Places - Capharnaüm

Maria sees John of Zebedee. He sees the Master and calls out to him. The two men talk. Jesus was praying and thinking about what he was going to say to the synagogue, but seeing spiritually that John was looking for him, he went to meet him. The son of Zebedee asks him if Jesus loves him, and Christ returns the question. John then reveals that he loves him very much, that his soul, according to him, had always been looking for him. When the Savior asks him what he will do if he has to leave his father, mother, brothers and sisters, as well as life, wife and love, John replies that Christ's love will take the place of father, mother, brothers, sister and wife. When Jesus speaks of his death, John doesn't want that to happen at all, and asks him for permission to love his Lord. Jesus grants it. James' brother is happy.

They then talk about Andrew and Peter, and Jesus heads for the synagogue. On the way, he comforts the child James, who is about to cry because he ran too fast. They talk briefly about the children of the Exodus and Limbo, and the boy is promised that he will go straight to Heaven when he dies, if he is good. This gives John the opportunity to ask the Master about his parentage. He confirms that he has no nephews, brothers or sisters, only cousins and his Mother. Finally, Jesus goes to preach in the synagogue.

He reads from the Book of Jeremiah, addressing the people of Israel who are weeping because of foreign occupation. Some say they still have the Temple, but the Lord reminds them that prayer is only holy if we have love for our neighbor. The rich who make great offerings, but are hard-hearted, are not accepted by God. So Christ urges them to be of good will, to be sincere and kind. He reminds us that the Law is simple, if we give the Commandments the light of love. After alluding to the Eucharist, he encourages souls to love.

Having finished his speech, he returns to Peter and Andrew. Jesus states Peter's character: he is a man who should refrain from judging without first informing himself, but he sincerely acknowledges his wrongs. The Master also asks Andrew why he didn't come earlier, and Peter confesses that it was he who held him back. The fisherman also confesses his weaknesses, and Jesus already gives him some initial advice. For the moment, God is not asking him to tear out his heart and separate himself from his most holy affections, but he is asking him to practice justice, love mercy, and apply himself totally to following his God. This pleases Peter. Andrew says nothing, but the Lord promises that he will become a lion. The Galileans leave him, but John wants to follow him to Jerusalem. Simon of Jonah encourages him to go and see Christ, and Jesus agrees to let John accompany him.

Jesus ends with a dictation on John's humility. He is the one who brings Peter to the Savior, but since the son of thunder knew Andrew's shyness, and John was just, Andrew fades into the background of his Gospel and lets people believe that Andrew is the Lord's first apostle.

How many, by comparison, proclaim themselves to be great apostles when their success comes from a combination of things, not only holiness, but also human audacity, luck, the fact that some people are less bold than we are, but perhaps holier than we are.

Christ encourages us not to glorify ourselves when we act well: we must always have a clear eye and "give to whom it may concern the praise that is due to him". We need to recognize the apostles through whom we can do our work effectively. We must be able to say: "I am the active instrument, but this one has more love than I do, prays better than I do, and it's thanks to him that I have the strength to act.

John is the favorite, he is the pure, the loving, the obedient, and he is very humble. Jesus mirrored himself in him, and his Mother felt as if she had a second son.

Jesus leaves Capernaum and goes to Bethsaida. Peter welcomes him and invites him to stay in his house. Christ accepts, and Simon de Jonas is delighted. Jesus retires to pray, and later goes outside. He meets a few children, including one who doesn't want to play at war. Jesus supports his point of view, explaining that war is God's punishment. When the kids point out that the kid refuses because he always loses, Jesus smiles and declares that we shouldn't refuse something when it harms us: that's selfishness. You should refuse something when it harms everyone, even if you're sure you'll win. The conversation continues, and Jesus speaks to them for a moment about the Last Judgment and the approaching Redemption, drawing on the book of Nehemiah. The children recognize that he is the Messiah, and he promises to take them with him if they are good and obedient to their parents.

Philip comes to him and Jesus invites him to follow. The apostle accepts, and Jesus tells him about Nathanael. The old man goes to fetch Bartholomew, and everything goes according to the Gospel.

Jesus then goes to Bethsaida to preach. The Savior comes to reiterate the law of the Decalogue, which was simple in the beginning. Nothing else is needed, and the Messiah enjoins us above all to love. He even encourages us to love our enemies.

When the sermon is over, Jesus says he's going to Jerusalem. Peter is torn, but decides to follow the Master. James of Zebedee, Andrew, Philip and Nathanael embark. Jesus accepts them, and the group prays together. Christ then sends them away, explaining that he will continue to pray during this time. The Son of Man needs prayer to continue to be the Redeemer.

Jesus is in Capernaum: he goes fishing with Peter and Andrew. John and James are in the other boat.

Peter explains his work to Christ, who makes an analogy with souls. He explains that a fault is not irreparable in itself, but that the accumulation of such faults can turn into a habit and even a capital vice. We must always be vigilant to avoid falling into sin.

Simon of Jonah asks if the Father won't be too harsh on him, and Jesus assures him that he won't be too harsh on Peter, the new man. He also assures Andrew of his love, and speaks of all the disciples who will come after them, evoking the Kingdom of Heaven and the abundant catch the Savior will make. He also encourages his apostle not to be jealous, for everyone has a place in his heart. Peter is moved by his words; as for Andrew, Jesus tells him of his blessed death.

John arrives in the meantime and reveals that a blind man has come to be healed by Christ. Jesus wants to heal him right away, and in the face of Peter's thoughts of not having a good catch, he assures him of God's help whenever we are charitable.

Finally, the Lord heals the blind man. And it's a beautiful healing.

In a note to the second edition, it is written: in reality, this is the house of Peter's mother-in-law, is a correction by Maria Valtorta on a typed copy. De sa belle-mère, at the beginning of 58.8, is an addition by her hand on the same copy. Various passages in chapter 60 will mention Peter's two houses: his own in Bethsaida, and that of his mother-in-law in Capernaum.

Jesus comes to preach at the Capernaum synagogue. Jairus welcomes him and Jesus asks him for a scroll: the Spirit will guide him. So Jesus makes a commentary on the Book of Joshua and talks about the Kingdom of God, the need to sin no more, to repent, and to prepare for Heaven and the eternity to come. A man contradicts him at the end of his preaching, and sites the second book of the Maccabees. He says that God struck Israel, and Jesus replies that he is applying a human view to these words, whereas the Lord interprets them supernaturally. He says that, while God has struck down his people, he has nevertheless deeply loved Israel by sending them the salvation that is his Messiah.

The man then criticizes Christ and doubts that he is the Redeemer. In response, Jesus evokes the Forerunner and the dove that descended at his baptism: he affirms in all simplicity that he is the promised Redeemer. Since his interlocutor doubts this, he calls in a demon-possessed man to whom he has never spoken. The demon becomes agitated when he stands before the Son of God, and asserts that he is the Holy One of God. Jesus orders him to shut up and go away. The man is healed, and his interlocutor, defeated, leaves to the mockery of the crowd.

Jesus performs several physical miracles and then leaves the synagogue with difficulty.

In Capernaum, there was an olive grove belonging to a certain Micah.

Peter, Andrew, John and James of Zebedee fished with Zebedee. However, they didn't catch any fish, and Simon of Jonah was sorry. There are sick people to feed and care for. He was sorry that the Master wasn't there, but the latter had just returned. The disciples rush to Him and give Him an account of what they have done. The leader of the apostles explains that he has kept a purse given to him, for Christ to distribute, and also informs him that he has stored up some sick people to await his return. Jesus replies that he has done the right thing.

The children spread the word throughout Capernaum that their great Friend was there, and the little ones surrounded him: he promised a sermon just for them. So the Savior goes to Peter's house and preaches from there: he comments on two verses of the Song of Songs about lilies, and applies it to the children. He enjoins all men, great or poor, to be like one of these, explaining that the Son of Man finds his joy in these innocent and simple beings.

When he has finished preaching, Peter informs him that some sick people are present, but that one of them is unable to move: the Master tells him to take him through the roof, and so they do. The paralytic of the Gospel is presented to him, and everything happens as in the New Testament account. Jesus tells him that his sins are forgiven, and he responds to the Pharisees present, affirming that the Son of Man has all powers. He heals the cripple, the fussy doctors leave, and the crowd follows the miracle-worker in jubilation. A mother presents her dying toddler, and Jesus saves him. Finally, when he goes outside, he cures a man with a high fever.

Once outside, people beg Christ to give his teachings, because some haven't heard him. Jesus then goes out in Peter's boat to preach to the crowd. The vision ends there.

Jesus gives a sermon on Peter's boat, speaking of the spring harvest. He applies his lesson to souls, saying that comes the drought of Satan, the icy wind of the world, the gusts of passions, as well as disgust. In all this, vigilance and constancy are needed. Pointing to a fig tree in Peter's garden, he explains that the tree has done everything to survive and obey God's will, and that we must do the same, since we are children of the Lord.

Christ encourages us to seek Strength, Life, Light, and therefore to come to Christ, and he enjoins us to follow the Commandments, especially to love.

Having finished preaching, Jesus goes out onto the lake to fish. Peter is doubtful, but obeys. The miraculous catch takes place, and Simon of Jonah exclaims that he is a sinful man. Jesus urges him to follow. Peter abandons everything with Andrew, James and John.