Phoenix
by Dale J. Sprague
Op. 13 JHVH
Cantos 2. Agape
Once, long ago, a manchild was immaculately conceived, from a dream seed of life so spirited, in a fertile womb within whom the dream was venerated. He was chosen to bear the burden of so much pain, bring water to a desolate plain, and with spirit impaled, vanish and forever remain. He was named, Yeshua
Once, long ago, a man cried in the wilderness, he fought the self righteous, he sought a greater love, his light shined in the darkness, but the darkness comprehended it naught
The light therefore, will not dignify hate with hate, nor magnify any fault apparent, for the light seeks only peace in prayer, not a greater light. The light seeks the paradise of a child's eye, not 'eye for an eye.' And with the dark wisdom of a child, seeks also, love beyond self love
And so, like the traveler upon the waters that nourish the 'tree of life,' and like the fruit itself, which must inevitably separate, the light will distance itself from flesh, for spirit inseparable from flesh and bone cannot receive and hold the fruits of life
1 Upon one Sabbath day in Jerusalem, an Abian priest named Zachariah made preparations in the temple for arrival of a special guest. Incense burned long. The channels of smoke grew thicker and filled the temple. Upon this special day, shadows were especially dark. Pillars were stately and quiet. The congregation outside, a large multitude of them sensed the silence of the temple. They fussed and murmured. Their fear of strangeness rose high, the arrival of the stranger drew nigh
But Zachariah was very well known. His wife, Elisabeth, was also well known. And as favored as a priest might be, who belonged to the Abian order, and as favored as Elisabeth would be, belonging to the daughters of Aaron, they have no children. Within the dark silence of the temple, the congregation speculated about the fate of these favored two, so bitterly barren
Within the temple a man quietly emerged out of the dark. He stood silent and tall. This man, Zachariah knew, was a brother, like himself, of the Abian order, the keepers of the ancient tora, those dedicated to pass the simple truth of the Pentateuch from generation to generation
This man stood on the right side of the altar. Zachariah saw him and became troubled and stricken with fear. The stranger quickened and said,
"No need to fear...Zachariah. We know you well. Your prayer was heard. Your wife, Elisabeth, will bear a manchild. He shall be called John. Everyone will celebrate the birth of John because he will raise the spirit of Elijah. John will become righteous! He will foretell of great things to come. John will live clean, and be filled with the eternal spirit, for he was conceived by an ordained dream. He will prepare the children of Israel for the Messiah prophet. The time is here! He will turn the hearts of the children away from the unrighteous vain. He will reward the pagan for wisdom. He will prepare the way for the Messiah"
But Zachariah was confused, and questioned how can this come to be? He was old, and Elisabeth soon will be. The Abian priest answered,
"I am Gabhriel. And like you, I am of the Abian order, the keepers of the sacred word. I am sent to speak to you about the plan to restore the authority of the tora in the land of Judea. I am sent to show great visions of the future. But we know you well! Your penchant for oratory is well known! And it is necessary that, after these visions are given to you, you shall not conduct sabbath nor utter a word to anyone until John is born. Until John is born, you shall dwell at home"
The people outside waited for Zachariah. A great deal of time passed, and when Zachariah appeared, he did not speak. They saw fear in his awestruck face. A strange agony. He beckoned to them, but made no sound. Frightened, the congregation diminished, and after Zachariah's obligations to the temple were finished, he left for home
2 Elisabeth did conceive a manchild, but the persistent silence of Zachariah after awhile became irritating to her. That, together with her dislike of men in general, compelled Elisabeth to leave in order to have a peaceful term. After five months, she returned. Elisabeth had atoned. Her antipathy towards men softened. She had made her peace with life, for new life growing within her
Shortly before Elisabeth's sixth month of pregnancy Gabhriel traveled to Nazareth in Galilee where Elisabeth's cousin, Miriam, lived. Miriam was engaged to a man named Joseph. 'That Joseph belonged to the House of David' inspired Gabhriel. Gabhriel arrived in Nazareth and approached Miriam
"Shalom! I am here to give you a message. You are highly favored. The holy and mighty spirit of the everlasting is strong within you. Among all women you are most favored by us!"
Miriam recoiled, immediately retreated into the shadow of her doorway. She contemplated this strange greeting and strange man so brazen, so assured. And Gabhriel, not allowing any attention gained to become lost, in the same instant said,
"Do not be afraid. You were chosen by the Abian order of King David! We are the keepers of the ancient tora. For the salvation of Israel, a virgin maiden will conceive and give birth to a son. The manchild shall be called Yeshua. He will become a great rabbi. Men and women for generations to come will call him 'son of the holy spirit,' and he surely will be because he shall be taught by the best of our scribes. Your son will be filled with the wisdom of the tora, and to him will the throne of David be passed. Israel is afflicted, and your son, Yeshua, will be its Messiah
"A priest has been chosen for you. He is a righteous man. His power is great. From him you will first conceive, for it will be by him that your son, Yeshua, will be taught and raised to be the Messiah for all Judea! Remember your cousin, Elisabeth? She conceived in old age! And now, she is in the sixth month of her term! She was barren and thought it impossible...but with the wisdom of the tora, anything is possible"
Gabhriel continued long, relating many visions concerning the coming of the Messiah. And Miriam became favorably impressed. After a time, she responded to Gabhriel. She understood his vision. She venerated it, and was honored to be chosen
Later, Miriam spoke to Joseph about her cousin's pregnancy and the urgency for her to leave, to stay with Elisabeth and help her in the last few difficult months to come. Soon after, Miriam left with Gabhriel for Juda, and the house of Zachariah
3 When Miriam entered the house of Zachariah and Elisabeth, Elisabeth was surprised, and became very happy that Miriam would stay. Elisabeth knew then that Miriam agreed to be a part of the plan...Miriam, strong, vibrant, and radiantly arrayed, Elisabeth said,
"Greatest are you among all women! And blessed will be the fruit of your womb.....but why does the mother of the Messiah come here prepared to stay?! As soon as I saw you and heard your voice, my babe leaped in its womb! How great it is that you received the priest!! For now!..the scriptures foretelling of the Messiah shall be fulfilled"
It soon occurred to Elisabeth, the reason for Miriam's visit. Within the shadows of Miriam's handmaid service, Miriam will conceive by Gabhriel the future Messiah Prophet, if she has not already conceived by him on her journey through Judea
Miriam assured Elisabeth, "My soul magnifies the law. My spirit rejoices in the light of the tora. Gabhriel's mission has elevated the low estate of this handmaiden. All future generations shall call me blessed
"Gabhriel has given me great things. His vision is holy, and his mercy is on them that live within shadows of fear. He showed me how generations cannot proceed to generations without the tora. Eternal wisdom has shown the strength of its arm. It will scatter the proud from a proud heart. It will seat the mighty ruler as a servant, and honor the righteous wherever they live. It fills the heart of the hungry for spirit, and leaves the greedy empty. It has guided the prophets in remembrance of its splendor. And as it spoke to our father, Abraham, it will speak through his seed forever"
Again, it occurred to Elisabeth that Miriam may have very well conceived the Messiah manchild upon her journey here with Gabhriel. Clearly, she has deepened, and is glowing, and is impassioned by him
Miriam dwelled with Elisabeth and Zachariah for about three months before returning to her own house. Elisabeth gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard of it, and everyone celebrated with her
On the eighth day after John's birth, some rabbis came to perform the circumcision ceremony. They offered the name, Zachariah, after his father, for the newborn manchild, when Elisabeth interrupted and insisted that he be called John. But a rabbi knowing that no one in the family of Zachariah and Elisabeth was called John, asked Zachariah what the child's name should be. Zachariah wrote on a writing tablet the name, John. The rabbi was surprised about this, and at that moment, Zachariah suddenly spoke,
"Fear shall come to all the unrighteous who witness the mission. The war of vanities will kindle! Prophecies shall be made throughout all Judea. And all that hear them shall ask 'Who are they? what kind of men are they?"
The light of the living tora was upon Zachariah. Zachariah became filled with its spirit and spoke with great authority,
"Blessed is the tora of Israel, for its light has visited and redeemed the people. It has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant, David, where the Messiah shall live. The Messiah will speak with the same authority as the prophets of the tora. This is the tradition of the word since the word began. We shall be saved from our enemies!...from the hand of all who hate us. And once again, we will live in remembrance of the holy covenant. The Messiah shall swear an oath to our father, Abraham, to save Israel from our enemies and restore the temple of life. We shall serve the Messiah without fear, for we are all equal before the tora. And you, manchild John, shall be the spirit of Elijah, for you shall prepare the way for the Messiah. You shall inspire salvation of the people by causing them to look within themselves for the evil and fault they find in the world!! Through tender mercies of time, whereby the day springs from atonement with all, light shall come to them who live in darkness, who dwell within the shadows of death..to guide them away from the serpent's tree, and towards the tree of life
4 Joseph endured a long separation from Miriam. And after he learned from her that she was pregnant, he became despondent and wanted to separate himself from her. Joseph pondered long and darkly brooded,
"So strange a love it was! that caused her flower to open to a stranger. Yet she was sincere that her love was fired by the holy spirit in this man who had overshadowed her"
Miriam was, however, equally earnest that her love for Joseph was also true. Miriam was divided. She could not be consoled, and Joseph could not be moved
Nevertheless, Joseph's love of Miriam was strong. And while he wanted to leave her, he did not want to make a public example of her, which by law he had the right to do. Joseph decided then to separate from her secretly
The Abian order learned about Joseph's intent and decided to send one of its members to counsel Joseph. As though he was in some dream, Joseph listened to the priest,
"Joseph, son of David, take Miriam as your wife. You love her. That is all that matters. The child in her was conceived by the holy spirit of the tora. It was planned for her to bear a son for the mission. And his name will be "Yeshua." From early age Yeshua will be taught the wisdom of the tora. He will be taught as much as we can give, as much as he can comprehend before his mission begins. He will be the Messiah Prophet for all Judea! It is written that the Messiah must be from the House of David, to which you belong. It was also written, 'Behold! A virgin shall conceive and bear a son. And they shall call his spirit, "Emmanuel," which means 'the wisdom of the living tora is with us.' But without you, the Messiah cannot be! The prophecies cannot be fulfilled
Joseph knew now, how Miriam became so overshadowed. He, himself, was favorably impressed and honored that the Messiah Prophet shall rise from his house. Joseph then, enlightened with the light of the mission, was raised from his sleep. Joseph took Miriam as his wife and honored the priest's request that Joseph not sleep with her until after a son is born
5 One day, a decree from Caesar Augustus was sent throughout the Roman Empire...that a new census be taken and taxes levied because a census had not been conducted since Cyrenius was governor of Syria. Soon after the decree was posted, great masses of people journeyed to their birth city to be recorded and taxed
For this purpose, Joseph and Miriam left Nazareth in Galilee and journeyed into Judea, to Joseph's Bethlehem, a city of David. Traveling was difficult for Miriam because she was nearly full term. And so it was, that while they were there, Miriam began her labor. There was no room for them in the caravan inn of Bethlehem, so she gave birth to her first born son in a shepherd's cavern nearby. Miriam wrapped him in a swaddling cloth, and laid him in the straw
In the hills, shepherds kept watch over their flock by night. And one of the brothers of the Abian order came and gathered some of the shepherds together. But sensing that the man was a scribe, the shepherds became nervous and apprehensive. The scribe said to them,
"Fear not, and listen! I bring you a great vision, what shall be true for all of Israel. Born on this day in a cavern manger nearby is a manchild who shall be the Messiah of Israel. Heed my words!..and see for yourself the babe in the manger!
And suddenly appearing were more brothers of the Abian order. One of them spoke to the shepherds,
"Glory to the eternal in us and everything around us, and on Earth, peace and love toward humankind and all that lives"
The shepherds in the region, impressed with the authority of the Abian priests, journeyed quickly to the cavern manger near Bethlehem to see the manchild for themselves. They found Miriam and Joseph and saw the babe laying on hay wrapped in a cloth. And after they had seen that it was true, they made known everywhere they traveled, about the birth of the Messiah. Many wondered about this newborn manchild, but Miriam was already certain of his destiny in her heart...and she began to fear for him
6 Scripture lore of the birth of Yeshua was spread in and around Bethlehem and throughout Judea. Also, word was spread about three wise men visiting from the east. They were from Asia and Babylonia. They were informed of the birth of the Messiah by the Abian order. And it was only good foreign relations to pay respects to a new ruler in a neighboring country. Throughout Judea, the wise men inquired,
"We saw his star in the heavens, which has guided us west to Bethlehem. We have come to honor the manchild destined to be the Messiah Prophet of Israel. Do you know where he is?"
When King Herod heard about the search of the three wise men from the east, he quickly summoned his scholars, all his chief priests and scribes, and demanded to know where this proposed Messiah was born. One of the scribes suggested Bethlehem of Judea because it was written that 'Bethlehem in Judea is not the least among the princes in Judea, for out of Bethlehem shall come a governor who shall rule the people of Israel'
Herod dismissed everyone to consider strategy. Later, he summoned the wise men from the east and asked them what time the star appeared, the star that guided them from the east. Under the same light in the night, Herod advised these wise men to travel to Bethlehem. In the guise of aiding their quest, he asked the wise men to bring word back about the whereabouts of the birthplace, that he, himself, might also visit and pay his respects
When the wise men entered the territory of Bethlehem, they soon learned that word had already spread about the Messiah manchild. The wise men entered the shepherd's cavern outside of Bethlehem. They saw the child and went to their knees to honor him. They opened their treasures and presented gifts of frankincense, myrrh, and gold
These wise men were wise indeed, for they sensed Herod's deceptive character. And not being deceived by Herod's false gesture of respect, the wise men enlightened Joseph and Miriam about Herod's malicious intent. Shortly after, the wise men left, but they had no intention of returning to Herod's court. Rather, they departed for their own country by another way to avoid harm, far away from Herod's strong arm
Cantos 2.Agape.7