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Market day in Capernaum and Hannah and Miriam are on their way
home.
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| HANNAH: | Hot day at the markets, Miriam!
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| MIRIAM: | Yes, Hannah. Ezzai's fish were smelling none too fresh!
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| HANNAH: | Something in the vegetable stalls was definitely off!
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| MIRIAM: | We'll just have to go home and do the old miracle again,
won't we?
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| HANNAH: | How do you mean, Miriam?
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| MIRIAM: | We've got to make something out of nothing, don't we?
Our menfolk will expect to be fed just the same, Hannah - food
or no food!
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| HANNAH: | And we have to strike the best bargain we can - money
or no money! I've heard you talk about "doing the old miracle"
before. It somehow reminds me of something...
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| MIRIAM: | Just a saying! Comes from Grandma, I think. She lived
in really hard times!
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| HANNAH: | Your family has a fascinating history, Miriam. But it
wasn't that! Your mention of "miracle" stirred another
memory...
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| MIRIAM: | Not about that Teacher, Jesus, who was here a few weeks
back?
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| HANNAH: | Thanks! Yes! That's right! Jesus! Thanks! I'd forgotten
the name.
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| MIRIAM: | But not the man, surely - nor his teaching - nor his miracles...
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| HANNAH: | Nor his miracles!
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| MIRIAM: | Crowds are following to hear every word he says.
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| HANNAH: | And bringing their sick for him to heal.
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| MIRIAM: | Jacob my husband wants to go to the mountain near Hattin
to hear him. It seems he's heading that way!
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| HANNAH: | We need something! We all do!
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| MIRIAM: | I don't know about you, Hannah, but when the Scripture
is read in the synagogue lately I feel devastated!
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| HANNAH: | Oh?
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| MIRIAM: | I keep trying, but I'm never good enough. I'm just poor
in God's sight!
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| HANNAH: | Now, now, Miriam! You're a good woman! Stop putting yourself
down!
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| MIRIAM: | Poor, I tell you! Sometimes, Hannah, when Jacob and the
children are away, when I'm sweeping out the house, I weep over
it! Yes, I do, Hannah! I weep because I am so poor! So poor in
God's sight!
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| HANNAH: | Stop putting yourself down! Don't take it all so much
to heart! Assert yourself! Think positive!
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| MIRIAM: | I sincerely want to do right, but the Lord is holy - how
can he be merciful How can he forgive?
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| Not long afterwards Miriam and Jacob joined the crowds that were
following Jesus. Let's hear what he said in Matthew 5.1-12.
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| Reader: | Matthew 5.1-12.
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