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GRM 173.7 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

And I therefore say to you: do not worry too much because you are afraid of having too little. You will always have what is necessary. Do not worry too much about your future. Nobody knows how much future there is ahead of him. Do not worry about what you will eat to support yourselves in life or what clothes you will put on to keep your bodies warm. The life of your souls is by far more precious than your stomachs and your limbs, it is much more valuable than your food and your clothes, exactly as material life is more valuable than food and the body more precious than its clothes. And your Father knows. You ought to know, too. Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet they do not starve to death because the heavenly Father feeds them. And you men, the favourite creatures of the Father, are worth much more than they are.

Which of you, with all his talent, can add one single cubit to his height? If you cannot raise your height even by a span, how can you possibly change your future conditions, increasing your wealth, to ensure that you will live to a long and happy old age? Can you say to death: “You shall come for me when I want”? You cannot. Why, then, worry about your future? And why go to so much trouble lest you should be left without clothes? Think of the lilies growing in the fields: they do not work or spin, they do not buy any cloth from vendors, yet I assure you that not even Solomon in all his regalia was robed like one of them. Now if that is how God clothes the grass in the field, which is there today and will be thrown into the furnace tomorrow or used to feed the cattle and will thus end up in ash or dung, how much more He will see to you, His children?

Do not be of little faith. Do not worry about an uncertain future saying: “What shall I eat when I am old? What shall I drink? How will I clothe myself?”. Leave such worries to the Gentiles, who do not have the lofty certainty of the divine paternity. You have it and you know that the Father is aware of your needs and loves you. Therefore trust Him. Seek first what is really necessary: faith, goodness, charity, humility, mercy, purity, justice, meekness, the three and four main virtues, and all the others as well, in order to be the friends of God, and have a right to His Kingdom. And I can assure you that all the rest will be given to you as well, without having to ask for it. There is no rich man richer than a saint or any man safer than he is. God is with the saint and the saint is with God. He does not ask anything for his body, and God supplies what is necessary. But he works for his soul, and God gives Himself to him in this world, and Paradise in the next one.

So do not go to any trouble for what is not worth your trouble. Let your imperfections grieve you, not your scanty earthly means. Do not worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will take care of itself, and you will take care of it when you live it. Why worry today? Is life not already quite full of yesterday’s sad memories and of today’s troubles, that we should feel the need to add the nightmares of tomorrow’s uncertainties? Leave to each day its own trouble! There will always be in life more pains than we would wish, without adding the present pains to future ones! Always say the great word of God: “Today”. You are His children, created to His likeness. So say with Him: “Today”.

Annotation

Tomorrow will think of itself. This proverbial thought is recorded in Matthew 6:34. It is mentioned again by Jesus in EMV 584.15.

GRM 174.9 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

You already know how Eve was corrupted and how Adam became corrupt through her. Satan kissed the woman’s eyes and bewitched them, so that every aspect, so far pure, became impure for her and aroused strange curiosities. Then Satan kissed her ears and opened them to the words of a new science: his own. Eve’s mind also wanted to know what was not necessary. Then Satan showed her eyes and mind, now awake to Evil, things that previously they had not seen or understood, and everything in Eve became sharp and corrupt. And the Woman went to the Man, revealed her secret and persuaded Adam to taste the new fruit, so beautiful to the eye and so strictly forbidden so far. And she kissed him and looked at him with mouth and eyes already fouled by Satan’s gloomy disorder. And corruption penetrated Adam who saw, and through his eyes he craved for what was forbidden and he bit it with his helpmate and fell from such height into mud.

A corrupt person will draw another person to corruption, unless the latter is a saint in the true sense of the word.

Watch your eyes, men. Both the eyes of your bodies and the eyes of your minds. If they are corrupt, they can but corrupt all the rest. The eye is the light of the body. Your thought is the light of your heart. But if your eye is not pure — because since the organs are subject to thought, a corrupt thought will corrupt also senses — everything in you will become obscure, and a seducing haze will create impure phantasms in you. Everything is pure in him who has a pure thought which causes a pure look, and the light of God descends as a master where there is no obstruction of senses. But if out of ill will you have accustomed your eyes to disorderly visions, everything will become darkness in you. In vain you will look at the most holy things. In the darkness they will be nothing but blackness and blackness will be the deeds accomplished by you.

GRM 174.19 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

It has also been said to you: “Anyone who divorces his wife, must give her a writ of dismissal”. But that is to be condemned. for it does not come from God. God said to Adam: “This is the helpmate I made for you. Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it”. And Adam, full of superior intelligence, because Sin had not yet dimmed his reason made perfect by God, exclaimed: “This at last is bone from my bones, and flesh from my flesh. This is to be called woman, that is: another I, because this was taken from man. This is why a man leaves his father and mother and joins himself to his wife and the two become one body”. And in an increased splendour of light the Eternal Light approved smiling Adam’s word, which became the first indelible law. Now, if owing to the ever increasing hardness of man, the human lawgiver had to give a new law; if owing to the ever increasing inconstancy of man. the lawgiver had to put a restraint and say: “If you have dismissed her you cannot take her back”, that does not cancel the first genuine law, passed in the Earthly Paradise and approved by God.

Annotation

We'll call her Virago. This Latin word comes from vir (man) and designates a woman who is like a man. It is not used here in the pejorative French sense of a shrill woman.

The human legislator here is Moses.

Deuteronomy 24, 1 and 24, 3-4

Dt 24, 1: When a man takes a wife and marries her, and she ceases to find favor in his eyes, because he discovers a blemish in her, he shall write her a letter of repudiation and give it to her, sending her away from his house.

Deut 24:3-4: But if the latter husband dislikes her, writes a letter of divorce for her and hands it over to him, sending her out of his house; or if the latter husband who took her as his wife dies, 4then the former husband who sent her away will not be able to divorce her.for it is an abomination before Yahweh, and you shall not sin in the land which Yahweh your God is giving you for an inheritance.

Book of Genesis 1, 28 and 2, 22-24

Gn 1, 28 : God blessed them and said to them: "Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. Be rulers over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every animal that comes and goes on the earth."

Gn 2, 22-24 : With the rib he had taken from the man, he fashioned a woman and brought her to the man. The man said: "This time, this is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh! She shall be called woman - Ishsha - who was taken from man - Ish." For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and the two will become one.

Gospel of Matthew 5, 31-32

Mt 5, 31-32 : It has also been said, "If anyone sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of repudiation. Well, I say to you, every man who sends away his wife, except in the case of an illegitimate union, leads her to adultery; and if anyone marries a woman who has been sent away, he is an adulterer.

GRM 176.3 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«God’s will has held us in this place because had we gone any further, after the distance we had walked, we would have infringed the precepts and caused scandal. And may that never happen until the New Pact is written. It is right to sanctify feast days and praise the Lord in places of prayer. But the whole creation can be a place of prayer if man can make it thus through his elevation to the Father. Noah’s Ark adrift on the water was a place of prayer and likewise the belly of Jonah’s whale. Places of prayer were the house of the Pharaoh when Joseph lived in it, and the tent of Holofernes for the chaste Judith. And was not the corrupt place where the prophet Daniel lived as a slave, so sacred to the Lord, because of the holiness of His servant who so sanctified the place as to deserve the high prophecies[1] of Christ and of the Antichrist, which are a key to present and future times? All the more reason this place is holy as with its hues and scents, with its pure air and rich crops, with its dewy pearls it speaks to us of God, the Father and Creator and says: “I believe. And you ought to believe because we bear witness to God”. Let it therefore be our synagogue for this Sabbath and let us read the eternal pages on corollas and ears, with the sun as our lamp.

I mentioned Daniel. I said to you: “Let this place be our synagogue”. That reminds us of the joyful “bless the Lord” of the three holy young men in the flames of the furnace: Heavens and waters, dew and frost, ice and snow, fire and colours, light and darkness, lightning and clouds, mountains and hills, all germinated things, birds, fish and animals, praise and bless the Lord with humble holy-hearted men. We can pray and deserve Heaven everywhere. We deserve it when we do the Father’s will.

Detail

It's dawn, the morning of the Sabbath (EMV 176.1). Jesus goes to the sleepers who are awakening, and to the crowd that has followed him, because he wishes to sanctify "this holy day with the word of God" (EMV 176.2).

Annotation

Having come so far, to go any further would have been to violate the precepts and scandalize. Out of respect for the precept limiting Sabbatical journeys, which finds its foundation in Exodus 16:29.

Noah's ark adrift on the waves was a place of prayer, as was Jonah's whale belly. Cf. Genesis 7:7 and Jonah 2:2.

Gen 7.7: "Noah entered the ark with his sons, his wife and his sons' wives to escape the waters of the flood."

Jon 2, 2 : And from the bowels of the fish Jonah prayed to Yahweh, his God.

So did the house of Pharaoh when Joseph lived there, and so did the tent of Holofernes for the chaste Judith. Cf Genesis 39:2 and 41:40 as well as Judith 12:5 and Judith 13:4-5.

Gen 39:2 : Yahweh was with Joseph, who made all things prosper; he lived in the house of his master, the Egyptian.

Gen 41, 40: And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Behold, I have made you ruler over all the land of Egypt. "

Jdt 12, 5 : On entering, she asked to be allowed to go out at night and before daylight to pray and call upon the Lord.

Jdt 13, 4-5 : Holoferne was lying on his bed in a drunken stupor. Judith had told her maid to stand outside the room and keep watch.

And was it not truly sacred to the Lord, the corrupt place where the prophet Daniel lived as a slave, sacred by the holiness of his servant who sanctified the place to the point of meriting the lofty prophecies of Christ and Antichrist, keys to the present and the last times? Daniel 1, 21 | Daniel 7, 2-14 | Daniel 9, 24-27 | Daniel 12, 5-12.

Dan 1:21: Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

Dan 7, 2-14 : Daniel spoke and said: "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were melting on the great sea, and four great beasts came up from the sea, different from each other. The first was like a lion and had eagle's wings. And I beheld, until his wings were plucked, and he was lifted up from the earth, and set upon his feet like a man, and a man's heart was given unto him. And behold another beast, a second, like a bear; it drew up one of its sides, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth, and they said to it, "Arise, eat much flesh! After this I looked, and behold another beast like a leopard; it had on its back four wings of a bird, and the beast had four heads; and dominion was given to it. After this I looked in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, terrible, fearful and extraordinarily strong; it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke, and the rest it trampled underfoot; it was different from all the beasts that had gone before it, and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold another horn, small, arose in the midst of them, and three of the first horns were torn off by it; and behold this horn had eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth that spoke great things.

I watched, until thrones were placed, and an old man sat down. His garment was white as snow, and the hair on his head was like pure wool. His throne was flames of fire; the wheels, blazing fire. A river of fire flowed out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and a myriad of myriads stood before him. The Judge sat down, and books were opened. I watched then, because of the noise of the great words that the horn uttered; I watched, until the moment when the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and delivered to the flame of fire. To the rest of the beasts, too, their dominion had been taken away, and the duration of their lives had been fixed until a time and a moment.

I looked into the visions of the night, and behold, there came on the clouds as it were a Son of Man; and he came up to the old man, and they brought him near before him. And he was given dominion, glory and reign, and all peoples, nations and languages served him. His dominion is an eternal dominion that will not pass away, and his reign will never be destroyed.

Dn 9, 24-27 : Seventy weeks have been determined upon your people and upon your holy city to shut up prevarication, to seal up sins and to atone for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophet and to anoint the Holy of Holies. Know therefore and understand: from the going forth of a word commanding Jerusalem to be rebuilt until an anointed one, a leader, there are seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks; she will be rebuilt, places and pregnant, in the distress of times. And after sixty-two weeks, an anointed one will be cut off, and no one for him. And the people of a ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary, and its end will be in the flood, and to the end there will be war, which is decreed touching the devastation. He will make a firm covenant with a great number for a week; and in the middle of the week he will cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and on the wing of abominations will come a destroyer, and that until destruction and what has been decreed are poured out on the devastated.

Dan 12:5-12: I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two other men were standing, one on one bank of the river, the other on the other bank of the river. 6One of them spoke to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river: "How long will the end of these wondrous things be? "And I heard the man clothed in linen who was above the waters; he raised his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and he swore by him who lives forever that it would be in a time, times and half a time, and that, when they had finished breaking the strength of the holy people, then all these things would be fulfilled. And I heard, but did not understand, and said, "My lord, what will be the end of these things? "He said, 'Go, Daniel, for the words are tightened and sealed until the time of the end. There will be many who will be purified, made white and tested; and the wicked will do evil, and no wicked will understand; but the intelligent will understand. From the time when the perpetual sacrifice is interrupted, and the abomination of the destroyer is set up, there will be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he who waits and comes to a thousand three hundred and thirty-five days!"

I named you Daniel. I said to you, "Let this place be our synagogue. "He reminds us of the joyful "Bless" of the three holy children amid the flames of the furnace: cf. Daniel 3, 52-90.

Dn 3, 52-90 : Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, worthy to be praised, glorified and exalted forever. Blessed is your holy and glorious name, worthy of supreme praise and exaltation forever. Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, worthy of supreme praise and glory forever. Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, worthy of supreme praise and exaltation forever. Blessed are you, whose gaze penetrates the abyss, and who sit upon the Cherubim, worthy of supreme praise and exaltation forever. Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, worthy of praise and glory forever.

Bless all the Lord, works of the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Heavens, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Waters and all that is above the heavens, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Powers of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.

Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Rain and dew, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Winds unleashed by God, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever.

Fire and heat, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Cold and heat, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Dew and frost, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Frost and frost, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Ice and snow, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever.

Nights and days, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Light and darkness, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Lightning and dark clouds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Earth, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever!

Mountains and hills, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Plants that grow on the earth, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Fountains, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Seas and rivers, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever.

Monsters and everything that moves in the waters, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Birds of the air, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Wild beasts and flocks, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Children of men, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Israel, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever!

Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Spirits and souls of the righteous, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Saints and humble of heart, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. Ananias, Azarias and Misael, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever.

For he has brought us out of Sheol, and delivered us from the power of death; he has rescued us from the midst of the furnace of burning flame, and drawn us out of the midst of the fire. Celebrate the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. All you godly men, bless the Lord, the God of gods; praise and celebrate him, for his mercy endures forever.

GRM 177.4 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Jesus watches him go away, then turns to the people present and says: «I solemnly tell you that I did not find so much faith in Israel. Oh! It is quite true[1]! “The people that walked in darkness saw a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone”, and also “The Messiah will hoist His flag over the nations and gather them together”. Oh! My Kingdom! They will really flow to you in immense numbers! More numerous than all the camels and dromedaries of Madian and Ephah, than those who bring the gold and incense of Sheba, more numerous than all the flocks of Kedar and the rams of Nebaioth, will be those who come to you and My heart will exult with joy seeing all the peoples of the sea and the wealth of the nations coming to Me. The islands are waiting for Me to adore Me, and the children of foreigners will build the walls of My Church, the gates of which will lie open continually to receive the kings and the wealth of the nations and sanctify them in Me. What Isaiah saw, will be accomplished! I tell you that many will come from the east and the west and will sit with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, whereas the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.»

«You therefore foretell that the gentiles will be equal to the children of Abraham?»

«Not equal, but greater. You can only regret that it is due to your fault. Not I, but the Prophets say so, and the signs already confirm it.

Detail

Jesus has just healed the Roman centurion's servant, as recounted in the Gospel.

Annotation

Book of Isaiah, 9, 1

Is 9, 1 : The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, and on those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, light has shone.

Isaiah 11, 10-12

Is 11, 10-12 : And it shall come to pass in that day, that the root of Jesse, lifted up as a standard for the peoples, shall be sought out by the nations, and his dwelling shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day: the Lord will stretch out his hand a second time to redeem the remnant of his people, that which remains in the lands of Assyria and Egypt, Patros, Ethiopia, Elam, Sennaar, Hamath and the isles of the sea. He will raise up a standard for the nations, and gather together the outcasts of Israel; he will gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four ends of the earth.

Isaiah 60, 5-10

Is 60, 5-10 : Then you will see him, and you will be radiant; your heart will leap and expand; for the riches of the sea will come to you, the treasures of the nations will come to you. Multitudes of camels will cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all those of Sheba will come, they will bring gold and incense, and publish the praises of Yahweh. All the flocks of Cedar will gather to you; the rams of Nabaioth will serve you; they will come up to my altar as a pleasing offering, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

Who are these that fly like clouds, like doves to their dovecote? For the isles hope in me, and the ships of Tarshish will come first; To bring back your sons from afar, with their silver and gold, to honor the name of Yahweh your God, and the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you. The sons of foreigners will build your walls, and their kings will be your servants; for I struck you in my anger, but in my kindness I had compassion on you.

GRM 180.4 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Adam’s perfection was still susceptible of improvement through love, which would have made him a more precise image of his Creator. Adam without the stain of sin would have been a most shining mirror of God. That is why I say: “Be perfect as your Father Who is in Heaven is perfect”. Like your Father. Therefore like God.

GRM 188.1-3.5-6 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

188.1

Jesus and the apostles have passed Mount Tabor and left it behind them. They are now walking on a plain lying between that mountain and another one facing it, talking of the climb made by them all, although at the beginning the elder ones had not been too keen. But now they are happy they had gone up to the top. The journey is now easy because they are on a main road which is quite comfortable for walking. It is early in the morning because I am under the impression that they have spent the night on the slopes of the Tabor.

«That is Endor» says Jesus pointing to a poor village built on the first heights of the other mountain. «Do you really want to go there?»

«If You wish to make me happy…» responds the Iscariot.

«Let us go, then.»

«But is it a long way?» asks Bartholomew, who, because of his age, is not very keen on walking tours.

«Oh! no! But if you wish to stay…» says Jesus.

«Yes! You may stay. I will go with the Master» says Judas of Kerioth immediately.

«Listen, before making up my mind, I would like to know what there is to be seen… From the top of Mount Tabor we saw the sea and after the boy’s speech I must admit that I saw it properly for the first time and I saw it as You see: with my heart. Here… I would like to know whether there is anything to learn, because in that case I will come even if it is tiresome…» says Peter.

«Do you hear that? You have not yet said what you intend doing. Be kind to your companions and tell us now» says Jesus invitingly.

«Did Saul not go to Endor[1] to consult the necromancer?»

«Yes, he did. So?»

«Well, Master, I would like to go there and hear You speak of Saul.»

«In that case I will come, too!» exclaims Peter full of enthusiasm.

«Let us go then.»

They walk fast along the last stretch of the main road, which they leave to follow a secondary road, which takes straight to Endor.

188.2

It is a poor village, as Jesus said. The houses cling to the slopes which, beyond the village become steeper. Poor people live in them. Most of them must be shepherds who pasture their flocks on the sides of the mountain and in the woods of old oak-trees. There are a few small fields of barley, or similar fodder grains, in favourable sites and some apple and fig-trees. There are only a few vines around the houses, decorating the walls, which are dark because the place is obviously a damp one.

«We will now ask where the place of the necromancer was» says Jesus. And He stops a woman who is coming back from the fountain with pitchers.

She looks at Him curiously, then replies impolitely: «I don’t know. I have much more important things to worry about than such nonsense!» and she goes away.

Jesus turns to an old man who is carving a bit of wood.

«The necromancer?… Saul?… Who bothers about them now? But, wait… There is one here who has studied and perhaps he knows… Come with me.»

And the old man climbs laboriously up a stony lane to a very poor and shabby looking house. «He lives here. I will go in and call him.»

Peter, pointing at some poultry scratching about in a dirty yard, says: «This fellow is not an Israelite.» But he says no more because the old man comes back followed by a man blind in one eye, who is as dirty and untidy as everything around his house.

The old man says: «See? This man says that it is over there beyond that dilapidated house. There is a path, a stream, a wood and some caves, the one at the top, where there are still traces of ruined walls on one side, is the one you are looking for. Is that right?»

«No. You have muddled everything. I will go with these strangers.» The man’s voice is harsh and guttural, which increases everybody’s feeling of uneasiness.

188.3

He starts walking. Peter, Philip and Thomas make repeated signs to Jesus to advise Him not to go. But Jesus does not pay attention. He walks with Judas behind the man, and the others follow Him… unwillingly. (...)

188.5

They arrive at a cavern made of rubble and mountain caves. The man endeavours to steady his voice and says: «Here it is. You may go in.»

«Thank you, My friend. Be good.»

The man does not say anything and remains where he was, while Jesus with His apostles, passing over large stones which must have been part of very strong walls, upsetting green lizards and other ugly looking insects, enters a large smoky grotto, on the walls of which there are still graffiti signs of the zodiac and similar things. In a corner blackened by smoke there is a niche and under it a hole which looks like a gully-hole for water. Bats hanging in disgusting bunches decorate the ceiling and an owl, upset by the light of a branch which James has lit to ensure they do not tread on scorpions or asps, complains by flapping its wadded wings and closing its ugly eyes which cannot bear the light. It is perched in the niche, and the foul smell of dead mice, of weasels and birds in decomposition at its feet is mixed with the stench of dung and of the damp soil.

«It is really a lovely place!» says Peter. «Your Tabor and your sea were much better, my boy!» And then addressing Jesus: «Master, satisfy Judas at once because this is not… Antipa’s royal hall!»

«Certainly. What is it that you want to know?» He asks Judas of Kerioth.

«Well… I would like to know whether and why Saul sinned coming here… I would like to know whether it is possible for a woman to evoke the dead. I would like to know whether… Oh! It is better if You speak. I will ask You questions.»

«It’s a long story. At least let us go out there, in the sunshine, on the stones… We will get away from the dampness and the stench» begs Peter.

And Jesus agrees. They sit as best they can on the ruins of the walls.

«Saul’s sin was only one of his sins. It was preceded and followed by many more. All of them serious. Double ingratitude towards Samuel who had annointed him king and who subsequently disappeared so as not to share with the king the admiration of the people. He was several times ungrateful to David who saved him from Goliath and spared him in the caves at Engedi and Hachilah. He was guilty of many acts of disobedience and of scandalising his people. He was guilty of grieving his benefactor Samuel by lacking in charity. He was guilty of jealousy, of making attempts on David’s life, David being another benefactor of his, and finally, of the crime he committed here.»

«Against whom? He did not kill anyone here.»

«He killed his soul in here, he finished killing it.

188.6

Why are you lowering your head?»

«I am thinking, Master.»

«You are thinking. I can see that. What are you thinking about? Why did you want to come? You must admit it was not out of mere curiosity of a scholar.»

«We always hear someone talk of magicians, necromancers, evoked spirits… I wanted to see whether I could discover anything… I would like to know how it is done… I think that since we are destined to amaze people in order to attract them, we should be, somehow, necromancers too. You are You and You do things by means of Your power. But we must ask for power, for help in order to perform exceptional deeds, which are necessary…»

«Are you mad? What are you saying?» shout many.

«Be quiet. Let him speak. He is not mad.»

«Yes, I thought that by coming here a little of the magic of gone by days would assume possession of me and make me greater. In Your interest, believe me.»

«I know that your present desire is a sincere one. But I will reply to you with eternal words, because they are words of the Book, and the Book will exist as long as man exists. Believed or mocked at, employed to defend the truth or scorned at, it will always exist. It states: “And Eve, seeing that the fruit of the tree was good to eat and pleasing to the eye, took it and ate it and gave some to her husband… Then their eyes were opened and they realised that they were naked and they made themselves loin-cloths… And God said: ‘How did you realise that you were naked? Only because you ate the forbidden fruit’. And He expelled them from the garden of delights”. And in the book of Saul, it states: “Samuel appearing said: ‘Why have you disturbed me, conjuring me up? Why do you consult me when the Lord has abandoned you? The Lord will deal with you as I told you… because you did not obey the voice of the Lord’ “. Son, do not stretch your hand towards the forbidden fruit. It is imprudent even to go near it. Do not be curious to know ultramundane things, lest its satanic poison should conquer you. Avoid the occult and what cannot be explained. One thing only is to be accepted with holy faith: God. But avoid what is not God and what cannot be explained by man’s reason or cannot be done by man’s power, so that the sources of wickedness may not be opened for you and you may realise that you are “naked”. Naked: repellent in your humanity mixed with satanism. Why do you wish to amaze people by means of obscure prodigies? Amaze them through your holiness, which should be as bright as things coming from God. Do not be anxious to tear the veils which separate the living from the dead. Do not disturb the deceased. Listen to them, if they are wise, while they are on the earth, venerate them by obeying them also after their death. But do not upset their second life. He who does not obey the voice of the Lord, loses the Lord. And the Lord has forbidden occultism, necromancy, satanism in all its forms. What more do you wish to know than the Word already tells you? What more do you wish to perform than your goodness and My power enable you to perform? Do not crave for sin, but for holiness, son. Do not feel mortified. I am glad that you disclose your humanity. Many people, too many, like what you like. But the purpose of your desire: “to be power to attract people to Me” removes a heavy weight from that humanity and puts wings on it. But they are the wings of a night bird. No, My dear Judas. Put wings as bright as the sun, wings of an angel on your spirit. By the simple breeze caused by flapping them you will attract hearts and will lead them in your wake to God. Can we go?»

«Yes, Master! I was wrong…»

«No. You have been an inquirer… The world will always be full of them. Come. Let us get away from the stench of this place. Let us go towards the sun! In a few days it will be Passover, and afterwards we will go to your mother’s. I conjure her up for you: your honest home, your holy mother. How peaceful it is!»

As usual, the recollection of his mother and the Master’s praise for her, cheer Judas.

Annotation

Wasn't it in En-Dor that Saul wanted to go and consult the Pythia? As we read in : 1 Samuel 28:3-25 | 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 | Sirach 46:20. Analogies are found in 2 Kings 21:6 | Isaiah 8:19-20.

The story of Saul and his "many other" sins, as told in EMV 188.5 (as well as in other passages such as EMV 263.2) is found essentially in 1 Samuel 9-31.

The practice of divination (or magic, or necromancy) is forbidden in Leviticus 19, 26.31 | Leviticus 20, 6.27 | Deuteronomy 18, 9-14.

The term "pythoness" given to the magician goes back to a pagan god (Pythian Apollo). The "Pythian spirit" given to the magician is peculiar to pagans (as seen in EMV 59.4 and EMV 129.3). Satan "speaks through the lips of the Pythias" (as we read in EMV 420.10). It is clear from the Work that the Sadducean sect, strongly hostile to Jesus and opposed to his teaching (as can be seen in EMV 356.5 | EMV 409.6 and EMV 594.6/7), indulged in such practices, to which Judas Iscariot also felt drawn (as can be seen in EMV 334.8 and EMV 357.6). An invective against necromancers can be found in EMV 503.7.

Ingratitude towards David, who had rid him of Goliath and spared him in Engadi's cave (1 Samuel 24.1-23 ) and at Hakilah (1 Samuel 26.1-25).

It says: "When Eve saw that the fruit of the tree was good to eat and beautiful to look at, she picked it, ate some and gave some to her husband... Then their eyes were opened and they saw that they were naked, and they made themselves girdles... And God said: 'And who told you that you were naked? So you ate from the tree I forbade you to eat from. And he drove them out of the paradise of delights. "In Genesis 3:6.

It is written in the book of Saul: "Samuel said, appearing: 'Why have you troubled me by making me call? Why question me after the Lord has withdrawn from you? The Lord will deal with you as I have told you... because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord. ' " In 1 Samuel 28:15-19.

In a few days, it will be Passover: 14 Nisan.

First book of Samuel 28, 3-25

1 Sam 28, 3-25: Samuel was dead; all Israel had mourned for him, and they had buried him in Ramah, in his city. And Saul had driven out of the land those who evoked the dead and the soothsayers.

And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped at Sunam; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped at Gelboe. When Saul saw the Philistines' camp, he was afraid and his heart was greatly troubled. Saul consulted Yahweh, but Yahweh did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by the Urim, nor by the prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek me out a woman who conjures up the dead, and I will go to her and consult with her." His servants told him, "There is a woman in Endor who conjures up the dead." Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and set off, accompanied by two men. They arrived at the woman's house by night, and Saul said to her, "Tell me the future by evoking a dead person, and bring me up whomever I tell you." The woman replied, "Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off from the land those who evoke the dead and diviners; why do you lay a trap for me, to kill me?" Saul swore to her by Yahweh, saying, "As Yahweh lives! no harm shall come to you because of this." And the woman said, "Whom shall I bring you up?" He replied, "Bring me up Samuel."

At the sight of Samuel, the woman gave a great cry; and the woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!" The king said to her, "Do not fear; but what did you see?" The woman said to Saul, "I see a god rising from the earth." He said to her, "What figure is he?" And she answered, "It is an old man ascending, and he is wrapped in a cloak." Saul understood that it was Samuel, and he threw himself with his face to the ground and bowed down.

Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you troubled me, bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress: the Philistines make war on me, and God has withdrawn from me; he has not answered me either by prophets or by dreams. I have summoned you to let me know what I have to do." Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, since Yahweh has withdrawn from you and become your adversary? Yahweh has done as he foretold through me: Yahweh has snatched the kingship out of your hand, and given it to your companion, to David. Because you did not obey the voice of Yahweh, and did not deal with Amalek according to the fierceness of his anger, that is why Yahweh has done this to you this day. And even Yahweh will deliver Israel with you into the hands of the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and Yahweh will deliver the camp of Israel into the hands of the Philistines." Immediately Saul fell to the ground to his full height, for Samuel's words had filled him with dread; moreover, he lacked strength, for he had taken no food all day and all night.

The woman came to Saul and, seeing his great trouble, said to him: "Your handmaid has obeyed your voice; I have laid down my life, obeying the words you spoke to me. Now you too must listen to the voice of your handmaid, and let me offer you a morsel of bread; eat of it, that you may have strength when you go on your way." But he refused, saying, "I will not eat." His servants and the woman urged him, and he complied. He got up from the ground and sat down on the couch. The woman had a fatted calf at home, so she hastened to kill it, and taking some flour, she kneaded it and baked unleavened bread from it. She set them before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and left that same night.

First Book of Chronicles 10, 13-14

1 Ch 10, 13-14 : Saul died because of his transgression against Yahweh, for he had not kept Yahweh's word, and for asking and consulting those who call up the dead. So he did not consult Yahweh, and Yahweh put him to death, and transferred the kingship to David, son of Jesse.

Book of Sirach 46, 20

Si 46, 20: And when he had fallen asleep, he prophesied and told the king of his approaching end. From the earth he lifted up his voice in prophecy, that he might blot out the iniquity of the people.

Second Book of Kings 21, 6

2 Kings 21, 6: He made his son pass through the fire; he practiced augury and divination; he instituted necromancers and sorcerers: thus doing more and more what is evil in the eyes of Yahweh, so as to irritate him.

Isaiah 8, 19-20

Is 8, 19-20: When they say to you: "Consult those who call up the dead, and the diviners who murmur and whisper," answer: "Should not a people consult their God? Will they consult the dead for the sake of the living? Here's to teaching and witnessing! "If the people speak otherwise, there is no dawn for them.

First book of Samuel 9-31

Given the number of chapters (nearly 12), we will not reproduce them in this note.

Book of Leviticus 19, 26.31

Lev 19, 26.31: You shall eat nothing with blood. You shall not practice divination or magic. Do not speak to those who call up spirits, nor to diviners; do not consult them, so as not to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh, your God.

Book of Leviticus 20, 6.27

Lev 20, 6.27: If anyone speaks to those who call up spirits and diviners, to play the harlot after them, I will turn my face against that man and cut him off from among his people. Any man or woman who evokes spirits or engages in divination will be put to death; they will be stoned: their blood is on them.

Deuteronomy 18, 9-14

Dt 18, 9-14 : When you enter the land given to you by Yahweh, your God, you must not learn to imitate the abominations of those nations. Let no one be found among you who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire, who engages in divination, augury, superstition and enchantments, who resorts to charms, who consults evocators and sorcerers, and who questions the dead. For every man who does these things is an abomination to Yahweh, and because of these abominations Yahweh your God will drive out these nations from before you. You will be upright with Yahweh, your God. For these nations, whom you will drive out, listen to augurs and soothsayers; but Yahweh your God will not allow you to do so.

Book of Genesis 3, 6

Gn 3, 6 : The woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good to eat, pleasing to the eye and desirable for acquiring understanding; she took of its fruit and ate; she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

First Book of Samuel 24, 1-23

1 Samuel 24, 1-23: David went up from there and settled in the strongholds of Engaddi. When Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, someone came and told him, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engaddi." Saul took three thousand elite men from among all Israel, and went in search of David and his men as far as the rocks of the wild goats. He came to the sheep pens by the road; there was a cave there, where Saul went in to cover his feet; and David and his men were sitting at the bottom of the cave. David's men said to him, "This is the day of which Yahweh said to you, 'Behold, I deliver your enemy into your hand; deal with him as you please." David got up and cut Saul's cloak by stealth. After that, David's heart pounded, because he had cut off the front of Saul's cloak. And he said to his men, "Yahweh forbid that I should do such a thing against my lord, Yahweh's anointed, as to lay my hand on him, for he is Yahweh's anointed!" With his words, David rebuked his men and did not allow them to throw themselves at Saul. Saul got up to leave the cave and continued on his way.

After this David got up and, coming out of the cave, began to shout at Saul, saying, "O king, my lord!" Saul looked behind him, and David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the talk of people who say: Behold, David seeks to harm you? Behold, today your eyes have seen how Yahweh has delivered you into my hands this very day in the cave. They told me to kill you; but my eye had pity on you, and I said, I will not lay my hand on my lord, for he is Yahweh's anointed. See, then, my father, see in my hand the skirt of your cloak. Since I have cut off the edge of your cloak and have not killed you, acknowledge and see that there is no wickedness or rebellion in my conduct, and that I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt for my life to take it from me. Let Yahweh be judge between me and you, and let Yahweh avenge me on you! But my hand will not be upon you. From the wicked comes wickedness, says the old proverb; so my hand will not be upon you. After whom did the king of Israel set out? Who are you after? A dead dog? A flea? Let Yahweh judge and decide between you and me. Let him look on and defend my cause, and let his sentence deliver me from your hand!"

When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. And he said to David, "You are more righteous than I. For you have done me good, and I have done you evil. You have shown kindness to me today, for Yahweh has delivered me into your hands and you have not killed me. If someone meets his enemy, does he let him go on his way in peace? May Yahweh do you good in return for what you have done to me this day! Now, behold, I know that you will be king and that the kingship of Israel will be stable in your hands. So swear to me by Yahweh that you will not destroy my descendants after me, nor cut off my name from my father's house." David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his house, and David and his men went up to the strong place.

First Book of Samuel 26, 1-25

1 Sam 26:1-25: The Ziphaeans came to Saul at Gabaa, and said, "David is hidden on the hill of Hachilah, east of the moor." Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand of Israel's elite men, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, east of the heath, near the road, and David dwelt in the desert. When David realized that Saul was searching for him in the desert, he sent spies and learned that Saul had really arrived. David got up and came to the place where Saul was camped. David saw the place where Saul was lying, with Abner, son of Ner, chief of his army: - now Saul was lying in the middle of the camp, and the people were encamped around him. - So David addressed Ahimelech the Hittite and Abisai, son of Sarvia and brother of Joab, and said, "Who wants to go down with me to the camp to Saul?" And Abisai answered, "I will go down with you."

David and Abisai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul was lying in the middle of the camp and sleeping, his spear stuck in the ground at his bedside; Abner and the people were lying around him. Abisai said to David, "God has locked up your enemy in your hands today; now, I beg you, let me strike him with the spear and nail him to the ground with a single blow, without my having to return." But David said to Abisai, "Don't kill him! For who would lay hands on Yahweh's anointed and go unpunished?" And David said, "As true as Yahweh lives! It will only be Yahweh who strikes him; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go down to war and perish; but may Yahweh preserve me from laying hands on Yahweh's anointed! Now, take the spear that is at his bedside, with the pitcher of water, and let us go."

And David took the spear and the pitcher of water that were at Saul's bedside, and they went. No one saw, no one knew, no one awoke, for they were all asleep, Yahweh having caused a deep slumber to fall upon them.

David passed over to the other side, and stood far away on the top of the mountain; a great space separated them. And David cried out to the people and to Abner, son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner!" Abner answered, saying, "Who are you, you who cry out to the king?" David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept the king, your lord? For one of the people has come to kill the king, your lord. What you have done here is not right. As Yahweh lives! You have deserved death, for not keeping your master, Yahweh's anointed. Now look where the king's spear and the jug of water that was at his bedside are."

Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David answered, "It is my voice, O king, my lord." He added: "Why does my lord pursue his servant? What have I done, and what crime has my hand committed? Let the king, my lord, now deign to hear the words of your servant: if it is Yahweh who stirs you up against me, let him accept the fragrance of an offering; but if it is men, let them be accursed before Yahweh, since they have driven me out now, to take away my place from Yahweh's inheritance, saying: Go serve foreign gods! And now let not my blood fall upon the earth, far from the face of Yahweh! For the king of Israel has set out to seek a flea, as one would pursue a partridge in the mountains."

Saul said, "I have sinned; return, my son David, for I will harm you no more, since my life has been precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly and made a great mistake." David replied, "Here is the spear, O king; let one of your young men come and take it. Yahweh will render to every man according to his righteousness and faithfulness; for Yahweh had delivered you into my hand this day, and I would not lay hands on Yahweh's anointed. Behold, as your life was this day of great price in my sight, so shall my life be of great price in Yahweh's sight, and he shall deliver me from all anguish!" Saul said to David: "Blessed be my son, David! You will surely succeed in your endeavors." David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

GRM 191.5-7 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

(...) Listen to the parable that I have thought out for you.

There was once a very rich man. He wore the most beautiful garments, and in his purple and byssus clothes he used to strut about in squares and at home, respected by his citizens as the most powerful man in the country, and by his friends, who gratified his pride to gain benefits thereby. They feasted every day in his halls, where the multitude of his guests, all rich and none therefore needy crowded flattering Dives. His banquets were famous for the copiousness of food and of choice wines.

In the same town there lived a beggar, a great beggar. He was great in his misery as the other was great in his wealth. But under the crust of the human misery of Lazarus, the beggar, there was a treasure, which was even greater than Lazarus’ misery and Dives’ wealth. And it was Lazarus’ true holiness. He had never infringed the Law, not even when urged by need, and above all he had complied with the precept of love for God and for his neighbour. He, as is wont with poor people, used to go near the doors of rich people to ask for alms, so that he would not starve to death. And every evening he would go to Dives’ house, hoping to receive at least the crumbs of the pompous banquets which took place in the magnificent halls. He would lie in the street, near the door, and wait patiently.

But if Dives noticed him, he would have him driven away because that underfed body, covered with sores and ragged clothes, was too sad a sight for his guests. That is what Dives used to say. In actual fact, it was because the sight of so much misery and goodness was a continuous reproach to him. His well fed dogs, adorned with precious collars, were more pitiful than he was and they used to go near poor Lazarus and lick his sores, showing their great joy at being caressed by him. They even took the remains of the bountiful tables to him, so that Lazarus survived malnutrition thanks to animals. If he had relied on man he would have died, because man did not even allow him to enter the halls, after the banquet, to pick up the crumbs which had fallen from the tables.

191.6

One day Lazarus died. No one on earth noticed it, no one mourned him. On the contrary, Dives rejoiced not seeing on that day or afterwards that misery which he called a “disgrace” near his door. But the angels noticed it in Heaven. And when he was about to breathe his last breath in his cold barren cave, the celestial cohorts were present and in a bright dazzling light they picked up his soul and singing hosannas they took it to the bosom of Abraham.

Some time went by and Dives died. Oh! What a grand funeral! The whole town, already aware of his agony, crowded in the square where his abode was, some to be noticed as friends of the great man, some out of curiosity, some to gain favour with the heirs, and they all joined in the mourning, and their cries rose to the sky and with their cries also the false praises of the “great, just benefactor” who had died.

Can the word of man change God’s judgement? Can human apology cancel what is written in the book of Life? No, it cannot. What has been judged is judged and what has been written is written. And notwithstanding the grand funeral, the soul of Dives was buried in hell.

Then, in that horrible jail, eating and drinking fire and darkness, finding hatred and torture everywhere and in every moment of eternity, he raised his eyes to heaven. He raised his eyes to heaven which he saw in the brightness of lightning, in the fraction of a second, and the indescribable beauty of heaven remained present in his mind and tormented him in the midst of atrocious tortures. And he saw Abraham up there. Far, but bright, happy… and in his lap, bright and happy there was also Lazarus, poor Lazarus, once miserable, despised, revolting… and now? He was handsome in the light of God and of his holiness, full of God’s love, admired not by men but by the angels of God.

Dives weeping cried: “Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus, as I cannot possibly hope that you will do it yourself, send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and touch my tongue with it, to cool it, for I am in agony in these flames which pierce me continuously and burn me!”.

Abraham replied: “Remember, son, that you had all good things during your life, whereas Lazarus had all bad things. But he turned evil into good, whereas you did nothing but evil of all the good things. It is therefore just that now he should be comforted here and that you should suffer. In any case it is not possible to do it. Holy people are spread over the earth so that men may take advantage of them. But, if notwithstanding all the opportunities, he remains what he was – in your case, a demon – it is useless to make recourse to saints. We are now separated. Herbs are mixed when they are in the field. But when they are cut, the good ones are separated from the evil ones. That is what happens to you and to us. We were together on the earth and you rejected and tortured us in every possible way, you forgot us, acting against the law of charity. We are now divided. There is an abyss between you and us, and those who wish to cross it and come to you, cannot do it. Neither can you, where you are, cross the dreadful abyss and come to us”.

191.7

Dives, crying more loudly shouted: “Holy father, at least please send Lazarus to my father’s house. I have five brothers. I have never understood what love is, not even among relatives. But now I understand what a terrible thing it is not to be loved. And since where I am there is hatred, in the fraction of a second, when my soul saw God, I understood what Love is. I do not want my brothers to suffer the pains that I am suffering. I am terrified because they are leading the same life as I did. Oh! send Lazarus to tell them where I am, and why I am here, and let them know that hell does exist, and it is dreadful, and that those who do not love God and their neighbour come to hell. Send him! So that they may provide in good time, and may not come here, to this place of eternal torture” .

But Abraham replied: “Your brothers have Moses and the Prophets. They should listen to them”.

And with a deep groan of a tormented soul Dives replied: “Oh! Father Abraham! They will be more impressed by a dead person… Listen to me! Have mercy!”.

But Abraham said: “If they have not listened to Moses and the Prophets, they will not believe either one who has risen from the dead for one hour to speak words of Truth to them. In any case it is not fair that a blessed soul should leave my bosom to go and be insulted by the sons of the Enemy. The time of insults is over for such souls. They are now in peace by the order of God Who sees that it is useless to endeavour to convert those who do not even believe in the word of God and do not practice it”.

That is the parable and its meaning is so clear that no clarification is required.

Annotation

In his dictation of August 2, 1943, Jesus refers to this bad rich man as Epulon, the name of the priests in charge of organizing banquets in ancient Rome, which the original of this episode uses "Epulone" as the equivalent of bad rich man.

"He turned his eyes to the Heaven he had glimpsed". This is to be understood as Maria Valtorta commented on a typed copy: "He turned his eyes towards the limbo of the saints he had glimpsed ... and whose peaceful beauty was already unspeakable ...".

"During that second when my soul glimpsed God" is to be understood in the sense of "at the moment of particular judgment", as Maria Valtorta notes in a typescript.

Gospel of Luke 16:19-31

Lk 16, 19-31 : "There was a rich man, dressed in purple and fine linen, who made sumptuous feasts every day. Outside his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with ulcers. He wished he could have eaten what fell from the rich man's table, but the dogs came and licked his ulcers. So the poor man died, and the angels took him to Abraham. The rich man also died, and was buried.

In Hades, he was tortured; lifting up his eyes, he saw Abraham from afar and Lazarus close by. Then he cried out: "Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip his fingertip in water to cool my tongue, for I am suffering terribly in this furnace. - My child," replied Abraham, "remember: you received happiness during your life, and Lazarus, misfortune during his. Now he finds consolation here, and you, suffering. And in addition to all this, a great chasm has been established between you and us, so that those who would cross over to you cannot, and that, from there either, no one crosses over to us." The rich man replied, "Well, Father, I beg you to send Lazarus to my father's house. For I have five brothers: let him bear his testimony to them, lest they too come to this place of torture!" Abraham said to him, "They have Moses and the Prophets: let them listen to them! - No, Father Abraham," he said, "but if someone from the dead comes to them, they will be converted." Abraham replied, "If they won't listen to Moses and the Prophets, someone may rise from the dead: they won't be convinced."""