"Owing to the fact that we traveled on foot, rather than on the backs of animals or in carts or wagons, our muscles were in good condition and well toned.

So, our pace was not hurried, but neither did we amble. This being so, as the day wore on, striding along this way, we began to tire. It didn't seem to matter to Jesus as he once again began to teach us as we walked, keeping our focus on his words and off our weary feet. Jesus continued to speak as we walked, "Consider the farmer who just put his crop in the ground. Exhausted after a hard day's work, he slept. While he was asleep, an evil person came and scattered weed seeds among the seeds of wheat. Men do evil things like this, sometimes for no apparent reason other than the evil satisfaction of hurting others. Sometimes it is 'payback' for the evil they have endured, or for the pleasure they derive from hurting others, just because they can. So when the wheat sprouted, the weeds sprouted, too. The farmer's workers came to him and said, 'Didn't you plant wheat in your field? Where did the weeds come from?'"

"'An enemy did this,' replied the farmer."

"The workers asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?'"

"'No,' he answered, 'because you might pull up the wheat as well. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then, collect the weeds first and burn them; then gather the wheat and bring it into the barn.'"

I thought of Judas. "Why would Jesus have chosen him? How could he? How is it that Judas could have been with us all this time, and yet . . ." Not only did Jesus extend himself to a person such as Judas, he sought to include him among his closest companions. He sought to construct a place of eternal honor for him. But Judas would have none of it. I would have none of him. That, indeed, may be his epitaph.

"Because the children of God must live their lives among the weeds, they will not find life easy. As you well know, weeds usually choke out the wheat. But you must never lose hope; the Father knows how to preserve and harvest his crop."

The path eventually meandered to a place of rest. A bench of sawed logs had been erected so travelers could sit, and over which a shelter had been built. When Jesus saw it, he made straight for it, sat down, removed his sandals and began to massage the ache in his feet. As it almost always happens, a brook bubbled nearby where those who stopped could cool their feet in running water and those who were thirsty could drink from a standing spring. It was indeed a lovely place, a natural and perfect place for a rest. So we stopped, and after a few moments gathered around Jesus.

He said to us, "I tell you these tales because I intend for you to repeat them to others." We looked at one another in bewilderment. "Does that surprise you? You must understand that I will not be with you forever. I expect you to carry on my work. Learn then the story of a treasure, which a man found in a field not his own. The man's joy at his discovery overwhelmed him. He exploded with pleasure. And then he sought for a method in which to conceal the treasure lest someone else stumble upon it and take it from him. Then, smart man that he was, he found the owner of the field and purchased it from him." We laughed and applauded with enthusiasm.

"Smart move," noted Thomas. "Tell us another, Jesus."

"To seek to be a member in the family of God," he responded, "is like a merchant looking to purchase fine pearls. He stumbles upon one of enormous value, a beauty the like of which he had never seen. So taken was he by this magnificent jewel that he sold everything he had and bought it."

"He sold everything?"

"Everything, Thomas. So great is the value of being in union with the Father. Nothing you have or ever could have compares to it." Thomas was silent. So were we all.