Characteristics, elements and symbols of the Christian life

God is good and wants goodwill in His children. He who is not kindly disposed towards his neighbour cannot consider himself a son of God neither can he have God in himself.

• Children of God - Sons of God
• Discipleship - Following Jesus Christ
• Doing Good
• Having God within us
• How to perfect and sanctify yourself
• Kindness
• To be good
• Words of wisdom

A lifetime (...) lasts an instant of eternity.

• Eternity - Eternal life
• Life
• Words of wisdom

Love. I say nothing else. Love your neighbour as the Lord God of Israel prescribes. Do not always be of Cain’s blood. And why are you so? For the sake of a few coins, you who might have become murderers. For a few palms of land. For a better position. For a woman. What are such things? Are they eternal? No. They last less than a lifetime, which lasts an instant of eternity. And what do you lose if you follow them? The eternal peace promised to the just, and which the Messiah will bring you together with His Kingdom. Come on to the way of Truth. Follow the Voice of God. Love one another. Be honest. Be moderate. Be humble and fair. Go and meditate.

• Cain
• Discipleship - Following Jesus Christ
• Envie
• How to perfect and sanctify yourself
• Kingdom of God - Kingdom of Heaven
• Love
• Love of neighbor
• Material wealth
• Peace
• Power
• Silver
• Thou shalt not kill
• Truth
• Woman
• You shall not commit adultery - You shall not covet another's wife
• You shall not commit impurity
• You shall not desire what belongs to another

«Who are You who speak such words and break swords with Your will power? Only One can do such things: the Messiah. Not even John the Baptist is greater than He is. Are You perhaps the Messiah?» three or four people ask Him.

«Yes, I am.»

«You? Are You the One who heals sick people and preaches God in Galilee?»

«I am.»

• Jean-Baptiste
• Messiah
• Who is Jesus? How Christ defines himself

68.1 I see Jesus entering the enclosure of the Temple with Judas beside Him. After going through the first terrace, He stops in a porch on the side of a wide yard, paved with multicoloured marble. The place is beautiful and crowded.

Jesus looks around and sees a spot He likes. But before turning His steps to it, He says to Judas: «Call the official of the place for Me. I must make Myself known, so that no one may say I break the custom and lack in respect.»

«Master, You are above the custom and no one more than You is entitled to speak in the House of God, since You are His Messiah.»

«I know, you know, but they do not know. I have not come to scandalise or to teach people to break not only the Law, but also the custom. On the contrary, I have come to teach respect, humbleness and obedience and to remove scandals. I therefore want to ask to be allowed to speak in God’s name, making the official of the place acknowledge Me as being worthy.»

«You did not do that the last time.»

«The last time I was inflamed by the zeal for the House of God, desecrated by too many things. The last time I was the Son of the Father, the Heir Who, in the name of the Father and for the love of My House, acted in His majesty, which is above officials and priests. Now I am the Master of Israel, and I teach Israel also that. After all, Judas, do you think that a disciple is greater than His Master?»

«No, Jesus.»

«And who are you? And who am I?»

«You are the Master, I the disciple.»

«Well then, if you admit that, why do you want to teach your Master? Go and obey. I obey My Father, you must obey your Master. The first condition of the Son of God: to obey without discussing orders, knowing that the Father can give but holy orders. The first condition of a disciple: to obey his Master, knowing that the Master knows and can give but just orders.»

«It is true. Forgive me. I will obey.»

«I forgive you. Go. And, Judas, listen to one more thing: remember that. Always bear that in mind in future.»

«To obey? Yes, I will.»

«No: remember that I was respectful and humble to the Temple. To the Temple: that is, to the mighty castes; go.»

Judas looks at Him, wistfully and inquisitively… but he dare not ask further questions. And he goes away thoughtfully.

68.2 … He comes back with a sumptuously dressed personage. «Here, Master, the official.»

«Peace be with you. I ask to teach Israel, amongst the rabbis of Israel.»

«Are You a rabbi?»

«Yes, I am.»

«Who was Your teacher?»

«The Spirit of God Who speaks to Me in His wisdom and enlightens every word of the Holy Scriptures for Me.»

«Are You greater than Hillel, since You say You know all doctrines, without a teacher? How can one be formed if there is no one forming him?»

«As David was formed, an unknown little shepherd, who became a powerful and wise king by God’s will.»

«Your Name?»

«Jesus of Joseph of Jacob of the House of David, and of Mary of Joachim of the House of David and of Anne of Aaron. Mary, the Virgin married in the Temple by the High Priest, according to the law of Israel, because She was an orphan.»

«Who can prove that?»

«There must still be some Levites here who will remember the event and who were the same age as Zacharias of the class of Abijah, My relative. Ask them, if you doubt My sincerity.»

«I believe You. But who will prove to me that You are capable of teaching?»

«Listen to Me and you will judge for yourself.»

«You are free to do it… But… are You not a Nazarene?»

«I was born at Bethlehem of Judah, at the time of the census decreed by Caesar. Banished by unfair orders, the children of David are now everywhere. But the family is of Judah.»

«You know… the Pharisees… all Judaea… throughout Galilee…»

«I know. But be reassured. I was born at Bethlehem, at Bethlehem Ephrathah, whence My family comes; if now I live in Galilee, it is only to fulfil the given sign…»

The official goes away a few yards, hastening to where they call him.

68.3 Judas asks: «Why did You not say that You are the Messiah?»

«My words will say so.»

«Which is the sign to be fulfilled?»

«The union of Israel under the teaching of the word of Christ. I am the Shepherd of Whom the Prophets speak and I have come to gather all the sheep of every region, I have come to cure the sick ones and put the wandering ones on a good pasture. There is no Judaea or Galilee, no Decapolis or Idumaea for Me. There is only one thing: the Love that sees with one glance only and joins in one embrace only in order to save…» Jesus is inspired. Rays of light seem to be emanating from Him, so happily He smiles at his dream. Judas, amazed, stares at Him.

• Jesus Christ - Son of God
• Locations - Bel Nidrasch - Beth Midrasc
• Messiah
• Purification of the Temple by Jesus Christ

I am the Shepherd of Whom the Prophets speak and I have come to gather all the sheep of every region, I have come to cure the sick ones and put the wandering ones on a good pasture. There is no Judaea or Galilee, no Decapolis or Idumaea for Me. There is only one thing: the Love that sees with one glance only and joins in one embrace only in order to save…

• Good Shepherd - Bon Pasteur
• Redeemer
• Sauveur
• Who is Jesus? How Christ defines himself

Here, Israel. Winter, the time of expectation, is over. Here is now the joy of the promise which is being accomplished. The Bread and Wine are about to be ready for your hunger. The Sun is among you. Everything breathes more freely and sweetly under this Sun. Also the precept of our Law: the first and most holy of the holy precepts: “Love your God and love your neighbour”.

In the dim light granted to you so far, you were told: “Love those who love you and hate your enemies”: you could not have done any better, because the wrath of God still weighed upon you, owing to Adam’s sin of estrangement. And your enemy was not only he who crossed the borders of your fatherland, but also he who did you wrong privately or you thought he had done. Hatred, therefore, was smouldering in every heart, because which man, intentionally or unintentionally, does not give offence to his brother? And which man reaches an old age without being offended?

I say to you: love also those who offend you. Do that, considering that Adam, and every man through him, is a sinner against God, and there is no one who can say: “I have not offended God”. And yet, God forgives, not once only He forgives, dozens of times, He forgives thousands of times, as proved by the fact that man still exists on the earth. Forgive therefore, as God forgives. And if you cannot do it out of love for the brother who injured you, do it for the love of God, Who gives you bread and life, Who protects you in your worldly needs, and has arranged all events to procure eternal peace for you in His bosom. This is the new law, the law of God’s springtime, of the flowery time of Grace amongst men, of the time that will bear you a matchless Fruit that will open the gates of Heaven for you.

• Love your enemies
• Mercy and forgiveness
• Thou shalt not kill

May your spiritual eyes be opened. You will recognise the Light that is coming.

• Light from God
• Light of the world
• Soul

68.5 The voice that spoke in the desert is no longer heard. But it is not mute. It still speaks to God on behalf of Israel and still speaks to every Israelite with an honest heart and it says — after teaching you to do penance to prepare the ways to the Lord Who is coming, and to be charitable giving what is surplus to those who lack even what is necessary, and to be honest without extorting and vexing — it says: “The Lamb of God, He Who takes away the sins of the world, Who will baptise with the fire of the Holy Spirit is amongst you. He will clear His threshing-floor and gather His wheat”.

Endeavour to recognise Him Whom the Precursor indicates to you. His suffering is imploring God to give you light. See. May your spiritual eyes be opened. You will recognise the Light that is coming. I pick up the voice of the Prophet announcing the Messiah, and with the power I receive from the Father, I amplify it and I add My authority to it and I call you to the truth of the Law. Prepare your hearts for the grace of the oncoming Redemption. The Redeemer is amongst you. Blessed are those who will be worthy of being redeemed, because they are men of goodwill.

Peace be with you.

• Holy Spirit
• Lamb of God
• Pentecost
• Redeemer
• Sauveur

Prepare your hearts for the grace of the oncoming Redemption. The Redeemer is amongst you. Blessed are those who will be worthy of being redeemed, because they are men of goodwill.

• Redemption