Gibran Stories Omnibus

turn spring to winter. I had climbed the hills in longing, and your
sorrow brought me back to this valley. You wanted a son and a brother
to be with you through life. Your neighbours wanted a miracle. You and
your neighbours, like your fathers and your forefathers, would have a
miracle, that you may believe in the simplest things in life. How cruel
you are and how hard are your hearts, and how dark is the night of your
eyes. For that you bring down the prophets from their glory to you
joys, and then you kill the prophets.
     
      Martha : (with reproof) You call our sorrow self-pity. What is
your wailing but self-pity? Be quiet, and accept the life the Master
has given you.
     
      Lazarus : He did not give me life, He gave you my life. He
took my life from my own beloved, and gave it to you, a miracle to open
your eyes and your ears. He sacrificed me even as He sacrificed Himself. (Speaking unto the sky) Father, forgive them. They know not what they
do.
     
      Mary : (In awe) It was He who said those very words, hanging
upon the cross.
     
      Lazarus : Yes, He said these words for me as for Himself, and
for all the unknown who understand and are not understood. Did He not
say these words when your tears begged Him for my life? It was your
desire and not His will that bade His spirit to stand at the sealed
door and urge eternity to yield me unto you. It was the ancient longing
for a son and a brother that brought me back.
     
      Mother : (Approaches him and puts her arm around his
shoulders) Lazarus, you were ever an obedient son and a loving son.
What has happened to you? Be with us, and forget all that troubles you.
     
      Lazarus : (Raising his hand) My mother and my brothers and my
sisters are those who hear my words.
     
      Mary : These are also His words.
     
      Lazarus : Yes, and He said these words for me as well as for
Himself, and for all those who have earth for mother, and sky for
father, and for all those who are born free of a people and a country
and a race.
     
      The Madman : Captain of my ship, the wind filled your sails,
and you dared the sea; and you sought the blessed isles. What other
wind changed your course, and why did you return to these shores? It
was Jesus of Nazareth who commanded the wind with a breath of His own
breath, and then filled the sail where it was empty, and emptied it
where it was full.
     
      Lazarus : (Suddenly he forgets them all, and he raises his
head, and opens his arms.) O my beloved! There was dawn in your eyes,
and in that dawn there was the silent mystery of a deep night, and the
silent promise of a full day, and I was fulfilled, and I was whole. O
my beloved, this life, this veil, is between us now. Must I live this
death and die again that I may live again? Must needs linger until all
these green things turn yellow and then naked again, and yet again?
(Pause) Oh, I cannot curse Him. But why, of all men, why should I
return? Why should I of all shepherds be driven back into the desert
after the green pasture?
     
      The Madman : If you were one of those who would curse, you
would not have died so young.
     
      Lazarus : Jesus of Nazareth, tell me now, why did you do this
to me? Was it fair that I should be laid down, a humble lowly sorrowful
stone leading to the height of your glory? Any one of the dead might
have served to glorify you. Why have you separated this lover from his
beloved? Why did you call me to a world which you knew in your heart
you would leave? (Then crying with a great voice) Why-why- why did you
call me from the living heart of eternity to this living death? O Jesus
of Nazareth-I cannot curse you! I cannot curse you. I would bless you.
(Silence. Lazarus becomes as one whose strength has gone out in a
stream. His head falls forward almost upon his breast. After a moment
of awful silence, he raises his head again, and with a transfigured
face he cries in a deep and thrilling voice.) Jesus of Narareth! My
friend! We have both been crucified. Forgive me! Forgive me. I bless
you-now, and forevermore.
     
     (At this moment the disciple appears running from the direction
of the hills.)
     
      Mary : Philip!
     
      Philip : He is risen! The Master is risen from the dead and
now He is gone to Galilee.
     
      The Madman : He is risen, but He will be crucified again a
thousand