Skip to content

Notes for this theme

The reprobates welcomed by Jesus

Page 31 of 34

Reading comfort

Aa

GRM 203.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Jesus comes out with His apostles from a house near the walls and I think that they are still in the Bezetha district, because to go outside the walls, one must pass again by Joseph’s house, near the Gate, which I hear people call Herod’s Gate. The town is semi-deserted in the placid moonlit evening. I understand that they have celebrated Passover in one of Lazarus’ houses, which, however, is not the one of the Last Supper. They are, in fact, poles apart. One in the north, the other in the south of Jerusalem.

On the doorstep Jesus takes leave, with His usual kindness, of John of Endor, who is to take care of the women and whom He thanks for accepting that task. He kisses Marjiam, who has also come to the door and then sets out for Herod’s Gate.

Annotation

To leave the walls, we still have to pass Joseph's house, which is near the gate I've heard called Herod's Gate. Joseph of Arimathea, who had invited them the evening before.

GRM 203.4 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«There is another reason, Simon…»

«Tell us, Master. I will be happy to change my mind about my companion.»

«Judas is jealous. He is agitated because he is jealous.»

«Jealous? Of whom? He is not married, and even if he were, and went with women, I think that none of us would be rude to a fellow disciple…»

«He is jealous of Me. Just think: Judas changed after Endor and after Esdraelon. That is, when he saw that I was taking care of John and of Jabez. But now that John, above all, John, will be going away, as he will be leaving Me and staying with Isaac, you will see that Judas will become merry and good once again…»

«Well!… But You are not going to tell me that he is not possessed by a little demon. And above all… No, I will say it! And above all You will not tell me that he has improved during these last months. I was jealous as well, last year… I would not have liked anybody except the six of us, the first six, do You remember? Now, now… Let me invoke God just this once as witness to what I am going to say. Now I say that the more the disciples increase in numbers around You, the happier I am. Oh! I would like to bring all men to You and I would also like to have all the necessary means to help those who are in need, so that misery may not hinder anyone from coming to You. God sees whether I am telling the truth. But why am I thus now? Because I let You change me. He… has not changed. On the contrary… Yes, Master… A little demon has possessed him…»

«Do not say that. Do not think that. Pray that he may be cured. Jealousy is a disease…»

«Of which one can be cured beside You, if one wants to. Ah! I will put up with him, for Your sake… But, how difficult it is!…»

«I gave you a prize for that: the boy. And now I will teach you how to pray…»

Detail

Peter is surprised by Judas' attitude and Jesus explains that he is jealous. Simon of Jonah then recounts that he too was jealous last year, but that he has now changed.

GRM 203.13 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Get up and let us go. We shall go back to town at dawn. Or rather: tomorrow, you, Simon, and you, My brother (and He points to Judas), will go to fetch the women and the boy. You, Simon of Jonah, and you all, will stay with Me until they come back. Then we shall all go to Bethany together.»

And they go down to Gethsemane, where they enter the house to rest.

GRM 204.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

In the peace of the Sabbath Jesus rests near a flax field in bloom belonging to Lazarus. Rather than «near» I should say that He is «immersed» in the tall flax, and sitting on the edge of a furrow He is engrossed in thought. Only an odd silent butterfly flutters near Him or a lizard rustles nearby, looking at Him with its jet-black eyes, raising its little triangular head with its light throbbing throat. There is nothing else. In the late afternoon, the least sigh of wind has also become silent among the tall stalks.

From far away, perhaps from Lazarus’ garden, the song of a woman can be heard and the joyful shouting of the boy who is playing with someone. Then one, two, three voices call: «Master! Jesus!»

Jesus arouses Himself and stands up. Although the fully grown flax is very tall, Jesus emerges a good height above the blue-green sea.

«There He is, John!» shouts the Zealot.

And John in turn calls: «Mother! The Master is here, in the flax field.»

And while Jesus approaches the path leading to the houses, Mary arrives.

Annotation

Jesus rests beside a field of flax in full bloom: flax is grown in most temperate and warm countries. Its flowers are blue, which prompted Aragon to write: "A large field of blue flax that mirrors the sky". Plants grow at a rate of 10 mm a day, and can reach 80 cm to 1 m in height.

GRM 204.10 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«What are You thinking of, Master?» asks Lazarus.

«That there are many unhappy people in the world.»

«And I am one of them.»

«Why, My dear friend?»

«Because everybody comes to You, except Mary. Is she the greatest ruin?»

Jesus looks at him and smiles.

«You are smiling? Are You not sorry that Mary cannot be converted? Are You not sorry that I am suffering? Martha has done nothing but weep since Monday evening. Who was that woman? Don’t You know that for the whole day we hoped it was she?»

«I am smiling because you are an impatient child… And I am smiling because I think that you are wasting energy and tears. Had it been she, I would have rushed to tell you.»

«So it was not she?»

«Oh! Lazarus!…»

«You are right. Patience! Still patience!… Master, here are the jewels that You gave me to sell. They have become money for the poor. They were beautiful. Ladies’ jewels.»

«They belonged to “that” woman.»

«I thought so. Ah! Had they been Mary’s… But she!… I am losing hope, my Lord!…»

Jesus embraces him without speaking for a little while. He then says: «Please do not mention those jewels to anybody. She must disappear, without being admired or desired any longer, like a cloud driven elsewhere by the wind, without leaving any trace in the blue sky.»

«You may be sure, Master… and, in exchange, bring me Mary, our unhappy Mary…»

«Peace be with you, Lazarus. I will keep My promise.»

GRM 205.1-2 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«John of Endor, come here with Me. I must speak to you» says Jesus looking out of the door.

The man hastens towards Jesus leaving the boy to whom he was explaining something. «What do You want to tell me, Master?» he asks.

«Come upstairs with Me.»

They go up to the terrace and they sit down in the most sheltered part, because the sun is already strong, although it is still morning. Jesus runs His eyes over the cultivated country, where day by day the corn is becoming golden and fruit is ripening on trees. He seems to be wishing to derive some thought from that vegetable metamorphosis.

«Listen, John. I think that Isaac is coming today to bring Me Johanan’s peasants before they leave. I told Lazarus to lend Isaac a wagon to quicken their return and thus avoid a delay which would cause them to be punished. And Lazarus has agreed, because he does everything I tell him. But I want something else from you. I have here a sum of money given to Me by a person for the poor of the Lord. Usually one of My apostles is responsible for keeping the money and giving alms. Generally it is Judas of Kerioth; sometimes one of the others. But Judas is not here. And I do not want the others to know what I want to do. I would not have told Judas either. You will do it, in My name…»

«I, my Lord?… I?… Oh! I am not worthy!…»

«You must accustom yourself to working in My name. Is that not why you came?»

«Yes, but I thought I had to work to rebuild my poor soul.»

«And I will give you the means. Against what did you sin? Against Mercy and Love. You demolished your soul by means of hatred. You will rebuild it through love and mercy. I will give you the material. I will make use of you especially for deeds of mercy and love. You are also capable of curing, and of speaking. So you are qualified to take care of physical and moral miseries and you are capable of doing it. You will start with this action. Here is the purse. You will give it to Micah and his friends. Divide it into equal parts. But divide it as I will tell you. Make ten parts and give four to Micah, one for himself and one each to Saul, Joel and Isaiah. Give the other six to Micah with instructions to give them to Jabez’ old father, for himself and his companions. They will thus be able to have some comfort.»

«All right. But what shall I tell them to justify it?»

«Say: “This is to remind you to pray for a soul that is redeeming itself” .»

«But they may think that it is I! It is not fair!»

«Why? Do you not want to redeem yourself?»

«It is not fair that they should think that I am the donor.»

«Never mind, do as I tell you.»

«I will obey… but at least let me give something as well. In any case… now I do not need anything anymore. I do not buy books and I have no poultry to feed. I am satisfied with very little. Take this, Master. I am keeping a minimum for my sandal expenses…» and from a purse attached to his belt he takes out some coins which he adds to Jesus’ money.

«May God bless you for your mercy…

205.2

John, before long we shall be parting, because you will be going with Isaac.»

«I am sorry about that, Master. But I will obey.»

«I am sorry as well to send you away. But I need itinerant disciples so badly. I am no longer sufficient. I will soon be sending the apostles and then the disciples. And you will do a lot of good. I will keep you for special missions. In the meantime you will become formed with Isaac. He is so good and the Spirit of God has really instructed him during his long disease. And he is the man who has always forgiven everything… On the other hand, the fact that we have to part does not mean that we shall never meet again. We shall often meet, and every time we are together, I will speak just for you, remember that…»

John bends very low, he hides his face in his hands, bursts into bitter tears and moans: «Oh! Then tell me at once something to persuade me that I have been forgiven… that I can serve God… If You knew how I see my soul, now that the smoke of hatred has vanished… and how I think of God…»

«I know, do not weep. Be humble, but do not be disheartened. Disheartenment is still pride. Be humble, that is all. Cheer up, do not weep…»

John of Endor slowly calms down…

When Jesus sees that he has become calm, He says: «Come, let us go under that thicket of apple-trees and gather our companions and the women. I will speak to everybody, but I will tell you how God loves you.»

They go down, assembling the others as they procede, and they all sit down in a circle in the shade of the apple orchard. Also Lazarus, who was speaking to the Zealot, joins the company. They are about twenty people in all.

Annotation

I asked Lazarus to lend Isaac a chariot so they could get home faster. They mustn't be afraid of a delay that could bring them punishment. Yokhanan (Giocana) only gave them six days to get there and back for Passover. Cf. EMV 190.

I have here a sum given to me for the Lord's poor. Aglaé. Cf. EMV 200.

GRM 205.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«John of Endor, come here with Me. I must speak to you» says Jesus looking out of the door.

The man hastens towards Jesus leaving the boy to whom he was explaining something. «What do You want to tell me, Master?» he asks.

«Come upstairs with Me.»

They go up to the terrace and they sit down in the most sheltered part, because the sun is already strong, although it is still morning. Jesus runs His eyes over the cultivated country, where day by day the corn is becoming golden and fruit is ripening on trees. He seems to be wishing to derive some thought from that vegetable metamorphosis.

«Listen, John. I think that Isaac is coming today to bring Me Johanan’s peasants before they leave. I told Lazarus to lend Isaac a wagon to quicken their return and thus avoid a delay which would cause them to be punished. And Lazarus has agreed, because he does everything I tell him. But I want something else from you. I have here a sum of money given to Me by a person for the poor of the Lord. Usually one of My apostles is responsible for keeping the money and giving alms. Generally it is Judas of Kerioth; sometimes one of the others. But Judas is not here. And I do not want the others to know what I want to do. I would not have told Judas either. You will do it, in My name…»

«I, my Lord?… I?… Oh! I am not worthy!…»

«You must accustom yourself to working in My name. Is that not why you came?»

«Yes, but I thought I had to work to rebuild my poor soul.»

«And I will give you the means. Against what did you sin? Against Mercy and Love. You demolished your soul by means of hatred. You will rebuild it through love and mercy. I will give you the material. I will make use of you especially for deeds of mercy and love. You are also capable of curing, and of speaking. So you are qualified to take care of physical and moral miseries and you are capable of doing it. You will start with this action. Here is the purse. You will give it to Micah and his friends. Divide it into equal parts. But divide it as I will tell you. Make ten parts and give four to Micah, one for himself and one each to Saul, Joel and Isaiah. Give the other six to Micah with instructions to give them to Jabez’ old father, for himself and his companions. They will thus be able to have some comfort.»

«All right. But what shall I tell them to justify it?»

«Say: “This is to remind you to pray for a soul that is redeeming itself” .»

«But they may think that it is I! It is not fair!»

«Why? Do you not want to redeem yourself?»

«It is not fair that they should think that I am the donor.»

«Never mind, do as I tell you.»

«I will obey… but at least let me give something as well. In any case… now I do not need anything anymore. I do not buy books and I have no poultry to feed. I am satisfied with very little. Take this, Master. I am keeping a minimum for my sandal expenses…» and from a purse attached to his belt he takes out some coins which he adds to Jesus’ money.

«May God bless you for your mercy…»

Annotation

I asked Lazarus to lend Isaac a chariot so they could get home faster. They mustn't be afraid of a delay that could bring them punishment. Yokhanan (Giocana) only gave them six days to get there and back for Passover. Cf. EMV 190.

I have here a sum given to me for the Lord's poor. Aglaé. Cf. EMV 200.

GRM 205.2 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

GRM 205.7 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«That is all. You, John of Endor and you, Lazarus, please remain here. The others can go and set the tables. We shall not be long.»

They all withdraw. When Jesus, Lazarus and John are alone, Jesus says to them: «That is what will happen to the dear soul you are awaiting, Lazarus, and that is what is happening to yours, God’s bounty has no limit…»

Detail

Jesus has just given us the parable of the prodigal son.