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Judas de Kérioth (apostle)

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GRM 66.1-3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

66.1 In the afternoon I see Jesus… in the olive-grove… He is sitting on one of the little ground terraces, in His familiar position, His elbows resting on His knees, His forearms forward and His hands joined. It is getting dark and the light becomes fainter and fainter in the thick olive-grove. Jesus is alone. He has taken off His mantle as if He were warm, and His white tunic stands out against the green of the surroundings which are made even darker by the twilight.
A man comes down through the olive-trees. He seems to be looking for something or someone. He is tall and is wearing gay coloured garments: a yellow pink hue that makes his big mantle more showy, adorned as it is with swinging fringes. I cannot see his face very well because of the dim light and the distance, and also because the edge of the mantle is lowered over part of his face. When he sees Jesus he makes a gesture as if to say: «There He is!» and he hastens his step. When he is a few metres away, he greets Him: «Hail, Master!»
Jesus turns round suddenly and looks up, because the man is standing on the next terrace, which is higher up. Jesus looks at him, He is serious, and I would say also sad. The man says once again: «I greet You, Master. I am Judas of Kerioth. Do You not recognise me? Do You not remember?»
«I remember and recognise you. You spoke to Me here with Thomas, last Passover.»
«And You said to me: “Think about it and make up your mind before I come back”. I have made up my mind. I will come.»
«Why are you coming, Judas?» Jesus is really sad.
«Because… The last time I told You why. Because I dream of the Kingdom of Israel and I see You as a king.»
«Is that why you are coming?»
«Yes, it is. I will put myself and everything I possess: capability, acquaintances, friends, fatigue at Your service and at the service of Your mission to rebuild Israel.»
The two are now close, in front of each other, standing, and they stare at each other. Jesus is serious and melancholy. Judas exalted by his dream is smiling, handsome and young, sprightly and ambitious.
«I did not look for you, Judas.»
«I know. But I looked for You. For days and days I have been putting people at the gates to warn me of Your arrival. I thought You would be coming with some followers and that it would therefore be easy to notice You. Instead… I understood that You had been here, because a group of pilgrims was blessing You as You had healed a sick man. But no one could tell me where You were. Then I remembered this place. And I have come. If I had not found You here, I would have resigned myself to not finding You any more…»
«Do you think it is a good thing for you, that you found Me?»
«Yes, because I was looking for You. I was longing for You, I want You.»
«Why? Why did you look for Me?»
«But I have told You, Master!
66.2 Did You not understand?»
«I did understand you. Yes, I did. But I want you also to understand Me before you follow Me. Come. We will talk while walking.» And they start walking, one beside the other, up and down the paths that cross one another in the olive-grove. «You want to follow Me for a human reason, Judas. But I must dissuade you. I have not come for that.»
«But are You not the designated King of the Jews? The one of whom the Prophets spoke? Others have come. But they lacked too many things and they fell like leaves no longer supported by the wind. But You have God with You, in fact You work miracles. Where there is God, the success of the mission is guaranteed.»
«You have spoken the truth. I have God with Me. I am His Word. I was prophesied by the Prophets, promised to the Patriarchs, expected by the people. But why, Israel, have you become so blind and deaf that you are no longer able to read and see, to hear and understand the reality of events? My Kingdom is not of this world, Judas. Allow yourself to be convinced of that. I have come to Israel to bring Light and Glory. But not the light and glory of the earth. I have come to call the just of Israel to the Kingdom. Because it is from Israel that the plant of eternal life is to come, and with Israel it is to be formed, the plant, the sap of which will be the Blood of the Lord, the plant that will spread all over the earth, until the end of time. My first followers will be from Israel. My first confessors will be from Israel. But also My persecutors will be from Israel. Also My executioners will be from Israel. And also My traitor will be from Israel.»
«No, Master. That will never happen. If everyone should betray You, I will remain with You and defend You.»
«You, Judas? And on what do you base your certainty?»
«On my honour as a man.»
«Which is more fragile than a cobweb, Judas. It is God we have to ask for the strength to be honest and faithful. Man!… Man accomplishes human deeds. To accomplish spiritual deeds — and to follow the Messiah with truthfulness and justice is to accomplish a spiritual deed — it is necessary to kill man and make him be born again. Are you capable of so much?»
«Yes, Master. And in any case… Not everybody in Israel will love You. But Israel will not give the Messiah executioners and traitors. Israel has been waiting for You for centuries!»
«I will be given them. Remember the Prophets… Their words… and their end. I am destined to disappoint many. And you are one of them. Judas, you have here in front of you a mild, peaceful poor man, who wishes to remain poor. I have not come to impose Myself and make war. I am not going to contend with the strong and mighty ones for any kingdom or any power. I contend only with Satan for souls and I have come to break the chains of Satan with the fire of My love. I have come to teach mercy, sacrifice, humbleness, continence. I say to you and to everybody: “Do not crave for human wealth, but work for eternal coins”. You are deceiving yourself if you think I am to triumph over Rome and the ruling classes. Herods and Caesars can sleep in peace, while I speak to the crowds. I have not come to snatch anybody’s sceptre,… and My eternal sceptre is already ready, but no one, unless one was love as I am, would like to hold it.
66.3 Go, Judas, and ponder…»
«Are You rejecting me, Master?»
«I reject nobody, because those who reject do not love. But, tell Me, Judas: how would you describe the gesture of a man, who, knowing he is infected by a contagious disease, says to another man who approaches him unaware of the situation, to drink out of his chalice: “Watch what you are doing”? Would you define it hatred or love?»
«I would say it was love, because he does not want the man, unaware of the danger, to ruin his health.»
«Well, define also My gesture likewise.»
«Can I ruin my health coming with You? No, never.»
«You can ruin more than your health, because, consider this carefully, Judas, little will be debited to him who is a murderer, but believes he is doing justice, and he believes it because he does not know the Truth; but a great deal will be debited to him, who knowing the Truth, not only does not follow it, but becomes its enemy.»
«I will not do that. Take me, Master. You cannot refuse me. If You are the Saviour and You see that I am a sinner, a sheep astray, a blind man off the right path, why do You refuse to save me? Take me. I will follow You, even to death…»
«To death! That is true. Then…»
«Then, Master?»
«The future is in God’s bosom. Go. We will meet tomorrow at the Fish Gate.»
«Thank You, Master. The Lord be with You.»
«And may His mercy save you.»
And it all finishes.

Keywords

GRM 67

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus is alone. He meets two men who are quarrelling and trying to stab each other. Christ intervenes again, warning them to stop; then, when they don't listen, he works a miracle and the blades break.

As soldiers from Rome arrive, Jesus gives a brief sermon for the men of Israel, and then also for the pagans present, enjoining them to love, and also pointing out that it is not through violence that one is victorious, but through holiness. Anger is a sin that can cut us off from God's blessing; yet the Lord's children must be kind to one another and love one another.

Having finished his speech, he is asked if he is the Messiah, and Jesus does not deny it. He is asked again if he performs miracles, and he doesn't deny it either, even performing them when the sick are presented to him. The crowd rejoices and Jesus blesses.

Then Judas arrives, inquiring about what has happened. He asks if he's going to stay in Jerusalem, but Jesus tells him he's going to travel to Judea, promising to go to Keroth. Finally, they both speak of John the Baptist, whom Herod has arrested. If Jesus is Goodness, the Forerunner is Penitence. The vision ends there.

Keywords

GRM 67.5-6

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

67.5 «Master!» Judas runs towards Him. «Master, You arrived before me. But what is happening?»
«The Rabbi has worked a miracle! Not in Galilee; here! We want Him here!»
«See, Master? The whole of Israel loves You. It is only fair You should stay here, too. Why do You not want to?»
«It is not that I do not want to, Judas. I came here by Myself, that the roughness of the Galilean disciples might not irritate the subtleness of the Judaeans. I want to gather all the sheep of Israel under the sceptre of God.»
«That is why I said to You: “Take me”. I am a Judaean, and I know how do deal with my equals. Will You therefore remain in Jerusalem?»
«For a few days. To wait for a disciple, who is also a Judaean. Then I will go through Judaea…»
«Oh! I will come with You. I will accompany You. You will come to my village. I will take You to my house. Will You come, Master?»
67.6 «I will come… Have you any news of the Baptist, since you are a Judaean and you live with the mighty ones?»
«I know that he is still in jail, but they want to set him free, because the crowds are threatening a revolt, if they do not get their prophet. Do You know him?»
«Yes, I do.»
«Do You like him? What do You think of him?»
«I think no one has been more like Elijah than he is.»
«Do You really consider him the Precursor?»
«Yes, he is. He is the morning star announcing the sun. Blessed are those who through his preaching have prepared themselves for the Sun.»
«John is very severe.»
«Not more with others than he is with himself.»
«That is true. But it is difficult to follow him in his penance. You are more kind, and it is easy to love You.»
«And yet…»
«Yet… what, Master?»
«Yet, as he is hated because of his austerity, I will be hated because of My goodness, because they both preach God, and God is disliked by the wicked. But it is to be thus. As he precedes Me in preaching, so he will precede Me in death. Woe to the killers of Penance and Goodness.»
«Why, Master, have You always such sad forecasts? The crowds love You. You saw that…»
«Because I am sure. Humble people do love Me. But the crowd is not all humble and of humble people. But I am not sad. It is a placid vision of the future and compliance with the will of the Father, Who sent Me for that. And I have come for that. Here we are at the Temple. I am going to the Bel Nidrasc to teach the crowds. If you wish, you may stay.»
«I will stay with You. There in only one thing I wish: to serve You and let You triumph.»
They enter the Temple, and it all ends.

Detail

Jesus promises Judas to go to Kerioth.

Keywords

GRM 68

The Gospel as revealed to me

Translation in progress

Keywords

GRM 68.1-3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

68.1 I see Jesus entering the enclosure of the Temple with Judas beside Him. After going through the first terrace, He stops in a porch on the side of a wide yard, paved with multicoloured marble. The place is beautiful and crowded.
Jesus looks around and sees a spot He likes. But before turning His steps to it, He says to Judas: «Call the official of the place for Me. I must make Myself known, so that no one may say I break the custom and lack in respect.»
«Master, You are above the custom and no one more than You is entitled to speak in the House of God, since You are His Messiah.»
«I know, you know, but they do not know. I have not come to scandalise or to teach people to break not only the Law, but also the custom. On the contrary, I have come to teach respect, humbleness and obedience and to remove scandals. I therefore want to ask to be allowed to speak in God’s name, making the official of the place acknowledge Me as being worthy.»
«You did not do that the last time.»
«The last time I was inflamed by the zeal for the House of God, desecrated by too many things. The last time I was the Son of the Father, the Heir Who, in the name of the Father and for the love of My House, acted in His majesty, which is above officials and priests. Now I am the Master of Israel, and I teach Israel also that. After all, Judas, do you think that a disciple is greater than His Master?»
«No, Jesus.»
«And who are you? And who am I?»
«You are the Master, I the disciple.»
«Well then, if you admit that, why do you want to teach your Master? Go and obey. I obey My Father, you must obey your Master. The first condition of the Son of God: to obey without discussing orders, knowing that the Father can give but holy orders. The first condition of a disciple: to obey his Master, knowing that the Master knows and can give but just orders.»
«It is true. Forgive me. I will obey.»
«I forgive you. Go. And, Judas, listen to one more thing: remember that. Always bear that in mind in future.»
«To obey? Yes, I will.»
«No: remember that I was respectful and humble to the Temple. To the Temple: that is, to the mighty castes; go.»
Judas looks at Him, wistfully and inquisitively… but he dare not ask further questions. And he goes away thoughtfully.
68.2
… He comes back with a sumptuously dressed personage. «Here, Master, the official.»
«Peace be with you. I ask to teach Israel, amongst the rabbis of Israel.»
«Are You a rabbi?»
«Yes, I am.»
«Who was Your teacher?»
«The Spirit of God Who speaks to Me in His wisdom and enlightens every word of the Holy Scriptures for Me.»
«Are You greater than Hillel, since You say You know all doctrines, without a teacher? How can one be formed if there is no one forming him?»
«As David was formed, an unknown little shepherd, who became a powerful and wise king by God’s will.»
«Your Name?»
«Jesus of Joseph of Jacob of the House of David, and of Mary of Joachim of the House of David and of Anne of Aaron. Mary, the Virgin married in the Temple by the High Priest, according to the law of Israel, because She was an orphan.»
«Who can prove that?»
«There must still be some Levites here who will remember the event and who were the same age as Zacharias of the class of Abijah, My relative. Ask them, if you doubt My sincerity.»
«I believe You. But who will prove to me that You are capable of teaching?»
«Listen to Me and you will judge for yourself.»
«You are free to do it… But… are You not a Nazarene?»
«I was born at Bethlehem of Judah, at the time of the census decreed by Caesar. Banished by unfair orders, the children of David are now everywhere. But the family is of Judah.»
«You know… the Pharisees… all Judaea… throughout Galilee…»
«I know. But be reassured. I was born at Bethlehem, at Bethlehem Ephrathah, whence My family comes; if now I live in Galilee, it is only to fulfil the given sign…»
The official goes away a few yards, hastening to where they call him.
68.3
Judas asks: «Why did You not say that You are the Messiah?»
«My words will say so.»
«Which is the sign to be fulfilled?»
«The union of Israel under the teaching of the word of Christ. I am the Shepherd of Whom the Prophets speak and I have come to gather all the sheep of every region, I have come to cure the sick ones and put the wandering ones on a good pasture. There is no Judaea or Galilee, no Decapolis or Idumaea for Me. There is only one thing: the Love that sees with one glance only and joins in one embrace only in order to save…» Jesus is inspired. Rays of light seem to be emanating from Him, so happily He smiles at his dream. Judas, amazed, stares at Him.

Keywords

GRM 68.5-6

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Are You a disciple of the Baptist, since You speak of him with such veneration?»
«I was baptised by him, on the banks of the Jordan, before he was imprisoned. I venerate him because he is holy in the eyes of God. I solemnly tell you that among the children of Abraham there is no one greater in grace than he is. From his birth to his death, the eyes of God will rest upon that blessed man without any feeling of disdain.»
«Did he give You any assurance about the Messiah?»
«His word, which does not lie, pointed out the living Messiah to those present.»
«Where? When?»
«When it was time to do so.»
68.6
But Judas feels obliged to say to everybody: «The Messiah is He Who is speaking to you. I declare it, because I know Him, and I am His first disciple.»
«Him!… Oh!…» The people move away frightened. But Jesus is so sweet that they gather round Him again.
«Ask Him to work some miracles. He is powerful. He can heal. He can read your hearts. He can answer all your questions.»
«Tell Him, on my behalf, that I am not well. My right eye is blind. My left one is already failing…»
«Master.»
«Judas.» Jesus, Who is caressing a little girl, turns around.
«Master, this man is almost blind and he wants to see. I told him you can…»
«I can heal him who has faith. Have you faith, man?»
«I believe in the God of Israel. I come here to enter the Bethzatha Pool. But there is always someone before me.»
«Can you believe in Me?»
«If I believe in the angel of the pool, should I not believe in You, Who Your disciple says are the Messiah?»
Jesus smiles. He wets His finger with saliva and lightly touches the diseased eye. «What can you see?»
«I see things without the fog I used to see. Are You not healing the other one?»
Jesus smiles once again. He repeats the operation on the blind eye. «What can you see?» He asks, removing His fingertip from the closed eyelid.
«Ah! Lord of Israel! I can see as well as when I was a little boy, running through the meadows! May You be blessed forever and ever!” The man cries, kneeling at Jesus’ feet.
«Go. Be good, now, out of gratitude to God.»

Detail

Jesus speaks and is asked a question.

Keywords

Judas de Kérioth (apostle)

GRM 69

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus leaves the Temple with Judas. Judas wants to go with him, but Jesus tells him that he needs to pray with the Father. He affirms that the spirit must always take precedence over the flesh, and that the flesh must almost be killed in favor of supernatural life. Judas then asks how we can be unconcerned about the flesh, and evokes the commandment "Thou shalt not kill". Jesus replies that we must eat with continence, without poisoning ourselves or overeating, as this flatters the taste. He then returned to the subject of suicide, and spoke about it at length. Christ declares that he who commits suicide sins through pride. Judas points out that people commit suicide out of despair, but Jesus says that despair is nothing other than pride: for we believe that we have no help anywhere, not even from God, who is a Father and can reach out to us. Judas points out that all those who committed suicide in Scripture before his coming sinned, but the Master declares that they will have been able to receive God's Mercy, even if it is never permitted to do violence, to oneself or to others. After the coming of the Word, on the other hand, the sin of suicide will always be severely condemned by God's Justice if the sinner commits suicide, declaring that he is forever separated from God and cannot receive God's forgiveness. Since life is a gift from God, we must love it, and use it to gain eternity.

Judas understands Christ's thought, but finds it hard to apply. They talk about Christ's temptation, then Jesus talks about angels (pure spirits) and man, king of creation, whom Jesus has come to rehabilitate.

About to leave Jesus, Judas asks him if he can't take him somewhere other than the olive grove, to make him "better considered". But while Jesus thanks him for his consideration, he likes to stay in this humble environment. He will come for all, for the little ones as well as for the great, but will remain above all where humility is to be found. Finally, the two men part shortly afterwards.

Keywords

GRM 69.1-6

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

69.1 I see Jesus and Judas once again: they are coming out of the Temple, after praying in the area closest to the Holy of Holies, allowed to Jewish males.
Judas would like to remain with Jesus. But the Master objects to his wish. «Judas, I want to be alone at night time. At night, My spirit gets its nourishment from the Father. Prayer, meditation and solitude are more important for Me than material food. He who wishes to live for the spirit, and lead others to live the same life, must disregard the flesh, even more, I would say: kill it, to devote all his attention to the spirit. Everybody must do that, you know, Judas. You, too, if you really want to belong to God, that is to the supernatural.»
«But we are still on the earth, Master. How can we neglect the flesh and take care only of the spirit? Is what You say not the antithesis of God’s commandment: “You shall not kill”? Does the commandment not forbid also suicide? If life is a gift from God, must we love it, or not?»
«I will not reply to you as I would reply to a simple-minded man, whom it is sufficient to get to raise his soul or his mind to supernatural spheres, so that we can take him with us flying in spiritual kingdoms. You are not a simple-minded person. You were formed in an environment that refined you… and it also marred you with its quibbles and doctrines. Do you remember Solomon, Judas? He was wise, the wisest man of those times. Do you remember what he said, after acquiring all knowledge? “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. To fear God and observe His commandments, that is all that matters to man”. Now I tell you that it is necessary to know how to get nourishment, but no poison, from food. And if we know that a food is bad for us, because it causes detrimental reactions in us, as it is stronger than our salutary juices which could counteract its effects, we must take no more of that food, even if it is pleasant to taste. Plain bread and water from the fountain are better than the sophisticated dishes of the king’s table, containing drugs which upset and poison.»
«What must I leave, Master?»
«Everything you know that upsets you. Because God is peace and if you want to follow the path of God, you must clear your mind, your heart and your flesh of everything that is not peace producing and causes perturbation. I know it is difficult to amend one’s way of living. But I am here to help you. I am here to help man to become the son of God once again, to recreate himself by means of a new creation, of an autogenesis wanted by man himself.
69.2 But let Me reply to your question, so that you may not say that you were left in error through a fault of Mine. It is true that to kill oneself is the same as killing other people. Both our own and other people’s lives are the gift of God and only God, Who gives life, has the authority to take it. Who kills himself, confesses his own pride, and pride is hated by God.»
«He confesses his pride? I would say his despair.»
«And what is despair but pride? Just think, Judas. Why does one despair? Either because misfortunes persistently perturb him and he wants to overcome them by himself, but is unable to do so. Or because he is guilty and he thinks that he cannot be forgiven by God. In both cases, is not pride the basic reason? The man who wants to do all by himself, is no longer humble enough to stretch out his hand to the Father and say to Him: “I am not able, but You are. Help me, because I hope and wait for everything from You”. The other man who says: “God cannot forgive me” says so, because measuring God by his own standards, he knows that another person could not forgive him, if that person had been offended, as he offended God. So here again it is pride. A humble man understands and forgives, even if he suffers for the offence received. A proud man does not forgive. He is proud also because he is not capable of lowering his head and saying: “Father, I have sinned, forgive Your poor guilty son”. But do you not know, Judas, that the Father will forgive everything, if one asks to be forgiven with a sincere, contrite, humble, heart willing to rise again to new life?»
«But certain crimes are not to be forgiven. They cannot be forgiven.»
«That is what you say. And it will be true only because man wants it to be true. But, oh! I solemnly tell you that even after the crime of crimes, if the guilty man should rush to the Father’s feet – He is called Father, Judas, just for that, and He is a Father of infinite perfection – and crying, implored Him to be forgiven, offering to expiate, without despairing, the Father would make it possible for him to expiate and thus deserve forgiveness and save his soul.»
69.3 «Well, then, You say that the men quoted by the Scriptures who killed themselves, did wrong.»
«It is not lawful to do violence to anybody, not even to oneself. They did wrong. In their limited knowledge of good, perhaps in certain cases, they had mercy from God. But after the Word has clarified the truth and has given strength to spirits with His Spirit, then he who dies in despair will no longer be forgiven. Neither in the instant of the personal judgement, nor after centuries of Gehenna, on Doomsday, never! Is that hardness by God? No: it is justice. God will say: “You, a creature gifted with reason and supernatural knowledge, created free by Me, you decided to follow the path you chose and you said: ‘God will not forgive me. I am separated from Him forever. I think I must apply the law by myself to my own crime. I am parting from life to evade remorse without considering that you would no longer have felt remorse if you had come to My faithful bosom. And let it be done to you, as you judged. I will not violate the freedom I gave you”.
That is what the Eternal Father will say to suicide. Meditate on it, Judas. Life is a gift, a gift to be loved. But what gift is it? A holy gift. So love it holily. Life lasts as long as the flesh holds out. Then the great Life, the eternal Life begins. A Life of blissful happiness for the just, of malediction for the unjust. Is life a purpose or a means? It is a means. It serves for a purpose which is eternity. Then let us give life what is required to make it last and serve the spirit in its conquest. Continence of the flesh in all its lusts, in all of them. Continence of the mind in all its desires, in all of them. Continence of the heart in all human passions. Infinite instead is to be the ardour for heavenly passions: love of God and the neighbour, obedience to the divine word, heroism in good and virtue.
69.4 I have given you the answer, Judas. Are you convinced? Is the explanation sufficient? Be always sincere, and ask when you do not yet know enough: I am here to be your Master.»
«I have understood and it is sufficient. But… it is very difficult to do what I have understood. You can… because You are holy. But… I am a man, young and full of life…»
«I have come for men, Judas. Not for the angels. They do not need a teacher. They see God. They live in His Paradise. They are not unaware of the passions of men, because the Intelligence, which is their Life, makes them acquainted with everything, also those who are not guardians of men. But, spiritual as they are, they can have but one sin, as one of them had, and he drew to his side those who were weaker in charity: pride, the arrow that disfigured Lucifer, the most beautiful of the archangels, and turned him into the horrifying monster of the Abyss. I have not come for the angels, who, after Lucifer’s fall, are horrified even at the shadow of a proud thought. But I have come for men. To make angels of men.
Man was the perfection of creation. He had the spirit of the angel and the full beauty of the animal, complete in all its animal and moral parts. There was no creature equal to him. He was the king of the earth, as God is the King of Heaven, and one day, when he would have fallen asleep for the last time on the earth, he would have become king with the Father in Heaven. Satan tore the wings off the angel-man and he replaced them with the claws of a beast and with intense yearning for filth, and lured him into becoming a being which is better described as a man-demon, rather than simply a man. I want to eradicate the disfigurement worked by Satan, as well as the corrupted craving of the contaminated flesh. I want to give back to man his wings, and make him king once again, co-heir of the Father and of the Celestial Kingdom. I know that man, if he is willing, can do what I say, to become once again king and angel. I would not tell you things you could not do. I am not one of the rhetors who preach impossible doctrines.
69.5 I have real flesh, so that through the experience of the flesh, I might learn which are the temptations of man.»
«And what about sins?»
«Everyone can be tempted. Sinners are only those who want to be such.»
«Have You ever sinned, Jesus?»
«No, I never wanted to sin. Not because I am the Son of the Father. But because I wanted and I want to prove to man that the Son of man did not sin because He did not want to sin, and that man can, if he wants, not sin.»
«Have You ever been tempted?»
«I am thirty years old, Judas. And I did not live in a cave upon a mountain. I lived amongst men. And if I had been in the loneliest place in the world, do you think temptations would not have come to Me? We have everything in us: good and evil. We carry everything with us. And the breath of God blows on the good and vivifies it like a thurible of sweet-smelling holy incense. And Satan blows on evil, thus kindling a furious blazing fire. But diligent goodwill and constant prayer are like damp sand on the hellish fire: they suffocate it and put it out.»
«But if You have never sinned, how can You judge sinners?»
«I am a man and the Son of God. What I might ignore as a man and judge wrongly, I know and judge as the Son of God. After all!… Judas, answer this question of Mine. Will one who is hungry, suffer more by saying: “I will now sit down at the table” or by saying: “There is no food for me”?»
«He suffers more in the latter case, because the simple thought that he is without food, will bring back to him the pleasant smell of food and his bowels will be tortured by biting desire.»
«Right: temptation is as biting as that desire, Judas. Satan makes it more intense, more real, more alluring than any accomplished act. Further, the act satisfies, and at times nauseates; whereas temptations do not subside, but like pruned trees, they grow stronger and stronger.»
«And have You never yielded?»
«No, never.»
«How did You manage?»
«I said: “Father. lead Me not into temptation”.»
«What? You, the Messiah, You work miracles and You ask Your Father for help?»
«Not only for help: I ask Him not to lead Me into temptation. Do you think that I, simply because I am I, can do without the Father? Oh! no! I solemnly tell you that the Father grants everything to His Son, and that the Son receives everything from the Father. And I tell you that everything the Father will be asked for in My name will be granted.
69.6 But here we are at Gethsemane, where I live. The first trees can be seen beyond the walls. You live beyond Tophet. It is getting dark already. You had better not come up as far as that. We will meet again tomorrow at the same place. Goodbye. Peace be with you.»
«Peace be with You, too, Master… But I would like to tell You another thing. I will come with You as far as the Kidron, then I will come back. Why do You live in such a humble place? You know, people notice so many things. Do You not know anyone in town with a beautiful house? If You wish, I can take You to some friends. They will give You hospitality because of my friendly attitude towards them; and the house would be more worthy of You.»
«Do you think so? I do not. All classes of people are worthy or unworthy. And without lacking in charity, but to avoid offending justice, I tell you that the unworthy, the mischievously unworthy, are often to be found amongst the great ones. It is not necessary and it is of no use being influential to be good or to hide sins from the eyes of God. Everything will be turned over under My Sign. And not he who is mighty will be great, but he who is humble and holy.»
«But to be respected, to impose oneself…»
«Is Herod respected? Is Caesar respected? No, they are endured and cursed both by lips and by hearts. And believe Me, Judas, on good people, or simply on people of goodwill, it will be easier for Me to impose Myself with modesty rather than with majesty.»
«But… will You always despise the mighty ones? You will make enemies of them! I was thinking of speaking of You to many people I know and who are influential…»
«I will not despise anybody. I will meet the poor as well as the rich, slaves as well as kings, pure people as well as sinners. But if I have to be grateful to those who supply Me with bread and a roof that I may carry on My work, whatever the roof and the bread may be, I will always give My preference to the humble. The great ones already have so many joys. The poor have but their honest conscience, a faithful love, children and the joy of being listened to by those who are above them. I will always be bent over the poor, the afflicted, and sinners. I thank you for your good intention. But leave Me to this place of peace and prayer. Go, and may God inspire you with what is good.»
Jesus leaves the disciple and goes into the olive-grove, and the vision ends.

Keywords

GRM 70.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

70.1 I see Jesus going towards the little low white house in the middle of the olive-grove. A young man greets Him. He seems to come from there, because he is holding in his hands pruning and hoeing tools.
«God be with You, Rabbi: Your disciple John came, and he just left to come and meet You.»
«How long ago?»
«Not long, he has just passed that path. We thought You were coming from Bethany…»
Jesus starts walking very fast, He goes round the cliff, He sees John almost running down towards the town and calls him.
The disciple turns around and with his face brightened with joy, he shouts: «Oh! My Master!» and he starts running back.
Jesus receives him with His arms wide open and they embrace each other affectionately.
«I was coming to look for You… We thought You had been to Bethany, as You told us.»
«Yes, I wanted to go. I must start evangelising also the surroundings of Jerusalem. But I stayed in town… to teach a new disciple.»
«Everything You do is well done, Master. And is always successful. See? Even now we met very soon.»

Detail

Jesus explains to John that he has been detained in Jerusalem to instruct a new disciple.

Keywords

GRM 70.4

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

70.4 They are quiet for a few moments, then John carries on speaking. «Master, I know Annas and Caiaphas. My family has been on business relations with them, and when I came to Judaea to see John, I used to come to the Temple, and they were good to the son of Zebedee. My father always sends them the best fish. That is the custom, You know? If you want them to be friendly and to continue so, you must do that…»
«I know.» Jesus is serious.
«Well, if You wish, I will speak to the High Priest about You. And… if You want, I know a man who is on business terms with my father. He is a rich fish merchant. He has a lovely big house near the Hippicus Tower, because they are very rich people, but they are also very good. You would be more comfortable and You would not get so tired. To come here, You have to come through the suburb of Ophel, which is so wild and always full of donkeys and quarrelsome boys.»
«No, John. Thank you. But I am alright here. See how much peace there is? I told also the other disciple who made the same suggestion. He said: “To enjoy a higher reputation”.»
«I mentioned it that You might not get so tired.»
«I do not get tired. I will walk so much, and I will never tire. Do you know what tires Me? Indifference. Oh! What a burden it is! It is like carrying a weight on your heart.»
«I love You, Jesus.»
«Yes, and you comfort Me. I love you so much, John, and I always will, because you will never betray Me.»
«Betray You! Oh!»
«And yet there will be many who will betray Me…»