Notes for this theme
Reading comfort
GRM 188.6 · Volume 3
I will reply to you with eternal words, because they are words of the Book, and the Book will exist as long as man exists. Believed or mocked at, employed to defend the truth or scorned at, it will always exist.
About the Bible.
GRM 188.6 · Volume 3
What more do you wish to know than the Word already tells you? What more do you wish to perform than your goodness and My power enable you to perform? Do not crave for sin, but for holiness, son.
GRM 188.7 · Volume 3
They come out of the ruins and they begin to descend the path they had walked up previously. The man blind in one eye is still there.
«Are you still here?» asks Jesus pretending that He does not notice that his face is flushed because of the many tears he has shed.
«Yes, I am still here. I will follow You if You allow me. I have something to tell you…»
«Come with Me, then. What do you want to tell Me?»
«Jesus… I find that to have the strength to speak and to work the holy magic of changing myself, of conjuring up my dead soul as the necromancer evoked Samuel for Saul, I must pronounce Your Name, which is as sweet as Your eyes, and as holy as Your voice. You have given me a new life, but it lacks form and energy, like the life of a new-born baby after a difficult birth. It still struggles in the grip of wicked old habits. Help me to come out of my death.»
«Yes, My friend.»
«I… I have realised that there is still a little humanity in my heart. I am not entirely a beast, and I can still love and be loved, forgive and be forgiven. Your love, which is forgiveness, has taught me. Is it not so?»
«Yes, My friend.»
«Then… take me with You. I was Felix! What irony! But give me a new name. That my past may be really dead. I will follow You like a stray dog, which finally finds a master. I will be Your slave, if You wish so. But do not leave me alone…»
«Yes, My friend.»
«What name will You give me?»
«A name dear to Me: John. Because you are grace granted by God.»
«Will You take me with You?»
«Yes, for the time being. Later you will follow Me with My disciples. But what about your house?»
«I have no house any longer. I will leave what I have to the poor. Just give me love and bread.»
«Come.» Jesus turns around and calls His apostles. «I thank you, My friends, and you in particular, Judas. Through you, Judas, through you all, a soul is coming to God. Here is a new disciple. He is coming with us until we can entrust him to our brother disciples. Be happy because you have found a heart and bless God with Me.»
But the Twelve do not really look very happy. But out of obedience and kindness they welcome him.
«If You do not mind I will go ahead. You will find me at the door of my house.»
«Yes, go.»
The man runs away. He seems another man.
«And now that we are by ourselves I order you, and this is an order, to be kind to him and not to mention his past to anybody. I will immediately reject anyone who should speak or be uncharitable to our redeemed brother. Is that clear? And see how good the Lord is! We came here for a human purpose and He allowed us to go away after achieving a supernatural deed. Oh! I rejoice because of the joy now in Heaven for the new convert.»
Jean d'En-Dor converts and Jesus introduces him to the Twelve, who are less than thrilled. Jesus gives special thanks here to Judas, for it was because of him that they came to this village and got to know him.
I command you to be kind to him and not to speak of his past to anyone. Judas Iscariot did just that, however, when he denounced the presence of a galley slave (John of Gold) and a runaway slave (Syntica) to the Sanhedrin. This led to their exile to Antioch in Syria. Cf. EMV 314 ff.
GRM 188.9 · Volume 3
«Here, take this. It’s the key of my house. I am going away, for good. I am grateful to you because you are my benefactor. You have given me a family. Do what you like with my property… and look after my chicken. Treat them well. A Roman comes every Sabbath and buys eggs… You will make a profit… Take care of my little hens… and may God reward you for it.»
The old man is astonished… He takes the key and stands open-mouthed.
Jesus says: «Yes, do as he told you and I will be grateful to you, too. I bless you in the name of Jesus.»
«The Nazarene! You! Mercy! I have spoken to the Lord! Women! Men! The Messiah is here!»
He screams like an eagle and people rush from everywhere.
«Bless us! Bless us!» they shout. Some shout: «Stay here!» and others: «Where are You going? At least tell us where You are going.»
«To Nain. I cannot stay.»
«We will follow You. Do You mind?»
«Come. Peace and blessing to those who remain here.»
They go towards the main road and take it.
Jean d'En-Dor leaves everything behind and gives the key to his house to an old man. The old man understands that Jesus is the Messiah.
GRM 188.10 · Volume 3
The man, who is walking near Jesus and can hardly carry his haversack, attracts Peter’s curiosity. «What have you got in there that is so heavy?» he asks.
«My clothes… and some books… My friends after and at the same time as the chicken. I could not part with them. But they are heavy.»
«Eh! Science is heavy! Of course! And who likes it, eh?»
«They prevented me from becoming mad.»
«Eh! You must be fond of them! What books are they?»
«Philosophy, history, Greek and Roman poetry…»
«Lovely, certainly lovely. But… do you think you will be able to carry them with you?»
«Perhaps I will be able to part with them. But you cannot do everything at once, can you, Messiah?»
«Call Me Master. No, you cannot. But I will let you have a place where you will be able to keep your friends, your books. They may help you to talk about God with the heathens.»
«Oh! How free Your thought is from all restrictions!»
Jesus smiles and Peter exclaims: «No wonder! He is Wisdom!»
«And Goodness, believe me. And are you learned?»
«Me? Oh! Most learned. I can tell an allice from a carp and my erudition ends there. I am a fisherman, my friend!» and Peter smiles humbly and frankly.
«You are an honest man. It is a science you learn by yourself. And a very difficult one to learn. I like you.»
«And I like you, too. Because you are sincere. Even when you accuse yourself. I forgive everything, I help everybody. But I am a ruthless enemy of false people. They make me sick.»
«You are right. A false man is a delinquent.»
«A delinquent. You are right. Say, would you mind giving me your sack for a little while? In any case, you may be sure that I will not run away with books… I think you are finding it difficult.
«Twenty years in a mine breaks your back… But why do you want to toil?»
«Because the Master has taught us to love one another like brothers. Give them to me. And take my rags. My bag is not heavy… There is no history, no poetry in it. My history, my poetry and the other thing you mentioned, is He, my Jesus, our Jesus.»
I'll find you a place to keep your friends, the books. They will be useful for discussing God with pagans. Allusion to Antioch in Syria, where John of Gold was forced into exile, but where, with Syntica's help, the future Christian community of which the Acts of the Apostles speaks was founded.
GRM 189.1 · Volume 3
Nain must have been a town of some importance in the days of Jesus. It is not a large town, but is well built, surrounded by its walls, lying on a low pleasant hill, an off shoot of the Little Hermon, commanding a very fertile plain which stretches towards the north-east.
One arrives here coming from Endor, after crossing a little river, which flows into the Jordan. But neither the Jordan nor its valley can be seen any longer, because they are concealed by hills which form an arch shaped like a question mark in the east.
Jesus follows a main road which links the lake region to the Hermon and its villages. Many inhabitants of Endor walk behind Him talking to one another animatedly.
Only a short distance separates the group of the apostles from the walls: about two hundred yards, at the most. And as the main road runs straight to one of the town gates, which is wide open because it is broad daylight, it is possible to see what is happening in the inner side of the walls. Thus Jesus, Who is speaking to the apostles and the new convert, sees a funeral coming towards them, with a great noise of weepers and similar eastern displays.
«Shall we go and see, Master?» ask many. And many of the inhabitants of Endor are already rushing to see.
«Yes, let us go» says Jesus condescendingly.
«Oh! It must be a boy. See how many flowers and ribbons there are on the stretcher» says Judas of Kerioth to John.
«Or it is probably a virgin» replies John.
«No, it is certainly a young man, because of the shades they have used. And there is no myrtle either…» says Bartholomew.
The funeral comes out from the other side of the walls. It is not possible to see what there is on the stretcher, which is carried shoulder high by the bearers. One understands that there is a corpse, wrapped in bandages and covered by a sheet, only because of its outline and that it is the body of a fully grown person, because it is as long as the stretcher.
A veiled woman is walking beside it, weeping, supported by relatives or friends. The only sincere tears in all that farce of mourners. And when a bearer trips on a stone or heap in the ground or stumbles and causes the stretcher to shake, the mother moans: «Oh! No! Be careful! My boy has suffered so much!» and she raises her trembling hand to caress the edge of the stretcher. And as she is unable to do anything else, she kisses the veils and the ribbons, which blown by a gentle breeze lightly touch the immobile corpse.
Peter, sympathetic, his good keen eyes welling up with tears whispers: «She is the mother.» But he is not the only one whose eyes are shining with tears at the sight. Also the Zealot, Andrew, John, and even the ever merry Thomas have tears in their eyes. They are all deeply moved. Judas Iscariot whispers: «If it were I! Oh! Poor mother of mine…»
The two James, Matthew, Philip and Jude are not mentioned in this passage, but they are present. They go to Naim.
- Oh, it must be a child, because you see how many flowers and ribbons are on the litter? says Judas to John.
- Or maybe it's a virgin," replies Jean.
- No, it must be a young boy, because of the colors they've used, and there are no myrtles..." says Barthélemy.
So many indications of the funeral rites in use at the time. Judas of Judea and Bartholomew of Galilee identify them similarly.
GRM 189.1-5 · Volume 3
Nain must have been a town of some importance in the days of Jesus. It is not a large town, but is well built, surrounded by its walls, lying on a low pleasant hill, an off shoot of the Little Hermon, commanding a very fertile plain which stretches towards the north-east.
One arrives here coming from Endor, after crossing a little river, which flows into the Jordan. But neither the Jordan nor its valley can be seen any longer, because they are concealed by hills which form an arch shaped like a question mark in the east.
Jesus follows a main road which links the lake region to the Hermon and its villages. Many inhabitants of Endor walk behind Him talking to one another animatedly.
Only a short distance separates the group of the apostles from the walls: about two hundred yards, at the most. And as the main road runs straight to one of the town gates, which is wide open because it is broad daylight, it is possible to see what is happening in the inner side of the walls. Thus Jesus, Who is speaking to the apostles and the new convert, sees a funeral coming towards them, with a great noise of weepers and similar eastern displays.
«Shall we go and see, Master?» ask many. And many of the inhabitants of Endor are already rushing to see.
«Yes, let us go» says Jesus condescendingly.
«Oh! It must be a boy. See how many flowers and ribbons there are on the stretcher» says Judas of Kerioth to John.
«Or it is probably a virgin» replies John.
«No, it is certainly a young man, because of the shades they have used. And there is no myrtle either…» says Bartholomew.
The funeral comes out from the other side of the walls. It is not possible to see what there is on the stretcher, which is carried shoulder high by the bearers. One understands that there is a corpse, wrapped in bandages and covered by a sheet, only because of its outline and that it is the body of a fully grown person, because it is as long as the stretcher.
A veiled woman is walking beside it, weeping, supported by relatives or friends. The only sincere tears in all that farce of mourners. And when a bearer trips on a stone or heap in the ground or stumbles and causes the stretcher to shake, the mother moans: «Oh! No! Be careful! My boy has suffered so much!» and she raises her trembling hand to caress the edge of the stretcher. And as she is unable to do anything else, she kisses the veils and the ribbons, which blown by a gentle breeze lightly touch the immobile corpse.
Peter, sympathetic, his good keen eyes welling up with tears whispers: «She is the mother.» But he is not the only one whose eyes are shining with tears at the sight. Also the Zealot, Andrew, John, and even the ever merry Thomas have tears in their eyes. They are all deeply moved. Judas Iscariot whispers: «If it were I! Oh! Poor mother of mine…»
189.2
Jesus, the kindness of Whose eyes is so deep as to be unbearable, makes His way towards the stretcher.
The mother, who is now sobbing louder because the funeral is about to turn towards the open sepulchre, pushes Him aside resolutely, when she sees that Jesus wants to touch the stretcher. I wonder what she is afraid of in her grief. She shouts: «He is mine!» and looks at Jesus with staring eyes.
«I know, mother. He is yours.»
«He is my only son! Why should he die, he was so good and dear, he was my joy, and I am a widow. Why?» The crowd of the hired mourners mourn more loudly, forming a chorus with the mother who continues: «Why he, and not I? It is not just that she who has borne a child, should see her offspring perish. The offspring must live, otherwise why was my womb torn to give birth to a man?» and she strikes her abdomen wildly and desperately.
«Do not do that! Do not weep, mother.» Jesus takes her hands clenching them firmly in His left hand, while with His right one He touches the stretcher saying to the bearers: «Stop and put the stretcher down.»
The bearers obey and lower the little bed that rests on its four legs.
Jesus takes the sheet covering the dead boy and pulls it back uncovering the corpse.
The mother shouts her grief and the name of her son, I think: «Daniel!»
Jesus, still clenching the mother’s hands in His, stands up, His eyes imposingly bright, the power of miracle shining majestically on His face, lowering His right hand, orders in the full strength of His voice: «Young man! I tell you: get up!»
189.3
The dead boy, wrapped in bandages as he is, sits up on the little bed and calls: «Mother!» He calls her with the stammering frightened voice of a terrified child.
«He is yours, woman. I give him to you in the name of God. Help him to get rid of the sudarium. And be happy.»
And Jesus makes the gesture of withdrawing. Impossible! The crowds rivet Him to the stretcher, on which the mother has thrown herself groping for the bandages, endeavouring to be quick, while the imploring childish moaning repeats: «Mother! Mother!»
The sudarium and bandages are undone and mother and son can embrace each other, and they do so without bothering about the sticky balms, which the mother removes from his dear face and hands, making use of the same bandages. As she has not clothes to put on him, she takes off her mantle and wraps him in it, caressing him all the time…
189.4
Jesus looks at her… he looks at the loving group, close together on the edge of the little bed, no longer a stretcher, and He weeps.
Judas Iscariot sees His tears and asks: «Why are You weeping, my Lord?»
Jesus turns His face towards him and says: «I am thinking of My Mother…»
The brief conversation draws the woman’s attention to her Benefactor. She takes her son by the hand, she supports him because his limbs are still somewhat numb, and kneeling down she says: «You, too, my son. Bless this Holy man Who has restored you to life and to your mother» and she bends to kiss Jesus’ tunic while the crowd sing hosannas to God and to His Messiah, Who by now is well known for what He is, because the apostles and the people of Endor have taken it upon themselves to tell Who is He Who worked the miracle. And the crowds exclaim: «Blessed be the God of Israel. Blessed be the Messiah, His Messenger! Blessed be Jesus, Son of David! A great Prophet is risen among us! God has really visited His people! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!»
189.5
At last Jesus can steal away and enter the town. The crowd follow and pursue Him, exulting in their love.
A man rushes towards Jesus and bows deeply to Him. «Please come and stay under my roof.»
«I cannot. Passover prevents Me from making any stop except those programmed.»
«In a few hours it will be sunset and this is Friday…»
«Exactly, that is why I must reach My resting place before sunset. I thank you just the same. But do not keep Me back.»
«I am the head of the synagogue.»
«So you mean that you are entitled to have Me. Man, if I had arrived here only one hour later, that woman would not have had her son restored to her. I am going where other unhappy people are waiting for Me. Do not be so selfish as to delay their joy. I will certainly come again and I will be with you in Nain for several days. Now let Me go.»
The man does not insist any more. He only says: «As You said. I will wait for You.»
«Yes. Peace to you and to the citizens of Nain. Also to you, people of Endor, peace and blessings. Go back to your homes. God has spoken to you through the miracle. Endeavour, through the power of love, to have all your hearts restored to Goodness.»
A last chorus of hosannas. Then the crowds let Jesus go and He crosses the town diagonally and goes out into the country, towards Esdraelon.
Gospel of Luke 7, 11-17
Lk 7, 11-17 : Afterwards, Jesus went to a town called Naim. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. He arrived near the town gate just as a dead man was being taken to be buried; he was an only son, and his mother was a widow. A large crowd from the city accompanied the woman. Seeing the woman, the Lord felt compassion for her and said, "Don't weep. He reached out and touched the coffin; the pallbearers stopped, and Jesus said, "Young man, I command you, rise." Then the dead man stood up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Fear seized everyone, and they gave glory to God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us, and God has visited his people." And this word about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the whole region.
GRM 189.4
Jesus looks at her… he looks at the loving group, close together on the edge of the little bed, no longer a stretcher, and He weeps.
Judas Iscariot sees His tears and asks: «Why are You weeping, my Lord?»
Jesus turns His face towards him and says: «I am thinking of My Mother…»
The brief conversation draws the woman’s attention to her Benefactor. She takes her son by the hand, she supports him because his limbs are still somewhat numb, and kneeling down she says: «You, too, my son. Bless this Holy man Who has restored you to life and to your mother» and she bends to kiss Jesus’ tunic while the crowd sing hosannas to God and to His Messiah, Who by now is well known for what He is, because the apostles and the people of Endor have taken it upon themselves to tell Who is He Who worked the miracle. And the crowds exclaim: «Blessed be the God of Israel. Blessed be the Messiah, His Messenger! Blessed be Jesus, Son of David! A great Prophet is risen among us! God has really visited His people! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!»
Jesus has just raised a young man from the dead. His mother hurriedly removed his shroud and bandages.
Gospel of Luke 7, 11-17
Lk 7, 11-17 : Afterwards, Jesus went to a town called Naim. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. He arrived near the town gate just as a dead man was being taken to be buried; he was an only son, and his mother was a widow. A large crowd from the city accompanied the woman. Seeing the woman, the Lord felt compassion for her and said, "Don't weep. He reached out and touched the coffin; the pallbearers stopped, and Jesus said, "Young man, I command you, rise." Then the dead man stood up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Fear seized everyone, and they gave glory to God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us, and God has visited his people." And this word about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the whole region.
GRM 190
Simon Peter, Andrew and Simon the Zealot are the only ones named in this chapter, but the rest of the apostolic group is present. John of Endor also follows them.
GRM 191.5-7 · Volume 3
(...) Listen to the parable that I have thought out for you.
There was once a very rich man. He wore the most beautiful garments, and in his purple and byssus clothes he used to strut about in squares and at home, respected by his citizens as the most powerful man in the country, and by his friends, who gratified his pride to gain benefits thereby. They feasted every day in his halls, where the multitude of his guests, all rich and none therefore needy crowded flattering Dives. His banquets were famous for the copiousness of food and of choice wines.
In the same town there lived a beggar, a great beggar. He was great in his misery as the other was great in his wealth. But under the crust of the human misery of Lazarus, the beggar, there was a treasure, which was even greater than Lazarus’ misery and Dives’ wealth. And it was Lazarus’ true holiness. He had never infringed the Law, not even when urged by need, and above all he had complied with the precept of love for God and for his neighbour. He, as is wont with poor people, used to go near the doors of rich people to ask for alms, so that he would not starve to death. And every evening he would go to Dives’ house, hoping to receive at least the crumbs of the pompous banquets which took place in the magnificent halls. He would lie in the street, near the door, and wait patiently.
But if Dives noticed him, he would have him driven away because that underfed body, covered with sores and ragged clothes, was too sad a sight for his guests. That is what Dives used to say. In actual fact, it was because the sight of so much misery and goodness was a continuous reproach to him. His well fed dogs, adorned with precious collars, were more pitiful than he was and they used to go near poor Lazarus and lick his sores, showing their great joy at being caressed by him. They even took the remains of the bountiful tables to him, so that Lazarus survived malnutrition thanks to animals. If he had relied on man he would have died, because man did not even allow him to enter the halls, after the banquet, to pick up the crumbs which had fallen from the tables.
191.6
One day Lazarus died. No one on earth noticed it, no one mourned him. On the contrary, Dives rejoiced not seeing on that day or afterwards that misery which he called a “disgrace” near his door. But the angels noticed it in Heaven. And when he was about to breathe his last breath in his cold barren cave, the celestial cohorts were present and in a bright dazzling light they picked up his soul and singing hosannas they took it to the bosom of Abraham.
Some time went by and Dives died. Oh! What a grand funeral! The whole town, already aware of his agony, crowded in the square where his abode was, some to be noticed as friends of the great man, some out of curiosity, some to gain favour with the heirs, and they all joined in the mourning, and their cries rose to the sky and with their cries also the false praises of the “great, just benefactor” who had died.
Can the word of man change God’s judgement? Can human apology cancel what is written in the book of Life? No, it cannot. What has been judged is judged and what has been written is written. And notwithstanding the grand funeral, the soul of Dives was buried in hell.
Then, in that horrible jail, eating and drinking fire and darkness, finding hatred and torture everywhere and in every moment of eternity, he raised his eyes to heaven. He raised his eyes to heaven which he saw in the brightness of lightning, in the fraction of a second, and the indescribable beauty of heaven remained present in his mind and tormented him in the midst of atrocious tortures. And he saw Abraham up there. Far, but bright, happy… and in his lap, bright and happy there was also Lazarus, poor Lazarus, once miserable, despised, revolting… and now? He was handsome in the light of God and of his holiness, full of God’s love, admired not by men but by the angels of God.
Dives weeping cried: “Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus, as I cannot possibly hope that you will do it yourself, send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and touch my tongue with it, to cool it, for I am in agony in these flames which pierce me continuously and burn me!”.
Abraham replied: “Remember, son, that you had all good things during your life, whereas Lazarus had all bad things. But he turned evil into good, whereas you did nothing but evil of all the good things. It is therefore just that now he should be comforted here and that you should suffer. In any case it is not possible to do it. Holy people are spread over the earth so that men may take advantage of them. But, if notwithstanding all the opportunities, he remains what he was – in your case, a demon – it is useless to make recourse to saints. We are now separated. Herbs are mixed when they are in the field. But when they are cut, the good ones are separated from the evil ones. That is what happens to you and to us. We were together on the earth and you rejected and tortured us in every possible way, you forgot us, acting against the law of charity. We are now divided. There is an abyss between you and us, and those who wish to cross it and come to you, cannot do it. Neither can you, where you are, cross the dreadful abyss and come to us”.
191.7
Dives, crying more loudly shouted: “Holy father, at least please send Lazarus to my father’s house. I have five brothers. I have never understood what love is, not even among relatives. But now I understand what a terrible thing it is not to be loved. And since where I am there is hatred, in the fraction of a second, when my soul saw God, I understood what Love is. I do not want my brothers to suffer the pains that I am suffering. I am terrified because they are leading the same life as I did. Oh! send Lazarus to tell them where I am, and why I am here, and let them know that hell does exist, and it is dreadful, and that those who do not love God and their neighbour come to hell. Send him! So that they may provide in good time, and may not come here, to this place of eternal torture” .
But Abraham replied: “Your brothers have Moses and the Prophets. They should listen to them”.
And with a deep groan of a tormented soul Dives replied: “Oh! Father Abraham! They will be more impressed by a dead person… Listen to me! Have mercy!”.
But Abraham said: “If they have not listened to Moses and the Prophets, they will not believe either one who has risen from the dead for one hour to speak words of Truth to them. In any case it is not fair that a blessed soul should leave my bosom to go and be insulted by the sons of the Enemy. The time of insults is over for such souls. They are now in peace by the order of God Who sees that it is useless to endeavour to convert those who do not even believe in the word of God and do not practice it”.
That is the parable and its meaning is so clear that no clarification is required.
In his dictation of August 2, 1943, Jesus refers to this bad rich man as Epulon, the name of the priests in charge of organizing banquets in ancient Rome, which the original of this episode uses "Epulone" as the equivalent of bad rich man.
"He turned his eyes to the Heaven he had glimpsed". This is to be understood as Maria Valtorta commented on a typed copy: "He turned his eyes towards the limbo of the saints he had glimpsed ... and whose peaceful beauty was already unspeakable ...".
"During that second when my soul glimpsed God" is to be understood in the sense of "at the moment of particular judgment", as Maria Valtorta notes in a typescript.
Gospel of Luke 16:19-31
Lk 16, 19-31 : "There was a rich man, dressed in purple and fine linen, who made sumptuous feasts every day. Outside his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with ulcers. He wished he could have eaten what fell from the rich man's table, but the dogs came and licked his ulcers. So the poor man died, and the angels took him to Abraham. The rich man also died, and was buried.
In Hades, he was tortured; lifting up his eyes, he saw Abraham from afar and Lazarus close by. Then he cried out: "Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip his fingertip in water to cool my tongue, for I am suffering terribly in this furnace. - My child," replied Abraham, "remember: you received happiness during your life, and Lazarus, misfortune during his. Now he finds consolation here, and you, suffering. And in addition to all this, a great chasm has been established between you and us, so that those who would cross over to you cannot, and that, from there either, no one crosses over to us." The rich man replied, "Well, Father, I beg you to send Lazarus to my father's house. For I have five brothers: let him bear his testimony to them, lest they too come to this place of torture!" Abraham said to him, "They have Moses and the Prophets: let them listen to them! - No, Father Abraham," he said, "but if someone from the dead comes to them, they will be converted." Abraham replied, "If they won't listen to Moses and the Prophets, someone may rise from the dead: they won't be convinced."""