Ruth
"Maria hasn't arrived yet," Jacob told the wedding guests as they entered the courtyard to the housing complex. "Even if she backs out, we'll still be marrying off my sister. Come on in and help yourself to wine and hemp. Elizabeth and Zacharias brought a passel. Brother James over there is in charge. I think he's soused already. Don't mind him. It just makes him goofy."
Family and friends were gathered in the courtyard, laughing, talking and imbibing. Seated beside an open barbeque pit, Uncle David smoked his pipe, the fragrance blending with the aroma of roasting mutton.
"Hey, sis," Jacob hollered at Elizabeth, "aren't you supposed to be in helping Ruth?"
"Oh, yeah, you're right," Elizabeth said.
She headed in another direction and began talking to one of the more handsome of the guests, a new friend of Yeshua's named Philip. Her husband scowled after her and took another swig.
Father Joseph and Zacharias were involved in a conversation, debating the merits of civil disobedience. Children seeped from every corner, chasing each other and laughing. Brother David roamed the group looking for a quiet place. None could be found. He joined James at the wine table.
"Do you think this is the right choice for Ruth?" James asked. "I do like John. But he's not exactly marriage material. I've always hoped our little sister would marry my friend, Caleb, in the village."
"I know," David said, "but Ruth wouldn't be able to abide him. He's way too bossy and stuck on himself."
"At least he'd stick around," James said.
"I don't know about you, James," David said, "but I'd rather be with someone I like, who's around once in a while, than with someone I don't like, all the time."
"True," James said. "Sarah is a pain. Sometimes I'd just as soon take to the road. Still, I never thought anyone was good enough for Ruthie, not our Ruthie."
"Ever think that's why she waited this long?" David said. He took a gulp of wine and enjoyed it surging down his throat.
"She knows her own mind," James said. "If there's one thing that can be said of Ruth, it's that she knows what she wants. Why don't you go round up sister Elizabeth before she gets herself into another mess."
"Good idea," David said and headed for his sister, who was looking way too interested Philip. There was a fair amount of speculation as to whether or not all of her children belonged to her husband.
Outside of her room Ruth heard laughter and music. She slipped on her undergarments, sliding her hands over her body. Love swelled into desire. She would be married to him soon. Married to him. It was inconceivable how happy the idea made her.
Even so, she often wondered if being married really made people happy. At first most seemed to be. But the people she observed seemed to lose it after a while. It must not happen to her and John. She adored him.
Unhooking the shawl from the smaller of her looms in the corner of the room, she lay the garment carefully over the other one on top of her clothing chest. She had worked on the two off and on for months, carefully designing a single white rose into the center of each one.
Wondering where her mother was, Ruth worried about Maria. Surely someone needed to search for her. There was no way she would purposely be late for her wedding. Ruth was about to slip on a robe and urge someone to do that, when the door opened.
Her mother and Maria stepped in, carting a couple of large satchels. Sister Elizabeth sashayed in behind them, holding one of her twins. The child, a pretty toddler with golden hair, was fidgety, fussy.
"I thought you were never going to get here," Ruth said, hugging Maria.
"One of the horses went lame," Maria said. "My driver removed a rock from it's hoof. But by then we had to walk the poor thing. Otherwise, we would have been here last night."
"It couldn't be helped. I'll leave you to bathe. I need to see how things are going with dinner preparations and if cousin Elizabeth needs any help," Mother Mary said, closing the door.
Sister Elizabeth said, "Old maids united. This is going to be quite a party."
Ruth glared at her.
"Ah, come on, sis, lighten up," Elizabeth said. "You're going to lose your virginity tonight. You can't tell me that doesn't excite you."
"Elizabeth!" Ruth said, embarrassed.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm hardly a virgin," Maria said. "And I can't be an old maid either. I have been married before."
The toddler fussed. Elizabeth put her down. The little one went over to the large container of water and started splashing in it.
"Stop that, Naomi," Ruth said and pulled the child away.
"Don't tell my child what to do," Elizabeth said.
"Then keep her out of things," Ruth said.
"Oh, very well," Elizabeth said. "You're always such a tight-ass. God." She grabbed the child and huffed from the room.
"Grrrr," Ruth said. "She can be such a pain."
"I've noticed," Maria said. "Let's forget about her. This is a good day, a wonderful day."
"Yes, it is. It is," Ruth said, dancing around the room, hugging herself. "Not even my bratty sister can spoil it."
Maria stripped off her dusty, sweaty clothes and began bathing.
"You're sure you want to marry a prophet? It's not too late to change you're mind," Maria said. She had a playful air. Everything about her glowed.
Ruth twisted her mouth sideways as if actually considering it. "I know he's likely to be gone a lot. But I like having time to myself. It'll give me a chance to work with the women without him resenting the time. Besides, you're marrying one."
"You think Yeshua is a prophet?"
"Of sorts," Ruth said. "He has good intuition. But mostly, he's always known how to make things work."
"That's certainly true," Maria said. For a moment her face went solemn. "Where's Mary Martha? I expected to find her helping you."
"She couldn't get away," Ruth said, a touch of resentment in her voice. "Her wedding was traditional. I did all the things a sister is supposed to do, and it was nice. But, well, since then she's become exactly what her husband's family wants her to be. It frets Mother so. They wouldn't let her come. They consider us infidels."
"That's too bad. I do like her, even though she is insecure. She'll come around."
"I doubt it'll be this lifetime."
"Well, at least Elizabeth tried to offer support."
"Someone probably pushed her into it. Sometimes I think she has the brain of a stump," Ruth said. "When God was handing out common sense, she forgot to get in line."
"Both your sisters are in for a jolt, " Maria said. "Things are turning into such a mess everywhere."
"That they are. Just last week Pilot had some men rounded up here in Nazareth. He said they were terrorist. He strung them up on crosses just outside the village. It was awful." Ruth said. "But I'm not going to think about it, not today."
The brides dressed, placing crowns of white rose blossoms around their heads. Ruth took the shawl from the corner and gave one to Maria, showing her the rose in the center.
"It's beautiful." Maria said.
"I just thought...." Tears choked her voice. "It seemed so right."
Maria grasped her hands. Silence spoke.
Finally, Maria said, "Are you ready for this?"
"This?"
"Our journeys. It's likely to be iffy. It's likely to take us to places we never thought we'd go. It's likely to bring us closer to whatever God is and further from those who know they know."
"I am, actually," Ruth said. "Though, I'm a little scared."
"Me too," Maria said. She slipped the shawl around Ruth's shoulders. Ruth slipped the other around Maria's.
"Together," Maria said.
"Sisters forever," Ruth said.
They hugged each other and stepped into the kitchen. Mother Mary was waiting.
"You girls are beautiful. I'm proud of you both," Mother Mary said and embraced them. Father Joseph joined t
hem at the doorway.
"Three of the loveliest women I've ever seen," he said, beaming.
He pulled Ruth aside and said, "Just remember one thing, Ruthie. I'm proud to have you as my daughter. No matter what happens, nothing will ever get in the way of my love for you. Remember that when things get hard."
The four entered the courtyard. The crowd cheered.
Overhead, sun had dissolved all the clouds.
The music revved up a notch. Daniel played his lyre, his brother, Jacob, a flute, Jacob's wife, Eve, the cymbals and Elizabeth's eleven-year-old daughter, Sarah, a sophisticated version of a flute, one Jacob designed.
John and Yeshua emerged from a door midway through the complex. John took Ruth's hand. Yeshua took Maria's. All joined in singing the marriage song, Forever One:
Though the hills be cold and lonely,
I am warm, for I am with you.
Though the nights be filled with dangers and intrigue,
I do not worry, for I am with you.
To my marriage bed I take you
For a love that is fine and true.
In our hearts we live together,
Forever One.
Zacharias, dressed in priestly robes, led the procession through the gate and up to the knoll where a group of people from Nazareth had already gathered. They joined in the marriage song, singing it over and over until the couples neared the top. Zacharias stopped under a stately age-frazzled tree, the place Yeshua and Ruth loved to talk, and faced the group.
"In the name of the One," Zacharias said, "we come together for the uniting of these young people, though, in truth, we cannot join that which is already one. We honor the unique combinations of lives before us--my beloved son, John, his sweet and talented bride, Ruth, Yeshua, teacher and peacemaker, and Maria, lady merchant and teacher.
"Their love for each other, for all life everywhere carries them forward from this day. With the future about to dawn, dim and uncertain, it is especially important they have chosen love as their light. It is the highest light of all.
"It is good to remember that we need no more than this to carry us through difficult times. Rather than view the days ahead as evil unleashed by the selfish, it is better if we look at them as opportunities. Pain, misery and suffering are the fertilizer that love needs to grow and blossom as a rose. Today, that rose brings us together in celebration.
"Yeshua, do you take this woman, Maria, unto your breast? Do you agree to give her the best of your love as you walk forward in service of the One?"
"I do," Yeshua said. His eyes sparkled as a summer night with stars brightening the wilderness.
"Do you, Maria, agree to love this man with the best of your love, to unite with him in service of the One?"
"I do," Maria said. She had a strong look about her, the stance of royalty, the appearance of one consumed by purpose, the softness of a soul in love.
"Son John, never did I think you would come to this day. You, who consider women as anchors, keeping you from your destiny. Are you sure you want to do this?" Zacharias said, chuckling.
"Yes, Father, " John said. A man of powerful thoughts, deep set eyes and the look of inspiration, he nonetheless appeared nervous.
"Good, " Zacharias said. "John, do you consent to take sweet Ruth unto your breast? Do you agree to give her the best of your love as you walk forward in service of the One?"
"Yes, Father, I do," John said.
"Dear Ruth, why you want to marry a man who is more comfortable in the mountains than in temples and synagogue, is more than I know," Zacharias said, his eyes twinkling. "Do you, Ruth, agree to love my son with the best of your love, to unite with him in service of the One?"
"I do," Ruth said.
"Yeshua and Maria, John and Ruth, please join hands."
They did so.
"In the dancing eyes of the Divine you are joined as wife and husband. Kiss each other like you mean it and let the feasting and dancing begin."
Kisses were exchanged. Wild cheers spread through the group.
The newlyweds followed the music back to the courtyard. John, who had always detested dancing, led Ruth to the center of the yard. Maria and Yeshua joined them. The group formed a circle, holding hands, and danced around them. Revelry of a more rambunctious nature rose through the afternoon sky.
The party lasted well beyond midnight. At dawn the couples departed, amidst boisterous well-wishes, in Maria's carriage.
Nestled in beside John, Ruth watched the countryside jostle passed. She wondered if love would always be this pure. She wondered how their lives would be when they were old, about their children and all they would do. She fretted about her husband and where his destiny would take him.
She had never loved her brother more, pondering what was ahead for him, if he could do all he hoped to do, if with Maria by his side it would be better or if a raft of children would thwart his goals. These things she wondered about herself as well.
The carriage rolled on. Ruth slept, dreaming of the time and of people who wore strange clothing and rode in self-propelled carriages.
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