The Open Hand and the Closed Heart: Love Tested

Marcus sees him every week at the gathering.

Demetrius—the freed slave who works the docks, whose tunic is always frayed, whose children are always thin. They share the bread together. They drink from the same cup. They call each other brother.

And every week, Marcus walks home to his warm house with its full pantry, and Demetrius returns to his cramped room near the harbor.

John's letter arrives the same week the harbor work dries up. Demetrius and his family have nothing. And Marcus hears these words read aloud in the assembly: