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Simon the adulterer from Capernaum (son of Isaac)

Reading comfort

Aa

GRM 96

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus preaches in Bethsaida, accompanied by the inhabitants of Capernaum. He tells them that the powerful will do everything in their power to accuse Christ and turn them away from the Messiah. Then he tells them about the Belle of Chorazeïn, whom he healed, and affirms that he will go out to sinners again, for he is the Savior. He also insists that the women of Bethsa¨ide forgive his adulteries and the sins she has committed in the past. He doesn't want them to be tigresses, but gentle sheep. He talks for a moment about the Belle's deep repentance, then about baptism and the hypocrisy of some.

With the subject closed, Jesus talks about the co-redeemers and the fact that the angels themselves cannot suffer. He emphasizes that it is a glorious destiny to suffer, and that men surpass angels in this. Finally, he insists on purity, particularly of the eyes (the eye is the lamp of the body). Then he talks about marriage, and chastity and virginity in the couple, too. The speech ends there. He goes off to eat at Philip's house, and Matthew listens quietly.

GRM 163.1-6

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus goes to Elijah, who has invited him to a banquet. Four other Pharisees are present: Uriah, Joachim, Simon and Samuel. On Christ's side, Judas accompanies him. The others did not come, and when Elijah notices, he worries that they may have been offended by his past behavior. But Jesus assures him that his disciples hold no grudges, nor are they proudly sensitive.

The Lord says a few words to Elisha, and then everyone settles down to eat. They start talking about the Roman vexations and the taxes imposed on the Pharisees. They take offense and ask Jesus for his opinion. He replies that as a Jew, he takes offense at the Roman incursions into the places of prayer, but as a man, he does not. He explains his thinking, pointing out that his interlocutors do business in the synagogues so that they can hide money from the tax authorities, safe from prying ears, and that this is why the Romans enter places of worship. He, on the other hand, is poor and doesn't have to worry about that, but he encourages his interlocutors to be honest, to tell the truth, about their wealth.

The conversation then turns to the restoration of the Kingdom of Israel, and Jesus quotes the Old Testament, when Saul offered the offering without Samuel, against the Lord's orders. Saul did not remain king. Likewise, God knows his time, and Jesus speaks very clearly of his Kingdom, which will be universal and will not be established by rebellion.

Finally, the Messiah encourages Elijah to come with him to give the obolus to the poor, but Elijah refuses, claiming that he is old and tired. He tells him to go with Judas, whom they know well, and once outside, the Iscariot leaps up in anger. Jesus calms him down and advises him to leave all judgment to God.