Roger Curtis - Lights in a Western Sky

Reading at the table was Thomas’ brother, James, leader of the Nazirite community in Jerusalem. The unkempt figure in a brown cloth tunic rose to greet him, the frowns at his forehead transforming as if by magic into an expression of delight. The woman said, ‘Your visitor, Father,’ bowed slightly and left the room. It seemed to Thomas that all the while she had deliberately avoided looking at him.

‘Brother Judas Thomas!’

‘Brother James!’ Lowering his voice and keeping a straight face, Thomas said, ‘Was that a fraternal or an ecclesiastical greeting?’

For a second James didn’t know how to respond, then broke into a grin. ‘You haven’t changed, have you? I thought after eight years you would have grown up at last.’

‘Can it really be that long?’

‘At least. But Jerusalem welcomes you, and I thank you for coming.’

‘But you haven’t answered my question. Your invitation hinted at a family matter.’

‘It’s perhaps a bit of both. But first things first. You are well, obviously. Our brother Joses likewise?’

‘He is, as are Miriam and the three children. They send their greetings.’

‘And the family business?’

‘In Galilee? I thought yours here was the family business.’

‘This? Well, I’ve done my utmost to involve you all but…’

‘And we are all contrite. But at home the firm’s…’ With his hand he signalled so-so. ‘Actually it’s been saved by a bit of work in the town. Some stonework in the amphitheatre. And – you’ll appreciate this – you can see it from the village.’

‘But Sepphoris is three miles from Nazareth.’

‘True. But the evening sunlight catches the new stone. You should come to Galilee to see it. And other things.’

‘I will, I will.’ James paused to engage Thomas’ gaze. ‘Do you remember when we three – Jesus, you and me – used to slip away as darkness was falling to explore the big city?’

‘And crept about in the shadows lest we village urchins would be mistaken for thieves.’

‘You’re sure we weren’t? In a very minor way, of course. I remember the oranges in the gardens of the Via Maxima were particularly delicious.’

‘How we ran! And then the girls. James, are you sure you want to pursue this?’

‘You’re right. I’m supposed to be above reproach. Funny, though, how we followed him, even then. And though I was the middle one I always seemed the odd one out.’

‘That never occurred to me.’

‘Because you and Jesus were so alike. You, Thomas, were tall for your age – not like me – and you both had our father’s hang-dog expression. When it suited you.’

‘What?’

‘Isn’t that why they nicknamed you Thomas? Judas Thomas – Judas the Twin. Jesus’ twin.’

‘New to me. But if people thought we were twins I could never hold my own against him. Even then there was something of the magician about him. We’d argue and he’d win a point. Then he’d hold you with those piercing eyes…’

‘Just like yours.’

‘…and relish the advantage. But only for a second. Then his face would crease into a smile and he’d slap your shoulder. But not a trace of malice there. That was curious.’

‘But something was driving him, even then.’

‘He could be cunning, too.’

‘Surely not.’

‘Like – here’s an example. He’d say casually, the chickens laid three eggs this morning. Then that evening he’d challenge you to say which cup he’d hidden a stone under. And you’d go, one, two, three , without realising it. And there it was.’

‘That was thirty years ago, Thomas. And we still miss him.’

‘So that’s why you must come to Galilee. Imagine visiting all the old haunts.’

James ran his fingers through his tangled hair. ‘But look at me – I’d be arrested as a vagrant. Perhaps when it’s safe to leave here.’

‘I thought things had gone quiet.’

‘Superficially. But there’s trouble brewing. Look out of the window.’

‘Roman soldiers.’

‘They’ve doubled the fortress guard. It’s mostly paranoia, of course. They think it’s time something happened. And once they start thinking that… it will.’

‘I thought the new procurator was quite tolerant.’

‘Compared with Pilatus, I daresay he is. But being tolerant implies something to be tolerant towards.’

‘The high priest in the line of fire?’

‘They don’t give a toss about the high priest. He can gorge himself on pigs blood, so long as they can control things through him. But any dissent within the Jewish ranks – that’s a potential flash-point. And you know our appetite for dissent.’

‘Tell me about it.’

James threw up his hands in mock alarm. ‘But where’s my hospitality? I’m sure I asked Mary to prepare some refreshment.’ He clapped his hands together. Mary, who must have been waiting at the door, entered. ‘Did you forget?’ he said, not unkindly.

‘Oh… no.’

‘I think probably yes.’

Thomas had to strain to hear her reply: ‘Yes, then. Sorry, Father.’ She left the room and returned with cups and biscuits on a tray. Then, without looking at them, went out again and closed the door.

‘You recognise her?’ James said.

‘James, I’ve not been in this house for eight years.’

‘She goes back even longer than that. I’ll tell you shortly. A troubled soul, but devout. And devoted to me.’

‘As are many others, so I’m told.’

‘Really?’

‘You’ve kept the community together.’

‘Not easily. And it’s… well… grieved me that I’ve never been able to tempt you back into the fold – with your obvious… connections.’

‘There have been… reasons.’

‘Well, I suppose a roomful of us praying and singing psalms is not that much of a draw. Last week I had Paul here. His first visit for goodness knows how long – almost as bad as you. He had the grace to call us the Jerusalem Church, but I could see that he was itching to call us the errant Jerusalem branch of his Messianic Church.’

‘You’re exaggerating, surely.’

‘Maybe. But it does lead us back to why I’ve asked you here, Thomas.’

‘Not brotherly love, then?’

‘Ye..es. But not in the way you think.’ He paused to take a sip from his cup. ‘What that man Paul has achieved is tremendous. But… is it what our dear brother intended? Did you ever hear him say we should operate outside the Jewish faith, circumvent our dietary laws and circumcision? Oh, I know Paul pays lip service at the moment, but the conversions are incomplete. And Simon Peter, who’s visited these places, has been weak in countering it, as I told him to his face. We’re on divergent paths, Thomas, and I’m mightily unhappy about it.’

‘I thought Jesus made specific provision for you to be entrusted with our community. I was there, I heard it. Surely the implication is that…’

‘I’d got it right. Well, apparently not.’

James reached across to take a couple of documents from the stand. Look at these. Copies of Paul’s letters to the community in Antioch. Where they’ve started calling themselves ‘Christians’ would you believe. But that’s by the way.’

Thomas took one of the letters. ‘I see you’ve marked one of the passages.’

‘Read it.’

‘Mm, mm mm… raised up on the third day in accordance with the scriptures; that he was seen by Peter, then by the Twelve: after that on one occasion by more than five hundred brothers… Five hundred? On one occasion?

‘Give or take a few hundred. Thomas, I’m beating about the bush because I don’t quite know how to come to the point; because the issue is so… momentous. Listen. Paul’s teaching is founded on belief in the resurrection of our brother, just as he – that’s to say, Jesus – told us it should be. The risen Christ, isn’t that what Paul calls him? We in the Jerusalem community believe the same. But whereas Paul’s Jesus is already here, in metaphysical form, available, as it were, to anybody, we…’