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Religions and beliefs

Page 8 of 39

Reading comfort

GRM 67.2-3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

57.2 Two men are quarrelling in earnest because the donkey of one of them has helped itself from the beautiful basket of lettuce of the other donkey and has eaten quite a lot of it! Perhaps it is only a pretext to give vent to old ill-feelings. In fact from under their short tunics, which reach down to their calves, they pull out two short large knives, as broad as a hand: they look like short pointed daggers and they glint in the sun. Screams of women and shouts of men are heard everywhere. But no one tries to separate the men who are ready for a rustic duel.
Jesus, Who was walking, thoughtful, raises His head, He sees the fight and rushes between the two: «Stop, in the name of God!» He orders.
«No, I want to fix this cursed dog once and for all!»
«And so do I! You are fond of fringes? I’ll make a fringe for you with your bowels!»
The two move fast around Jesus, pushing Him, insulting Him to get rid of Him, endeavouring to strike each other, but without success, because Jesus, moving His mantle carefully, wards off the blows and interferes with their aim. He gets His mantle torn.
People shout: «Come away, Nazarene. You’ll be the loser». But He does not move and endeavours to calm them, reminding them of God. In vain! The two rivals are mad with rage!
The power of miracle can be seen radiating from Jesus. For the last time He shouts: «I order you to stop it!»
«No! Get out of the way. Go your way, dog of a Nazarene!» Jesus then stretches out His hands, with His powerful bright look. He does not say one word. But the blades fall in pieces to the ground, as if they were made of glass and had clashed against a rock.
The two men look at the short, useless handles, left in their hands. Astonishment deadens wrath. And the astonished crowd shout.
67.3
«And now?» asks Jesus, severely. «Where is your strength?» Also the soldiers on duty at the gate, who rushed out at the latest shouts, stare surprised and one bends down to pick up the fragments of the blades and test them on his nails, not believing they were made of steel.
«And now?» repeats Jesus. «Where is your strength? On what did you base your right? On those bits of metal now lying in the dust? On those splinters of metal which had no other strength but to induce you to a sin of wrath against a brother, thus depriving you of all the blessings of God and consequently of all strength? Oh! how miserable are those who rely on human means to win, and who do not realise that holiness and not violence will make us winners both on the earth and beyond it! Because God is with the just.
Listen, people of Israel, and you, soldiers of Rome. The Word of God speaks to all the sons of man, and the Son of man will not reject the Gentiles.
The second commandment of the Lord is a commandment of love for our neighbours. God is good and wants goodwill in His children. He who is not kindly disposed towards his neighbour cannot consider himself a son of God neither can he have God in himself. Man is not an animal without reason, that attacks and its prey. Man has reason and a soul. With his reason he must behave as a man. With his soul he must behave as a saint. He who behaves differently, lowers himself below animals; he stoops down to embrace demons because a soul becomes wicked with the sin of wrath.
Love. I say nothing else. Love your neighbour as the Lord God of Israel prescribes. Do not always be of Cain’s blood. And why are you so? For the sake of a few coins, you who might have become murderers. For a few palms of land. For a better position. For a woman. What are such things? Are they eternal? No. They last less than a lifetime, which lasts an instant of eternity. And what do you lose if you follow them? The eternal peace promised to the just, and which the Messiah will bring you together with His Kingdom. Come on to the way of Truth. Follow the Voice of God. Love one another. Be honest. Be moderate. Be humble and fair. Go and meditate.»

Detail

Jesus intervenes in the quarrel of two men who wish each other harm. Soldiers from Rome witness the miracle of the broken blade.

Keywords

Romans

GRM 67.3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

The Word of God speaks to all the sons of man, and the Son of man will not reject the Gentiles.

Keywords

GRM 68

The Gospel as revealed to me

Translation in progress

Keywords

GRM 68.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

68.1 I see Jesus entering the enclosure of the Temple with Judas beside Him. After going through the first terrace, He stops in a porch on the side of a wide yard, paved with multicoloured marble. The place is beautiful and crowded.

Keywords

Places - Jerusalem Temple

GRM 68.1-3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

68.1 I see Jesus entering the enclosure of the Temple with Judas beside Him. After going through the first terrace, He stops in a porch on the side of a wide yard, paved with multicoloured marble. The place is beautiful and crowded.
Jesus looks around and sees a spot He likes. But before turning His steps to it, He says to Judas: «Call the official of the place for Me. I must make Myself known, so that no one may say I break the custom and lack in respect.»
«Master, You are above the custom and no one more than You is entitled to speak in the House of God, since You are His Messiah.»
«I know, you know, but they do not know. I have not come to scandalise or to teach people to break not only the Law, but also the custom. On the contrary, I have come to teach respect, humbleness and obedience and to remove scandals. I therefore want to ask to be allowed to speak in God’s name, making the official of the place acknowledge Me as being worthy.»
«You did not do that the last time.»
«The last time I was inflamed by the zeal for the House of God, desecrated by too many things. The last time I was the Son of the Father, the Heir Who, in the name of the Father and for the love of My House, acted in His majesty, which is above officials and priests. Now I am the Master of Israel, and I teach Israel also that. After all, Judas, do you think that a disciple is greater than His Master?»
«No, Jesus.»
«And who are you? And who am I?»
«You are the Master, I the disciple.»
«Well then, if you admit that, why do you want to teach your Master? Go and obey. I obey My Father, you must obey your Master. The first condition of the Son of God: to obey without discussing orders, knowing that the Father can give but holy orders. The first condition of a disciple: to obey his Master, knowing that the Master knows and can give but just orders.»
«It is true. Forgive me. I will obey.»
«I forgive you. Go. And, Judas, listen to one more thing: remember that. Always bear that in mind in future.»
«To obey? Yes, I will.»
«No: remember that I was respectful and humble to the Temple. To the Temple: that is, to the mighty castes; go.»
Judas looks at Him, wistfully and inquisitively… but he dare not ask further questions. And he goes away thoughtfully.
68.2
… He comes back with a sumptuously dressed personage. «Here, Master, the official.»
«Peace be with you. I ask to teach Israel, amongst the rabbis of Israel.»
«Are You a rabbi?»
«Yes, I am.»
«Who was Your teacher?»
«The Spirit of God Who speaks to Me in His wisdom and enlightens every word of the Holy Scriptures for Me.»
«Are You greater than Hillel, since You say You know all doctrines, without a teacher? How can one be formed if there is no one forming him?»
«As David was formed, an unknown little shepherd, who became a powerful and wise king by God’s will.»
«Your Name?»
«Jesus of Joseph of Jacob of the House of David, and of Mary of Joachim of the House of David and of Anne of Aaron. Mary, the Virgin married in the Temple by the High Priest, according to the law of Israel, because She was an orphan.»
«Who can prove that?»
«There must still be some Levites here who will remember the event and who were the same age as Zacharias of the class of Abijah, My relative. Ask them, if you doubt My sincerity.»
«I believe You. But who will prove to me that You are capable of teaching?»
«Listen to Me and you will judge for yourself.»
«You are free to do it… But… are You not a Nazarene?»
«I was born at Bethlehem of Judah, at the time of the census decreed by Caesar. Banished by unfair orders, the children of David are now everywhere. But the family is of Judah.»
«You know… the Pharisees… all Judaea… throughout Galilee…»
«I know. But be reassured. I was born at Bethlehem, at Bethlehem Ephrathah, whence My family comes; if now I live in Galilee, it is only to fulfil the given sign…»
The official goes away a few yards, hastening to where they call him.
68.3
Judas asks: «Why did You not say that You are the Messiah?»
«My words will say so.»
«Which is the sign to be fulfilled?»
«The union of Israel under the teaching of the word of Christ. I am the Shepherd of Whom the Prophets speak and I have come to gather all the sheep of every region, I have come to cure the sick ones and put the wandering ones on a good pasture. There is no Judaea or Galilee, no Decapolis or Idumaea for Me. There is only one thing: the Love that sees with one glance only and joins in one embrace only in order to save…» Jesus is inspired. Rays of light seem to be emanating from Him, so happily He smiles at his dream. Judas, amazed, stares at Him.

Keywords

GRM 68.2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Here, Master, the official.»
«Peace be with you. I ask to teach Israel, amongst the rabbis of Israel.»
«Are You a rabbi?»
«Yes, I am.»
«Who was Your teacher?»
«The Spirit of God Who speaks to Me in His wisdom and enlightens every word of the Holy Scriptures for Me.»
«Are You greater than Hillel, since You say You know all doctrines, without a teacher? How can one be formed if there is no one forming him?»
«As David was formed, an unknown little shepherd, who became a powerful and wise king by God’s will.»
«Your Name?»
«Jesus of Joseph of Jacob of the House of David, and of Mary of Joachim of the House of David and of Anne of Aaron. Mary, the Virgin married in the Temple by the High Priest, according to the law of Israel, because She was an orphan.»
«Who can prove that?»
«There must still be some Levites here who will remember the event and who were the same age as Zacharias of the class of Abijah, My relative. Ask them, if you doubt My sincerity.»
«I believe You. But who will prove to me that You are capable of teaching?»
«Listen to Me and you will judge for yourself.»
«You are free to do it… But… are You not a Nazarene?»
«I was born at Bethlehem of Judah, at the time of the census decreed by Caesar. Banished by unfair orders, the children of David are now everywhere. But the family is of Judah.»
«You know… the Pharisees… all Judaea… throughout Galilee…»
«I know. But be reassured. I was born at Bethlehem, at Bethlehem Ephrathah, whence My family comes; if now I live in Galilee, it is only to fulfil the given sign…»
The official goes away a few yards, hastening to where they call him.

Keywords

Pharisees

GRM 68.2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Your Name?»
«Jesus of Joseph of Jacob of the House of David, and of Mary of Joachim of the House of David and of Anne of Aaron. Mary, the Virgin married in the Temple by the High Priest, according to the law of Israel, because She was an orphan.»

Keywords

GRM 69

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus leaves the Temple with Judas. Judas wants to go with him, but Jesus tells him that he needs to pray with the Father. He affirms that the spirit must always take precedence over the flesh, and that the flesh must almost be killed in favor of supernatural life. Judas then asks how we can be unconcerned about the flesh, and evokes the commandment "Thou shalt not kill". Jesus replies that we must eat with continence, without poisoning ourselves or overeating, as this flatters the taste. He then returned to the subject of suicide, and spoke about it at length. Christ declares that he who commits suicide sins through pride. Judas points out that people commit suicide out of despair, but Jesus says that despair is nothing other than pride: for we believe that we have no help anywhere, not even from God, who is a Father and can reach out to us. Judas points out that all those who committed suicide in Scripture before his coming sinned, but the Master declares that they will have been able to receive God's Mercy, even if it is never permitted to do violence, to oneself or to others. After the coming of the Word, on the other hand, the sin of suicide will always be severely condemned by God's Justice if the sinner commits suicide, declaring that he is forever separated from God and cannot receive God's forgiveness. Since life is a gift from God, we must love it, and use it to gain eternity.

Judas understands Christ's thought, but finds it hard to apply. They talk about Christ's temptation, then Jesus talks about angels (pure spirits) and man, king of creation, whom Jesus has come to rehabilitate.

About to leave Jesus, Judas asks him if he can't take him somewhere other than the olive grove, to make him "better considered". But while Jesus thanks him for his consideration, he likes to stay in this humble environment. He will come for all, for the little ones as well as for the great, but will remain above all where humility is to be found. Finally, the two men part shortly afterwards.

Keywords

GRM 70.3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

70.3 They go out into the olive-grove. But before going out, John takes something out of the knapsack in the corner. They walk for a little while and they reach a brow from which the whole of Jerusalem can be seen.
«Let us sit down here and talk a little» says Jesus.
But John prefers to sit at Jesus’ feet on the short grass, and he rests his arm on Jesus’ knees, with his head reclined on his arm, looking now and again at Jesus. He looks like a little boy near the person dearest to him. «It is beautiful also here, Master. Look how large the town seems at night. Larger than by day.»
«It is because the moonlight shades the outlines. See: the borders seem to widen out in a silver brightness. Look at the top of the Temple, up there. Does it not look as if it were suspended in mid air.»
«It seems supported by angels on their silver wings.»
Jesus sighs.
«Why are You sighing, Master?»
«Because the angels have abandoned the Temple. Its feature of purity and holiness is now confined to its walls only. Those who should impress it into its soul — because every place has its soul, that is the spirit for which it was built, and the Temple has, or should have, a soul of prayer and holiness — those who should energise such spirit, are instead the first to suffocate it. You can not give what you do not possess, John. And if there are many priests and Levites living there, not even one tenth of them are capable of giving life to the Holy Place. They give death instead. They transmit the death of their own souls, which are dead to what is holy. They have their formulae. But they do not have the essence of them. They are corpses that are warm only because putrifaction swells them.»
«Have they done You wrong, Master?» John is all upset.
«No. On the contrary they allowed Me to speak when I asked to.»
«Did You ask them? Why?»
«Because I do not want to be the one who starts war. There will be war in any case. Because I shall be the cause of a silly human fear for some, and the cause of reproach for others. But this must be written in their book, not in Mine.»

Detail

Jesus is with John, in the olive grove of Gethsemane. They see the whole city of Jerusalem.

Keywords

GRM 71

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus speaks to Judas. They are waiting for Simon the Zealot and John of Zebedee, who are to join him. Jesus reveals that John is his first disciple, and Judas is hurt, but he says nothing to the Master. The Master, who knows the heart, asks the Iscariot why he doesn't tell him what he thinks. Then he asks him if his father loved him, and Judas speaks of his sire with emotion. The Lord then assures him that, if his father raised him as Judas tells him, he was certainly a righteous man, and that he will rejoice to know him a disciple of the Messiah. But Judas must see in Jesus the father he had lost, and hide nothing from him. Judas declares that he will become good if Christ loves him that much. He confesses that he was hurt not to have been the first disciple, but Jesus assures him that He makes no difference in His heart between the first and the last.

Simon and John arrive in the meantime. The former leper greets his Savior with a shout of joy, and Jesus blesses him for the evangelistic work he has already accomplished. Simon takes the opportunity to mention Lazarus, and Jesus promises to visit him. Then the introductions between the disciples take place. Jesus sends John with Judas, and he asks Simon to be lenient with this man, whom Simon-Peter and others will not appreciate. Simon agrees, and with these words they go off to evangelize the people at the Temple.