A Day with Zacchaeus (If Jesus were Christian) – Part 3

Posted by davidluiz in Messages, Poems

After he had led a numbed tax-collector through the prayer, the Rabbi stood, prompting others to rise quickly, and then marched right out the door, but not before reminding his host to attend a crusade in seven days at the town of Galilee. The room quickly grew empty, leaving a confused midget standing with one hand held up – boy-scout style. Josephus had peeped from around the corner, disappeared, and then reappeared with the other servants. They got down to work immediately – clearing the crumbs and cleaning the spills of wine. Perhaps it was how his master looked; Josephus knew better than to interrogate Zacchaeus. This time, it felt different. It felt like he had to be spoken to – especially with the awkward way he still held his right hand saying the Sinner’s Prayer.
‘My lord?’
No response.
‘My lord.’ This time, Zacchaeus turned calmly to meet the young Josephus.
‘The Rabbi…did he show you the way?’ Josephus asked.
Zacchaeus had gazed into the young boy’s eyes. They had the same height, though Josephus was slightly taller. Still, for the first time, someone taller didn’t feel threatening. Josephus felt like a son – especially at this time when he strangely felt terribly lonely. He placed his hands, both of them, on the shoulders of the young waif, dropped his head for an instant, sighed, then raised his head again to face the lad.
‘The way? No, my Josephus.’ He peered at the doorway, at the dusty trail of the Rabbi’s
entourage. ‘That man showed me no way. He showed me a detour.’