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Roman ladies

Theme: Character groups

Reading comfort

Aa

GRM 167

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus arrives at Jeanne de Kouza's house. She comes running when she hears that the Master is there. There are her Roman friends: Lydia, Valeria and Plautina. The latter seems to be the most respected; Valeria is the one whose child Jesus saved in Caesarea. In any case, they all want to listen to him, to make up their own minds about this philosopher. Jeanne fears that Jesus won't get on with his guests, but Christ reassures her, and when they meet up again with the Romans, he starts from the subject of flowers - which these three women love very much - and begins to talk about immortality and the eternal life of the soul.

After Jesus takes care of little Fausta himself, the conversation continues on the philosophers currently living in Rome, who don't follow their teachings. Jesus then declares that they are not pagans, they are atheists, for they no longer even have gods in their hearts. However, other pagan philosophers had a great elevation of life, and always sought the Good at all costs.

When the Roman ladies ask Jesus if he is God, Christ replies that he is the Son of the true God, and the Savior criticizes Olympus, created by man's imagination, at length. He also speaks of the altar dedicated to the unknown god, which the wise and true philosophers have intuited. Jesus goes on to talk about Creation and the soul in particular, and encourages Lydia, Valeria and Plautina to ask questions. They do so - the subject remains fairly focused on the theme of immortality, the soul and the Master's divinity - and then, when they fear reprisals from their gods, Jesus reassures them that they don't exist.

Finally, he leaves, and Jeanne accompanies him home. She confides in him that Kouza wants her to return to Jerusalem, and the Messiah encourages her to obey, as this will make it easier for her to follow him.

GRM 204.1-2 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«What do You want, Mother?»

«My Son, some Gentiles have come with some ladies. They say that they heard from Johanna that You were here. They also said that they have been waiting for You all these past days near the Antonia…»

«Ah! I know! I will come at once. Where are they?»

«At Lazarus’ house, in his garden. He is loved by the Romans and does not feel the repugnance towards them that we do. He let them go into the large garden with their carts, so that no one would be scandalised…»

«All right, Mother.

204.2

They are Roman soldiers and ladies. I know.»

«And what do they want from You?»

«What many in Israel do not want: light.»

«But how and what do they believe You are? God perhaps?»

«Yes, in their way of thinking. It is easier for them to accept the idea of the incarnation of a god in mortal flesh, than it is for us.»

«So they believe in Your faith…»

«Not yet, Mother. I must destroy theirs, first. For the time being they consider Me a wise man, a philosopher, as they say. But both their desire to become acquainted with philosophical doctrines and their inclination to believe the incarnation of a god as possible, are of great help to Me in leading them to the true Faith. Believe Me, they are more ingenuous in their way of thinking, than many Israelites.»

«But are they sincere? It is rumoured that the Baptist…»

«No. Had it been for them, John would be free and safe. Non-rebellious people are left in peace. On the contrary I can assure You that for them to be a prophet – they say a philosopher because the loftiness of supernatural wisdom is still philosophy to them – is a guarantee of respect. Do not worry, Mother. No harm will come to Me from that end…»

«But the Pharisees… if they find out, what will they say also about Lazarus? You are You… and You are to bring the Word to the world. But Lazarus!… They already offend him so much…»

«But they cannot touch him. They know that he is protected by Rome.»

«I leave You, Son. Here is Maximinus, he will take You to the Gentiles» and Mary, Who had walked beside Jesus all the time, withdraws quickly, and goes towards the Zealot’s house. Jesus on the other hand, goes through a little iron door in the garden wall, into a distant part of the garden, where it actually becomes an orchard and precisely near the place where Lazarus will be buried later.

GRM 206.15 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Lazarus congratulates Jesus. He says: «Oh! I am sorry to see You go away. But I am happier than I would have been, had I seen You go away the day before yesterday!»

«Why, Lazarus?»

«Because You looked so tired and sad… You did not speak, and You hardly ever smiled… Yesterday and today You have become once again my kind holy Master, and that makes me so happy…»

«I was so even if I was quiet…»

«You were. But You are serenity and word. That is what we want from You. We drink our strength at those sources. And now those sources seemed to be dried up. Our thirst was painful… You see that also the Gentiles are amazed, and they have come looking for them…»

The Iscariot, whom John of Zebedee had approached, dares to speak: «Of course, they also inquired of me… Because I was very often at the Antonia, hoping to see You.»

«You knew where I was» replies Jesus briefly.

«I did. But I was hoping You would not disappoint those who were expecting You. Also the Romans were disappointed. I do not know why You behaved like that…»

«And you are asking Me? Are you not aware of the humours of the Sanhedrin, of the Pharisees, and of others as well, with regards to Me?»

«What? Were You afraid?»

«I was disgusted.»

Annotation

You see, even the pagans were surprised and came looking for them... Reference to EMV 204, with visits from Plautina, Lydia, Flavia Domitilla and Valeria.