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Jean-Baptiste

Theme: Jesus' entourage · Page 9 of 11

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GRM 166.7

The Gospel as revealed to me

Translation in progress

Keywords

GRM 176.1-2 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Jesus has delayed somewhat up on the mountain during the night, so that at dawn He can be seen standing on the edge of an escarpment.
Peter, who sees Him, points Him out to his companions and they go up towards Him. «Master, why did You not come with us?» many of them ask.
«I needed to pray.»
«But You also need to rest very badly.»
«My friends, during the night a voice came from Heaven asking for prayers for the good and the wicked and also for Myself.»
«Why? Do You need it?»
«As much as anybody. My strength is nourished with prayer and My joy with doing what My Father wants. My Father told Me the names of two people and a sorrow for Myself. The three things He mentioned need prayer so much.» Jesus is very sad and He looks at His apostles with eyes which seem to be begging or asking for something. His eyes rest on one, then on another and at last on Judas Iscariot and Jesus stares at him.
The apostle notices it and asks: «Why do You look at me like that?»
«I was not looking at you. My eyes were contemplating something else…»
«That is?.»
«The nature of a disciple. All the good and all the evil that a disciple can do and give to his Master. I was thinking of the disciples of the Prophets and of John. And I was thinking of My own. And I was praying for John, for the disciples and for Myself…»
«You are sad and tired this morning, Master. Tell those who love You what Your trouble is» begs James of Zebedee.
«Yes, tell us, and if there is anything we can do to relieve Your grief, we will do it» says His cousin Judas.
Peter speaks to Bartholomew and Philip, but I do not understand what they say.
Jesus replies: «Be good, endeavour to be good and faithful. That is the only relief. There is no other one, Peter. Have you understood? Forget your suspicion. Love Me and love one another, do not allow those who hate Me to seduce you, above all love the will of God.»
«Eh! If everything is within its control, also our errors are within it» exclaims Thomas in a philosophical tone.
176.2
«Do you think so? But it is not so. But many people have woken up and are looking here. Let us go down and sanctify this holy day with the word of God.»

Keywords

GRM 180.7-10 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Have you understood? Have you any questions to ask? No? In that case we can go and rest and tomorrow we will leave for Capernaum. There is one place to which I must go before starting on My journey to Jerusalem for Passover.»
«Shall we go through Arimathea again?» asks the Iscariot.
«I am not sure. It depends on…»
There is a loud knocking at the door.
«Who can it be at this time?» asks Peter getting up to open the door.
John comes in. He is most upset, covered in dust, and he has obviously been weeping.
«You are here!» they all shout. «What’s the matter?»
Jesus, Who has stood up, says only: «Where is My Mother?»
And John, coming forward and kneeling at the feet of the Master, holding his arms as if he were asking for help, says: «Your Mother is well, but She is weeping as I am, as many others are, and She begs You not to come following the Jordan on our side. That is why She sent me back, because Your cousin John has been captured…» And John weeps while everybody is bewildered.
Jesus turns very pale but does not become excited. He only says:
«Stand up and tell us.»
«I was going down with Your Mother and the other women. Isaac and Timoneus were also with us. We were three women and three men. I was carrying out Your instruction to take Mary to John… Ah! You knew it was their last farewell!… It was to be their last farewell… Because of the storm of a few days ago, we had to stop for a little while. But it was enough to make it impossible for John to see Mary… We arrived at noon and he had been captured at daybreak…»
«Where? How? By whom? In his cave?» they all ask, they all want to know.
«He was betrayed!… They used Your name to betray him!» «How horrible! Who did that?» they all shout.
And John shuddering, whispering in a low voice what not even the air should hear, states: «It was one of his disciples…»
The confusion is at its highest pitch. Some curse, some weep, some are petrified with astonishment.
180.8
John throws his arms around Jesus’ neck and shouts: «I am afraid for You!… for You! The saints have their traitors who sell themselves for gold and for fear of the mighty ones, yearning for reward, obeying Satan. For thousands of things! Oh! Jesus! Jesus! How dreadful! My first master! My John who gave me to You!»
«It is all right! Do not worry! Nothing will happen to Me for the time being.»
«But later? What will happen later? I look at myself, at these… I am afraid of everybody, also of myself. Will one of us be Your traitor?…»
«Are you mad? And do you think that we would not tear him to pieces?» shouts Peter.
And the Iscariot: «Oh! You really are mad! It will never be I! But if I should feel so weak as to eventually become so, I would kill myself. Better than be the murderer of God.»
Jesus frees Himself from John’s grip, shakes Judas violently saying: «Do not swear! Nothing can make you weak, unless you want! And if that should happen, make sure you weep for it, and do not commit another crime in addition to deicide. He becomes weak who cuts off his vital link with God.»
180.9
He then returns to John, who is weeping with his head on the table and he says: «Speak calmly. It grieves Me, too. He was of My blood and was My Precursor.»
«I only saw some of the disciples, who were dismayed and furious with the traitor. The others accompanied John towards his prison to be near him at his death.»
«But he is not dead yet… the last time he managed to escape.» says the Zealot endeavouring to comfort John of whom he is very fond.
«He is not dead yet. But he will die» replies John.
«Yes, he will die. He knows as well as I do. Nothing and no one will save him this time. When? I do not know. I know that he will not come out of Herod’s hand alive.»
«Yes, Herod. Listen. John went to the mountain gorge, between Mount Ebal and Gerizim, where we also passed coming back from Galilee, because the traitor said to him: “The Messiah is dying after being attacked by His enemies. He wants to see you to entrust a secret to you”. And he went with the traitor and some other people. Herod’s armed men were in the shade of the valley and they captured him. The others ran away and gave the news to the disciples who had remained near Hennon. They had just come when I arrived with Your Mother. And the dreadful thing is that he was one from our towns… and that the Pharisees of Capernaum are the leaders of the plot to catch him. They went to John saying that You had been their guest and that You were leaving from there to go to Judaea… he would not have left his refuge but for You…»
180.10
Dead silence follows John’s report. Jesus looks bloodless, His deep blue eyes are dimmed. He is standing with his head bowed, His hand still on John’s shoulder, and His hand is trembling lightly. No one dare speak. Jesus breaks the silence: «We shall go to Judaea following a different route. But I must go to Capernaum tomorrow. As early as possible. Rest now. I am going up to the olive-grove. I need to be alone.» And He goes out without saying anything else.
«He is certainly going to weep» whispers James of Alphaeus.
«Let us follow Him, brother» says Judas Thaddeus.
«No. Let Him weep. But let us go out quietly and keep watch. I fear tricks everywhere» replies the Zealot.
«Yes, let us go. We fishermen to the shore. If anybody comes from the lake we will see him. You go to the olive-grove. He is certainly in the usual place, near the walnut-tree. At dawn we will have the boats ready to go away early. Those snakes! Ehi! I did tell you! Tell me, boy? But… is His Mother really safe?»
«Oh! Yes! The shepherd disciples of John have also gone with Her. Andrew… we will never see our John again!»
«Be quiet! It sounds like the song of the cuckoo… One precedes the other and… and…»
«By the Holy Ark! Be quiet! If you go on talking about misfortunes to the Master, I will start from you, letting your backs feel the weight of my oar!» shouts an enraged Peter. «You…» he then says to those who are to go to the olive-grove: «Get some clubs, some big branches, you will find some in the wood-shed… and spread out, armed with them. The first one to come near Jesus to harm Him, kill him.»
«The disciples! We must be careful with the new ones!» exclaims Philip.
The new disciple feels hurt and asks: «Are you in doubt about me? He chose me and wanted me.»
«Not about you. I mean the scribes and Pharisees and their worshippers. That is where the trouble will come from, believe me.»
They go out, some towards the boats, some towards the olive-trees on the hills, and it all ends.

Detail

In the previous chapters, John of Zebedee had to accompany the Virgin to Hennon to see John.

Annotation

"Your Mother is doing well, but she is in tears like me, like many people, and she begs you not to come along the Jordan on our side." (...) " We will go to Judea by another way." Jesus confirms in EMV 187.3 that he respects his mother's wish, and speaks to Mary about it again in EMV 198.1/2.

We arrived at the sixth hour, and he had been captured at the crowing of the cock... Gallicinium, "the crowing of the cock", corresponded to the last watch: from 3am to 6am.

"By one of his disciples..." This fact, which doesn't seem to be mentioned in any tradition, indicates that The Forerunner was also betrayed by one of his own.

I will never betray. But if I felt weak enough to do so, I'd kill myself. It's better than being God's murderer. This is the germ of the idea of suicide, which Judas will put into practice after his betrayal (EMV 605.1/13).

Yes, he will die. He knows it, as I know it. In fact, Jesus had not hidden this from John himself, when he visited him (EMV 148.2). The Baptist's death is announced in EMV 270.7.

He went to the same gorge we passed through on our way back to Galilee. It was during the encounter with the Samaritan woman Fotinai in EMV 143.4.

The Pharisees of Capernaum who are at the head of the plot to capture him. This plot was probably organized by Joachim and Elijah of Capernaum (see EMV 182.1).

He would not have left his refuge for anyone but you ... Enon (or Hennon), on the border of Decapolis and Samaria, was outside Herod's jurisdiction. John was safe there.

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 181.3 · 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 181.5-7 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

That is the universal sense. But there is another sense, which is the answer to the question which you have been asking yourselves many times and particularly since yesterday evening. Your question is: “Can there be traitors in the mass of disciples?” and your hearts tremble with horror and fear. Yes, there may be some. There are certainly some.
The Sower sows the good seed. In this case, instead of sowing, we could say that He “picks”. Because the master, whether it is I or the Baptist, choses his disciples. How were they, therefore, led astray? No, I did not use the right word saying that the disciples are the “seed”. You may misunderstand. I will call them “field”. As many disciples as fields, chosen by the master to form the area of the Kingdom of God, the wealth of God. The master tires himself cultivating them so that they may yield one hundred per cent. He takes care of everything with patience, love, wisdom, hard work and perseverance. He also sees their wicked inclinations, their barrenness and avidity, their stubbornness and weakness. But he hopes all the time, corroborating his hope through prayer and penance, because he wishes to lead them to perfection.
But the fields are open. They are not gardens enclosed in walls of protection, of which the only owner is the master, who is the only one who can go in. They are open. Placed as they are in the centre of the world, among the world, anyone can go near them and into them. Everybody and everything. Oh! darnel is not the only bad seed sown! Darnel could be the symbol of the bitter frivolity of the worldly spirit. But all the other seeds, scattered by the Enemy, come up in them. There are nettles, couch-grass, dodder, bearbines, and finally hemlock and poisonous herbs. Why? What are they?
Nettles: stinging untameable spirits which hurt through their excess of poison and cause so much trouble. Couch-grass: parasites who wear out the master as they can only creep and suck, taking advantage of his work and injuring the willing ones, who would make much more profit if the master were not upset and distracted by the cares required by the couch-grass. The sluggish bearbines rise from the ground only by making use of the efforts of other people. Dodders: they are a torture on the already painful road of the master and a torment to the faithful disciples who follow him. They twist, pierce, tear to pieces, scratch, cause mistrust and pain. The poisonous ones: the criminal disciples, who go as far as betraying and killing as hemlock and other poisonous plants do. Have you noticed how beautiful they are with their little flowers which later become white, red, blue-violet berries? Who would say that the white or pinkish star-shaped corolla, with its little gold heart, or the many-coloured corals, so much like other little fruits which are the delight of birds and children, can cause death, once they are ripe? No one. And the innocent ones fall into the trap. They believe that everybody is as good as they are… they pick and die.
They believe that everybody is as good as they are! Oh! The truth that makes the master sublime and condemns his traitor! How? Does goodness not disarm wickedness? Does it not make ill-will harmless? No, it does not, because the man who has fallen prey to the Enemy is indifferent to what is superior. And what is superior changes apperance, as far as he is concerned. Kindness becomes weakness on which it is lawful to tread and it stimulates his ill-will as the scent of blood stimulates a beast to slaughter.
Also the master is always innocent… and he lets his traitor poison him, because he cannot possibly believe that a human being can murder an innocent person.
181.6
The enemies come into the fields of the Master, that is to His disciples. They are many and Satan is the first one. The others are his servants, that is, men, passions, the world and the flesh. The disciple who is more easily struck by them is the one who is not entirely close to the Master, but is between the Master and the world. He is not capable and does not want to part completely with the world, the flesh, passions and demons, to belong entirely to Him Who wants to take him to God. And the world, flesh, passions and the demon scatter their seed in him: gold, power, women, pride, the fear of an unfavourable opinion of the world, the spirit of utilitarianism. “The great ones are the strongest. I will serve them so that they will be friendly to me”. And they become criminals and damned for such miserable things!…
Why does the Master, Who sees the imperfection of a disciple, not cast him away at once, even if He is not prepared to submit to the thought: “He will be My murderer”? That is what you are asking yourselves. Because it is useless to do so. If He did so he would not avoid having him as an enemy, a double and more dangerous enemy, because of his anger and his sorrow at being found out or at being found out or at being driven away. Yes, because of his sorrow. Because sometimes a bad disciple does not realise that he is such. The demon’s action is so subtle that he is not aware of it. He becomes wicked without even suspecting that he is subject to such action. And because of his anger, He is enraged at being known for what he is, when he is aware of Satan’s work and of his followers: the men who tempt weak people in their weak points, to remove from the world a saint who offends them, wicked as they are, when compared with his goodness. The saint then prays and trusts in God. “Let what You allow be done” he says. He adds only the clause: “providing it serves Your purpose”. The saint knows that the time will come when the wicked darnel will be rejected from the harvest. By God Himself Who does not allow more than what is useful to the triumph of His loving will.»
181.7
«If You maintain that Satan and his followers are always to be blamed… it seems to me that the responsibility of the disciple diminishes» says Matthew.
«Do not believe that. If there is Good there is also Evil and man is gifted with discernment and freedom.»
«You say that God does not allow more than what is useful to the triumph of His loving will. Therefore such an error is useful too, if He allows it, and it serves the triumph of the divine will» says the Iscariot.
«And you infer, as Matthew does, that that justifies the disciple’s crime. God created the lion without ferocity and the snake without poison, now one is ferocious and the other poisonous. That is why God separated them from man. Ponder over that and draw conclusions.»

Detail

Jesus has just given the parable of the good grain and the tares, and its universal meaning. He then returns to the story of John the Baptist's betrayal by one of his disciples.

Annotation

You ask: "But can there be traitors in the mass of disciples? "See the previous chapter, in EMV 180.8. The betrayal of a disciple of John the Baptist, the cause of the prophet's arrest, causes a great stir.

The good believe others to be as good as themselves! Ah, what a truth that elevates the master and condemns his betrayer! During Father Migliorini's rereading of the typescript, Maria Valtorta notes at this point: "To work to redeem with goodness, to work without hopes or illusions, out of pure desire to do one's duty to the extreme, to work so that others don't realize that this one is a bad one, so that they don't hate him ... What a divine lesson the Divine Master gives to spiritual guides and to all Christians!"

"God does not allow us to oppose the triumph of his loving will any more than is useful". On a leaf inserted in the typed copy, Maria Valtorta wrote:

"God has given man the intellect to understand, the reason to guide himself as a reasonable creature, the conscience to advise, the law to know how to regulate himself, the freedom to deserve what he wants to deserve: God and glory, or Hell and damnation.

Moreover, He has given him grace, or predestination to grace, so that it may be a stimulus, or a means, of raising the things listed below to a level capable of giving him a holy taste for the supernatural and for God.

Now, in the man who is intelligent, reasonable, conscious, free, and above all instructed in the Faith, knowing his final end and the divine Law, there should be only such actions as the Law prescribes and the knowledge of the end incites us to practice, even as reason and conscience indicate them as good to all, even to those who do not know revealed religion, in order toto obtain the eternal reward that the human intellect, all the more so when enlightened by Grace, is infinitely superior to all conceptions a believer can imagine.

But it sometimes happens that man, acting against reason, turns his freedom into a yoke of the cruellest of slaveries: that of the devil and sin, preferring Evil to Good.

Even if God allows man to do what he chooses of his own free will, in order to judge and confirm him in grace, or to judge that he deserves punishment, nothing lessens man's guilt. For while it is true that man, at God's prompting or Satan's instigation, can do good or evil, it is no less true that man should follow God alone and his loving invitations, for it is from him that he has received all those natural, moral and supernatural gifts capable of making him a child of God, heir to the Kingdom."

Keywords

GRM 182.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Peter comes back only the following morning. And he is calmer than when he left, because he was made welcome at Capernaum and the town had been cleared of Eli and Joachim.
«They must have taken part in the plot. Because I asked some friends when they had left, and I understood that they had not come back after going to the Baptist as penitents. And I do not think that they will come back so soon, now that I mentioned that they were present at the arrest… There is much turmoil because of the Baptist’s capture… I will ensure that the whole world knows about it… It is the best weapon we have. I also met Simon, the Pharisee… But if he really is what he appeared to me, I think he is favourably disposed towards us. He said to Me: “Tell the Master not to follow the Jordan along the western valley. The other side is safer” he said stressing the words. And he ended: “I have not seen you. I have not spoken to you. Don’t forget. And mind what you do in mine, yours and everybody’s interest. Tell the Master that I am a friend” and he kept looking up, as if he were speaking to the wind. They are always false, even when doing good things and… and I will say “strange”, so that You will not reproach me. But… ehi!… but I went and I had a little chat with the centurion. Just… to ask: “Is your servant well?”, and when I was told that he was, I said: “That is good! Make sure you keep him healthy because they are laying snares for the Master. The Baptist has already been captured…” and the Roman grasped the idea immediately. A cunning fellow he is! He replied: “Where there is a vexillum, there will be a guard for Him, and there will be someone reminding the Jews that no plot is allowed under the sign of Rome, death or the galley being the punishment”. They are heathens, but I could have kissed him. I like people who understand and take action! So we can go.»
«Let us go. But all that was not necessary» says Jesus.
«It was… it was necessary indeed!» Jesus says goodbye to the hospitable family and also to the new disciple, to whom He must have given some instructions.

Detail

Peter went to Capernaum and asked about John the Baptist's betrayal.

Annotation

Pierre arrived only the next morning. He's calmer than when he left, having found Capernaum a warm welcome and the town free of Eli and Joachim. These are the two Capernaum Pharisees most suspected of having organized the Baptist's arrest (see EMV 180.9).

I also met the Pharisee Simon and... But if he is as he appeared to me, he seems well-disposed. It was this Pharisee who organized the banquet where Mary Magdalene wept at Jesus' feet (Cf. EMV 236.1).

He said to me, emphasizing the words: "Advise the Master not to go along the Jordan in the western valley. The other side is safer. "Jesus mentions this" advice" in EMV 187.3.

However, I went to pay the centurion a little visit. So Peter has succeeded in overcoming his prejudice against pagans, as he envisaged out of love for Jesus, in EMV 181.1.

"Wherever there is a Roman sign, it will be a safeguard for him, and there will be someone to remind the Jews that, under Roman signs, it is not permitted to plot without exposing oneself to death or the galley. "Under the Pax Romana, examples of plotters being put to death were not uncommon.

Keywords

GRM 186.3 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Is that not Gamala?» asks the Zealot.
«Yes, it is Gamala. Do you know the town?» says Jesus.
«I was a fugitive there, one night, a long time ago. Then I was affected by leprosy and I did not come out of the sepulchres any more.»
«Did they pursue you so far?»
«I was coming from Syria, where I had gone seeking protection. But they discovered me and only my flight to this place saved me from being captured. Afterwards slowly and continuously threatened I went down as far as the desert of Tekoa and from there, suffering already from leprosy, to the Valley of the Dead. Leprosy saved me from my enemies…»
«These people are heathens, are they not?» asks the Iscariot.
«Almost everybody. Only a few Jews are here on business, and then there is a mixture of beliefs, or no beliefs at all. But they did not treat the fugitive badly.»
«These are places for bandits. What gorges!» exclaim many.
«Yes, but believe me, there are more bandits on the other side» says John who is still impressed by the capture of the
Baptist.
«On the other side there are also bandits among those who enjoy the reputation of being just» concludes his brother.

Keywords

GRM 192.5-6 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

They are already near Engannim – which must be a beautiful little town supplied with water brought from the hills by means of an elevated aqueduct, probably a Roman work – when the noise of an oncoming military squad makes them take refuge on the edge of the road. The hooves of the horses resound on the road, which here, near the town, shows signs of a paving that appears through the dust gathered on it with rubble. The road has obviously never been swept with a besom.
«Hail, Master! How do You happen to be here?» shouts Publius Quintilianus dismounting from his horse, and going towards Jesus with a broad smile, holding the horse by the reins. His soldiers slow down to keep pace with their superior.
«I am going to Jerusalem for Passover.»
«I am going, too. We are reinforcing the guard for the festivity, also because Pontius Pilate is coming to town, too, and Claudia is there. We are her runners. The roads are so insecure! The eagles drive jackals away» says the soldier laughing and looks at Jesus. He then continues in a low voice: «Double watch this year, to protect the back of filthy Antipas. There is a lot of ill-feeling because of the capture of the Prophet. Ill-feeling in Israel… and consequently dissatisfaction among us. But… we have already ensured that the High Priest and his stooges have been… benignly lectured…» and he ends in a low voice: «Go without any fear. All the claws have been retracted into the paws. Oh! They are afraid of us. If we only clear our throats, they take it for a roar. Will you speak at Jerusalem? Come near the Praetorium. Claudia speaks of You as of a great philosopher. That is a good thing because Claudia is the proconsul.»
192.6
He looks around and sees Peter flushed, perspiring with his load. «And that boy?»
«An orphan I brought with Me.»
«But that man of Yours is working too hard! Boy, are you afraid to come on the horse with me for a few yards? I will keep you under my chlamys and I will go slow. I will hand you back to him when we are at the gate.»
The boy does not object, he is as mild as a lamb, and Publius lifts him up onto the saddle.
And while he is ordering his soldiers to go slow he also sees the man from Endor. He stares at him and says: «What! You here?»
«I am here. I have stopped selling eggs to the Romans. But the chicken are still there. I am now with the Master…»
«Good for you! You will have greater comfort. Goodbye. Hail, Master. I will wait for You at that group of trees.» And he spurs his horse.
«Do you know him? And does he know you?» many ask John of Endor.
«Yes, as his supplier of chicken. He did not know me before, but once I was summoned to the headquarters at Nain to fix the prices, and he was there. Since then he always spoke to me when I went to Caesarea to buy books or tools. He calls me Cyclops or Diogenes. He is not a bad fellow, and although I cannot bear Romans I have never offended him because he might be useful to me.»
«Did you hear that, Master? My speech to the centurion at Capernaum was a good thing. I feel more relaxed now» says Peter.
They reach the thicket in the shade of which the patrol has dismounted.
«I am handing the boy back to You. Have You orders, Master?»
«No, Publius. May God show Himself to you.»
«Hail», he mounts his horse and spurs it, followed by his men with a loud rattle of hooves and body-armour.

Annotation

There is much discontent because of the prophet's arrest: in EMV 180.

My speech to the centurion in Capernaum had an effect: in EMV 182.

Keywords

GRM 193.4 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«They travel in comfort!» says Peter who is tired and wet with perspiration. «But, if God helps us, the day after tomorrow evening we shall be in Jerusalem.»
«No, Simon. I must make a detour and go towards the Jordan.»
«But why, my Lord?»
«Because of the boy. He is very sad, and it would be too sad for him to see the mountain of the disaster.»
«But we shall not see it! Or rather, we shall see the other side… and I take it upon myself to divert his attention. John and I… His attention is easily distracted, poor little dove without a nest. To go towards the Jordan! Well! It is better this way. A straight road. Shorter. Safer. No. No. This one, this one. See? Also the Roman ladies are taking it. Along the sea and the river there is the risk of fever during the first summer rains. It is healthy here. In any case… When are we going to arrive if we increase the distance? Consider how agitated Your Mother must be after that unpleasant business of the Baptist!…» Peter wins and Jesus agrees.
«In that case we will stop early and have a good rest and tomorrow we will leave at dawn to be at Gethsemane in the evening of the day after tomorrow. The day after Friday we will go to Bethany to see My Mother and we will leave John’s books there, as they have been quite a burden for you, and we will find Isaac there and will entrust him with this poor brother of ours…»
«And the boy? Are You handing him over at once?»
Jesus smiles. «No. I am giving him to My Mother, Who will prepare him for “his” feast. And then we will keep him with us for Passover. But after we will have to leave him… Do not become too attached to him! Or rather: love him as if he were your own son, but with a supernatural spirit. As you can see he is weak and gets tired. I, too, would have liked to teach him Myself and bring him up nourished in Wisdom by Me. But I am the Untiring One and Jabez is too young and too weak to do the work we do. We will go through Judaea and will come back to Jerusalem for Pentecost, and then we will go… evangelizing… We shall find him again in our fatherland in summer.»

Detail

The apostolic group has just come across some Romans going to Jerusalem in litter and travelling coaches.