The Gospel According to the Son by Norman Mailer Read Free Book Online

all they in the synagogue when they heard these things," wrote Luke, "were filled with wrath. And rose up and thrust him out of the city, and led him onto the brow of a hill whereon their city was built that they might cast him down headlong. But he, passing through the midst of them, went his way."
    Luke was not a Jew. So his account is rank with exaggeration; he hated Jews. Because I was speaking in the small synagogue to which I had gone from childhood, none were ready to scoff at me. Still, I could feel laughter creep out of their feet. Such derision was like mice scampering silently over my toes. Indeed, I could hear the whispers before they were spoken: "The carpenter tells us to repent." And others said, "What is this that the Lord hides from the wise and prudent but offers unto babes?"
    So I knew that I must learn to preach in places where I was not known. That much I vowed, and yet, as I took the road from Nazareth to Capernaum, I could feel how my heart was still bruised by what the Devil had dared to say against the Lord. And my Father had not even defended Himself.
    At that instant, in the midst of such thoughts, I stumbled on the road, and it was an odd misstep. I was lithe of foot, yet I fell heavily. A strong arm had hurled me to the earth. And a strong voice spoke into my ear: "The words of the prophets are not My words. My prophets are honest but full of excess."
    I only said: "My Lord, I feel weak. I am lacking in eloquence."
    "Yes," the Lord said, "so did Moses say: 'O Lord, I am slow of speech and with a slow tongue.' I told him as I tell you: 'Who made man's mouth? Am I not the Lord?' Therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and I will teach you what to say. Your words will not fall on the ground."
    Given this promise, I felt less uncertain. My Father also said, "You can do well in Capernaum. Say but one thing many times. These people are like stones and they are deaf. Therefore, tell them again and again: 'Thus saith the Lord God.' Do not be concerned with whether they hear. Words are also My creatures, and they travel by many roads."
    As I came to my feet, I could feel the Spirit lifting me higher. And I heard the wings of invisible creatures flying about me, then the sound of a thousand chariots, a noise of happy clamor that might as well have come from the other side of a hill. The Lord spoke again: "When you believe in Me, miracles will be in your hands, your eyes, and your voice."
    Yes, the hand of the Lord was strong. I came to Capernaum.

17
    As I walked beside the pebbled shore of the Sea of Galilee, I saw two fishermen casting their nets. They were powerful men, and large, and with large hands. The older, who looked younger than myself, was, I would soon learn, named Simon; the other was his brother, Andrew. I also saw how Simon, once he had drawn in many fish, came upon a tear in his net and with strips of rawhide he mended this flaw with dexterity.
    I thought to myself, There is need of a man who can mend nets. If by one skill he captures the fish, by another does he prevent losing them. And without caution, as my voice carried across the distance it would take to cast a small stone, I said, "Come with me and I will make you fishers of men." I said it with great merriment, for I realized that to be without one's fellows for forty days is also a fast. If I had seen men and women at the wedding and in the synagogue of Nazareth, still they were not of my choice, not friends or men with whom I might work.
    So I looked upon these two fishermen as good men, and liked how they cast their nets to put a small spell upon the sea. Being a carpenter, who knew less of water than of wood, it still seemed to me that fish would be protected by their own spell and so a fisherman would need his own power of spirit to draw such creatures into his net.
    And so, "Yes," I said, and was rich in my enthusiasm. "Come with me and I will make you fishers of men." Between their eyes and mine passed an agreement