Notes for this theme

Near Lake Gennesaret (Lake Tiberias or Sea of Galilee)

Page 10 of 12

Reading comfort

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.

Keywords

GRM 181.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Une aube claire fait briller comme des perles les eaux du lac et enveloppe les collines d’une brume légère. A travers ce voile de mousseline, les oliviers et les noyers, les maisons et les villages, juchés sur les sommets arrondis qui environnent le lac, apparaissent embellis. Les barques glissent tranquillement et sans bruit en direction de Capharnaüm. Mais, à un certain moment, Pierre tourne la barre du gouvernail si brusquement que la barque penche d’un côté.
« Que fais-tu ? demande André.
– Je vois la barque d’un hibou ! Elle sort maintenant de Capharnaüm. J’ai de bons yeux et, depuis hier soir, un flair de fin limier. Je ne veux pas qu’ils nous voient. Je retourne au fleuve. Nous irons à pied. »
L’autre barque a elle aussi suivi la manœuvre, mais Jacques, qui tient la barre, demande à Pierre :
« Pourquoi as-tu fait cela ?
– Je te le dirai. Suis-moi. »
Jésus, qui est assis à la poupe, se réveille quand il est presque à la hauteur du Jourdain.
« Mais que fais-tu, Simon ? lui demande-t-il.
– On descend ici. Il y a un chacal en vue. On ne peut pas aller à Capharnaüm aujourd’hui. Je vais y aller, moi d’abord, pour me rendre compte. Simon et Nathanaël viennent avec moi : trois personnes dignes contre trois indignes… si du moins les indignes ne sont pas plus nombreux.
– Ne vois pas des pièges partout, maintenant ! N’est-ce pas la barque de Simon le pharisien ?
– C’est bien elle.
– Il n’était pas à la capture de Jean.
– Moi, je n’en sais rien.
– Il est toujours respectueux à mon égard.
– Je n’en sais rien.
– Tu me fais paraître lâche.
– Je n’en sais rien. »
Bien que Jésus n’ait pas envie de rire, il doit sourire devant ce saint entêtement de Pierre.
« Mais nous devrons quand même aller à Capharnaüm. Si ce n’est pas aujourd’hui, ce sera plus tard…
– Je t’ai dit que j’y allais d’abord, moi, et je me rendrai compte et… le cas échéant… je ferai encore cette… ce sera une belle couleuvre à avaler… mais je le ferai par amour pour toi… J’irai… j’irai chez le centurion lui demander sa protection…
– Mais non, il ne faut pas ! »
La barque s’arrête sur une petite plage déserte en face de Bethsaïde. Tous descendent.
« Venez, vous deux. Viens toi aussi, Philippe. Vous, les jeunes, restez ici, Nous aurons vite fait. »
Elie, le nouveau disciple, supplie :
« Viens chez moi, Maître. Je serais si heureux de te donner l’hospitalité…
– Je viens. Simon, tu me rejoindras chez Elie. Adieu, Simon. Va. Mais sois bon, prudent et miséricordieux. Viens, que je t’embrasse et te bénisse. »
Pierre ne promet pas d’être bon, ni patient, ni miséricordieux. Il se tait et échange un baiser avec son Maître. Simon le Zélote, Barthélemy et Philippe échangent eux aussi un baiser d’adieu et les deux groupes se séparent en prenant deux directions opposées.

Detail

It's the day after Jean-Baptiste's arrest.

Annotation

- I see an owl's boat! It is now leaving Capernaum. They must be 3 or 4 km from Capernaum, and Peter recognizes the boat belonging to one of the Pharisees.

Jesus, who is seated at the stern, wakes up when he is almost at the level of the Jordan. Stern or rear part of a boat. This is his "usual" place, as we see in EMV 448.3 and EMV 185.2).

Elijah, the new disciple, begs: this is a new disciple, met inEMV 179.

The two groups separate in opposite directions. Peter, with Simon the Zealot, Philip and Bartholomew, heads southwest along the coast towards Capernaum, while Jesus' group heads north up the path to Corozain.

Keywords

GRM 181.2 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

They enter Korazim when it is broad daylight. All the stems twinkle with dewy gems. Birds are singing everywhere. The air is pure and cool, it seems to savour of milk, of a vegetable milk rather than animal milk. The scent of the corn coming into ears, of the almond-groves laden with fruit… is the scent I could smell in cool mornings in the rich fields in the Po Valley.
They soon reach Elias’ house. Many people in Korazim already know that the Master has arrived, and while Jesus is about to enter the house, a mother rushes towards Him shouting: «Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on my daughter!»

Annotation

As they entered Chorazeïn, dawn gave way to daylight. From the lake, They covered 6 km, which could have taken them around 1 h ½.

Keywords

GRM 181.3 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

The crowds gather in Elias’ little kitchen garden requesting Jesus to speak to them. And although He is not inclined to do so, sad as He is because of the Baptist’s capture and the way it happened, He yields and begins to speak in the shade of the trees.

Detail

At the house of Elie de Chorazeïn.

Annotation

Although Jesus is reluctant to talk, distressed as he is by John the Baptist's capture and the way it came about, he gives in. He had heard the news the day before.

Keywords

GRM 181.7 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Let us go to the house. The sun is already too warm. It looks as if there is going to be a storm. And you are tired because of the sleepless night.»
«The rooms in the house are high, large and cool. You will be able to rest» says Elias.
They go up the outside staircase. But only the apostles lie down on the mats to rest. Jesus goes out onto the terrace, a corner of which is shaded by a very tall oak-tree, and becomes engrossed in thought.

Detail

At the house of Elie de Chorazeïn.

Annotation

You're tired from a sleepless night. Following Jean-Baptiste's arrest.

A corner is shaded by a tall oak tree. The Palestine oak (Quercus calliprinos) is an evergreen from the eastern Mediterranean, closely related to the kermes oak.

Keywords

GRM 182

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: Discourse to shepherds, in the presence of Zechariah, the little orphan.

Date of vision: Saturday, June 9, 1945.

Calendar: Friday, March 3, 28

Locations (map): In Chorazeïn, then in the countryside, towards Magdala

Cycle: Apostolate in Galilee

Summary: Peter returns from Capernaum and tells what he has learned. The Pharisees Elijah and Joachim are probably behind the plot, as they were out of town. The Pharisee Simon spoke to him discreetly, giving advice to the Master, and Peter even went to see the centurion whose servant Jesus had healed. He obtained his protection, before returning to Chorazeïn. Jesus then took leave of Elijah, and set off again with the Twelve.

They walk through the countryside and meet shepherds, including the orphaned Zachariah. Zechariah reveals his grief at the loss of his father, and as the shepherds want to hear from the Master, Jesus speaks to them and says a few words. The shepherds regret being cut off from everything, so Jesus urges them to see things in a spiritual way, and explains that in this way they are far from the corruption of the world. Then the Lord encourages them to be kind to this young child, being to him like a surrogate father. Then the apostolic group goes on its way...

Chapter contents: 182.1: Peter gives good news from Capernaum. 182.2: Jesus speaks to young Zechariah, an unfortunate shepherd boy. 182.3 : The shepherds sought to see Jesus. 182.4 : Catechesis adapted to those cut off from everything. 182.5 : Help and protection for the child. Farewells. 182.6 : Where are we going?" asks the Iscariot.

Former edition: Volume 3, chapter 42.

Keywords

GRM 182.2 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

They are alone once again: the Master with His apostles and they walk along the cool country, along a road which Jesus has taken much to Peter’s surprise, as he wanted to take a different one. «We are going away from the lake…»
«We will still arrive in time for what I have to do.»
The apostles become silent and go towards a little village, a handful of houses, spread out in the country.

Annotation

They walk in the cool countryside, on a road that Jesus has taken, to the astonishment of Peter, who wanted to take another. Jesus avoids Capernaum by going further inland.

"This takes us away from the lake..." he says. "We'll get there just in time for what I have to do. For several days Jesus has been preparing his coming to Magdala... "The Father (God) gave me two names of people...": see EMV 176.1.

Keywords

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.»

Keywords

GRM 183

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: Healing of a wounded man in Mary of Magdala's house.

Date of vision: Saturday, August 12, 1944

Calendar: Wednesday, February 23, 28 (10 Adar I 3788) according to maria-valtorta.org; Friday, March 3, 28 according to Valtorta.fr

Location (map): Magdala. The crossroads Jesus takes is probably on this map.

Cycle: Apostolate in Galilee

Summary: Jesus continues on his way Peter wonders if they are going to Capernaum, and he learns from Jesus that they are going to Magdala. This scandalizes him a little, and Jesus informs him that he will have to go to real brothels for love of Him. But neither John, nor he, nor the others will defile themselves as long as we refuse to let impurity into our hearts. Judas grumbles inwardly, and the Master enjoins him not to slander inwardly and not to trust himself. After asking Matthew for advice on the road, the apostolic group goes to the richest district of Madgala and they hear a shout. There has been a brawl between a Roman and a Jewish man who is dying, because of Mary of Magdala. The dying man's mother is desperate, and accuses Mary of having put him in this state. Jesus takes note of Lazarus' sister, but is more interested in the dying man and asks that he be taken to his mother's house, so that he can perform the miracle. Finally, he asks the mother to forgive Mary Magdalene and heals the adulterer for the sake of his wife and children.

He then leaves without a word to Mary Magdalene, and rebukes Peter when he speaks badly of her.

Chapter contents: 183.1: Surprising decision to go to Magdala. 183.2: A murder has been committed. 183.3: It is in Mary Magdalene's house. 183.4: Jesus heals the victim because of kinship, but outside the house of sin. 183.5: Peter! Do not insult. Pray for sinners.

Old edition: Tome 3, chapter 43

Keywords

GRM 183.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

The entire apostolic college is around Jesus. Sitting on the grass, in the cool shade of a thicket, near a stream, they are all eating bread and cheese and drinking the cool clear water of the stream. Their dusty sandals imply that they have walked a long way and perhaps the disciples wish but to rest on the long fresh grass.
But the Tireless Walker is not of the same mind. As soon as he deems that the hottest hour is over, He gets up, goes onto the road and looks… He then turns around and says: «Let us go.» Nothing else.