Chapter 70 Judah's mother Zepolis

My son is a good man with integrity.He treats me kindly and filially.He loves his people and countrymen, and hates our enemies, the wicked Romans, for they wear purple instead of weaving, and hoard grain instead of tilling. When my son was seventeen, he was arrested for shooting an arrow at a Roman procession passing through our vineyard. At that age, he used to talk about the glory of Israel to other young people, and said many strange things that I didn't understand. He is my son, my only son. He sucked the life out of my now withered breasts; he once grasped my fingers - now like quivering reeds, toddling in this garden.

At that time, my hands were as fresh and smooth as Lebanese grapes.With these hands, I wrapped my son's first pair of shoes in a linen towel my mother gave me for storage.I still keep the shoes in the cupboard by the window. He is my newborn child, who took his first steps locally, and I also took my first steps, because mothers only travel far under the guidance of their sons. Now people tell me that he has committed suicide, that he threw himself from a high rock in remorse for betraying his friend Jesus of Saleh. I know my son is dead.But I believe he didn't betray anyone because he loved his family and hated only the Romans.

MY Son seeks the glory of Israel and it shows in everything he says and does. When he met Jesus on the highway, he left me and followed him.I knew in my heart that it was wrong for him to follow anyone. When he bid me farewell, I said he had made a mistake, but he didn't listen. Our children will not listen to us, any more than today's high tide heeds the advice of yesterday's tide. I beg you not to press any further questions about my son. I loved him and will always love him. If love existed only in the body, I would burn the body with a branding iron to find peace; but love exists in the soul, which cannot be touched.

Now I don't want to say any more.Ask another woman, who is more respected than Judas' mother. Go ask the mother of Jesus.The sword pierced her heart too, and she will tell you about me, and you will understand.