"Lord Jesus Christ conquered the heart of Zacchaeus as He passed this way. Lord stood under this tree, looked into his heart and commanded him to climb down from the status and pride that he possessed, like a loving father orders his naughty son. Jesus’ call, out of love, converted Zacchaeus’ entire life to repent of his sins and made him one of his faithful disciples.”
“WHEN GOD CALLS YOU, KEEP ASIDE YOUR OWN DREAMS BUT FOLLOW HIM. OUR BRILLIANCE MAY ADVISE THAT IT IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY AND GOD’S PLANS ARE WRONG. BUT TIME WILL PROVE THAT GOD WAS ALWAYS RIGHT AND YOU WERE WRONG. SO ALWAYS LISTEN TO GOD, THEN NOBODY CAN DEFEAT YOU.” Santa said while Jack and Matt were reading that inscription.
Jack again looked at his watch; the time was 3:50 AM. He and his brother were so tired and exhausted when they reached beside the stream; but the delicious water that they drank from the ‘Stream of Hope’ helped them to regain the energy. The moon was beaming over them as they stood under the Sycamore tree.
“Dear, Santa, how far do we have to go now?” Jack asked eagerly.
“Not very far my dear children, we don’t need to go so far now. We have almost finished the journey. Now let us take some rest and I want to talk to you.”
Santa said and three of them sat under the sycamore tree, upon the stones that seemed like plain smooth seats. Suddenly, Jack and Matt noticed the change of Santa’ face. They couldn’t see any longer the long snow white beard; instead it was a bright shining clean shaved face of a handsome man. His face was shining brighter than the moonlight. As they looked at his gleaming face, they felt like looking at another a small round moon that just came down from sky into earth.
“What happened to you dear Santa, are you the same Santa that brought us here or someone else? Where did your beard disappear? How come your face shine like a moon in the sky?” Jack Batson asked curiously.
“I think, his beard caught fire from the candle light’s sparks, and lost his beautiful snow white beard!” Matt joked.
“No, my dear children, you are mistaken! I am not Santa as you think. He has gone, after handing over you into my safe hands.” The handsome man replied calmly.
When they heard this, they couldn’t just believe his words. They screamed and jumped out from the seats with fear. Their face turned red and eyes bulged out and they felt like trapped in the clutches of a dark Lord, who would become a vampire at any time to suck out their blood.
“Tell us who you are, and why did you threaten Santa to go back to our home?” Matt asked hiding his nervousness.
“Dear children, don’t be afraid, I never threatened him. He finished his duty and left. Now it is my duty to lead you through the right path to reach your destination. Jack, I was doing this duty since your birth. Trust me, I am telling you the truth, I am not Santa or any other saints. I am your Guardian Angel, appointed by Almighty God to guide and protect you. Since the very moment when you were born into the womb of your mother, I was appointed by God. Our Lord sent me to be with you to protect you from all the problems, dangers and obstacles that you would face in your earthly life. I was always with you everywhere, but you didn’t see me. I watched over you every moment, to make sure that you are safe under my guardianship. I consoled you when you cried, and I laughed with you when you were happy. I sat beside you as vigilant while you nestled on your bed, even then you didn’t notice me. When you were in great pain, I came for your aid, and tried to make you happy. Do you remember a miracle happened a few years ago, when you were just 20 years old? You fell from the waterfall near to your bungalow, and drowned into the whirlpool of the river, but you escaped from death. You felt as though a mysterious hand grabbed you from death and took you safely to the bank; yet you didn’t realize it was me who saved you.”
When Jack and Matt heard this, they knelt down and prayed the following prayer taught by their mom Jenna:
“Angel of God, My Guardian Dear
To Whom God’s Love
Commits me here
Ever this day, be at my side
To light and guard, rule and guide.
Amen.”
It was a great thrilling experience for them to see an Angel with their own eyes. Both stretched out their hands and touched his hand. It was like touching a human being who had flesh, bone and everything a man has. When the Angel rose from the stone seat, he seemed like a seven feet tall giant with a well-built body.
“My dear children, I am very pleased at your prayer and God send me to guide you through the right path, to reach your destination. Since your birth, I never let you alone, even if you were not seeing me physically. I was with you throughout this journey, since you left home with Santa. Even in the future we will meet each other, when God permit us. Other times I will be obscured from vision, but remember, I will continue to be with you even if you are not seeing me.” The Guardian Angel said.
“Do I have a Guardian Angel?” Matt asked unhappily because his own guardian Angel didn’t give an apparition in front of him.
“Yes, my dear child, every human being has a Guardian Angel, whether they believe it or not. Your Guardian Angel is right beside you, but still God has forbidden him from appearing to you. So, fervently pray to God with hope, to allow you to meet your Guardian Angel.”
“Could you please tell us your name my dear Guardian Angel?” Jack requested reverently.
“I am forbidden to say my name, so you can call me brother; in fact we all are children of God.”
“Then my dear Guardian Angel please tell us, where you are leading us?” Jack requested, while he was watching carefully his Guardian Angel.
The Guardian Angel’s face was very similar to Jack’s face. If anyone who see Jack walking with his Guardian Angel they would think that they are twin brothers. But their similarity was only on their faces. The Guardian Angel’s body was covered with a white luminous aura that emitted light rays everywhere.
“I am sorry to tell you that I am forbidden to reveal our destination. Trust me and please follow me. My dear children don’t be afraid, you are going to a secure place.”
They walked swiftly and finally reached a village where they could see many small houses made of bricks. Some houses were completely hidden in darkness, yet they could see some candle lights peeping out through the windows, from some other houses. While passing through the street they saw a child, who had no arms and legs lying on the road on a cloth. He was shivering with the cold. The child’s mother was seen crouching beside him and she was praying:
“Oh, dear God, God of our ancestors, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, save my child. If you are not helping us, he will die soon. Only in you, I trust. The physicians couldn’t cure my child. Now, I lost my whole wealth for the treatment of my child. Everybody abandoned us and we lost our house. Nobody in the world is ready to save my child. Please save us.”
Guardian Angel stood beside her and called her:
“My dear child, why are you crying? Do you think that our God is helpless to save you and your child, and return back everything what you have lost?”
The woman raised her head and saw the Guardian Angel as standing beside her. He stretched out his hands and helped her to stand up from her crouching position. She stood on her feet beside him and looked at his gleaming face and glistening eyes.
“I know you are a Holy Man who came from God, because when you spoke to me the feeling of joy and peace filled my hearts. Please tell me Holy Man who you are. I am sure that you are sent by God to save my child.”
The Guardian Angel didn’t answer her question, instead he knelt down and touched her child with his hand. Then he ordered:
“My dear child, in the Name of true God Jesus Christ, I command you to rise up from your cloth.”
When Guardian Angel touched him and commanded him in Jesus’ name, a white light appeared among them and covered the child like a blanket. That very moment the child stood on the ground in his own legs and hugged his mother with his own arms. This miracle really startled the mother, the child, Ja
ck and Matt, so they knelt down in front the Guardian Angel with great awe. Then the mother cried:
“Oh, God, you saved my child!” Then she started to weep.
“My dear sister, I am nothing, I am just a servant of our God Jesus Christ who cured your child. So don’t give me thanks, give your thanks to Jesus Christ the Almighty. Don’t adore me, it is injustice. Give adoration only to Jesus who is only worthy to be adored. I am just an instrument in his hands. Don’t worry, your husband who abandoned you before two years, will come this morning to receive you and your child back. Jesus heard your prayers and touched his life. Now he repents on his wrong decision. Now he loves you more than you love him. Forgive him what he has done to you in the Name of Jesus. May our Lord Jesus Christ’s blessings be with you now and forever. Amen.”
Guardian Angel blessed the mother and her child. The next moment, the Guardian Angel started to walk, so Jack and Matt followed him.
“It is the first time ever in my life, I see a miracle with my own eyes. Now we believe that you are one of the Holy Angels of God came down from Heaven.” Jack whispered to his Guardian Angel as they increased the speed.
“My dear children, I know that you are amazed about what happened to that mother and her child. The child born without limbs, now can walk and hug his mother. The woman who was abandoned by her husband is going to get back her husband. Do you think, it is a miracle? IF YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO YOU. YOU WILL SEE GREAT MIRACLES IN YOUR LIFE. THOSE WHO TRUST IN JESUS SHALL NOT PERISH...”
“Can you please tell us… what was that light…which we could see as covering the child while you touched him?” Matt stammered.
“It was the Holy Spirit. Do you still think that it was me who performed that miracle? It wasn’t me but the Holy Spirit of our Lord who healed the child. PRAY TO BE ANOINTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. WHEN HOLY SPIRIT COMES DOWN UPON US, WE WILL ACT AS THE INSTRUMENT OF JESUS CHRIST. THEN EVERY IMPOSSIBLE THING WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR YOU, WHICH HUMAN BEINGS CALL SUPERNATURAL.”
A cool wind from the western side passed over them, but they didn’t feel cold. Jack and Matt were in another world. They were very happy about what they could see and what they heard from the Guardian Angel. While they continued their conversations, they crossed another road and reached in front of a two-storied granite house showered in the moonlight.
They could see a staircase made of granites leads to upstairs. Guardian Angel started to climb up the steps and Jack and Matt followed him. Finally they reached in front of a door made of olive wood. They heard the whispering of a crowd of people from inside.
“Who are those people inside?” Jack asked.
“Dear children, they were waiting for your arrival, and you know we came all the way only to meet them. Please wait here, I shall be back soon.” By saying this, the Guardian Angel disappeared, as though he had dissolved into the air. Within a minute, the door in front of them flung open and they could see a man with white beard and moustache, who kept an angelic smile on his face, standing in front of them. He had worn a rugged grey hobbit. Even though he was very old, his smile and face were very attractive like a youth.
“My dear children, peace of our loving Lord be with you. I beg you to come in!” He welcomed them humbly and they entered the room.
CHAPTER- 8
THE HISTORY OF THE HOLY GRAIL
When Jack and Matt entered the room, they could see a group of people standing beside the window and talking each other. They were around seventeen men including Jack’s Guardian Angel and three women in the room. In the corner, they could see Jack’s Guardian Angel standing and conversing with a young man who looked very much similar to Matt in countenance and appearance.
In the centre of the room there was an octagonal table made of oak wood. The table was arranged for dinner with a few wooden plates, some loaves of bread, fish fry, olive butter and a few bottles of wine. Three burning candles on golden candle sticks had also been placed upon the table, which flickered simultaneously when the breeze blew on it. A few sandalwood chairs were arranged around the table.
“Please be seated, my dear children” The oldest man among the crowd who welcomed them into the room showed them the chairs. Everyone in the room had worn rugged sack clothes which were old and torn as though they have just come from an ancient era.
When Jack and Matt sat down upon the chairs, everyone except the Guardian Angel and the person conversed with him stood behind them. All the men and women bend towards and kissed them on their cheeks as a sign of welcoming to their community.
“Dear children…” the oldest man started to speak:
“Our Lord and God Jesus Christ brought you here to give you an important duty to find out the stolen Holy Grail, and to show others that God always uses only humble people as His instruments to perform miracles. He was with us since He created the very first man. But, with our sins we went away from His presence. So, He sent His only begotten son to give us eternal life through His Only Son’s death and resurrection. Now, He is with us through Holy Spirit, as the Helper and Giver of Life. I am Simon who is also known as Peter the Apostle and these eleven of my brothers are…”
When he said this, the rest of them stood closer to Jack and Matt and introduced themselves. Meanwhile, St. Peter the Apostle continued:
“These are…. Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Didymus who is also known as Thomas, Matthew , James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus who also is known as Jude, Simon who was called the Zealot or Simon the Cananean, Matthias, Luke, Mark, Joseph of Arimathea and our these three sisters are Veronica, Mary Magdalene and Martha.”
While Saint Peter introduced the Apostles and the rest to them, they were watching Jack’s Guardian Angel and the person beside him. After introducing everyone to Jack and Matt, Peter the Apostle blessed them by making a sign of cross and chanted:
“The Holy Trinity One God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, will be with you forever and ever. Amen.”
“Could you please tell me who that gentleman is? He looks similar to me!” Matt requested to Saint Peter as he glanced over to that young man who stood beside Jack’s Guardian Angel.
When heard this question the Guardian Angel and the gentleman stopped their talk, looked at Matt and came closer to him. The doppelganger raised his right hand, placed upon Matt’s head and started to run his fingers through his hairs. Matt felt like his dad caressing him.
“Dear child, you don’t identify me, even though our relationship started long 20 years ago! You can call me your companion or guard. Whatever you call me out of love doesn’t matter. Normally we are not allowed to disclose our name to others, but God allowed me to reveal my name to you. So to introduce myself, I am Abel your Guardian Angel.”
Suddenly, Jack and Matt jumped off their chairs as though got an electric shock from it. They knelt down and said the prayer ‘Angel of God’ which their mom encouraged them to pray every day to invoke the help of the Guardian Angel.
“My dear children…” Abel, the Guardian Angel said.
“I am very happy to give you an apparition for whom I was an invisible companion for many years. Jesus loves every human being as His own children but our Lord is sad because we treat him badly with our own sins. All his children are going behind worldly pleasures ignoring His eternal love. They don’t understand that they would get only temporary satisfaction from these material pleasures. But, the day will come, when those temporal belongings, which they thought will be with them forever, would leave them alone…then only the children of God will understand that only God’s love is eternal…” Abel the Guardian Angel became emotional and all the people gathered in the room thought that he was going to cry…Abel didn’t cry, he regained his normal self in a moment and continued:
“Let’s talk about it later, right now we don’t have any time to waste. We want to retrieve the Holy Grail, because it fell into the wrong hands. Awake and ready for the battle.”
A pin drop silence spre
ad in the room for a few minutes. Then Matt broke the silence:
“Is it an easy task for us to accomplish? We don’t have any clues who has stolen it and what their motives are.”
“This battle we begin is not to get defeated but to defeat our enemies. NEVER START A JOURNEY EXPECTING FAILURES AT THE END, INSTEAD, ALWAYS EXPECT SUCCESS. YOU WOULD CERTAINLY MEET WHAT YOU EXPECT TOWARDS THE END. So, be ready for your success.”
“Yes, dear Abel, we understand the seriousness of this case. Please tell us, what we, the two worms in the sight of other human beings, can do in this matter?” Jack asked eagerly.
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