Lucifer

"Peter, trust in me. What bothers you so? What is this burden? Lay it at our feet so that we may look at it in the same light and give it due measure."

"Gabrielle, we three have noticed some ill manner in the countenance of the Lord. He is troubled and this worries us, for if he cannot count on his angels and saints for his burdens, then we are indeed lacking in his grace. This is His house and it is not proper that the Master should frown so. Let me frown all my days for him only to smile just now. Tell us Gabrielle, have you, too, seen this to be so, and, if so, what can we, His servants, do?"

Gabrielle outstretched his arms as if to embrace the whole of them. He smiled to console each of their worried faces. After a moment, he clasped his hands before himself humbly and addressed the three suitors who would marry to God’s troubles.

"My brothers," he consoled, "I have noted nothing to abet your concerns. Just a short time ago, I visited Him and received these Declarations of His Word which you have seen me over. Please, trust me to his care when I say to you 'Nothing is amiss'. When I saw him last, He greeted me as he always has- with the Benevolence and the Goodness that is Him. He confided in me his love for his creations and bid me to drink in joyous ceremony. Then, in His benevolence, he praised me with these leaflets covered in the Glory of the Written Word. Tell me, my brothers, does this not sound like your God as you have loved him? Does this not sound of a Father who is All and need not worry? Have you not basked in his Glory and know that He is happy and triumphant in His Word?"

"Clearly," said Mark, "this is why fools must have an education toward the divine. Truly, Gabrielle, you are sure in His word and your faith is true, otherwise He would not council you so. I pray that our faith is strong in that we have come to you to dissolve our concerns."

"Gabrielle, please excuse our foolishness and intrusive manner. Perhaps we are older than old men let themselves believe, for putting such trickery into ourselves."

"Not so, David. We are all His flock, to look back from time to time to assure our direction. Because he will not point you all the time, consider yourself in His study, to see which direction you will go. I think you have not strayed, only wandered a bit."

David bowed and stepped back, followed by Mark.

"And you, Peter? Are you solaced in my words?"

"Of course, lest I be more a fool," said Peter and acquiesced by nodding and turning to usher the others away.

But Gabrielle could see that he was not convinced and he turned and strode away quickly in the other direction, his long white gown flowing like troubles behind him.

"Peter did not believe me, I think. His love for you is overflowing so much that your burden affects him lovingly."

There was an instant of silence before a sound that Gabrielle found sweet on his tongue and joyous in his ear. It was sensual to him. It was the voice of God.

"Peter is much like Lucifer, who I cast out. He is loving perhaps more than any of my disciples, yet individualistic in his concerns. He is both a treat and a thorn. Such love can be spurned. But I will speak of this later to you. Peter may prove of great use in what you must do. Have you sent my letter?"