Notes for this theme

Who is Jesus?

Page 16 of 100

Reading comfort

GRM 59.5.6-7

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

59.5 A bearded sumptuously dressed Israelite stands up to contradict Him. He says: «Master, what You have stated appears to be in contrast with what is said in the second book of Maccabees, glory of Israel. It is said there: “Indeed when evil-doers are not left for long to their own devices but incur swift retribution, it is a sign of great benevolence. In the case of the other nations, the Lord waits patiently for them to obtain the full measure of their sins, before He punishes them”. According to what You said, instead, the Most High would appear to be very slow in punishing us, waiting, as for the other nations, the time of Judgement, when the measure of sins is full. Events, indeed, give You the lie. Israel is punished as stated by the historian of the Maccabees. But if what You say is correct, is there no conflict between Your doctrine and the sentence I have quoted?»
«I do not know who you are, but I will give you My answer, whoever you are.»
[Jesus gives his explanation, and their conversation continues. He declares himself to be the Messiah.]
«I am Jesus of Joseph of the House of David, I was born at Bethlehem Ephrathah, as was promised, named Nazarene, because I live at Nazareth. And that according to the world. According to God I am His Messenger. My disciples know.»
«Oh! They! They can say what they like or what You tell them to say.»
«Another will speak, who does not love Me, and will say Who I am. Wait till I call one of the people present here.»
59.7
Jesus looks at the crowd, who are astonished and annoyed at the dispute, and divided between the two opposite doctrines. He looks for someone with His sapphire eyes, and then in a loud voice He calls: «Aggaeus! Come here. It is an order.»
There is great excitement in the crowd. They open out to let a man pass, who is violently shaking all over his body and is supported by a woman.
«Do you know this man?»
«Yes, he is Aggaeus, of Malachi, of Capernaum. He is possessed by an evil spirit which tortures him with sudden fits of fury.»
«Does everybody know him?»
The crowd shout: «Yes, we do.»
«Can any of you say that he has spoken to Me, even for a few minutes?»
The crowd shout: «No, no, he is half-witted, he never leaves his house, and nobody has seen You in it.»
«Woman, bring him here in front of Me.»

Detail

This statement by Jesus is explained by the following note by Maria Valtorta on a typed copy:
"Christ, as God and as Holy of Holies, penetrated consciences; he pierced their most secret thoughts (perfect introspection); as Man, he knew persons and places in a human way only, when his Father and his own divine nature did not deem it useful for him to know them without having to ask."

On this same copy Maria Valtorta adds the following note on the words "Haggai, draw near":
"Here, it is because he must prove to the Pharisee his divine omniscience that he calls by name Haggai, who was unknown to him, but whom he knows to be possessed, whereas on the previous page, as Man, he had said to the Pharisee: 'I don't know who you are.'"

These two notes by Maria Valtorta will be confirmed by the texts of 224.2, 357.3, 527.4/6, 554.7 and justify Jesus' statements of "ignorance", which we will encounter, for example, in: 73.7, 75.3, 362.2, 365.10, 376.9, 377.2, 382.5, 395.2, 406.9, 413,8, 433.5, 472.4, 488.5, 583.23, 584.6.

Annotation

“I do not know who you are ”: This statement by Jesus is explained by the following note by Maria Valtorta on a typewritten copy:

"Christ, as God and as the Holy of Holies, penetrated people’s consciences; He discerned their most secret thoughts (perfect introspection); as a Man, He knew people and places only in a human way, unless His Father and His own divine nature deemed it necessary for Him to know them without having to ask.”

On this same copy, Maria Valtorta adds the following note regarding the words, “Haggai, come forward”:

“Here, it is because He must prove His divine omniscience to the Pharisee that He calls Haggai by name—a man unknown to Him, yet whose existence He knows—whereas on the previous page, as a Man, He had said to the Pharisee: ‘I do not know who you are.”

These two notes by Maria Valtorta are confirmed by the texts in 224.2, 357.3, 527.4/6, 554.7 and justify Jesus’ statements of “ignorance,” which we encounter, for example, in: 73.7, 75.3, 362.2, 365.10, 376.9, 377.2, 382.5, 395.2, 406.9, 413.8, 433.5, 472.4, 488.5, 583.23, and 584.6.

Editor’s note: A second explanation of Jesus’ “ignorance” is provided in connection with a series of questions he asks Annalie in 156.3. Here is the note that Maria Valtorta records on this subject in a typewritten copy: “Jesus knew and remembered, but he wanted the souls to open up freely and with confidence.”

This explanation is confirmed by passages 128.1 and 153.1, as well as by a particular remark by Judas in 468.4: “I know that you know, but that you are waiting for me to tell you.”

A third explanation is the subject of a lengthy note by Maria Valtorta on this statement by Jesus: “I do not know who it is” (175.5). We reproduce the essence of the handwritten note, which spans four pages of a sheet inserted into a typewritten copy: *“And the Eternal Father, in order to test hearts and separate the children of God—of the Light— the children of the flesh and of darkness, allowed—in the presence of the apostles, the disciples, and the crowds—gaps in the Son’s perfect clarity, similar to these questions and answers: ‘Who is this man? I do not know him…’ And this was for the sake of humanity. But also for His Beloved Son, in order to prepare Him for the great darkness of the hour of darkness, for the forsaking by the Father, for He had made Himself ‘an anathema for us.’”

This explanation by Maria Valtorta is confirmed by the words of the Apostle John in the context of 334.2/3 regarding the hearts that are to be tested. As for the preparation of the Beloved Son for the hour of darkness, it is confirmed and elaborated upon in 582.14, 598.4, 602.5, and 603.4; this explanation lends profound meaning to certain hesitations on Jesus’ part (as in 302.4.7) and especially to his disconcerting uncertainties in 339.14 and 464.14.

Apart from these exceptions, Maria Valtorta’s work presents a Jesus who is omniscient and clairvoyant, or prescient and foresighted. See: 48.6, 60.7, 78.3, 80.9.10, 89.2, 117.5, 133.2, 149.1/2, 160.6, 174.7, 203.1, 204.4, 218.1, 220.4, 224.2, 236.5, 317.3/5, 329.14, 335.13, 340.5, 351.4, 357.3, 371.9, 387.3, 391.8, 406.11, 409.3, 411.8, 471.3, 473.5, 503.2, 522.5, 524.8, 525.2, 531.10 (last lines), 531.20 (last lines), 532.4.6, 534.9, 540.7, 548.27, 555.4, 561.14, 563.5, 565.3/4, 566.18, 567.18.21, 580.2, 587.5.8, 595.6, 602.4/5.

Keywords

Ignorance of Jesus Christ

GRM 59.6

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

59.6 «Do You not consider Yourself bold in avowing Yourself a representative of God? None of the Prophets dared so much and You… Who are You, Who are speaking? And by whose order do You speak?»
«The Prophets could not say of themselves what I state of Myself. Who am I? The Expected One, The Promised One, the Saviour. You have already heard His Precursor say: “Prepare the way for the Lord… Here the Lord God is coming… Like a shepherd He will feed His flock, although He is the Lamb of the true Passover”. Many amongst you heard these words from the Precursor and they saw the heavens brighten with a light that descended in the shape of a dove and they heard a voice speak and say who I am. By whose order do I speak? By the order of Him Who is and Who sends Me.»
«You say that, but You may be a liar or a dreamer. Your words are holy, but Satan sometimes uses deceitful words painted with holiness to deceive people. We do not know You.»
«I am Jesus of Joseph of the House of David, I was born at Bethlehem Ephrathah, as was promised, named Nazarene, because I live at Nazareth. And that according to the world. According to God I am His Messenger.»

Keywords

GRM 59.6

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«I am Jesus of Joseph of the House of David, I was born at Bethlehem Ephrathah, as was promised, named Nazarene, because I live at Nazareth. And that according to the world. According to God I am His Messenger.

Keywords

Nativity of Jesus Christ

GRM 59.6-8

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

59.6 «Do You not consider Yourself bold in avowing Yourself a representative of God? None of the Prophets dared so much and You… Who are You, Who are speaking? And by whose order do You speak?»
«The Prophets could not say of themselves what I state of Myself. Who am I? The Expected One, The Promised One, the Saviour. You have already heard His Precursor say: “Prepare the way for the Lord… Here the Lord God is coming… Like a shepherd He will feed His flock, although He is the Lamb of the true Passover”. Many amongst you heard these words from the Precursor and they saw the heavens brighten with a light that descended in the shape of a dove and they heard a voice speak and say who I am. By whose order do I speak? By the order of Him Who is and Who sends Me.»
«You say that, but You may be a liar or a dreamer. Your words are holy, but Satan sometimes uses deceitful words painted with holiness to deceive people. We do not know You.»
«I am Jesus of Joseph of the House of David, I was born at Bethlehem Ephrathah, as was promised, named Nazarene, because I live at Nazareth. And that according to the world. According to God I am His Messenger. My disciples know.»
«Oh! They! They can say what they like or what You tell them to say.»
«Another will speak, who does not love Me, and will say Who I am. Wait till I call one of the people present here.»
59.7 Jesus looks at the crowd, who are astonished and annoyed at the dispute, and divided between the two opposite doctrines. He looks for someone with His sapphire eyes, and then in a loud voice He calls: «Aggaeus! Come here. It is an order.»
There is great excitement in the crowd. They open out to let a man pass, who is violently shaking all over his body and is supported by a woman.
«Do you know this man?»
«Yes, he is Aggaeus, of Malachi, of Capernaum. He is possessed by an evil spirit which tortures him with sudden fits of fury.»
«Does everybody know him?»
The crowd shout: «Yes, we do.»
«Can any of you say that he has spoken to Me, even for a few minutes?»
The crowd shout: «No, no, he is half-witted, he never leaves his house, and nobody has seen You in it.»
«Woman, bring him here in front of Me.»
The woman pushes and drags him, while the poor man trembles more than ever.
The head of the synagogue warns Jesus: «Be careful! The devil is about to torture him… and then he rushes at people, scratches and bites them.»
The crowd moves away thronging against the walls.
Jesus and the man are now facing each other. There is a moment’s struggle. The man, used to being dumb, seems to have difficulty in speaking, he moans, then his voice turns into words: «What is there between us and You, Jesus of Nazareth? Why have You come to torture us? Why do You want to destroy us, You, the Lord of Heaven and Earth? I know who You are: the Holy of God. No one, in human flesh, was ever greater than You, because in Your flesh of man is enclosed the Spirit of the Eternal Winner. You have already beaten me in…»
59.8
«Be quiet! I order you to come out of this man.»
The man has a fit of strange convulsions. He is tossed about by jerks and thrusts, as if someone pulled and pushed him, violently ill-treating him, he shouts in a wild voice, foams at his mouth, and is then thrown down onto the ground. He gets up, astonished and cured.
«Have you heard? What do you say now?» Jesus asks His opponent.
The bearded sumptuous man shrugs his shoulders and, obviously beaten, goes out without replying. The crowd scoff at him and applaud Jesus.
«Silence! This place is sacred!» says Jesus and He orders: «Bring Me the man to whom I promised help from God.»
The sick man comes forward. Jesus caresses him: «You believed Me! Be cured. Go in peace and be just.»
The young man lets out a yell. I wonder what he feels. He kneels down before Jesus, kisses His feet thanking Him: «Thanks from me and from my mother!»

Detail

In 59.2, the wife of Haggai, a possessed man, hears that Christ will certainly heal the sick after his preaching. She then says: "Ah, if Haggai would come! I'll try... but he won't come."

Jesus preaches and is challenged by a man, who seems to doubt that he is the Messiah. Jesus then affirms that another will speak and say who he is.

Keywords

GRM 60

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Peter asks Jesus to come to his house in Capernaum (which is really the house of his wife and mother-in-law). His mother-in-law is ill, and Simon asks his Master to heal her. So Jesus goes there and meets Peter's sisters-in-law. One of them tells them that his mother-in-law has a high fever and has stopped eating. The doctor even said she was going to die. But Jesus enters the room and performs a miracle. Surprised, Simon's mother-in-law doesn't even think of thanking the Master, or at least not until it's too late. Peter is flabbergasted and Jesus tells him to let it be. He tells him that there will be others like this, and that there have even been others in Nazareth, when he saved the mother of the child Sarah. Peter can't stand it when people don't love Christ, but Christ tells him that there will be many other animosities, including the "saints" who despise publicans, prostitutes, pagans and sinners, even though these will surpass them.

Peter's mother-in-law returns and offers them a meal. She reproaches her son-in-law, and Jesus encourages him to return to the house in Capernaum. John and James will also come, as they are partners.

Finally, the child James appears to hand over a purse from a stranger. Peter wants to know who it is, but the child remains silent... And so did Jesus.

Keywords

GRM 60.1-6

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

60.1 Peter is speaking to Jesus. He says: «Master, I would like to ask You to come to my house. I did not dare to ask You last Sabbath. But… I would like You to come.»
«To Bethsaida?»
«No, here… to my wife’s house. I mean her home.»
«Why do you want that, Peter?»
«Well, for many reasons… also because today I was told that my mother-in-law is ill. If You would heal her, perhaps she…»
«Tell Me, Simon.»
«What I wanted to say is… if You go to her, she would stop… yes, well, You know, it is not the same thing to hear people speak of someone and to see and listen to someone, and if the person in question heals… well…»
«You mean also the ill-feeling would come to an end?»
«No, not exactly ill-feeling. But, You know… there are many opinions in the village, and she… does not know whom she should listen to. Come, Jesus.»
«I will come. Let us go. You will tell those who are waiting for Me that I will speak to them from your house.»
60.2 They go as far as a low house, even lower than Peter’s house at Bethsaida, and it is also closer to the lake. It is separated from the lake by the pebbly shore and I think that when there is a storm, the waves break against the walls of the house, which, while being low, is very wide, as if several people lived in it.
In the kitchen garden in front of the house, facing the lake, there is only an old gnarled vine, supported by a rustic pergola, and an old fig-tree which the winds, blowing from the lake, have bent towards the house. The ruffled foliage of the tree brushes the walls of the house and beats against the shutters of the little windows, which are now closed as a protection against the bright sunshine. There is nothing but the vine and the fig-tree and a greenish little wall of a low well.
«Come in, Master.»
There are some women in the kitchen, some are busy mending the nets, some are preparing the food. They greet Peter and they bow embarrassed to Jesus, peering up at Him curiously.
«Peace be to this house. How is the patient?»
«Tell Him, you who are the oldest daughter-in-law» three of the women say to another one, who is drying her hands on the edge of her dress.
«Her temperature is very high. The doctor has seen her and he said she is too old to get better and that when the disease goes from the bones to the heart, and gives a temperature, one dies, particularly at an old age. She will not eat any more… I try and prepare something good, even now, see, Simon, I was preparing the soup she used to like so much. I chose the best fish that I got from my brothers-in-law. But I do not think she will be able to eat it. And… she is so restless! She complains, and shouts, and cries, and curses…»
«Be patient, as if she were your mother and God will grant you merit for it.
60.3 Take Me to her.»
«Rabbi… Rabbi… I don’t know if she will be pleased to see You. She does not want to see anybody. I dare not say to her: “I am now bringing the Rabbi in to see you”.»
Jesus smiles calmly. He addresses Peter: «It is your turn, Simon. You are a man and the oldest son-in-law, you told Me. Go.»
Peter makes a significant grimace and obeys. He walks across the kitchen, and goes into another room and through the door which he closes, I can hear him talking to a woman. He looks out and says: «Come, Master, quick.» And he whispers in a very low, just audible voice: «Before she changes her mind.»
Jesus walks across the kitchen and opens the door wide. Standing on the threshold, He pronounces His sweet, solemn greeting: «Peace be with you.» He goes in, although He gets no reply. He goes near a low bed on which a little old woman is lying, grey-haired, thin, panting because of the high temperature which causes her wasted face to flush.
Jesus bends over the little bed, smiles at the old woman: «Are you in pain?»
«I am dying!»
«No. You will not die. Do you believe that I can heal you?»
«Why would You want to do that? You do not know me.»
«For Simon, who asked Me… and for you, to give your soul time to see and love the Light.»
«Simon? It would be better if he… How come Simon thought of me?»
«Because he is better than you think. I know him and I am sure. I know him, and I am happy to satisfy him.»
«Would You heal me, then? I will not die, then?»
«No, woman. You will not die as yet. Can you believe in Me?»
«I believe, I believe. It is enough for me not to die!»
60.4 Jesus smiles once again. He takes her hand. Her hand, wrinkled and with swollen veins, disappears in the younger hand of Jesus, Who stands straight up, and takes the position He normally assumes when performing a miracle. He shouts: «Be healed! I want it! Get up!» and He lets her hand go. And her hand falls down without any complaint, whereas before, notwithstanding Jesus had taken it very gently, she groaned when it was moved.
There is silence for a few moments. Then the old woman cries out: «Oh! God of our fathers! But there is nothing wrong with me! I am healed! Come! Come!» Her daughters-in-law rush in. «Look!» says the old woman: «I can move and I feel no pain! And I am no longer feverish! Feel how cool I am. And my heart no longer feels like the blacksmith’s hammer. Ah! I am not dying any longer!» Not one word for the Lord!
But Jesus does not mind. He says to the oldest daughter-in-law: «Dress her that she may get up. She is fit to be up.» And He makes for the door.
Simon, mortified, says to his mother-in-law: «The Master has healed you. Have you nothing to say to Him?»
«Certainly. I wasn’t thinking of that. Thank You. What can I do to thank You?»
«Be good, very good. Because the Eternal Father has been good to you. And if it is not too much trouble for you, allow Me to rest in your home today. I have been to all the nearby villages the past week, and I arrived here at dawn this morning. I am tired.»
«Certainly! Certainly! You may stay if You wish.» But there is not much enthusiasm in her words.
60.5 Jesus, Peter, Andrew, James and John go and sit down in the kitchen garden.
«Master!…»
«Yes, Peter?»
«I feel humiliated.»
Jesus makes a gesture, which meant: «Never mind.» He then goes on: «She is not the first, and will not be the last who do not feel immediate gratitude. But I do not seek gratitude. All I want is to give souls the chance to save themselves. I do My duty. Let them do theirs.»
«Ah! There have been other cases like this one? Where?»
«Curious Simon! But I will please you, although I do not like useless curiosity. At Nazareth. Do you remember Sarah’s mother? She was very ill when we arrived in Nazareth and we were told that the little girl cried. Since she is good and gentle, and I did not want her to become an orphan and a stepdaughter in the future, I went to see the woman… I wanted to heal her… But I had not yet set foot in the house, when her husband and a brother drove Me away, saying: “Away! Go away! We do not want to get into trouble with the synagogue”. For them, for too many, I am already a rebel… I healed her just the same… for the sake of her children. And I said to Sarah in the kitchen garden, caressing her: “I will heal your mother. Go home. Do not cry any more”. And the woman was healed the same moment and the little girl told her, and she told also her father and her uncle… and she was punished for speaking to Me. I know, because the child ran after Me when I was leaving the village… But it does not matter.»
«I would have made her become ill again.»
«Peter!» Jesus is severe. «Is that what I teach you and the others? What have you heard Me say from the very first time you heard Me? Of what have I always spoken as being the first condition to be My true disciples?»
«It is true, Master. I am a real beast. Forgive me. But… I cannot bear the fact that they do not love You!»
«Oh! Peter! You will see much greater indifference! You will have many surprises, Peter! People that the so called “holy” world scorns as being money-changers, who instead will set an example in the world, an example which will not be followed by those who despise them. Heathens who will be My most faithful ones. Prostitutes who will become pure by strong will power and penance. Sinners who amend their way of living…»
«Listen: that a sinner amends his way… it may well be. But a prostitute and a money-changer!…»
«You do not believe it?»
«I do not.»
«You are mistaken, Simon.
60.6 But here is your mother-in-law coming towards us.»
«Master, I beg You to come and sit at my table.»
«Thank you, woman. May God reward you.»
They go into the kitchen and sit at the table. The old woman serves them with plenty of fish, both as soup and roasted. «I have nothing else but this» she apologises. And, to keep up the habit, she says to Peter: «Your brothers-in-law are doing even too much, all alone as they are, since you went to Bethsaida! If it had only helped to make my daughter richer… But I hear that you are very often absent and you do not go fishing.»
«I follow the Master. I have been to Jerusalem with Him and I am with Him on Sabbaths. I do not spend my time in revelries.»
«But you don’t earn any money. Since you want to be the Prophet’s servant, you had better come back here again. At least that poor daughter of mine will be fed by her relatives while you are acting the saint.»
«But are you not ashamed of speaking like that in front of Him Who healed you?»
«I am not criticising Him. He is doing His job. I am criticising you, you are a sluggard. In any case, you will never be a prophet or a priest. You are an ignorant sinner, a good for nothing.»
«You are lucky that He is here, otherwise…»
«Simon, your mother-in-law gave you very good advice. You can go fishing even here. I am told that you used to go fishing also at Capernaum. You can come back again.»
«And live here again? But Master, You do not…»
«Be good, Peter. If you are here, you will be either on the lake or with Me. So what difference is it for you if you are or you are not in this house?» Jesus has laid His hand on Peter’s shoulder and His calmness seems to pass into the fiery apostle.
«You are right. You are always right. I will do that. But… what about these?» and he points to his partners John and James.
«Can they not come, too?»
«Oh! Our father and above all our mother will be happier if they know we are with You, rather than with them. They will not object.»
«Perhaps Zebedee will come, too» says Peter.
«Quite likely. And others with him. We will come, Master.»

Detail

Note: There are two miracles in this extract, that of Peter's mother-in-law, and that of the mother of the child Sarah, in Nazareth (cf. 60.5).

Annotation

Matthew 8:14-15

As Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her. She got up and served him.

Mark 1, 29-31

As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the house of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever. They immediately told Jesus about the sick woman. Jesus went to her, took her by the hand and raised her up. The fever left her, and she served them.

Luke 4:38-39

Jesus left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and Jesus was asked to do something for her. He bent over her, threatened the fever, and it left her. Immediately, the woman got up and served them.

Keywords

GRM 60.5

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

I do not like useless curiosity.

Keywords

Who is Jesus? How Christ defines himself

GRM 60.5

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

I do not seek gratitude. All I want is to give souls the chance to save themselves. I do My duty. Let them do theirs.

Keywords

GRM 61

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus gives a parable about the king's beloved horse. It speaks of the will of man, of the Son being sent by the Father to save his beloved creature. The people tell Jesus that, in the face of such an attitude, the horse must return to God, since his king wishes him well, and Jesus encourages them to follow the response they have given.

Next, Jesus wants to give the obolus. A hunchback shows up (who didn't dare ask for the miracle), as does an old man who has come to beg for his daughter's healing; she's bedridden. Jesus heals them.

Then there's a 27-year-old woman with seven children who has nothing left. He gives her a large sum of money and promises that God's help will not fail her.

Finally, there's a ragged old man to whom Jesus gives nothing. The man claims that Christ is unjust and makes a fuss. But Jesus rebukes him, for he is a liar, a usurer, a miser and a thief. He orders him to leave and, as the crowd laughs, Jesus rebukes them too, urging them never to lack charity by insulting a sinner, for everyone has his own sin. Jesus must have shamed him, for it is never permissible to be a thief, but he suffered for doing so, and he invites men not to be greedy, not to lie, to be pure and honest.

Finally, Jesus frees two of the possessed. But he is overwhelmed, because there are possessions fermenting in hearts that close them off to honesty and love. Jesus is sad. The vision ends there.

Keywords

GRM 61.1-2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Jesus has climbed on top of a pile of baskets and ropes at the entrance to the kitchen garden of the house of Peter’s mother-in-law. The kitchen garden is crowded with people, and other people are on the lake shore, some sitting on the shore, some on the beached boats. It looks as if He has been speaking for some time, because the sermon has started.
I hear: «… Certainly many times you have thought so in your hearts. But it is not so. The Lord has not lacked in kindness of heart towards His people. Notwithstanding His people lacked in loyalty to Him thousands of times.
Listen to this parable. It will help you to understand.
A king had many wonderful horses in his stables. But he was particularly fond of one of them. He gazed fondly at it, even before he had it. Afterwards, when he got it, he put it in a delightful place and he often went to admire his favourite horse, both with his eyes and with his heart, dreaming it would become the wonder of his kingdom. And when the horse rebelled against commands, disobeyed and ran away under another master, the king, in his sorrow and his severity, promised he would forgive the rebel after it had been punished. And loyal as he was, although far away, he watched over his favourite and sent gifts and guardians to it, hoping they would keep his remembrance in the horse’s heart.
But the horse, although suffering from the exile from the kingdom, was not steady, as the king was, in loving and wishing complete forgiveness. At times it was good, at times bad; neither was its goodness greater than its badness. In fact, it was the other way round. And yet the king was patient and, with reproaches and caresses, he endeavoured to turn his horse into a dearer and more docile friend. As time went by, the horse became more and more loath. It invoked its king, it cried under the whip of other masters, but it did not really want to belong to the king. It simply did not want to. Oppressed, exhausted, moaning, it did not say: “I am such through my own fault”. Instead; it accused its king for it.
The king, after trying everything, decided to make one last effort. “So far” he said, “I have sent messengers and friends. Now I will send my own son. His heart is like my own and will speak the same love as I would, and will make use of the same caresses and gifts as I used, indeed, he will be even kinder, because my son is like myself, but made more sublime by love”. And he sent his son.
That is the parable.
61.2
Now tell Me: do you think that king loved his favourite horse?»
The crowd together reply: «He loved it with infinite love.»
«Could the animal complain of its king about all the ill it had suffered after leaving him?»
«No, it could not» reply the people.
«Answer also this question: how do you think that horse will have received the king’s son who went to rescue and cure it and take it back once again to the delightful land?»
«With great joy, of course, with gratitude and love.»
«Now, if the king’s son said to the horse: “I have come for this reason, to do such and such a thing for you, but now you must be good, obedient, willing and loyal to me”, what do you think the horse replied?»
«Oh! There is no need to ask! Now that it was aware of how much it cost to be expelled from the kingdom, it will have said that it wanted to be as the king’s son suggested.»
«Well, then, what was the duty of that horse, according to you?»
«To be even better than it was requested, more affectionate, more docile, to be forgiven for past faults, and out of gratitude for all the good received.»
«And if it did not do that?»
«It would deserve death, because it was worse than a wild beast.»
«My friends, you have judged correctly. But do exactly yourselves as you would have liked that horse to do. I beseech you, men, the favourite creatures of the King of Heaven, of God, My Father and yours, to be at least as you judge that horse to be. Because after the Prophets, God sends you His own Son and I implore you, for your good, and because I love you as only God can love, the God Who is in Me to work the miracle of Redemption. Woe to those men who lower themselves to a lower degree than animals! But if it was possible to excuse those who committed sin up to the present time — because too long a time has elapsed since the Law was given and too much worldly dust has settled on the Law — now it is no longer so. I have come to bring the word of God once again. The Son of man is amongst men to lead them back to God. Follow Me. I am the Way, the Truth, the Life.»

Detail

Parable of the king's beloved horse. Man is God's beloved creature