GRM 72.5-6
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«See, Judas. I come from a caste which is persecuted because… because what and how the Messiah should be is misunderstood. Yes. If we had waited for Him with the correct vision of His being, we would not have fallen into errors, which are blasphemy against the Truth and a rebellion against the Law of Rome, so that we have been punished both by God and by Rome. We fancied Christ as a conqueror who would free Israel, as a new Maccabaeus, greater than the great Judas… Only that. And why? Because rather than have regard to the interest of God we took care of our own interests: of the fatherland and of the people. Oh! The interests of the fatherland are most certainly sacred. But what are they when compared to the eternal Heavens? In the long hours of persecution, first, and then of isolation, when as a fugitive, I was compelled to hide in the dens of wild beasts, sharing food and a bed with them, to escape Roman power and above all the impeachments of false friends; or when, waiting for death I was already tasting the savour of the sepulchre, in the cave of a leper, how much did I meditate, and how much did I see: I saw the figure of the Messiah… Yours, my humble and good Master, Yours, Master and King of the Spirit, Yours, O Christ, Son of the Father, leading to the Father, and not to the royal palaces of dust, nor to the deities of mud. You… Oh! It is easy for me to follow You… Because, forgive my daring, which avows itself to be correct, because I see You as I thought of You, I recognise You, I recognised You at once. No, it was not a question of meeting You, but of recognising One whom my soul had already met…»
«That is why I called you… and that is why I am taking you with Me, now, in this first journey of Mine in Judaea.
72.6 I want you to complete your recognition… and I want also these, whom age makes less capable of reaching the Truth by means of deep meditation, I want them to know how their Master has come to this hour… You will understand later.»
Detail
Simon the Zealot talks to Judas.
Annotation
First book of the Maccabees, 3, 1-26 :
1 M 3, 1-26 : After Mattathias' death, his son Judas, called Maccabaeus, rose up in his place. All his brothers and all his father's followers came to his aid and gladly fought for Israel.
Judas extended the glorious fame of his people. Dressed in his armor like a hero, and armed with his weapons of war, he fought battles, protecting the camp with his sword. Like a lion in action, like a cub roaring towards its prey, he hunted down men unfaithful to the Law, chasing them down and delivering to the fire those who troubled his people.
In the face of the fear he inspired, men unfaithful to the Law were brought low, and all evil-doers panicked. Through his hand came salvation. He made life bitter for many kings, and delighted Jacob with his exploits. His memory is forever blessed.
He went through the cities of Judah, exterminating the godless. He turned away the wrath of Israel. His name resounded to the ends of the earth, and he gathered together those who were about to perish.
Then Apollonius gathered pagans and a large army from Samaria to fight Israel. Judas was informed of this. He went out to meet him, beat him and killed him. Many were killed, and the survivors fled. The spoils were collected, and Judas took the sword of Apollonius, to use in battle every day.
Seronius, commander of the Syrian army, heard that Judas had gathered around him a group, an assembly of the faithful, to march into battle. He said to himself: "I'll make a name for myself and cover myself with glory in the kingdom. I will fight Judas and his companions, who despise the king's command." So he set off in his turn, accompanied by a large company of godless men, to take vengeance on the sons of Israel.
As he approached the ascent to Bethoron, Judas came out to meet him with a handful of men. At the sight of the troop coming towards them, his men said to Judas: "How can we, so few in number, fight against such a large and strong crowd? What's more, we're exhausted, for we've eaten nothing today!" Judas replied: "It's easy for a multitude to fall into the hands of a few. Heaven doesn't care whether salvation is achieved through many men or just a few. Victory in battle does not depend on the size of the army: strength comes from Heaven.
They come to us, brimming with pride and contempt for the Law, to destroy us, our wives and children, and strip us of our possessions. We fight for our lives and our laws. Heaven itself will crush them before us. Fear them not!"
With these words, he rushed at them unexpectedly. Serona and his troop were crushed before him. They were pursued downhill from Bethorone to the plain. About eight hundred men fell; the rest fled to the land of the Philistines. Judas and his brothers began to inspire fear, and panic took hold of the pagan nations around them. Judas' name reached the ears of the king, and all the pagans commented on his deeds of war.