Simon the Zealot (apostle)

In Bethany, we celebrate the Feast of the Encenias - also known as the Feast of Light or the Feast of Dedication. It's Jesus' first birthday without his Mother. Christ wanders through the garden, listening to a nightingale. Then, after blessing the Father for this song, he spends some time with Simon, telling him about Heaven and the places there for the various saints and blessed. Then Martha arrives, grieving because Mary Magdalene has recently left, and she wanted to leave this "tomb" to return to her joys. They go to table and are joined by the shepherds from Bethlehem, which consoles Jesus for his Mother's absence. After the Lord has thanked Lazarus and Martha, being delicate enough to evoke Mary Magdalene and console Martha, they come to speak of the Infancy Gospel: from the Immaculate Conception, to his Presentation in the Temple, his betrothal to Joseph, the Nativity, the Flight into Egypt, the return to Galilee, the recovery in the Temple. Finally, Peter wants to remember all this, but is afraid he won't be able to: Matthew assures him he has a good memory and will tell him. Finally, Peter wishes to die while uttering the name of Jesus, and Jesus confirms that this will happen.

Jesus returns to La Belle-Eau. He sends Judas to make the most urgent purchases. André talks to the Master, to confide in him his suffering: the veiled woman, Aglaia, is no longer there, because the Pharisees have attacked her. He fears that she will not reach salvation, but Christ assures him that she is not dead and that she will be saved. The Lord asks him if he wants to know how this will happen, and André doesn't want to know: he's just satisfied with Christ's words and promise. His Master is then happy and says that this is the privilege of the true apostle, who must not seek to know how he saves souls. In this way, Jesus teaches a lesson about priests. Then Jesus asks about Aglaia, so Andrew explains what happened. The Pharisees attacked her in their absence, and she fled. Judas returns in the meantime and reveals that the Pharisees have set a trap. He interrupted a scribe who was insulting Jesus, then remembered that violence was not good and let him go. Peter was very pleased with his attitude and would have helped him, but the vengeful attitude of the Twelve did not please the Master, who rebuked them. He announces that he is going to confront the Pharisees, which indeed takes place. He asks them not to fight against him, the Word of God, but the group prefers to curse them and orders him to leave. So Jesus leaves tomorrow, after greeting the good people who are here.

Farewell to the souls of Belle-Eau. The steward explains what happened with Aglaé, and the Master blesses her uprightness. Jesus then talks to the apostles on the road: he tells them that he does not want a human kingdom, and that he will not conquer it by violence. Finally, Jesus goes to console the synagogue ruler at Belle-Eau. He's going to be cursed by the Sanhedrin, so he's going to be removed from office. The man, in his humility, believes that he will no longer be able to look up to God, and regrets, not the loss of his prestigious office, but the loss of his friendship with God. He is therefore gripped by scruples, and Jesus reassures him that he has not sinned. The Sanhedrin's condemnation falls, but Christ invites him instead to follow in his footsteps, and Timon is happy.

The apostolic group advances over the Emmaus mountains. They move on merrily and are on their way to Galilee. Judas, in good spirits, asks if they can return to Kerioth later, and John asks if he can take James of Zebedee and Andrew to Bethlehem. The Iscariot then asks Jesus for advice about his soul, and Jesus does so charitably, saying that his mind is disordered and everything falls apart at the slightest sign of wind. He advises her to act with order and stay with the good ones to fight temptation. Peter arrives in the meantime and wants to know what they're talking about. Jesus speaks of order and holiness, evoking the image of the right on a plane. Peter praises André, but Jesus assures him that the Twelve are working to become good and better.

Cleophas of Emmaus, an old man who has come to Belle-Eau, welcomes Jesus into his home. He's an old man, but he's very willing. On this occasion, Jesus meets a certain Timon and Hermas, true Israelites who ask him to present his doctrine. Jesus replies that we must follow the Decalogue, and practice love and mercy. The Lord says that Mercy has now taken precedence over Justice, but he also points out that it was always present, from the Beginning. Now, it has come to reconcile man with his Father. Next, Cleophas presents a case of incest, which is being tried by the Pharisaic authorities. In this case, the case of incest is unfortunate: the brother and sister really didn't know they were from the same lineage. To follow the Law, the man repudiated her (with a broken heart) and the woman died of grief. Now the man, named Joseph, is condemned and ostracized from Israel. He's out. Jesus declares that this was materially an involuntary fault, but that there had been no will to sin. As soon as he learns that he is in the street, he goes out and lets him know that he is Mercy. He invites him to follow him and absolves him of his involuntary fault, he who is the spotless Lamb and divine Judge.