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Judas de Kérioth (apostle)

Theme: Who are the apostles? · Page 18 of 28

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GRM 171

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus is still on the Horns of Hattin, continuing the Sermon on the Mount. First of all, the Lord reminds us that He does not change the Law one iota, because it was He Himself who gave it together with the Most Holy Trinity. However, Christ completes it, without overloading it as men do.

After defining the holy man, Christ goes on to say that he who follows one of the least commandments will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven, and he who violates one of the Commandments will be one of the least in the Celestial Kingdom. The Master warns against the righteousness of the Pharisees and scribes, and also warns people to beware of false prophets.

Jesus then returns to the subject of neighborly love, and outlines a number of features that we find in the Gospel: loving and forgiving, turning the other cheek, thinking that it is better for him to hit us than to hit someone who cannot bear it, and so on. He invites us to be generous, to give our tunic so that our brother doesn't commit a double theft if someone tries to steal something from us. Finally, Christ goes back on the saying: "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth", replacing it with love, and encourages us to be perfect like our heavenly Father, not to get angry or hold a grudge against our neighbor, but to be reconciled with him.

When the Master concludes his discourse, Jesus speaks of someone who hates him, and who dares not ask for the miracle. But when his apostles question him, he tells them that the scales had fallen from his eyes, not from his heart.

GRM 172

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus talks about oaths, fasting and prayer. In his sermon, he dwells on man's difficulty in being honest and on his false oaths: all too often, man is a perjurer, and he who demands an oath does not himself have much confidence in his neighbor. When we take an oath and swear to something, invoking that which is dearest to us, we deceive our neighbor: we are thieves, sacrilegious, traitors and homicidal. But we don't deceive God, who is Truth itself. Jesus therefore encourages people not to take false oaths, as in the Gospel, and he enjoins others not to swear on the dead, nor on the head of our family, nor on our body, which belongs to God. Let our yes be a yes and a no be a no.

Secondly, Christ insists on prayer said from the heart, where we seek not to be noticed and are not overcome by scruples. We must stop counting the number of hours we spend in prayer: it's not so much soulless prayers that count, but actions and words said with love. Jesus declares that we can do anything by praying: whether it's making a loaf of bread or doing our work, as long as we seek to love in everything. We must also not be afraid to ask, for God is a Father who watches over us and our needs.

Then the Master explains why God may not answer our prayer. He may refuse us a grace because it would hurt us in the future. Sometimes, therefore, God says: "I cannot", because in His Wisdom, He sees that such a grace, which seems good to us now, would be harmful to us later.

Finally, Jesus applies what he says about prayer to fasting: we mustn't flaunt it in public or be sad, but be joyful and act as if we've eaten well. Hiding this fast from others will be an act of heroism, and God will reward us for not seeking praise from men. What's more, anyone who fasts out of love feeds on love.

The Savior then sends away the people who are listening and welcomes two poor people. One is Ishmael, a man rejected by his daughter who wants to make his last Easter; the other is a woman named Sarath who is ill. He heals the latter and Jesus asks him to look after the old man. Christ then asks Simon the Zealot if he can entrust them to Lazarus, since they are two poor men who have nothing, and Lazarus assures him that he can. The episode ends with the old man happily adopting a new daughter and finding a new protector.

GRM 174.2 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

And the crowds throng incessantly. They come up from all directions: old, healthy, sick, children and young couples who wish to start their married life with the blessing of God’s word. There are beggars and wealthy people who call the apostles and give them offerings for those who are poor and they are so anxious to find a concealed place in which to do it that they seem to be going to confession. Thomas has taken one of the traveling bags and calmly pours all the money into it as if it were chicken-feed, and then takes it to the rock where Jesus is speaking, and he laughs happily saying: «Rejoice, Master! You have enough for everybody today!»

Jesus smiles and says: «And we shall start at once, so that those who are sad may be happy immediately. You and your companions will select the poor and sick people and bring them here.»

That takes a comparatively short time, although they have to listen to the cases of many people and it would have taken much longer without the practical help of Thomas, who, standing on a stone to be seen by everybody, shouts in his powerful voice: «All those suffering from physical trouble go to my right hand side, over there, in the shade.» The Iscariot follows his example as he, too, is gifted with an exceptionally powerful and beautiful voice, and he shouts: «And all those who think they are entitled to alms should come here near me. And make sure you are not telling lies because the eyes of the Master can read your hearts.»

The crowds start moving about to form three groups: those who are sick, those who are poor, and those who are anxious only to hear Jesus teaching.

GRM 174.2-5.8 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

The crowds start moving about to form three groups: those who are sick, those who are poor, and those who are anxious only to hear Jesus teaching. (...)

Jesus is already bending over sick people and the hosannas of the crowds punctuate each miracle.

The woman, who appears to be completely distressed, dares to pull John’s tunic, while he is speaking to Andrew and she smiles.

He bends and asks her: «What do you want, woman?»

«I would like to speak to the Master…»

«Are you not well? You are not poor…»

«I am well and I am not poor. But I need Him… because there are evils without any fever and there is misery without poverty and mine… mine…» and she weeps.

«Listen, Andrew. This woman is sick in heart and would like to speak to the Master. What shall we do?»

Andrew looks at the woman and says: «It is certainly something which is painful to tell…» The woman nods assent. Andrew goes on: «Do not weep… John, try and take her behind our shed. I will take the Master there.»

And John, smiling, begs people to let him pass, while Andrew goes in the opposite direction towards Jesus.

But they are noticed by two distressed men, and one of them stops John, and the other Andrew, and shortly afterwards they are both with John and the woman behind the shed of branches which is part of the tent.

Andrew reaches Jesus when the Latter is curing the cripple who raises his crutches like two trophies, as brisk as a skilled dancer, shouting his blessing. Andrew whispers: «Master, behind our shed there are three people weeping. But it is their hearts that ache and their grief cannot be made known…»

«All right. I still have this girl and this woman. Then I will come. Go and tell them to have faith.»

Andrew goes away (...)

All the sick people have been satisfied and they are the ones who shout most in the crowd applauding «the Son of David, glory of God and ours.»

Jesus goes towards the shed.

Judas of Kerioth shouts: «Master! What about these?»

Jesus turns around and says: «Let them wait where they are. They will be comforted, too» and He walks fast to the back of the shed where the three people in anguish are with Andrew and John. [Christ listens to these three people, who leave satisfied.]

Jesus goes back to the crowds, towards the poor people and gives them alms according to His own judgement. Everybody is now happy and Jesus can speak.

GRM 174.11 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Some of the people are sitting on the grass, some on large stones, some are standing. The apostolic college is not complete. I can see Peter and Andrew, John and James, and I can hear the other two being called Nathanael and Philip. Then there is one who is and is not one of the group. Perhaps he is the last one who arrived: they call him Simon. The others are not there, unless they are among the crowds and I cannot see them.

Annotation

Contrary to appearances, this comment is perfectly coherent: John, James, Peter and Andrew were "seen" on February 25, 1944. The vision of the meeting with Nathanael and Philip took place on October 13, 1944, two months after the scene described here, and that with Simon the Zealot on October 26, 1944.

GRM 174.16 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

The Iscariot is pensive in a corner. Jesus calls him three times, but he does not hear. At last he turns around: «Do You want me. Master?» he asks.

«Yes, go and take your food and help your companions.»

«I am not hungry. Neither are You.»

«Neither am I, but for different reasons. Are you upset, Judas?»

«No, Master. I’m tired…»

«We are now going to the lake and then to Judaea, Judas. To your mother’s, as I promised you…»

Judas cheers up. «Are You really coming only with me?»

«Of course. Love Me, Judas. I would like My love to be such in you as to preserve you from all evil.»

«Master… I am a man. I am not an angel. At times I feel tired. Is it a sin to feel the need of sleep?»

«No, providing you sleep on My chest. Look over there how happy the people are and how beautiful the scenery is from here. All Judaea must be lovely in springtime.»

«Most beautiful, Master. But spring, there, on the mountains, which are higher than here, is later. But there are beautiful flowers. The apple-orchards are magnificent. Mine, which is looked after by my mother, is one of the most beautiful ones. And when she moves about in it, with the doves following her to get some corn, believe me, it is a sight that soothes your heart.»

«I believe you. If My Mother is not too tired, I would like to take Her to see yours. They would love each other, because they are both good.»

Judas, drawn by this idea, cheers up and forgetting that «he was not hungry and he was tired» runs happily to his companions and tall as he is, he undoes the highest knots without any trouble and eats his bread and olives, as happy as a child.

Jesus looks at him pitifully and then goes towards the apostles.

Detail

Mary Magdalene burst onto the Mount of Beatitudes. At the time, she was a great sinner. Following a speech by Jesus, she left in a rage. After her intervention, Jesus goes to see Judas.

Annotation

I promised you: Reminder of the promise made to Judas in EMV 139.1.

Only, over there on the mountains, which are higher than here, spring comes later. Exactly: the difference is 3 or 4 weeks.

If my Mother isn't too tired, I'd be happy to take her to yours. They'd love each other, because they're both good people. Jesus wants to associate the two mothers who will have so much to suffer.

GRM 175.3.5 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

The people throng around the Master, forming a circle which does not want to open at any cost. But the sun has set and the Sabbath rest begins. The villages are far away. But the people do not pine for their villages, their food or anything else. But the apostles are worried about it and they tell Jesus. Also the elder disciples are worried. There are women and children, and while the night is mild and the grass of the meadow is soft, the stars are not bread. Neither do stones become food.

Jesus is the only one who does not trouble. The people in the meantime eat the remains of their food without any worry and Jesus points it out to His apostles: «I solemnly tell you that these people are worth more than you are! Look how thoughtlessly they are finishing everything. I said to them: “Those who cannot believe that God will provide food for His children tomorrow, may go away”, and they stayed. God will not belie His Messiah and will not disappoint those who hope in Him.»

The apostles shrug their shoulders and do not show concern for anything else. (...)

[The scribe John came to their aid and Jesus said:]

«And what should I say now with regards to your incredulity? Did the Father not put bread for all of us into the hands of one who, by caste, is an enemy of Mine? Oh! men of little faith!… Go into the soft hay and sleep. I am going to pray the Father that He may open your hearts and to thank Him for His kindness. Peace be with you.»

Detail

Although none is specifically named, the Twelve are present in this chapter. Faced with their lack of faith and trust in the Father's Providence to feed the crowd, Jesus tells them this in EMV 175.5, after the scribe John has come to their aid.

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.»