ended and the Menorah was taken down and put away.

  Chapter 8

  One night after the three children were asleep Michael asked the adults to gather in the “common room”. It was actually a large living room, but since it had become common ground for Keith and his sisters’ families, they all referred to it as the common room.

  Keith was slouched in a corner texting and, apparently, ignoring everyone. Karyn lay on the hard concrete floor with her head in Jeff’s lap. Kris was sitting next to Michael with her legs tucked under her. When everyone was present, Michael stood and addressed them. As soon as Kris saw him rise to his feet, she knew that he was going to tell them something serious.

  “Jessie has picked up some chatter about American citizens who are on a federal terrorist watch list. The list does not include any of the people we would ordinarily expect to be targeted as threats to national security—no criminals, no individuals known to have committed acts of terrorism in the past, no one who has made any sort of threat against American citizens. The list does include evangelical Christians, pro-life groups, Tea Party members, NRA members, homeschoolers, registered Republicans, people who frequently quote
the Constitution, and people who regularly fly an American flag at their residence. No one is mentioned by name so that anyone who falls into any of these categories may be charged with terrorism at any time.

  “Jeff and I have been working together for months to track down information for Jessie’s TruthTrakker website, and I think it’s just a matter of time before we’re arrested. If that happens, I want all of you to be clear about what you’re supposed to do. I’ve already made arrangements with my brother Moshe who has lived in Israel for the past twenty-five years. Contact him the moment you get the news, and he’ll make certain that each of you is transported to Israel in less than twenty-four hours. Jeff and I have already discussed this, and we’re in agreement about what has to be done. Kris and Karyn will take the children to Israel, and, Keith, you will go with them to make sure they’re safe.”

  Karyn sat up and stared at Jeff. “How could you decide something like that without even talking to me first?”

  “Karyn,” Jeff answered, “We have to keep the children safe. They are our first priority. If Michael and I are arrested, they will pick you up soon afterwards. If you hesitate, they will arrest you and Kris and Keith and put the children in foster care with a family who walks the party line or stick them in one of their godless Children’s Centers that will turn them into little communists. Either way, they will be lost to us forever. You have to promise me that you will do exactly as Michael says.”

  Without answering her husband, Karyn turned to Michael. “Tell me about your brother, and, by the way, what has he been doing in Israel for the past twenty-five years?”

  Michael responded, “My brother was born in 1967 during the Six-Day War. Moshe Dayan was Israel’s Minister of Defense at the time and was a great hero. He was known for his bravery and his military expertise. Ambassador Gideon Rafael once wrote about him, ‘Rocking the boat is his favorite tactic, not to overturn it, but to sway it sufficiently for the helmsman to lose his grip or for some unwanted passenger to fall overboard.’ My parents were huge fans of Dyan’s, and they named my brother Moshe after him.

  “I don’t know whether being named after an Israeli war hero was the driving force that caused my brother to want to go to Israel, but soon after he graduated from college, he went there for a visit and never came back for more than a week or two every couple of years to visit my parents and me.

  “Soon after going to Israel he joined the Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations. The institute was appointed by the State of Israel to collect information, analyze intelligence, and perform special covert operations beyond Israel’s borders—pretty much like our CIA used to be. My brother’s position at the Institute—which you know as the Mossad—allows him to arrange all sorts of things for us that might not otherwise be possible. I’m going to give each of you his contact information along with a special code so that he will know any message you send has come through me. When you send your message, he will respond within thirty seconds with specific instructions. Do exactly as he says; do not deviate in even the smallest detail. You can trust Moshe completely.”

  Karyn looked at Jeff with tears in her eyes, “Okay, I’ll do it.”

  When Michael had mentioned the Mossad, he had gotten Keith’s full attention. Keith tried not to look impressed, but it was obvious that he was fascinated. “I think I need to stay here and play this out to the end,” he responded, “but I’ll make sure that the girls and kids get to Israel.”

  Kris’ face had turned as white as chalk. There were no tears in her blue eyes—just a penetrating stare that made her appear to be witnessing a scene of horror being played out in her mind.

  The following day Kris talked to Keith privately. “I’m not going,” she said.

  Keith looked at her suspiciously, “Not going where?”

  “Israel. I’m not going to Israel and leaving Michael and Jeff here.”

  “Mike’s counting on you to take care of Mitch and to get him to safety,” Keith replied.

  “I’ll send Mitch with Karyn. She’ll go; it would never enter her head not to.”

  “Look,” Keith said, “if Mike and Jeff get arrested, there’s nothing you can do for them; they’ll be executed. They know that, and so do you. If you stay here, you’ll end up dead too, and Mitch will be an orphan. He’s your kid, and you’ve got a responsibility to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

  “Keith,” Kris said firmly, “I’m not going. I’m telling you this now so that when the time comes, you’ll help me get Karyn and the kids to Moshe in Israel. We won’t have time to argue, so you’re going to have to be prepared to back me up.”

  “Why would you do this? Mike has made all of the arrangements so that no matter what happens to him all of us will be safe. I’m not going because I don’t have any reason to go, but it’s different for you and Karyn.”

  “Keith, I hardly slept last night thinking about everything Michael said yesterday. I’m scared out of my wits, and I can’t even let myself think about never seeing Mitch again, but I believe that God has a purpose for me in everything that’s happening in our country.

  “Just before she was executed, Mom sent that email telling us to find the Americans who still remember freedom and to start working to get this country turned around. Her dying request was that we not let what happened to Dad and her happen to anyone else. So far, I’ve stood by and let you and Michael and Jeff take all the risks. If Michael and Jeff are picked up, I’ll know that it’s time for me to step forward and take my place in this battle.

  “Do you remember in the Bible when Esther’s cousin Mordecai told her that God had made her queen so that she could save the Jewish people from extermination? In chapter 4 of the book of Esther he says, ‘Do you think you will escape there in the palace when all other Jews are killed? If you keep quiet at a time like this, God will deliver the Jews from some other source, but you and your relatives will die; what’s more, who can say but that God has brought you into the palace for just such a time as this?’

  “Esther was scared too, but she committed herself to doing everything possible to keep Haman from carrying out his plan to annihilate every Jew in the empire, and even though it seemed impossible, she saved the Jewish nation. Keith, I believe that God has put me in this place at this time to keep these evil government leaders from obliterating freedom in this land. All they need to succeed is for those of us who believe in freedom to run away. Like Esther, I’m going to take my stand, and if I perish, I perish.”

  Chapter 9

  Keith came bounding down the stairs that led from the watchtower to the common room. His face had turned as white as chalk, and his dark eyes were enormous. The moment Kris saw him she knew that something truly bad had happened.

  When Keith saw her sitting on the floor playing with Mitch, he stopped on the bottom step and stood perfectly still clutching his laptop to his chest.

  “It’s Michael, isn’t it?” she whispered. “He’s been arrested.”

  Keith shook his head, “No.”

  Kris’ heart was pounding, and her throat felt dry. “What? What happened?”

  “It’s Mike’s friend, the priest. He’s been arrested. Jessie just sent me a confirmation. About two hours ago a team from the Religious Unity Agency arrived at Father O’Brien’s church and arrested him. They’ve taken him to the Federal Building for interrogation. What’s he involved in, Kris?”

  Kris’ hands were shaking as she reached for Mitch and pulled him onto her lap. “I’m not sure. He works with Michael and Jeff to get ‘dissidents’ to safety. I know that, so far, they’ve been able to save several thousand lives, but Michael doesn’t give me any specifics. He says that if I’m ever questioned, it’s better if I don’t know anything.

  “I don’t think they found out about that, though. The RUA is concerned only with the dissemination of information through the churches. If they knew about his work rescuing ‘enemies of the state,’ I would think that the FBI would be the ones to make the arrest. Natha
n’s arrest must be connected either to something he said during a service or something he wrote in the church bulletin.”

  When Michael and Jeff arrived that evening, Kris knew at once that they had already heard the news. Michael asked her to bring Karyn and Keith to the common room for a meeting, and when they were all seated, he told them what had happened.

  “We all know that Nathan O’ Brien was arrested this afternoon. One of the lay workers who was there when they took him phoned me. He told me that when Nate asked the arresting officers to tell him the charges against him, the officer replied, ‘There are no charges; no charges are required. The warrant states that I am to deliver you to a federal judge for an arraignment hearing.’”

  ∞

  Nathan O’Brien had been wearing a sports shirt and slacks when he was arrested. Anyone who had seen him standing before Judge Norman Holder would have never imagined that he was a priest. He might have been a successful businessman, a corporate executive, or a vacationing tourist, but he looked far too polished to be a priest. The judge was clearly surprised.

  “State your name.”

  “Nathan O’Brien”

  “What is your profession?”

  “I am the priest at Queen of Peace Catholic Church.”

  “I see,” Judge Holder said. “Do your parishioners call you ‘Father O’Brien’?”

  “They do.”

  “Well, then, Father O’Brien, is it not the duty of a priest to obey the laws of the land and, thus, set a good example for his flock?”

  “It is, as long as the laws of the land do not contradict God’s law.”

  “Really?” the judge responded. “Is God opposed to clean air and water? Is God opposed to conserving our resources? Is God opposed to our giving up our fleshly comforts, dare I say, our self-indulgences, in order to share our wealth with those less fortunate than we?”