The apostles of Holden

Holden Caulfield hated the twelve apostles because, according to him, all they did was disappoint Jesus. In a way, he was right, but the chosen ones can't be blamed too much either, as the prophet never seemed to be happy. He was never satisfied with anything. I think the only joyful moment in the stories is when he sees some kids playing, and even then, he takes the opportunity to sermonize a bit.

The truth is, in the Gospels, the Son of Man spends half his time healing and the other half complaining and suffering. They even imply that no one does anything right in this life; we've ruined everything, and the only way to save ourselves is to repent.

Without being fatalistic, I think my favorite character is the good thief. He appears right at the end and gives a rounded sense to the whole religion. He even seems to embrace death with a smile as he got away with it twice. He's the only mortal of whom there is certainty that he is in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Last night, in a dream, I realized I wasn't any thief. In his final breath of life, with a catharsis of loneliness, Jesus imagined his cousin John the Baptist beside him.

On the other cross, the rest of us live.