Notes for this theme

Wealthy, influential or powerful people

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Reading comfort

GRM 67.6

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

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.

Keywords

GRM 68.2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«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.»

Keywords

GRM 69.6

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«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.»

Keywords

GRM 70.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Have you been here long?»
«No, Master. I left Doco at dawn, along with Simon, to whom I gave Your message. Then we stopped together in the country of Bethany, sharing the food we had, and speaking of You to the peasants we found in the fields. When it was cooler, we parted. Simon went to see a friend of his, to whom he wants to speak about You. He owns almost the whole of Bethany. He has known him for a long time, when their fathers were alive. But Simon is coming here tomorrow. He asked me to tell You that he is happy to serve You. Simon is very clever. I would like to be like him. But I am an ignorant boy.»
«No, John, you are doing very well, too.»
«Are You really satisfied with Your poor John?»
«Yes, I am thoroughly satisfied, My dear John. Thoroughly satisfied.»
«Oh! My Master!» John bends down with eagerness to take Jesus’ hand, which he kisses and passes lovingly over his face, as if caressing it.

Detail

Jesus and John meet again at the olive grove in Gethsemane, and Jesus asks him:

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…»

Keywords

GRM 71.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

71.1 I see Jesus with Judas Iscariot walking up and down near one of the gates of the Temple enclosure.
«Are You sure he will come?» asks Judas.
«I am certain. He was leaving Bethany at dawn and at Gethsemane he was to meet My first disciple…»

Detail

Jesus is waiting for Simon the Zealot.

Keywords

GRM 71.3-4

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Are you tired, Simon?» asks Jesus.
«No, Master. With my health I have recovered a vitality I never felt before.»
«And I know you make good use of it. I have spoken to many people and they all told Me that you have already instructed them about the Messiah.»
Simon smiles happily. «Also last night I spoke of You to one who is an honest Israelite. I hope You will meet him one day. I would like to take You to him.»
«That is quite possible.» (...)
When Jesus is alone with Simon, He asks him: «Is that person in Bethany a true Israelite?»
«He is a true Israelite. His ideas are the prevailing ones, but he is really longing for the Messiah. And when I said to him: “He is now among us”, he replied at once: “I am blessed because I am living this hour”.»
«We shall go to him one day and take our blessing to his house.»

Keywords

Lazare

GRM 72.6

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Let us go around Herod’s houses…»
«The old, wicked, lustful fox.»
«Do not judge. There is God, Who judges.»

Keywords

GRM 73

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Christ, Judas, John and Simon have arrived in Bethlehem, near Rachel's tomb. They are approached by a local woman, who learns that Jesus has come to bring his Mother's salvation to some people in Bethlehem. She invites him to her home, and her husband welcomes them. But there is strong hostility towards the Messiah, as the massacre of the Innocents has taken place and left deep wounds among the people of Bethlehem. The Nativity shepherds, in particular, are hated by the locals, and the man who receives them is convinced that they let themselves be duped thirty years ago. So he curses the shepherds and the Magi, and blames himself for their credulity at the time. Jesus points out, however, that cursing is not permitted, as it is contrary to the commandment of love, and asks him if he is sure that his judgment is right, since the shepherds and magi may have told them the truth. He speaks of biblical prophecies - the Most High having anticipated the Savior's coming in an excess of love - and in particular mentions the star and the predictions in the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah. His host recognizes him as a rabbi, but when Jesus wants to know where the shepherds Elijah and Levi are, he becomes openly hostile, as Jesus enjoins him not to hate them and declares that the Messiah has indeed been born here.

Judas then gets on his high horse, but Jesus calms him down and the group leaves. A little further on, the Iscariot explodes and would have liked Jesus to be worshipped, but he doesn't want to reduce to ashes all those who sin against him.

Finally, Jesus takes them to the place of his birth, the grotto in Bethlehem. John and Simon are moved, Judas is disgusted at first, but is then overcome by emotion. And Jesus tells them the story of his birth...

Keywords

GRM 73.11

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«…as the Mother was near Her time to have Her Child, a decree was issued by the imperial delegate Publius Sulpicius Quirinus on instructions from Caesar Augustus, when Sentius Saturninus was governor of Palestine. The decree stated that a census had to be taken of all the people of the empire. Those who were not slaves were to go to their places of origin and register in the official rolls of the empire. Joseph, the spouse of the Mother, was of the line of David and the Mother was also of David’s line. In compliance with the decree, they left Nazareth and came to Bethlehem, the cradle of the royal family. The weather was severe…».
Jesus continues the story and it all ends in this way.