GRM 158.1
The Gospel as revealed to me
Translation in progress
Notes for this theme
Lakes in Palestine
Page 2 of 3
Reading comfort
Aa
GRM 160.4
The Gospel as revealed to me
Translation in progress
GRM 174.1 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
The top of Mount Hermon is like pink alabaster and is kissed by the sun. Two diamond threads – they look like threads from here – run down from the alabaster top twinkling in an unbelievable fashion in the sun, and disappear into the green woods; they appear once again down in the valley where they form water-courses which flow towards Lake Merom, which cannot be seen from here. They then flow out with the beautiful waters of the Jordan and later drop into the light sapphire sea of Galilee, which twinkles like chips of precious stones set in and lit up by the sun. The sails moving on the lake, calm and splendid in its frame of gardens and wonderful countryside, seem driven by the small light clouds sailing in the sea of the sky.
GRM 174.11 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
Jesus is standing on a rock and is speaking to a large crowd. It is a mountainous place. A lonely hill, between two valleys. The top of the hill is shaped like a yoke, or rather, like a camel’s hump, so that a few yards from the top there is a natural amphitheatre where voices resound clearly as in a well-built concert hall.
The hill is all in flower. It must be summer. The crops down in the plain are beginning to ripen and are getting ready to be cut. The glacier of a high mountain in the north is shining in the sun. Directly below, to the east, the Sea of Galilee looks like a mirror broken into numerous fragments, each of which is a sapphire lit up by the sun. Its blue-gold twinkling is dazzling and it reflects a few fluffy clouds in a very clear sky and the shadow of some swift sails. Beyond the lake of Gennesaret there is a vast extent of plain ground, which because of a light mist near the earth, caused perhaps by evaporation of dew — in fact it must be early morning as the grass on the mountain still has a few dewy diamonds glittering on its stems — looks like a continuation of the lake with an opal-like hue veined with green. Further back there is a chain of mountains, the side of which is so bizarre as to give the impression of clouds sketched on the clear sky.
GRM 174.22 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
« I have finished. I am now going down towards the lake and bless you in the name of the One and Triune God. May peace be with you.»
But the crowds shout: «We are coming with You. Let us come. No one has words like Yours!» And they begin to follow Jesus Who goes down on the opposite side from which He came up and which is in the direction of Capernaum.
The descent is steeper but faster and they soon reach the foot of the mountain on a green flowery plain.
GRM 178
The Gospel as revealed to me
Detail
Chapter title: Three men who want to follow Jesus.
Date of vision: Sunday, June 3, 1945
Calendar: Monday, February 21, 28 (8 Adar I 3788) according to maria-valtorta.org or Wednesday, March 1, 28 according to Valtorta.fr
Locations (map):Capernaum
Cycle: Apostolate in Galilee
Summary: Jesus makes his way with difficulty to the shore of Lake Tiberias, as the crowds hold him back. But Christ belongs to everyone, and many must have him. So he promises he'll be back. By the time he reaches Peter's boat, three men accost him. The first, having been won over by the Lord's words, promises to follow him. He asks what route he intends to take, and is not satisfied with Jesus' first answer - that he is taking the road to Heaven. When he asks in which houses he will stop, Jesus replies that the Son of Man has no place to lay his head, and the man understands that his home is everywhere. The Master then reminds us that we must be sacrificial, obedient, charitable to all, and heal the wounds of our brothers, without distancing ourselves from them because they are in the mud. His interlocutor asks him to try to follow his way, and Jesus actually encourages him to try.
The second man is challenged by the Savior. Christ urges him to follow, but Elijah has lost his father, and Jesus tells him to "let the dead bury their dead". He teaches that the mutilation of affections can serve to give wings to God's servant. As the man ponders, he has a little child pray aloud, and the youngster makes up his mind. Jesus supports him in his effort.
Finally, a third asks him to follow him after saying goodbye to his parents. But there's still too much humanity in him. He has to uproot the roots that are still too deep in the human, and if he can't, he has to pull them out. For to be a disciple, one must be totally free in spirit, and God is demanding. So you have to know how to carry your cross and put your hand to the plough without looking back. Jesus invites this person to work on himself before following him. Then the Master climbs into Peter's boat.
Chapter contents: 178.1: Jesus walks with difficulty through the crowd to the shore. 178.2: A scribe who hesitates to follow Jesus replies: Foxes have their dens, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. 178.3: A young man makes up his mind, leaving the dead to bury the dead. 178.4 : A third man will come later: No one who has put his hand to the plough can look back at what he has left.
Previous edition: Tome 3, chapter 38
GRM 179.1 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
Jesus says to me showing me the course of the Jordan, or rather, the mouth of the Jordan where it flows into Lake Tiberias, that is where the town of Bethsaida lies on the right bank of the river, with respect to those facing north: «The town nowadays no longer appears to be on the shore of the lake, but a little inland. And that puzzles scholars. The explanation is to be found in the earth that filled this part of the lake, as it was deposited there throughout twenty centuries by the river, by alluvia and landslides from the hills of Bethsaida. The town was then just at the mouth of the river and in fact the smaller boats, particularly in seasons rich in water, used to sail upstream, almost as far as Korazim; the river, however, was always used as a harbour and shelter for the boats of Bethsaida when the lake was very rough. I am not saying this for you, to whom it is of no interest, but for difficult doctors. And now go on.»
GRM 179.7-8.9 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
He then turns towards Peter and says: «Go up the river as far as you can and stop on the other side.» (...)
The rubbing of the boat on the pebbly river-bed causes the conversation to be interrupted to allow them to go ashore. The low hills of Bethsaida, which almost reach down to the lake, have come to an end here, instead a plain rich in crops extends from the shore, on the other side of Bethsaida, northwards.
«Are we going to Merom?» asks Peter.
«No, let us take this path among the fields.»
The lovely and well kept fields show ears of corn still tender but well formed, all of the same height; and, while lightly undulating in the cool northern breeze, they look like another small lake, the sails of which are the trees growing here and there full of whistling birds.
«These fields are not like the ones of the parable» remarks Jesus’ cousin James.
«Not really! The birds have not devastated them, there are no stone, no bramble. The corn is beautiful! In a month’s time it will be golden… and in two it will be ready for the sickle and the granary» says Judas of Kerioth.
«Master… I remind You of what You said in my house. You spoke so well. But I am beginning to have ideas in my head that are as confused as those ruffled clouds up there…» says Peter.
«This evening I will explain it to you. 179.8 Now we are in sight of Korazim.» And Jesus stares at the new disciple saying: «Much is given to those who give. And possessions do not deprive the gift of its merits. Take Me to the sepulchre of your family and to your mother’s house.»
The young man kneels down kissing Jesus’ hand and weeping.
«Get up. Let us go. My spirit has perceived your weeping. I want to fortify you in your heroism through My love.»
«Isaac the Elder had told me how good You were. Isaac, You know? You cured his daughter. He was my apostle. But I see that Your Kindness is much greater than I was told.»
«We shall call also on the Elder to thank him for giving Me a disciple.»
They reach Korazim and Isaac’s house is the first one they find.
(...) They stop first near the sepulchre and pray. After, through still semi-bare vineyards, they go to Elias’ house.
(...) They go on the road which takes them back to the river, and from there to Bethsaida.
Detail
Jesus has just finished preaching in Bethsaida. He is on the lake, with the young disciple who didn't go to his father's funeral, and speaks to Simon of Jonah.
Annotation
"Go up as high as you can and moor the boat on the other side. The first known Roman bridge on this stretch of the Jordan is in fact located 11/12 km further north(Jacob's Daughters Bridge). This bridge was destroyed in 1918.
The low hills of Bethsaida, which dip their noses into the lake, are no longer visible here, but a plain with rich harvests stretches along this bank opposite Bethsaida to the north. Correct: The plain northwest of Bethsaida is some 500m wide and 1 or 2 km long, then rises steadily to the west.
"Are we going to Merom ? We're taking this path through the fields." Merom is some 17km away, to the northwest, a 4-hour walk... Chorazeïn is barely 4km away, heading due west in a straight line from Bethsaida. Whenever possible, Jesus naturally takes the shortest route.
The fields, beautiful and well-tended, show their ears of corn, still tender but already formed. Consistent: 15 days later, Maria Valtorta remarked that they were "well formed"(EMV 190.1).
Beautiful wheat! Within a month, it will already be blond... and within two months, it will be ready to be mowed and stored. Correct: Harvest takes place at the end of April, beginning of May (according to Jean-François Lavère's chronology, we're at the end of February and the beginning of March). In 2 months' time, it's the episode of the stolen ears of corn on the Sabbath(EMV 217.3).
We've now arrived at Chorazeïn. That's right: coming from the north of Bethsaida, it's only at the last moment, after rounding the hill, that we can see Chorazeïn, located on the southern slope.
- Master... I remind you of what you said at my house. You spoke so well! But I'm starting to get clouds in my head as confused as they are up there. Jesus advised the apostles to ask him about his Word, so that he could explain it to them, in EMV 179.3.
When they arrive in Chorazeïn, Isaac's house is the first they see. This is Isaac the Adult, an old man from Chorazeïn whose daughter Jesus has healed.
They retrace their steps to the river, and from there to Bethsaida. Consistent: in the next chapter we discover that they spend the evening in Bethsaida. It only takes them 2h30 / 3h00 to make this round trip in the afternoon.
GRM 181.1 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
A clear dawn causes the lake to sparkle like pearls and envelops the hills in a mist as light as a muslin veil, through which olive and walnut-trees, houses and the background of villages look prettier than usual. Boats are sailing smoothly and quietly towards Capernaum. All of a sudden Peter turns the tiller of the rudder, so abruptly that the boat heels to one side.
«What are you doing?» asks Andrew.
«There is the boat of an owl[1]. It is leaving Capernaum now. My eyes are good and since yesterday evening I have the scent of a hound. I do not want them to see us. I am going back to the river. We will go on foot.»
Also the other boat has followed the manouevre, but James, who is holding the rudder, asks Peter: «Why are you doing that?»
«I will tell you later. Follow me.»
Jesus, Who is sitting astern, rouses when they are almost off the Jordan. «What are you doing, Simon?» He asks.
«We are getting off here. There is a jackal about. It is not possible to go to Capernaum today.»
Detail
It's the day after John the Baptist's arrest, and the apostles are suspicious of everyone.
Annotation
- I see an owl's boat! This sobriquet in Peter's mouth was inspired by the Palestine owl, otherwise known as the Great Horned Owl or Desert Owl (Bubo ascalaphus). It inhabits ruins and desolate places in great numbers, to which its mournful cry is well suited(source).
There's a jackal in sight. The jackal (schoual) is sometimes called a fox in the Old Testament. Indeed, they physically resemble each other.
GRM 182.6 · Volume 3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«You said that we are going to relieve hearts of another ardour… Where we going?» asks the Iscariot.
«For the time being as far as that shady spot, where the stream is. We will have something to eat there and then you will be told where we are going.»
Jesus says: «Insert here the vision of the second moment of Mary Magdalene’s conversion, which you had last year, on the 12th of August 1944.»