Chapter title: The stay in Bethany ends with two parables about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Date of vision: Sunday, July 1, 1945.
Calendar: Wednesday, April 5, 28 (23 Nissan 3788)
Location (map): Bethany
Cycle: Apostolate in Judea
Summary: Jesus gives a parable to calm the fear of some: it will be sweet for those of good will, bitter for others, but they have the means to correct themselves. Christ gives the parable of the ten virgins. They get ready and go into the vestibule of the bridegroom's house: they talk, tell good stories, but the evening drags on. Eventually, they fall silent and fall asleep. Then, around midnight, the bridal party arrives, so they get up to fetch their lamps. Five of them are wise and have already put oil in beforehand, but the other five haven't, and are even short of oil. They ask their companions to give them some, but the latter point out that they need it to resist wind and humidity: the foolish virgins must therefore go and get some from the merchant. And so they do. Nevertheless, the procession arrives in the meantime, they enter the house, the door is closed, and the foolish virgins are left behind.
Jesus explains the parable. The Bridegroom is God. The bride is the soul of a righteous man. The virgin-servants are the souls of the faithful who seek to attain the same honor as the bride by sanctifying themselves. They are dressed in white garments: they must practice righteousness with firmness. Their clothes are clean: their hearts are humble and pure. They are freshly dressed, meaning they have a childlike heart. Their veils are white, a sign of humility. Finally, they are crowned with flowers, meaning that the soul must continue to perform virtuous deeds day after day, and they have their lamps lit, symbolizing faith. So Jesus urges everyone to be vigilant.
The peasants set off in the chariot prepared by Lazarus. John of Endor accompanies them. Jesus promises that he will speak again to the people of Bethany, which he does that evening. He tells them that the Word is poor and wanted to remain poor. He compares poor people to rich people. The former guard the Word of God, while the latter can lose sight of it with their other treasures.
The Master gives the parable of the king who marries his son. He sends his servants to warn his friends and allies, as well as the great notables of his kingdom, but no one comes. He insists, and his guests either make excuses or take it out on the servant. After the sovereign is indignant and punishes the murderers, he again sends the servants to seek out passers-by, the good and the bad, the rich and the poor. Finally, he enters the banquet hall and sees a man who has not put on his wedding clothes, even though he had given everything necessary. Since the guest remained silent, he had him thrown out, and Jesus then explained the parable. The great ones are great in name only, and reject the Word and the invitation of their King. They are harsh and wicked. The Father will send out into the streets for people who are neither his friends, nor great ones, nor allies, but simply the people who walk outside, and he will make them clean for the Kingdom of God.
Jesus then takes his leave and, through Peter, has everyone pray the Lord's Prayer. Lazarus then greets him, and if he is sad to see him go, he is happy to have seen the Master more serene. Faced with a remark from Judas, Jesus recalls the last Easter, when he was just a stranger; but this year, he saw that nothing had changed, that the Temple was even worse, since it was a place for conjuring. Jesus is severe, and even speaks of his imminent death. Faced with the weeping Virgin, and Marziam with her, he encourages everyone not to weep. Finally, he makes recommendations to Isaac and John of Endor, then greets Lazarus, Maximin and the people of Bethany, as they will be leaving the next day.
Chapter contents: 206.1: Jesus proposes a parable to calm the fears of some. 206.2: The parable of the virgins: the wedding is prolonged. 206.3: The parable of the provident and improvident virgins. 206.4: The meaning of the word contained in the parable. 206.5: The attitude and attributes of the wise virgins, applied to the souls of the faithful. 206.6 : Why they have their lamps lit. 206.7: The departure of the peasants from Yokhanan and the promise to speak again to those from Bethany. 206.8: In the evening, Jesus takes the disciples from Bethany to a meadow. 206.9: Your privileged state. 206.10: The poor and the rich. 206.11: The parable of the royal wedding feast. 206.12: Go into the squares and byways. 206.13: The same will be done to the Messiah. 206.14: Blessing and public recitation of the Lord's Prayer. 206.15: Jesus smiling, Lazarus happy, Judas fleeing. 206.16: Reminder of the last Passover. 206.17: End of stay in Bethany.
Former edition: Volume 3, chapters 67 and 68