“This was his message to men: that you should not love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but love your enemy too, blessing him when he curses you, doing good when he hates you, because God, the father of men, made the sun rise on the evil the same as the good, and sent rain on the unjust and just. He blessed the poor, the meek, and the children. He said the last would be first.

“But the rabbis, in spite of these miracles, did not accept this message. Not even when he went onto a mountain and his face began to shine like the sun and his cloak turned as white as light. They were cowards! Fearful men! When Jesus denounced these hypocrites, they plotted together how they might kill him. Alas! Alas! Even worse, it was a Jew, one of his disciples, that betrayed him. For money, and because of an envious heart. This disciple came to where he was walking in the garden and threw his arms up and kissed him. It was a sign for the followers of the rabbis to make the arrest. Then they took Jesus to the chief priests, who asked him whether he was, as he had said, the Son of God. The high priest stood, tearing his clothing, when Jesus answered, I am. And the rest spit at him and struck him for his blasphemy.

“I tremble! Tremble! How hard it is for me to say these things! Listen! The council turned Jesus over to Pilate. That man questioned him and, unable to find any fault in him, offered to let him go. But the Jews would not hear of it. They insisted: His blood be on us, and on our children! So the Roman let Barabbas go and, because of the clamor, had Jesus crucified on a cross. The crowds passed by, mocking him, asking where were his miracles and his wonders now. When he was thirsty a soldier gave him vinegar, poured on a sponge. Then the sky grew dark and he cried out and, as it is written, gave up the ghost. That is the story of the birth, the life, and the death of Jesus, who some say, even after he was buried, rose again.”

“Yes! We do!”

“He sits on the right hand of God!”

“Praise Him!”

The congregation of the Church of the Virgin Mary was standing, crying out. The priest, behind the altar, wrung his fat hands. Trumpelman leaned on his cane. The converts at the Christmas mass shouted more loudly still.

“That’s why the Jews suffer now! Because they wouldn’t believe!”

“It’s because they killed him!”

“Even the Elder admits the blood is on their heads!”

“And on the heads of their children!”

Trumpelman nodded. He smacked his lips. Then he started to laugh. “Ha! Ha! Ha! You’ve got it backward! Backward! You didn’t understand a word!”

The whole of the congregation stared at him in amazement. “It’s not because the Jews killed Christ that they have to suffer, but because they gave Christ to the world! Look! There! At the cave! That’s where our troubles began! Turn the other cheek, ha-ha-ha! A Jew said that! Turn the other cheek and let them hit you again! If someone takes your coat, let him have your cloak also! Think about that! It’s fantastic! It’s like a joke! Love your neighbor! Love your enemy! Ha! Ha! Ha! That’s a burden no one can bear! Horowitz knows it! That’s his secret! He knows how hard it is to be good!”