BOOK ONE-A TIME TO MORN, A TIME TO DANCE The New Testament offers only points of truth - that Mary told Joseph she was pregnant, for instance; that they had to go to Bethlehem to register for the census - but it doesn't include the human drama that occurs between these moments. It doesn't illustrate the challenge a pregnant Mary faced in making a ninety-mile trip on foot and on donkey. It doesn't describe the anxiety of a husband traveling with his wife in her ninth month of pregnancy. A Time to Morn, A Time to Dance fills these gaps, telling a story that follows Mary and Joseph from their first meeting, through the birth of Jesus, their flight into Egypt, and back into the welcoming arms of their family. BOOK TWO-THE TRAP In the time of Jesus, the Sadducees controlled the Temple and the high Jewish council, the Sanhedrin, but had little influence among the common people. They were a conservative political group engaged in a bitter power struggle with the increasingly powerful Pharisees. The Sadducees grew concerned about the well-liked Jesus, fearful he would spawn a popular uprising and cause them to lose control to the Pharisees. Alphaeus, a rich Sadducee, volunteers to set a trap for Jesus and bring him down. But the plan is complicated when he falls in love with his servant girl, a faithful follower of Jesus.
OH, JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM
By LEON ARCENEAUXiUniverse, Inc.
Copyright © 2012 Leon Arceneaux
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4697-9722-9Chapter One
Mary hummed as she helped her mother make the unleavened bread for the Seder, preparing enough for the first two nights of the Passover. There would be the bitter herbs, the haroseth, and all the things that would tell the tale of the Exodus from Egypt. She loved to hear the story of how her people were freed from bondage, then wandered in the desert for forty years before coming to the Promised Land.
At that moment, the sacrificial lamb, held in a pen next to the house, bleated loudly.
"Poor little lamb," Mary said.
"Don't be silly," said her mother. "Besides, we were saved by the blood of the lamb when God told our people to mark the door post with it, telling the angel of death to pass over us and leave our first-born sons to live." Her mother added more flour to the dough she was kneading. "We have been offering God the blood sacrifice ever since so we would never forget."
"I know," said Mary. "I understand." She, too, added more flour to her dough, along with a measure of water. "I just love this time of year. It reminds me of how much God loves us."
"Let's just make sure we have enough unleavened bread this year," her mother said as she dusted the flour from her hands. "Last year we almost ran out. And this year we'll not only be celebrating the Passover. It is also the first Passover since you've come of age to be married." She looked at her daughter, smiling. "You should know-we'll be sharing the Seder meal with another family. And their son, Joseph the carpenter, will be with them. Your father and his father have been talking, and you know what that means."
Mary blushed. "Oh, Mother. Please tell Father not to rush into arranging a marriage just because I'm now of age. I don't want to be disrespectful, but I also don't want to marry unless I love the man."
"Joseph is a good man, and he can support you well. That's what's important," her mother said. But when Mary stayed silent, she added in a softer voice. "Besides, he's a pious, well-mannered young man. He seems very kind and gentle."
Mary looked up at her mother and smiled slightly. "I have always dreamed of a beautiful wedding," she said. "But then, I don't want to leave you. If I get married, I'll have to go off with him and live at his father's house."
"We women all have to do that sooner or later. But you wouldn't be living far away." Her mother stopped what she was doing, wiped her forehead with her arm, and looked lovingly at Mary. "You are a beautiful young girl. No," she corrected herself, "a beautiful young woman. There is not a man around who would not want you as a wife. I know that God will bless you. You'll have children and I'll be a happy grandmother."
Mary stopped kneading the dough and was quiet, imagining herself as a mother. She liked the idea, and her eyes sparkled. "It is kind of exciting, thinking about it."
"May I come in?" said a voice behind them.
Mary turned to see her friend, Ester, at the door.
"Ester!" Mary said in greeting. "Come in and help with the bread for the Seder."
"Mary, why don't you visit with Ester for a while?" her mother said. "I can finish here."
"Are you sure?" Mary asked.
"Of course. Go visit with your friend."
Mary wiped the flour from her hands. "We'll be right in the garden if you need me."
Mary and Ester went outside and sat together on a bench under an olive tree.
"You will never guess what my mother just told me," Mary said to Ester, her voice brimming with excitement. "We're inviting Joseph the carpenter and his mother and father to our Seder! Do you know what that means?"
Ester's eyes grew wide. "Are you saying that your father is arranging for your marriage?"
"I think so," she answered as a warm breeze caught her hair and blew it into her face. She brushed the stray lock behind her ear and asked, "Isn't it exciting?"
"Oh, I am so jealous," Ester said. "I hope my father picks out someone like Joseph for me."
* * *
"Good job, Joseph!"
Joseph's father held up the ox yoke and rubbed his hands on its smooth surface, adding, "I think that with you and me working together, you'll be able to do well enough to support a wife."
"I haven't really thought much about marrying," Joseph said as he carefully put away his tools. "These times are so uncertain-under the thumb of Rome, King Herod in control. Besides, I also want to be well established in what I do before I marry so I can be a good provider."
"You're doing fine, son." His father watched him in silence for a moment, then cleared his throat. "Actually," he said, smiling, "we've been asked to be guests at a Seder meal with a family I know well. They have a young daughter, very pretty, who has just come of age. Her father and I have talked, and we agree that a marriage is in order. It will be good for both of our families."
"Just come of age?" Joseph asked, looking up in surprise. "Won't she be a little young?"
"She is young, but you want to marry someone who's young and healthy so she can bear you many children, sons to help you. You can teach them to be carpenters. Besides-" He picked up an adz and dragged it across a small log he had started to work on. "-I wouldn't mind a few grandchildren around here. God has seen fit to give us only one son. Your sisters have to live at their father-in-laws' houses. But you and your wife would live here in our house. Not only would some grandchildren make me and your mother very happy, but your wife could help your mother, too." He paused in his work and looked up at Joseph. "Her name is Mary. You'll like her."
"I think I know who she is," Joseph said as he joined his father. "I've seen her in the village with her mother. And yes, she is very pretty. A beautiful girl." He smiled. "I think you did well by me. Thank you."
He steadied the log, holding it firm as his father worked on it. After several minutes had passed, Joseph glanced up at him. "Father," he said, hesitating slightly, "even though it's the custom, I would not want to marry anyone who didn't want to marry me. I don't care what was agreed to."
"Son, I'm sure she'll want to marry you and you'll want to marry her," his father said, his voice certain. "Your mother and I have been praying for you to marry the right girl. And I know Mary will be the one for you."
"If we both decide to wed, I'll have to add a room on the house for us. It will take away from our work together and our business."
His father slapped Joseph on the back. "We'll do fine. You'll have twelve months from the time of your betrothal to when you get married. You're a good worker. It won't take you long to build the room. You'll still have time to work with me."
Joseph wiped the sweat from his forehead. "When I get married, I want our room to be perfect. I want my wife to be happy living here. And being that I am the only son, I would like for you to give me permission to have a large room or more than one room. We have enough land to do it. And-" Joseph laughed "-we'll need enough room for all those grandchildren you want."
His father laughed too. "You have my permission. Do whatever you want. I'm sure that anything you build will look good. You could even fix a place on the roof where you and your wife can sleep under the stars when the weather's hot."
"Well," Joseph said, "if I'm to get married, I'd better start to make some window and door frames and start collecting bricks." He paused. "But then, maybe that's rushing things. She might not even like me."
...
