As the sounds of conversation dwindled to the whispered breath of sleep, Nicholas gingerly picked his way along the maze of blankets in the hallway. At the front door, he came across one of the men who was taking turns keeping watch for him in case he might try to slip away to his gold. As usual, the man offered to go with him; and as usual, Nicholas declined but the man insisted. So off he went with the brother in tow. The soldiers keeping watch outside fell in behind them, and the ones on the rooftops scrambled down and joined the trailing parade.
The brother said to Nicholas, “If you need me to go anywhere beyond the eyes of the soldiers, just say the word. You can count on me.”
Nicholas said, “No, I prefer the company... Tell me, if you were Caesar, and you had all the gold of Nicomedia, what would you do with it?”
The brother answered without hesitation, “I would do what you've done, help the poor.”
Nicholas nodded. It was obviously designed to gain favor. He asked, “What else?”
The brother had to think it over a bit, then he said, “I would build a great meeting house for Christus that would make the temples of Rome and Nicomedia pale in significance.”
It seemed Christus would have to share the house with this brother. Nicholas asked, “Do you think our Lord needs a great temple?”
“Well, uh, not that he needs it, but, uh...” The man stammered on as Nicholas led him wandering the streets of Myra.
Back at the house, the front door lay unwatched. Lucas easily slipped outside and made his way to Mount Taurus. There he found the tomb just as Nicholas had described it. He lit the lamp and dimmed it under the bowl, then shuffled over to the urns along the wall. Curiosity drove his hand to reach into an urn and pull out a handful of gold coins. Never had he held so much money in his life. Nicholas would never know if he merely put a few in his pocket. It made Lucas think of the great trust Nicholas had placed in him.
Lucas set the coins back in the urn, saying, “For the honor of Christus.” He reached behind the urns and retrieved the bundle of books. The tightly bound cloak was covered in dust, but otherwise intact. He wiped it off, then strapped it on his back and headed back to the city.
Many wondered where Nicholas had found these copies of the memoirs of the apostles. He would only say, “The Lord Christus kept them safe.” As the weeks passed and Nicholas gave no gifts of gold, the people keeping watch over him soon lost interest, but the soldiers of Silvanus remained ever on the watch.
The brother said to Nicholas, “If you need me to go anywhere beyond the eyes of the soldiers, just say the word. You can count on me.”
Nicholas said, “No, I prefer the company... Tell me, if you were Caesar, and you had all the gold of Nicomedia, what would you do with it?”
The brother answered without hesitation, “I would do what you've done, help the poor.”
Nicholas nodded. It was obviously designed to gain favor. He asked, “What else?”
The brother had to think it over a bit, then he said, “I would build a great meeting house for Christus that would make the temples of Rome and Nicomedia pale in significance.”
It seemed Christus would have to share the house with this brother. Nicholas asked, “Do you think our Lord needs a great temple?”
“Well, uh, not that he needs it, but, uh...” The man stammered on as Nicholas led him wandering the streets of Myra.
Back at the house, the front door lay unwatched. Lucas easily slipped outside and made his way to Mount Taurus. There he found the tomb just as Nicholas had described it. He lit the lamp and dimmed it under the bowl, then shuffled over to the urns along the wall. Curiosity drove his hand to reach into an urn and pull out a handful of gold coins. Never had he held so much money in his life. Nicholas would never know if he merely put a few in his pocket. It made Lucas think of the great trust Nicholas had placed in him.
Lucas set the coins back in the urn, saying, “For the honor of Christus.” He reached behind the urns and retrieved the bundle of books. The tightly bound cloak was covered in dust, but otherwise intact. He wiped it off, then strapped it on his back and headed back to the city.
Many wondered where Nicholas had found these copies of the memoirs of the apostles. He would only say, “The Lord Christus kept them safe.” As the weeks passed and Nicholas gave no gifts of gold, the people keeping watch over him soon lost interest, but the soldiers of Silvanus remained ever on the watch.
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