The Bread
It was a very windy day and I, a kitten just a few days old, hid in a carpentry shop. I found comfort among the sawdust. The next day a man opened the door and I ran out of the place in fear. But a smell attracted me. The smell of bread in the oven.
“A good smell,” I thought and went into a simple kitchen next to the carpentry shop. There was a lady setting the table. She was singing one of David’s psalms. It was so beautiful that I wanted to sing along: “Meow…Meow!”
“Hello! Are you hungry?” I should have run away, but I wanted to get closer to her. “Here, have a piece.” “I was so hungry I can’t even remember the taste.” Soon a young man arrived.
“Good morning! Mommy! Who is this?”
“He showed up here today. Judging by his size, he must be a newborn.”
“Come here!” He patted the floor so I would sit next to him. I did. “What’s your name?”
"Meow!"
"I think that means Theo. Welcome, Theo" The lady gave me some pieces of meat. Delicious. I was strong and healthy. The boy took me to the carpentry shop. " Good morning, Dad! I found a new helper."
"Good morning, Jesus! This kitten slept in the sawdust. We can make a bed for him until Mr. Jacob arrives."
I lived with them all my childhood. The mister passed away. Jesus turned 30 and said to his mother:
"It's time to go meet cousin John and his followers."
"I'm going to prepare something for the trip."
"Mom, it's not just a trip."
"I'll endure it. God is with me." I put my paws on the table and looked at them; it seemed like a farewell. "Jesus, I think someone wants to go with you." He patted me.
"Of course! Theo is going with me."
Days Later…
We were on the banks of the Jordan River. I wanted to go in and catch a fish. While Jesus was talking to a young man who seemed to be his age, I went fishing. I found a fish the size of my hunger. I was already eating. When the sky opened up, a very white and bright dove appeared. It was hard to look at it with your eyes, it was so bright. And a very loud voice spoke:
“It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."” (Mk 1, 9-11)*
After this episode, we went to the desert:
"Theo, you can hunt and fish if you want." At that moment I didn’t understand the message. But after a few days I realized that Jesus wasn’t eating. I hunted doves and rats. And Jesus ate nothing. Then a very grown man appeared. He had a dry and sad look. It was the Devil. He talked to Jesus for a long time and then left.
"Theo, shall we eat with John?"
"Meow." We went back to the riverbank and there was grilled fish. John gave me a generous piece.
"Jesus, what have you eaten these days?"
"Nothing. But Theo ate for me." They both laughed.
"I bet he found a lot of rats."
"Yes."
"Are you ready for what is coming?"
"I have prepared myself for this for all eternity. But if I forget God for a second. Everything could fall apart."
"We will not forget Him or His word. But my disciples who will soon be yours. They may forget."
"And are you prepared for what is coming?"
"Not completely, I pray every day that it does not hurt." Two strange men approach:
"Good evening!"
Epilogue by Joseph:
When I saw that scared kitten running away from my carpentry shop, I knew he would come back. He was very small and seemed hungry. In Egypt, we saw so many cats that were sacred animals. When Jesus named him Theo, it reminded me a lot of the time I was in Egypt. But I started calling the kitten Theophilus, which means friend of God. Wherever Jesus goes, he follows. When we went to the synagogue or the temple, he would stay outside, quiet, but seeming to understand what was going on inside. No matter how much of a hunter he was, he would calmly pass by the turtledoves sold in the Temple. But during the caravan, there was not a turtledove or mouse that he saw that he didn’t attack. He always freed the chicks. Which leads me to believe that before he got home, he suffered a lot.
Now I am in my last days, but I know that the kitten will be a companion to Jesus and Mary. But neither I nor the kitten will be able to protect them from what is to come. I wanted to be with them, I wanted to sacrifice myself in Jesus' place. But God will not allow me to do so. I know that God is with them. And I hope to go to God just like Moses and Elijah.
May you draw even closer to Jesus through Theophilus' eyes.
*Copied from: <https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PW3.HTM>. Accessed on 3/6/2025.





