GRM 74.9
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
When they do not want us, we must not curse them, but withdraw praying for the poor, foolish people, who die of starvation and cannot see the Bread.
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GRM 75.2-3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«Who are You?»
«One Who loves you.»
«You would be the first in so many years. Where are You from?»
«From Galilee.»
«From Galilee? Oh!» The man watches Him carefully. Also the other two have come near. «From Galilee» repeats the shepherd, and he adds in a very low voice, as if speaking to himself: «He came from Galilee, too… From which town, my Lord?»
«From Nazareth.»
«Oh! Well, tell me. Has a Child ever come back to Nazareth, a Child with a woman whose name was Mary and a man called Joseph, a Child, Who was even more beautiful than His Mother, so beautiful that I have never seen a fairer flower on the slopes of Judah? A Child born in Bethlehem of Judah, at the time of the edict? A Child Who later fled, most fortunately for the world. A Child, oh! I would give my life just to hear whether He is alive… He must be a man by now.»
«Why do you say that His flight was a great fortune for the world?»
«Because He was the Saviour, the Messiah and Herod wanted Him dead. I was not there when He fled with His father and Mother. When I heard of the slaughter and I came back… — because also I had children (he sobs), my Lord, and a wife… (he sobs), and I heard they had been killed (he sobs again), but I swear by the God of Abraham, I was more afraid for Him than for my own family — I heard He had fled and I could not even enquire; I could not even take away my own slaughtered creatures… They threw stones at me, as they do with lepers and unclean people, they treated me like a murderer… and I had to hide in the woods, and live like a wolf… until I found a master. Oh! it’s no longer Anne… He is hard and cruel… If a sheep gets hurt, if a wolf preys on a lamb, he either beats me till I bleed or he takes my poor pay, and I have to work in the woods for other people, I must do something, to pay him back three times the value. But it does not matter. I have always said to the Most High: “Let me see Your Messiah, at least let me know that He is alive, and all the rest is nothing”. My Lord, I have told You how the people in Bethlehem treated me, and how my master deals with me. I could have repaid them in their own coins, I could have wronged them, stealing, so that I would not suffer under my master. But I preferred to suffer, to forgive, to be honest, because the angels said: “Glory to God in the Highest Heaven and peace on earth to men of goodwill”.»
«Is that what they said?»
«Yes, they did, my Lord, You must believe, at least You, Who are good. You must know and believe that the Messiah is born. No one would believe it any longer. But angels do not lie… and we were not drunk, as they said. This man here, was a boy then, and he was the first to see the angel. He drank but milk. Can milk make one drunk? The angels said: “Today, in the town of David the Saviour was born, He is Christ, the Lord. And here is a sign for you. You will find a Child wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger”.»
«Did they say exactly that? Did you not misunderstand them? Are you not mistaken, after such a long time?»
«Oh! no! Isn’t it, Levi? In order not to forget, — we could not forget in any case, because they were heavenly words and were written in our hearts with a heavenly fire — every morning, every evening, when the sun rises, when the first star starts shining, we repeat them as a prayer, as a blessing, to have strength and comfort in His name and in His Mother’s.»
«Ah! You said: “Christ”?»
«No, my Lord. We say: “Glory to God in the Highest Heaven and peace on earth to men of goodwill, through Jesus Christ Who was born of Mary in a stable in Bethlehem and Who, wrapped in swaddling clothes, was in a manger, He Who is the Saviour of the world”.»
Detail
Jesus comes to see the shepherds of Bethlehem. The oldest, Elijah, asks:
GRM 75.2
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
“Glory to God in the Highest Heaven and peace on earth to men of goodwill, through Jesus Christ Who was born of Mary in a stable in Bethlehem and Who, wrapped in swaddling clothes, was in a manger, He Who is the Saviour of the world”.»
Detail
A prayer uttered by the shepherds of the Nativity throughout their lives.
Keywords
GRM 75.2
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«I could have wronged them, stealing, so that I would not suffer under my master. But I preferred to suffer, to forgive, to be honest, because the angels said: “Glory to God in the Highest Heaven and peace on earth to men of goodwill”.»
«Is that what they said?»
«Yes, they did, my Lord, You must believe, at least You, Who are good. You must know and believe that the Messiah is born. No one would believe it any longer. But angels do not lie… and we were not drunk, as they said. This man here, was a boy then, and he was the first to see the angel. He drank but milk. Can milk make one drunk? The angels said: “Today, in the town of David the Saviour was born, He is Christ, the Lord. And here is a sign for you. You will find a Child wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger”.»
«Did they say exactly that? Did you not misunderstand them? Are you not mistaken, after such a long time?»
«Oh! no! Isn’t it, Levi? In order not to forget, — we could not forget in any case, because they were heavenly words and were written in our hearts with a heavenly fire — every morning, every evening, when the sun rises, when the first star starts shining, we repeat them as a prayer, as a blessing, to have strength and comfort in His name and in His Mother’s.»
«Ah! You said: “Christ”?»
«No, my Lord. We say: “Glory to God in the Highest Heaven and peace on earth to men of goodwill, through Jesus Christ Who was born of Mary in a stable in Bethlehem and Who, wrapped in swaddling clothes, was in a manger, He Who is the Saviour of the world”.»
Detail
Elijah, a shepherd at the Nativity, recounts the mistreatment he received. He declares:
GRM 75.2
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
They threw stones at me, as they do with lepers and unclean people, they treated me like a murderer… and I had to hide in the woods, and live like a wolf… until I found a master. Oh! it’s no longer Anne… He is hard and cruel… If a sheep gets hurt, if a wolf preys on a lamb, he either beats me till I bleed or he takes my poor pay, and I have to work in the woods for other people, I must do something, to pay him back three times the value. But it does not matter. I have always said to the Most High: “Let me see Your Messiah, at least let me know that He is alive, and all the rest is nothing”. My Lord, I have told You how the people in Bethlehem treated me, and how my master deals with me. I could have repaid them in their own coins, I could have wronged them, stealing, so that I would not suffer under my master. But I preferred to suffer, to forgive, to be honest, because the angels said: “Glory to God in the Highest Heaven and peace on earth to men of goodwill”.
Detail
Elijah tells how he was driven out of Bethlehem. He had to find himself a new master, whose name he does not give.
GRM 75.3
The Gospel as revealed to me
Translation in progress
Keywords
GRM 75.4
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«And my children?»
«They are angels, Elias. Angels who will repeat the “Gloria” when the Saviour is crowned.
«King?»
«No, Redeemer. Oh! What a procession of just people and saints! And in front there will be the white and purple phalanges of the martyrs! As soon as the gates of Limbo are opened, we shall ascend together to the eternal Kingdom. And then you will come and will find your fathers, mothers and children in the Lord! Believe Me.»
«Yes, my Lord.»
Detail
Elie has lost his children in the massacre of the Innocents. He asks the Master about their fate.
GRM 75.4
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
75.4 And what about the others? You were twelve: Elias, Levi, Samuel, Jonah, Isaac, Tobias, Jonathan, Daniel, Simeon, John, Joseph, Benjamin. My Mother always mentioned your names to Me. Because you were My first friends.»
«Oh!» The shepherds are more and more moved.
«Where are the others?»
«Old Samuel died of old age about twenty years ago. Joseph was killed because he fought at the gate of the enclosure to give time to his wife, who had just become a mother a few hours before, to escape with this man, whom I took with me for the sake of my friend… also to have children around me once again. I took Levi also with me… He was persecuted. Benjamin is a shepherd on Lebanon with Daniel. Simeon, John and Tobias, who now wants to be called Matthew in memory of his father, who was also killed, are disciples of John. Jonah works on the plain of Esdraelon for a Pharisee. Isaac suffers very much from his back that is bent in two, he lives in dire poverty, all by himself at Juttah. We help him as much as we can, but we have all been badly hit and our help is like dew drops on a fire. Jonathan is now the servant of one of Herod’s big men.»
«How could you, and particularly Jonathan, Jonah, Daniel and Benjamin get such jobs?»
«I remembered Your relative Zacharias… Your Mother had sent me to him. When we were in the mountain gorges in Judaea, fugitives and cursed, I took them to him. He was good to us. He sheltered and fed us. And he found work for us. He did what he could. I had already taken all Anne’s herd for the Herodian… and I remained with him… When the Baptist, grown into a man, began to preach, Simeon, John and Tobias went to him.»
«But now the Baptist is in jail.»
«Yes, and they are keeping watch near Machaerus, with a few sheep, to avoid arousing suspicion. They were given the sheep by a rich man, a disciple of Your relative John.»
«I would like to see them all.»
«Yes, My Lord. We will go and say to them: “Come, He is alive. He remembers us and loves us”.»
«And He wants you to be His friends.»
«Yes, my Lord.»
«But we will go first to Isaac. And where are Samuel and Joseph buried?»
«Samuel in Hebron. He remained in Zacharias’ service. Joseph… has no tomb. He was burned with the house.»
«He is no longer in the cruel fire, but in the flames of God’s love and will soon be in His glory. I am telling you, and particularly you, Joseph, son of Joseph. Come here, that I may kiss you to thank your father.»
«And my children?»
«They are angels, Elias. Angels who will repeat the “Gloria” when the Saviour is crowned.
«King?»
«No, Redeemer. Oh! What a procession of just people and saints! And in front there will be the white and purple phalanges of the martyrs! As soon as the gates of Limbo are opened, we shall ascend together to the eternal Kingdom. And then you will come and will find your fathers, mothers and children in the Lord! Believe Me.»
«Yes, my Lord.»
«Call Me: Master.»
Detail
Summary: Jesus has found Elijah and Levi, two shepherds from the Nativity. He explains where the other shepherds are, what Zechariah did for them, and who followed John the Baptist when he began his mission as Forerunner.
I had already taken all of Anne's trouveau passed to the Herodian... and stayed with it... a note in the second etidtion makes the following clarification.
It means: *the herd I was tending on Anne's behalf had been taken by the herodist, so I went over to the latter's service.
Keywords
- Benjamin of Bethlehem (shepherd of the Nativity)
- Daniel of Bethlehem (shepherd of the Nativity)
- Isaac de Yutta (shepherd of the Nativity)
- Jean-Baptiste
- John of Bethlehem (shepherd of the Nativity)
- Jonathas of Bethlehem (shepherd of the Nativity)
- Joseph of Bethlehem (shepherd of the Nativity who died before Christ's public life)
- Matthias (shepherd of the Nativity - formerly Tobias of Bethlehem)
- Persecution
- Samuel of Bethlehem (shepherd of the Nativity who died before Christ's public life)
- Simeon of Bethlehem (shepherd of the Nativity)
- Zacharie (father of John the Baptist)
GRM 75.5
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and peace on earth to men of goodwill who have deserved to see the Light and serve it. The Saviour is among them. The Shepherd of the royal line is with His herd. The morning Star has risen. Rejoice, just people! Rejoice in the Lord. He Who made the vaults of heaven and has strewn them with stars, Who placed the seas at the boundaries of the land, Who created winds and dew, and fixed the course of seasons to give bread and wine to His children, He is now sending you a more sublime food: the living Bread that descends from Heaven, the Wine of the eternal Vine. Come to Me, you who are the first of My worshippers. Come to meet the Eternal Father in truth, to follow Him in holiness and receive His eternal reward.» Jesus has said the prayer, standing up, with His arms stretched out, while the disciples and shepherds are on their knees.»
Detail
Prayer recited by Christ to the Nativity shepherds he found.
GRM 76
The Gospel as revealed to me
Detail
Elijah, Levi, Joseph, Jesus, John, Simon the Zealot and Judas approach Yutta. Christ intends to go to Hebron, to pray over the bones of Samuel and Zechariah, but he gives priority to Isaac first, because we must always take care of those who suffer. Praying for our deceased is also important, but they are already at peace if they have been righteous.
After talking about the difference between man and animal, the communion of saints, and the link between the dead and the living, Jesus and his friends arrive at Yutta. Elijah goes ahead to see Isaac, telling him that Jesus wants to see him and tells him to come. The shepherd, who is crippled and paralyzed, is immediately healed and goes to see the Savior as quickly as possible.
There, he adores him, and takes him to a family in Yutta who have taken good care of him. They are a couple with four children: their names are Mary, Joseph, Emmanuel and the last has yet to be named. The little family believes in the Messiah and invites him to circumcise their newborn son. Jesus decides to name him Jesai. The priest who comes to perform the ceremony pays little attention to the Lord, and their guests are mortified, but he reassures and consoles them. He invites John to show the sheep to Joseph and Emmanuel. Little Mary stays close to Jesus, and he invites her to be as good as her Mother. The child immediately agrees and speaks to him with familiarity. Taken in by Judas, Jesus tells her to let it go, for the innocent are his joy, and only they can speak his name as purely as his Mother.