Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20 As the sun set behind the rolling hills of Nazareth, Michael and Dr. Gomez burst through the front entrance of the basilica. "Merle! Pearl!" Michael shouted, his voice echoing off the walls of the empty church.

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"They've gone," a somber voice rang out from the shadows. Father Phillip stepped out into a pool of cool moonlight near the railing surrounding the Grotto of the Annunciation. "A man came and took them." "He was wearing a suit and sunglasses," Michael guessed. "As a matter of fact, he was," Father Phillip said. "The squirrels called him Ruben." "Ruben..." Dr. Gomez noted. It was the first time Michael and Dr. Gomez had heard the name of the mysterious figure. Michael's eyes welled up. Feeling overwhelmed, hungry, and tired from jet lag, he couldn't help but cry.

Besides teaching, another thing friars do well is to comfort those who are troubled. "I know you are afraid for your friends," Father Phillip said as he put his hand on Michael's shoulder. "Remember Mary, who was very young when Gabriel came to visit her at this very spot. She, too, was afraid of an uncertain future. What would it be like being the mother of Jesus? But the angel assured her that nothing is impossible with God. That is true for you as well. Whenever you are worried or scared, you can pray for God's peace." "My dad tells me the same thing," Michael said, exchanging a grin with Dr. Gomez. "Can we pray now?" "This is a good place for that," Father Phillip said with a smile. There in the quiet church, Michael prayed again for help finding Merle and Pearl. He asked God to help him not feel afraid or worried. "And God, we know that you are in control and nothing is impossible with you. In Jesus' name, amen." "Well, buddy, it's late," Dr. Gomez said. "We'd better find a room in an inn somewhere around here." Dr. Gomez thanked Father Phillip for his help and for getting the word to him about Merle and Pearl. "By the way," Dr. Gomez asked, "how do you think Ruben found you?" "The only thing that makes sense to me is that I also sent an email to the Antiquities Museum in Jerusalem. Maybe that's how Ruben got the information?" Father

Phillip speculated. Dr. Gomez shook his head in disbelief. Michael's jaw dropped.