«Are You leaving tomorrow, Master?»
«Tomorrow, at dawn, if you do not mind.»
«I am sorry that You are going away. But I do not mind the hour. On the contrary, it suits me.»
«Are you going fishing?»
«Yes, tonight, when the moon rises.»
«You did well, Simon, not fishing last night. The Sabbath was not yet finished. Nehemiah in his reformation wants the Sabbath to be respected in Judah. Even nowadays too many people work on the Sabbath day at presses, carry wood, wine and fruit and buy and sell fish and lambs. You have six days for that. The Sabbath is of the Lord. Only one thing you may do on the Sabbath: you may do good to your neighbour. But all profit must be excluded from such help. He who infringes the Sabbath to make a profit will be punished by God. He makes a profit? He will lose it during the other six days. He makes no profit? He has fatigued his body for no purpose, because he did not grant it the rest that Intelligence prescribed for it, and thus he irritated his soul having worked in vain, and goes to the extent of cursing. The day of the Lord, instead, is to be spent with your hearts united to God in sweet prayer of love. You must be faithful in everything.»
«But… scribes and doctors, who are so severe with us… do not work on Sabbath days, they do not even give a piece of bread to their neighbours, to avoid the fatigue of handing it over, but they practise usury also on a Sabbath. As it is not a material work, is it legal to practise usury on a Sabbath?»
«No. Never. Neither on a Sabbath nor any other day. Those Who practise usury are dishonest and cruel.»
«The scribes and the Pharisees, then…»
«Simon: don’t judge. Do not do it.»
«But I have eyes to see…»
«Is there only evil to be seen, Simon?»
«No, Master.»
«Well, then, why look at evil deeds?»
«You are right, Master.»