GRM 64.1-2, 65.2
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
64.1 I see the shore of the lake of Gennesaret. And I can see the boats beached by the fishermen; on the foreshore, leaning against the boats, are Peter and Andrew, intent on mending the nets, which their assistants bring them still dripping, having rinsed them in the lake to remove entangled rubbish. About ten yards away, John and James, bent over their boat, are busy at tidying it up, and they are helped by an assistant and by a man about fifty or fifty-five years old, who I think is Zebedee, because the assistant calls him «master» and also because he is very like James.
Peter and Andrew, with their backs to the boat, are working silently knotting the threads of the nets and fixing corks to them. Now and again they exchange a few words about their work, which, as far as I understand, has not been profitable.
Peter is sorry about it, not because of the loss of profit or the unprofitable work, but he says: «I am sorry, because… what shall we do to feed these poor people? We receive only occasional offerings and I am not going to touch the ten pieces of silver and the seven drachmas we collected during the last four days. Only the Master can tell me to whom and how that money is to be given. And He will not be back here until Sabbath! If we had had a good haul!… I would have cooked the small fish for the poor… and if anyone at home grumbled, I would not have cared. Healthy people can find food for themselves. But sick people!…»
«Above all that paralytic!… They have already travelled so much to bring him here…» says Andrew.
«Listen, brother. I think… we can’t remain divided like this, and I don’t know why the Master does not want us with Him all the time. At least… I would not see these poor people whom I can’t help, and if I saw them I would say to them: “He is here”.»
64.2 «I am here!» Jesus has come near them, walking quietly on the soft sand.
Peter and Andrew start. They exclaim: «Oh! Master!» and they shout: «James! John! The Master! Come here!»
The two brothers rush towards them. They all draw close to Jesus. Some kiss His tunic, some His hands, and John dares to encircle His waist with his arm, and lean his head on Jesus’ chest. Jesus kisses his hair.
«What were you talking about?»
«Master… we were saying that we would have liked to have You.»
«Why, My friends?»
«To see You and love You seeing You, and also because of some poor and sick people. They have been waiting for You for over two days… I did what I could. I put them over there, see that hut in that waste land? Over there the handymen repair the boats. I sheltered there a paralytic, who has a very high temperature, and a little boy who is dying in his mother’s arms. I could not send them away to look for You.»
«You did the right thing. But how have you been able to help them and who brought them here? You said they are poor!»
«Yes, Master, they are. Rich people have horses and carts. Poor people only have their legs. They cannot come looking for You as fast as they would like. I did what I could. Look: here are the offerings I have received. I have not touched anything. You will do that.»
«Peter, you could have done that, too. Certainly… My dear Peter, I am sorry that you should be reproached and have extra work because of Me.»
«No, Lord. You must not be sorry about that. It is no trouble for me. I am only sorry I have not been able to be more charitable. But, believe me, I have done, we have all done what we could.»
«I know. I know you have worked and in vain. But if there is no food, your charity remains: alive, active and holy in the eyes of God.» (...)
[Jesus then went to preach in Peter’s house. The paralytic was healed, and when Jesus had finished, he went outside. Since the crowd had gathered around him, he gave another sermon from Peter’s boat. Then he sent his apostle out to fish on the lake again.]
65.2 Jesus says to Simon: «Call the other two. Let us go on to the lake and cast the net.»
«Master, my arms ache with fatigue: all night I cast and hauled the net, and all in vain. The fish are down at the bottom. I wonder where.»
«Do as I tell you, Peter. Always listen to those who love you.»
«I will do as You say, out of respect for Your word.» And he shouts to the assistants and also to James and John: «Let us go out fishing. The Master wants to go.» And while they are moving away, he says to Jesus: «However, Master, I assure You that it is not the right time. Goodness knows where the fish will be resting just now!…»
Jesus, sitting at the prow, smiles and is silent.
They form a semicircle on the lake and then cast the net. After a few minutes’ waiting, the boat is shaken in a strange way, because the lake is as smooth as a glass pane under the midday sun.
«But that is fish, Master!» says Peter, with his eyes wide open.
Jesus smiles and is silent.
«Heave ho! Heave ho!» Peter orders his assistants. But the boat tilts to one side, where the net is: «Hey there! James! John! Quick! Come Quick! With the oars! Quick!»
They rush and the joint efforts of the two crews succeed in hauling in the net without damaging the catch.
The two boats draw closer. They are now united. One, two, five, ten baskets. They are all full of wonderful fish, and there are still so many wriggling in the net: live silver and bronze, struggling to escape death. There is only one thing to be done: to empty the net into the bottom of the boats. They do that and the bottoms become a turmoil of agonizing lives. And the crew are up to their ankles in such abundance that the boats sink below the water-line because of the excessive weight.
«To the shore! Steer! Quick! The sails! Watch the depth line! Have the poles ready to prevent a clash. We have too much weight!»
65.3 As long as the manoeuvre lasts, Peter thinks of nothing else. But when he gets ashore, he begins to realise. He understands. He is frightened. «Master! My Lord! Go away from me! I am a sinner! I am not worthy of being near You!» He is on his knees on the damp shore.
Jesus looks at him and smiles: «Get up! Follow Me! I will not leave you anymore! From now on, you will be a fisher of men, and your companions with you. Be afraid of nothing. I am calling you. Come!»
«At once, Lord. You look after the boats. Take everything to Zebedee and to my brother-in-law. Let us go. We are all for You, Jesus! Blessed be the Eternal Father for this choice.»
And the vision ends.
Detail
Peter had worked very hard without catching anything. Now, after Christ's preaching in Capernaum, Jesus sends him fishing again.