Notes for this theme

Sixty-sixth disciples

Page 21 of 30

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GRM 189.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Nain must have been a town of some importance in the days of Jesus. It is not a large town, but is well built, surrounded by its walls, lying on a low pleasant hill, an off shoot of the Little Hermon, commanding a very fertile plain which stretches towards the north-east.
One arrives here coming from Endor, after crossing a little river, which flows into the Jordan. But neither the Jordan nor its valley can be seen any longer, because they are concealed by hills which form an arch shaped like a question mark in the east.
Jesus follows a main road which links the lake region to the Hermon and its villages. Many inhabitants of Endor walk behind Him talking to one another animatedly.
Only a short distance separates the group of the apostles from the walls: about two hundred yards, at the most. And as the main road runs straight to one of the town gates, which is wide open because it is broad daylight, it is possible to see what is happening in the inner side of the walls. Thus Jesus, Who is speaking to the apostles and the new convert, sees a funeral coming towards them, with a great noise of weepers and similar eastern displays.
«Shall we go and see, Master?» ask many. And many of the inhabitants of Endor are already rushing to see.
«Yes, let us go» says Jesus condescendingly.
«Oh! It must be a boy. See how many flowers and ribbons there are on the stretcher» says Judas of Kerioth to John.
«Or it is probably a virgin» replies John.
«No, it is certainly a young man, because of the shades they have used. And there is no myrtle either…» says Bartholomew.
The funeral comes out from the other side of the walls. It is not possible to see what there is on the stretcher, which is carried shoulder high by the bearers. One understands that there is a corpse, wrapped in bandages and covered by a sheet, only because of its outline and that it is the body of a fully grown person, because it is as long as the stretcher.
A veiled woman is walking beside it, weeping, supported by relatives or friends. The only sincere tears in all that farce of mourners. And when a bearer trips on a stone or heap in the ground or stumbles and causes the stretcher to shake, the mother moans: «Oh! No! Be careful! My boy has suffered so much!» and she raises her trembling hand to caress the edge of the stretcher. And as she is unable to do anything else, she kisses the veils and the ribbons, which blown by a gentle breeze lightly touch the immobile corpse.
Peter, sympathetic, his good keen eyes welling up with tears whispers: «She is the mother.» But he is not the only one whose eyes are shining with tears at the sight. Also the Zealot, Andrew, John, and even the ever merry Thomas have tears in their eyes. They are all deeply moved. Judas Iscariot whispers: «If it were I! Oh! Poor mother of mine…»

Detail

The two James, Matthew, Philip and Jude are not mentioned in this passage, but they are present. They go to Naim.

Annotation

- Oh, it must be a child, because you see how many flowers and ribbons are on the litter? says Judas to John.

- Or maybe it's a virgin," replies Jean.

- No, it must be a young boy, because of the colors they've used, and there are no myrtles..." says Barthélemy.

So many indications of the funeral rites in use at the time. Judas of Judea and Bartholomew of Galilee identify them similarly.

Keywords

GRM 189.1-5 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Nain must have been a town of some importance in the days of Jesus. It is not a large town, but is well built, surrounded by its walls, lying on a low pleasant hill, an off shoot of the Little Hermon, commanding a very fertile plain which stretches towards the north-east.
One arrives here coming from Endor, after crossing a little river, which flows into the Jordan. But neither the Jordan nor its valley can be seen any longer, because they are concealed by hills which form an arch shaped like a question mark in the east.
Jesus follows a main road which links the lake region to the Hermon and its villages. Many inhabitants of Endor walk behind Him talking to one another animatedly.
Only a short distance separates the group of the apostles from the walls: about two hundred yards, at the most. And as the main road runs straight to one of the town gates, which is wide open because it is broad daylight, it is possible to see what is happening in the inner side of the walls. Thus Jesus, Who is speaking to the apostles and the new convert, sees a funeral coming towards them, with a great noise of weepers and similar eastern displays.
«Shall we go and see, Master?» ask many. And many of the inhabitants of Endor are already rushing to see.
«Yes, let us go» says Jesus condescendingly.
«Oh! It must be a boy. See how many flowers and ribbons there are on the stretcher» says Judas of Kerioth to John.
«Or it is probably a virgin» replies John.
«No, it is certainly a young man, because of the shades they have used. And there is no myrtle either…» says Bartholomew.
The funeral comes out from the other side of the walls. It is not possible to see what there is on the stretcher, which is carried shoulder high by the bearers. One understands that there is a corpse, wrapped in bandages and covered by a sheet, only because of its outline and that it is the body of a fully grown person, because it is as long as the stretcher.
A veiled woman is walking beside it, weeping, supported by relatives or friends. The only sincere tears in all that farce of mourners. And when a bearer trips on a stone or heap in the ground or stumbles and causes the stretcher to shake, the mother moans: «Oh! No! Be careful! My boy has suffered so much!» and she raises her trembling hand to caress the edge of the stretcher. And as she is unable to do anything else, she kisses the veils and the ribbons, which blown by a gentle breeze lightly touch the immobile corpse.
Peter, sympathetic, his good keen eyes welling up with tears whispers: «She is the mother.» But he is not the only one whose eyes are shining with tears at the sight. Also the Zealot, Andrew, John, and even the ever merry Thomas have tears in their eyes. They are all deeply moved. Judas Iscariot whispers: «If it were I! Oh! Poor mother of mine…»
189.2
Jesus, the kindness of Whose eyes is so deep as to be unbearable, makes His way towards the stretcher.
The mother, who is now sobbing louder because the funeral is about to turn towards the open sepulchre, pushes Him aside resolutely, when she sees that Jesus wants to touch the stretcher. I wonder what she is afraid of in her grief. She shouts: «He is mine!» and looks at Jesus with staring eyes.
«I know, mother. He is yours.»
«He is my only son! Why should he die, he was so good and dear, he was my joy, and I am a widow. Why?» The crowd of the hired mourners mourn more loudly, forming a chorus with the mother who continues: «Why he, and not I? It is not just that she who has borne a child, should see her offspring perish. The offspring must live, otherwise why was my womb torn to give birth to a man?» and she strikes her abdomen wildly and desperately.
«Do not do that! Do not weep, mother.» Jesus takes her hands clenching them firmly in His left hand, while with His right one He touches the stretcher saying to the bearers: «Stop and put the stretcher down.»
The bearers obey and lower the little bed that rests on its four legs.
Jesus takes the sheet covering the dead boy and pulls it back uncovering the corpse.
The mother shouts her grief and the name of her son, I think: «Daniel!»
Jesus, still clenching the mother’s hands in His, stands up, His eyes imposingly bright, the power of miracle shining majestically on His face, lowering His right hand, orders in the full strength of His voice: «Young man! I tell you: get up!»
189.3
The dead boy, wrapped in bandages as he is, sits up on the little bed and calls: «Mother!» He calls her with the stammering frightened voice of a terrified child.
«He is yours, woman. I give him to you in the name of God. Help him to get rid of the sudarium. And be happy.»
And Jesus makes the gesture of withdrawing. Impossible! The crowds rivet Him to the stretcher, on which the mother has thrown herself groping for the bandages, endeavouring to be quick, while the imploring childish moaning repeats: «Mother! Mother!»
The sudarium and bandages are undone and mother and son can embrace each other, and they do so without bothering about the sticky balms, which the mother removes from his dear face and hands, making use of the same bandages. As she has not clothes to put on him, she takes off her mantle and wraps him in it, caressing him all the time…
189.4
Jesus looks at her… he looks at the loving group, close together on the edge of the little bed, no longer a stretcher, and He weeps.
Judas Iscariot sees His tears and asks: «Why are You weeping, my Lord?»
Jesus turns His face towards him and says: «I am thinking of My Mother…»
The brief conversation draws the woman’s attention to her Benefactor. She takes her son by the hand, she supports him because his limbs are still somewhat numb, and kneeling down she says: «You, too, my son. Bless this Holy man Who has restored you to life and to your mother» and she bends to kiss Jesus’ tunic while the crowd sing hosannas to God and to His Messiah, Who by now is well known for what He is, because the apostles and the people of Endor have taken it upon themselves to tell Who is He Who worked the miracle. And the crowds exclaim: «Blessed be the God of Israel. Blessed be the Messiah, His Messenger! Blessed be Jesus, Son of David! A great Prophet is risen among us! God has really visited His people! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!»
189.5
At last Jesus can steal away and enter the town. The crowd follow and pursue Him, exulting in their love.
A man rushes towards Jesus and bows deeply to Him. «Please come and stay under my roof.»
«I cannot. Passover prevents Me from making any stop except those programmed.»
«In a few hours it will be sunset and this is Friday…»
«Exactly, that is why I must reach My resting place before sunset. I thank you just the same. But do not keep Me back.»
«I am the head of the synagogue.»
«So you mean that you are entitled to have Me. Man, if I had arrived here only one hour later, that woman would not have had her son restored to her. I am going where other unhappy people are waiting for Me. Do not be so selfish as to delay their joy. I will certainly come again and I will be with you in Nain for several days. Now let Me go.»
The man does not insist any more. He only says: «As You said. I will wait for You.»
«Yes. Peace to you and to the citizens of Nain. Also to you, people of Endor, peace and blessings. Go back to your homes. God has spoken to you through the miracle. Endeavour, through the power of love, to have all your hearts restored to Goodness.»
A last chorus of hosannas. Then the crowds let Jesus go and He crosses the town diagonally and goes out into the country, towards Esdraelon.

Annotation

Gospel of Luke 7, 11-17

Lk 7, 11-17 : Afterwards, Jesus went to a town called Naim. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. He arrived near the town gate just as a dead man was being taken to be buried; he was an only son, and his mother was a widow. A large crowd from the city accompanied the woman. Seeing the woman, the Lord felt compassion for her and said, "Don't weep. He reached out and touched the coffin; the pallbearers stopped, and Jesus said, "Young man, I command you, rise." Then the dead man stood up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Fear seized everyone, and they gave glory to God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us, and God has visited his people." And this word about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the whole region.

Keywords

GRM 190

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Simon Peter, Andrew and Simon the Zealot are the only ones named in this chapter, but the rest of the apostolic group is present. John of Endor also follows them.

Keywords

GRM 190.3 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

When He goes back to the cross-road, all the peasants of Johanan are there and joyful and happy they surround their Messiah and take Him to their poor dwellings.
«Did You see, over there?»
«Yes, I did. Doras’ peasants are coming tomorrow.»
«Of course, when the hyenas go to pray… We do that every Sabbath… and we speak of You, we tell what we heard from Jonah, from Isaac, who often comes to see us, and what we learned from You in Tishri. We speak as best we can. Because it is impossible not to speak of You. And the more we suffer, the more we are forbidden, the more we speak of You. Those poor people… they drink the essence of life every Sabbath… But how many there are in this plain who are in need of knowing, of knowing You at least, and yet they cannot come here…»
«I will see to them as well. And may you be blessed for what you do.»

Detail

Jesus meets the peasants of Yokhanan.

Annotation

We speak of You, with what we have learned from Jonah, from Isaac who often comes to us, and from your speech at Tisri. Cf. EMV 109.5.

Keywords

GRM 191.2 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Peace to you, My friends. Come here. The synagogue is here today and I am your head of it. But first I wish to be the father of your family. Sit around Me, that I may give you some food. The Groom is with you today, and we will have a wedding banquet.»
And Jesus uncovers a basket, from which He takes some loaves of bread handing them to the amazed peasants of Doras. From another basket He takes the foodstuffs He has been able to find: cheese, cooked vegetables, and a little kid or lamb, cooked whole, which He divides among the unhappy men. He then pours out some wine and hands around a coarse chalice so that everybody may drink.
«Why all this? And what about them?» ask Doras’ men pointing to Johanan’s men.
«They have already had their share.»
«All this expense! How could You do that?»
«There are still some good people in Israel» replies Jesus smiling.
«But this is Sabbath…»
«Thank this man» says Jesus pointing at the man from Endor. «He got the lamb. It was easy to get the rest.»
The poor men devoured – it is the right word – the food, the like of which they had not tasted for a long time.

Detail

Jesus meets up with the peasants of Doras and Yokhanan.

Keywords

Jean d'Endor (Félix)

GRM 191.3-4.9 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

One of them, a rather elderly man, is pressing to his side a boy about ten years old; he eats and weeps.
«What is the matter, father?…» asks Jesus.
«It’s because Your goodness is too great…»
The man from Endor says in his guttural voice: «That is true… and it makes you weep. But the tears are not bitter ones…»
«They are not bitter. That’s true. And then… There is something I would like. My tears express also a desire.»
«What do you want, father?»
«See this child. He is my grandson. He was left to me after the landslide of last winter. Doras does not even know that he has come to me, because I have to let him live like a wild animal in the wood and I see him only on the Sabbath. If he finds out he will either drive him away or compel him to work… and this tender offspring of mine will be treated worse than a pack animal. At Passover I am sending him to Jerusalem with Micah, to become a son of the Law… and after?… He is my daughter’s son…»
«Would you give him to Me, instead? Do not weep. I have many friends who are honest, holy and without any children. They will bring him up in a holy manner, in My Way…»
«Oh! Lord! That is what I have been wishing for since I heard of You. And I prayed that holy man Jonah to save my grandchild from this death, because he knows what it means to belong to this master…»
«Child, would you come with Me?»
«Yes, my Lord. And I will cause You no grief.»
«That is settled.»
191.4
«But… to whom do You wish to give him?» asks Peter pulling Jesus by the sleeve. «Also this one to Lazarus?»
«No, Simon. But there are so many without any children…»
«And I am one of them…» Peter’s desire seems to make his face grow thinner.
«Simon. I have already told you. You are to be the “father” of all the children I will bequeath to you. But you are not to be bound by any child of your own. Do not be upset. You are too important to your Master, Who cannot detach you from Himself because of an affection. I am exacting, Simon. I am more exacting than a very jealous husband. I love you most partially and I want you to be entirely Mine.»
«All right, my Lord… all right… Let it be done as You wish.» Poor Peter is really heroic in adhering to Jesus’ will.
«He will be the son of My dawning Church. All right? He will belong to everybody and to nobody. He will be “our” child. He will follow us when distances will allow him to, or he will come to us and the shepherds will be his guardians, as in every child they love “their” Child Jesus. Come here, My child, what is your name?»
«Jabez of John and I am from Judah» says the boy without hesitating.
«Yes. We are Judaeans» confirms the old man. «I used to work in Doras’ lands in Judaea, and my daughter got married to a man from that area. He worked in the woods near Arimathea and last winter…»
«I saw the disaster.»
«The boy was spared because that night he was far away with a relative… In actual fact the boy was appropriately named Jabez. I said to my daughter at once: “Why? Do you not remember the ancient tradition?”. But her husband insisted in giving him that name, so he is Jabez.»
«“The child will call on the Lord and the Lord will bless him and will extend his lands, and the hand of the Lord will be with him and will keep harm away from him”. That is what the Lord will grant him to comfort you, father, and the souls of the dead, and to console the orphan. (...)
I bless you, now. And I will pray for you at every dawn. And you, father, do not worry about the little lamb you are entrusting to Me. I will bring him back now and again, that you may rejoice seeing him grow in wisdom and goodness in the way of the Lord. He will be your lamb of this poor Passover of yours, the most pleasing of all the lambs offered at the altar of Jehovah. Jabez, say goodbye to the old father and then come to your Saviour, to your Good Shepherd. Peace be with you!»
«Oh! Master! Good Master! How painful it is to leave you!»
«Yes, it is painful. But it is better if the steward does not find you here. I came here deliberately to avoid punishment for you. Please obey for the sake of the Love Who advises you.»
The unhappy men rise with tears in their eyes and go back to their cross. Jesus blesses them once again and then, holding the boy by the hand and with the man from Endor on the other side, He goes back to Micah’s house along the same way He came.
Andrew and John join Him and the disciples after their watch.

Detail

Jesus is with the peasants of Doras, offering them food for Passover. One of the men presents him with his grandson.

Annotation

"Simon, I told you", in EMV 104.5. The last mention of Lazarus is in connection with the event reported in EMV 172.11.

"I saw the catastrophe", in EMV 139.2.

"Why this name? Don't you remember the old one? " (...) " The child will call upon the Lord and the Lord will bless him and enlarge his borders; the hand of the Lord is in his hand and he will no longer be burdened by misfortune. " The quotation is taken from 1 Chronicles 4:9-10.

First Book of Chronicles 4, 9-10

1 Ch 4, 9-10 : Yabesh was more honored than his brothers. His mother gave him the name Yabés (i.e.: In sorrow), saying: "I gave birth in distress." Yabes invoked the God of Israel, saying: "If indeed you bless me, you will enlarge my territory, your hand will be with me, and you will remove misfortune from me, so that my distress will end." And God granted him what he had asked for.

Keywords

GRM 191.3-4 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

One of them, a rather elderly man, is pressing to his side a boy about ten years old; he eats and weeps.
«What is the matter, father?…» asks Jesus.
«It’s because Your goodness is too great…»
The man from Endor says in his guttural voice: «That is true… and it makes you weep. But the tears are not bitter ones…»
«They are not bitter. That’s true. And then… There is something I would like. My tears express also a desire.»
«What do you want, father?»
«See this child. He is my grandson. He was left to me after the landslide of last winter. Doras does not even know that he has come to me, because I have to let him live like a wild animal in the wood and I see him only on the Sabbath. If he finds out he will either drive him away or compel him to work… and this tender offspring of mine will be treated worse than a pack animal. At Passover I am sending him to Jerusalem with Micah, to become a son of the Law… and after?… He is my daughter’s son…»
«Would you give him to Me, instead? Do not weep. I have many friends who are honest, holy and without any children. They will bring him up in a holy manner, in My Way…»
«Oh! Lord! That is what I have been wishing for since I heard of You. And I prayed that holy man Jonah to save my grandchild from this death, because he knows what it means to belong to this master…»
«Child, would you come with Me?»
«Yes, my Lord. And I will cause You no grief.»
«That is settled.»
191.4
«But… to whom do You wish to give him?» asks Peter pulling Jesus by the sleeve. «Also this one to Lazarus?»
«No, Simon. But there are so many without any children…»
«And I am one of them…» Peter’s desire seems to make his face grow thinner.
«Simon. I have already told you. You are to be the “father” of all the children I will bequeath to you. But you are not to be bound by any child of your own. Do not be upset. You are too important to your Master, Who cannot detach you from Himself because of an affection. I am exacting, Simon. I am more exacting than a very jealous husband. I love you most partially and I want you to be entirely Mine.»
«All right, my Lord… all right… Let it be done as You wish.» Poor Peter is really heroic in adhering to Jesus’ will.
«He will be the son of My dawning Church. All right? He will belong to everybody and to nobody. He will be “our” child. He will follow us when distances will allow him to, or he will come to us and the shepherds will be his guardians, as in every child they love “their” Child Jesus. Come here, My child, what is your name?»
«Jabez of John and I am from Judah» says the boy without hesitating.
«Yes. We are Judaeans» confirms the old man. «I used to work in Doras’ lands in Judaea, and my daughter got married to a man from that area. He worked in the woods near Arimathea and last winter…»
«I saw the disaster.»
«The boy was spared because that night he was far away with a relative… In actual fact the boy was appropriately named Jabez. I said to my daughter at once: “Why? Do you not remember the ancient tradition?”. But her husband insisted in giving him that name, so he is Jabez[1].»
«“The child will call on the Lord and the Lord will bless him and will extend his lands, and the hand of the Lord will be with him and will keep harm away from him”. That is what the Lord will grant him to comfort you, father, and the souls of the dead, and to console the orphan.

Annotation

"Simon, I told you", in EMV 104.5. The last mention of Lazarus is in connection with the event reported in EMV 172.11.

"I saw the catastrophe", in EMV 139.2.

First Book of Chronicles 4, 9-10

Keywords

GRM 191.9 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

The unhappy men rise with tears in their eyes and go back to their cross. Jesus blesses them once again and then, holding the boy by the hand and with the man from Endor on the other side, He goes back to Micah’s house along the same way He came.
Andrew and John join Him and the disciples after their watch.

Detail

Jesus leaves the peasants of Doras and Yokhanan.

Keywords

GRM 192.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Is that the top of Mount Carmel, my Lord?» asks His cousin James.
«Yes, it is, brother. That is the chain of the Carmel and the highest peak is the one that gives the name to the chain.»
«The world must be beautiful also from there. Have You ever been up there?»
«Yes, once, by Myself, at the beginning of My mission. And at the foot of it I cured the first leper. But we will go there together, to commemorate Elijah…»
«Thank You, Jesus. You have understood me as usual.»
«And as usual I perfect you, James.»
«Why?»
«The reason is written in Heaven.»
«Would You not tell me, brother, since You can read what is written in Heaven?»
Jesus and James are walking one beside the other and only little Jabez, who is held by the hand by Jesus, can hear the confidential conversation of the two cousins who smile looking at each other’s eyes.

Keywords

Yabeç (Jabé) - Marziam (Margziam)

GRM 192.2 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Shall we be at Engannim by evening?» asks Philip.
«Certainly… But… we have the boy now. Are you tired, Jabez?» Jesus fondly. «Be as frank as an angel.»
«A little, Lord. But I will do my best to walk.»
«This boy is very weak» says the man from Endor in his guttural voice.
«No wonder!» exclaims Peter. «Considering the life he has been leading for months! Come here, I will carry you in my arms.»
«Oh! No, sir. Don’t tire yourself. I am still able to walk.»
«Come, come here. You are certainly not heavy. You look like an underfed little bird» and Peter puts him astride his square shoulder’s, holding him by the legs.
They walk fast because the sun is now strong and urges them to reach the shady hills.