“But it is true,” laughed the little man.
“The Master said: ’Let Thaddeus
say what he likes. He suffered yesterday in patience
the wrath of an Arab.’”
“Yes, indeed; because they found no money, they
beat Thaddeus.”
“If we meet another of that sort, we’ll
defend ourselves,” said the publican, “or
robbery ’ll become cheap.”
“It’s easy to see, tax-gatherer, that
you haven’t known the Master long,” said
the little man whom they called Thaddeus. “We
and money, indeed!”
Then the Master said: “A free soul has
nothing to do with Mammon. It’s not worth
speaking of, let alone quarrelling over. Violence
won’t undo robbery. If you attempt violence,
you may easily turn a thief into a murderer.”
While they were talking the publican went into his
house. He had made his decision. He would
quietly bid his wife farewell, put the money in a
bag and tie it round his waist. He did not do
the first, because Judith had fled by the back door;
he did not do the second, because Judith had emptied
the stone vessel and taken the money with her.
Levi came sadly from the toll-house, went up to Jesus,
and lifted his hands to heaven: “I am ready,
Lord; take me with you.”
The Master said: “Levi Matthew, you are
mine.”
Thaddeus came with the tray of fruit. “Brother,
eat of your table for the last time. Then trust
in Him who feeds the birds and makes the flowers to
grow.”
As they went together along the dusty road, the new
disciple related his loss.
Simon exclaimed cheerfully: “You’re
lucky, Levi Matthew! What other men give up
with difficulty has run away from you of itself.”
That day the toll-house was left deserted, and the
passers-by were surprised to find that the road between
Magdala and Tiberias was free.
In this way there gathered round the carpenter of
Nazareth more disciples and friends, who wished to
accompany Him in His wanderings through the land.
For Jesus had decided. He desired only to wander
through the land and bring men tidings of the Heavenly
Father and of the Kingdom of God. He appointed
some of His disciples to prepare for Him a reception
and lodging everywhere. Then there were the assemblies
of the people to regulate; and the disciples, so far
as they themselves understood the new teaching, must
act as interpreters and expositors for those who could
not understand the Master’s peculiar language.
Among those was John, the carpenter, who had once been
an apprentice to Jesus, a near relative of the Master.
Other of His disciples were called James, he was
the boat-builder; then Simon, Andrew, and Thomas,
the fishermen; Levi Matthew, the publican; Thaddeus,
the saddler; and further—but my memory
is weak—James, the little shepherd; Nathan,
the potter; and his brother Philip, the innkeeper
from Jericho; Bartholomew, the smith; and Judas, the
money-changer from Carioth. Like Simon and Matthew,
they had all left their trades or offices to follow
with boundless devotion Him they called Lord and Master.
