The wise queen

Lc 14, 25-33

Author Cecília Pellegrini

The Kingdom of Wisdom is governed by the kind Queen Wisdom.

One day she was in the throne room with her little daughter, when the Light Messenger walks in very distressed and panting and bows before her "Your Highness, Your Highness!”

The Queen asks the messenger to tell the news.

He says he has bad news.

The Queen tries to reassure him "Take it easy, my good man. You are very tired.”

Then she calls the Dedicated Maid, who comes immediately "Did you call me, Majesty?"

The Queen says, "Yes, bring water to the Light Messenger."

The Maid runs to get it, quenches his thirst and stands still beside the Queen, to attend to her promptly.

The now reestablished Messenger gives the news "Thank you for caring for me, Your Highness, but there is an army marching toward our Kingdom.” The Queen notices the seriousness of the news and calls for help - Chief of the Royal Guard!

The Chief arrives at once, "Yes, Your Highness.”

The Queen describes the situation - The Light Messenger has brought the news that we are about to be attacked.

The Queen's daughter, afraid, asks, "Are they going to hurt us, Mother?"

The Queen caresses and reassures her "Take it easy, my child.”

The head of the Royal Guard deduces that it can only be King Rich Richard's army, for he says that for years he has coveted the treasures of the Wisdom’s castle.

The Maid comments that they say that he has built an entire city just to keep the riches he takes around the world.

The Chief corrects her - No, steal. He does anything to achieve his goal. Moreover, that includes killing...

The messenger confirms, "It is King Rich Richard himself. Now I'll get more information.”

He excuses himself and hurries out.

The Queen asks the Dedicated Maid to call the Wise Sage, for him to help her think of some idea to fight King Richard's army.

After the Maid came out the Queen started to walk around while saying, “We need to plan...”

The Chief of the Guard walked after her and repeated, "We must plan…"

The Queen, still walking, said, “Plan our steps very well.”

The Chief, always behind her repeated "Yeah, planning our steps very well.”

Thankfully, the Sage arrived, for the floor of the throne room could be damaged by so many comings and goings.

On their way the Maid told the tragedy and when the Sage arrived he was very apprehensive - Your Majesty, the Dedicated Maid told me everything.

The Queen confirms, "Yes, yes. The worst part is that I have no idea in my head. What can we do, my Wise Sage?”

The frightened daughter asks again - Are they going to hurt us, mom?

The Wise man answers, "Do not worry, Little Princess, I have everything here, in my head.”

The Queen orders, "Then tell me, tell me, please."

The Sage explains his plan "Let's build a wall around the Castle.” The Maid claps enthusiastically.

The Chief of the Royal Guard is also satisfied "Very well, you are a genius." Come on, let's get started.

They are leaving, but the Queen calls them back - Wait, first we must calculate what will be necessary. I am going to consult my people.

She goes to the balcony of the throne room and asks her people - Dear people, what do we need to build a wall?

The subjects, who love their Queen, helped her by saying all that is necessary, which were bricks, sand, cement, masons, etc.

The Queen then says to the Wise Sage "The people are saying that we will need three hundred thousand bricks. Do we have it all here in the Kingdom?

The Wise man answers, "No, we have only five thousand.”

Before the perplexity of all, the Queen concludes – “Five thousand? Then we will only have enough the foundations and we will not be able to finish.”

The Maid manifests herself with awe "No wonder your Majesty's name is Wisdom. You know everything!”

The jealous Sage says, "Hey, hey, the Wise man here is me. But, look at majesty the important thing is to begin construction, to show the people that we are doing something.”

The Queen disagrees "None of this, the most important thing is to protect the people and if you cannot finish the wall, it is not worth starting. And there's more, even if you could build it, it would not fit all the Kingdom people here at the castle.”

The Chief, for his part, believes he has the solution to the lack of space – “But that is easy to solve. We would choose to keep inside the wall only the strongest, richest and healthier.

The worried Maid wants to know – “What about the rest of us? I'm not strong, I'm not rich and I'm sick.”

The Chief replied, "The rest would fight with the army.”

The Queen is shocked. “Do not say such evils. Do not worry Dedicated Maid, I will find a solution.”

The messenger runs into the room “Majesty King Richards’ army has 20,000 heavily armed men.”

The Queen asks, "Are they close?"

The messenger replies, "No, they're still five days away.

The even more nervous daughter asks, "Are they going to hurt us?"

The Wise man panics – “What are we going to do, what are we going to do?”

The Chief asks," Well, what are we going to do? The Wise man is you. “

The Queen seeks to keep herself in control – “Before making such an important decision, think and reflect.”

Everyone agrees that it is necessary to think and reflect!

The Queen completes – “Yes, because after the decision there will be consequences that we have to bear.”

All agree that there will be consequences to bear.

The Queen starts walking back and forth and everyone is walking behind her, always repeating her lines – “Let's think, let's think...”

Suddenly, the Queen has an idea and orders the messenger "You will take a message from me to King Rich Richard."

The Chief asks, "Will you write to this villain?"

The Queen justifies her decision "Yes, it’s necessary to save my people; I do not want any evil happen to the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Wisdom. King Richard has 20,000 soldiers and we have only 10,000. We will never be able to win. I want you to convey the message that we are willing to negotiate the peace conditions."

The indignant Chief repeats:" Not at all, no way."

The Maid praises her majesty "What a beautiful decision, Queen Wise. You will save the people.”

The Chief retorts, "On the other hand, it will show that we are a bunch of weaklings."

The Queen explains "How weak, we are of Peace! Remember if I do not negotiate the peace conditions, everyone will suffer: adults, children, everyone. It is better to give him all our riches.”

The Princess fears losing her possessions "But we will lose our treasure, Mother."

The Queen then gives her a true lesson "Our life is the most precious possession we have. Our only true treasure.”

The Sage agrees, "Yes, you are right, and in doing so you will give the people the chance to stay alive."

The Queen says with determination, "I promise I will try to talk to King Rich Richard and do my best to all.”

The Chief of the Guard, after pondering, says, "Queen Wise, I'm sorry I was such a fool. You have made the wisest decision.”

The Queen ends by saying, "Sometimes you have to backtrack to continue. I will seek to establish peace and preserve life. I will write the message right now. Let’s go, Messenger!”

Therefore, it happened, the King took all the riches of the Castle and departed. Queen Wisdom and all the people of the Kingdom of Wisdom have united even more and with much effort, union and work lived happily forever.