Lost Story by Rev. G. Earnest Lynch (April 1965 Star Tribune)
April 11, 2014 at 12:35pm
Here
I stand like a sweating statue, Adrian the unlucky. Every man in my
company draws a 12 hour pass except me-I draw guard duty. And not just
ordinary guard duty in a place with some shade, but crucifixion guard
duty on this stinking hill, Golgotha, they call it. The place of the
skull and well named. It's not my idea of a picnic spot.
I
could be stuck here until midnight. Who knows how long it's going to
take before these three give up the ghost? The last time I had this
duty it went on for 10 hours. That's the trouble with this soldiering
business-endless boredom at low pay.
I guess I'm
just luckless. I sign up in Rome because my girlfriend likes uniforms
and the next thing you know I'm in Jerusalem, where a decent girl won't
look at a Roman Legionnaire. Then I draw a top-sergeant who hates
big-city Romans because he's a country boy. So he gives me the wrong
end of every stick. Even today, when we threw dice for that fellow's
cloak; I lost, Damn. I could have sold that for a pretty penny. Not a
seam on it.
Oh well, born to lose, that's me.
I'm never in the right place at the right time. At least there's a
little something happening here. I've never seen such a crowd at a
crucifixion and they're an ugly mob too. Shouting and spitting, jeering
and mocking. I wonder what's got their blood up?
There's
one punk who thinks he's a comedian, standing on tiptoe with his arms
stretched out and a silly smirk on his face, pretending he's being
crucified. I wish he'd step out of line. I'd love to give him a little
taste of my fist. But he won't. That kind doesn't like rough boys.
What's
that fool yelling? Oh, "Come down from the cross," he says. "If Thou
be the Christ, save thyself." Very funny. And look at those half-wits
with him, screeching with laughter at his wit. I'd like to see how
funny he'd be on a cross.
That man on the middle cross
looks different from the other two. I wonder why he's up there.
Doesn't look like a criminal and isn't scared. Usually they either
scream about how innocent they are or go out swearing. He sounds more
like a physician comforting sick people.
Listen to that: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do". Does HE mean me or just those Jews?
Now
what's HE saying? Oh, HE's talking to that thief, Dismas. "Today shalt
though be with me in paradise." What could that mean? I never heard
any one die like this. I hope I do as well when my time comes.
God, it's getting dark! Hell's own storm must be heading this way.
I
wonder who those weeping women are. One of them looks familiar. Could
hat be...? Damn, it is. Mary Magdalene, the whore. How did she get
into this mess?
But the other is older, and there is a
young man comforting her. What a beautiful face she has, even in
sorrow. She makes me think of my own mother. I'd better change my
thoughts or I'll start weeping too. Could she be this poor fellow's
mother? God, I hope not. This is no place for her.
She
is! He called her "Mother," and said to the young man, "Behold thy
mother." Does that mean HE thinks her love is great enough to enfold
more than her natural sons? What a strange thought. And yet, if love is
of God and God is everywhere, then one who truly loves God could become
the Holy Mother of us all. And that would include even me.
It's nearly over, Soon we'll be breaking their legs to hasten the smothering.
He
thirsts. I'll offer this sponge of vinegar. It may deaden the pain. I
can't do much for HIM, poor fellow, but what I can I will. The man has
style, so I'm on HIS side, even when HE's losing. We losers must stick
together.
That fool called him "Christ"? I'll by that. This man surely was the son of God.
