James of Zebedee (apostle)

Only Jude and James of Alphaeus accompany Jesus in this chapter. It seems that Jesus returned with his cousins to Nazareth, while the other apostles went straight back to Capernaum. Only John, in his Gospel, mentions this miracle, in which he is said to have played a part.

Jesus is on the road from Naphtali to Giscala. His disciples tell him that Gamaliel is there, and Jesus decides to go and meet him, despite the fact that some of the apostles are unconvinced. The rabbi is surprised, but not hostile to the Lord, whom he greets very respectfully. He points out that the road is tiring, but Jesus says that if you receive him, if you listen to him, all tiredness disappears.

Gamaliel then offers to eat with him, and he chats with Christ. After talking about the Forerunner, he points out that Jesus is always wandering, and Jesus replies that this confuses those who hate him, but that the good come to him anyway. Gamaliel points out that he doesn't hate him, that his intelligence admires Jesus of Nazareth. However, his soul is weighed down by too many things, and the Savior encourages him not to wait for his last words before converting.

The two men make some progress together, coming to talk about Jesus' love for animals and the lessons he draws from Creation. Then they talk about Hillel, as they are going to pray at his tomb. Gamaliel is surprised that the Messiah should know the thoughts of this deceased rabbi, and Jesus asserts that his thoughts were not unknown to him, for he "knows nothing of the thoughts of men". He then states that he is the Word, and speaks very clearly of the Holy Trinity.

Jesus is in Capernaum. Mary Salome and Mary of Alphaeus are there, preparing the kitchen. After greeting them, the mother of James and Jude tells him that Simon, another of her sons, has come. She's delighted, but she won't be truly happy until her whole family belongs to Jesus. The Lord assures her that this will happen, and then goes to find his Mother.

On the way, he meets Simon of Alphaeus, Alphaeus, son of Sarah, Joseph of Emmaus and the shepherd Isaac. The group chats for a while, and the Savior confides that he has three new disciples in Isaac. Then they go to eat, and it's during the meal that Elijah, the Pharisee from Capernaum, arrives.

The latter has many gifts for Christ, to thank him for the miracle for his grandson. Jesus accepts, and he also hears his cousin Simon announce that he is going to follow him. But once the Pharisee has left, he goes into seclusion, and Matthew joins him to keep him company. The future evangelist notices that his Lord doesn't look happy, and he reveals that Elijah's and Simon's conversions were only human, whereas the tax collector's was complete and sincere. After this morning, Elijah will become Elijah again, and Simon will always remain inhabited by his humanity.

The Master then invites his apostle to stay close to him, and when his disciple tells him that he doesn't know how to speak and that he fears he'll never be able to speak about the Messiah, Jesus comforts him and tells him that the publican is a "poor man who, thanks to his will, becomes the man, the just man dreamt of by God."He will therefore know how to guide souls, and the Savior asks him to lean on him, and to console him, for not being understood is one of his great bitternesses.