Judea region — notes (page 6/14)

GRM 77.4-5

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

77.4 «There are some houses over there» says John, who is walking a few steps in front of the others.
«It’s Hebron. Between two rivers with its crest. See, Master? That house there, amidst all the green, a little higher up than the others? That’s Zacharias’ house.»
«Let us quicken our paces.»
They cover the last stretch of the road very rapidly and go into the village. The sheep’s little hooves sound like castanets on the uneven stones of the road, which is paved very roughly. They reach the house. People look at the group of men, who are so different by look, age and garments amongst the white sheep.
«Oh! It’s different! There was a gate here!» says Elias. Now instead of the gate there is a metal door which prevents one from seeing, and also the enclosure wall is higher than a man and thus nothing can be seen inside.
«Perhaps it will be open at the back.» They go round a large quadrilateral wall, it is rather a long rectangular one, but the wall is the same height all round.
«The wall was built not long ago» remarks John, examining it. «There is not a scratch on it and there is still lime rubble on the ground.»
«I cannot even see the sepulchre… It was near the wood. Now the wood is outside the wall and… and it seems to belong to everybody. They are gathering firewood in it.» Elias is puzzled.
77.5 A man, an old woodcutter, small but strong, who is watching the group, stops sawing a trunk he has cut down, and goes towards the group. «Whom are you looking for?»
«We wanted to go in, to pray on Zacharias’ tomb».
«There is no tomb any longer. Don’t you know? Who are you?»
«I am a friend of Samuel, the shepherd. This…»
«It is not necessary, Elias» says Jesus and Elias keeps quiet.
«Ah! Samuel!… I see! But since John, Zacharias’ son, was put into prison, the house is no longer his. And it is a misfortune, because he had all the profit of his property given to the poor people in Hebron. One morning a man came from Herod’s court, he threw Jowehel out, he affixed seals, then he came back with bricklayers and they started raising the wall… The sepulchre was over there, in the corner. He did not want it… and one morning we found it all spoiled and half destroyed… the poor bones were all scattered… We put them together again, as best we could… They are now in a sarcophagus… And in the house of the priest Zacharias, that filthy man keeps his lovers. Now there is a mime from Rome. That is why he raised the wall. He does not want people to see… The house of the priest a brothel! The house of the miracle and of the Precursor! (...) »

Keywords

GRM 78

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus, John, Judas and Simon the Zealot arrive in Keroth. The shepherds are gone. Judas is really agitated and can't hold it together. He asks the Master to tell him, and Simon points out to the Master that this man doesn't understand him. Jesus sighs, but says nothing.

They arrive in Keroth, and are greeted by Judas' mother. She greets him with great respect, offers him something to refresh himself and gives him sandals and a cloak. Jesus initially says nothing, but thinks nothing of it; then, when Mary declares that she knows nothing of the ways of kings, he asks to speak to his apostle alone. There, he rebukes him severely, saying that he is putting obstacles in the way of his mission, for Israel is subject to Rome, and Christ is in no way a King of the earth.

He really encourages Judas to withdraw, to leave the group. Then he describes his kingship and when he will be crowned king: on the wood of the cross, with an infamous sign and under the booing of his people. Jesus thus predicts his atrocious death.

Judas is mortified, but he implores the Master to keep him, that he will become good. He asks for forgiveness and Jesus, tired, forgives him. However, the Iscariot asks to stay and go to his town, as Judas has told everyone that the Lord is coming. So Jesus decides to go along with what Judas has planned, not for himself, but for his mother.

So Jesus goes to Keroth on a chariot, and the synagogue leader welcomes him and asks him to go to their place of prayer. Jesus accepts and preaches to the people. He declares that he is the Word of God, but reminds them that his kingship is primarily spiritual. He then confirms this to the notables of Keroth.

Old Saul intervenes and speaks of the Nativity of Christ, whom he has come to adore. Jesus confirms that it was him, and the old man has a vision of the Lord's kingship. He sees him transfigured, then with his Wounds and Blood. He dies after bearing witness to Jesus' heart, so the group must purify themselves to comply with the Law.

Keywords

GRM 78.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

78.1 I am under the impression that the steepest part, that is the most tangled part of Judaean mountains, is between Hebron and Jutah. But I may be mistaken, and this valley may be wider, opening onto wider horizons, with isolated mountains emerging here and there, not forming any real chain. It may be a valley between two chains of mountains. I do not know. It is the first time I see it, and I am puzzled. The fields are not very large, but they are well cultivated with various cereals: mainly barley and rye. There are also some nice vineyards in the sunny parts. Higher up, I can see some lovely forests of pine-trees and fir-trees and other trees typical of woody places. A reasonably good road leads into a small village.
«This is the suburb of Kerioth. Please come to my country house. My mother is waiting for You there. We will go to Kerioth afterwards» says Judas who is beside himself with excitement.
I omitted to mention that only Judas, Simon and John are now with Jesus. The shepherds are not here. Perhaps they remained in the pastures of Hebron or they have gone back towards Bethlehem.
«As you wish, Judas, but we could have even stopped here to meet your mother.»
«Oh! No! It is only a farm house. My mother comes here at harvest time. But she lives in Kerioth. And do You not want my town people to see You? Do You not want to take Your light to them?»
«I certainly do, Judas. But you already are aware that I do not mind the humbleness of the place that gives Me hospitality.»
«But today You are my guest… and Judas knows how to be hospitable.»
They walk for a few more yards among houses spread about the country, while men and women look out, called by children. It is obvious that their curiosity has been awakened. Judas must have sent word warning them.
«Here is my poor house. Forgive its poverty.»
But, after all, the house is not a hovel: it consists of a large and well kept ground floor only, in the middle of a thick flowering orchard. A small private clean road leads from the main road to the house.
«May I go ahead of You, Master?»
«Yes, go.»
Judas goes.
«Master, Judas has done things in great style» says Simon. «I rather suspected he would. But now I am certain. Master, You keep saying, and quite rightly, spirit… But he… he does not see things that way. He will never understand You… or perhaps only very late» he adds not to grieve Jesus.
Jesus sighs and is silent.

Keywords

GRM 78.5

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

78.5 It is a short journey, about four hundred metres, probably a little more. The first houses of Kerioth are now visible and it looks like a decent little town. A little boy on the sunny road is watching and he immediately dashes away. When the cart reaches the first houses, the important people and the people welcome Him; the houses are decorated with draperies and branches. The people shout with joy and bow down deeply. Jesus, from the height of His shaking throne, can but greet them and bless them.
The cart moves on and after crossing a square it turns into a street, where it stops before a house the door of which is already wide open. Two or three women are standing at the door. They stop and get off.
«My house is Yours, Master.»
«Peace to it, Judas. Peace and holiness.»
They go in. Beyond the hall there is a large room with low divans and inlaid furniture. The important people of the place and other people go in with Jesus. There is a lot of bowing and curiosity: a showy joyfulness.

Keywords

GRM 79

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus walks with his disciples towards Hebron. John, Judas and Simon the Zealot are present. His goal is to reach the shepherds, especially Levi and Isaac. Judas grumbles about the incident at Kerioth, where Saul died against Jesus' heart, but the Lord rebukes him. He also affirms that we must be faithful to the Law and set an example. The apostolic group meets up with the shepherds again, and Elijah relates that Aglaia gave him her jewels in Hebron. They discuss what to do with them, but Christ gives no orders for the moment. He gives a short parable about Aglaia and the souls who repent like them. The apostles would like to turn back and go back to her, but Jesus doesn't want them to and decides that they should leave right away for the Temptation Mountain.

Keywords

GRM 79.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

79.1 Jesus is walking with His disciples on a road along the torrent. The road is not really running along the torrent. The torrent is below; high above, on the side of the mountain, there is a twisting road, as can be normally found in mountain places.

Keywords

Locations - Between Hebron and the Terebinth Valley

GRM 79.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Where will we find the shepherds?»
«Five miles from Hebron, on the banks of the river you were enquiring about.»
«Beyond that hill, then.»
«Correct.»
«It’s very warm. The summer… Where are we going after, Master?»
«To a place which is even warmer. But I ask you to come. We shall travel by night. The stars are so bright that there is no darkness. I want to show you a place…»
«A town?»
«No… A place… that will make you understand the Master… perhaps even better than His words.

Keywords

GRM 79.7

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«And what about us?»
«You? You will come, as I said, to see My preparation. Also I am prepared for My mission.»
«Did You go to a rabbi’s?»
«No.»
«Did You go to John?»
«I was only baptised by him.»
«Well, then?»
«Bethlehem spoke with its stones and its hearts. Also where I am taking you, Judas, the stones and a heart, Mine, will speak to you and give you the answer.»

Detail

Jesus gives his instructions to the shepherds Elijah, Levi, Joseph and Isaac after finding them. At this point, Judas intervenes and asks what the apostolic group is going to do.

Keywords

GRM 80

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus arrives at the Temptation Site, accompanied by John, Judas and Simon the Zealot. It's a desolate place. Judas thinks he's only been there a few hours, but the Lord disabuses him. He explained that he had come there to prepare for his Mission. The Iscariot thought he'd been with a few teachers and rabbis, but who could teach the Word of God anything?

Jesus goes on to explain that men have a destiny and must choose between the Friend or Satan. Finally, he suggested that the apostles stay here for a few days, to teach them the power of penance. John and Simon the Zealot readily accept. Judas is less enthusiastic, but doesn't dare leave.

After a few days, Maria's vision continues. Jesus explains that his stay in the desert lasted forty days and took place during winter. He explains his baptism, given by John, and the Temptation by the Devil. In particular, he talks about his God-man nature, and also answers Judas' question as to whether or not he could have been tempted. At the end of his speech, he asks the disciples not to tell Mary about the world's hostility to Jesus. She would suffer too much...

Keywords

GRM 80.1-2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

A most beautiful dawn in the wilderness, seen from the height of a mountain side. It is daybreak. A few stars are still visible and a very thin arc of a waning moon looks like a silver comma on the dark blue velvet of the sky.
The mountain is completely isolated, that is, it is not linked to any other chain of mountains. But it is a real mountain, not a hill. The top is much higher up, but even from the middle of its slope a very wide horizon can be seen, because one is well above ground level. In the fresh morning air, as the faint white-greenish dawn light becomes clearer and clearer, profiles and details slowly become visible, whereas before they were hidden in the fog that precedes daybreak, a fog that is darker than night, because the light of the stars seems to diminish and fade away in the transition from night to day. I thus see that the mountain is rocky and barren, split by gorges forming grottoes, caves and inlets in its side. It is a real wilderness: only where there is some earth capable of receiving and retaining the moisture of the rain, are there a few green tufts, mainly stiff thorny plants, with very few leaves, and low hard bushes of grass similar to thin green sticks, the name of which I do not know.
Below there is an even more barren plain, a flat stony ground that becomes more arid as it stretches out towards a dark spot, much longer than wider, at least five times longer than wider, which I think must be a thick oasis, which has sprung up in so much bleakness, because of underground waters. But when the light becomes brighter, I see that it is nothing but water. Stagnant, dark, dead water. A lake of infinite sadness. In the still feeble light it reminds me of the vision of the dead world. It seems to be drawing to itself all the darkness of the sky and all the gloominess of the surrounding area, dissolving in its still water the deep green of the thorny shrubs and stiff grass that for miles and miles around it and above it, are the only decoration of the earth. And after filtering so much gloom it seems to spread it around once again. How different it is from the sunny, smiling lake of Gennesaret!
High above, looking at the clear blue sky, which is becoming clearer and clearer, looking at the light progressing from the east in deeper and deeper brightness, one’s soul rejoices. But looking at the huge, dead lake gives one a stab in the heart. Not one bird flies over the water. Not one animal is on its shore. Nothing.
80.2
While I am watching so much desolation, I am aroused by the voice of my Jesus: «Here we are at the place I wanted.» I turn around. I see Him behind me, with John, Simon and Judas, near the rocky slope of the mountain, where there is a little path, or rather, where the long erosion of water, in the rainy months, has formed a very shallow channel throughout centuries, a drain for the water flowing from the mountain top and which is a path for wild goats rather than for men.
Jesus looks around and repeats: «Yes, this is the place that I wanted to bring you to. Here Christ prepared for His mission.»
«But there is nothing here!»
«You are quite right, there is nothing.»
«Who were You with?»
«With My soul and with the Father.»
«Ah! You stayed only for a few hours!»
«No, Judas. Not a few hours. Many days…»
«But who served You? Where did You sleep?»
«My servants were the wild asses that came to sleep in their caves, where I also had taken shelter. My maidservants were the eagles that said to Me with their harsh cries: “It’s daylight” and they flew away to attack their prey. My friends were the little hares that came up almost to My feet, gnawing at the wild herbs. My food and My drink were the same food and drink of the wild flower: the night dew and the sunshine. Nothing else.»
«But why?»
«To prepare well, as you say, for My mission. Things well prepared for are successful. You said so yourself. And My thing was not a small, a useless thing which would glorify Me, the Servant of the Lord, but it was to make men understand what the Lord is, and by means of such understanding, make Him loved in the spirit of truth. The servant that is concerned with his own triumph, and not with the Lord’s, is a miserable man! The servant who is anxious to make a profit, who dreams he will sit on a high throne built on the interests of God, which have been lowered down to the earth, whereas they are celestial interests, is also a miserable servant. He is no longer a servant, except in his external appearance. He is a merchant, a trafficker, a deceitful person, who deceives himself and men and would like to deceive God as well… a wretched man who believes he is a prince, whilst he is a slave. He belongs to the Evil One, his king of falsehood. Here, in this cave, Christ for many days lived fasting and praying to get ready for His mission.

Detail

When Maria mentions the lake and says that it reminds her of the vision of the dead world, she is referring to the vision of January 29, 1944, as described in the *Cahiers de 1944*.

Keywords

Locations - Massif de la Tentation