Notes for this theme

Public life of Jesus Christ in the EMV

Page 57 of 66

Reading comfort

GRM 197.3-4 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Peter in the meantime is busy showing the boy the most noteworthy things in the Temple, but he asks the more learned ones, particularly Bartholomew and Simon, to help him, because in the fulfilment of his duty as a father he feels more at ease with the elder ones.
They are near the treasury to make their offering when Joseph of Arimathea calls them. «You are here? When did you arrive?» he asks after greeting them.
«Yesterday evening.»
«And the Master?»
«He is over there, with a new disciple. He is coming.»
Joseph looks at the boy and asks Peter: «One of your grandsons?»
«No… yes… well: nothing by blood, a great deal by faith, everything by love.»
«I do not understand…»
«He is a little orphan… so nothing by blood. A disciple, therefore a great deal by faith. A son… so everything by love. The Master took him… and I caress him. He will be coming of age in the next few days…»
«Already twelve years old? And so small?»
«Eh!… The Master will tell you… Joseph, you are good… one of the few good people in here… Tell me… would you help me in this matter? You know… I am presenting him as if he were my son. But I am a Galilean and I am a nasty leper…»
«A leper?!» exclaims Joseph inquisitively moving away in fright.
«Don’t be afraid! I am a leper because I belong to Jesus! The most loathesome form of leprosy for those of the Temple, with a few exceptions.»
«No! Don’t say that!»
«It’s the truth and we must admit it… So I am afraid they will be cruel to the boy because of me and because of Jesus. In any case I do not know how much he knows of the Law, of the Halascia, the Haggadha and of the Midrasciots. Jesus says that he knows quite a lot…»
«Well, if Jesus says so! Don’t be afraid!»
«Only to cause me trouble they would…»
«You are very fond of this little fellow! Do you keep him with you all the time?»
«I cannot!… I am always about… The boy is too young and delicate…»
«But I would willingly come with you…» says Jabez who has been reassured by Joseph’s caresses.
Peter is bright with joy… But he says: «The Master says that we must not do that and we will not do it… But we shall meet now and again just the same… Joseph… will you help me?»
«Of course, I will! I will come with you. They will not do him an injustice in front of me. When?
197.4
Oh! Master! Give me Your blessing!»
«Peace to you, Joseph. I am happy to see you and I am glad that you are in good health.»
«I am happy, too, Master, and also Your friends will be pleased to see You. Are You staying at Gethsemane?»
«I was there, but after the prayer I am going to Bethany.»
«To Lazarus’?»
«No, to Simon’s. My Mother, the mother of My brothers and the mother of John and James are also there. Will you come and see Me?»
«Are You asking me? I will come with great joy and it is a great honour, for which I thank You. I will come with some friends…»
«Be careful, Joseph, with friends!…» suggests Simon Zealot.
«Oh! You already know them. Prudence teaches: “Do not let the air know”. But when you see them you will understand that they are friends.»
«Well…»
«Master, Simon of Jonah was telling me about the ceremony for the little one. You arrived when I was asking when you intend having it. I want to be there, too.»
«On the Wednesday before Passover. I want him to keep Passover as a son of the Law.»
«Very good. That is settled. I will come and join you at Bethany. But I will come with my friends on Monday.»
«Agreed.»
«Master, I must leave You. Peace be with You. It is the hour of incense.»
«Goodbye, Joseph. Peace be with you.»

Annotation

I don't know how he knows the Law, the Halakha, the Haggadah and the Midrashim. Jesus says he knows enough... To safeguard the Law, the religious and legal basis of the Jewish community, the rabbis surrounded it, after the exile, with an exegesis called Midrash (Interpretation). Midrashim are commentaries on passages of Scripture. Renowned authors of these midrashic traditions include Hillel, Schammei and Gamaliel.

Midrash also refers to the branch of rabbinic knowledge that deals with the rules of traditional (written) law, as opposed to the Mishnah (oral tradition). This interpretation of the Mosaic Law gave rise to new prescriptions, rules of conduct to be followed in worship and law (the Halâkoth). The interpretation of the historical parts of the Pentateuch gave rise to stories and legends(the Haggadah). However, in deference to the Mosaic Law, these midrashim were only to be passed down from generation to generation orally, although their authority came to practically equal that of the Law.

Time for incense. The incense burned in the Temple in the morning and evening, as prescribed in Exodus 30:7-8.

Book of Exodus 30, 7-8

Ex 30, 7-8 : Every morning, when Aaron comes to tend the lamps, he shall burn incense on them. And at sunset, when he lights the lamps, he will burn incense again. From generation to generation, incense will go up perpetually before the Lord.

Keywords

GRM 198.1-4 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Jesus is walking fast with His disciples towards Lazarus’ town, along a shady road which links the Mount of Olives to Bethany. One could say that the green ramifications of the mountain stretch as far as the countryside of Bethany. Jesus is recognised even before entering the town and voluntary messengers run in all directions to inform people of His arrival. Thus Lazarus and Maximinus arrive running from one side, Isaac with Timoneus and Joseph from another, and the third group to arrive is Martha with Marcella, who lifts her veil to bend down and kiss Jesus’ tunic. Immediately after Mary of Alphaeus and Mary Salome reach the spot, they greet the Master and then embrace their sons. Little Jabez, still held by the hand by Jesus, is tossed about by so much rushing and watches everything dumbfounded. John of Endor, feeling like a stranger, withdraws to the end of the group and stands aside. Suddenly, in the lane leading to Simon’s house, Jesus’ Mother comes forward.
Jesus drops Jabez’ hand and gently pushes His friends to one side to hasten towards Her. The well-known words resound in the air, like a solo of love above the whispering of the crowd: «Son!»; «Mother.» They kiss each other and in Mary’s kiss there is the anguish of a mother who has been afraid for a long time and now that the terror, which had seized her, is dissolving, she feels the tiredness of the effort she made and evaluates the risks He has run…
Jesus, Who understands, caresses Her saying: «Beside My angel I had Yours, Mother, watching over Me. No harm could have befallen Me.»
«May the Lord be praised for that. But I suffered so much!»
«I wanted to come sooner, but in order to obey You, I had to come a different way. But it was a good thing, because Your order, Mother, bore good fruit, as usual.»
«It was Your obedience, Son!»
«It was Your wise order, Mother… » They smile at each other like two lovers.
Is it possible that this Woman is the Mother of this Man? Where are the sixteen years of difference in age? The freshness and grace of Mary’s face and of Her virginal body make Her a sister of Her Son, Who is in the fullness of a handsome manliness.
«Are You not asking Me why it bore good fruit?» asks Jesus smiling all the time.
«I know that My Jesus conceals nothing from Me.»
«My dear Mother!» He kisses Her again…
People have kept away a few yards pretending not to be watching the scene. But I bet that there is not one of all the eyes that seem to be looking elsewhere that does not cast sidelong glances at the loving scene.
198.2
The one who is most keen in watching is Jabez, whom Jesus left when He ran to embrace His Mother, and who has been left all alone, because owing to the quick succession of questions and answers, everybody’s attention was diverted from the poor boy… He looks, then bends his head, endeavours to restrain his tears… but he cannot and bursts out weeping, moaning: «Mummy! Mummy!»
Everybody turns around, Jesus and Mary are the first, and everybody endeavours to help or find out who the boy is. Mary of Alphaeus rushes towards him with Peter – they were together – and they both ask: «Why are you crying?»
But before Jabez can catch his breath and speak while shedding so many tears, Mary has run towards him and taken him in Her arms saying: «Yes, my little child, your Mother! Do not cry anymore… and excuse Me if I did not see you before. My friends, here is My little son…» It is obvious that Jesus, in the few seconds approaching the boy, must have said to Her: «He is a little orphan brought with Me.» Mary realised the rest.
The boy is still weeping, but not so disconsolately, and as Mary is holding him in Her arms and kissing him, he ends up by smiling while his face is still wet with tears.
«Let me dry those tears of yours. You must not cry any more! Give Me a kiss…» Jabez was expecting nothing but that and after being caressed by bearded men, he is overjoyed in kissing Mary’s smooth cheek.
198.3
3Jesus has been looking for John of Endor and when He sees him, He goes to get him in his remote corner. And while all the apostles are greeting Mary, Jesus comes towards Her, holding John of Endor by the hand and He says: «This is the other disciple, Mother. Your command gained these two sons for You.»
«It was Your obedience, Son» repeats Mary and She greets the man saying: «Peace to you.»
The man, the coarse restless man of Endor, who has changed so much since that morning when Judas’ whim took Jesus to Endor, completely divests himself of his past while bowing to Mary. I think it is so, because his face, after bowing, looks really serene and truly «at peace».
They all set out towards Simon’s house: Mary with Jabez in Her arms, Jesus holding John of Endor by the hand, and then, around them and behind them, Lazarus and Martha, the apostles with Maximinus, Isaac, Joseph, and Timoneus.

Keywords

GRM 198.8 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Will you call the boy, please?» begs Mary. And the child arrives at once with John.
«What is your name?» asks Mary caressing him.
«It is… it was Jabez. But I am expecting a new one ..»
«Are you?»
«Yes, Jabez wants a name meaning that I have saved him. You will find one for him, Mother. A name of love and of salvation.»
Mary is pensive… She then says: «Marjiam (Maarhgziam). You are the little star in the sea of those saved by Jesus. Do you like it? Thus it will remind you also of Me besides Salvation.»
«It is beautiful» says the boy joyfully.
«But isn’t it a woman’s name?» asks Bartholomew.
«With “I” at the end instead of “m”, when this tiny drop of Mankind is grown up, you can change his name into the name of a man. For the time being he has the name which the Mother has given him. Is that right?»
The boy says «yes» and Mary caresses him.

Detail

Jesus predicts that the name Marziam will become Martial.

Keywords

Jesus' omniscience

GRM 198.11 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

…It is late in the night when Jesus can speak to His Mother in peace. They have gone up to the terrace, and sitting one beside the other, hand in hand, they speak and listen to each other.
Jesus is the first to tell the story of the things that happened. Then Mary says: «Son, after Your departure, immediately after, a woman came to Me… She was looking for You. A great misery. And a great redemption. But the poor creature needs to be forgiven by You so that she may persevere in her decision. I entrusted her to Susanna saying that she had been cured by You. That is true. I could have kept her with Me if our house were not like a sea-port, where all the boats come in… and many with evil intentions. And the woman is disgusted with the world by now. Do You want to know who she is?»
«She is a soul. But tell Me her name that I may receive her without any mistake.»
«She is Aglae. The Roman mime and sinner whom You began to save at Hebron, who looked for You and found You at the Clear Water and she has already suffered because of her revived honesty. How much she has suffered!… She told Me everything… How horrible!…»
«Her sin?»
«That… and I would say how much more: how horrible the world is. Oh! My Son! Do not trust the Pharisees in Capernaum! They wanted to use the unhappy creature to harm You. They would have used even her…»
«I know, Mother… Where is Aglae?»
«She will be coming with Susanna before Passover.»
«Very well. I will speak to her. I will be here every evening and with the exception of Passover evening, which I am reserving for the family, I will wait for her. All You need do is tell her to wait, if she comes. It is a great redemption, as You said. And such a spontaneous one! I solemnly tell You that in few hearts My seed took root with the same strength as it did in this unhappy soil. And later Andrew helped it to grow until it was fully formed.»
«She told Me.»
«Mother, what did You feel when that ruin approached You?»
«Disgust and joy. I seemed to be on the brink of a hellish abyss, and at the same time I felt as if I were being carried into the blue sky. You are God indeed, My Son, when You work such miracles!»
They remain silent, under the very bright stars and the pale light of the first quarter of the moon, which is tending to become full. Silent, loving each other and resting in each other’s love.

Keywords

GRM 199.4-5 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«And now, let us go and see those unhappy people!» says Jesus, and turning His back to the town He goes towards a desolate place on the slope of a rocky hill which lies between the two roads from Jericho to Jerusalem, A strange place, similar to a flight of steps after the first slope, up which climbs a path, so that there is a drop of at least three yards from the first terrace to the path, and the same from the second one. It is an arid, dead… extremely sad place.
«Master» shouts Simon the Zealot «I am here. Stop where You are, that I may show You the way…» and the Zealot, who was leaning against a rock to be in the shade, comes forward and leads Jesus up the steps of a path leading towards Gethsemane, but separated from it by the road that from the Mount of Olives goes to Bethany.
«Here we are. I lived among the tombs of Siloam and my friends are here. Some of them. The others are at Ben Hinnom, but cannot come… They would have to cross the road and would be seen.»
«We shall go to them also.»
«Thank You! On their part and mine.»
«Are they many?»
«Winter has killed most of them. But here there are still five of those to whom I had spoken. They are waiting for You. There they are, on the edge of their prison…»
There are probably ten monsters. I say «probably», because if five, who are standing up, are clearly visible, the others, because of the greyish hue of their skin, the deformity of their faces and the fact that they hardly protrude from the stone barrier, cannot be counted accurately and they may be more than five or less. Among those standing up there is only one woman. One can tell only by her white dishevelled hair hanging coarse and dirty over her shoulders down to her waist. There is no other sign by which one could tell her sex, because the disease, which is in an advanced stage, has reduced her to a skeleton, destroying all feminine forms. Likewise among the men, only one still has traces of moustache and beard. All the others have been made hairless by the destructive disease.
They shout: «Jesus, our Saviour, have mercy on us!» and they stretch out their deformed or ulcerated hands. «Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us!»
«What do you want Me to do for you?» asks Jesus looking towards their misery.
«We want You to save us from sin and from this disease.»
«Your will and repentance will save you from sin…»
«But if You wish, You can cancel our sins. At least those, if You do not want to cure our bodies.»
«If I say to You: “Choose either one or the other”, which one would you prefer?»
«God’s forgiveness, Lord. To be less desolate.»
Jesus has a gesture of approval. He smiles brightly, raises His arms and shouts: «Let it be granted. I want it.»
Granted! The grace might be granted for their sins, or for their disease, or for both, and the five unhappy people remain uncertain. But the apostles have no uncertainty and they can but shout their hosannas when they see the leprosy disappear as fast as a flake of snow that falls on a fire. The five then understand that the full grace has been granted to them. Their shouting resounds like a cry of victory. They embrace one another and throw kisses at Jesus, as they cannot prostrate themselves at His feet. They then turn to their companions saying: «And you still refuse to believe? What miserable wretches are you?»
«Good! Be good! Your poor brothers need time to think. Say nothing to them. Faith is not imposed, it is preached with peace, kindness, patience and perseverance. That is what you will do after your purification, exactly as Simon did with you. After all, the miracle preaches by itself. You who have been cured, will go to the priest as soon as possible. You, who are still ill, wait for us this evening. We will bring you some food. Peace be with you.»
Jesus descends again on to the road followed by the blessings of everybody.
199.5
«And now let us go to Ben Hinnom» says Jesus.
«Master… I would like to come. But I realise that I cannot. I will go to Gethsemane» says Lazarus.
«Go, Lazarus. Peace be with you.»
While Lazarus is slowly walking away, the apostle John says: «Master, I will go with him. He walks with difficulty and the road is not very good. I will join You later at Ben Hinnom.»
«Yes, you may go. Let us go.»
They cross the Kidron, walk along the southern side of Mount Tophet and enter the little valley completely strewn with tombs and filth. There is not one tree or any shade from the sun, which blazes down on this southern side heating the stones of these new hellish terraces where the stinking smell of burning rubbish increases the heat. And inside the sepulchres, similar to crematoria, there are poor bodies, which are wasting away… Siloam may be unpleasant in winter, damp as it is and facing north, but this place must be dreadful in summer…
Simon Zealot lets out a shout calling them, and first three lepers, then two, then one, and another one come, as best they can, to the prescribed limit. There are two women here, and one of them is holding by the hand a horrible looking boy whose face is particularly affected by leprosy. He is already blind… And there is a noble looking man, notwithstanding his miserable state. He speaks on behalf of everybody: «Blessed be the Messiah of the Lord, Who has come down to our Gehenna, to free from it those who hope in Him. Save us, o Lord, because we are perishing! Save us, Saviour! King of the House of David, King of Israel, have mercy on Your subjects. Oh! Shoot of the stock of Jesse, of Whom it is said that in Your time there will be no evil, stretch out Your hand and pick up the remains of Your people. Cast away this death from us, wipe our tears, because that is what is said of You. Call us, Lord, to Your delicious pastures, to Your fresh waters, for we are thirsty. Lead us to the eternal hills where there is no sin or sorrow. Have mercy, Lord…»
«Who are you?»
«John, one of the Temple. I was probably infected by a leper. As You can see, I caught the disease only recently. But these!… Some of them have been awaiting death for years, and this little girl came here even before she could walk. She does not know what is the creation of God. What she knows or what she remembers of the wonders of God are these tombs, this merciless sun and the stars at night. Have mercy on the guilty and the innocent ones, o Lord, our Saviour.» They have all knelt down stretching out their hands.
Jesus weeps at so much misery. He then opens His arms shouting: «Father, I want it: health, life, sight and salvation for them.» He remains with His arms stretched out praying intensely with all His spirit. He seems to become thinner and to rise in prayer, a flame of love, white and powerful in the powerful gold of the sun.
«Mummy, I can see!» is the first cry, which is answered by the shout of the mother who clasps her cured little girl to her heart; then the shouts of the others and of the apostles… The miracle has been worked.
«John, as you are a priest, you will lead your companions in the rite. Peace be with you. Towards evening we shall bring some food also to you.» He blesses and is about to go away.
But John, the leper, shouts: «I want to follow Your steps. Tell me what I must do, where I must go to preach You!»
«In this desolate barren land, which must turn to the Lord. Let the town of Jerusalem be your field. Goodbye.»

Detail

Simon the Zealot asked Jesus to go to the Valley of Death, where there are lepers.

Annotation

And Simon, who had leaned against the rock for a little shade, steps forward and leads Jesus along a stepped path that leads to Gethsemane, but is separated from it by the road that leads from the Mount of Olives to Bethany. This is followed by Maria Valtorta's drawing, which we reproduce here. She has placed the "little mount" in the center, on the top of which she has written "leper" three times. To the north is "Gethsemane", from which she wrote "The shortest road to Bethany and Jericho". On the other side, she has written in pencil: "The Mount of Olives is here". To the west she makes the "Cedron" flow, beyond which she has traced "The longest road to Bethany and Jericho".

And so it is with the men, only one of whom has a remnant of a moustache and beard. The others have been shaved by this destructive disease. Zechariah the leper. Cf. EMV 417.2.

Keywords

GRM 199.6 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Peter goes away with Mary and is very happy. They are both holding the boy by his hands and they look like a happy family. Many people turn around to look at them. Jesus watches them go away smiling.
«Simon is happy!» exclaims the Zealot.
«Why are You smiling, Master?» asks James of Zebedee.
«Because I see a great promise in that group.»
«Which promise, Brother? What do You see?» asks Thaddeus.
«This is what I see: that I shall be able to go away with a peaceful mind, when the time comes. I need not be afraid for My Church. Then it will be small and slender like Marjiam. But My Mother will be there to hold it by the hand and to be its Mother; and there will be Peter as its father. In his honest rough hands I can place the hand of My dawning Church without any worry. He will give it the strength of his protection. My Mother the strength of Her love. And the Church will grow… like Marjiam… He is really the symbol-child! May God bless My Mother, My Peter and their child and ours! Now let us go to Johanna’s.»

Keywords

GRM 199.7-9 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

… And once again, in the evening, we are in the little house in Bethany. Many have already withdrawn, because they were tired. Peter is walking up and down the path, often looking up to the terrace where Jesus and Mary are sitting talking. John of Endor, instead, is speaking to the Zealot sitting under a pomegranate-tree in full blossom.
Mary has already spoken a great deal because I can hear Jesus say: «Everything You told Me is just and I will bear in mind its justice. And I say that Your advice concerning Annaleah is also right. It is a good sign that the man has accepted it so readily. It is true that the people high up in Jerusalem are dull-minded and envious, I could also say that they are filthy. But in the humble people there are pearls of unknown value. I am glad that Annaleah is happy. She belongs more to Heaven than to the earth, and perhaps the man, who has now understood the concept of the spirit, realises that and he respects her almost religiously. His intention to go elsewhere, so that no human sentiment may upset the pure vow of his girl, proves it.»
«Yes, My Son, Man perceives the perfume of virgins… I remember Joseph, I did not know which words to use. He was not aware of My secret… And yet he helped Me to disclose it with the intuition of a saint. He had perceived the scent of My soul… Also John, see?… How peaceful he is! And everybody seeks him. Even Judas of Kerioth, although… No, Son. Judas has not changed. I know and You know. We do not speak because we do not want to start a war. But even if we do not speak, we know… and even if we do not speak, the others realise… Oh! My Jesus! The younger apostles told Me today, at Gethsemane, the episode at Magdala and the other one of Sabbath morning… Innocent children speak… because they see through the eyes of their angels. But also old people have an idea… They are not wrong. He is an elusive being… Everything is elusive in him… and I am afraid of him and I have on My lips the same words of Benjamin at Magdala and of Marjiam at Gethsemane, because I feel the same disgust for Judas as children do.»
«Not everybody can be John!…»
«I do not demand that! In that case, it would be paradise on the earth. But, see, You told Me about the other John… A man who killed… but I only feel sorry for him. Judas frightens Me.»
«Love him, Mother! Love him, for My sake!»
«Yes, Son, I will. But not even My love will serve. It will only make Me suffer and make him guilty, Oh! Why did he come to You? He upsets everybody, he offends Peter who deserves all respect.»
199.8
«Yes. Peter is very good. I would do anything for him, because he deserves it.»
«If he heard You, he would say with his good frank smile: “Ah! My Lord, that is not true!” And he would be right.»
«Why, Mother?» But Jesus smiles, because He has already understood.
«Because You are not satisfying him by giving him a son. He told Me all his hopes, his desires… and Your refusals.»
«And did he not tell You the reasons justifying them?»
«Yes, he did and he added: “It is true… but I am a man, a poor man. Jesus persists in seeing a great man in me. But I know that I am a poor fellow, and so… he could give me a child. I got married to have them… and I will die without any”. And he said — pointing at the boy who, delighted because of the lovely dress bought by Peter, had kissed him, saying: “Beloved father” — he said: “See, when this little creature, whom only ten days ago I did not know, says that to me, I feel that I become softer than butter and sweeter than honey and I weep, because… every day that goes by, takes this child away from me”.»
Mary becomes silent, watching Jesus, studying His face, waiting for a word… But Jesus has placed His elbow on His knee, resting His head in His hand and is silent, looking at the green expanse of the orchard.
Mary takes His hand and caressing it She says: «Simon has this great desire… When I went with him, he did nothing but speak to Me about it, and his reasons are so good that… I could say nothing to keep him quiet. They are the same reasons that all women and mothers think of. The boy is not strong. If he were as strong as You were… oh! he could have faced the life of a disciple without any fear. But he is so thin!… He is very intelligent, very good… but nothing more. When a little dove is so delicate, you cannot throw it in the air to let it fly very early, as you do with strong ones. The shepherds are good… but they are still men. Children need women. Why do You not leave him with Simon? While You refuse him a son of his own, born of him, I understand the reason. A son is like an anchor. And Simon, who is destined to such a great task, cannot be hindered by anchors. But You must agree that he is to be the “father” of all the sons You will be leaving him. How can he be a father if he has had no training with a child? A father must be sweet. Simon is good, but not sweet. He is impulsive and intolerant. Only a little creature can teach him the fine art of being indulgent to whoever is weak… Consider Simon’s destiny… He is Your successor after all! Oh! I must say that cruel word! But for all the sorrow it causes Me saying it, listen to Me. I would never advise You anything unless it were good. Marjiam… You want to make a perfect disciple of him… But he is only a boy. You… You will be going before he is a man. To whom then can You give him, to complete his formation, better than Simon? Finally, poor Simon, You know how much trouble he has had, with his mother-in-law, also because of You. And yet he has not picked up a tiny part of his past, of his freedom of a year ago, to be left in peace by his mother-in-law, whom not even You have been able to change. And his poor wife? She is longing so much to love and be loved. Her mother… oh! Her husband? A dear domineering man… No affection is ever given to her without exacting too much… Poor woman!… Leave her the boy. Listen, Son. For the time being we will take him with us. I will come to Judaea, too. You will take Me to one of My companions of the Temple, who is almost a relative, because she is of the House of David. She lives at Bethzur. I will be pleased to see her, if she is still alive. Then, when we go back to Galilee, we will give him to Porphirea. When we are near Bethsaida, Peter will take him. When we come here, so far, the boy will stay with her. Ah! You are smiling now! So You are going to please Your Mother. Thank You, My Jesus.»
«Yes, let it be done, as You wish.»
199.9
Jesus stands up and calls out loud: «Simon of Jonas: come here.»
Peter starts and rushes up the steps. «What do You want, Master?»
«Come here, you usurper and corrupter!»
«Me? Why? What have I done, Lord?»
«You have corrupted My Mother. That is why you wanted to be alone. What shall I do with you?»
But Jesus smiles and Peter recovers confidence. «Oh!» he says. «You really frightened me! But now You are laughing… What do You want from me, Master? My life? I have but that, because You have taken everything… But if You want, I will give it to You.»
«I do not want to take anything from you. I want to give you something. But do not take advantage of your victory and do not disclose the secret to the others, you most artful fellow who defeats the Master by means of the weapon of His Mother’s word. You will have the boy, but…»
Jesus can say no more, because Peter, who had knelt down, bounces to his feet and kisses the Master with such delight that he makes the words die on His lips.
«Thank Her, not Me. But remember that this must be of assistance to you, and not an impediment…»
«My Lord, You will not have to repent of the gift… Oh! Mary! May You be always blessed, You are holy and good…» And Peter, who has fallen on his knees again, weeps, kissing Mary’s hand…

Annotation

As for Annalia, I think your advice is right. It's a good sign that the man accepted her so promptly. Samuel her fiancé. Annalia took a vow of virginity, the first of the Consecrated Virgins. Cf. EMV 156.3/5.

Oh, my Jesus! The young people told me today, in Gethsemane, about the Magdala episode and the Sabbath morning. Two children's words about Judas "frightening them": Benjamin of Magdala in EMV 184.7 and Marziam in EMV 196.6.

I too will come to Judea. You will take me there with you to one of my Temple companions - almost a relative, since she is a descendant of David. She lives in Bet-çur. I'd love to see her again, if she's still alive. She is Elisede Bet-çur.

199.9 Jesus stands up and calls out in a loud voice:

"Simon, son of Jonah, come here!"

Peter is startled and hurries up the stairs:

"What do you want, Master?

- Come here, you usurper and corrupter!

- Me? Why? What have I done, Lord?

- You've corrupted my Mother. That's why you wanted to be alone. What should I do to you?"

But Jesus smiles and Peter is reassured.

Oh," he says, "you really scared me! But now you're laughing... What do you want from me, Master?

JESUS PLEASING: This passage has caused controversy among some:

- some couldn't imagine Jesus joking in the way one does with best friends (seeming to accuse them of the antithesis of what they obviously are).

- The others have a partial reading that interprets corruption in isolation as an unworthy and shocking practice.

MARY MEDIATRIX OF ALL GRACES :

On the first point, the joke, it should be noted that Jesus does not use the vulgarity usually associated with this type of joke, but draws a holy lesson from it: Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces. He "evangelizes" our humanity.

As for the other, a reading of the context removes any doubt as to Peter's intention: finding his deepest desire denied, he asks for Mary's help and mediation.

Keywords

GRM 199.8-9 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Yes. Peter is very good. I would do anything for him, because he deserves it.»
«If he heard You, he would say with his good frank smile: “Ah! My Lord, that is not true!” And he would be right.»
«Why, Mother?» But Jesus smiles, because He has already understood.
«Because You are not satisfying him by giving him a son. He told Me all his hopes, his desires… and Your refusals.»
«And did he not tell You the reasons justifying them?»
«Yes, he did and he added: “It is true… but I am a man, a poor man. Jesus persists in seeing a great man in me. But I know that I am a poor fellow, and so… he could give me a child. I got married to have them… and I will die without any”. And he said — pointing at the boy who, delighted because of the lovely dress bought by Peter, had kissed him, saying: “Beloved father” — he said: “See, when this little creature, whom only ten days ago I did not know, says that to me, I feel that I become softer than butter and sweeter than honey and I weep, because… every day that goes by, takes this child away from me”.»
Mary becomes silent, watching Jesus, studying His face, waiting for a word… But Jesus has placed His elbow on His knee, resting His head in His hand and is silent, looking at the green expanse of the orchard.
Mary takes His hand and caressing it She says: «Simon has this great desire… When I went with him, he did nothing but speak to Me about it, and his reasons are so good that… I could say nothing to keep him quiet. They are the same reasons that all women and mothers think of. The boy is not strong. If he were as strong as You were… oh! he could have faced the life of a disciple without any fear. But he is so thin!… He is very intelligent, very good… but nothing more. When a little dove is so delicate, you cannot throw it in the air to let it fly very early, as you do with strong ones. The shepherds are good… but they are still men. Children need women. Why do You not leave him with Simon? While You refuse him a son of his own, born of him, I understand the reason. A son is like an anchor. And Simon, who is destined to such a great task, cannot be hindered by anchors. But You must agree that he is to be the “father” of all the sons You will be leaving him. How can he be a father if he has had no training with a child? A father must be sweet. Simon is good, but not sweet. He is impulsive and intolerant. Only a little creature can teach him the fine art of being indulgent to whoever is weak… Consider Simon’s destiny… He is Your successor after all! Oh! I must say that cruel word! But for all the sorrow it causes Me saying it, listen to Me. I would never advise You anything unless it were good. Marjiam… You want to make a perfect disciple of him… But he is only a boy. You… You will be going before he is a man. To whom then can You give him, to complete his formation, better than Simon? Finally, poor Simon, You know how much trouble he has had, with his mother-in-law, also because of You. And yet he has not picked up a tiny part of his past, of his freedom of a year ago, to be left in peace by his mother-in-law, whom not even You have been able to change. And his poor wife? She is longing so much to love and be loved. Her mother… oh! Her husband? A dear domineering man… No affection is ever given to her without exacting too much… Poor woman!… Leave her the boy. Listen, Son. For the time being we will take him with us. I will come to Judaea, too. You will take Me to one of My companions of the Temple, who is almost a relative, because she is of the House of David. She lives at Bethzur. I will be pleased to see her, if she is still alive. Then, when we go back to Galilee, we will give him to Porphirea. When we are near Bethsaida, Peter will take him. When we come here, so far, the boy will stay with her. Ah! You are smiling now! So You are going to please Your Mother. Thank You, My Jesus.»
«Yes, let it be done, as You wish.»
199.9
Jesus stands up and calls out loud: «Simon of Jonas: come here.»
Peter starts and rushes up the steps. «What do You want, Master?»
«Come here, you usurper and corrupter!»
«Me? Why? What have I done, Lord?»
«You have corrupted My Mother. That is why you wanted to be alone. What shall I do with you?»
But Jesus smiles and Peter recovers confidence. «Oh!» he says. «You really frightened me! But now You are laughing… What do You want from me, Master? My life? I have but that, because You have taken everything… But if You want, I will give it to You.»
«I do not want to take anything from you. I want to give you something. But do not take advantage of your victory and do not disclose the secret to the others, you most artful fellow who defeats the Master by means of the weapon of His Mother’s word. You will have the boy, but…»
Jesus can say no more, because Peter, who had knelt down, bounces to his feet and kisses the Master with such delight that he makes the words die on His lips.
«Thank Her, not Me. But remember that this must be of assistance to you, and not an impediment…»
«My Lord, You will not have to repent of the gift… Oh! Mary! May You be always blessed, You are holy and good…» And Peter, who has fallen on his knees again, weeps, kissing Mary’s hand…

Annotation

199.9 Jesus rises and calls with a loud voice:

"Simon, son of Jonah, come here!"

Peter is startled and hurries up the stairs:

"What do you want, Master?

- Come here, you usurper and corrupter!

- Me? Why? What have I done, Lord?

- You've corrupted my Mother. That's why you wanted to be alone. What should I do to you?"

But Jesus smiles and Peter is reassured.

Oh," he says, "you really scared me! But now you're laughing... What do you want from me, Master?

JESUS PLEASING: This passage has caused controversy among some:

- some can't imagine Jesus joking in the way one does with best friends (seeming to accuse them of the antithesis of what they obviously are).

- The rest of us have a partial reading that interprets corruption in isolation as an unworthy and shocking practice.

MARY MEDIATRIX OF ALL GRACES:

As for the other, a reading of the context removes any doubt as to Peter's intention: finding his deepest desire denied, he asks for Mary's help and mediation.

Keywords

GRM 200.3 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Aglae puts down the little bag she was carrying on her shoulder, then she kneels down at Jesus’ feet and bursts into tears. She prostrates herself on the floor, her head resting on her arms crossed on the floor.
«Do not weep thus. This is not the time for tears. You should have wept when you were hateful to God. Not now that you love Him and are loved by Him.»
But Aglae continues to weep…
«Do you not believe that it is so?»
She manages to speak through her sobs: «I love Him, it is true, as best I can… But although I know and believe that God is Bounty I cannot possibly hope to be loved by Him. I have sinned too much… Perhaps one day I will be loved… But I still have to weep so much… For the time being I am alone in my love. All alone… It is not desperate solitude of past years. It is a solitude full of longing for God, so it is no longer hopeless… but it is so sad…»
«Aglae, how little you still know the Lord! This longing for Him is the proof that God is replying to your love, that He is your friend, Who calls you, invites you and wants you. God is incapable of remaining insensitive to the desire of a creature, because He, the Lord and Creator of all creatures, excited that desire in that heart. He excited it because He loved with privileged love the soul that is now longing for Him. The desire of God always precedes the desire of the creature, because He is Most Perfect and therefore His love is by far more eager and ardent than the love of the creature.»
«But how can God love my filth?»
«Do not endeavour to understand with your intelligence. He is an abyss of mercy, which human intelligence cannot understand. But what the intelligence of man cannot understand, the intelligence of love, the love of the spirit does. It understands and confidently penetrates the mystery, which is God, and the mystery of the relationship of the soul with God. Enter, I tell you. Enter, because God wants it.»
«Oh! My Saviour! So I am really forgiven? I am really loved? Must I believe it?»
«Did I ever lie to you?»
«Oh! no, Lord! Everything You told me[1] at Hebron came true. You saved me because Your Name is salvation. You looked for me, a poor lost soul. You gave me the life of this soul, which I was carrying dead within me. You told me that if I had looked for You I would find You. And it was true. You told me that You are wherever man needs a doctor and medicine. And it is true. Everything, everything You told poor Aglae, from the words on that
morning in June, to the other words at the Clear Water…»
«So you must believe these too.»
«Yes, I believe, I do believe! But say to me: “I forgive you”!»
«I forgive you in the name of God and of Jesus.»
«Thank You…»

Detail

Aglaia, a former sinner, meets the Lord and weeps before him. Jesus speaks up and tells her not to weep.

Annotation

Everything you told me in Hebron has come true. In EMV 77.

Keywords

GRM 200.4 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Will I have the strength to destroy my guilty flesh?»
«In your solitude where Satan will attack you with livid violence the more you become worthy of Heaven, you will find an apostle of Mine, once a sinner and later redeemed.»
«Not the blessed apostle who spoke to me of You? He could not have been a sinner because he is too honest.»
«Not that one. Another one. He will reach you at the right moment. He will tell you what you cannot know just now. Go in peace. The blessing of God be with you.»

Detail

Aglaé isolates herself from the rest of the world and questions Christ.

Annotation

You'll find one of my apostles, once a sinner, then redeemed. Probably Matthew.

So that's not the blessed apostle who was telling me about you? André.