Characters from the Protévangile and the Evangile de l'Enfance

74.7 Jesus stretches out His arms. When Judas sees that gesture he says: «Don’t speak! It isn’t wise!»

But Jesus’ powerful voice fills the square: «Men of Judah! Men of Bethlehem, listen! Women of the land sacred to Rachel, listen! Listen to One Who descends from David, and has suffered because of persecutions and has become worthy of speaking, and is speaking to you to give you light and comfort. Listen.»

The people stop shouting, quarrelling and buying and they gather together.

«He is a rabbi!»

«He certainly comes from Jerusalem.»

«Who is He?»

«What a handsome man!»

«And what a voice!»

«And His manners!»

«Of course, He is of David’s House!»

«He is one of ours, then!»

«Let’s listen to Him!»

The whole crowd is now gathered near the little staircase which looks like a pulpit.

«Genesis states: “I will make you enemies of each other: you and the woman: She will crush your head and you will strike at Her heel”. It is also said: “I will multiply your pains in childbearing… and the soil shall yield you brambles and thistles”. That was the sentence against man, woman and the serpent.

I have come from far to revere Rachel’s tomb, and in the evening breeze, in the dew of the night, in the plaintive morning song of the nightingale, I heard ancient Rachel’s sobs being repeated, and they were repeated by the mouths of many mothers of Bethlehem, within their tombs or within their hearts. And I heard Jacob’s sorrow roar in the pain of the widowed husbands, deprived of their wives whom sorrow had killed… I cry with you… But listen, brethren of My land. Bethlehem, the blessed land, the least of the towns in Judah, but the greatest in the eyes of God and of mankind, roused Satan’s hatred because it was the cradle of the Saviour, as Micah says, destined to be the tabernacle on which the Glory of God, the Fire of God, His Incarnate Love was to rest.

“I will make you enemies of each other: you and the woman; She will crush your head and you will strike at Her heel”. Which enmity is there greater than the one that aims at a mother’s children, the very heart of a woman? And which heel is there stronger than the Saviour’s Mother’s? The revenge of Satan defeated was therefore a natural one: he did not strike at the heel, but at the hearts of mothers, because of the Mother.

Oh! Pains were multiplied when the children were lost after giving birth to them! Oh! great was the trouble of being a childless father after sowing and toiling for the offspring! And yet, Bethlehem, rejoice! Your pure blood, the blood of the innocents has prepared a blazing purple way for the Messiah…»

74.8 The crowd, which has become more and more turbulent after Jesus mentioned the Saviour and His Mother, is now showing clear signs of agitation.

«Be quiet, Master» says Judas. «And let us go.»

But Jesus does not listen to him. He goes on: «… for the Messiah that the Grace of the God-Father saved from tyrants to preserve Him for His people and its salvation and…»

The shrill voice of a woman shouts: «Five, five I gave birth to, and not one is now in my house. Poor me!» And she yells hysterically.

It is the beginning of the uproar.

Another woman rolls over in the dust, she tears her dress, and shows a breast maimed of its nipple, shouting: «Here, here on this breast they slaughtered my first-born son! The sword cut off his face and my nipple at the same time. Oh! my Ellis!»

«And what about me! What about me? There is my royal palace. Three tombs in one, watched over by the father: my husband and children together. There, there! If there is a Saviour, let Him give me back my children, my husband, let Him save me from despair, from Beelzebub He must save me.»

They all shout: «Our children, our husbands, our fathers! Let Him give them back, if He exists!»

Jesus waves His arms imposing silence. «Brethren of My land: I would like to give you back your children, in their flesh. But I tell you: be good, be resigned, forgive, hope, rejoice in hope and exult in one certainty: you will soon have your children, angels in Heaven, because the Messiah is about to open the gates of Heaven, and if you are just, death will be a new Life and a new Love…»

«Ah! Are You the Messiah? In the name of God, tell us.»

Jesus lowers Him arms, in so sweet and kind a gesture as if He were embracing them all, and He says: «Yes, I am.»

«Go away! Go away! It’s Your fault, then!»

A stone is thrown amid hisses and jeers.

74.9 Judas reacts at once in a most praiseworthy way… Oh! if he had always behaved thus! He jumps in front of Jesus, standing on the low wall of the landing, with his mantle wide open and undaunted he protects Jesus from the stones. His face bleeds and he shouts to John and Simon: «Take Jesus away. Behind those trees. I’ll follow. Go, in the name of Heaven!» And he shouts to the crowd: «Mad dogs! I am of the Temple and I will report you to the Temple and to Rome.»

The crowd is scared for a moment. Then the shower of stones is resumed at once, but fortunately, they are not experts. And Judas, fearless, receives them, and replies with offensive language to the curses of the crowd. Furthermore: he catches a stone thrown at him, and he throws it back on the head of an old man who is shouting like a magpie plucked alive! And as they attempt to climb up his pedestal, he quickly picks up an old branch from the ground, (he has now come off the little wall) and he swings it round on backs, heads and hands mercilessly.

Some soldiers rush to the spot and with their lances they make their way through the crowd: «Who are you? Why this brawl?»

«I am a Judaean and I have been attacked by these plebeians. A rabbi, well known to the priests, was with me. He was speaking to these dogs. But they became wild and attacked us.»

«Who are You?»

«Judas of Kerioth, I was a man of the Temple, now I am a disciple of rabbi Jesus of Galilee. I am a friend of Simon the Pharisee, of Johanan the Sadducee, and of Joseph of Arimathaea, the Counsellor of the Sanhedrin, and finally, of Eleazar ben Anna, the Proconsul’s great friend, and you can check.»

«I will. Where are you going?»

«I am going to Kerioth with my friend, then to Jerusalem.»

«Go. We will protect your back.»

Judas hands some coins to the soldier. It must be illegal… but quite normal, because the soldier takes them swiftly and cautiously, he salutes and smiles. Judas jumps down from his platform, he goes through the uncultivated field, skipping now and again, and he reaches his companions.

«Are you seriously hurt?»

«No, it’s nothing, Master! In any case, it’s for You… But I gave them a licking as well. I must be covered with blood…»

«Yes, on your cheek. There is a rivulet here.»

John moistens a small piece of cloth and wipes Judas’ cheek.

«I am sorry, Judas… But see,… to tell them that we are Judaeans, according to your good practical sense…»

«They are beasts. I believe You are now convinced, Master. And I hope you will not insist…»

«Oh! no! Not because I am afraid. But because it is useless, just now. When they do not want us, we must not curse them, but withdraw praying for the poor, foolish people, who die of starvation and cannot see the Bread. Let us go along this out-of-the-way path, towards the shepherds, if we can find them. I think we will be able to get on to the Hebron road…»

«To have more stones thrown at us,?»

«No. To say to them: “I am here”.»

«What?… They will certainly beat us. They have been suffering for thirty years because of You.»

«We shall see.»

They enter a cool, shady, thick little wood, and I lose sight of them.

• Blessed are those who are persecuted
• Jesus Christ preaches in Bethlehem
• Lucifer - Satan
• Massacre of the Innocents
• Messiah
• Preaching of Jesus Christ
• Sauveur
• The Virgin Mary

« Bethlehem, the blessed land, the least of the towns in Judah, but the greatest in the eyes of God and of mankind, roused Satan’s hatred because it was the cradle of the Saviour, as Micah says, destined to be the tabernacle on which the Glory of God, the Fire of God, His Incarnate Love was to rest.

“I will make you enemies of each other: you and the woman; She will crush your head and you will strike at Her heel”. Which enmity is there greater than the one that aims at a mother’s children, the very heart of a woman? And which heel is there stronger than the Saviour’s Mother’s? The revenge of Satan defeated was therefore a natural one: he did not strike at the heel, but at the hearts of mothers, because of the Mother.

Oh! Pains were multiplied when the children were lost after giving birth to them! Oh! great was the trouble of being a childless father after sowing and toiling for the offspring! And yet, Bethlehem, rejoice! Your pure blood, the blood of the innocents has prepared a blazing purple way for the Messiah…»

• The Virgin Mary
• The Virgin Mary - Mother of God

«Now… I am very clever. I am not a hotel keeper for nothing. I was born here, the son of sons of hotel keepers. I have malice in my blood. And I did not take them. I could have found a hole for them. But… poor, unknown Galileans as they were… Oh! no! Hezekiah will not fall into the trap! And I felt… I felt they were different… that woman… Her eyes… something… no, no… She must have had a demon inside Her and She spoke to him. And She brought him… not to me… but to town. Anne was more innocent than a little lamb, and she gave them hospitality a few days later, when She already had the Child. They said He was the Messiah… Oh! the money I made during those days!»

• The Virgin Mary

«Let us go along this out-of-the-way path, towards the shepherds, if we can find them. I think we will be able to get on to the Hebron road…»

«To have more stones thrown at us,?»

«No. To say to them: “I am here”.»

«What?… They will certainly beat us. They have been suffering for thirty years because of You.»

«We shall see.»

• Shepherds of the Nativity

• Elijah of Bethlehem (shepherd of the Nativity)
• Joseph of Joseph of Bethlehem (shepherd of the Nativity)
• Levi of Bethlehem (shepherd of the Nativity)
• Location - Towards Hebron
• Manahen
• Shepherds of the Nativity
• Summary of EMV

75.1 The hills are becoming much higher and woodier than those around Bethlehem and they rise continuously and eventually form a real chain of mountains.

Jesus is climbing ahead of them all and He looks around, as if He were anxious to find something. He does not speak. He listens more to the voices of the woods than to the apostles’, who are a few yards behind Him and are speaking to one another.

A bell rings in the distance, but the wind carries its ding-dong. Jesus smiles. He turns around: «I hear the bells of sheep.»

«Where, Master?»

«I think near that hillock. But the wood prevents Me from seeing.»

John, without uttering one word, takes off his tunic — they have all rolled up their mantles and are carrying them across their backs, because they feel warm — and having on only his short tunic, he throws his arms around a tall smooth trunk, which I think is an ash tree, and he climbs up… until he can see. «Yes, Master. There are many herds and three shepherds over there, behind that thicket.» He comes down, and they proceed, sure of their way.

«Will it be them?»

«We shall ask, Simon, and if they are not, they will tell us something… They know one another.»

After approximately one hundred yards, there is a large, green pasture, surrounded on all sides by huge aged trees.

75.2 Many sheep are grazing on the thick grass of the undulated meadow. Three men are watching over them. One is old: his hair is all white, of the other two, one is about thirty, the other about forty years old.

«Be careful, Master. They are herdsmen…» advises Judas, when he sees Jesus hastening His step.

But Jesus does not even answer. He goes on, tall and handsome in His white tunic, with the setting sun in front of Him. He seems an angel, so bright He is… «Peace be with you, My friends» He greets when He reaches the edge of the meadow.

The three men turn around, surprised. There is silence. Then the oldest one asks: «Who are You?»

«One Who loves you.»

«You would be the first in so many years. Where are You from?»

«From Galilee.»

«From Galilee? Oh!» The man watches Him carefully. Also the other two have come near. «From Galilee» repeats the shepherd, and he adds in a very low voice, as if speaking to himself: «He came from Galilee, too… From which town, my Lord?»

«From Nazareth.»

«Oh! Well, tell me. Has a Child ever come back to Nazareth, a Child with a woman whose name was Mary and a man called Joseph, a Child, Who was even more beautiful than His Mother, so beautiful that I have never seen a fairer flower on the slopes of Judah? A Child born in Bethlehem of Judah, at the time of the edict? A Child Who later fled, most fortunately for the world. A Child, oh! I would give my life just to hear whether He is alive… He must be a man by now.»

«Why do you say that His flight was a great fortune for the world?»

«Because He was the Saviour, the Messiah and Herod wanted Him dead. I was not there when He fled with His father and Mother. When I heard of the slaughter and I came back… — because also I had children (he sobs), my Lord, and a wife… (he sobs), and I heard they had been killed (he sobs again), but I swear by the God of Abraham, I was more afraid for Him than for my own family — I heard He had fled and I could not even enquire; I could not even take away my own slaughtered creatures… They threw stones at me, as they do with lepers and unclean people, they treated me like a murderer… and I had to hide in the woods, and live like a wolf… until I found a master. Oh! it’s no longer Anne… He is hard and cruel… If a sheep gets hurt, if a wolf preys on a lamb, he either beats me till I bleed or he takes my poor pay, and I have to work in the woods for other people, I must do something, to pay him back three times the value. But it does not matter. I have always said to the Most High: “Let me see Your Messiah, at least let me know that He is alive, and all the rest is nothing”. My Lord, I have told You how the people in Bethlehem treated me, and how my master deals with me. I could have repaid them in their own coins, I could have wronged them, stealing, so that I would not suffer under my master. But I preferred to suffer, to forgive, to be honest, because the angels said: “Glory to God in the Highest Heaven and peace on earth to men of goodwill”.»

«Is that what they said?»

«Yes, they did, my Lord, You must believe, at least You, Who are good. You must know and believe that the Messiah is born. No one would believe it any longer. But angels do not lie… and we were not drunk, as they said. This man here, was a boy then, and he was the first to see the angel. He drank but milk. Can milk make one drunk? The angels said: “Today, in the town of David the Saviour was born, He is Christ, the Lord. And here is a sign for you. You will find a Child wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger”.»

«Did they say exactly that? Did you not misunderstand them? Are you not mistaken, after such a long time?»

«Oh! no! Isn’t it, Levi? In order not to forget, — we could not forget in any case, because they were heavenly words and were written in our hearts with a heavenly fire — every morning, every evening, when the sun rises, when the first star starts shining, we repeat them as a prayer, as a blessing, to have strength and comfort in His name and in His Mother’s.»

«Ah! You said: “Christ”?»

«No, my Lord. We say: “Glory to God in the Highest Heaven and peace on earth to men of goodwill, through Jesus Christ Who was born of Mary in a stable in Bethlehem and Who, wrapped in swaddling clothes, was in a manger, He Who is the Saviour of the world”.»

75.3 «But, in short, whom are you looking for?»

«Jesus Christ, the Son of Mary, the Nazarene, the Saviour.»

«It is I.» Jesus is radiant when saying so, revealing Himself to His persevering lovers: persevering, faithful, patient.

«You! Oh! Lord, Saviour, Our Jesus!» The three men prostrate themselves on the ground and kiss Jesus’ feet, crying with joy.

«Stand up. Get up. Elias and you, Levi and you, whose name I do not know.»

«Joseph, the son of Joseph.»

«These are My disciples, John, a Galilean, Simon and Judas, Judaeans.»

The shepherds are no longer prostrated on the ground, they are kneeling, sitting back on their heels. They worship thus the Saviour, with loving eyes, trembling lips, while their faces blanch and blush with joy.

Jesus sits down on the grass.

«No, my Lord. You, King of Israel, must not sit on the grass.»

«Never mind, My dear friends. I am poor. A carpenter as far as the world is concerned. I am rich only in My love for the world, and in the love I get from good people. I have come to stay with you, to share the evening meal with you and sleep beside you on the hay, and to be comforted by you…»

«Oh! comfort! We are coarse and persecuted.»

«I am persecuted, too. But you give Me what I am seeking: love, faith and hope, a hope that will last for years and bear flowers. See? You waited for Me and you believed without the least doubt, that I was the Messiah. And I have come to you.»

«Oh! Yes! You have come. Now, even if I die, I will not be upset by the fact that I hoped in vain.»

«No, Elias. You will live until Christ’s triumph and after.

You saw My dawn, you must see My giory.

75.4 And what about the others? You were twelve: Elias, Levi, Samuel, Jonah, Isaac, Tobias, Jonathan, Daniel, Simeon, John, Joseph, Benjamin. My Mother always mentioned your names to Me. Because you were My first friends.»

«Oh!» The shepherds are more and more moved.

«Where are the others?»

«Old Samuel died of old age about twenty years ago. Joseph was killed because he fought at the gate of the enclosure to give time to his wife, who had just become a mother a few hours before, to escape with this man, whom I took with me for the sake of my friend… also to have children around me once again. I took Levi also with me… He was persecuted. Benjamin is a shepherd on Lebanon with Daniel. Simeon, John and Tobias, who now wants to be called Matthew in memory of his father, who was also killed, are disciples of John. Jonah works on the plain of Esdraelon for a Pharisee. Isaac suffers very much from his back that is bent in two, he lives in dire poverty, all by himself at Juttah. We help him as much as we can, but we have all been badly hit and our help is like dew drops on a fire. Jonathan is now the servant of one of Herod’s big men.»

«How could you, and particularly Jonathan, Jonah, Daniel and Benjamin get such jobs?»

«I remembered Your relative Zacharias… Your Mother had sent me to him. When we were in the mountain gorges in Judaea, fugitives and cursed, I took them to him. He was good to us. He sheltered and fed us. And he found work for us. He did what he could. I had already taken all Anne’s herd for the Herodian… and I remained with him… When the Baptist, grown into a man, began to preach, Simeon, John and Tobias went to him.»

«But now the Baptist is in jail.»

«Yes, and they are keeping watch near Machaerus, with a few sheep, to avoid arousing suspicion. They were given the sheep by a rich man, a disciple of Your relative John.»

«I would like to see them all.»

«Yes, My Lord. We will go and say to them: “Come, He is alive. He remembers us and loves us”.»

«And He wants you to be His friends.»

«Yes, my Lord.»

«But we will go first to Isaac. And where are Samuel and Joseph buried?»

«Samuel in Hebron. He remained in Zacharias’ service. Joseph… has no tomb. He was burned with the house.»

«He is no longer in the cruel fire, but in the flames of God’s love and will soon be in His glory. I am telling you, and particularly you, Joseph, son of Joseph. Come here, that I may kiss you to thank your father.»

«And my children?»

«They are angels, Elias. Angels who will repeat the “Gloria” when the Saviour is crowned.

«King?»

«No, Redeemer. Oh! What a procession of just people and saints! And in front there will be the white and purple phalanges of the martyrs! As soon as the gates of Limbo are opened, we shall ascend together to the eternal Kingdom. And then you will come and will find your fathers, mothers and children in the Lord! Believe Me.»

«Yes, my Lord.»

«Call Me: Master.

75.5 It is getting dark, the first evening star is beginning to shine. Say your prayer before supper.»

«Not I. You say it, please.»

«Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and peace on earth to men of goodwill who have deserved to see the Light and serve it. The Saviour is among them. The Shepherd of the royal line is with His herd. The morning Star has risen. Rejoice, just people! Rejoice in the Lord. He Who made the vaults of heaven and has strewn them with stars, Who placed the seas at the boundaries of the land, Who created winds and dew, and fixed the course of seasons to give bread and wine to His children, He is now sending you a more sublime food: the living Bread that descends from Heaven, the Wine of the eternal Vine. Come to Me, you who are the first of My worshippers. Come to meet the Eternal Father in truth, to follow Him in holiness and receive His eternal reward.» Jesus has said the prayer, standing up, with His arms stretched out, while the disciples and shepherds are on their knees.

They then offer bread and new milk, and since there are only three bowls, or emptied marrows, I do not know which, Jesus is the first to eat, with Simon and Judas. Then John, to whom Jesus hands His cup, with Levi and Joseph. Elias is last.

The sheep are no longer grazing. They gather in a compact group, perhaps waiting to be led to their enclosure. Instead I see the three shepherds taking them into the wood, under a rustic shed formed with branches and enclosed by ropes. They then busy themselves preparing hay beds for Jesus and His disciples. They light fires, probably to keep wild animals away.

Judas and John lie down, and tired as they are, they soon fall asleep. Simon would like to keep Jesus company. But shortly afterwards he falls asleep too, sitting on the hay leaning against a pole.

75.6 Jesus remains awake with the shepherds. And they talk of Joseph, of Mary, of the escape into Egypt, of their return… and after such questions about loving friendship, they ask more noble questions: what can they do to serve Jesus? How will they, poor, rough shepherds, be able to do anything?

And Jesus teaches them and explains: «Now I am going to go through Judaea. My disciples will keep in touch with you all the time. Later I will let you come. In the meantime, get together. Make sure that you are all in touch with one another, and that everyone knows that I am here, in this world, as Master and Saviour. Let everybody know, as best you can. I will not promise that you will be believed. I have been mocked at and beaten. They will do the same to you. But as you have been strong and just in your long expectation, persist in being so, now that you are Mine. Tomorrow we will go towards Juttah. Then to Hebron. Can you come?»

«Of course, we can. The roads belong to everybody and the pastures to God. Only Bethlehem is forbidden by an unfair hatred. The other villages know… but they jeer at us, calling us “drunkards”. Thus we will not be able to do very much here.»

«I will employ you elsewhere. I will not abandon you.»

«For all our lifetimes?»

«For all My lifetime.»

«No, Master, I will die first. I am old.»

«Do you think so? I do not. One of the first faces I saw, Elias, was yours. It will also be one of the last. I will take with Me, impressed in My eyes, the image of your face deranged by sorrow for My death. But after, you will treasure in your heart the memory of the joy of a triumphal morning, and will thus await death… Death: the everlasting meeting with Jesus, Whom you adored when He was a baby. Also then the angels will sing the Gloria: “for the man of goodwill”.»

I hear nothing more, the sweet vision fades away and ends.

• Shepherds of the Nativity

Many sheep are grazing on the thick grass of the undulated meadow. Three men are watching over them. One is old: his hair is all white, of the other two, one is about thirty, the other about forty years old.

«Be careful, Master. They are herdsmen…» advises Judas, when he sees Jesus hastening His step.

But Jesus does not even answer. He goes on, tall and handsome in His white tunic, with the setting sun in front of Him. He seems an angel, so bright He is… «Peace be with you, My friends» He greets when He reaches the edge of the meadow.

The three men turn around, surprised. There is silence. Then the oldest one asks: «Who are You?»

«One Who loves you.»

«You would be the first in so many years. Where are You from?»

«From Galilee.»

«From Galilee? Oh!» The man watches Him carefully. Also the other two have come near. «From Galilee» repeats the shepherd, and he adds in a very low voice, as if speaking to himself: «He came from Galilee, too… From which town, my Lord?»

«From Nazareth.»

«Oh! Well, tell me. Has a Child ever come back to Nazareth, a Child with a woman whose name was Mary and a man called Joseph, a Child, Who was even more beautiful than His Mother, so beautiful that I have never seen a fairer flower on the slopes of Judah? A Child born in Bethlehem of Judah, at the time of the edict? A Child Who later fled, most fortunately for the world. A Child, oh! I would give my life just to hear whether He is alive… He must be a man by now.»

«Why do you say that His flight was a great fortune for the world?»

«Because He was the Saviour, the Messiah and Herod wanted Him dead. I was not there when He fled with His father and Mother. When I heard of the slaughter and I came back… — because also I had children (he sobs), my Lord, and a wife… (he sobs), and I heard they had been killed (he sobs again), but I swear by the God of Abraham, I was more afraid for Him than for my own family — I heard He had fled and I could not even enquire; I could not even take away my own slaughtered creatures… They threw stones at me, as they do with lepers and unclean people, they treated me like a murderer… and I had to hide in the woods, and live like a wolf… until I found a master. Oh! it’s no longer Anne… He is hard and cruel… If a sheep gets hurt, if a wolf preys on a lamb, he either beats me till I bleed or he takes my poor pay, and I have to work in the woods for other people, I must do something, to pay him back three times the value. But it does not matter. I have always said to the Most High: “Let me see Your Messiah, at least let me know that He is alive, and all the rest is nothing”. My Lord, I have told You how the people in Bethlehem treated me, and how my master deals with me. I could have repaid them in their own coins, I could have wronged them, stealing, so that I would not suffer under my master. But I preferred to suffer, to forgive, to be honest, because the angels said: “Glory to God in the Highest Heaven and peace on earth to men of goodwill”.»

«Is that what they said?»

«Yes, they did, my Lord, You must believe, at least You, Who are good. You must know and believe that the Messiah is born. No one would believe it any longer. But angels do not lie… and we were not drunk, as they said. This man here, was a boy then, and he was the first to see the angel. He drank but milk. Can milk make one drunk? The angels said: “Today, in the town of David the Saviour was born, He is Christ, the Lord. And here is a sign for you. You will find a Child wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger”.»

«Did they say exactly that? Did you not misunderstand them? Are you not mistaken, after such a long time?»

«Oh! no! Isn’t it, Levi? In order not to forget, — we could not forget in any case, because they were heavenly words and were written in our hearts with a heavenly fire — every morning, every evening, when the sun rises, when the first star starts shining, we repeat them as a prayer, as a blessing, to have strength and comfort in His name and in His Mother’s.»

«Ah! You said: “Christ”?»

«No, my Lord. We say: “Glory to God in the Highest Heaven and peace on earth to men of goodwill, through Jesus Christ Who was born of Mary in a stable in Bethlehem and Who, wrapped in swaddling clothes, was in a manger, He Who is the Saviour of the world”.»

75.3

«But, in short, whom are you looking for?»

«Jesus Christ, the Son of Mary, the Nazarene, the Saviour.»

«It is I.» Jesus is radiant when saying so, revealing Himself to His persevering lovers: persevering, faithful, patient.

«You! Oh! Lord, Saviour, Our Jesus!» The three men prostrate themselves on the ground and kiss Jesus’ feet, crying with joy.

«Stand up. Get up. Elias and you, Levi and you, whose name I do not know.»

«Joseph, the son of Joseph.»

«These are My disciples, John, a Galilean, Simon and Judas, Judaeans.»

The shepherds are no longer prostrated on the ground, they are kneeling, sitting back on their heels. They worship thus the Saviour, with loving eyes, trembling lips, while their faces blanch and blush with joy.

Jesus sits down on the grass.

«No, my Lord. You, King of Israel, must not sit on the grass.»

«Never mind, My dear friends. I am poor. A carpenter as far as the world is concerned. I am rich only in My love for the world, and in the love I get from good people. I have come to stay with you, to share the evening meal with you and sleep beside you on the hay, and to be comforted by you…»

«Oh! comfort! We are coarse and persecuted.»

«I am persecuted, too. But you give Me what I am seeking: love, faith and hope, a hope that will last for years and bear flowers. See? You waited for Me and you believed without the least doubt, that I was the Messiah. And I have come to you.»

«Oh! Yes! You have come. Now, even if I die, I will not be upset by the fact that I hoped in vain.»

«No, Elias. You will live until Christ’s triumph and after.

You saw My dawn, you must see My giory.

75.4

And what about the others? You were twelve: Elias, Levi, Samuel, Jonah, Isaac, Tobias, Jonathan, Daniel, Simeon, John, Joseph, Benjamin. My Mother always mentioned your names to Me. Because you were My first friends.»

«Oh!» The shepherds are more and more moved.

«Where are the others?»

«Old Samuel died of old age about twenty years ago. Joseph was killed because he fought at the gate of the enclosure to give time to his wife, who had just become a mother a few hours before, to escape with this man, whom I took with me for the sake of my friend… also to have children around me once again. I took Levi also with me… He was persecuted. Benjamin is a shepherd on Lebanon with Daniel. Simeon, John and Tobias, who now wants to be called Matthew in memory of his father, who was also killed, are disciples of John. Jonah works on the plain of Esdraelon for a Pharisee. Isaac suffers very much from his back that is bent in two, he lives in dire poverty, all by himself at Juttah. We help him as much as we can, but we have all been badly hit and our help is like dew drops on a fire. Jonathan is now the servant of one of Herod’s big men.»

«How could you, and particularly Jonathan, Jonah, Daniel and Benjamin get such jobs?»

«I remembered Your relative Zacharias… Your Mother had sent me to him. When we were in the mountain gorges in Judaea, fugitives and cursed, I took them to him. He was good to us. He sheltered and fed us. And he found work for us. He did what he could. I had already taken all Anne’s herd for the Herodian… and I remained with him… When the Baptist, grown into a man, began to preach, Simeon, John and Tobias went to him.»

«But now the Baptist is in jail.»

«Yes, and they are keeping watch near Machaerus, with a few sheep, to avoid arousing suspicion. They were given the sheep by a rich man, a disciple of Your relative John.»

«I would like to see them all.»

«Yes, My Lord. We will go and say to them: “Come, He is alive. He remembers us and loves us”.»

«And He wants you to be His friends.»

«Yes, my Lord.»

«But we will go first to Isaac. And where are Samuel and Joseph buried?»

«Samuel in Hebron. He remained in Zacharias’ service. Joseph… has no tomb. He was burned with the house.»

«He is no longer in the cruel fire, but in the flames of God’s love and will soon be in His glory. I am telling you, and particularly you, Joseph, son of Joseph. Come here, that I may kiss you to thank your father.»

«And my children?»

«They are angels, Elias. Angels who will repeat the “Gloria” when the Saviour is crowned.

«King?»

«No, Redeemer. Oh! What a procession of just people and saints! And in front there will be the white and purple phalanges of the martyrs! As soon as the gates of Limbo are opened, we shall ascend together to the eternal Kingdom. And then you will come and will find your fathers, mothers and children in the Lord! Believe Me.»

«Yes, my Lord.»

«Call Me: Master.

75.5

It is getting dark, the first evening star is beginning to shine. Say your prayer before supper.»

«Not I. You say it, please.»

«Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and peace on earth to men of goodwill who have deserved to see the Light and serve it. The Saviour is among them. The Shepherd of the royal line is with His herd. The morning Star has risen. Rejoice, just people! Rejoice in the Lord. He Who made the vaults of heaven and has strewn them with stars, Who placed the seas at the boundaries of the land, Who created winds and dew, and fixed the course of seasons to give bread and wine to His children, He is now sending you a more sublime food: the living Bread that descends from Heaven, the Wine of the eternal Vine. Come to Me, you who are the first of My worshippers. Come to meet the Eternal Father in truth, to follow Him in holiness and receive His eternal reward.» Jesus has said the prayer, standing up, with His arms stretched out, while the disciples and shepherds are on their knees.

They then offer bread and new milk, and since there are only three bowls, or emptied marrows, I do not know which, Jesus is the first to eat, with Simon and Judas. Then John, to whom Jesus hands His cup, with Levi and Joseph. Elias is last.

The sheep are no longer grazing. They gather in a compact group, perhaps waiting to be led to their enclosure. Instead I see the three shepherds taking them into the wood, under a rustic shed formed with branches and enclosed by ropes. They then busy themselves preparing hay beds for Jesus and His disciples. They light fires, probably to keep wild animals away.

Judas and John lie down, and tired as they are, they soon fall asleep. Simon would like to keep Jesus company. But shortly afterwards he falls asleep too, sitting on the hay leaning against a pole.

75.6

Jesus remains awake with the shepherds. And they talk of Joseph, of Mary, of the escape into Egypt, of their return… and after such questions about loving friendship, they ask more noble questions: what can they do to serve Jesus? How will they, poor, rough shepherds, be able to do anything?

And Jesus teaches them and explains: «Now I am going to go through Judaea. My disciples will keep in touch with you all the time. Later I will let you come. In the meantime, get together. Make sure that you are all in touch with one another, and that everyone knows that I am here, in this world, as Master and Saviour. Let everybody know, as best you can. I will not promise that you will be believed. I have been mocked at and beaten. They will do the same to you. But as you have been strong and just in your long expectation, persist in being so, now that you are Mine. Tomorrow we will go towards Juttah. Then to Hebron. Can you come?»

«Of course, we can. The roads belong to everybody and the pastures to God. Only Bethlehem is forbidden by an unfair hatred. The other villages know… but they jeer at us, calling us “drunkards”. Thus we will not be able to do very much here.»

«I will employ you elsewhere. I will not abandon you.»

«For all our lifetimes?»

«For all My lifetime.»

«No, Master, I will die first. I am old.»

«Do you think so? I do not. One of the first faces I saw, Elias, was yours. It will also be one of the last. I will take with Me, impressed in My eyes, the image of your face deranged by sorrow for My death. But after, you will treasure in your heart the memory of the joy of a triumphal morning, and will thus await death… Death: the everlasting meeting with Jesus, Whom you adored when He was a baby. Also then the angels will sing the Gloria: “for the man of goodwill”.»

I hear nothing more, the sweet vision fades away and ends.

• Elijah of Bethlehem (shepherd of the Nativity)
• Joseph of Joseph of Bethlehem (shepherd of the Nativity)
• Levi of Bethlehem (shepherd of the Nativity)

«Well, tell me. Has a Child ever come back to Nazareth, a Child with a woman whose name was Mary and a man called Joseph, a Child, Who was even more beautiful than His Mother, so beautiful that I have never seen a fairer flower on the slopes of Judah? A Child born in Bethlehem of Judah, at the time of the edict? A Child Who later fled, most fortunately for the world. A Child, oh! I would give my life just to hear whether He is alive… He must be a man by now.»

«Why do you say that His flight was a great fortune for the world?»

«Because He was the Saviour, the Messiah and Herod wanted Him dead. I was not there when He fled with His father and Mother.»

• Escape to Egypt
• Joseph of Jacob (Saint Joseph)
• The Virgin Mary

«Who are You?»

«One Who loves you.»

«You would be the first in so many years. Where are You from?»

«From Galilee.»

«From Galilee? Oh!» The man watches Him carefully. Also the other two have come near. «From Galilee» repeats the shepherd, and he adds in a very low voice, as if speaking to himself: «He came from Galilee, too… From which town, my Lord?»

«From Nazareth.»

«Oh! Well, tell me. Has a Child ever come back to Nazareth, a Child with a woman whose name was Mary and a man called Joseph, a Child, Who was even more beautiful than His Mother, so beautiful that I have never seen a fairer flower on the slopes of Judah? A Child born in Bethlehem of Judah, at the time of the edict? A Child Who later fled, most fortunately for the world. A Child, oh! I would give my life just to hear whether He is alive… He must be a man by now.»

• Jesus Christ
• Jesus as a child

They threw stones at me, as they do with lepers and unclean people, they treated me like a murderer… and I had to hide in the woods, and live like a wolf… until I found a master. Oh! it’s no longer Anne… He is hard and cruel… If a sheep gets hurt, if a wolf preys on a lamb, he either beats me till I bleed or he takes my poor pay, and I have to work in the woods for other people, I must do something, to pay him back three times the value. But it does not matter. I have always said to the Most High: “Let me see Your Messiah, at least let me know that He is alive, and all the rest is nothing”. My Lord, I have told You how the people in Bethlehem treated me, and how my master deals with me. I could have repaid them in their own coins, I could have wronged them, stealing, so that I would not suffer under my master. But I preferred to suffer, to forgive, to be honest, because the angels said: “Glory to God in the Highest Heaven and peace on earth to men of goodwill”.

• Anne of Bethlehem
• Anonymous characters
• Cruelty