Monday, December 6, 2010

Chapter 29

29
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, RIO DE JANEIRO

On the morning of the fifth day at the mansion, Jesus and Juan were awakened by the ringing of the call bell. A servant deposited a morning paper and a pot of coffee in Juan's room. There was a tendency of the help to avoid being in the presence of Jesus if at all possible. An early edition of a regional rather than a city paper was Jesus and Juan's first exposure to the press.

The headlines, although less sensational than some, inflicted themselves pointedly on the two innocents standing in the sunshine of the balcony. There was a large photograph of them as they walked down the gang plank from the Navy ship.

"How did they know where we were to send this to us, Juan?" Jesus asked.

"I don't know. Maybe they send one to everyone."

"Every time something happens?" Jesus responded.

"Watch out! Don't get it wet. They may want it back." Juan pulled the paper up away from the table.

Jesus folded the newspaper in half, looking for the first time at the headline story. "This is why the Admiral wanted the troops with us yesterday. Look. There are 'disturbances' right here in Rio de Janeiro, and it says here that there are riots in some cities in the United States. Look at this picture -- it shows how angry and frightened everyone seems to be."

Beatrice appeared at the open doors leading to the balcony. "I hope everyone got a good night's rest. You are scheduled to meet with a Cardinal Piccioli this morning. He has come all the way from the Vatican."

"Is that near here?" asked Jesus.

"Oh no, Sir. The Vatican is a very long ways away, in Rome. The Vatican is where the Pope lives. Cardinal Piccioli is what you would called a Papal Emissary. The Pope sent him here to see You, to talk with You."

"Quite frankly Beatrice, I have very clear memories of having dealt with Romans in My first life. They tend to be very difficult people who resort to violent military means for almost any reason whatever." Jesus felt obliged to explain His hesitancy about the meeting. "In early times they were led by Caesar. I suppose they have changed that name into this 'Pope.' However they are organized now, all these years later, I imagine that they still wish to control the entire world."

"No, Jesus. The Pope is a religious figure. He runs the Catholic Church, a very large organization which draws its heritage from Your own ministry in Judea and Galilee. Brazil is not a Catholic state, but many of the citizens of Brazil are Catholics." Beatrice tried to explain, "That is why Your conversation the the Cardinal is so important. I know You will do Your best."

"Are they thinking of asking Me to join their Catholic Church? Perhaps Juan might wish to join also." Jesus was clearly more relaxed after her explanation.

"I'm not sure it will be exactly like that, Jesus. More likely I think that they just want to know what to think about You. I'm sure they'll tell You what they want to know when they get here."

"What if I don't know what they want to know?" asked Jesus.

"Hmmm, they might find even that pretty interesting. Oh, they are arriving right now. Perhaps we shall go and meet them."

A strange, dusty little car approached them as they walked out on the portico at the front of the house. Unlike the luxurious sedan which had brought them from the dock, this car seemed to be making several kinds of squeaking and bumping noises. It stopped right by the steps.

Both doors opened at once. The Cardinal had some difficulty in extricating himself, but recovered his composure quickly, aside from a slight cough or two -- no doubt inflicted at the hands of the dust. He bore the smile of a man who wished he were somewhere else, a smile tainted by a timid wish to put the best possible face on things however uncertain might be his optimism.

"Hello. Welcome to our temporary home. This is my friend Juan." Jesus was on His best behavior. The Cardinal looked uneasy. The two Bishops were trying to look like the Cardinal looked. "Please come this way. We can talk in the state reception room right through here. It has been prepared for our meeting."

The Cardinal, who had purposefully brought a Portuguese speaking Bishop to translate, was exerting great self-control not to be taken back by the fact that he understood Jesus in perfect Italian. "What other things were we not warned of? I will act as if this sort of phenomenon means nothing. In fact I will act as if it is quite common, just as common as these two impostors." he thought to himself. "The arrogance of daring to meet a Cardinal barefoot!"

The officers of the Church followed the two barefoot men into a spacious and well furnished room with floor to ceiling windows along the north wall. The house staff, being overwhelmed with a visit from the Vatican itself, had filled the room with fresh flowers in vases everywhere. It looked deceptively like a wedding reception. No one in the room believed this could be anything like a wedding.

The house steward himself appeared when everyone had been seated. "Perhaps I can bring some refreshments, coffee or maybe a glass of port?"

The Cardinal smiled in towering condescension. "Thank you, but we'll all wait for a little."

Juan spoke up quickly.  "Senor Terez. They can wait if they want, I'm thirsty now."

"As you please, Senor." The steward grumbled as he departed.

"We have been told about the purpose of your visit. I am not completely certain that I will be able to help you make a final conclusion." Jesus comfortably opened the subject of the visit. "Did you want Me to speak or would you prefer to simply ask Me questions?"

"I should think questions would. . ." the short, fat Bishop began, only to be cut short by the Cardinal.

"It will indeed be questions which I shall ask. Can You understand Italian?" Cardinal Piccioli began quickly.

"Of course, your Imminence, Italian will be well suited for our talk. You won't object if I translate everything into Portuguese to allow my friend, Juan, to also join in our conversation?" Jesus smiled broadly, then repeated what had been said to His friend sitting across from Him in a suspiciously long narrative in Portuguese.

The Cardinal, unnerved by so many languages and the lightening speed of Jesus' translation found himself in the awkward position of odd man out. He had hoped to dominate the whole affair. Speaking softly, he turned to Bishop Dura on his left, "What is He saying for so long?"

The Bishop began to translate, then paused. "He is saying what you said, Imminence."

The Cardinal becoming irritated, stood, addressing the Bishops he had in tow. "We must begin with the questions. That is our Holy mission here."

"My apologies, Cardinal Piccioli. You haven't had an opportunity to ask any questions. Perhaps I have misunderstood your urgency to do so. Are the three of you in hurry to leave? If that is the only task which brings you to this visit, please tell Me what your questions might be." Jesus entreated the man in a disinterested way. "I am concerned that you have brought your own witnesses to hear your questions and My answers. I have a good idea how that will turn out, not that it particularly matters to Me."

"It was my intention that this interview be conducted in Portuguese. That way Your 'friend' will be able to understand. We can use my translator, Bishop Dura, and, in so doing, avoid this confusion. I grow weary of Your interference. All this pandemonium of switching languages and Your mental projection of one when another is spoken suggests that perhaps You delay as a result of Your concern about what truths may be revealed." the Cardinal blustered threateningly.

Smiling broadly, Jesus addressed Cardinal Piccioli's growing attitude in the way that everyone could understand. "I will remind you, Sir, that you are in My home as My guest. I will suggest further that you recall that I have had nothing to do with your religion in either this life or My last life. Neither Juan nor Myself has had the interest nor the time to study Roman Catholicism, although I believe we are beginning to get a fairly well rounded picture just now. There is so little truth in this world that it would be a wondrous occasion if your visit might reveal some of it, although, I have only the most meager expectations of such a thing. What are your questions, please."

"The Vatican and the Government of Brazil have sent me to ask You certain specific questions which will allow the Holy See to determine if You are the Divine Second Coming of Our Savior or if you are a mere fluke of science created by the machinations of a rich old man for whatever perverse purpose. I caution You to answer very carefully. The claims which have been made about You in this troubled world have already caused great harm and violence. There is a final limit to the amount of this turmoil which will be tolerated."

"This is not the haphazard world of twenty centuries ago where Our Lord Jesus traveled more or less freely across the countryside, delivering His sermons. If, in fact, You are what has been claimed, Your acceptance of both the guidance and cooperation of the Church will be essential for Your ministry." Cardinal Piciolli was still trying to get the upper hand. "Your rescue from Paraneho was at the insistence of the Church. It was the Church which first learned of Your existence. Only later did we seek the logistic assistance of the Brazilian Government. We see to all of the provisions for Your stay here, Your position generally in the existing structure of religion and the final disposition of any claim You might make in the future to religious office -- we see all of these things as Church matters."

"What assistance would I need for my present ministry? What guidance would I require from the Catholic Church? Mind you, Cardinal, I can easily acquaint Myself with just exactly what this church founded by Paul has done in My name while I have been, let us say, away." Jesus stared directly at the Catholic when He spoke these menacing words.

"You will need a passport, for one thing. That can be issued by the Vatican. You will find that a Vatican passport is quite different than a Brazilian one. The Church can administer the funds You will inevitably attract during Your travels and ministry, thus avoiding any hint of wrong doing. The Church has already established many relief agencies to assist the poor around the world. Those can become channels for money You may raise in Your ministry to reach those who need the most. There are pitfalls into which one may inadvertently stumble. The Church is experienced. Vatican advisors can direct You away from such things. There are many advantages." Now the Cardinal tried the carrot, hoping that Jesus would see the sense of having the resources of the Vatican behind Him.

Juan suddenly spoke up to his friend. "You should probably do the questions before You decide what percentage their take would be." The comment was entirely innocent, but the Cardinal flushed.

"Yes, yes, indeed. We should do the questions now. Cardinal?" Jesus was actually almost impatient in an innocent sort of way.

"There are three questions, Sir. I will tell You what they are, then allow You to respond to them individually at Your convenience."

"First, please tell us of Your memories of the Immaculate Conception and the Virgin Birth. The whole Church is understandably curious, and desires very much to be educated about this miraculous thing."

"Second, as You may know, the Christ was crucified. As the reincarnate embodiment of Christ, we wish to see the stigmata of that crucifixion. We wish to touch them with our own hands that we might be assured that You are He."

"And third, we desire to know fully the mystery of the Holy Trinity, God, The Father, Jesus, The Son, and God, the Holy Spirit. As the reincarnate Christ, You will be able to tell us of these things, answers we have sought from the beginning of the Church." All three of them made the sign of the cross on themselves as the Cardinal asked this last question.

Jesus rose and crossed the room, sitting comfortably on the edge of a table near the Bishops, His bare feet dangling.

"No honest man would say He has a memory of His conception. Do you, Cardinal? If this question is really important to your deliberations, the answer is 'no'. I don't remember My conception any more than you remember yours. This idea is one of the foundations of the Catholic Religion? I have no understanding whatsoever of the idea that my mother, who was also the mother of my brothers and sisters, was a virgin at the time of my birth. I don't know how much you want to know about this, but we were poor. We lived in a small house. My older brothers could not avoid hearing my parents when they were together in the night. Being quite normal young boys, they were interested in what they heard. If what they said was true, the virginity of my mother ended, at the very latest, with the conception of the first of My two older brothers by My father. I have absolute confidence that her husband, Joseph, was My father. I have read the fantastical account of all this in your New Testament. My mother was a chaste and godly woman with a good heart, and she does not deserve to be accounted as some sort of unnatural phenomenon capable of conceiving and birthing children by herself."

"I have no intention to interfere with any part of the religion, not the myths nor the practices nor the people, nothing. But I have a personal interest in the correction of just this one part of the account of My life. I can coexist quite comfortably with all the rest of it. Do you", He said, looking at the Cardinal, "have the authority to change this part of the story to an accurate account? That would mean a great deal to Me."

"We are not here to determine if the Holy Scriptures of our religion will suit you, Sir. We are here to determine if You are what You claim to be or otherwise. Next, I wish to ask You about the reincarnate nature of your relationship to Jesus Christ, Our Savior of the scriptures, and the nature of Your relationship to God." Cardinal Piciolli was hardly satisfied with the first answer.

At this moment Jesus arose and approached the Cardinal. Cardinal Piciolli glanced at the Bishops who had suddenly begun an animated conversation with Juan in Portuguese. He attempted to speak to them, to direct them to pay attention, but found that he could not speak. Jesus was now directly before him, His eyes were like flames. This was not comfortable.

Slowly, Jesus raised His hands to show the Cardinal His palms. Horrible scars had appeared just above His wrists on both forearms, the true position of stigmata. Drops of incredibly red blood fell to the carpet in slow motion. The Cardinal was paralyzed in pain and horror, His own body was experiencing the full impact of being crucified. Tears streamed from his eyes, but still he could not speak. Only he and Jesus were locked in this tableau. The others in the room seemed to be unable to notice.

Jesus leaned over close to his face. "Now for the third question. Your Church created the Trinity for its own needs, so I will not endeavor to explain something like that, but would you care to see the face of God?"

Still unable to answer, all pain was suddenly relieved from the old Cardinal. From the chest of Jesus a light grew brighter and brighter. No one else in the room noticed anything, but the cassock of the Cardinal began to singe, not from heat but simply from light. Suddenly Jesus turned away. The sunburned face of the Cardinal could now speak, but remained silent. He stood up and kneeled toward Jesus, still walking away. "Thank you, Jesus. Thank you so very much. This makes my life everything I could have ever dreamed."

The Bishops suddenly turned, dumbfounded to see the Cardinal in this posture. They helped him back to his chair. Bishop Dura asked "Imminence, are you alright? What's happened in just a moment?"

The Cardinal simply waved him away, wishing only to sit comfortably in silence for a moment.

Jesus looked at the Bishop, puzzled, as he sat down again. "Now the Cardinal can be the holy man he has always sought to be."

Turning to His friend, Jesus suggested "Juan, see if you can round up the help. I think the Cardinal is ready for a glass of port. And, I know I'm ready for a Pepsi."

After his experience, it seemed to be a little easier for the Cardinal, now mysteriously calm and relaxed, to reenter the old limousine. Bishop Dura's skepticism over the visible results of unseen events spoke boldly in his eyes and expression, but his concern for his own career coupled with his respect for the Cardinal's influence and authority curbed his words. Even within the Church, power remained a permanent trapping of ecclesiastical station.

"Thank you very much for talking with us. The Cardinal seems to be a bit confused just now, but I'm certain I can also extend his appreciation of Your hospitality." the nervous Bishop spoke while standing as close to the automobile as possible. It seemed as if he wished to assure a means of escape if the phenomenon which had befallen the Cardinal should start to manifest itself again.

Jesus and Juan heard nothing more from the Church. It seemed to them that all of the Pope's concerns had been allayed by the visit. As usual, practically nothing was as it seemed. Distant events had begin to focus more than ever on the guests of the rural residence, interests both in Brazil and far away.

Affairs around the Government House slipped back toward routine after the Vatican visit. Juan and Jesus applied themselves diligently to their most pressing duties -- sleeping, eating, exploring, swimming and sunbathing. Beatrice had taken on the role of both teacher and guide. The good natured woman seemed to appear just as another faux pas was set to unfold, leading the two back to the path of civilization. The remainder of the extensive staff at the place willingly let her take the lead. The superstitious phobia first exhibited by only a handful of them seemed to have become much more widespread. Exceptions to this state of mind demonstrated their own attitude with an open lack of respect, outright fear or visible disgust.

At high levels of government an alliance was being forged. The Church could accept Jesus only as a phenomenon, a apparition which might touch the hem of God Almighty, but only on infrequent occasions. Jesus, cast as the out of control evangelist, roaming across Brazil in a storm cloud of heresy could never be tolerated. Needless to say, the voice of Bishop Dura was heard much more strongly than that of Cardinal Piccioli who remained joyously confused.

For the government's part, the religious turmoil could be acceptable as collateral confusion so long as it did not jeopardize peace and order. Doctrinal purity with respect the Catholic Church held a lower priority. Brazil was a country hungry for prestige, hungry for a standing among other nations, especially European nations. Managed properly, Jesus would become a Christian Mecca with pilgrims from around the world arriving daily to see Him.

As a walking, breathing saint, He would require a fabulous shrine. The government already owned just such a place at Brasilia. That unfortunate capitol had been constructed by short-sighted idealists in the middle of the jungle. Now, it was a nightmare assignment held over the head of every nervous bureaucrat. The prospects of turning it into a cash mill, isolating this trouble maker deep in the wilderness and cashing in on exorbitant prices for transportation to and fro for millions of willing pilgrimages was simply narcotic to the leadership of the country.

There remained, of course, the matter of tying the bell on the cat. The bell arrived mid-morning two weeks later.