All Roads Lead to Rome

The Road to Rome - Sunset- Sunday, September 12th, 800 A.D.

They talked as they rode up the road. It was a warm day. the sun hung low over the western horizon “Andreos, tell me about yourself.”

”I was born in Macedonia. I am the son of a merchant. My father taught me mathematics and letters. When I was seventeen I joined the forces of the Empire. Because of my ability to read I was given a commission. I have recently returned from three years of duty on the Persian frontier.” “You have fought against the Saracens there?”

“I fought against the Sheilcs with general Niccphorus at Heraclea. The Shiites are a fanatical sect of Saracens warriors. They call their acts of violence ‘Jehad’...”

“I know the word, it is sometimes interpreted as 'Holy War’; though it has a complex nuance to it that make the translation as 'Holy War' easily simplistic but far from truthfully to the intent of those who speak it.”

“They fight as if they are empowered by the devil himself. I have heard they inhale a strange drug before entering into battle. It is so they can see their devil-god.” 

“Perhaps it is not their God that is the devil, rather it’s the fanaticism,” Ariel interjected, “The people of my religion were nearly destroyed by Roman forces centuries ago. At the time we acted as fanatics, convinced that a single holy war would bring the Messiah to Israel. The Roman legions came and crushed the rebellion. They destroyed the last chance for Israel to become a nation again. After all the war and bloodshed, no Messiah came. Now the people of Israel arc in a vast diaspora, scattered to the four comers of the earth like chaff in a maelstrom. Now I and many others follow the path of peace. The sword can never lead to salvation, for God is Peace. To know God we must know peace. To create a kingdom of God on earth, we must know God in our hearts, in our minds, and express God's will in our actions. If there ever is an Israel again, it must be a nation build on peace. Build for God by we who wish to express his love on earth.”

This argument disturbed Andreos. The truths that this Esscne woman spoke often echoed the feelings he had when reading the Sermon on the Mount. Strong currents of Christian pacifism existed throughout the Empire. Andreos had witness firsthand the atrocities of war. He still had nightmares, seeing himself slain by his own hand. Those who live by the sword die by the sword. What could he do, he was only a soldier, following the orders of the day.

“I would hope that someday we all could live in peace, but I know of nothing that I can do to change what happens. I am only a soldier.”

At times the languages in Joseph’s head mixed in a babble of hidden subtleties.

“Quo meet concentit1,” Joseph muttered to himself.

“I could not understand you,” Ariel said to Joseph.

“To be silent when evil exists in the world is to give your consent to its existence.

“So tell me, Ariel, how did you know to come with me?”

“An angel of God came to me in a dream.”

“That is odd. Andreos, what about you?”

“I was issued orders.”

‘“I was issued orders’. How dull can you get? Have you no sense of adventure Andreos? We go to Rome. Mighty, glorious Rome. The place that all roads lead to. When were you last in Rome?"

“Five years ago. It’s a depressing dirty little town surrounding the one glorious ruins of its ancient center. The food is overpriced and the women are ugly.”

“It will be a great city again in the future. Filled with beautiful women, but food will still be overpriced.”

“It is late. We should make camp,” Andreos interjected.

"You lake charge of the troops, I wish to ride up the road a bit.”

Joseph traveled up the old Roman road for another half mile. He knew where he was. Not far from this road in 1914 Serbian revolutionaries would start a chain of events that would lead to the First World War.

The old Roman road was overgrown. Josephus mounted upon his horse surveyed the field of wheat that had overgrown the road, to the west the sun was setting over hills laced with farms, surrounded by fields of golden grass and grain. His horse hungrily examined the stalks of ripe wheat. His armor was brown from the dusty roads he had traveled. The earth seemed to absorb him. He looked to the setting sun and wondered about the future.