GRM 50.8
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«Are You leaving tomorrow, Master?»
«Tomorrow, at dawn, if you do not mind.»
«I am sorry that You are going away. But I do not mind the hour. On the contrary, it suits me.»
«Are you going fishing?»
«Yes, tonight, when the moon rises.»
«You did well, Simon, not fishing last night. The Sabbath was not yet finished. Nehemiah in his reformation wants[2] the Sabbath to be respected in Judah. Even nowadays too many people work on the Sabbath day at presses, carry wood, wine and fruit and buy and sell fish and lambs. You have six days for that. The Sabbath is of the Lord. Only one thing you may do on the Sabbath: you may do good to your neighbour. But all profit must be excluded from such help. He who infringes the Sabbath to make a profit will be punished by God. He makes a profit? He will lose it during the other six days. He makes no profit? He has fatigued his body for no purpose, because he did not grant it the rest that Intelligence prescribed for it, and thus he irritated his soul having worked in vain, and goes to the extent of cursing. The day of the Lord, instead, is to be spent with your hearts united to God in sweet prayer of love. You must be faithful in everything.»
Annotation
Book of Nehemiah
Ne 13:15-22: At that time, I saw people in Judah treading at the wine press on the Sabbath. Others were bringing in sheaves of grain, loading them onto donkeys, along with wine, grapes, figs and all kinds of burdens, to take to Jerusalem on the Sabbath. On that day, when they were selling their wares, I issued a warning.
In Jerusalem, the Tyrians, who lived there, were bringing in fish and goods of all kinds to sell to the Judeans on the Sabbath. So I rebuked the rulers of Judah and said to them, "You are doing wrong by profaning the Sabbath! Is this not how your fathers acted? Then our God brought all this evil upon us and upon this city. And you, by profaning the Sabbath, increase his wrath against Israel."
So as soon as the shadow had spread over the gates of Jerusalem, just before the Sabbath, I ordered the shutters closed and said not to open them again until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burden would enter on the Sabbath.
Once or twice, merchants and traders in all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem. But I warned them, saying: "Why do you spend the night outside the walls? If you do it again, I'll lay hands on you!" Since then, they have not come on the Sabbath.
I ordered the Levites to purify themselves and come to guard the gates, so that the Sabbath day would be sanctified. For this reason also, remember me, my God, and have mercy on me, in your great faithfulness!