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Matthew (apostle)

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Aa

GRM 35.10

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Matthew was not born after centuries. He was a contemporary of Mary. Matthew was not a poor ignorant man brought up in a forest and likely to believe any idle story. He was a clerk in the taxation office, as you would say nowadays, he was an excise man, as we said then. He could see, hear, understand, and distinguish truth from lies. Matthew did not hear things reported by third parties. He heard them directly from Mary’s lips to Whom he turned for information, prompted by his love for his Master and for the truth.

GRM 60.7

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

60.7 «Is Jesus of Nazareth here?» asks a little boy appearing at the door.

«He is here, come in.»

A boy comes in, whom I recognise as one of the boys I saw in the first visions of Capernaum, and exactly the one who tumbled down near Jesus’ feet, and promised he would be good, so he would get the honey of Paradise.

«My little friend, come here» says Jesus.

The little fellow, somewhat embarrassed because so many are looking at him, takes heart and runs to Jesus, Who embraces him and sits him on His knees, and gives him a bit of His fish on a slice of bread.

«Here, Jesus. This is for You. Also today that person said: «It is the Sabbath. Take this to the Rabbi of Nazareth and tell your friend to pray for me.» He knows that You are my friend!…» The child smiles happily, and eats his bread and fish.

«Well done, little James! You will tell that person that My prayers rise to the Father for him.»

«Is it for the poor?» asks Peter.

«Yes, it is.»

«Is it always the same offering? Let us look.»

Jesus hands over the purse. Peter empties it and counts the coins. «Still the same large sum! But who is this person? Say, boy, who is it?»

«I must not say, and I will not say!»

«You little rascal! Be good, and I will give you some fruit.»

«I will not speak, whether you insult me or caress me.»

«What a tongue he has! Just listen!»

«Little James is right, Peter. He is keeping his word: leave him alone.»

«Master, do You know who the person is?»

Jesus does not reply. He is busy with the child, to whom He gives another bit of roasted fish, after removing all the bones. But Peter insists, and Jesus is obliged to answer.

«I know everything, Simon.»

«And we are not to know?»

«And will you never be cured of your fault?» Jesus reproaches him, but smiles at the same time. And He adds: «You will soon know. Because if evil wants to be hidden and cannot always be such, good, even if it wants to be hidden, to be meritorious, will be made known one day, for the glory of God, Whose nature shines in one of His sons. The nature of God: love. And this person understands all that, because he loves his neighbours. Go, James. Take My blessing to that person.»

The vision ends in this way.

Detail

Pierre's curiosity about the purse brought by the child Jacques.

GRM 61.3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Jesus tells His disciples: «Let the poor come forward. There is a rich offer for them made by one who begs to obtain forgiveness from God.»

Detail

Jesus uses the purse given by Matthew to give them to the poor, and describes Matthew as "a person who commends himself to them to obtain God's forgiveness".

GRM 70.6

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Master, You mentioned Simon Peter. And that reminded me of something I should have told You immediately, but the joy of listening to You made me forget about it. When we went back to Capernaum after Pentecost, we found the usual amount of money from that unknown person. The boy had taken it to my mother. I gave it to Peter, and he handed it back to me, saying I should use some of it on my way back and in my stay at Doco and I should bring You the rest, for whatever need of Yours… because also Peter thought this place might not be comfortable… but You say it is… I took only two coins for two poor people I met near Ephraim. For the rest, I lived with what my mother had given me and what I was given by some good people to whom I preached Your Name. Here is the purse.»

«We will give the money to the poor tomorrow. So Judas also will be acquainted with our custom.»

«Has Your cousin come? How was he so quick? He was at Nazareth and he did not tell me he was leaving…»

«No. Judas is the new disciple. He comes from Kerioth. But you saw him at Passover, here, the evening I cured Simon. He was with Thomas.»

«Ah! It’s him?» John is a little perplexed.

«Yes, it is he.»

GRM 95

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

James of Alphaeus joins Jesus in Capernaum, along with his brother Jude. He explains that the whole family is against them, and when he learned that God had to be put above his father, he made the decision to go and find the Holy One of God. The cousins have believed from the start that he is the Messiah. Jesus welcomes him. He suffers Alphaeus' rejection, but spiritually, as the Word of God, he rejoices in this decision.

Now they have to give the tax to Matthew. Peter speaks ill of him, and it's Jesus who introduces himself to the future disciple. They have a brief exchange. Then Christ makes a speech about money and repentance.

When he has finished, he is told that Mary of Alphaeus is present. She is devastated for her Alpheus, who rejects God. She asks him for a miracle, but the Lord won't grant it, because it's not good to do so. But he does promise eternal salvation for her Alpheus, and gives words of encouragement to her aunt.

GRM 97

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

In Capernaum, little Jeanne and Tobie are fighting over figs. The older brother has unintentionally dropped a stick on his sister, hurting her. Jesus reconciles them and picks figs for them. Then he rejoins the apostles. Peter, always true to form, grumbles because Elijah from Capernaum has passed by and has always been so unpleasant. But Jesus assures them that he will try to make peace with them by being respectful.

They arrive at the square in Capernaum and Jesus calls Matthew to follow him. The disciples are stunned, Matthew's welcome is mixed, Judas is icy. They go to the house of the publican, who wants to throw a big party for his conversion. When he leaves, Judas reproaches him and Peter tells him the truth. Jesus is stern and tells them to behave when Matthew and his friends return.

The meal is over. Three Pharisees - Elijah, Simon and Uriah - ask to enter, which Jesus allows, lest their malice exaggerate what is going on. The Pharisees are obviously contemptuous, despite Jesus' words, and leave. But Jesus says to let it be, and that their good conscience justifies them.