Notes for this theme

Near Lake Gennesaret (Lake Tiberias or Sea of Galilee)

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Reading comfort

GRM 59.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

I see the synagogue of Capernaum. It is already crowded with people waiting. People near the door cast glances at the square, which is still sunny, though it is almost evening. At last there is a shout: «The Rabbi is coming.» They all turn towards the door, the shorter people stand on their toes or endeavour to push their way to the front. Some start discussing and shoving, notwithstanding the reproaches of those employed in the synagogue and of the elders of the town.
«May peace be with all those seeking the Truth.» Jesus is at the entrance and He greets them, blessing with His arms stretched forward. His tall figure stands out against the very bright light in the sunny square. He has taken off His white mantle and is wearing the usual deep blue one. He makes His way through the crowd, which opens out and then throngs around Him, like the waves round a ship.

Keywords

Places - Capharnaüm

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 60.1-2

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.

Detail

Peter has two homes: one in Bethsaida, which is his own, the other in Capernaum, which is actually his mother-in-law's house and Porphyria's birthplace.

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

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

61.1 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.

Keywords

Locations - Peter's mother-in-law's house in Capernaum

GRM 62

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus goes out to pray. His prayer is very fervent. But Peter seeks him out, and they begin to talk: Jesus is now giving us a beautiful lesson on prayer. He promises to teach them to pray the Lord's Prayer when they are trained.

Simon of Jonah then explains that some people came to him, but he sent them away. But Jesus says he comes for everyone. Peter worries that his kindness will make him sick, but Christ would be happy if all mankind came to him, and he predicts that the Son of Man won't have anywhere to lay his head.

Finally, the Master asks where those who sought him have come from, and he tells his disciples to stay in Capernaum to send the crowds to him, and then he'll return.

Keywords

GRM 62.1-2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

I see Jesus coming out of Peter’s house at Capernaum, making as little noise as possible. He obviously spent the night there to make Peter happy.
It is the dead of night. The sky is a starry canopy. The lake faintly reflects the glitter of the sky and, rather than see it, one guesses the peaceful lake is there sleeping under the stars, because of the gentle lapping of the water on the gravel shore.
Jesus sets the door ajar, looks at the sky, the lake and the road. He is thinking. Then He starts walking, not along the lake, but towards the village. He passes through part of it towards the country. He goes into the country, along a little path that leads to the first undulations of an olive-grove. He enters the green, silent peace and prostrates Himself in prayer.
A fervent prayer! He prays kneeling down, and then, as if He were fortified, He stands straight up, His face raised to Heaven, a face made more spiritual by the rising light of a clear, summer dawn. He prays smiling now, whereas before He was sighing, probably because of some moral grief. His arms are fully outstretched. He seems a living, tall, angelical cross, so gentle is His attitude. He seems to be blessing the whole country, the rising day, the fading stars and the lake, now becoming visible.
62.2
«Master! We have been looking for You all over! We saw the door ajar, when we came back with the fish, and we thought You had gone out. But we could not find You. And at last, a peasant, who was loading his baskets to take them to town, told us. We were calling: “Jesus, Jesus!”, and he said: “Are you looking for the Rabbi Who speaks to the crowds? He went up that path, up towards the mountain. He must be in Micah’s olive-grove, because He often goes there. I have seen Him there before”. He was right. Why did You come out so early, Master? Why did You not rest? Was the bed not comfortable?…»
«No, Peter. The bed was comfortable and the room was lovely. But I often do that. To raise My spirit and be united to the Father.»

Detail

In Capernaum, there was an olive grove belonging to a certain Micah.

Keywords

GRM 62.2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Translation in progress

Keywords

GRM 62.4

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

62.4 Where were they from, those who were coming to Me?»
«From Korazim, Bethsaida, Capernaum, and there were some even from Tiberias and Gherghesa, as well as from the hundreds of villages around those towns.»
«Go and tell them that I will be at Korazim, Bethsaida and nearby villages.»
«Why not at Capernaum?»
«Because I came for everybody and everybody must have Me, and then… there is old Isaac waiting for Me. We must not disappoint his hopes.»
«Will You wait for us here, then?»
«No, I am going and you will stay at Capernaum to send the crowds to Me; I will come back later.»
«We will be here alone…» Peter is sad.
«Do not be sad. Obedience should make you happy as well as the conviction that you are a useful disciple. And the same applies to the others.»
Peter, Andrew, James and John cheer up. Jesus blesses them, and they part.
The vision ends in this way.

Detail

Peter informs Jesus that some people have come to see him, and he asks:

Keywords

GRM 64

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Peter, Andrew, John and James of Zebedee fished with Zebedee. However, they didn't catch any fish, and Simon of Jonah was sorry. There are sick people to feed and care for. He was sorry that the Master wasn't there, but the latter had just returned. The disciples rush to Him and give Him an account of what they have done. The leader of the apostles explains that he has kept a purse given to him, for Christ to distribute, and also informs him that he has stored up some sick people to await his return. Jesus replies that he has done the right thing.

The children spread the word throughout Capernaum that their great Friend was there, and the little ones surrounded him: he promised a sermon just for them. So the Savior goes to Peter's house and preaches from there: he comments on two verses of the Song of Songs about lilies, and applies it to the children. He enjoins all men, great or poor, to be like one of these, explaining that the Son of Man finds his joy in these innocent and simple beings.

When he has finished preaching, Peter informs him that some sick people are present, but that one of them is unable to move: the Master tells him to take him through the roof, and so they do. The paralytic of the Gospel is presented to him, and everything happens as in the New Testament account. Jesus tells him that his sins are forgiven, and he responds to the Pharisees present, affirming that the Son of Man has all powers. He heals the cripple, the fussy doctors leave, and the crowd follows the miracle-worker in jubilation. A mother presents her dying toddler, and Jesus saves him. Finally, when he goes outside, he cures a man with a high fever.

Once outside, people beg Christ to give his teachings, because some haven't heard him. Jesus then goes out in Peter's boat to preach to the crowd. The vision ends there.