MARIA VALTORTA

THE
POEM
OF THE
MAN-GOD

THE PERSON AND WORKS OF MARIA VALTORTA

Maria Valtorta was born on the 14th of March 1897.

In the spring of 1916, ‘during a tremendous period of desperation and desire’, the Lord attracted her to
Himself by means of a dream which was to remain ‘vivid’ in Maria throughout her life.
But her withdrawal from the word was still remote. In 1917 Maria entered the ranks of the Samaritan
Nurses, and for eighteen months offered her service at the military hospital in Florence ‘to serve those who
suffered… soldiers, not officers…’ she felt as if she were ‘sweetly obliged to draw ever closer God’.
In 1920 an act of thoughtless violence marked the beginning of her gradual immolation: she was struck in
the back by a young delinquent with an iron bar stripped from a bed.
Attracted by the exempla of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, Maria offered herself as victim to the merciful
Love: from that moment she grew to extraordinary heights in her love of Jesus, even to feeling His presence
in her own words and actions.
In the meantime she maturing the decision to offer herself as victim of the divine Justice.
From April 1934 she was no longer able to leave her bed…
It was in 1942 that she was visited by a pious missionary, Fr. Romuald Migliorini who was her spiritual
director for four years; at his request in 1943, she agreed to write her Autobiography.
Prodded by supernatural impulse on Good Friday, the 23rd of April of the same 1943, she began writing the
‘dictations’: her activity as write reached intensity from 1943 to 1947, diminishing progressively until 1953.
Mostly the notebook written by Maria Valtorta concerns the life of Jesus: The Poem of the Man-God.
In 1949 Maria offered to God the sacrifice of not seeing the ecclesiastic approval of the Work, and she
added the precious gift of her own intelligence.
She died in 1961 and in 1973 with civil and ecclesiastic permissions her mortal remains were transferred to
the Capitular Chapel in the Grand Cloister of the Basilica of the Most Holy Annunciation in Florence, where
the tomb of Maria Valtorta is still venerated.

‘The Poem of the Man-God’

is a great life of Jesus, it is a gospel which neither substitutes nor changes the Gospel, but rather narrates it,
integrating and illuminating it, with the declared purpose of reviving in men’s hearts the love for Christ and
His Mother.
It was ‘revealed’ to Maria Valtorta, called ‘Little John’, to place her close to the Evangelist who was the
favorite disciple.

‘The Poem of the Man-God’ consists of seven parts:

The Hidden Life

The first year of the Public Life

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The second year of the Public Life

The third years of the Public Life

Preparation to the Passion

The Passion

The Glorification.

Maria Valtorta

THE POEM OF THE MAN-GOD

VOLUME ONE

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THE HIDDEN LIFE

Vol 1 - INDEX

THE HIDDEN LIFE

1. Introduction. Page 7
2. Joachim and Anne Make a Vow to the Lord. 8
3. Anne, Praying in the Temple, Has Her Wish Fulfilled. 11
4. With a Canticle, Anne Announces that She Is a Mother. 16
5. Birth of the Virgin Mary. 20
6. The Purification of Anne and the Offering of Mary. 33
7. The Son Has Put His Wisdom on His Mother's Lips. 37
8. Mary Is Presented in the Temple. 42
9. Death of Joachim and Anne. 48
10. Mary's Canticle Imploring the Coming of the Christ. 51
11. Mary Will Confide Her Vow to the Spouse God Will Give Her. 58
12. Joseph Is Appointed Husband of the Virgin. 61
13. Wedding of the Virgin and Joseph. 66
14. Joseph and Mary arrive in Nazareth. 73
15. Conclusion to the Pre-Gospel. 77
16. The Annunciation. 79
17. The Disobedience of Eve and the Obedience of Mary. 82
18. The Annunciation of Elizabeth's Pregnancy to Joseph. 90
19. Mary and Joseph Set Out for Jerusalem. 94
20. From Jerusalem to Zacharias' House. 96

21. Arrival at Zacharias' House. 99

22. Mary and Elizabeth Speak of their Children. 103
23. The Birth of the Baptist. 109
24. The Circumcision of the Baptist. 114
25. The Presentation of the Baptist in the Temple. 117
26. Mary of Nazareth Clarifies the Matter with Joseph. 123
27. The Census Edict. 126
28. The Journey to Bethlehem. 130
29. The Birth of Our Lord Jesus. 134
30. The Adoration of the Shepherds. 140
31. Zacharias' Visit. 150
32. Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. 155
33. Lullaby of the Virgin. 160
34. The Adoration of the Wise Men. 162
35. The Flight into Egypt. 173
36. The Holy Family in Egypt. 181
37. The First Working Lesson Given to Jesus. 188
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38. Mary the Teacher of Jesus, Judas and James. 192
39. Preparations for Jesus' Coming of Age and Departure from Nazareth. 198
40. Jesus Examined in the Temple When He Is of Age. 202

41. The Dispute of Jesus with the Doctors in the Temple. 206
42. The Death of Saint Joseph. 216
43. Conclusion of the Private Life. 222

THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PUBLIC LIFE

44. Farewell to His Mother and Departure from Nazareth. 225
45. Jesus Is Baptised in the Jordan. 231
46. Jesus Is Tempted in the Desert by the Devil. 237
47. Jesus Meets John and James. 242
48. John and James Speak to Peter about the Messiah. 246
49. First Meeting of Peter and the Messiah. 250
50. Jesus at Bethsaida in Peter's House. He Meets Philip and Nathanael. 258
51. Judas Thaddeus at Bethsaida to Invite Jesus to the Wedding at Cana. 266
52. Jesus at the Wedding at Cana. 269
53. Jesus Drives the Merchants out of the Temple. 274
54. Jesus Meets Judas Iscariot and Thomas and Cures Simon the Zealot. 279
55. Thomas Becomes a Disciple. 284
56. Judas of Alphaeus, Thomas and Simon Are Accepted as Disciples at the Jordan. 289
57. Return to Nazareth after Passover with the Six Disciples. 295
58. Cure of a Blind Man at Capernaum. 298
59. The Demoniac of Capernaum cured in the Synagogue. 303
60. Cure of Simon Peter's Mother-in-law. 308
61. Jesus Preaches and Works Miracles in Peter's House. 314
62. Jesus Prays at Night. 319
63. The Leper Cured near Korazim. 321
64. The Paralytic Cured in Peter's House. 325
65. The Miraculous Draught of Fishes. 330
66. The Iscariot Finds Jesus at Gethsemane and is Accepted as a Disciple. 332
67. Jesus Works the Miracle of the Broken Blades at the Fish Gate. 335
68. Jesus Preaches in the Temple. Judas Iscariot is with Him. 339
69. Jesus Teaches Judas Iscariot. 344
70. Jesus Meets John of Zebedee at Gethsemane. 349
71. Jesus with Judas Iscariot Meets Simon Zealot and John. 355
72. Jesus, John, Simon and Judas go to Bethlehem. 358
73. Jesus at Bethlehem in the Peasant's House and in the Grotto. 361
74. Jesus Goes to the Hotel in Bethlehem and Preaches from the
Ruins of Anne's House. 370
75. Jesus and the Shepherds Elias, Levi and Joseph. 378
76. Jesus at Juttah with the Shepherd Isaac. 383
77. Jesus at Hebron. Zacharias' House. Aglae. 391
78. Jesus at Kerioth. Death of Old Saul. 397
79. Jesus on His Way Rack Stops with the Shepherds near Hebron. 407
80. Jesus Returns to the Mountain Where He Fasted and to the
Rock of Temptation. 412
81. At the Jordan Ford. Meeting with the Shepherds John, Matthias and Simeon. 422
82. Judas Iscariot Tells of how He Sold Aglae's Jewels to Diomedes. 426
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83. Jesus Cries on account of Judas and Simon Zealot Comforts Him. 432
84. Jesus Meets Lazarus at Bethany. 437
85. Jesus Goes Back to Jerusalem, and Listens to Judas Iscariot in the Temple
and then Goes to Gethsemane. 442
86. Jesus Speaks to the Soldier Alexander at the Fish Gate. 447
87. Jesus and Isaac near Doco. Departure towards Esdraelon. 451
Jesus with the Shepherd Jonah in the Plain of Esdraelon. 454
89. Return to Nazareth after Leaving Jonah. 458
90. The Next Day in the House in Nazareth. 464
91. Jesus' Lesson to His Disciples in the Olive-Grove. 469
92. Jesus' Lesson to His Disciples near His Home. 472
93. The Lesson to the Disciples in the Presence of the Most Holy Virgin
in the Garden in Nazareth. 476
94. Cure of the Beauty of Korazim. Sermon in the Synagogue at Capernaum. 481
95. James of Alphaeus Is Received among the Disciples. Jesus Preaches
near Matthew's Customs Bench. 487
96. Jesus Preaches to the Crowd at Bethsaida. 493
97. The Call of Matthew. 498
98. Jesus on the Lake of Tiberias. Lesson to His Disciples near the Same Town. 504
99. Jesus Looks for Jonathan in the House of Chuza at Tiberias. 512
100. Jesus in the House of His Uncle Alphaeus and then at His Own Home. 517 *
101. Jesus Questions His Mother about His Disciples. 526
102. Cure of Johanna of Chuza near Cana. 527
103. Jesus on Lebanon with the Shepherds Benjamin and Daniel. 534
104. Jesus in the Sea-Town Receives Letters Concerning Jonah. 538
105. Jesus Makes Peace with His Cousin Simon in the House of Mary
of Alphaeus. 545
106. Jesus Is Driven Out of Nazareth and He Comforts His Mother.
Reflections on Four Contemplations. 549
107. Jesus in the House of Johanna of Chuza with His Mother. 554
108. Jesus at the Vintage in the House of Anne. Miracle of a Paralytic Child. 556
109. Jesus at Doras' House. Death of Jonah. 561
110. Jesus in the House of Jacob near Lake Merom. 573
111. Return to the Jordan Ford near Jericho. 578
112. Jesus in the House of Lazarus. Martha Speaks of the Magdalene. 582
113. In Lazarus' House Again after the Tabernacles. Invitation of Joseph
of Arimathea. 588
114. Jesus Meets Gamaliel at the Banquet of Joseph of Arimathea. 589
115. Cure of the Little Dying Boy. The Soldier Alexander. Intimation to Jesus. 597
116. Jesus Speaks to Nicodemus, at Night, at Gethsemane. 601
117. Jesus at Lazarus' House Before Going to the «Clear Water ». 610
118. Jesus at the «Clear Water ». Preliminaries for Life in Common
with the Disciples. 614
119. Jesus at the «Clear Water »: «I am the Lord Your God ». 620
120. Jesus at the «Clear Water »: «You shall have no gods in My Presence ». 627 *
121. Jesus at the «Clear Water »: «You shall not take My Name in vain ». 631
122. Jesus at the «Clear Water »: «Honour Your Father and Your Mother ». 638
123. Jesus at the «Clear Water »: «You Shall Not Fornicate ». 647
124. The «Veiled Woman » at the «Clear Water ». 654
125. Jesus at the «Clear Water »: «Observe Holy Days ». 658
126. Jesus at the «Clear Water »: «You Shall Not Kill ». Death of Doras. 662

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127. Jesus at the «Clear Water »: «Do Not Put the Lord Your God to the Test ».
The Three Disciples of the Baptist. 669
128. Jesus at the «Clear Water »: «You Shall Not Covet Your Neighbour's Wife ». 674
129. Jesus at the «Clear Water ». He Cures the Mad Roman and Speaks to
the Romans. 679
130. Jesus at the «Clear Water »: «You Shall Not Bear False Witness ». 685
131. Jesus at the «Clear Water »: «You Shall Not Covet What Belongs
to Your Neighbour » 692
132. Jesus at the «Clear Water ». Closure. 695
133. Jesus Leaves the «Clear Water » and Goes towards Bethany. 701
134. Cure of Jerusa, the Woman of Doco Afflicted with Cancer. 709
135. At Bethany in the House of Simon Zealot. 712
136. The Feast of Dedication in Lazarus' House with the Shepherds. 719
137. Return to the «Clear Water ». 729
138. A New Disciple. Departure for Galilee. 735
139. On the Mountains near Emmaus. 738
140. In the House of Cleopas, the Head of the Synagogue.

101. Jesus Questions His Mother about His Disciples.

The evening of 13th February 1944.

About two hours after the above vision, I now see the house of Nazareth. I recognise the room of the
farewell, open on to the little kitchen garden, where the plants are all covered with leaves.
Jesus is with Mary. They are sitting beside each other on the stone bench set against the wall. It looks as if
they have already had their supper and that Mother and Son are taking delight in a sweet conversation, while
the others have already withdrawn, if there are other people, as I do not see anybody. My internal voice
informs me that it is one of the first times that Jesus goes back to Nazareth after His Baptism, His fasting in
the desert and above all, after the formation of the apostolic college. He tells His Mother of His first days of
evangelization, and the first hearts He conquered.
Mary is hanging on the words of Her Jesus. Mary is thinner and paler, as if She had suffered during this
period of time. Two dark shadows have formed under Her eyes, as if She had been crying and worrying a
great deal. But now She is happy and smiling. She smiles caressing Her Jesus' hand. She is happy to have
Him there, talking heart to heart with Him in the silence of the oncoming evening.
It must be summer time, because the fig tree already has its first ripe fruits, which stretch out as far as the
house and Jesus, standing up, picks some and gives the best ones to His Mother, peeling them carefully and
offering them in the crown of skins pulled down inside out, as if they were white buds streaked in red,
amidst a corolla of petals white inside and violet outside. He offers them in the palm of His hand and smiles
seeing that His Mother relishes them.
Then He asks Her point blank: ｫMother, have You seen the disciples? What do You think of them?ｻ
Mary, Who is about to put a third fig to Her mouth, starts, withholds Her hand, lifts Her head and looks at
Jesus.
ｫWhat do You think of them now that I have shown them all to You?ｻ urges Jesus.
ｫI think that they love You and that You will get much out of them. John... Love John, as You know how to
love. He is an angel. I do not worry when I think that he is with You. Peter, too... is good. Somewhat harder,
because he is older, but sincere and convinced. And his brother, too. They love You as best as they can, just
now. Later, they will love You more. Also our cousins, now that they are convinced, will be faithful to You.
But the man from Kerioth... I do not like him, Son. His eye is not crystal-clear and his heart even less so. He
frightens Me.ｻ

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ｫHe is full of respect for You. ｻ
ｫToo much respect. He is full of respect also for You. But not for You, the Master; for You the future King,
from Whom he hopes to receive wealth and glory. He was a nobody, just a little more than the others at
Kerioth. He hopes to play an important role at Your side and... Oh! Jesus! I do not want to be uncharitable,
but I think, even if I do not want to believe it, that in case You should disappoint him, he will not hesitate to
take Your place, or endeavour to do so. He is ambitious, greedy and vicious. He is more suitable to be the
courtier of a worldly king, than Your apostle, My Son. He frightens Me!ｻ And the Mother looks at Jesus
with two eyes full of dismay in Her pale face.
Jesus sighs. He ponders. He looks at His Mother. He smiles to encourage Her. ｫ Also that is needed,
Mother. If it were not he, it would be someone else. My College must represent the world, and in the world
they are not all angels, neither are they all of the same character as Peter and Andrew. If I chose everything
perfect, how could the poor diseased souls dare hope to become My disciples? I have come to save what is
lost, Mother. John is saved as he is. But how many are not! ｻ
ｫI am not afraid of Levi. He redeemed himself because he wanted to. He forsook his sin and his customs
desk and acquired a new soul to come with You. But Judas of Kerioth did not. On the contrary, pride is
becoming more and more the master of his ugly old soul. But You already know that, Son. Why do You ask
Me? I can but pray and cry for You. You are the Master. Also of Your poor Mother.ｻ
The vision ends here.

102. Cure of Johanna of Chuza near Cana.

8th February 1945.

The disciples are having their supper in Joseph's large workshop. The big bench serves as a table, on which
there is everything that is needed. But I see that the workshop is used also as a dormitory. The other two
carpenter's benches have been changed into beds by placing mats on them, and little low beds (mats on
hurdles) have been placed along the walls. The apostles are speaking to one another and to the Master.
ｫSo You are really going up to Lebanon?ｻ asks the Iscariot.
ｫI never promise what I am not going to keep. In this case I promised twice: the shepherds and Johanna of
Chuza's nurse. I have waited for five days as I told her, and I have added today for prudence' sake. But now I
am going. We shall start as soon as the moon rises. It will be a long way even if we go by boat as far as
Bethsaida. But I want My heart to rejoice, greeting also Benjamin and Daniel. You have seen what souls the
shepherds have. Oh! It is well worthwhile going to honour them, because not even God lowers Himself by
honouring one of His servants, on the contrary He increases His justice.ｻ
ｫIn this heat? Watch what You are doing. I am telling You for Your own sake.ｻ
ｫNights are already less sultry. The sun will be in Leo only for a short time now, and the storms are
mitigating the heat. And I tell you once again. I am not compelling anyone to come. Everything must be
spontaneous in Me and around Me. If you have business to attend to, or if you feel tired, stay here. We will
meet later.ｻ
ｫWell, You said so. I have to attend to some family matters. Vintage time is near and my mother asked me
to see certain friends... You know, I am the head of the family, after all. I mean: I am the man in the
family.ｻ
Peter grumbles: ｫIt is a good thing that he remembers that a mother always comes first after a father.ｻ
Judas, whether he does not hear or he does not want to hear, shows no sign that he has heard the grumbling,
which in any case Jesus checks by casting a glance, while James of Zebedee, who is sitting near Peter, gives
a tug at his tunic to make him keep quiet.
ｫ You may go, Judas. Nay, you must go. We must never be wanting in obedience to our mothers.ｻ
ｫWell, I will go at once, if You allow me. I will be at Nain in time to find accommodation. Goodbye,
Master. Goodbye, friends.ｻ
ｫBe the friend of peace and deserve always to have God with you. Goodbye ｻ says Jesus, whereas the
others say goodbye all together.
There is not much grief at seeing him depart, on the contrary... Peter, perhaps because he is afraid that he
may change his mind, helps him to tie the straps of his bag and to sling it across his back, he takes him to
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the door of the workshop, which is already open like the other door opening on to the kitchen garden,
obviously to ventilate the sultry room after a very hot day. He remains at the door looking at Judas going
away, and when he sees that he is really departing, he makes a gesture of joy and of ironical farewell and
comes back in rubbing his hands. He says nothing... but has already said everything. Some of the disciples
who have been watching, laugh up their sleeves.
But Jesus does not notice them, because He is scanning the face of His cousin James, who has blushed and
looks grave, and has stopped eating his olives. He asks him: ｫWhat is the matter?ｻ
ｫYou said: "We must not lack obedience to our mother..." What about us, then?ｻ
ｫ Have no scruples. As a general rule that is how one must behave. When one is but a man and a child of
the same flesh. But not when one has taken another nature and a different paternity. Such higher paternity is
to be followed in its orders and desires. Judas came before you and Matthew... but he is still so far behind.
He must form, and he will do so very slowly. You must all be charitable to him, you, too, Peter, be
charitable! I understand... but I say to you: be charitable. To tolerate bothersome people is not an easy virtue.
Make use of it.ｻ
ｫYes, Master... But when I see him so... so... Well, be quiet, Peter, because in any case He understands... I
seem to be a sail too taut because of the wind... I creak under the stress, and something always breaks within
me... But You know, or rather, You do not know because You are worth nothing as a boatman, so I tell You,
if all the sheets of a sail snap because of excessive tension, I can assure You that the sail gives the stupid
boatman such a slap, that it stuns him... Now I feel that... I risk having all the sheets broken... and then... It is
better, yes, if now and again he goes away. So the sail droops because of lack of wind and I have time to
reinforce the sheets.ｻ
Jesus smiles and shakes His head, pitying the just and fiery Peter.
A loud noise of iron shodhooves and the shouting of children is heard in the street. ｫHe is here! He is here!
Stop, man.ｻ And before Jesus and the disciples become aware of what is happening, the dark body of a
horse steaming with sweat appears before the door, a horseman dismounts, dashes in and prostrates himself
at Jesus' feet, kissing them with veneration.
They all look at him quite amazed. ｫWho are you? What do you want?ｻ
ｫI am Jonathan.ｻ
Joseph responds with a cry: as, sitting behind the high bench, and, because of the flashing arrival, it had
been impossible for him to recognise his friend. The shepherd rushes toward the prostrated man: ｫYou, it is
you!...ｻ
ｫYes. I am worshipping my beloved Lord! Thirty years of hope, oh! What a long wait! Here: those years
have now blossomed like the flower of a solitary agave, all of a sudden, in a blissful ecstasy, even more
blissful than the one of long ago! Oh! My Saviour!ｻ
Women, children and some men, amongst whom also good Alphaeus of Sarah, still holding a piece of bread
and cheese in his hand, gather at the door and even inside the large room.
ｫStand up, Jonathan. I was about to come and look for you, Benjamin and Daniel...ｻ
ｫI know...ｻ
ｫStand up, that I may give you the kiss that I gave your friends.ｻ Jesus forces him to stand up and kisses
him.
ｫI knowｻ repeats the robust old man, who is well preserved and well dressed. ｫ I know. She was right. It
was not the delirium of a dying person! Oh! Lord God! How a soul hears and perceives You, when You call
it!ｻ Jonathan is moved.
But he recovers. He does not waste time. Full of adoration and yet active, he comes to the point. ｫ Jesus,
our Saviour and Messiah, I have come to beg You to come with me. I have spoken to Esther and she told
me... But earlier, Johanna had spoken to You and she told me... oh! do not laugh at a happy man, you who
hear me, for I am happy and yet distressed, until I hear You say "I will come". You know that I was
travelling with my dying mistress. What a journey! It was quite good from Tiberias to Bethsaida. But after
we left the boat and took a wagon, although I had fitted it out as well as I could, it was a torture. We
travelled slowly, by night, but she suffered. At Caesarea Philippi she was on the point of death, vomiting
blood. We stopped... The third morning, seven days ago, she sent for me. She was so pale and exhausted,

8
that she looked as if she were already dead. But when I called her, she opened her mild eyes, like those of a
dying gazelle and smiled at me. With her little ice-cold hand she beckoned me to bend down, her voice
being so weak, and she said to me: "Jonathan, take me home. But at once". Her effort in giving the order
was so great that, although she is always more gentle than a good little child, her cheeks turned scarlet and
for a moment her eyes brightened up. She continued: "I dreamed of my house at Tiberias. There was in it
One Whose face was like a star, He was tall, fair-haired, His eyes were as blue as the sky and His voice
sweeter than the sound of a harp. He was saying to me: 'I am the Life. Come. Come back. I am waiting for
you to give you it'. I want to go". I said: "My mistress! You cannot! You are not well! When you are better,
we will see". I thought it was the delirium of a dying person. But she was weeping and then... - oh! it is the
first time she said so during the six years that she had been my mistress, and she even sat up in her anger,
whereas before she could not move - and then she said to me: "Servant, I want to go. I am your mistress.
Obey!" and she then fell back vomiting blood. I thought she was dying... and I said: "Let us make her happy.
She will die one way or the other!... I will feel no remorse for displeasing her at the end, after pleasing her
all the time". What a journey! She would not rest except in the morning between the third and the sixth
hour. I wore the horses out to come quickly. We arrived at Tiberias today at the ninth hour... And Esther told
me... I then understood that it was You Who had called her. Because that was the hour and the day You
promised Esther a miracle and You appeared to the soul of my mistress. She wanted to start again
immediately after the ninth hour and she sent me on first... Oh! come, my Saviour!ｻ
ｫI will come at once. Faith deserves a reward. Who wants Me, will have Me. Let us go.ｻ
ｫWait. I threw a purse of money to a young man, saying: "Three, five, as many donkeys as you like, if you
have no horses, and at once, at Jesus' house". They are about to come. We will be quicker. I hope to meet
her near Cana. If at least...ｻ
ｫWhat, Jonathan?ｻ
ｫIf at least she is alive...ｻ
ｫShe is alive. But even if she were dead, I am the Life. Here is My Mother.ｻ
The Virgin, Who has obviously been informed by someone, is hastening towards them followed by Mary of
Alphaeus. ｫSon, are You going away?ｻ
ｫYes, Mother. I am going with Jonathan. He has come. I knew I would be able to let You see him. That is
why I waited an extra day.ｻ
Jonathan at first has bowed down deeply, with his arms crossed over his chest, he now kneels down and
lightly lifts the hem of Mary's dress and kisses it saying: ｫI salute the Mother of my Lord!ｻ
Alphaeus of Sarah says to the curious onlookers: ｫOh! What do you say? Should we not be ashamed of
being the only faithless ones?ｻ
The noise of many hooves is heard in the street. It is from the little donkeys. I think that all the donkeys in
Nazareth are there, and they are so many that they would be sufficient for a squadron. While Jonathan picks
the best and negotiates, paying without haggling over the price, and takes two Nazarenes with some more
donkeys, lest some might lose a shoe, and that the two men might bring back all the braying herd of
donkeys, Mary and the other Mary help to close the haversacks and sacks.
Mary of Alphaeus says to her sons: ｫI will leave your beds here. And I will caress them... And I will feel as
if I were caressing you. Be good, worthy of Jesus, sons,... and I... I will be happy...ｻ and in the meantime
she is shedding large tears.
Mary instead helps Jesus and caresses Him lovingly, giving Him much advice and many messages for the
other two Lebanese shepherds, because Jesus states that He will not be back until He finds them.
They depart. It is evening and the first quarter of the moon is rising now. Jesus is in front with Jonathan, all
the others are behind. While they are in town they go at a walking pace, because of the people gathering
near them. But as soon as they are out, they break into a gallop, while the caravan resounds with hooves and
harness bells.
ｫShe is in the wagon with Estherｻ explains Jonathan. ｫOh! My mistress! What a joy to make you happy!
To bring Jesus to you! Oh! my Lord! To have You here, beside me! To have You! Your face is really like
the star that she saw and Your hair is fair and Your eyes like the sky and Your voice is really the sound of a
harp... oh! But Your Mother! Will You bring Her to my mistress, one day?ｻ

9
ｫYour mistress will come to Her. They will be friends.ｻ
ｫWill they? Oh!... Yes, she can. Johanna is married and had a child. But her soul is as pure as a
virgin's. She can be near the blessed Mary.ｻ
Jesus turns round because of a hearty laugh from John, which all the others imitate.
ｫIt's me, Master, that makes them laugh. On the boat I am more steady than a cat... but here! I am like a
barrel left loose on the deck of a boat caught in a southwest windｻ says Peter.
Jesus smiles and encourages him, promising that the trot will soon be over.
ｫOh! It's all right. It's all right if the boys laugh. Let us go and make this good woman happy.ｻ
Jesus turns round again at another outburst of laughter. Peter exclaims: ｫ No, I will not tell You that one,
Master. But why not? Yes, I will tell You. I was saying "Our prime minister will bite his fingers when he
finds out that he was absent when there was the possibility of strutting about with a lady of rank". And they
laugh. But it is so. I am sure that if he had imagined that, he would not have had paternal vineyards to look
after.ｻ
Jesus does not reply.
The road is quickly covered by the well-fed little donkeys. Cana is soon left behind them in the clear
moonlight.
ｫIf You allow me, I will go ahead. I will stop the wagon. Its jolting makes her suffer so much.ｻ
ｫYes, go.ｻ
Jonathan puts his horse to the gallop.
They go a long way in the moonlight. Then they meet the dark shape of a large covered wagon, stopped at
the roadside. Jesus spurs His donkey which breaks into a canter. He is now near the wagon and dismounts.
ｫThe Messiah!ｻ announces Jonathan.
The old nurse rushes out of the wagon on to the road, and then throws herself down on to the dust. ｫOh!
save her! She is dying. ｻ
ｫHere I am.ｻ And Jesus climbs into the wagon, where there is a pile of cushions and a slender body on
them. There is a little lamp in a corner, and cups and amphoras. A young maid servant is weeping, while
wiping the cold perspiration from the dying woman. Jonathan hastens in with one of the wagon lamps.
Jesus bends over the unconscious woman, who is really dying. There is no difference between the whiteness
of her linen dress and the palor, which is even faintly bluish, of her emaciated hands and face. Only her
thick eyebrows and her very dark long eyelashes give some colour to the snow white face. Her cheeks do not
even have the ominous bright scarlet of consumptives. Her lips are only a shade of violet pink, half open
while breathing is difficult.
Jesus kneels down beside her and watches her. The nurse takes her hand and calls her. But her soul, already
on the threshold of death, does not give any response.
The disciples have arrived with the two young men from Nazareth and they gather round the wagon.
Jesus lays His hand on the forehead of the dying woman, who for one instant opens her dimmed hazy eyes
and then closes them again.
ｫShe no longer hearsｻ moans the nurse. And she cries louder.
Jesus makes a gesture: ｫMother, she will hear. Have faith.ｻ He then calls her: ｫJohanna! Johanna! It is I! I
am calling you. I am the Life. Look at Me, Johanna.ｻ
The dying woman opens her large dark eyes with a brighter glance and looks at the face bending over her.
She shows joy and smiles. She slowly moves her lips forming a word which, however, has no sound.
ｫYes. It is I. You have come and I have come. To save you. Can you have faith in Me?ｻ
The dying woman nods her head. All her vitality and all the words which she is unable to express otherwise
are concentrated in her glance.
ｫWell (Jesus, while still kneeling down and holding His left hand on her forehead, straightens Himself up,
exerting His Heavenly power) Well: I want it. Be cured. Rise.ｻ He removes His hand and stands up.
A fraction of a second, then Johanna of Chuza, without any help whatsoever, sits up, gives a cry and throws
herself at Jesus' feet, calling in a loud happy voice: ｫOh! To love You, my Life. For ever! Yours! For ever
Yours! Nurse! Jonathan! I am cured! Oh! Quick! Run and tell Chuza. That he may come to adore the Lord!
Oh! bless me again, and again, and again! Oh! My Saviour.ｻ She weeps and smiles, kissing Jesus' tunic and

10
hands.
ｫYes, I bless you. What else shall I do for you?ｻ
ｫNothing, Lord. Beside loving me and allowing me to love You.ｻ
ｫAnd would you not like to have a child?ｻ
ｫOh! a child!... Do as You please, Lord. I leave everything to You: my past, my present and my future. I
owe You everything and I give You everything. Give to Your servant, what You know is better.ｻ
ｫEternal life then. Be happy. God loves you. I am going. I bless you, and I bless you all.ｻ
ｫNo, my Lord. Stop in my house, which now is, oh! is really a flowery rose-garden. Allow me to go back in
there with You... Oh! How happy I am!ｻ
ｫI will come. But I have My disciples.ｻ
ｫMy brothers, Lord. Johanna will have for them, as for You, food and drinks and every refreshment. Make
me happy!ｻ
ｫLet us go. Send the donkeys back and follow us on foot. The road is a short one now. We shall go slowly,
that you may follow us. Goodbye, Ishmael and Aser. Give My greetings to My Mother, on My behalf, and to
My friends. ｻ
The two Nazarenes, dumbfounded, depart with their braying donkeys, whereas the wagon starts its return
journey, this time with its load of joy. The disciples follow in group making their comments.
And it all ends.

103. Jesus on Lebanon with the Shepherds Benjamin and Daniel.

10th February 1945.

Jesus is walking beside Jonathan along a green shady embankment. The apostles are behind talking among
themselves. But Peter parts from them and comes forward and, as frank as usual, he asks Jonathan: ｫBut
was the road to Caesarea Philippi not quicker? We have taken this one... but when will we arrive? You went
that way with your mistress, didn't you?ｻ
ｫWith an invalid I dared everything. But you must realise that I am a courtier of Antipas, and Philip after
that filthy incest, does not approve of Herod's courtiers... You know, I am not afraid for myself. But I do not
want to cause trouble to you, and particularly to the Master, and make enemies for you. In Philip's
Tetrarchy, the Word is required, as in Antipas'... and if they hate you, how will you manage? On your way
back you can come this way, if you prefer to do so.ｻ
ｫI praise your prudence, Jonathan. But coming back I intend passing through the Phoenician region ｻ says
Jesus.
ｫThey are enveloped in the darkness of errors.ｻ
ｫI will call at the border areas to remind them that there is a Light.ｻ
ｫDo you think that Philip would revenge himself on a servant for the wrong he received from his brother?ｻ
ｫYes, Peter. They are both alike. They are dominated by the lowest instincts and they make no distinction.
They seem animals, not men, believe me.ｻ
ｫAnd yet he should be fond of us, that is, of Him, a relative of John's. John after all spoke in his name and
on his behalf, when he spoke in the name of God.ｻ
ｫ He would not even ask you where you came from or who you are. If you were seen with me, if he
recognised me or if I was pointed out to him by an enemy of Antipas' household as the servant of his
Procurator, you would be imprisoned at once. If you knew how much mud there is behind purple dresses!
Revenge, abuse of power, betrayals, lust, thefts are the nourishment of their souls. Souls?... Well! Let us say
so. I think they have no souls any longer. You can see. It ended well. But why was John freed? Because of a
feud between two court officials. One, to get rid of the other, who was so favoured by Antipas that John was
placed in his custody, for a sum of money opened the jail at night... I think he must have dulled his rival's
senses with a drugged wine, and the following morning... the poor fellow was beheaded in place of the
Baptist who had escaped. Disgusting, I tell you.ｻ
ｫAnd your master stays there? He seems to be a good man.ｻ
11
ｫHe is. But he cannot do otherwise. His father and his grandfather were at the court of Herod the Great, and
the son was compelled to be there. He does not approve. But he can only keep his wife away from that
vicious court.ｻ
ｫCould he not say: "You are disgusting" and go away?ｻ
ｫHe could. But, although he is so good, he is not yet capable of such a deed. It would almost certainly mean
death. And who is anxious to die because of his soul's honesty, elevated to the highest degree? A saint like
the Baptist. But we, poor people!ｻ
Jesus, Who has allowed them to speak among themselves, comes in: ｫBefore long in all known areas of the
world the saints happy to die for such fidelity to Grace and for the love of God will be as thick as flowers on
a meadow in April.ｻ
ｫReally? Oh! I would like to greet those saints and say to them: "Pray for poor Simon of Jonas! ".ｻ says
Peter.
Jesus looks steadfastly at him smiling.
ｫWhy are You looking at me like that?ｻ
ｫBecause you will see them as their assistant and you will see them when they assist you.
ｫFor what, Lord?ｻ
ｫTo become the Stone consecrated by the Sacrifice, on which My Testimony will be celebrated and built.ｻ
ｫI do not understand You.ｻ
ｫYou will understand.ｻ
The other disciples, who have come near and have listened, talk among themselves.
Jesus turns round: ｫI solemnly tell you that you will all be tested by one torture or another. For the time
being it is the renunciation of comfort, of affections, of material profit. Afterwards it will be a greater and
greater thing, up to the sublime thing that will crown you with an immortal diadem. Be faithful. And you
will all be faithful. And that is what you will have.ｻ
ｫWill the Jews, the Sanhedrin, perhaps kill us because of our love for You?ｻ
ｫJerusalem washes the thresholds of its Temple in the blood of its Prophets and its Saints. But also the
world is waiting to be washed... There are many temples of dreadful gods. They will in future be temples of
the true God, and the leprosy of paganism will be cleansed by the lustral water made with the blood of
martyrs.ｻ
ｫOh! Most High God! Lord! Master! I am not worthy of so much! I am so weak! Afraid of evil! Oh! Lord!...
Either send away Your useless servant or give me strength. I would not like to make You cut a poor figure
with my cowardice. ｻ Peter has thrown himself at the feet of the Master and He really implores Him with
heartfelt words.
ｫStand up, My dear Peter. Do not be afraid. You still have a long way to go... and the time will come when
you will wish only to endure your final trial. And then you will have everything, both from Heaven and from
yourself. I will be looking at you full of admiration.ｻ
ｫYou say so... and I believe it. But I am such a poor man!ｻ
They resume walking...
... and after a long interruption I begin to see again when they have already left the plain to climb up a very
high wooded mountain. Probably it is not even the same day, because whilst then it was a very torrid
morning, now a beautiful dawn causes tiny liquid diamonds to sparkle on all the stems. Endless coniferous
forests have been left behind and they dominate from their height and like green cathedrals they receive the
untiring pilgrims amongst their columns.
Lebanon is really a wonderful mountain chain. I do not know whether the whole chain is Lebanon or only
this mountain. I know that I can see well-wooded mountain ranges rise in a high tangle of ridges and cliffs,
of valleys and plateaux, along which torrents like light green-blue silver ribbons flow and then fall into the
valleys. All kinds of birds fill the forests of conifers with their warblings and their flights, and the morning
air is perfumed with the fragrance of resins. On turning towards the valley, or rather, to the west, one can
see the wide, quiet, solemn sea, so pleasant to the view, and the coast, which stretches northwards and
southwards, with its towns, its harbours, and the few water-courses, that flow into the sea, and look like
shiny commas on the arid land, so scarce is their water which the summer sun dries up, and seem yellowish

12
finger marks on the blue sea.
ｫThese are lovely places ｻ remarks Peter.
ｫAnd it is not even very warm ｻ says Simon.
ｫThe sun is no trouble because of the trees ｻ adds Matthew.
ｫDid they get the Temple cedars here?ｻ asks John.
ｫ Yes, they did. These forests yield the most beautiful wood. Daniel and Benjamin's master owns many of
them as well as large herds. They saw the trunks on the spot and then carry them down to the valley along
those gullies or by strength of arms. It is hard work when the trunks are to be used totally undressed, as was
so in the case of the Temple. But he pays well and many work for him. And then he is quite good. He is not
like cruel Doras. Poor Jonah!ｻ replies Jonathan.
ｫWhy are his servants almost slaves? When I said to Jonah: "Leave him in the lurch and come with us.
Simon of Jonas will always have some bread for you"; he replied: "I cannot, unless I redeem myself". What
is the situation?ｻ
ｫDoras, and he is not the only one in Israel, is used to doing this: when he sees a good servant, he makes
him a slave by subtle cunning. He debits him with false amounts of money, which the poor man cannot pay,
and when the sum is sufficient he says: "You are my slave by debt".ｻ
ｫOh! What a shame! And he is a Pharisee!ｻ
ｫYes, as long as Jonah had some savings, he was able to pay... then... one year it was a hailstorm, the next
year the drought. Corn and vineyards yielded little and Doras multiplied the damage by ten, and by ten
again... Then Jonah was taken ill through excessive fatigue. And Doras lent him the money for the cure, but
he exacted repayment twelve to one, and as Jonah could not pay, he added it to the rest. In short: after a few
years there was a debt that made him a slave. And he will not let him go... He will always find other excuses
and other debts...ｻ Jonathan is sad thinking of his friend.
ｫAnd could your master not...ｻ
ｫWhat? Have him treated as a human being? And who would go against the Pharisees? Doras is one of the
most powerful ones; I think that he is also a relative of the High Priest... At least so they say. Once, when he
was thrashed almost to death, and I was told, I wept so much that Chuza said to me: "I will redeem him to
make you happy". But Doras, laughed in his face and would not accept anything. Eh! That rascal... He owns
the best fields in Israel... but I can assure You: they are fertilised by the blood and tears of his servants.ｻ
Jesus looks at the Zealot and the Zealot looks at Him. They are both grieved.
ｫAnd is Daniel's master good?ｻ
ｫAt least he is human. He exacts, but he does not oppress. And, as the shepherds are honest, he treats them
with affection. They are responsible for the pastures. He knows and respects me because I am a servant of
Chuza... and I may be useful to him... But why, my Lord, is man so selfish?ｻ
ｫ Because love was strangled in the earthly Paradise. But I have come to loosen the noose and to give life
back to love.ｻ
ｫHere we are in Elisha's estate. The pastures are still far away. But at this time the sheep are almost always
in the folds because of the heat. I'll go and see if they are there.ｻ And Jonathan runs away.
He comes back after some time with two robust grey-haired herdsmen, who really dash down the slope to
meet Jesus.
ｫPeace to you.ｻ
ｫOh! Oh! Our Baby of Bethlehem!ｻ says one, and the other: ｫMay the peace of God, which has come to
us, be blessed.ｻ The two men are prone on the grass. The reverence paid to an altar is not so deep as the
present reverence for the Master.
ｫStand up. I reciprocate your blessing, and I am happy to do so because it descends joyfully on whoever is
worthy of it.ｻ
ｫOh! We worthy!ｻ
ｫYes, you are, because you have always been faithful.ｻ
ｫAnd who would not have been faithful? Who can forget that hour? Who can say: "It is not true what we
saw?" Who can forget that You smiled at us for months, when we used to call You in the evening, when we
came back with our sheep and you clapped your hands to the sound of our pipes?... Do you remember,

13
Daniel? Almost always dressed in white in Your Mother's arms, You appeared to us in the sun-rays in
Anne's meadow or at the window, and You looked like a flower on Your Mother's snow-white dress.ｻ
ｫAnd once You came, taking Your first steps, to caress a little lamb, not quite so curly as You! How happy
You were! And we did not know what to do with our rustic persons. We would have liked to be angels to be
less coarse...ｻ
ｫOh! My friends. I saw your hearts, and I still see them now.ｻ
ｫAnd You smile at us as You did then!ｻ
ｫAnd You came here to see us poor shepherds!ｻ
ｫTo My friends. I am happy now. I have found you all and I will not lose you any more. Can you give
hospitality to the Son of man and His friends?ｻ
ｫOh! Lord! Do You have to ask us? We are not short of bread and milk. But if we had only one morsel, we
would give it to You, to have You here with us. Is that right, Benjamin?ｻ
ｫWe would give You our hearts as food, our longed for Lord!ｻ
ｫLet us go then. We shall speak of God...ｻ
ｫAnd of Your relatives, Lord. Joseph, so good! Mary... Oh! She: the Mother! See, look at this dewy
narcissus. It is beautiful and pure and its top is like a diamond star. But She... Oh! this flower is insignificant
when compared to the Mother! A smile of Hers was purification, to meet Her was a feast, to listen to Her
was to be sanctified. Do you remember Her words, too, Benjamin?ｻ
ｫYes, and I can repeat them for you. Because what She told us, during the months we could listen to Her, is
written here (and he strikes his chest). It is the page of our wisdom. And we also understand it, because it is
a word of love. And love... oh! love is understood by everybody! Come, Lord, come in and bless our happy
abode.ｻ
They enter a room near the large fold and it all ends.

104. Jesus in the Sea-Town Receives Letters Concerning Jonah.

11th February 1945.

Jesus is in the beautiful sea-town, which on the map has a natural wide and well-protected gulf, with a
capacity for taking many ships, made even safer by a massive harbour wall. It must be used also a great deal
for military purposes, because I see Roman triremes with soldiers on board. They are disembarking, though I
do not know whether because they are relieving troops or because they are reinforcing the garrison. The
harbour, that is the port, vaguely reminds me of Naples, dominated by the Vesuvian mountains.
Jesus is sitting in a humble house near the harbour. It is certainly the house of fishermen, probably friends of
Peter and John, because I see that they feel at their ease in the house and with its residents. I do not see the
shepherd Joseph. And, of course, 1 do not see the Iscariot, still absent. Jesus is speaking informally to the
members of the family and to other people who have come to listen to Him. But it is not a real sermon. His
words are full of advice and comfort, such as only He can give.
Andrew comes in, he seems to have gone out on some errand, because he also has some loaves in his hands.
He blushes when drawing near, because it must be a real torture for him to attract people's attention to
himself, and rather than speak he whispers: ｫMaster, could You come with me? There... there is some good
to be done. But only You can do it.ｻ
Jesus gets up without even asking what is the good.
But Peter asks: ｫWhere are you taking Him? He is so tired. It is supper time. They can wait for Him till
tomorrow.ｻ
ｫNo... it must be done at once. It is...ｻ
ｫWhy don't you speak, you frightened gazelle? How can a great big strapping man be like that!... You look
like a little fish caught in the net!ｻ
Andrew blushes even more. Jesus defends him by drawing him to Himself. ｫI like him thus. Leave him
alone. Your brother is like wholesome water. It works noiselessly in the depths, it comes out from the earth
like a very fine stream, but it cures those who go near it. Let us go, Andrew.ｻ
ｫI'm coming, too! I want to see where he takes Youｻ insists Peter. Andrew implores: ｫNo, Master. Only
14
You and I, alone. If there is a crowd it is impossible. It's a matter of love...ｻ
ｫWhat's that? Are you playing the paranymph now?ｻ
Andrew does not reply to his brother. He says to Jesus: ｫA man wants to repudiate his wife and... and I have
spoken. But I am not capable. But if You speak... oh! You will succeed, because the man is not a bad
person. He is... he is... he will tell You.ｻ
Jesus goes out with Andrew without saying anything further.
Peter is somewhat undecided, he then says: ｫI will go. At least I want to see where they go.ｻ And he goes
out, although the others tell him not to do so.
Andrew is about to come out from a narrow thronged street. And Peter follows him. He goes round a little
square full of old women. And Peter follows him. He threads his way through a large door that opens on to a
wide yard surrounded by poor little low houses. I call it a large door because there is an arch. But there is no
door. And Peter follows him. Jesus enters one of the little houses with Andrew. Peter lies in wait outside. A
woman sees him and asks: ｫAre you a relative of Aava? And those two? Have you come to take her away?
ｻ
ｫBe quiet, you cackle of a hen! I am not to be seen.ｻ
To keep a woman quiet! It is a difficult task. And since Peter casts withering glances at her, she goes to chat
with the other old women. Poor Peter is immediately surrounded by a circle of women, boys and also men,
who simply by commanding one another to be silent, make a noise that gives away their presence. Peter is
consumed with anger... but to no avail.
Jesus' full, calm, beautiful voice comes from inside the house, together with the broken voice of a woman
and the hoarse voice of a man. ｫIf she has always been a good wife, why repudiate her? Have you ever
wronged him?ｻ
ｫNo, Master, I swear it! I have loved him like the pupil of my eyeｻ moans the woman.
And the man, sharp and hard: ｫNo. She never wronged me except in being sterile. And I want children. I
don't want God's malediction on my name.ｻ
ｫIt is not your wife's fault, if she is such.ｻ
ｫHe lays the blame on me. On me and my relatives, as if we betrayed...ｻ
ｫWoman, be sincere. Did you know that you were sterile?ｻ
ｫNo. I was and I am like all women. Also the doctor said so. But I am not successful in having children.ｻ
ｫYou can see that she has not betrayed you. She suffers for that, too. Will you answer sincerely, too: if she
were a mother, would you repudiate her?ｻ
ｫNo. I swear it. There is no reason. But the rabbi said so, and also the scribe: "A barren woman is the curse
of God on a house and it is your right and duty to give her a divorce libel and not to vex your virility by
depriving yourself of children". I am doing what the Law states.ｻ
ｫ No. Listen. The Law says: "Do not commit adultery" and you are about to commit it. That is the original
commandment and nothing else. And if on account of the hardness of your hearts Moses granted divorce, it
was to prevent intrigues and concubinages hateful to God. Then your vice expanded more and more Moses'
clause, creating the wicked chains and murderous stones which are the present lot of women, always victims
of your arrogance, of your whims, of your deafness and your blindness to affections. I tell you: it is not legal
to do what you want to do. Your action is an offence to God. Did Abraham perhaps repudiate Sarah? And
Jacob, Rachel? And Elkanah, Anna? And Manoah, his wife? Do you know the Baptizer? You do? Well: was
his mother not sterile up to her old age and then gave birth to the holy man of God, as Manoah's wife gave
birth to Samson, and Anna of Elkanah to Samuel, and Rachel to Joseph, and Sarah to Isaac? To the
husband's continence, to his compassion for his sterile wife, to his fidelity to marriage, God grants a prize,
and a prize celebrated through centuries, as He grants consolation to the weeping sterile women, no longer
sterile nor depressed, but glorious in the exultation of being mothers. You are not allowed to offend her
love. Be just and honest. God will reward you beyond your merit.ｻ
ｫMaster, You are the only one to speak so... I did not know. I asked the doctors and they said to me: "Do
it". But not one word to tell me that God rewards a good deed with gifts. We are in their hands... and they
close our eyes and our hearts with an iron hand. I am not a bad man, Master. Don't be angry with me.ｻ
ｫI am not angry. I feel sorry for you more than I do for this weeping woman. Because her pain will end with

15
her life. Yours will begin then, to last for ever. Think about it.ｻ
ｫNo, it will not begin. I don't want it to begin. Will You swear to me by the God of Abraham that what You
say is the truth?ｻ
ｫI am the Truth and Wisdom. Who believes in Me will have justice, wisdom, love and peace.ｻ
ｫI want to believe You. Yes, I want to believe You. I feel there is something in You which is not in the
others. Well. I will now go to the priest and I will say to him: "I am not going to repudiate her any longer. I
will keep her and I will only ask God to help me to feel less the pain of being childless". Aava: do not cry.
We will ask the Master to come again to keep me good, and you... continue to love me.ｻ
The woman cries louder, because of the contrast between her previous sorrow and her present joy.
Jesus instead smiles. ｫDo not cry. Look at Me. Look at Me, woman.ｻ
She looks up. She looks at His bright face through her tears.
ｫCome here, man. Kneel down beside your wife. I will now bless you and sanctify your union. Listen:
"Lord God of our fathers, Who made Adam with the dust of the soil and gave him Eve as a helpmate, that
they might populate the earth with men, bringing them up in Your holy fear, descend with Your blessing and
Your mercy, open and fecundate the womb that the Enemy had closed to lead them to a double sin of
adultery and despair. Have mercy on these two children, Holy Father, Supreme Creator. Make them happy
and holy. May she be as prolific as a vineyard, and he her protector, as the elm-tree supports the vine.
Descend, o Life, to give life. Descend, o Fire, to inflame. Descend, o Power, to activate. Descend! Grant
them that for the praise feast for the fruitful crops next year they may offer You their living sheaf, their first
born, a son, sacred to You, Eternal Father, Who bless those who hope in You".ｻ Jesus has prayed in a
thundering voice, His hands stretched out over their bowed heads.
The people no longer refrain themselves and they gather together, Peter in front of them all.
ｫStand up. Have faith and be holy.ｻ
ｫOh! Stay, Master!ｻ beg the reconciled couple.
ｫI cannot. I will come back. I will be here very often.ｻ
ｫStay, stay. Speak also to us!ｻ shout the crowd. Jesus blesses but does not stop. He promises only to come
back soon. And He goes to His hospitable house, followed by a small crowd.
ｫInquisitive man: what should I do to you?ｻ He asks Peter on the way.
ｫWhatever You wish. However, I was there...ｻ
They enter the house, they dismiss the crowd that make comments on the words they heard, and they sit
down to supper.
Peter is still inquisitive. ｫMaster, will there really be a son?ｻ
ｫHave you ever seen Me promise things which do not come true? Do you think that I would take the liberty
of using the confidence in the Father to lie and deceive?ｻ
ｫNo... but... Could You do that to all married couples?ｻ
ｫI could. But I do it only where I see that a son can be an incentive to holiness. I do not do it where it would
be a hindrance.ｻ
Peter ruffles his grizzled hair and becomes quiet.
The shepherd Joseph comes in. He is covered in dust like one who has walked a long way.
ｫYou? Why are you here?ｻ asks Jesus after a greeting kiss.
ｫI have some letters for You. Your Mother gave me them and one is from Her. Here they are.ｻ And Joseph
hands Him three small rolls of a kind of thin parchment, tied with a little ribbon. The largest one is also
sealed. The second one has only a knot, the third one shows a broken seal. ｫThis one is from Your
Motherｻ says Joseph, pointing at the one with the knot.
Jesus unfolds it and reads it. First in a low voice and then loud. ｫ"To My beloved Son, peace and blessings.
A messenger from Bethany arrived here at the first hour on the calends of the month of Elul. It was the
shepherd Isaac, to whom I gave the kiss of peace and refreshments in Your name and out of gratitude on my
part. He brought Me these two letters which I am sending on to You, and he told Me that Your friend
Lazarus of Bethany presses You to consent to his request. My beloved Jesus, blessed Son and Lord, I also
have two things to ask You. One is to remind You that You promised Me to call Your poor Mother to
instruct Her in the Word. The other is that You should not come to Nazareth without speaking to Me

16
first".ｻ
Jesus stops all of a sudden, He stands up, and goes towards James and Judas. He embraces them tightly and
ends repeating by heart the words: ｫ"Alphaeus has returned to the bosom of Abraham at the last full moon,
and great was the mourning of the town...".ｻ The two sons weep on Jesus' chest, Who goes on: ｫ"At the
last hour he wanted You. But You were far away. But it is a consolation for Mary, who considers it a sign of
God's forgiveness, and it must give peace also to My nephews". Have you heard? She says so. And She
knows what She is saying.ｻ
ｫGive me the letterｻ implores James.
ｫNo, it would hurt you.ｻ
ｫWhy? What can it say more painful than the death of a father?...ｻ
ｫThat he cursed usｻ sighs Judas.
ｫNo. Not so ｻ says Jesus.
ｫYou say so... not to pierce us. But it is so.ｻ
ｫRead, then.ｻ
And Judas reads: ｫ"Jesus: I beg You, and also Mary begs You; do not come to Nazareth until the mourning
is over. Their love for Alphaeus makes the Nazarenes unfair towards You and Your Mother cries because of
that. Our good friend Alphaeus comforts Me and calms the town. The report by Aser and Ishmael on
Chuza's wife caused a great stir. But Nazareth is now a sea agitated by different winds. I bless You, My Son,
and I ask Your peace and blessing for My soul. Peace to My nephews.
Mother".ｻ
The apostles make their comments and comfort the weeping brothers.
But Peter says: ｫAre You not reading those?ｻ
Jesus nods assent and opens Lazarus' letter. He calls Simon Zealot. They read together, in a comer. They
then open the other roll and read it as well, they discuss between themselves; and I see that the Zealot
endeavours to persuade Jesus about something, but he is not successful.
Jesus, with the rolls in His hand, comes to the centre of the room and says: ｫListen, friends. We are one
family and there are no secrets among us. And if it is compassion to conceal evil, it is justice to make good
known. Listen to what Lazarus of Bethany writes: "To Lord Jesus peace and blessing, and peace and health
to my friend Simon. I received Your letter and, servant as I am, I placed my heart, my speech and all my
means at Your service to make You happy and to have the honour of not being a useless servant. I went to
Doras, to his castle in Judaea, to ask him to sell me his servant Jonah, as You wish. I confess that if I had not
been rerequested by Simon, a faithful friend, on Your behalf, I would not have faced that mocking, cruel,
impious jackal. But for You, my Master and Friend, I feel I can face also Mammon. Because I think that
who works for You, is near You and consequently is protected. And I have certainly been helped, because,
contrary to expectations, I won. The discussion was a hard one and his first refusals humiliating. Three
times I had to bow down to that powerful slave-driver. He then forced me to wait some days. At last here is
the letter. It befits the asp he is. And I almost dare not say to You: - Give in to gain Your ends-, because he
is not worthy to have You. But there is no other way. I accepted on Your behalf and I signed. If I did the
wrong thing, rebuke me. But believe me: I tried to serve You as well as I could. Yesterday a Judaean
disciple of Yours came, stating that he came in Your name to find out whether there was any news to be
taken to You. He said he was Judas of Kerioth. But I preferred to wait for Isaac to send the letter. And I was
surprised that You had sent someone else, since You know that Isaac comes here every Sabbath to rest. I
have nothing else to tell You. Only, kissing Your holy feet, I beg You to bring them to Your servant and
friend Lazarus, as promised by You. Health to Simon. To You, Master and Friend, a kiss of peace and a
prayer for blessing. Lazarus".
And now the other one: "Health to Lazarus. I decided. You will have Jonah for twice the amount. But I
make the following terms and I will not change them for any reason. I want Jonah to finish the harvests of
the year, that is he will be handed over at the moon of Tishri, at the end of the moon. I want Jesus of
Nazareth to come personally to take him, and I will ask Him to enter my house, that I may meet Him. I want
payment immediately after signing the contract. Goodbye.
Doras".ｻ

17
ｫWhat a pest!ｻ shouts Peter. ｫBut who is paying? I wonder how much he wants and we... we are always
without a farthing!ｻ
ｫSimon is paying. To make Me and poor Jonah happy. He is buying only the wreck of a man, who will not
serve him at all. But he gains great merit in Heaven.ｻ
ｫYou? Oh!ｻ They are all surprised. Even Alphaeus' sons forget their sorrow because of their amazement.
ｫIt is he. It is just that it should be known.ｻ
ｫIt would also be just if it were known why Judas Iscariot went to Lazarus. Who sent him? Did You?ｻ
But Jesus does not reply to Peter. He is very grave and pensive. He comes out of His meditation only to say:
ｫGive some refreshment to Joseph and then let us go and rest. I will prepare a reply for Lazarus... Is Isaac
still at Nazareth?ｻ
ｫHe is waiting for me.ｻ
ｫWe shall all go.ｻ
ｫNo. Your Mother says...ｻ They are all in utter confusion.
ｫBe quiet. That is what I want. My Mother speaks with Her loving heart. I judge with My reason. I prefer to
do it while Judas is away. And I want to hold out a friendly hand to My cousins Simon and Joseph, and
mourn with them before the mourning is over. We will then go back to Capernaum, to Gennesaret, that is to
the lake, awaiting the end of the month of Tishri. And we will take the Maries with us. Your mother needs
affection. We will give it to her. And Mine needs peace. I am Her peace.ｻ
ｫDo You think that at Nazareth?...ｻ asks Peter.
ｫI do not think anything.ｻ
ｫOh! Well! Because, if they should hurt Her, or cause Her sorrow!... They will have to deal with me!ｻ says
Peter completely upset.
Jesus caresses him, but He is lost in thought. He is sad, I would say. He then goes between Judas and James
and sits down embracing them to comfort them.
The others speak in low voices not to disturb their sorrow.

105. Jesus Makes Peace with His Cousin Simon in the House of Mary of Alphaeus.
12th February 1945.

The sun is sinking in a bright red sunset, that like a fire about to go out, is becoming deeper and deeper until
it becomes ruby-violet: a beautiful rare hue, that fading slowly, colours all the western sky, until it shades
into the dark cobalt-blue sky, where the east is steadily advancing with its stars and its crescent moon, now
beginning her second phase. Farmers are hastening back to their homes, where spirals of smoke from the
low little houses in Nazareth reveal that fires have already been lit.
Jesus is about to go back to town, and contrary to the opinion of the others, He does not want anyone to go
and inform His Mother. ｫNothing will happen. Why upset Her beforehand?ｻ He says.
He is now in the streets. Some people salute Him, some whisper behind His back, some rudely turn their
backs and slam their doors when the group of the apostles passes by.
Peter's miming is really wonderful. But also the others are somewhat worried. Alphaeus' sons look like two
convicts. They are walking beside Jesus, their heads lowered, but they watch everything and now and again
they look at each other dismayed and concerned for Jesus. The Master, as if nothing were the matter,
reciprocates the greetings with His usual kindness, bends down to caress the children, who in their
simplicity do not side with anybody, and are always the friends of their Jesus, Who is always so affectionate
towards them.
One of them, a fine chubby child, four years old at most, leaves his mother's skirt, runs towards Him and
stretches out his little arms saying: ｫTake me!ｻ And as Jesus satisfies him and picks him up, the child
kisses Him with his lips soiled by the fig he is eating, and then he carries his love to the point of offering a
little morsel of the fig to Jesus saying: ｫTake it! It's good!ｻ Jesus accepts the offering and smiles at being
fed by the budding little man.
Isaac, laden with pitchers, is coming from the fountain. He sees Jesus, lays down the pitchers and shouts: ｫ
Oh! My Lord!ｻ running towards Him. ｫYour Mother has just gone back home. She was at Her
sister-in-law's. But... Have You received the letter?ｻ he asks.
18
ｫThat is why I am here. Do not say anything to Mother for the time being. I am going to Alphaeus' house
first.ｻ
Isaac, wise as he is, replies only: ｫI will obey You ｻ, he takes his pitchers and goes towards the house.
ｫWe are going now. You, My friends, will wait for us here. I will not be long.ｻ
ｫMost certainly not! We shall not enter the mourning house, but we will stay outside over there. Is that
right?ｻ says Peter.
ｫPeter is right. We will remain in the street. But near You.ｻ
Jesus bows to their wish. But He smiles and says: ｫThey will do Me no harm. Believe Me. They are not
bad. They are only humanly passionate. Let us go.ｻ
I see them in the street of the house and then at the entrance to the kitchen garden. Jesus goes in first,
followed by Judas and James. Jesus is now on the kitchen threshold. Inside, near the fireplace, there is Mary
of Alphaeus, who is cooking and weeping. In a corner there are Simon and Joseph, with other men, sitting in
a small group. Amongst the men there is Alphaeus of Sarah. They are sitting there, as silent as statues. It is
probably their custom. I do not know.
ｫPeace to this house and peace to the soul which departed from it.ｻ
The widow utters a cry and makes an instinctive gesture of pushing Jesus back and placing herself between
Him and the others. Simon and Joseph stand up, gloomy and disconcerted. But Jesus pretends that He has
not noticed their hostile attitude. He goes close to the two men (Simon looks as if he is already fifty years
old or more) and stretches out His hands in a gesture of friendly invitation. The two brothers are more
disconcerted than ever. But they dare not make any rude gesture. Alphaeus of Sarah is in a state of extreme
agitation and is clearly suffering. The other men are expressionless awaiting the outcome.
ｫSimon, since you are now the head of the family, why do you not receive Me? I have come to mourn with
you. How much I would have liked to be with you in the hour of sorrow! But I was far away, through no
fault of Mine. You are a just man, Simon. And you must admit it.ｻ
The man is still aloof.
ｫAnd you, Joseph, whose name is so dear to Me, why do you not accept My kiss? Will you not allow Me to
mourn with you? Death unites true affections. And we love one another. Why should there now be disunity?
ｻ
ｫBecause of You our father died a vexed man ｻ says Joseph harshly. And Simon: ｫYou should have
stayed here. You knew that he was dying. Why did You not stay? He wanted You...ｻ
ｫI could not have done more than what I had already done. And you know that...ｻ
Simon, who is more fair, says: ｫIt is true. I know that You came and he sent You away. But he was ill and
depressed.ｻ
ｫI know and I said to your mother and your brothers: "I bear him no grudge, because I understand his
heart". But God is above everybody. And God wanted this sorrow for everybody. For Me, because, believe
Me, I suffered as if a piece of My flesh had been torn from Me; for your father, who in his suffering
understood a great truth, which had been obscure to him throughout his life; for you, as this pain gives you
the opportunity of making a sacrifice which is more salutary than a sacrificed steer; and for James and
Judas, who are now as mature as you, dear Simon, because this pain is their greatest burden and it oppresses
them like a millstone, it has made them adults and of a perfect age in the eyes of God.ｻ
ｫWhat truth did my father see? Only one: that his own blood, at the last hour, was hostile to him ｻ replies
Joseph harshly.
ｫNo. He understood that the spirit is above blood. He understood the pain of Abraham and because of that
he had Abraham to assist him ｻ replies Jesus.
ｫI wish it were so! But who can assure us?ｻ
ｫI can, Simon. And more than I, your father's death can. Did he not ask for Me? You said so.ｻ
ｫI did. It is true. He wanted Jesus. And he used to say: "At least my soul would not die! He can do it! I sent
Him away and He will not come any more. Oh! To die without Jesus! What a horrid man you are! Why did I
reject Him?" Yes, that is what he said. He would also say: "And He asked me many times: 'Must I go?' and I
sent Him away... Now He will not come any more". He wanted You. Your Mother sent for You, but they
could not find You at Capernaum and he cried so much. And with his last ounce of strength he took Your

19
Mother's hand and wanted Her beside him. He could hardly speak. But he said: "The Mother is somewhat
the Son. I am keeping Her to have some of Him, because I am afraid of death". Poor father!ｻ
There is an eastern scene with cries and gestures of sorrow, in which they all take part, also James and Judas
who have dared to go in. Jesus is the most quiet, He weeps only.
ｫAre You shedding tears? You loved him, then?ｻ asks Simon.
ｫOh! Simon! Why do you ask Me? If I could have avoided it, do you think that I would have let him suffer?
I am with the Father, but not above the Father.ｻ
ｫYou cure dying people, but You did not cure him ｻ remarks Joseph bitterly.
ｫHe did not believe in Me.ｻ
ｫThat is true, Joseph ｻ points out his brother Simon.
ｫHe did not believe and did not renounce his ill-feeling. There is nothing I can do when there is lack of
faith and hatred. I therefore say to you: do not hate your brothers. Here they are. Their torture is not to be
aggravated by your ill-feeling. Your mother is torn to shreds more by this living hatred, than by death that
ends in itself, and in the case of your father, it ended in peace, because his desire to have Me gained him
God's forgiveness. I am not speaking of Myself, neither am I asking anything for Myself. I am in the world,
but I am not of the world. What is alive in Me, compensates Me for what the world denies Me. I suffer with
My humanity, but I raise My spirit above the earth and I rejoice in celestial matters. But they!... Do not
violate the law of love and blood. Love one another. In James and Judas there is no offence against their
blood. But even if there were, you must forgive. Look at things in the right way and you will see that they
are the most offended ones, as you do not understand the necessities of their souls enraptured by God. And
yet they have no grudge, but only a desire for love. Is that right, My cousins?ｻ
Judas and James, who are clasped in their mother's arms, nod while weeping.
ｫSimon, you are the oldest. Set the example...ｻ
ｫI... as far as I am concerned... But the world... but You...ｻ
ｫOh! the world! It forgets and changes at each daybreak... And I! Come: give Me your brotherly kiss. I love
you. You know I do. Divest yourself of those scales that make you hard and are not yours, but have been
imposed by strangers not as just as you are. Always judge with your upright heart.ｻ
Simon, still somewhat reluctant, stretches out his arms. Jesus kisses him and then leads him towards his
brothers. They kiss one another weeping and moaning.
ｫIt is your turn now, Joseph.ｻ
ｫNo. Do not insist. I remember my father's suffering.ｻ
ｫIn actual fact you are perpetuating it by your grudging attitude.ｻ
ｫIt does not matter. I am faithful.ｻ
Jesus does not insist. He addresses Simon: ｫ It is late in the evening. But if you do not mind... Our hearts
are burning with the desire to revere his remains. Where is Alphaeus? Where did you bury him?ｻ
ｫBehind the house. Where the olive-grove ends against the crag. A respectable sepulchre.ｻ
ｫPlease, take Me there. Mary, take heart. Your husband is jubilant because he sees your children in your
bosom. Stay here. I am going with Simon. Be in peace! Joseph: I am saying to you what I said to your father:
"I bear you no grudge. I love you. When you want Me, call Me. I will come and mourn with you".
Goodbye.ｻ And Jesus goes out with Simon...
The apostles look at them inquisitively. But they see that they are in perfect harmony and they are happy.
ｫWill you come, too ｻ says Jesus. ｫThey are My disciples, Simon. They wish to revere your father, too.
Let us go.ｻ
They walk through the olive-grove and it all ends.
-----------------------------
Jesus says:
ｫInsert here the third and fourth visions given on 13th February 1944.
As you see, Simon, less obstinate, yielded to justice, if not completely, at least partially, with holy
promptness. And after the meeting for Alphaeus' death, he did not become My disciple, never mind an
apostle, as in your ignorance you called him about a year ago, but at least he was a non-hostile spectator. He
was also the guardian of his mother and of Mine, when they were to be escorted and defended from people's

20
lampooning. But he was not so strong as to impose himself on those who called Me "insane"; and was still
so much a man as to be a little ashamed of Me and to worry about dangers to the whole family, because of
My apostolate against sects. But he is already on the right way. On which way, after the Sacrifice, he
proceeded more and more steady until he professed his faith in Me with his blood. Grace at times operates
instantaneously, at times slowly. But it always operates where there is a will to be just.
Go in peace. Be in peace in your sorrows. The time preparatory to Easter is beginning and you are to carry
the Cross for Me. I bless you, Mary of Jesus' Cross.ｻ

106. Jesus Is Driven Out of Nazareth and He Comforts His Mother. Reflections on Four Contemplations.
The evening of 13th February 1944.

I see a large square room. I call it a large room, although I realise it is the synagogue in Nazareth (as my
internal informant tells me) because there is nothing but the bare walls painted pale yellow and a sort of
desk on one side. There is also a tall lectern with some rolls on it. Lectern or bookcase, call it as you wish. It
is, in short, a kind of an inclined table, supported by one leg, and on which there are some rolls lined up.
There are some people praying, but not as we pray, they are all facing on one direction, with their hands not
joined, but approximately as a priest stands at the altar. Above the desk and the lectern there are some
lamps.
I do not understand the reason for this vision, which does not change but remains fixed for some time. But
Jesus tells me to write it and I do so.
--------------------------
I am once again in the synagogue in Nazareth. The rabbi is now reading. I hear his singsong nasal voice, but
I do not understand the words, which are pronounced in a language unknown to me.
Amongst the people there is also Jesus with His apostle-cousins and with others who are obviously relatives,
but I do not know them.
After the reading the rabbi looks at the crowd in a mute invitation.
Jesus comes forward and asks to preside at the meeting today. I hear His beautiful voice reading the passage
of Isaiah quoted by the Gospel: ｫThe spirit of the Lord has been given to me...ｻ And I hear the comment
He makes, calling Himself ｫ the bearer of the Gospel, of the law of love that replaces the previous rigour
with mercy, so that health will be granted to all those who on account of the sin of Adam were diseased in
their souls and indirectly also in their bodies, because sin always gives rise to vice and vice to bodily illness.
Therefore all those who are prisoners of the Evil Spirit will be freed. I have come to break their chains, to
reopen the way to Heaven, to give light to blind souls and hearing to deaf ones. The time of the Grace of the
Lord has come. The Grace is amongst you and is speaking to you. The Patriarchs desired to see this day, the
existence of which was proclaimed by the Most High and its time was foretold by the Prophets. And
informed by a supernatural inspiration, they already know that the dawn of this day has risen and their entry
to Paradise is now close at hand and they exult in their souls, saints who require only My blessing to be
citizens of Heaven. You see it. Come to the light which has risen. Divest yourselves of your passions to be
agile in following Christ. Have a good will to believe, to improve yourselves, to desire health and you will
be given health. It is in My hands. But I only give it to those who have a good will to receive it, Because it
would be an offence to Grace to give it to those who want to continue to serve Mammon.ｻ
A murmur runs through the synagogue. Jesus looks round. He reads on faces and into hearts and goes on: ｫI
understand your thoughts. Because I am from Nazareth, you would like a privileged favour. But you want it
not out of power of faith, but out of selfishness. So I solemnly tell you that no prophet is made welcome in
his own country. Other countries have accepted Me and will accept Me with greater faith, also those, whose
names are a scandal for you. There I will gather My followers, whereas I will not be able to do anything in
this country, because it is closed and hostile to Me. But I wish to remind you of Elijah and Elisha. The
former found faith in a Phoenician woman, the latter in a Syrian. And they were able to work a miracle for
her and for him. The people dying of starvation in Israel and the lepers in Israel did not receive bread and
cleanliness, because their hearts had not the good will, the fine pearl, that the Prophets could see. The same
will happen also to you, who are hostile to and incredulous of the Word of God.ｻ
21
The crowds become enraged, they curse and endeavour to lay hands on Jesus. But the apostle-cousins,
Judas, James and Simon, defend Him and the enraged Nazarenes then hustle Jesus out of the town. They
follow Him as far as the brow of the hill, threatening Him, not only with words. But Jesus turns round,
immobilises them with His magnetic glance and walks through them uninjured and disappears along a
mountain path.
-----------------------------
I see a small, very small village. A handful of houses. A hamlet, as we would call it nowadays. It is higher
up than Nazareth which can be seen below and it is only a few miles from it. A very poor hamlet.
Jesus is speaking to Mary sitting on a low wall near a little house. It is perhaps the house of friends or
perhaps a hospitable one, according to the eastern laws of hospitality. And Jesus has taken shelter there after
He was driven out of Nazareth, waiting for His apostles, who have certainly scattered through the
countryside, while Jesus was with His Mother.
His three apostle-cousins are not with Him just now. They are inside, in the kitchen, and they are talking to
an elderly woman whom Thaddeus calls ｫmother.ｻ I thus understand that she is Mary of Clopas. She is a
rather elderly woman and I recognise her as the woman who was with the Most Holy Virgin at the wedding
at Cana. Mary of Clopas and her sons have certainly withdrawn there to leave Jesus and Mary free to speak.
Mary is distressed. She has heard what happened at the synagogue and She is sorrowful. Jesus comforts Her.
Mary entreats Her Son to keep away from Nazareth, where everybody is ill-disposed towards Him, even
their other relatives, who consider Him a madman anxious to give rise to ill-feeling and discussions. But
Jesus makes a gesture smiling. He seems to be saying: ｫIt takes more than that! Never mind!ｻ But Mary
insists.
He then answers: ｫMother, if the Son of man should go only where He is loved, He should turn His step
from this world and go back to Heaven. I have enemies everywhere. Because the Truth is hated, and I am
the Truth. But I did not come to find easy love. I came to do the will of the Father and to redeem man. You
are love, Mother, My love, that compensates Me for everything. You, and this little herd, which grows in
numbers every day with some little sheep that I snatch from the wolves of passions and I lead to the fold of
God. All the rest is duty. I have come to fulfil this duty and I must accomplish it even to the extent of
crashing against the stony hearts unyielding to good. Nay, only after I have fallen, wetting their hearts with
blood, I will soften them, stamping on them My Sign that will cancel the Enemy's sign. Mother, I descended
from Heaven for that. I can only wish to accomplish that.ｻ
ｫOh! Son! My Son!ｻ Mary's voice is heart-rending. Jesus caresses Her. I notice that Mary is wearing on
Her head, besides a veil, also Her mantle. She is more than ever veiled, like a priestess.
ｫI shall be away for some time, to make You happy. When I am nearby, I will send someone to inform
You.ｻ
ｫ Send John. I seem to be seeing you, somehow, when I see John. Also his mother is full of care for Me and
for You. It is true that she hopes to have privileged positions for her sons. She is a woman and a mother,
Jesus. We must bear with her. She will speak also to You about it. But she is sincerely affectionate. And
when she is freed from the humanity which ferments in her as in her sons, as in the others, as in everybody,
My Son, she will be great in her faith. It is painful that everybody should hope to receive worldly welfare
from You, a welfare, that even if it is not human, is selfish. But sin is in them with its lust. The blessed hour,
so much dreaded, although the love of God and of man makes Me desire it, when You will cancel Sin, has
not yet come. Oh! that hour! How Your Mother's heart trembles because of that hour! What will they do to
You, Son? Son Redeemer, of Whom the Prophets predict such a martyrdom?ｻ
ｫDo not think about it, Mother. God will help You at that hour. God will help Me and You. And after there
will be peace. I tell You once again. Now go, because it is growing dark and You have a long way to go. I
bless You.ｻ
-----------------------
Jesus says:
ｫLittle John: much work today. But we are one day late and it is not possible to go slow. That is why I have
given you strength today. I granted you the four contemplations to be able to speak to you of Mary's sorrows
and Mine, in preparation for My passion. I should have spoken to you about them yesterday, Saturday, the

22
day dedicated to My Mother. But I had pity on you. Today we must make up for the time lost. After the
sorrows which I have made known to you, Mary had also these. And I with Her.
My eyes had seen into the heart of Judas Iscariot. No one must think that the Wisdom of God has not been
able to understand that heart. But, as I told My Mother, he was necessary. Woe to him for being the traitor!
But a traitor was necessary. Deceitful, shrewd, greedy, lustful, dishonest, more intelligent and cultured than
the masses, he had been able to impose himself on everybody. Daring as he was, he smoothed the way for
Me, also when the way was a difficult one. He was above all fond of standing out and showing his position
of trust near Me. He was not obliging out of instinctive charity, but only because he was one of those whom
you would call a "hustler". That enabled him also to look after the purse and approach women. Two things
which he loved without restraint, together with a third one: position amongst men.
The Pure, Humble Virgin, Detached from earthly wealth, could but feel disgust for that serpent. I felt
disgust, too. And only I and the Father and the Spirit know what I had to overcome to be able to endure him
at My side. But I will tell you later.
Likewise I was aware of the hostility of priests, Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees. They were shrewd foxes
who endeavoured to drive Me into their dens to tear Me to pieces. They were thirsty for My blood. And they
tried to set traps for Me everywhere to catch Me, to bring accusations against Me and get rid of Me. Their
intrigue lasted three long years and it was appeased only when they learned that I was dead. They slept
happily that night. The voice of the accuser had been silenced for ever. That is what they thought. No. It was
not yet dead. It will never be and it thunders and thunders and curses those who nowadays are like them.
How much pain My Mother suffered through their fault! And I cannot forget that pain.
That the crowd was inconstant, was nothing new. It is the beast that licks the hand of the tamer if it is armed
with a whip or offers a piece of meat to satisfy its hunger. But if the tamer falls and can no longer make use
of the lash, or if he has no more food for its hunger, then it rushes at him and tears him to pieces. It is
sufficient to tell the truth and to be good, to be hated by the crowd, after the first moment of enthusiasm.
The truth is a reproach and a warning. Goodness deprives one of the lash and causes those who are not good
to be no longer afraid. Thus: "crucify Him", after shouting: "hosanna". My life as a Master is overwhelmed
by these two voices. And the last one was "crucify Him". The hosanna is like the deep breath taken by a
singer before high notes. Mary, on Good Friday evening, heard once again within Herself all the false
hosannas, which had turned into shouts for the death of Her Creature, and She was pierced by them. I will
not forget that either.
"The humanity of the apostles! How much of it! I was carrying in My arms, to lift them up to Heaven, stones
which weighed down towards the earth. Even those who did not contemplate the possibility of becoming
ministers of an earthly king, as Judas Iscariot did, those who did not think of coming to the throne in My
place, if need be, as he did, were still eager for glory. The day came when also My John and his brother
craved for that glory, that dazzles you like a mirage also in celestial matters. It is not the holy longing for
Paradise, that I want you to have. But it is a human desire that your holiness may be known. Not only, but it
is like the greediness of a money-changer, of a usurer, whereby, in exchange for a little love given to Him to
Whom I told you that you must give yourselves entirely, you claim a place at His right hand side in Heaven.
No, My children. No. Before you must be able to drink all the chalice that I drank. All of it: with its charity
given in return for hatred, its chastity against the allurements of sensuality, with its heroism in trials, with its
holocaust for the love of God and one's brothers. Then, when you have fulfilled your duty completely, you
must still say: "We are useless servants", and wait for My Father and yours to grant you, out of His goodness,
a place in His Kingdom. You must strip yourselves, as you saw Me stripped in the Praetorium, of everything
that is human, keeping only the indispensable, which is respect towards the gift of God, that is life, and
towards your brothers to whom we may be more useful from Heaven than on the earth, and leaving to God
to clothe you with the immortal stole, made immaculate in the blood of the Lamb.
I have shown you the sorrows preparatory to My Passion. I shall show you more. Although they are sorrows,
your soul rested contemplating them. That is enough now. Be in peace.ｻ

23
107. Jesus in the House of Johanna of Chuza with His Mother.
13th February 1945.

I see Jesus going towards the house of Johanna of Chuza. When the doorkeeper servant sees Who is
arriving, he utters such a cry of joy that the entire household is astir. Jesus enters smiling and giving His
blessing.
Johanna rushes from the garden full of flowers to throw herself at Jesus' feet and kiss them. Also Chuza
comes, and he first bows down deeply and then kisses the hem of Jesus' tunic.
Chuza is a handsome man about forty years old. He is not very tall but well built, his hair is dark with only a
tinge of silver-grey at his temples. His eyes are lively and dark, his complexion pale and his dark square-cut
beard is well cared for.
Johanna is taller than her husband. The only trace of her recent illness is her remarkable slenderness, which,
however, is less gaunt than before. She looks like a thin supple palm-tree crowned with her beautiful head
with deep black most sweet eyes. She has a thick shock of raven black hair charmingly arranged. Her
smooth large forehead looks even whiter under such genuine blackness and her well shaped little mouth
stands out with its healthy red lips between soft pale cheeks, which are like petals of scarlet camellias. She
is a beautiful woman... the one who gives the purse to Longinus on Calvary. Then she was weeping,
distressed and completely covered by her veil. Now she is smiling and bareheaded. But it is she.
ｫTo what do I owe the joy of having You as my guest?ｻ asks Chuza.
ｫTo My need of stopping to await My Mother. I am coming from Nazareth... and I have to make My
Mother come with Me for some time. I will go to Capernaum with Her.
ｫWhy not here with me? I am not worthy, but...ｻ says Johanna.
ｫYou are well worthy. But My Mother is with Her sister-in-law, whose husband died a few days ago.ｻ
ｫThe house is large enough to receive more than one guest. And You have given me such joy that no part of
it is precluded from You. Give Your orders, Lord, since You turned away death from this abode and You
have given it back its gracefully blooming roseｻ says Chuza, supporting his wife, of whom he must be very
fond. I understand that from the way he looks at her.
ｫI do not give orders. I accept. My Mother is tired and has suffered much recently. She is worried about
Me, and I wish to show Her that there are people who love Me.ｻ
ｫWell! Bring Her here, then! I will love Her as a daughter and a maidｻ exclaims Johanna.
Jesus consents.
Chuza goes out to give the necessary orders at once and while the vision splits into two, leaving Jesus in the
wonderful garden, intent on speaking to Chuza and his wife, I follow and see the arrival of the comfortable
speedy wagon in which Jonathan has gone to Nazareth to bring Mary.
The town, of course, is in some confusion over the matter. And when Mary and Her sister-in-law, revered as
two queens by Jonathan, climb into the wagon, after giving the key of the house to Alphaeus of Sarah, the
fuss increases. The wagon leaves, while Alphaeus takes his revenge over the rough handling of Jesus in the
synagogue, by saying: ｫSamaritans are better than we are! You have seen how a man of Herod's reveres His
Mother!... Whilst we...! I am ashamed of being a Nazarene.ｻ
There is uproar between the two parties. Some desert from the opposition party and come towards Alphaeus
and are profuse in their excuses.
ｫOf course ｻ answers Alphaeus. ｫGuests in the house of the Procurator. You have heard what his steward
said: "My master begs You to honour his house". He is honoured, see? And he is the rich and powerful
Chuza, and his wife is a royal princess. And he is honoured! And we, that is you, have thrown stones at Him.
Shame!ｻ
The Nazarenes do not reply and Alphaeus presses with greater vigour: ｫOf course, to have Him is to have
everything! And no support of man is required. But do you think it is useless to have Chuza as a friend? Is it
of good omen to be despised by him? Do you realise that he is the Procurator of the Tetrarch? That is
nothing, is it? Play the Samaritans with Christ! You will draw upon yourselves the hatred of the mighty
24
ones. And then... I will be glad to see you! Without help from Heaven or from the earth! Fools! Wicked
misbelievers!ｻ The storm of insults and rebukes goes on, while the Nazarenes go away dejected like beaten
dogs. Alphaeus is alone at the door of Mary's house like an avenging archangel...
It is late evening when on the road alongside the lake Jonathan's wagon arrives to the trot of strong horses.
Chuza's servants, who were already on sentry-duty at the door, give the signal and they rush with lamps, thus
adding to the moonlight.
Johanna and Chuza rush there. Also Jesus appears, smiling, with the group of the apostles behind Him.
When Mary comes off, Johanna prostrates herself on the ground and salutes: ｫPraise to the flower of the
royal family. Praise and blessing to the Mother of the Word Saviour ｻ and Chuza bows down so low, that
he could not bow any lower not even before Herod, and he says: ｫBlessed be this hour that brings You to
me. Blessed are You, Mother of Jesus.ｻ
Mary replies kindly and humbly: ｫBlessed be Our Saviour and blessed be the good people who love My
Son.ｻ
They all enter the house, received with deep effusion of respect. Johanna is holding Mary's hand and smiles
at Her saying: ｫYou will allow me to serve You, will you not?ｻ
ｫNot Me, but Him. Always serve and love Him. And you will have given Me everything. The world does
not love Him... It is my grief.ｻ
ｫI know. Why this dislike from one part of the world, whereas others would give their lives for Him?ｻ
ｫBecause He is the sign of contradiction for many. Because He is the fire that purifies metal. Gold is
purified. The scum falls to the bottom and is thrown away. I was told since He was a little child... And day
by day the prophecy is fulfilled...ｻ
ｫDo not cry, Mary. We will love and defend Him ｻ comforts Johanna.
But Mary continues Her silent weeping, which only Johanna can see in the semidark corner where they are
sitting.
It all ends.

108. Jesus at the Vintage in the House of Anna. Miracle of a Paralytic Child.
l4th February 1945.

The whole country of Galilee is busy in the joyful vintage work. Men, climbing up high ladders, pick the
grapes from pergolas and vines; women, their heads laden with baskets, take the golden and ruby grapes to
where the crushers are waiting. Songs, burst of laughter, jokes are exchanged from hillock to hillock and
from garden to garden. The smell of must is everywhere. Bees are humming and seem intoxicated, so fast do
they fly about and dance from the remaining vine shoots, still laden with grapes, to the baskets and vats
where the grapes sought by them get lost in the thick juice of the must. Children, their faces painted with
juice like fauns, scream like swallows, running on the grass, in the yards and in the streets.
Jesus is going to a town not far from the lake. It is a town on the plain; it looks like a wide riverbed between
two remote mountain ranges stretching northwards. The plain is well irrigated because a river (I think it is
the Jordan) flows across it. Jesus is going along the main road and is cheered by many shouting: ｫRabbi!
Rabbi!ｻ Jesus passes by and blesses.
Before the town there is a rich estate, at the entrance to which there is an elderly couple waiting for the
Master. ｫCome in. When they finish working, they will all gather here to hear You. How much joy You
bring us! It spreads from You as the lymph spreads through the shoots and becomes a joyful wine for our
hearts. Is that Your Mother?ｻ asks the landlord.
ｫYes, She is. I brought Her here to you, because She also is now in the group of My disciples. The last to be
received, the first in faithfulness. She is the Apostle. She preached Me even before I was born... Mother,
come. One day, it was in the first times when I was evangelising, this mother did not make Me miss You, so
kind she was to Your tired Son.ｻ
ｫMay the Lord grant you His grace, merciful woman.ｻ
ｫI have grace, because I have the Messiah and You. Come. The house is cool and the light is not so bright.
You will be able to rest. You must be tired.ｻ
25
ｫMy only tiredness is the hatred of the world. But to follow Him and listen to Him! It has been My desire
since My earliest childhood.ｻ
ｫDid You know that You were to be the future Mother of the Messiah?ｻ
ｫOh! no. But I hoped to live long enough to hear Him and serve Him, the last of His evangelised followers,
but faithful! oh faithful!ｻ
ｫYou now hear Him and serve Him. And You are the first. I am mother, too, and I have wise children.
When I hear them speak, my heart leaps with pride. And what do You feel hearing Him?ｻ
ｫA gentle ecstasy. I sink into My nothingness, and Goodness, which is He Himself, lifts Me up with Him. I
then see in a simple glance the eternal Truth, and it becomes the blood and flesh of My spirit.ｻ
ｫBlessed be Your heart! It is pure and that is why it can understand the Word. We are harder because we
are full of faults...ｻ
ｫI would like to give My heart to everybody for that, that love might enlighten you to understand. Because,
believe Me, it is love, and I am the Mother and therefore love is natural in Me, it is love that makes all
undertakings easy.ｻ
The two women go on speaking, the old one near the ever so young Mother of my Lord, while Jesus talks to
the landlord near the vats, into which the teams of vintagers pour the grapes. The apostles, sitting in the
shade of a jasmin bower, enjoy bread an grapes with good appetite.
The sun is about to set and the work slowly comes to an end. The husbandmen are by now all in the large
rustic yard, where there is a strong smell of crushed grapes. Other farmers have come from nearby houses.
Jesus climbs a little staircase that leads up to a gallery wing the house, under which sacks of victuals and,
agricultural implements are stored. How Jesus smiles climbing those few steps! I see Him smiling while His
soft hair is gently blowing in the evening breeze. I wonder why He is smiling so brightly. The joy of His
smile, like the wine of which the landlord was speaking, enters my heart, very sad today, and comforts it.
(It is not the first thing that relieves me today. Even this morning, and you (1) saw me weeping
because of a sharp spiritual sorrow, He, at Holy Communion, appeared to me as usual when you say: ｫHere
is the Lamb of Godｻ. But He did not just look at you lovingly, Father, and smile at me. He departed from
your side,

(1) It is to be remembered that Maria Valtorta often addresses her spiritual Father in the ｫPoemｻ.

on the left hand side of the bed and passed to the right one, with His long, slightly rolling gait, caressing me
with His long hands and saying: ｫDo not weep!ｻ... But now His smile fills me with peace.)
He turns round. He sits down on the last step at the top of the staircase, which becomes a gallery for the
more fortunate listeners, that is the owners of the house, the apostles and Mary, Who, always humble, had
not even tried to climb up to that place of honour, but is led there by the landlady. She is sat one step below
Jesus, so that Her fair-haired head is at the height of Jesus' knees, and as She is sitting sideways, She can
look at His face with Her look of a dove in love. Mary's delicate profile stands out neatly, as in marble,
against the dark wall of the rustic gallery.
Farther down, there are the apostles and the owners. All the husbandmen are in the yard, some standing,
some sitting on the ground, some have climbed on to the vats or up the fig trees which are at the four
corners of the yard.
Jesus speaks slowly, sinking His hand into a large sack of corn placed behind Mary's back: He seems to be
playing with the grain, or to be caressing it with pleasure, while gesticulating calmy with His right hand.
ｫI was asked: "Come, Jesus, to bless the work of man". And I have come. I bless it in the name of God.
Because, every work, if honest, deserves to be blessed by the eternal Lord. But I said it: the first condition to
receive blessings from God is to be honest in all one's actions.
Now let us consider together when and how actions are honest. They are honest when they are done having
eternal God present in one's soul. Can one ever sin if one says: "God is looking at me. God's eyes are on me
and He does not miss the least detail of my actions"? No. One cannot. Because the thought of God is a
salutary thought and diverts man from sin more than any human threat.
But must one only fear eternal God? No. Listen. You were told: "Fear the Lord your God". And the
Patriarchs and the Prophets trembled when the Face of God, or an angel of the Lord, appeared to their just
26
souls. Truly, in time of divine wrath, the apparition of the Supernatural must make hearts tremble. Who,
even if as pure as a child, does not tremble before the Powerful One, before Whose eternal brightness are
the adoring angels, prostrated in the heavenly hallelujah? God mitigates with a veil of pity the unbearable
refulgence of an angel to allow the human eye to look at it without having eyes and mind burned out. What
must it therefore be to see God?
But it is so, as long as the wrath lasts. But when it is replaced by peace and the God of Israel says: "I have
sworn it. And I will keep My pact. Here is He Whom I am sending, and it is I, although not being I, but My
Word, Who becomes flesh to be Redemption", then love must take the place of fear, and nothing but love is
to be given to eternal God, joyfully, because the time of peace has come for the earth and between God and
man. When the first spring winds spread the pollen of the vine flowers, the farmer must still be watchful,
because many injuries may be caused to the fruit by inclement weather and insects. But when the happy day
of vintage comes, then all fears cease and hearts rejoice in the certainty of the harvest.
The Shoot of the stock of Jesse has sprung, preannounced by the Prophets. He is now amongst you: a rich
bunch which brings you the juice of eternal Wisdom and only asks to be picked and squeezed to be Wine for
men. A wine of endless delight for those who will feed on Him. But woe to those who having had this Wine
within reach will reject it, and three times woe to those who after feeding on it will reject it or mix it within
themselves with the food of Mammon.
And now I am going back to the first idea. The first condition to have God's blessing, both in spiritual and
human deeds, is honesty of intentions.
He is honest who says: "I abide by the Law not to be praised by men, but out of loyalty to God". He is honest
who says: "I follow Christ not because of the miracles He works, but for the advice of eternal life He gives
me". He is honest who says: "I work not for a greedy gain, but because also work has been set by God as a
means of sanctification on account of its formative, mortifying, preservative and elevating values. I work to
be able to help my neighbour, I work to be able to make the wonders of God known, Who of a tiny grain
makes a tuft of ears, of a grape-stone makes a huge vineyard, of a fruit-stone makes a tree, and of me, a
man, a poor nothing, who was made out of nothing by His will, He makes His assistant in the unremitting
work of perpetuating cereals, vines and orchards, as well as populating the earth with men".
There are people who work as hard as pack animals, but their only religion is to increase their wealth. If
their more unfortunate companion dies of privations and fatigue beside them; if the children of that poor
man die of starvation, what does it matter to the greedy hoarder of riches? There are others, who even
harder-hearted, do not work but make other people work and they accumulate wealth by their sweat. And
others squander what they meanly extort from other people's work. Their work is certainly not honest. And
do not say: "And yet God protects them". No. He does not protect them. Now they enjoy an hour of triumph.
But they will soon be struck by divine rigour, which both in time and in eternity will remind them of the
commandment: "I am the Lord your God. Love Me above all things and love your neighbour as yourself".
Oh! If those words resound eternally, they will be more dreadful than the lightning of Sinai!
You are told many words, too many. I will tell you only these: "Love God. Love your neighbour". They are
like the work in the vineyard in spring, that makes the vine shoots fruitful. The love of God and of your
neighbour is like the harrow that clears the soil of the harmful herbs of selfishness and of evil passions; it is
like the hoe that digs a circle round the shoot to isolate it from infectious parasite herbs and to nourish it
with cool irrigation water; it is like the shears that remove what is superfluous and confine the strength,
directing it to where it will bear fruit; it is a tie that fastens and supports with a robust pole, finally it is the
sun that ripens the fruits of good will and makes them fruits of eternal life.
You are now jubilant because it has been a good year, the crops are plentiful and the vintage rich. But I
solemnly tell you that this joy of yours is less than a tiny grain of sand as compared to the immeasurable
jubilation that will be yours when the eternal Father will say to you: "Come, My fruitful shoots grafted into
the true Vine. You have helped in all kinds of work, also in painful ones, to bear abundant fruit, and you are
now coming to Me, rich with sweet juices of love for Me and your neighbour. Blossom in My gardens for
ever and ever".
Aim at that eternal happiness. Pursue that good with loyalty, with gratitude bless the Eternal Father Who
assists you in reaching it. Bless Him for the grace of His Word, bless Him for the grace of a good harvest.

27
Love the Lord with gratitude and do not fear. God gives one hundred to one to those who love Him. ｻ
Jesus would have finished. But they all shout: ｫBless us, bless us! Your blessing upon us! ｻ
Jesus stands up, He stretches out His arms and in a thundering voice He says: ｫMay the Lord bless you and
keep you, may His Face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord uncover His Face to you and
bring you peace. The Name of the Lord be in your hearts, in your homes and in your fields. ｻ
The little crowd which had gathered utter cries of joy and applause for the Messiah. They then become quiet
and open out to let pass through a mother, who is carrying in her arms a paralytic child, about ten years old.
At the foot of the staircase, she holds him out, as if she were offering him to Jesus.
ｫShe is one of my servants. Her boy last year fell from the terrace and broke his back. He will lie on his
back all his life ｻ explains the landlord.
ｫShe has been hoping in You all these months...ｻ adds landlady.
ｫTell her to come to Me.ｻ
But the poor woman is so excited, that she seems to be paralysed. She trembles all over and trips on her long
dress while climbing up the high steps with her son in her arms.
Mary, compassionate, stands up and goes down to meet her. ｫCome. Do not be afraid. My Son loves you.
Give Me your child. It will be easier for you to climb up. Come, My daughter. I am a Mother, too ｻ and She
takes the child, smiling kindly at him, and then goes up with Her piteous load weighing on Her arms. The
boy's mother follows Her crying.
Mary is now before Jesus. She kneels down and says: ｫSon! For the sake of this mother!ｻ Nothing else.
Jesus does not even ask the usual question: ｫWhat do you want Me to do for you? Do you believe that I can
do it?ｻ No. Today He smiles and says: ｫWoman, come here.ｻ
The woman goes beside Mary. Jesus lays His hand on her head and says only: ｫBe happy ｻ, and He has not
yet finished saying the words, when the boy, who so far had been lying heavily on Mary's arms, with his legs
hanging loose, sits up all of a sudden and with a cry of joy: ｫMummy!ｻ, he runs to take refuge in his
mother's lap.
The shouts of hosanna seem to be penetrating the sky now all red at sunset.
The woman, clasping her son to heart, does not know what to say and she asks: ｫWhat must I do to tell You
that I am happy?ｻ
And Jesus, caressing her once again: ｫYou must be good and love God and your neighbour and bring your
son up in this love.ｻ
But the woman is not yet content. She would like to... she would like to... and at last she asks: ｫA kiss of
Yours and of Your Mother's to my child.ｻ
Jesus bends down and kisses him and Mary does likewise. And while the woman is going away happy,
surrounded by cheering friends, Jesus explains to the landlord: ｫ Nothing else was needed. He was in My
Mother's arms. Even without any word I would have cured him, because She is happy when She can relieve
distress and I want to make Her happy...ｻ
And Jesus and Mary exchange one of those glances that only one who has seen them can understand, so
deeply meaningful are they.

109. Jesus at Doras' House. Death of Jonah.

l5th February 1945.

I see once again the plain of Esdraelon, by day. A cloudy late November day. It must have rained during the
night, one of the first rains of the dreary winter months, because the earth is damp but not muddy. And it is
windy. A damp wind that blows away the yellow leaves and pierces one's bones with its breath saturated
with moisture.
In the fields there are a few yokes of oxen ploughing. They laboriously turn the rich heavy soil of this fertile
plain, preparing it for seed-time. And what upsets me is to see that in some places it is the men themselves

28
that work as oxen, pushing the ploughshare with all the strength of their arms and even with their chests,
pressing their feet in the soil already turned, toiling like slaves in this work which is very hard also for
robust bulls.
Also Jesus looks and notices. And His face turns so sad as to weep.
The disciples, only eleven, because Judas is still absent and the shepherds are no longer here, speak among
themselves and Peter says: ｫAlso a boat is small, poor and laborious... But it is one hundred times better
than this pack-animal job!ｻ He then asks: ｫAre they perhaps Doras' servants? ｻ
Simon Zealot replies: ｫI don't think so: his fields are beyond that orchard, I think. And we can't see them
yet.ｻ
But Peter, always curious, leaves the road and walks along a hedge between two fields. Four thin peasants,
wet with perspiration have sat down for a moment on its borders. They are panting with fatigue. Peter asks
them: ｫAre you Doras' men?ｻ
ｫNo, but we belong to his relative, to Johanan. And who are you?ｻ
ｫI am Simon of Jonas, a fisherman of Galilee until the moon of Civ. Now I am Peter of Jesus of Nazareth,
the Messiah of the Gospel.ｻ Peter says so with the respect and glory with which one would say: ｫI belong
to the high divine Caesar of Romeｻ and much more, too. His honest face is shining with joy in professing
himself of Jesus.
ｫOh! the Messiah! Where, where is He?ｻ ask the four unhappy men.
ｫThat one over there. The tall fair-headed one, clad in dark red. The one who is now looking here, and is
smiling waiting for me.ｻ
ｫOh!... If we went there... would He send us away?ｻ
ｫSend you away? Why? He is the friend of the unhappy, the poor, the oppressed, and I think that you... yes,
you are just them...ｻ
ｫOh! we are indeed! But not like Doras' men. At least we have as much bread as we want and we are not
lashed unless we stop working, but...ｻ
ｫSo that, if the fine master Johanan should find you here talking, he...ｻ
ｫHe would lash us more than he would lash his dogs...ｻ
Peter whistles significantly. He then says: ｫWell it is better if we do this...ｻ and cupping his hands to his
mouth he calls out loud: ｫMaster. Come here. There are some hearts that are suffering and they want
You.ｻ
ｫBut what are you saying? Him to come here?! But we are ignoble servants!ｻ The four men are terrified at
such boldness.
ｫBut lashes are not pleasant. And if that fine Pharisee should turn up, I would not like to have a share
myself...ｻ Peter says laughing and with his big hand he shakes the most terrified of the four men.
Jesus with His long stride is about to arrive. The four men do not know what to do. They would like to run
and meet Him, but they are paralysed with respect. Poor beings completely frightened by human
wickedness. They fall flat on their faces, adoring the Messiah Who is coming towards them.
ｫPeace to all those who desire Me. Who desires Me, desires good, and I love him as a friend. Get up. Who
are you?ｻ
But the four just lift their faces off the ground, and remain kneeling and quiet.
Peter explains: ｫThey are four servants of the Pharisee Johanan, a relative of Doras. They would like to
speak to You, but if he comes, there will be a volley of blows, that is why I said to You: "Come". Get up,
boys. He will not eat you! Have faith. Just think that He is a friend of yours.ｻ
ｫWe... we know about You... Jonah told us...ｻ
ｫI have come for him. I know that he announced Me. What do you know of Me?ｻ
ｫThat You are the Messiah. That he saw You a baby. That the angels sang peace to good people with Your
coming, that You were persecuted... that You were saved and that now You have been looking for Your
shepherds and... You love them. These last things he told us now. And we thought: if He is so good as to
look for some shepherds and love them, He would certainly be also a little fond of us... We need so much
someone who may love us...ｻ
ｫI love you, Do you suffer much?ｻ

29
ｫOh!... But Doras' men even more. If Johanan found us talking here!... But today he is at Gerghesa. He has
not yet come back from the Feast of the Tabernacles. But his steward this evening will give us food after
measuring the work that we have done. But it does not matter. We will not rest for our meal at the sixth hour
and we will make up for this time.ｻ
ｫTell me, man. Would I be able to work that implement? Is it a difficult task?ｻ asks Peter.
ｫNo, it's not difficult. But it is hard work. It takes a lot of strength.ｻ
ｫI have that. Show me. If I succeed, you can talk and I will play the ox. You, John, Andrew and James,
come to the lesson. We will abandon fish for the worms of the soil. Come on!ｻ Peter lays his hands on the
cross-bar of the beam. There are two men at each plough, one on each side of the long beam. He looks and
imitates all the gestures of the peasant. Strong as he is and rested, he works well and the man praises him.
ｫI am a master in ploughing ｻ happily exclaims good Peter. ｫCome on, John! Come here. An ox and a
bull-calf at each plough. James and that mute calf of my brother at the other one. Right! Heave away!ｻ and
the two ploughs proceed side by side turning the soil and cutting furrows in the long field at the end of
which they turn round and cut a fresh furrow. They seem to have worked as farmers all their lives.
ｫHow good Your friends are!ｻ says the boldest of Johanan's servants. ｫDid You make them such?ｻ
ｫI have guided their goodness. As you do with the pruner's shears. Goodness was already in them. It now
blossoms well because there is Who takes care of it.ｻ
ｫThey are also humble. They are Your friends and yet they are serving us, poor servants, like that!ｻ
ｫOnly those who love humility, meekness, continence, honesty and love, love above all, can stay with Me.
Because who loves God and his neighbour, possesses in consequence all virtues and gains Heaven.ｻ
ｫShall we be able to gain it, too, we, who have no time to pray, to go to the Temple, not even to raise our
heads off the furrows?ｻ
ｫTell Me: do you hate him who deals with you so hard? Is there in you rebellion and reproach to God for
putting you amongst the lowest of the earth?ｻ
ｫOh! no, Master! It is our fate. But when tired we throw ourselves on our pallets, we say: "Well, the God of
Abraham knows that we are so exhausted that we are not able to say more than: 'Blessed be the Lord!' ", and
we also say: "Also today we have lived without sinning"... You know... we could also cheat a little and eat a
fruit with our bread, or pour some oil on to the boiled vegetables. But the master said: "Bread and vegetables
are sufficient for servants, and at harvest time a little vinegar in the water to quench their thirst and give
them strength". And we do that. After all... we could be worse off.ｻ
ｫAnd I solemnly tell you that the God of Abraham smiles at your hearts, whilst He turns a severe face
towards those who insult Him in the Temple with false prayers, while they do not love their fellows.ｻ
ｫ Oh! but they love people like themselves! At least... it looks as if they do, because they respect one
another with gifts and bows. It is for us that they have no love. But we are different from them, and it is
fair.ｻ
ｫ No. It is not fair in My Father's Kingdom. But different will be the way of judging. Not the rich and the
mighty ones, as such, will receive honours. But only those who have always loved God, loving Him above
themselves and above everything else, such as money, power, women, a bountiful table; and loving their
fellow men, that is all men, both rich and poor, well-known and unknown, learned and without culture, good
and bad. Yes, you must love also bad people. Not because of their wickedness, but out of pity for their souls
which they wound to death. It is necessary to love them imploring the Celestial Father to cure them and
redeem them. In the Kingdom of Heaven those will be blessed who have honoured the Lord with truth and
justice, who have loved their parents and relatives out of respect; those who have not stolen anything in any
way, that is who have given and exacted what is just, also in the work of servants; those who have not killed
any reputation or creature and have not desired to kill, even when the behaviour of other people is so cruel
as to excite hearts to disdain and rebellion; those who have not sworn falsehood damaging one's neighbour
and the truth; those who have not committed adultery or any carnal sin; those, who being mild and resigned,
have always accepted their lot without envying others. Of those is the Kingdom of Heaven, and also a
beggar can be a happy king up there, whereas a Tetrarch, with all his power, will be less than nothing, nay,
more than nothing: he will be a prey to Mammon, if he has sinned against the eternal law of the
Decalogue.ｻ

30
The men listen to Him gaping. Near Jesus there are Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon, Philip, Thomas, James
and Judas of Alphaeus. The other four continue working, red in their faces and hot, but cheerful. Peter is
quite enough to keep them all merry.
ｫOh! How right Jonah was in calling You: "Holy!" Everything is holy in You: Your words, Your look, Your
smile. We have never felt our souls thus...!ｻ
ｫHave you not seen Jonah for a long time?ｻ
ｫSince he has been ill.ｻ
ｫIll?ｻ
ｫYes, Master. He cannot stand it any more. He was already dragging himself along before. But after the
summer work and the vintage he is unable to stand up. And yet that... makes him work... Oh! You say that
we must love everybody. But it is very difficult to love hyenas! And Doras is worse than a hyena!ｻ
ｫJonah loves him...ｻ
ｫYes, Master. And I say that he is a saint like those who have been martyred because of their loyalty to the
Lord Our God.ｻ
ｫYou have spoken the truth. What is your name?ｻ
ｫMicah, and this is Saul, and this is Jowehel, and this is Isaiah. ｻ
ｫI will mention Your names to the Father. And you were saying that Jonah is very ill?ｻ
ｫYes, as soon as he finishes his work he throws himself on the straw and we don't see him. The other
servants of Doras tell us. ｻ
ｫWill he be working now?ｻ
ｫYes, if he can stand up. He should be beyond that apple-orchard.ｻ
ｫWas Doras' harvest a good one?ｻ
ｫYes, it was famous all over the area. The plants had to be propped up owing to the miraculous size of the
fruit, and Doras had to have new vats made because there were so many grapes that the usual ones could not
contain them.ｻ
ｫDoras must have rewarded his servant!ｻ
ｫRewarded! Oh! Lord, how little You know of him!ｻ
ｫBut Jonah told Me that years ago Doras thrashed him to death for the loss of a few bunches and that he
became a slave through debt, because his master blamed him for the loss of a few crops. Since this year he
had a miraculous abundance, he should have given him a prize.ｻ
ｫNo. He lashed him savagely, accusing him of not having the same abundance in past years, because he had
not taken due care of the land.ｻ
ｫBut that man is a beast!ｻ exclaims Matthew.
ｫNo. He is soulless ｻ says Jesus. ｫI leave you, My sons, with a blessing. Have you bread and food for
today?ｻ
ｫWe have this bread ｻ and they show Him a dark loaf which they take out of a sack lying on the ground.
ｫTake My food. I have but this. But I am staying at Doras' today and...ｻ
ｫYou at Doras' house?ｻ
ｫYes. To ransom Jonah. Did you not know?ｻ
ｫNo one knows anything here. But... distrust him, Master. You are like a lamb in the wolf's den.ｻ
ｫHe will not be able to do Me any harm. Take My food. James, give them what we have. Also your wine.
You must rejoice a little, too, My poor friends. Both your souls and your bodies. Peter! Let us go.ｻ
ｫI am coming, Master. There is only this furrow to cut.ｻ And he runs to Jesus, his face drawn with fatigue.
He dries himself with the mantle he had taken off, he puts it on again and he laughs happily.
The four men cannot thank them enough.
ｫWill you pass by here again, Master? ｻ
ｫYes. Wait for Me. You will say goodbye to Jonah. Can you do that?ｻ
ｫOh! yes. The field is to be ploughed by evening. More than two thirds has been done. How well and
quickly. Your friends are strong! May God bless You. Today for us is a greater feast than Passover. Oh! May
God bless you all!ｻ
Jesus goes straight to the apple-orchard. They cross it and reach Doras' fields. Other peasants are at the

31
ploughs or are bent down removing all the loose herbs from the furrows. But Jonah is not there. The men
recognise Jesus and salute Him without leaving their work.
ｫWhere is Jonah?ｻ
ｫAfter two hours he fell on the furrow and has been taken home. Poor Jonah. He will not have to suffer
long now. He is nearing his end. We shall never have a better friend.ｻ
ｫYou have Me on the earth and him in Abraham's bosom. The dead love the living with a double love: their
own and the love they obtain by being with God, therefore a perfect love.ｻ
ｫOh! Go to him at once. That he may see You in his suffering!ｻ
Jesus blesses and goes away.
ｫWhat are You going to do now? What will You say to Doras?ｻ ask the disciples.
ｫI will go as if I knew nothing. If he sees that he is being met fairly and squarely, he may be pitiless towards
Jonah and the servants.ｻ
ｫYour friend is right: he is a jackal ｻ says Peter to Simon.
ｫLazarus speaks nothing but the truth and he is not a backbiter. You will meet him and you will like him ｻ
replies Simon.
The house of the Pharisee can be seen. Large, low, but well built, in the middle of an orchard now fruitless.
A country house, but rich and comfortable. Peter and Simon go ahead to warn.
Doras comes out. An old man with the hard profile of a rapacious person. Ironic eyes, a serpent's mouth
wriggling a false smile in a beard more white that black. ｫHail, Jesus ｻ he greets informally and with
obvious condescension.
Jesus does not say: ｫPeace ｻ; He replies: ｫMay your salutation return to you. ｻ
ｫCome in. My house receives You. You have been as punctual as a king.ｻ
ｫAs an honest person ｻ replies Jesus.
Doras laughs as if it was a joke.
Jesus turns round and says to His disciples, who had not been invited: ｫCome in. They are My friends.ｻ
ｫLet them come in... but isn't that one the exciseman, the son of Alphaeus?ｻ
ｫThis is Matthew, the disciple of Christ ｻ says Jesus in a tone... that the other understands and he gives a
laugh more forced than before.
Doras would like to crush the ｫ poor ｻ Galilean Master under the wealth of his house which is sumptious
inside. Sumptious and icy. The servants seem slaves. They walk with bent shoulders, stealing away swiftly,
always afraid of punishment. One feels that the house is dominated by cold-heartedness and hatred.
But Jesus cannot be crushed by a display of wealth or by reminding Him of one's wealth and relatives and
Doras, who understands the indifference of the Master, takes Him to his orchard-garden, showing Him rare
plants and offering Him their fruits, which servants bring on golden trays and cups. Jesus enjoys and praises
the delicious fruit, partly preserved as a julep, and they are beautiful peaches, partly in their natural state,
and they are pears of a rare size.
ｫI am the only one to have them in Palestine and I don't think that there are any in the whole peninsula. I
sent for them to Persia and even farther away. The caravan cost me as much as a talent. But not even the
Tetrarchs have such fruits. Perhaps not even Caesar has them. I count all the fruits and I want their stones.
And the pears are eaten only at my table because I do not want even one seed to be taken away. I send some
to Annas, but only cooked ones so that they are sterile.ｻ
ｫBut they are plants of God. And all men are equal.ｻ
ｫEqual? No! I equal to... to Your Galileans?ｻ
ｫSouls come from God and He creates them equal.ｻ
ｫBut I am Doras, the faithful Pharisee!...ｻ He looks as proud as a peacock in saying so.
Jesus darts a glance at him with His sapphire eyes which are becoming brighter and brighter, a sign that
denotes oncoming pity or severity. Jesus is so much taller than Doras and towers over him, stately in His
purple tunic near the small, slightly bent Pharisee, wrinkled in a garment strikingly wide and rich in fringes.
Doras, after some time of self-admiration, exclaims: ｫJesus, why did You send Lazarus, the brother of a
prostitute, to the house of Doras, the pure Pharisee? Is Lazarus Your friend? You must not do that. Don't
You know that he is anathematized because his sister Mary is a prostitute?ｻ

32
ｫI know but Lazarus and his deeds which are honest.ｻ
ｫBut the world remembers the sin of that house and sees that its stains spread to its friends... Don't go there.
Why are You not a Pharisee? If You wish... I am influential... I will have You accepted, although You are a
Galilean. I can do anything in the Sanhedrin. Annas is in my hands, like the edge of my mantle. People
would be more afraid of You.
ｫI want only to be loved.ｻ
ｫI will love You. You can see that I already love You because I am yielding to Your wish and I am giving
You Jonah. ｻ
ｫI paid for him.ｻ
ｫTrue, and I am surprised that You can afford to Pay so much.ｻ
ｫNot I. A friend paid for Me.,
ｫWell, well. I am not inquisitive. I say: You see that I love You and I want to make You happy. You will
have Jonah after our meal. It is only for You that I make this sacrifice...ｻ and he laughs his cruel laughter.
Jesus darts a more and more severe glance at him, His arms folded on His chest. They are still in the orchard
garden awaiting mealtime.
ｫBut You must make me happy. A joy for a joy. I am giving You my best servant. I am therefore depriving
myself of something useful for the future. This year Your blessing, I know that You were here at the
beginning of summer, has given me crops which have made my farm famous. Now bless my herds and my
fields. Next year I will not regret the loss of Jonah... and in the meantime I will find someone like him.
Come and bless. Give me the joy of being celebrated throughout Palestine and having folds and granaries
full of all sorts of good things. Come ｻ and he grasps Jesus and tries to drag Him, overwhelmed by
gold-fever.
But Jesus resists. ｫWhere is Jonah? ｻ he asks severely.
ｫWhere they are ploughing. He wanted to do also that for his good master. But before the meal is over he
will come. In the meantime, come and bless the herds, the fields, the orchards, the vineyards, the oil-mills.
Bless everything. Oh! How fruitful they will be next year! Come then.ｻ
ｫWhere is Jonah? ｻ asks Jesus in a louder thundering voice.
ｫI told You! Where they are ploughing. He is the first servant and does not work: he is at the head of the
men.ｻ
ｫLiar! ｻ
ｫMe? I swear to it by Jehovah! ｻ
ｫPerjurer! ｻ
ｫMe? I a perjurer? I am the most faithful believer! Watch how You speak! ｻ
ｫKiller! ｻ Jesus has been raising His voice louder all the time and this last word is like thunder.
His disciples go near Him, servants look out of doors frightened. Jesus' face is unendurable in its severity.
Phosphorescent rays seem to be emanating from His eyes.
Doras is frightened for a moment. He shrinks, a bundle of fine cloth near the tall person of Jesus, clad in a
dark red woollen tunic. Then his pride prevails and he shouts with his squeaky voice like a fox's: ｫOnly I
give orders in my house. Get out, vile Galilean.ｻ
ｫI will go out after cursing you, your fields, herds and vineyards, for this year and the years to come. ｻ
ｫNo, don't! Yes. It is true. Jonah is ill. But he is being taken care of. He is well looked after. Withdraw
Your curse.ｻ
ｫ Where is Jonah? Let a servant lead Me to him, at once. I paid for him; and since he is a piece of
merchandise, a machine, for you, I consider him as such; and since I purchased him, I want him.ｻ
Doras pulls out a gold whistle from his chest and blows it three times. A group of servants, both of the house
and of the fields, come out from everywhere, they run near the dreaded master, bowing down so deeply, that
they seem to be crawling, ｫBring Jonah to Him and hand him over. Where are You going? ｻ
Jesus does not even answer. He follows the servants who have rushed beyond the garden towards the
peasants' dwellings, the filthy holes of the poor peasants. They enter Jonah's hovel.
He is only skin and bones now and is panting half-naked because of a high temperature, on a cane-mat,
where the mattress is a patched up garment and the blanket an even more worn out mantle. The same

33
woman as last time is looking after him as best she can.
ｫJonah! My friend! I have come to take you away!ｻ
ｫYou? My Lord! I am dying... but I am happy to have You here!ｻ
ｫMy faithful friend, you are now free, and you will not die here. I am taking you to My house.ｻ
ｫFree? Why? To Your house? Oh! Yes. You did promise Me that I would see Your Mother.ｻ
Jesus is most loving, bending over the miserable bed of the unhappy man. And Jonah seems to be recovering
on account of his joy.
ｫPeter, you are strong. Lift up Jonah, and you, give your mantles. This bed is too hard for one in his state.ｻ
The disciples take off their mantles at once, they fold them several times and lay them on the mat, using
some as a pillow. Peter lays down his load of bones and Jesus covers him With His own mantle.
ｫPeter, have you got any money? ｻ
ｫYes, Master, I have forty coins.ｻ
ｫGood. Let us go. Cheer up, Jonah. A little more trouble and then there will be so much peace in My house,
near Mary...ｻ
ｫMary... yes... oh! Your house! ｻ In his extreme weakness poor Jonah weeps. He can but weep.
ｫGoodbye, woman. The Lord will bless you for your mercy.ｻ
ｫGoodbye, Lord. Goodbye, Jonah. Pray for me.ｻ The young woman is weeping.
When they are at the door, Doras appears. Jonah makes a gesture of fear and covers his face. But Jesus lays
a hand on his head and goes out beside him, more stern than a judge. The unhappy procession goes out into
the rustic yard and takes the orchard path.
ｫThat bed is mine! I sold You the servant, not the bed.ｻ
Jesus throws the purse at his feet without saying a word.
Doras picks up the purse and empties it. ｫForty coins and five didrachmas. It's too little!ｻ
Jesus looks the greedy revolting torturer up and down, but does not reply. It is impossible to say what His
gesture means.
ｫAt least tell me that You are withdrawing the anathema!ｻ
Jesus crushes him once again with a glare and a few words: ｫI entrust you to the God of Sinaiｻ and goes
past upright, beside the rustic litter, which Peter and Andrew are carryng most cautiously.
When Doras sees that it is all to no good, that the punishment is certain, he shouts: ｫWe will meet again,
Jesus! I will have You in my clutches again! I will fight You to death. You can take that worn out man. I no
longer need him. I will save his burial money. Go, go away, cursed Satan! I will set the whole Sanhedrin on
You. Satan! Satan!ｻ
Jesus feigns that He does not hear. The disciples are dismayed.
"Jesus attends only to Jonah. He looks for the smoothest and most sheltered paths until they reach a
crossroad near Johanan's fields. The four peasants run to say goodbye to their friend who is leaving and to
Jesus Who is blessing.
But the road from Esdraelon to Nazareth is a long one, and they cannot proceed speedily, because of their
pitiful load. There is no wagon or cart along the main road. There is nothing. They proceed in silence. Jonah
seems to be sleeping, but he holds on to Jesus' hand.
Towards evening, a military Roman wagon catches up with them.
ｫIn the name of God, stop ｻ says Jesus lifting His arm.
The two soldiers stop; from under the cover pulled over the wagon, as it has started raining, peeps out a
pompous non-commissioned officer. ｫWhat do You want? ｻ he asks Jesus.
ｫI have a dying friend. I ask you to take him into the wagon.ｻ
ｫWe are not allowed... but... get on. We are not dogs either.ｻ
The litter is lifted into the wagon.
ｫYour friend? Who are You? ｻ
ｫRabbi Jesus of Nazareth.ｻ
ｫYou? Oh!...ｻ The non-commissioned officer looks at Him curiously. ｫIf it is You, then... get on as many
as you can. But don't let anyone see you... It is an order... but above orders there is also humanity, isn't there?
You are good, I know. Eh! We soldiers know everything... How do I know? Even stones speak well or evil,

34
and we have ears to listen to them in order to serve Caesar. You are not a false Christ like the others before
You, who were agitators and rebels. You are good. Rome knows. This man... is very ill.ｻ
ｫThat is why I am taking him to My Mother.ｻ
ｫHum! She won't cure him for long! Give him some wine. It's it, that canteen. Aquila, whip the horses,
Quintus, give me the ration of honey and butter. It's mine, it will do him good. He has a cough and honey
will help.ｻ
ｫYou are good.ｻ
ｫNo. Not quite so bad as many. And I am happy to have You here with me. Remember Publius Quintilianus
of the Italica legion. I stay at Caesarea. But I am now going to Ptolomais. Inspection order.ｻ
ｫYou are not My enemy. ｻ
ｫI? I am an enemy of bad people. Never of good people. And I would like to be good, too. Tell me: What
doctrine do You Preach for us, military people?ｻ
ｫThe doctrine is one only, for everybody. Justice, honesty, continence, compassion. One must do one's duty
without any abuses. Also in the hard necessities of the army, one must be human. And one must endeavour
to know the Truth, that is God, one and eternal, without which knowledge every action is deprived of grace
and consequently of eternal reward.ｻ
ｫBut when I am dead, what will I do with the good I have done? ｻ
ｫWho comes to the true God will find that good in the next life.ｻ
ｫAm I going to be born again? Will I become a tribune or even an emperor? ｻ
ｫNo. You will become like God, being united to His eternal beatitude in Heaven.ｻ
ｫWhat Me in Olympus? Amongst the gods? ｻ
ｫThere are no gods. There is the true God. The One I preach. The One Who hears you and notes your
goodness and your desire to know the Good.ｻ
ｫI like that! I did not know that God could be concerned with a poor heathen soldier.ｻ
ｫHe created you, Publius. He therefore loves you and would like to have you with Himself.ｻ
ｫEh!... why not? But... no one ever speaks to us of God.ｻ
ｫI will come to Caesarea and you will hear Me.ｻ
ｫOh! Yes. I will come to hear You. There is Nazareth. I would like to serve You further. But if they see
me...ｻ
ｫI will get off, and I bless you for your kindness.ｻ
ｫHail, Master.ｻ
ｫMay the Lord show Himself to you, soldiers. Goodbye.ｻ
They get off and resume walking.
ｫIn a short while you will be able to rest, Jonah ｻ says Jesus encouragingly.
Jonah smiles. He becomes calmer and calmer as night falls and now that he is sure that he is far from Doras.
John and his brother run ahead to inform Mary. And when the little procession arrives in Nazareth, almost
deserted in the late evening, Mary is already at the door awaiting Her Son.
ｫMother, here is Jonah. He is taking shelter under Your kindness to begin enjoying his Paradise. Are you
happy, Jonah? ｻ
ｫHappy! Happy!ｻ whispers the exhausted man as if he were in ecstasy.
He is taken into the little room where Joseph died.
ｫYou are in My father's bed. And here is My Mother, and I am here. See? Nazareth becomes Bethlehem,
and you are now the little Jesus between two people who love you, and these are the ones who venerate you
as the faithful servant. You cannot see the angels, but they are waving their bright wings above you and are
singing the words of the Christmas psalm...ｻ
Jesus pours all His kindness on poor Jonah who is getting worse from one second to the next. He seems to
have resisted so far to die here... but he is happy. He smiles and tries to kiss Jesus' hand and Mary's, and to
say... but his anguish interrupts his words. Mary comforts him like a mother. And he repeats: ｫYes... yes ｻ
with a blissful smile on his emaciated face.
The disciples, standing at the kitchen garden entrance, are silent and watch deeply moved.
ｫGod has listened to your long desire. The Star of your long night is now becoming the Star of your eternal

35
Morning. You know its name ｻ says Jesus.
ｫJesus, Yours! Oh! Jesus! The angels... Who will sing the angelical hymn for me? My soul can hear it... but
also my ears wish to hear it... Who?... to make me sleep happy... I am so sleepy! So much work I have done!
So many tears... So many insults... Doras... I forgive him... but I do not want to hear his voice and I hear it. It
is like the voice of Satan near me, who am dying. Who will cover that voice for me with the words that
came from Heaven? ｻ
It is Mary Who on the same tune as Her lulluby sings softly: ｫGlory to God in the Highest Heaven and
peace to men down here.ｻ And She repeats it two or three times because She sees that Jonah calms down
on hearing it.
ｫDoras does not speak any more ｻ he says after some time. ｫOnly the angels... It was a Child... in a
manger... between an ox and a donkey... and it was the Messiah... And I adored Him... and with Him there
was Joseph and Mary...ｻ His voice fades away in a short gurgle and then there is silence.
ｫPeace in Heaven to the man of good will! He is dead. We shall bury him in our poor sepulchre. He
deserves to await the resurrection of the dead near My just father ｻ says Jesus.
And it all ends, while Mary of Alphaeus, informed I do not know by whom, is coming in.

110. Jesus in the House of Jacob near Lake Merom.

17th February 1945.

I would say that Palestine, besides the lake of Galilee and the Dead Sea, had another small lake or pond, in
short a sheet of water, the name of which I do not know. I am not at all good at reckoning dimensions, but
with my naked eye I would say that this small basin is about two miles by one and a half. Very small, as one
can see. But its green shores are pretty and also its surface which is so blue and calm that it seems a huge
chip of sky-blue enamel veined in its centre by a lighter and slightly more wavy stroke of the brush, perhaps
because of the current of the river which flows into it in the north and flows out in the south, and which,
because of the lightness of the water, which above all I do not think is deep, does not stop flowing, but like a
live stream in the middle of still waters, it shows its vitality and presence by means of a different hue and
light ripples of the water.
There are no sailing-boats on the little lake, but only a few rowing-boats, in which a solitary
fisherman casts or hauls his fishing baskets, or ferries a traveller who wants to take a short cut. And there
are endless herds of sheep, which have certainly come down from the mountain pastures in view of the
oncoming autumn, and are grazing on the green and rich pastures of the shores.
At the southern end of the lake, which is oval shaped, there is a main road running from east to west,
or rather from north east to south west. It is quite well kept and is very busy with wayfarers going to the
villages scattered in the area. Jesus is proceeding on this road with His disciples.
It is a rather dull day and Peter remarks: ｫIt would have been better if we had not gone to that
woman. The days are getting shorter and shorter and the weather worse and worse... and Jerusalem is still so
far away.ｻ
ｫWe will arrive in time. And believe Me, Peter, we obey God more by doing a good deed than by an
external ceremony. That woman is now blessing God with all her creatures, around the head of the family,
who has recovered so well that he will be able to be in Jerusalem for the Feast of the Tabernacles, whereas
by that time he would have been sleeping under bandages and ointments in a sepulchre. Never corrupt faith
with the outward appearance of acts. Never criticise. How can You be surprised at Pharisees if you, too, fall
into an error of lack of compassion and you close your heart to your neighbour and say: "I serve God and
that is enough"? ｻ
ｫYou are right, Master. I am more ignorant than a little ass.ｻ
ｫ And I am keeping you with Me to make you wise. Do not be afraid. Chuza has offered Me the wagon
almost as far as Jabbok. It is a short way from there to the ford. He insisted so much and with such valid
reasons, that I had to accept it, although I deem that the King of the poor should make use of the means of
the poor. But Jonah's death caused a delay and I have to modify My plans according to such unexpected
36
events.ｻ
The disciples talk of Jonah, pitying his poor life and envying his happy death. Simon Zealot whispers: ｫI
was not able to make him happy and give the Master a true disciple who had matured in long martyrdom
and unshakable faith... and I am sorry. The world is in such need of faithful creatures, believing in Jesus, to
balance the many people who deny and will deny! ｻ
ｫIt does not matter, Simon ｻ answers Jesus. ｫHe is happier, now. And more active. And you have done
more than anyone would have done for him and for Me. I thank you also on his behalf. He now knows who
freed him. And he blesses you.ｻ
ｫWell, then, he curses Doras, too ｻ exclaims Peter.
Jesus looks at him and says: ｫ Do you think so? You are mistaken. Jonah was a just man. Now he is a saint.
He did not hate or curse when he was alive. He does not hate or curse now. From his place of expectation,
he is looking at Paradise, and as he already knows that Limbo will soon let the expectants out, he is jubilant.
He does nothing else.ｻ
ｫAnd Doras... will he be struck by Your anathema? ｻ
ｫIn what way, Peter? ｻ
ｫ Well... by making him think and change... or by punishing him.ｻ
ｫI have entrusted him to the justice of God. I, the Love, have abandoned him.ｻ
ｫGood gracious! I would not like to be him.ｻ
ｫNeither would I! ｻ
ｫNor I! ｻ
ｫNo one would, because what will the justice of the Perfect Being ever be like? ｻ say the disciples.
ｫIt will be ecstasy for the good, it will be a thunderbolt for the satans, My friends. I solemnly tell you: to be
for a whole life a slave, a leper, a beggar is regal happiness, as compared to one hour, one single hour, of
divine punishment.ｻ
ｫIt's raining, Master. What shall we do? Where shall we go? ｻ In fact the first large drops of rain are falling
and bouncing on the lake, which has become dark reflecting the sky, now overcast, and it looks as if it is
going to rain more heavily.
ｫTo some house. We will ask for shelter in the name of God.ｻ
ｫAnd let us hope that we will find someone as good as the Roman. I did not think they were like that... I
had always avoided them as being impure and I see that... if I take everything into account, they are better
than many of us ｻ says Peter.
ｫDo you like the Romans? ｻ asks Jesus.
ｫEh!... I find that they are not worse than we are. But they are Samaritans...ｻ
Jesus smiles but does not say anything.
They meet a woman who is driving eight sheep in front of her.
ｫWoman, can you tell us where we can find shelter?...ｻ asks Peter.
ｫI am the servant of a poor lonely man. But if you want to come... I think my master will receive you
kindly.ｻ
ｫLet us go. ｻ
They proceed under the heavy shower, walking fast in the middle of the sheep trotting with their fat bodies
to escape the downpour. They leave the main road to take a little one leading to a low house. I recognise the
house of the peasant Jacob, the peasant of Matthias and Mary, the two little orphans of the August vision, I
think.
ｫIt's over there! Run ahead while I take the sheep to the fold. Beyond the wall there is a yard through which
you go to the house. He will be in the kitchen. Never mind if he is not very talkative... He has a great deal of
trouble.ｻ
The woman goes toward a small hut on the right hand side. Jesus turns to the left with His disciples.
There is the threshing-floor with the well and the stone oven at the farther end and the apple-tree on one side
and there is the wide open door of the kitchen where a wood fire is lit and a man is repairing a broken rural
implement.
ｫPeace to this house. I ask you to give shelter for tonight to Me and My companions ｻ says Jesus on the

37
threshold of the door.
The man looks up. ｫCome in ｻ he says, ｫand may God give back to You the peace You are offering. But...
peace here! For some time peace has been Jacob's enemy. Come in. Come in!... Come in all. A fire is the
only thing I can give you in plenty... because... Oh! but... But You, now that You have taken off Your hood
(Jesus had covered His head with the edge of His mantle, holding it tight under His chin with His hand) and
I can see You properly... You are, yes, You are the Galilean Rabbi, the one who is called Messiah and works
miracles... Is it You? In the name of God tell me.ｻ
ｫI am Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah. Do you know Me? ｻ
ｫI heard You speak last month in the house of Judas and Anna... I was with the vintagers because... I am
poor... A chain of misfortunes: hail, grubs, diseased plants and herds... What I had was sufficient for me, as I
am alone, with only one maid servant. But now I have run into debt because I am persecuted by bad luck...
To avoid selling all my sheep, I worked in the houses of other people... After all... my fields!... They looked
as if a battle had been fought on them, they were so burnt, and the vines and the olive-trees so fruitless.
Since my wife died, and that was six years ago, Mammon seems to be amusing himself here. See? I am
working at this plough. But the wood is all broken. What shall I do? I am not a carpenter and I go on tying it
up. But it is no use. And I must watch also farthings now... I will sell another sheep to have the tools
repaired. The roof leaks... but the field matters to me more than the house. What a pity! The sheep are all
pregnant... and I was hoping to replenish my herd... Who knows! ｻ
ｫI see that I have come to bother you, when you already have so many worries.ｻ
ｫYou a bother? No. I heard You speak and... I still have in my heart what You said. It is true that I have
worked honestly, and yet... But I think that I was not yet good enough. I think that perhaps it was my wife
who was good, as she felt pity for everybody, my poor Leah, who died too early, too early for her husband...
I think that the wealth of those days came from Heaven because of her. And I want to become better,
because of what You say and to imitate my wife. And I am not asking for much... only to remain in this
house, where she died, where I was born... and to have a piece of bread for myself and the woman who
works as my maid and as a shepherdess and helps as well as she can. I have no male servants. I had two and
they were enough, as I also worked in the fields and in the olive-grove... But I have bread only for myself,
and not much either...ｻ
ｫDo not deprive yourself of it, to give it to us...ｻ
ｫNo, Master. If I had only one morsel, I would give it to You. It is an honour for me to have You... I would
never have hoped for so much. But I am telling You my troubles because You are good and You
understand.ｻ
ｫYes, I understand. Give Me that hammer. You do not do it that way. You will break the wood. Give Me
also that spike, but make it red-hot first. It will be easier to make a hole in the wood and we will put the peg
in without any trouble. Let Me do it. I was a carpenter...ｻ
ｫYou want to work for me? No! ｻ
ｫLet Me do it. You are giving Me hospitality and I want to help you. Men must love one another, each
giving what one can.ｻ
ｫYou give peace, wisdom and You work miracles. You are already giving a great deal, a great deal indeed!
ｻ
ｫI give also My work. Come, do as I tell you...ｻ And Jesus, Who is wearing only His tunic, works quickly
and skilfully at the split beam, He drills holes, fastens and bolts it and tests it until He feels that it is firm. ｫ
It will still work for a long time. Till next year. And then you will get a new one.ｻ
ｫI think so, too. That ploughshare has been in Your hands and it will bless my land.ｻ
ｫNot because of that, Jacob, it will bless it.ｻ
ｫWhy then, my Lord? ｻ
ｫBecause you are merciful. You do not foster ill-feelings of selfishness and envy, but you accept My
doctrine and you practise it. Blessed be the merciful. They will receive mercy.ｻ
ｫIn what way am I being merciful to You, my Lord? I have practically no place or food for Your needs. All
I have is my good will and never before have I regretted being poor, as I do now, because I cannot honour
You and Your friends.ｻ

38
ｫYour good will is enough for Me. I solemnly tell you that also a cup of water given in My name is a great
thing in the eyes of God. I was a tired wayfarer caught in a storm, and you have given Me hospitality.
Mealtime comes and you say to Me: "I offer You what I have". Night falls, and you offer Me a friendly roof.
What more do you want to do? Be confident, Jacob. The Son of man does not look at the pomp of reception
or of food, but He looks at the feelings of one's heart. The Son of God says to the Father: "Father, bless My
benefactors and all those who in My name are merciful to their brothers". That is what I am saying for you.
ｻ
The servant, who has spoken to her master while Jesus was working at the plough comes back with some
bread, some fresh milk, a few withered apples and a tray of olives.
ｫThat is all I have ｻ apologises the man.
ｫOh! In your food I see a food that you cannot see! And I feed on it because it has a celestial flavour.ｻ
ｫDo You, the Son of God, perhaps feed on some food which angels bring to You? Perhaps You live on the
bread of the spirit.ｻ
ｫYes, the spirit has a greater value than the body, and not only in Me. I do not feed on angelical bread, but
on the love of the Father and of men. That is what I find also at your table and I bless the Father Who led
Me to you with love, and I bless you because you receive Me with love and give Me love. That is My food
as well as doing the will of the Father.ｻ
ｫThen bless and offer the food to God in my stead. Today You are the head of my family and You will
always be my Master and Friend.ｻ
Jesus takes the bread and offers it holding it up on the palms of His hands, saying a psalm, I think. He then
sits down, breaks it and hands it out...
It all ends thus.

39
111. Return to the Jordan Ford near Jericho.
18th February 1945.

ｫI am surprised that the Baptist is not here ｻ says John to the Master. They are all on the eastern
bank of the Jordan, near the famous ford where the Baptist once used to baptise.
ｫAnd he is not even on the other bank ｻ points out James.
ｫThey may have caught him again, hoping to get another purse ｻ remarks Peter. ｫThose crooks of
Herod certainly deserve the cross! ｻ
ｫWe shall cross to the other side and ask ｻ says Jesus.
They do cross over and they ask a ferryman of the other bank: ｫDoes the Baptist no longer baptise
here? ｻ
ｫNo, he doesn't. He is at the border with Samaria. That is the state we are in! A holy man has to
take shelter near the Samaritans to protect himself from the citizens of Israel. Why are we surprised
if God abandons us? I am surprised at one thing only: that He does not make a Sodom and
Gomorrah of the whole of Palestine!...ｻ
ｫHe does not because of the just people who are there, because of those, who although not yet
completely just, are thirsty for justice and follow the doctrine of those who preach holiness ｻ
replies Jesus.
ｫTwo, then: the Baptist and the Messiah. I know the former, because I served him also here at the
Jordan, ferrying some believers to him, without asking for any payment, because he says that one is
to be content with what is just. I thought that it was just that I should be satisfied with what I earned
doing other jobs and that it was unfair to ask to be paid for taking souls to be purified. My friends
said that I was mad. But after all... Since I was happy with the little I had, who could complain? On
the other hand I see that so far I have not died of starvation, and I hope that Abraham will smile at
me when I die.ｻ
ｫYou are in the right, man. Who are you? ｻ
ｫOh! My name is a great one and it makes me laugh because my only wisdom is concerned with
oars. My name is Solomon. ｻ
ｫYou possess the wisdom for judging that who cooperates to a purification must not corrupt it with
money. I tell you, that not only Abraham, but the God of Abraham will smile at you as at a faithful
son, when you die.ｻ
ｫOh! God! Is that true? Who are You? ｻ
ｫI am a just man.ｻ
ｫListen: I told You that there are two in Israel: one is the Baptist, the other the Messiah. Are You
the Messiah? ｻ
ｫYes, I am.ｻ
ｫOh! Eternal mercy! But... one day I heard some Pharisees say... Never mind... I do not want to
foul my mouth. You are not what they said. Their tongues are more forked than vipers'!...ｻ
ｫYes, I am, and I say to you: you are not very far from the Light. Goodbye, Solomon. Peace be with
you.ｻ
ｫWhere are You going, Lord? ｻ The man is dumbfounded at the revelation and is speaking in a
completely different tone. Before it was a good natural person who spoke. Now it is an adoring
believer.
ｫI am going to Jerusalem via Jericho. I am going to the Tabernacles.ｻ
ｫTo Jerusalem?... You too? ｻ
ｫI am a son of the Law, too. I do not repeal the Law. I give it light and strength so that it may be
fulfilled in a perfect way. ｻ
ｫBut Jerusalem already hates You! I mean, the great ones, the Pharisees in Jerusalem. I told You
that I heard...ｻ
ｫ Leave them alone. They do their duty, what they think is their duty. I do Mine. I solemnly tell
you, that until the hour comes, they will not be able to do anything.ｻ

40
ｫWhich hour, Lord? ｻ ask the disciples and the ferryman.
ｫThe hour of the triumph of Darkness.ｻ
ｫWill You live until the end of the world? ｻ
ｫNo. There will be a more dreadful darkness than the darkness of the extinguished stars and of our
planet, dead with all its inhabitants. And it will take place when men extinguish the Light, which is
I. The crime has already been committed by many. Goodbye, Solomon. ｻ
ｫI will follow You, Master.ｻ
ｫNo. Come to the Bel Nidrasc in three days' time. Peace be with you.ｻ
Jesus sets out amongst His pensive disciples.
ｫWhat are you thinking of? Do not be afraid for Me or yourselves. We have passed through the
Decapolis and Perea, and everywhere we have seen farmers working in the fields. In some places
the land was still covered with stubble and couch-grass, an arid hard land, encumbered with
parasite plants, the seeds of which had been carried there from the desert waste by the summer
winds. They were the fields of lazy and fast living people. In other places the soil had already been
turned by the ploughshare, and stones, bramble and couch-grass had been cleared away by fire and
man's toil. And what before was harmful, that is the useless plants, was turned by the purifying fire
and man's toil into good manure and useful fertilizing salts. The soil may have suffered because of
the pain caused by the share that cut into it and rummaged through it, and because of the biting fire
that scorched its wounds. But it will rejoice in spring, more beautiful, saying: "Man tortured me to
give me these rich crops which make me beautiful". And they were the fields of the willing people.
And in other places the soil was already soft, also the ashes had been cleared away, it was a real
nuptial bed for its fertile union to the seed, that gives so many glorious ears of wheat. And they
were the fields of people who were so generous as to reach perfection in activity.
Well, the same applies to hearts. I am the Share and My word is the Fire, to prepare men for the
eternal triumph.
There are those who, lazy or fast living, do not yet ask for Me, do not want Me, are satisfied with
their vices and wicked passions, which look like green floral garments, and are instead bramble and
thorns, which tear souls to pieces, and tie them into faggots for the fire in Gehenna. For the time
being the Decapolis and Perea are like that... and are not the only ones. They do not ask for
miracles, because they do not want My sharp word nor the ardour of My fire. But their hour will
come. In other places there are those who accept My sharp word and My ardour, and they think: "It
is painful. But it purifies me and will make me productive of good deeds". They are the ones, who,
although they have not the heroism of acting, allow Me to act. It is the first step on My way. And
finally there are those who help My work with their own continuous diligent work and they do not
walk, but they fly on the way to God. They are the faithful disciples: you and the others scattered
throughout Israel.ｻ
ｫBut we are few... against so many. We are humble... against the mighty ones. How can we defend
You, should they wish to hurt You? ｻ
ｫ My friends, remember the dream of Jacob. He saw an incalculable multitude of angels ascending
and descending a ladder that from Heaven reached down to the Patriarch. A multitude, and yet it
was but a part of the angelical cohorts... Well, if even all the cohorts that sing hallelujah to God in
Heaven should come down to defend Me, when the hour comes, they will be of no avail. Justice is
to be fulfilled...ｻ
ｫYou mean injustice! Because You are holy and if they hurt You and hate You, they are unjust.ｻ
ｫThat is why I say that the crime has already been committed by some. Who broods over thoughts
of murder, is already a murderer, who broods over thoughts of theft, is already a thief, who over
thoughts of adultery, is already an adulterer, who of betrayal, is already a betrayer. The Father
knows and I know. But He allows Me to go. And I go. Because that is what I came for. But the
crops will ripen and will be sown once and once again before the Bread and the Wine are given as
food to men.ｻ
ｫThere will be a banquet of joy and peace, then! ｻ
41
ｫOf peace? Yes. Of joy? Also. But... oh, Peter! oh, My friends! How many tears will be shed
between the first and the second chalice! And only after the last drop of the third chalice has
been drunk, great will be the joy amongst the just,

and certain the peace to men of good will.ｻ (1)

ｫAnd You will be there. Won't You? ｻ
ｫI?... Is the Head of the family ever absent from the rite? Am I not the Head of the large family of
Christ? ｻ
Simon Zealot, who has never spoken, says, as if he were speaking to himself: ｫ"Who is coming in
garments stained in crimson? He is richly clothed, marching so full of strength". "It is I, who speak
of integrity and am powerful to save". "Why are your garments red, your clothes as if you had
trodden the winepress?" "I have trodden the winepress alone. My year of redemption has come".ｻ
ｫYou have understood, Simon ｻ remarks Jesus.
ｫI have understood, my Lord.ｻ
The two look at each other; the others look at them astonished and they ask one another: ｫIs he
talking of the red clothes that Jesus is wearing even now, or of the royal purple which He will put
on when the hour comes? ｻ
Jesus does not pay attention and does not seem to hear anything else.
Peter takes Simon to one side and asks: ｫSince you are learned and humble, explain your words to
me, who am ignorant.ｻ
ｫYes, brother. His name is Redeemer. The chalices of the banquet of peace and joy between man
and God, and the earth and Heaven, He will fill them Himself with His Wine, Pressing Himself in
sufferings because of His love for us all. He will therefore be present, notwithstanding the powers
of Darkness will have then apparently extinguished the Light, Which is He. Oh! We must love our
Christ very much, because many will refuse to love Him. Let us make sure that in the hour of
dereliction, the lament of David may not be applied to us reproachingly: "A pack of dogs (with us
amongst them) surrounds Me".ｻ
ｫDo you think so?... But we will defend Him, at the cost of dying with Him.ｻ
ｫ We will defend Him... But we are men, Peter. And our hearts will melt even before His bones are
disjointed... Yes, we will be like the ice-cold water in the sky that lightning melts into rain and then
the wind freezes once again on the ground. We are like that! Our present courage of being His
disciples, because His love and His presence condense us into a virile boldness, will melt under the
striking lightning of Satan and of the satans... And what will be left of us? Then, after the vile
necessary test, faith and love will unite us firmly again and we will be like crystal proof against
cuts. But we will be aware of that and we will succeed if we love Him very much while we have
Him. Then, I do believe, because of His word, that we shall not be enemies and betrayers.ｻ

(1) Reference is made here to the Jewish ritual for the celebration of the Passover Supper, described
by Mishna, a fundamental text of the Talmud, codified in the II-III century after Christ. At least
four chalices were to be consumed at the Passover Supper. According to the Poem of the Man-God,
there was great sadness between the first and the second chalice (probably because of the prediction
by Christ of Judas' betrayal). But after the third chalice (that is, the one consecrated into the Blood
of Christ) there was great joy and peace (probably an allusion to the wonderful speech of Jesus to
the Apostles after the departure of Judas).
ｫYou are a learned man, Simon. I am... illiterate. And I am also ashamed of asking Him so many
questions. And I suffer when I hear that there are so many reasons for tears... Look at His face: it
seems to be washed by secret tears. Look at His eyes: they look neither at the sky nor at the ground.
They are open on a world unknown to us. And how tired and bent His carriage is! He seems to have
grown old because of His worries. Oh! I don't like Him like that! Master! Master! Smile. I don't like
to see You so sad. You are as dear to me as a son and I would give You my chest as a pillow, to

42
make You sleep and dream of other worlds... Oh! forgive me if I said to You "son". It's because I
love You, Jesus.ｻ
ｫI am the Son... That name is My Name. But I am no longer sad. See? I am smiling because you
are friendly to Me. Over there, there is Jericho, completely red in the sunset. Two of you should go
and look for lodgings. The others and I will go and wait for you beside the synagogue. Go.ｻ
And it all ends while John and Judas Thaddeus set out looking for a hospitable house.

112. Jesus in the House of Lazarus. Martha Speaks of the Magdalene.

19th February 1945.

I see the market square in Jericho, its trees and shouting vendors. In a comer there is Zacchaeus, the
tax-collector, intent on his legal and illegal extortions. He must deal also in jewellery because I see
him weighing and appraising jewels and valuables, I do not know whether they are given to him as
payment of taxes, instead of money, or whether they are sold for other necessities.
It is now the turn of a slender woman, who is completely clad in a huge rust-grey mantle. Also her
face is covered with yellowish closely woven byssus which prevents her face from being seen. One
can see only the slimness of her figure which is visible notwithstanding the huge greyish cloak that
envelops her. She must be young, at least according to the little that can be seen, that is, one hand
which for a moment she takes out of her mantle to hand over a gold bracelet, and her feet, shod in
rather sophisticated sandals, fitted with uppers and interlacing leather straps, so that only her
smooth juvenile toes and part of her slim white ankles are visible. She gives her bracelet without
saying one word, takes the money without any objection and turns round to go away.
I now notice that behind her there is the Iscariot, who watches her carefully and when she is about
to go away, he says a word to her, which I do not catch. But she does not reply, as if she were
dumb, and she hastens away in her mass of clothes.
Judas asks Zacchaeus: ｫWho Is she? ｻ
ｫI do not ask my customers their names, especially when they are as kind as she is.ｻ
ｫYoung, isn't she? ｻ
ｫApparently.ｻ
ｫIs she Judaean? ｻ
ｫWho knows?! Gold is yellow in all countries.ｻ
ｫShow me that bracelet.ｻ
ｫDo you want to buy it? ｻ
ｫNo.ｻ
ｫWell, nothing doing. What do you think? That it will start talking in her place? ｻ
ｫI wanted to see if I could find out who she is...ｻ
ｫAre you so interested? Are you a necromancer who divines, or a bloodhound that scents? Go
away, forget her. If she is like that, she is either honest and unhappy or she is a leper. Therefore...
nothing doing.ｻ
ｫI am not craving for a woman ｻ replies Judas contemptuously.
ｫMay be... but by the looks of your face I can hardly believe it. Well, if you do not want anything
else, please step aside. I have other people to attend to.ｻ
Judas goes away angrily and asks a bread vendor and a fruit seller whether they know the woman
who had just bought some bread and apples from them, and whether they know where she lives.
They do not know. They reply: ｫShe has been coming here for some time, every two or three days.
But we do not know where she lives. ｻ
ｫBut how does she speak? ｻ insists Judas.
The two laugh and reply: ｫWith her tongue.ｻ
Judas abuses them and goes away... and runs into the group of Jesus and His disciples, who are

43
coming to buy some bread and food for their daily meal. The surprise is reciprocal and... not very
enthusiastic.
Jesus says only: ｫYou are here? ｻ and while Judas mumbles something, Peter breaks into a loud
laugh and says: ｫHere, I am blind and a misbeliever. I cannot see the vineyards. And I don't believe
in the miracle...ｻ
ｫWhat are you saying? ｻ ask two or three disciples.
ｫI am speaking the truth. There are no vineyards here. And I cannot believe that Judas, in all this
dust, can gather grapes simply because he is a disciple of the Rabbi.ｻ
ｫVintage finished a long time ago ｻ replies Judas harshly.
ｫAnd Kerioth is many miles away ｻ concludes Peter.
ｫYou are attacking me at once. You are hostile to me.ｻ
ｫNo. I am not such a fool as you think.ｻ
ｫThat is enough ｻ commands Jesus. He is severe. He addresses Judas: ｫI was not expecting to see
you here. I thought you would be in Jerusalem for the Tabernacles.ｻ
ｫI am going there tomorrow. I have been waiting here for a friend of our family, who...ｻ
ｫPlease, that is enough.ｻ
ｫDo You not believe me, Master? I swear...ｻ
ｫI did not ask you anything, and please do not say anything. You are here. That is enough. Are you
thinking of coming with us or have you still got business to attend to? Answer frankly.ｻ
ｫNo... I have finished. In any case that fellow is not coming and I am going to Jerusalem for the
Feast. And where are You going? ｻ
ｫTo Jerusalem. ｻ
ｫToday? ｻ
ｫI will be at Bethany this evening.ｻ
ｫAt Lazarus' house? ｻ
ｫYes, at Lazarus'.ｻ
ｫWell, I will come too. ｻ
ｫ Yes, come as far as Bethany. Then Andrew with James of Zebedee and Thomas will go to
Gethsemane to make preparations and wait for us all, and you will go with them.ｻ Jesus stresses
the last words in such a way that Judas does not react.
ｫAnd what about us? ｻ asks Peter.
ｫYou will go with My cousins and Matthew where I will send you and will come back in the
evening. John, Simon, Bartholomew and Philip will stay with Me, that is, they will go and
announce in Bethany that the Rabbi has come and will speak to the people at the ninth hour.ｻ
They walk quickly across the barren countryside. There is an impending storm, not in the clear sky,
but in their hearts, they are all conscious of it, and they proceed silently.
When they reach Bethany, and coming from Jericho Lazarus' house is one of the first to be met,
Jesus dismisses the group that is to go to Jerusalem and then the other one which He sends towards
Bethlehem saying: ｫGo and do not worry. Half way you will find Isaac, Elias, and the others. Tell
them that I will be in Jerusalem for many days and I expect them to bless them.ｻ
In the meantime Simon has knocked at the door and had it opened. The servants inform Lazarus
who comes at once.
Judas Iscariot, who had gone a few yards ahead, comes back with the excuse of saying to Jesus: ｫI
have displeased You, Master. I realise it. Forgive me ｻ and at the same time through the open gate
he casts sidelong glances at the garden and at the house .
ｫYes. It is all right. Go. Do not keep your companions waiting.ｻ
And Judas must go.
Peter whispers: ｫHe was hoping there might be a change in the instructions.ｻ
ｫNever, Peter. I know what I am doing. But bear with that man...ｻ
ｫI will try. But I cannot promise... Goodbye, Master. Come, Matthew and you two. Quick.ｻ
ｫMy peace be always with you. ｻ
44
Jesus enters with the remaining four and after kissing Lazarus He introduces John, Philip and
Bartholomew, and then dismisses them and remains alone with Lazarus.
They go towards the house. This time, under the beautiful porch there is a woman. She is Martha.
She is swarthy and tall, although not quite so tall as her sister, who is fair-haired and rosy; but she is
a beautiful young woman with a balanced and well shaped plump body, a little dark head, a smooth
brown forehead. Her eyes are kind, mild, dark long-shaped and as soft as velvet, between her dark
eyelashes. Her nose is slightly turned down and her small lips are very red against her dark cheeks.
She smiles showing strong snow-white teeth.
She is wearing a dark blue woollen dress with red and dark green galloons round the neck and at
the end of her wide short sleeves, from which two other sleeves unfold, of very fine white linen,
tied and pleated at the wrists by a little cord. Her very fine white blouse shows also at the top of her
breast, round the lower part of her neck where it is held tight by a cord. As a belt she is wearing a
scarf of blue, red and green, of a fine cloth which is tied round the upper part of her hips and hangs
down her left side in a tuft of fringes. A rich and chaste dress.
ｫI have a sister, Master. Here she is, Martha, she is good and pious. She is the consolation and the
honour of the family and the joy of poor Lazarus. Before she was my first and only joy. Now she is
the second, because You are the first.ｻ
Martha prostrates herself on the floor and kisses the hem of Jesus' tunic.
ｫPeace to the good sister and to the chaste woman. Stand up.ｻ
Martha rises to her feet and goes into the house with Jesus and Lazarus. She then asks to leave to
attend to the house.
ｫShe is my peace...ｻ whispers Lazarus, and he looks at Jesus. An inquisitive look. But Jesus
pretends He does not see it.
Lazarus asks: ｫAnd Jonah? ｻ
ｫHe is dead.ｻ
ｫDead? Then...ｻ
ｫ I got him when he was dying. But he died a free man and happy in My house, at Nazareth,
between Me and My Mother.ｻ
ｫDoras practically killed him for You before handing him over! ｻ
ｫYes, with fatigue and also with blows.ｻ
ｫHe is a devil and hates You. That hyena hates the whole world... Did he not tell You that he hates
You? ｻ
ｫYes, he did.ｻ
ｫDistrust him, Jesus. He is capable of anything, Lord... what did Doras tell You? Did he not tell
You to shun me? Did he not place poor Lazarus in a disgraceful light? ｻ
ｫI think that you know Me well enough to understand that I judge for Myself and according to
justice, and that when I love, I love without considering whether such love may procure Me good or
evil according to the views of the world.ｻ
ｫBut that man is cruel and he injures and hurts severely... He tormented me also some days ago. He
came here and he told me... Oh! I am so vexed already! Why does he want to take You also away
from me? ｻ
ｫ I am the solace of those who are tormented and the companion of those who are forlorn. I have
come to you also for that.ｻ
ｫAh! Then You know?... Oh! shame on me! ｻ
ｫ No. Why on you? I know. So what? Shall I anathematise you, who are suffering? I am Mercy,
Peace, Forgiveness, Love for everybody; and what shall I be for those who are innocent? The sin for
which you suffer is not yours. Shall I be pitiless towards you if I feel pity also for her?...ｻ
ｫHave You seen her? ｻ
ｫI have. Do not cry.ｻ
But Lazarus, his head resting on his folded arms on a table, is weeping, sobbing painfully.
Martha appears at the door and looks in. Jesus nods to her to be silent. And Martha goes away with
45
big tears running silently down her cheeks.
Lazarus calms down little by little and apologises for his weakness. Jesus comforts him and since
His friend wishes to withdraw for a moment, He goes out into the garden and walks among the
flower-beds, where some purple roses are still in bloom.
Martha joins Him shortly afterwards. ｫMaster, has Lazarus spoken to You? ｻ
ｫYes, Martha, he has.ｻ
ｫLazarus cannot set his mind at rest since he is aware that You know and that You have seen
her...ｻ
ｫHow does he know? ｻ
ｫFirst, that man who was with You and says he is Your disciple: the young one, tall, swarthy,
clean-shaven... then Doras. The latter lashed You with his contempt, the former only said that You
had seen her on the lake... with her lovers...ｻ
ｫDo not cry for that! Do you think that I am unacquainted with your wound? I was aware of it
since I was with the Father... Do not lose heart, Martha. Raise your heart and your head.ｻ
ｫPray for her, Master. I pray... but I cannot forgive completely and perhaps the Eternal Father
rejects my prayer.ｻ
ｫYou are right: you must forgive to be forgiven and heard. I already pray for her. But give Me your
forgiveness and Lazarus'. You, a good sister, can speak and achieve even more than I can. His
wound is too fresh and sore for My hand to touch it even lightly. You can do it. Give Me your full
holy forgiveness, and I will...ｻ
ｫForgive... We will not be able. Our mother died of grief through her ill deeds and... they were still
slight compared with the present ones. I see my mother's torture... it is always present to me. And I
see what Lazarus is suffering.ｻ
ｫShe is ill, Martha, and insane. Forgive her.ｻ
ｫShe is possessed, Master.ｻ
ｫAnd what is diabolic possession but a disease of the spirit infected by Satan to the extent of
degenerating into a spiritual diabolic being? How can certain perversions in human beings be
explained otherwise? Perversions that make man much worse than beasts in ferocity, more lewd
than monkeys in lust, and so on, and make a hybrid, in which man, animal and demon are mingled.
That is the explanation of what amazes us as an inexplicable monstrosity in so many creatures. Do
not weep. Forgive. I see. Because My sight is sharper than the sight of the eye or of the heart. I see
God. I see. I tell you: forgive, because she is ill.ｻ
ｫCure her, then! ｻ
ｫI will cure her. Have faith. I will make you happy. But forgive and tell Lazarus to forgive. Forgive
her. Love her. Be on familiar terms with her. Speak to her as if she were like you. Speak to her of
Me...ｻ
ｫHow do You expect her to understand You, the Holy One? ｻ
ｫShe may not seem to understand. But My Name, even by Itself, is salvation. Get her to think of
Me and to mention My Name. Oh! Satan runs away when a heart thinks of My Name. Smile,
Martha, at this hope. Look at this rose. The rain of the past days had spoiled it, but look, the sun
today has opened it, and it is even more beautiful because the drops of rain on the petals adorn it
with diamonds. Your house will be like that... Tears and sorrow, now, and later... joy and glory. Go!
Tell Lazarus, while I, in the peace of your garden, will pray the Father for Mary and for you...ｻ
It all ends thus.

113. In Lazarus' House Again after the Tabernacles. Invitation of Joseph of Arimathea.

46
20th February 1945.

I do not know how I will be able to write so much, because I hear that Jesus wants to appear with
the Gospel as He lived it, and I suffered all through the night to remember the following vision, of
which I scribbled the words I heard, as best I could, in order not to forget them [ ... ]
And now, at 11 o'clock, I see this.
Jesus is once again in Lazarus' house. From what I hear, I gather that the Tabernacles have already
been celebrated and that Jesus has come back to Bethany through the insistence of His friend, who
would never like to be separated from Jesus. I also realise that Jesus is at Lazarus' only with Simon
and John, while the others are scattered in the area. Finally I understand that there has been a kind
of meeting of friends, still loyal to Lazarus, who has invited them so that they may meet Jesus.
I understand all that, because Lazarus expounds even more clearly the moral characters of each.
Speaking of Joseph of Arimathea, he defines him 'a true and just Israelite'. He says: ｫHe dare not
say so, because he is afraid of the Sanhedrin, of which he is a member, and which already hates
You. But he hopes to see in You the One Predicted by the Prophets. He spontaneously asked me if
he could come to meet You and form his own opinion of You, as he did not think that what Your
enemies said about You was right... Pharisees have come from as far as Galilee to accuse You of
sin. But Joseph's evaluation was: "Who works miracles has God with him. Who has God cannot be
in sin. Nay he can but be one loved by God". And he would like to have You at Arimathea, as his
guest. He asked me to tell You. And I beg You: please grant his request and mine.ｻ
ｫ I have come for the poor and for those who suffer in their souls and bodies, rather than for the
mighty ones who consider Me only an interesting object. But I will go to Joseph's. I am not against
the mighty ones on purpose. One of My disciples - the one who out of curiosity and self-proclaimed
importance came to your house, without any order from Me... but he is young and we must bear
with him - can testify to My respect for the mighty castes who proclaim themselves the "guardians
of the Law" and... they mean "the sustainers of the Most High". Oh! The Eternal Father sustains
Himself by Himself. None of the doctors ever had the same respect as I had for the officials of the
Temple.ｻ
ｫI know. A great many know... But only the best call such attitude by the right name. The others...
call it "hypocrisy".ｻ
ｫOne gives what one has in oneself, Lazarus. ｻ
ｫTrue. But go to Joseph. He would like to have You next Sabbath.ｻ
ｫl will go. You can let him know.ｻ
ｫAlso Nicodemus is good. Yes... he said to me... Can I tell You a piece of criticism on one of Your
disciples? ｻ
ｫYes, do. If he is a just man he will say what is just; if unjust, he will criticise a conversion,
because the Spirit gives light to the spirit of man, if he is an upright man; and the spirit of man
guided by the Spirit of God possesses a superhuman wisdom and can read the truth in hearts.ｻ
ｫHe said to me: "I do not criticise the presence of unlearned people or of excisemen among the
disciples of Christ. But I do not consider worthy of being one of His disciples, the man who I do not
know whether he is for Him or against Him, but is like a chameleon, which takes the colour and the
appearance of what is around it".ｻ
ｫThat is the Iscariot. I know. But believe Me: youth is a wine that ferments and then becomes
purified. When fermenting it swells and foams and overflows in all directions through excess of
vigour. A springtime wind blows in all directions and seems a mad ruffler of foliage. But it is the
wind we have to thank for fecundating flowers. Judas is wine and wind. But he is not evil. His
behaviour upsets and perturbs, it even hurts and causes one to suffer. But he is not completely
wicked... he is a fiery colt. ｻ
ｫYou say so... I am not competent to judge him. I still feel bitter at the fact that he told me that
You had seen her...ｻ
ｫBut your bitterness is now sweetened by honey, because of My promise...ｻ

47
ｫYes, but I remember that moment. Sorrow is not forgotten even when it ends.ｻ
ｫLazarus, Lazarus! You worry about too many things... and so trifling. Let days go by like air
bubbles that vanish and never come back in their bright or sad hues. And look at Heaven. It does
not vanish: it is for the just.ｻ
ｫYes, Master and Friend. I will not criticise the fact that Judas is with You, or the fact that You
keep him. I will pray that he may not be harmful to You.ｻ
Jesus smiles and it all ends.

114. Jesus Meets Gamaliel at the Banquet of Joseph of Arimathea.

21st February 1945.

Arimathea is a mountainous town, too. I do not know why, but I imagined it on a plain. Instead it is
on the mountains, which, however, are already sloping down to the plain, and from certain turns of
the road the flat country appears to be fertile towards the west and it fades away on the horizon, in
this November morning, in a low mist that looks like an endless sheet of water.
Jesus is with Simon and Thomas. There are no other apostles with Him. I am under the impression
that He wisely appraises the feelings of the people He has to approach, and according to the
circumstances, He takes those who can be accepted without annoying the landlord too much. These
Jews must be more touchy... than romantic little women...
I can hear them speaking of Joseph of Arimathea, and Thomas, who probably knows him very well,
describes his beautiful large estate which stretches along the mountain, particularly towards
Jerusalem along the road that runs from the capital to Arimathea and links this town to Joppa. I
hear them say so, and Thomas praises also the fields that Joseph possesses along the roads on the
plain.
ｫAt least men are not treated like animals here! Oh! That Doras! ｻ says Simon.
In fact the workers here are well fed and clothed and have the appearance of satisfied people who
are well. They greet respectfully because they obviously know who the tall handsome Man is, Who
is going to the house of their master along the countryside of Arimathea. And they watch Him,
speaking among themselves in low voices.
When Joseph's house comes into sight, a servant, after bowing low, asks: ｫAre You the Rabbi we
are expecting? ｻ
ｫI am ｻ replies Jesus.
He salutes bowing again and runs to inform the landlord.
In fact before Jesus reaches the boundary of the house - completely surrounded by a high hedge of
evergreens, which replace here the high wall around Lazarus' house and isolates it from the road,
being at the same time the continuation of the garden around the house, richly planted with trees
and at present very bare of foliage - Joseph of Arimathea, in his wide fringed robe, comes to meet
Him and bows very low with his arms folded on his chest. It is not the humble salutation of a
person who acknowledges in Jesus the God become Flesh and who humbles himself by kneeling to
the ground to kiss His feet or the hem of His tunic, but it is a salutation of deep respect. Jesus also
bows and then gives His greeting of peace.
ｫCome in, Master. You have made me happy by accepting my invitation. I was not expecting so

48
much compliance from You.ｻ
ｫWhy not? I go also to Lazarus' house and...ｻ
ｫLazarus is a friend of Yours... I am a stranger.ｻ
ｫYou are a soul seeking the truth. The Truth, therefore, does not reject you.ｻ
ｫAre You the Truth? ｻ
ｫI am the Way, the Life and the Truth. Who loves and follows Me will have the certain Way, the
blessed Life and will know God; because God, besides being Love and Justice, is Truth.ｻ
ｫYou are a great Doctor. Wisdom emanates from every word of Yours.ｻ He then turns to Simon:
ｫI am happy that you have come back to my house, too, after such a long absence.ｻ
ｫI was not absent of my own accord. You are aware of my fate and of how many tears were shed
during the life of the little Simon of whom your father was so fond.ｻ
ｫI know. And I think that you know that I never spoke one word against you.ｻ
ｫ I know everything. My faithful servant told me that I am indebted also to you, if my property was
respected. May God reward you for it.ｻ
ｫI was influential in the Sanhedrin and I made use of my position to help, with justice, a friend of
my house.ｻ
ｫ Many were the friends of mine and many were influential in the Sanhedrin. But they were not as
just as you are...ｻ
ｫAnd who is this? I seem to have met him... But I do not know where...ｻ
ｫI am Thomas, called Dydimus...ｻ
ｫAh! Yes! Is your old father still alive? ｻ
ｫ Yes, still alive. In his business, with my brothers. I left him for the Master. But he is happy that I
did.ｻ
ｫHe is a true Israelite, and, since he has got to the point of believing that Jesus of Nazareth is the
Messiah, he can but be happy that his son is amongst His favourites.ｻ
They are now in the garden, near the house.
ｫI have kept Lazarus. He is in the library, reading a summary of the last meetings of the Sanhedrin.
He did not want to stay because... I know that You are already aware... That is why he did not want
to stay. But I said: "No. It is not fair that you should be so ashamed. No one will insult you in my
house. Please stay. Who ignores his surroundings is alone against the whole world. And since in the
world there is more wickedness than goodness, who is alone is knocked down and trodden on". Was
I not right? ｻ
ｫYou were and You did the right thing ｻ replies Jesus.
ｫMaster... today there will be Nicodemus and... Gamaliel. Do You mind? ｻ
ｫWhy should I? I acknowledge his wisdom.ｻ
ｫYes. He was anxious to see You... and he wanted to insist on his point of view. You know... ideas.
He says that he has already seen the Messiah, and that he is waiting for the sign that He promised
him, at His revelation. He also says that You are "a man of God". He does not say: "the Man". He
says: "a man of God". A rabbinical subtlety, isn't it? You are not offended, are You? ｻ
ｫSubtlety. You are right. We must bear with them. The best ones will prune by themselves all the
superfluous branches that make them bear foliage and no fruit, and will come to Me.ｻ
ｫI wanted to inform You of his words, because he will certainly repeat them to You. He is frank ｻ
points out Joseph.
ｫA rare virtue which I appreciate very much ｻ replies Jesus.
ｫYes. I also said to him: "But Lazarus of Bethany is with the Master". I told him... because... well,
because of his sister. But Gamaliel replied: "Is she present? No? Well then? The mud falls off the
garment which is no longer in the mud. Lazarus has shaken it off himself. And he does not
contaminate my garment with it. And then I am of the opinion that if a man of God goes to his
house, I, a doctor of the Law, can go there too".ｻ
ｫGamaliel's judgement is correct. He is a Pharisee and a doctor to the backbone, but still honest
and just.ｻ
49
ｫI am happy to hear You say so. Master, here is Lazarus.ｻ
Lazarus bends down to kiss Jesus' tunic. He is happy to be with Him, but he is obviously agitated
while waiting for the guests. I am sure that poor Lazarus, to his well known torment, known to men
because handed down by history, has to add these moral sufferings, unknown to and ignored by
most people, that is, the dreadful sting of the thought: ｫWhat will this man say to me? What does
he think of me? How does he consider me? Will he offend me by means of words or scornful
glances? ｻ A sting that tortures all those who have a blot in their families.
They have now entered the very rich hall where the tables have been laid and they are waiting only
for Gamaliel and Nicodemus, because four other guests have already arrived. I hear them being
introduced with their respective names: Felix, John, Simon and Cornelius.
There is a great stir and rushing of servants when Nicodemus and Gamaliel arrive. Gamaliel is
always stately in his snow-white robe which he wears with regal majesty. Joseph rushes to meet
him and their reciprocal salutations are pompous exchanges of respect. Also Jesus is bowed and He
bows to the great rabbi who greets Him with the salutation: ｫThe Lord be with You ｻ to which
Jesus replies: ｫAnd may His peace always be your companion.ｻ Also Lazarus bows down and all
the others do likewise.
Gamaliel sits at the centre of the table, between Jesus and Joseph. Lazarus is beside Jesus,
Nicodemus beside Joseph. The meal starts after the ritual prayers, which Gamaliel says after an
oriental exchange of courteousness among the three main personages, that is, Jesus, Gamaliel and
Joseph.
Gamaliel is very dignified but not proud. He listens more than he speaks. But anyone can
understand that he ponders on every word of Jesus and often looks at Him with his deep dark severe
eyes. When Jesus becomes silent because a subject has been exhausted, Gamaliel revives the
conversation by means of a suitable question.
Lazarus at first is somewhat confused. But later he takes heart and he speaks, too.
No direct allusion is made to Jesus' personality until the meal is almost over. Then a discussion
starts between the guest named Felix and Lazarus, who is later joined and supported by Nicodemus
and finally by the guest named John, on miracles as proof in favour or against a person.
Jesus is silent. He sometimes smiles in a mysterious way, but is silent. Also Gamaliel is quiet. His
elbow is leaning on the bed and he is staring at Jesus. He seems to be wishing to decipher some
supernatural word engraved on the pale smooth skin of Jesus' thin face. He seems to be analysing
every fibre of it.
Felix maintains that John's holiness is incontestable and from such undisputed and indisputable
holiness he draws a conclusion unfavourable to Jesus Nazarene, the author of many famous
miracles. He says: ｫMiracles are not a proof of holiness because the life of the prophet John is
devoid of them, and yet no one in Israel leads a life like his. There are no banquets, no friendships,
no comforts for him. He suffers and is imprisoned for the sake of the Law. He lives in solitude,
because although he has disciples, he does not live with them and he finds faults also in the most
honest and thunders out against everybody. Whereas... eh! this Master here of Nazareth, has worked
miracles, it is true, but I see that He, too, loves what life offers and does not disdain friendships and,
forgive me if one of the Elders of the Sanhedrin says this to You, he is too easy in giving, in God's
name, forgiveness and love to well known sinners marked by anathema. You should not do that,
Jesus.ｻ
Jesus smiles, but does not speak. Lazarus replies in His stead: ｫOur powerful Lord is free to direct
His servants as and where He wishes. He granted the power of working miracles to Moses. He did
not grant it to Aaron, His first High Priest. So? What is your conclusion? Is one more holy than the
other? ｻ
ｫCertainly ｻ answers Felix.
ｫThen Jesus is more holy, because He works miracles.ｻ
Felix is disconcerted. But he raises a captious objection: ｫAaron had already been given the
pontificate. It was enough. ｻ
50
ｫNo, my friend ｻ replies Nicodemus. ｫHis pontificate was a mission. A holy mission, but nothing
more than a mission. Not always and not all the high priests of Israel were holy men. And yet they
were high priests, even if they were not holy.ｻ
ｫYou are not saying that the High Priest is a man devoid of grace!...ｻ exclaims Felix.
ｫFelix... don't let us play with fire. You, Gamaliel, Joseph, Nicodemus and I, we all know many
things...ｻ says the guest named John.
ｫWhat What? Gamaliel, say something!...ｻ Felix is scandalised.
ｫIf he is fair, he will speak the truth which you do not want to hear ｻ say the three men who are
bitter against Felix.
Joseph endeavours to bring about peace. Jesus is silent as well as Thomas, the Zealot and the other
Simon, the friend of Joseph. Gamaliel seems to be playing with the fringes of his robe, but he looks
at Jesus inquisitively.
ｫSpeak then, Gamaliel ｻ shouts Felix.
ｫYes, do speak ｻ say the three opponents.
ｫI say: the frailties of the family are to be concealed ｻ says Gamaliel.
ｫThat's not an answer! ｻ shouts Felix. ｫIt looks as if you are admitting that there are faults in the
house of the High Priest.ｻ
ｫHe is the soul of truth ｻ reply the three men.
Gamaliel draws himself up and turns towards Jesus. ｫHere is the Master Who overshadows the
most learned men. Let Him speak about it.ｻ
ｫ You wish so and I obey. I say: a man is a man. A mission is beyond man. But man, invested with
a mission, becomes capable of accomplishing it as a superman, when through a holy life, he has
God as his friend. It is He Who said: "You are a priest according to the order given by Me". What is
written on the Pectoral? "Doctrine and Truth". That is what the High Priest ought to possess.
Doctrine is acquired by constant meditation, aiming at the knowledge of the Most Wise One. Truth
is achieved by means of absolute loyalty to good. Who intrigues with evil, finds Falsehood and
loses Truth.ｻ
ｫVery well! You have replied as a great rabbi. I, Gamaliel, am telling You. You surpass me.ｻ
ｫLet Him explain then, why Aaron did not work miracles and Moses did ｻ raves Felix.
Jesus replies readily: ｫBecause Moses had to impose himself on the dull, heavy and even hostile
mass of the Israelites and had to succeed in having ascendancy over them, in order to bend them to
the will of God. Man is the eternal savage and the eternal child. He is struck by what exceeds the
common order of things. And a miracle is such. It is a light waved before dimmed eyes, it is a
sound produced near plugged ears. It wakes people up. It draws their attention. It makes them say:
"God is here".ｻ
ｫYou are saying that to Your own benefit ｻ retorts Felix.
ｫTo My benefit? What do I gain by working a miracle? Do I look taller if I stand on a blade of
grass? Such is a miracle with regard to holiness. There are saints who never worked miracles. There
are magicians and necromancers, who work them by means of dark powers, that is, they do
superhuman things, which, however, are not holy, and they are demons. I shall be I, even if I work
no more miracles.ｻ
ｫExcellent! You are great, Jesus! ｻ approves Gamaliel.
ｫAnd according to you, who is this great man? ｻ urges Felix addressing Gamaliel.
ｫThe greatest prophet I know, both with regard to His deeds and to His wordsｻ replies Gamaliel.
ｫHe is the Messiah, I am telling you, Gamaliel. Believe me, you are wise and just ｻ says Joseph.
ｫWhat? You too, the guide of the Judaeans, the Elder, our glory, are falling into this idolatry of a
man? Who can prove to you that He is the Christ? I will not believe Him even if I see Him work
miracles. Why does He not work one in front of us? You that praise Him, should tell Him, and you,
too, that defend Him ｻ says Felix to Gamaliel and Joseph.
ｫI did not invite Him to amuse my friends and I beg you to remember that He is my guest ｻ replies
Joseph gravely.
51
Felix gets up and goes away, a cross and rude man.
There is silence. Jesus turns to Gamaliel: ｫAre you not asking for miracles to believe? ｻ
ｫIt will not be the miracles of a man of God to remove the thorn I have in my heart, that is, three
questions that are always without an answer. ｻ
ｫWhich questions? ｻ
ｫIs the Messiah alive? Was it that one? Is it this one? ｻ
ｫIt is He, I tell you, Gamaliel! ｻ exclaims Joseph. ｫDon't you think that He is holy? Different?
Powerful? You do? Well, then? What are you waiting to believe?ｻ
Gamaliel does not reply to Joseph. He turns to Jesus: ｫOnce... do not be upset, Jesus, if I am
tenacious of my ideas... Once, when the great wise Hillel was still alive, we both believed that the
Messiah was in Israel. There was a great brightness of a divine sunshine on that cold day in a bitter
winter! It was Passover... Men were worried about the frozen crops... I said, after I heard those
words: "Israel has been saved! As from today there will be abundance in the fields and blessings in
our hearts! The Expected One has revealed Himself in His first refulgence". And I was not wrong.
You may all remember the harvest of that embolismic year, a year of thirteen months, as it happens
also this year.ｻ
ｫWhich words did you hear? Who spoke them? ｻ
ｫOne... a little more than a child... but God was shining on His innocent gentle face... I have been
thinking of it and remembering it for the last nineteen years... and I try to hear that voice again...
that spoke words of wisdom... In which part of the world does He now live? I ponder... He was God.
In the appearance of a little boy in order not to frighten men. And like lightning that dashing across
the sky appears flashing northwards, southwards, eastwards and westwards, He, the Divine Being,
in His appearance of merciful beauty, with the face and voice of a child and a divine mind, wanders
on the earth to say to men: "I am". So I think... When will He come back to Israel?... When? And I
think: when Israel will become the altar for His feet; and my heart moans seeing the abjection of
Israel: never. Oh! What a harsh reply! But true! Can the Holiness descend into Its Messiah as long
as there is abomination amongst us? ｻ
ｫIt can and does descend, because it is Mercy ｻ replies Jesus.
Gamaliel looks at Him pensively and then asks: ｫWhat is Your true Name? ｻ
And Jesus stands up, stately, and says: ｫI am Who I am. The Thought and the Word of the Father. I
am the Messiah of the Lord.ｻ
ｫYou?... I cannot believe it. Great is Your Holiness. But that Child, in Whom I do believe, said
then: "I will give a sign... These stones will vibrate when My hour comes". I am awaiting that hour
to believe. Can you give it to me, to convince me that You are the Expected One? ｻ
They are now both standing, tall, stately, one in his wide white linen robe, the other in his plain
dark red woollen tunic, one elderly, the other young, both with deep dominating eyes, staring at
each other.
Jesus then lowers His right arm, which He had folded on His chest, and as if He were swearing, He
exclaims: ｫYou want that sign? And you will have it! I repeat the far off words: "The stones of the
Temple of the Lord will vibrate hearing My last words". Wait for that sign, doctor of Israel, a just
man, and then believe, if you wish to be forgiven and saved. Blessed before time, if you could
believe before! But you cannot. Centuries of wrong beliefs, on a just promise, and heaps of pride,
are your bulwark against Truth and Faith.ｻ
ｫYou are right. I will wait for that sign. Goodbye. The Lord be with You.ｻ
ｫGoodbye, Gamaliel. May the Eternal Spirit enlighten you and guide you.ｻ
They all greet Gamaliel who goes away with Nicodemus, John and Simon (the Sanhedrin member).
Jesus, Joseph, Lazarus, Thomas, Simon Zealot and Cornelius stay.
ｫHe will not bend!... I would like him to be one of Your disciples. He would be of conclusive
weight in Your favour... But I am unableｻ says Joseph.
ｫDo not worry. No weight can save Me from the storm which is already approaching. But
Gamaliel, if he does not bend in My favour, will not bend against Christ either. He is one who is
52
waiting...ｻ
It all ends.
115. Cure of the Little Dying Boy. The Soldier Alexander. Intimation to Jesus.
22nd February 1945.

The interior of the Temple. Jesus is with His disciples very close to the real and true Temple, that
is, to the Holy Place which only the priests could enter. It is a beautiful large courtyard which one
enters through a hall and from which through an even richer court one reaches the high terrace on
which is the cube of the Holy.
My effort is quite useless! If I should see the Temple a thousand times and describe it two thousand,
I would always be defective in describing this stately labyrinth, both because of the complexity of
the place, and of my ignorance of names and my incapacity to draw a chart...
They seem to be praying. Also many other Israelites, all men, are there praying each on his own
account. The evening of a dull November day falls early.
I hear people shouting and I perceive the cross stentorean voice of a man cursing also in Latin,
mingled to shrill piercing Jewish voices. It is like the bustle of a struggle and the shrill voice of a
woman shouts: ｫOh! Let him go! He says that He will save him.ｻ
The concentration of the stately courtyard is broken. Many heads turn round towards the spot
whence the voices are coming. Also Judas Iscariot, who is with the disciples, turns round. Tall as he
is, he sees and says: ｫA Roman soldier is struggling to come in! He is violating, he has already
violated the Holy Place! How horrible! ｻ Many echo his words.
ｫLet me pass, you Jewish dogs! Jesus is here. I know! I want Him! I don't care about your stupid
stones. The boy is dying and He will save him. Get away! Hypocritical hyenas...ｻ
As soon as Jesus realises that He is wanted, He goes towards the hall where the struggle is taking
place, He reaches it and shouts: ｫPeace and respect to the place and to the hour of the offering. ｻ
ｫOh! Jesus! Hail! I am Alexander. Make room, you dogs! ｻ
And Jesus says calmly: ｫYes, make room. I will take the heathen elsewhere, as he does not know
what this place is for us.ｻ
They move aside and Jesus reaches the soldier, whose cuirass is stained with blood. ｫAre you
wounded? Come. We cannot stay here ｻ and He takes him through the other court and beyond it.
ｫI am not wounded. A little boy... My horse, near the Antonia, got out of hand and knocked him
down. Its hooves split his head. Proculus said: "Nothing doing!" It's... it's no fault of mine... but it
happened through me and his mother is desperate. I saw You passing by... and coming here... I said:
"Proculus cannot, but He can". I said: "Woman, come. Jesus will cure him". Those mad people kept
me back... and perhaps the child is dead.ｻ
ｫWhere is he? ｻ asks Jesus.
ｫUnder the arcade, in his mother's lap ｻ answers the soldier already seen at the Fish Gate.
ｫLet us go ｻ and Jesus walks away even faster, followed by His disciples and a train of people.
On the steps limiting the arcade, leaning against a column, there is a tormented woman, weeping
over her dying child. The little boy is wan, his half open purple lips are breathing heavily as is
typical of people whose brains have been injured. A bandage is tied round his head, stained with
blood at the back of his neck and at his forehead.
ｫHis head is split at the front and at the back. His brains can be seen. A head is tender at that age
and the horse was a huge one and had been shod recently ｻ explains Alexander.
Jesus is close to the woman, who does not even speak any more, agonizing as she is over her dying
son. He lays His hand on her head. ｫDo not cry, woman ｻ He says with all the kindness of which
He is capable, that is with infinite kindness. ｫHave faith. Give Me your child.ｻ
The woman looks at Him stupified. The crowd curse the Romans and pity the dying boy and his
mother. Alexander is filled with anger, for the unfair charges, and with compassion and hope.
Jesus sits beside the woman because He sees that she is unable to make any gesture. He bends
down. He takes the little wounded head in His long hands, He bends lower, over the waxen little

53
face, breathes over the wheezing little mouth... a few moments. Then He smiles, a smile hardly
perceptible through His locks of hair which have fallen forward. He straightens Himself. The child
opens his little eyes and makes the gesture of sitting up. His mother fears that it is his last
movement and screams pressing him to her heart.
ｫLet him go, woman. Child, come to Me ｻ says Jesus, still sitting beside the woman and stretching
out His hands with a smile. And the boy throws himself confidently into those arms and weeps, not
out of sorrow, but because of the fear which is coming back to him with his returning memory.
ｫThere is no horse here, the horse is not here ｻ Jesus assures him. ｫIt is all over. Is it still painful
here? ｻ
ｫNo, but I am afraid, I am afraid! ｻ
ｫSee, woman. It is nothing but fear. It will soon be over. Bring Me some water. The blood and
bandages are affecting him. John, give Me one of the apples you have... Take, little one. Eat it. It is
good...ｻ
They bring water. It is the soldier Alexander who brings it in his helmet.
Jesus makes the gesture of undoing the bandage.
Alexander and the mother say: ｫNo! He is coming round... but his head is split!...ｻ Jesus smiles
and unties the bandage. One, two, three, eight turns. He removes the blood-stained cloth. From the
middle of his forehead to the back of his neck, on his right-hand side, it is all one clot of blood, still
soft, among the child's hair. Jesus wets a bandage and washes...
ｫBut underneath there is the wound... if You remove the clot it will start bleeding again ｻ insists
Alexander.
The mother closes her eyes not to see.
Jesus continues to wash. The clot melts... now the child's hair is clean. It is wet, but there is no
wound underneath. Also his forehead is healed. There is only a tiny red mark where was the scar.
The crowd shout out of amazement. The woman dares to look and when she sees, she no longer
controls herself. She throws herself on Jesus, embracing Him with her child and weeps. Jesus puts
up with the effusion and the shower of tears.
ｫThank You, Jesus ｻ says Alexander. ｫI was sorry I had killed this innocent boy.ｻ
ｫYou have been good and trustful. Goodbye, Alexander. Go back to your work.ｻ
Alexander is about to go away, when some officials of the Temple and some priests arrive like so
many hurricanes. ｫThe High Priest orders You, through us, to leave the Temple, You and the
heathen desecrator. At once. You have upset the offering of the incense. That man has entered a
place reserved exclusively to Judaeans. It is not the first time that the Temple has been disturbed
because of You. The High Priest together with the Elders on duty, orders You never to put foot in
here again. Go away, and stay with Your heathens.ｻ
ｫWe are not dogs either. He said: "There is only one God, creator of the Judaeans and of the
Romans". If this is His House and I was created by Him, I ought to be allowed to come in as well ｻ
replies Alexander, stung by the scornful tone in which the priests pronounce ｫheathens ｻ.
ｫBe quiet, Alexander. I will speak ｻ cuts in Jesus, Who has handed the boy back to his mother
after kissing him, and is now standing up. He says to the group who are turning Him out: ｫNo one
can forbid a believer, a true Israelite, whom no one can prove guilty of sin, to pray near the Holy.ｻ
ｫBut to explain the Law in the Temple, yes, he can be forbidden. You assumed the right, without
having it, and without asking for it. Who are You? Who knows You? How dare You usurp a name
and a position which do not belong to You? ｻ
Jesus looks at them with knowing eyes, He then says: ｫJudas of Kerioth, come here.ｻ
Judas does not appear to be very enthusiastic about the invitation. He had tried to disappear as soon
as the priests and the officials of the Temple arrived (however, they are not wearing military
uniforms: it must be a civil office). But he is obliged to obey because Peter and Judas of Alphaeus
push him forward.
ｫJudas, please answer. And you, look at him. You know him. He is of the Temple. Do you know
him? ｻ
54
They are obliged to reply: ｫYes, we do.ｻ
ｫJudas, what did I ask you to do when I spoke here for the first time? And why were you amazed?
And what did I say to you in reply to your amazement? Speak and be frank.ｻ
ｫHe said to me: "Call the official on duty that I may ask him for permission to teach". And he gave
His name, He explained who He was and mentioned His tribe... and I was astonished as I
considered it a useless formality, since He says that He is the Messiah. And He said to me: "It is
necessary and when the hour comes, remember that I never lacked in respect to the Temple and its
officials". Yes. That is what He said. I must say so to honour the truth. ｻ At the beginning Judas
spoke somewhat uncertain, as if he were annoyed. Then, with one of his typical sudden changes, he
became certain, almost arrogant.
ｫI am astonished that you should defend Him. You have betrayed our trust in you ｻ says a priest to
Judas reproachfully.
ｫI have not betrayed anyone. How many of you are of the Baptist! So, are they traitors? I am of
Christ. That's all.ｻ
ｫWell, He must not speak here. He may come as a believer. It is even too much for one who is
friendly with heathens, prostitutes and excisemen...ｻ
ｫReply to Me, now ｻ says Jesus, severe but calm. ｫWho are the Elders on duty? ｻ
ｫDoras and Felix, Judaeans. Joachim of Capernaum and Joseph, Ituraean.ｻ
ｫI understand. Let us go. Refer to the three accusers, because the Ituraean cannot have accused,
that the Temple is not all Israel and Israel is not the whole world, and that the slobber of reptules,
however plentiful and most poisonous, will not drown the Voice of God, neither will its poison
paralyse My going amongst men until the hour comes. And after... oh! tell them that after, men will
do justice to the executioners and will raise the Victim making It their only love. Go. And let us
go.ｻ And Jesus covers Himself with His wide heavy dark mantle and goes out in the middle of His
disciples.
Behind them is Alexander who stayed for the discussion. Outside the enclosure, near the Antonia
Tower, he says: ｫI say goodbye to You, Master. And I ask You to forgive me for being the cause of
a reproach for You.ｻ
ｫOh! Do not worry! They were looking for a pretext. If it was not you, it would have been someone
else... In Rome you have games in the Circus with beasts and snakes, have you not? Well, I tell you
that no beast is more wild and deceitful than a man who wants to kill another man.ｻ
ｫAnd I tell You that I have travelled through all the regions of Rome, at Caesar's service. But
nowhere amongst the thousands of people I have met, did I find anyone more divine than You. No,
not even our gods are as divine as You are! They are vindictive, cruel, quarrelsome, liars. You are
good. You are really a Man, not man. Hail, Master.ｻ
ｫGoodbye, Alexander. Proceed in the Light.ｻ
It all ends.

116. Jesus Speaks to Nicodemus, at Night, at Gethsemane.

24th February 1945.

Jesus is in the kitchen of the little house in the olive-grove, having supper with His disciples. They
are talking of the events of the day, which, however, is not the special happening just described,
because I hear them talking of other events, amongst which is the cure of a leper near the
sepulchres, along the Bethphage road.
ｫThere was also a Roman centurion watching ｻ says Bartholomew. And he continues: ｫHe asked
me, while on horseback: "Does the man you follow often do such things?" and when I answered in
the affirmative, he exclaimed: "Then He is greater than Aesculapius and will become richer than
Croesus". I replied: "He will always be poor, according to the world, because He never receives, but

55
gives and only wants souls to take to the true God". The centurion looked at me amazed, then
spurred his horse and galloped away.ｻ
ｫThere was also a Roman lady in a litter. It must have been a woman. The curtains were not drawn
but she was peeping through them. I saw her ｻ says Thomas.
ｫYes, it was near the top bend of the road. She had told them to stop when the leper cried: "Son of
David, have mercy on me!" One of the curtains was then drawn and I saw her look at You through a
valuable lens, then she laughed ironically. But when she saw that You cured him only by giving a
command, she called me and asked me: "Is He the one they call the true Messiah?" I replied "Yes"
and she said to me: "Are you with Him?" and then she asked: "Is He really good?" ｻ says John.
ｫThen you saw her! What was she like? ｻ ask Peter and Judas.
ｫWell!... A woman...ｻ
ｫWhat a great discovery! ｻ says Peter laughing. And the Iscariot insists: ｫBut was she beautiful,
young, rich? ｻ
ｫYes. I think that she was young and also beautiful. But I was watching Jesus more than I was
looking at her. I wanted to see if the Master was setting out again...ｻ
ｫFool! ｻ mumbles Judas between his teeth.
ｫWhy? ｻ asks James of Zebedee defending his brother. ｫMy brother was not a dandy in search of
affairs. He replied out of courtesy. But he did not lack in his first quality.ｻ
ｫWhich? ｻ asks the Iscariot.
ｫThat of a disciple, whose only love is the Master.ｻ
Judas, very cross, lowers his head.
ｫIn any case... it is not the right thing to be seen talking to the Romans ｻ says Philip. ｫThey are
already accusing us of being Galileans, and thus less "pure" than Judaeans. And that because of our
birth. Then they accuse us of staying often at Tiberias, a meeting. place of Gentiles, Romans,
Phoenicians, Syrians... and then... oh! of how many things they accuse us!...ｻ
ｫ You are good, Philip, and you are drawing a veil over the harshness of the truth you are telling.
But the truth, without any veil, is this: of how many things they accuse Me ｻ says Jesus Who has
been quiet so far.
ｫAfter all, they are not completely wrong. Too many contacts with the heathens ｻ says the
Iscariot.
ｫDo you think that only those are heathens who have not Moses' law? ｻ asks Jesus.
ｫWell, who else? ｻ
ｫJudas!... Can you swear on our God that you have no heathenism in your heart? And can you
swear that the most prominent Israelites have none? ｻ
ｫMaster... I do not know about the others... but I can swear with regard to myself.ｻ
ｫAccording to you, what is heathenism? ｻ asks Jesus again.
ｫIt is to follow a false religion, to worship gods ｻ replies Judas violently.
ｫWhich are? ｻ
ｫThe gods of Greece and Rome, the Egyptian ones... that is the gods with thousands of names, and
of non-existent people, who according to the pagans, fill their Olympus. ｻ
ｫNo other god exists? Only the Olympic ones? ｻ
ｫWhich other ones? Are they not already too many? ｻ
ｫToo many, yes. But there are many more and incense is burnt at their altars by every man, also by
priests, Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, all people of Israel, am I right? Not only, but it is
burnt also by My disciples.ｻ
ｫAh! Certainly not! ｻ they all say.
ｫ No? My friends... Which of you does not have a secret cult, or several secret cults? One has
beauty and smartness. Another the pride of his knowledge. Another burns incense to his hope of
becoming a great man, from a human point of view. Another worships women. Another money...
Another kneels down before his knowledge... and so on. I solemnly tell you that there is no man
who is not stained with idolatry. Why then disdain those who are pagans by misfortune, when you
56
remain pagans by your own free will, although you belong to the true God? ｻ
ｫBut we are men, Master ｻ exclaim many of them.
ｫThat is true. Then... be charitable to everybody because I have come for everybody and you are
not worth more than I am. ｻ
ｫHowever, we are being accused and Your mission is being obstructed.ｻ
ｫIt will be carried on just the same.ｻ
ｫWith regard to women ｻ says Peter, who probably because he is sitting next to Jesus, is in such a
transport of delight, that he is very good. ｫFor some days, and precisely since You spoke at
Bethany the first time after we came back to Judaea, a woman, all covered with a veil, has been
following us all the time. I do not know how she finds out our intentions. I know that she is almost
always either in the last rows of people listening to You when You speak, or behind the crowds that
follow You when You walk about, or even behind us when we go announcing You in the country.
At Bethany, the first time, she whispered to me from behind her veil: "That man you said is going to
speak, is He really Jesus of Nazareth?" I replied to her that He was and in the evening she was
behind the trunk of a tree listening to You. Then I lost sight of her. But now, here in Jerusalem, I
have seen her two or three times. Today I asked her: "Do you need Him? Are you not well? Do you
want alms?" She always shook her head, because she never speaks to anyone.ｻ
ｫOne day she said to me: "Where does Jesus live?" and I said to her: "At Gethsemane" ｻ says
John.
ｫYou clever fool! You shouldn't. You should have said: "Uncover your face. Make yourself known
and I will tell you" ｻ says the Iscariot, bad tempered.
ｫBut when have we ever asked for such things?! ｻ exclaims John, simple-minded and innocent.
ｫYou can see other people. She is always veiled. She is either a spy or a leper. She must not follow
us and learn about us. If she is spying, it is to harm us. Perhaps she is paid by the Sanhedrin for
that...ｻ
ｫAh! Does the Sanhedrin use such methods? ｻ asks Peter. ｫAre you sure? ｻ
ｫ Most certain. I was of the Temple and I know.ｻ
ｫLovely! That fits like a glove what the Master just said ｻ remarks Peter.
ｫWhat? ｻ Judas is already flushed with anger.
ｫThat also amongst priests there are heathens.ｻ
ｫWhat's that to do with paying a spy? ｻ
ｫQuite a lot! Too much, indeed! Why do they pay? To overthrow the Master and triumph over
Him. So they are placing themselves on the altar with their foul souls under their clean clothes ｻ
replies Peter with good common sense.
ｫWell, the fact is ｻ cuts short Judas ｫthat woman is dangerous to the crowd and to us. To the
crowd if she is a leper, to us if she is a spy.ｻ
ｫThat is, to Him, eventually ｻ replies Peter.
ｫBut if He falls, we fall, too...ｻ
ｫAh! Ah! ｻ laughs Peter and concludes: ｫAnd the idol will break into pieces, if it falls, and we
lose our time, our reputation and perhaps our lives, then, ah! ah! it is better to try and not let it fall
or... move away in time, is that right? I instead... look, I embrace Him closer. If He falls,
overthrown by the traitors of God, I want to fall with Him ｻ and Peter clasps Jesus in his short
arms.
ｫI did not realise that I had done so much harm, Master ｻ says John very sadly: he is facing Jesus.
ｫHit me, ill-treat me, but save Yourself. It would be dreadful if I were the cause of Your death!... I
could never forgive myself. I feel that tears would leave burning marks on my cheeks and scald my
eyes. What have I done! Judas is right: I am a fool.ｻ
ｫNo, John, you are not, and you did the right thing. Let her come. Always. And respect her veil. It
may be worn as a protection in the struggle between sin and the desire for redemption. Do you
know what wounds are caused on a being when such struggle takes place? Do you know how much
one weeps and blushes? You, John, a dear son with the heart of a good child, you said that your
57
face would be marked by tears if you were to cause harm to Me. But you must know that when a
revived conscience begins to gnaw at the flesh, that was sinful, in order to destroy it and triumph
with its soul, it must consume everything that was an attraction for the flesh, and the creature ages
and withers under the blaze of the devouring fire. Only later, when redemption is complete, a
second, holy and more perfect beauty is formed again, because it is the beauty of the soul that
emerges from the eyes, from the smile, from the voice and from the honest pride on the forehead on
which God's forgiveness has descended and shines like a diadem.ｻ
ｫSo I did not do the wrong thing?...ｻ
ｫNo, you did not. Neither did Peter. Leave her alone. Now you may all go and rest. I will stay with
John and Simon, to whom I wish to speak. Go.ｻ
The disciples withdraw. Perhaps they sleep in the oil-mill. I do not know, They go away, and they
certainly do not go back to Jerusalem, where the gates have been closed for hours.
ｫYou said, Simon, that Lazarus sent Isaac and Maximinus to you today, when I was at David's
Tower. What did he want? ｻ
ｫHe wanted to tell You that Nicodemus is at his house and would like to speak to You secretly. I
took the liberty of saying: "Let him come. The Master will wait for him at night". You can be alone
only by night. That is why I said to You: "Dismiss them all, except John and me". We need John to
go to the Kidron bridge and wait for Nicodemus who is in one of Lazarus' houses, outside the wall. I
had to stay to explain the situation. Have I done the wrong thing? ｻ
ｫNo, you have done the right thing. Go, John, to your place.ｻ
Jesus and Simon are by themselves. Jesus is pensive. Simon respects His silence. But Jesus
interrupts it suddenly and, as if He were concluding an internal thought in a loud voice, He says: ｫ
Yes. That is the best thing to do. Isaac, Elias and the others are sufficient to keep alive the idea
which is becoming known amongst good and humble people. For the mighty ones... There are other
means. There is Lazarus, Chuza, Joseph, and others... But the mighty ones... do not want Me. They
tremble and are afraid for their power. I will go away from these Judaean hearts, who are becoming
more and more hostile to the Christ.ｻ
ｫAre we going back to Galilee? ｻ
ｫNo, but we are going far from Jerusalem. Judaea is to be evangelised. It is part of Israel, too. But
here, you see what happens... Everything serves to accuse Me. I am withdrawing. And for the
second time...ｻ
ｫMaster, here is Nicodemus ｻ says John going in first.
They greet one another, then Simon takes John and goes out of the kitchen, leaving the two alone.
ｫMaster, forgive me if I wanted to speak to You in secret. I do not trust many people with regard to
You and myself. I am not acting entirely out of cowardice. It is also prudence and the desire to be
of greater assistance to You, than if I belonged to You openly. You have many enemies. I am one of
the few here who admire You. I sought Lazarus' advice. Lazarus is powerful by birth, he is feared
because he stands high in the favour of the Romans, he is just in the eyes of God, he is wise by
matured talent and learning, he is a true friend of Yours and mine. Those are the reasons why I
wanted to speak to him. And I am happy that he came to the same conclusion as I did. I informed
him of the last... discussions at the Sanhedrin about You.ｻ
ｫThe last accusations. Tell the plain truth.ｻ
ｫThe last accusations. Yes, Master. I was about to say: "Well, I am one of His followers, too" so
that at least one would be in Your favour in that assembly. But Joseph, who was beside me,
whispered: "Be quiet. Do not let us disclose our thoughts. I will explain later". And when we came
out he said: "It is better that way. If they know that we are His disciples, they will keep us in the
dark about their thoughts and decisions, and will be able to harm Him and us. If, instead, they think
that we are only inquiring into His life, they will not resort to subterfuges". I realised that he was
right. They are so... wicked! I also have my interests and my duties... and Joseph has his... You
understand, Master...ｻ
ｫI do not reproach you in any way. I was saying that to Simon, before you came here. And I have
58
decided to go away from Jerusalem.ｻ
ｫYou hate us because we do not love You! ｻ
ｫNo. I do not hate even My enemies.ｻ
ｫYou say so. It is true. You are right. How sorrowful for me and Joseph! And Lazarus? What will
Lazarus say, who today had decided to let You leave this place and go to one of the houses he owns
in Zion. Lazarus is a very wealthy man. A large part of the town belongs to him as well as much
land in Palestine. His father, to his own wealth and to Eucheria's, who belonged to Your tribe and
family, added the reward of the Romans to their faithful servant, and he bequeathed a very large
heritage to his children. And what matters more, a veiled but potent friendship with Rome. Without
it, no one would have saved the household from abuse, after Mary's disgraceful behaviour, her
divorce, which was granted to her only because of her position, her licentious life in that town
which is his domain, and in Tiberias, the elegant brothel which Rome and Athens have turned into a
prostitution bed for many of the chosen people. Truly, if the Syrian Theophilus had been a more
convinced proselyte, he would not have given his children the Hellenistic upbringing which kills so
much virtue and disseminates so much voluptuousness, and which, imbibed and expelled without
any consequence by Lazarus and especially by Martha, infected and proliferated in the dissolute
Mary and made her the disgrace of her family and of Palestine! No, without the powerful shelter of
the favour of Rome, they would have been anathematised more than lepers. But since the situation
is such, take advantage of it.ｻ
ｫNo. I am going to withdraw. Who wants Me will come to Me.ｻ
ｫI should not have spoken! ｻ Nicodemus is depressed.
ｫNo. Wait and be convinced ｻ and Jesus opens a door and calls: ｫSimon! John! Come here.ｻ
The two disciples rush in.
ｫSimon, tell Nicodemus what I was saying to you when he arrived.ｻ
ｫThat the shepherds are sufficient for the humble people, Lazarus, Nicodemus and Joseph with
Chuza for the mighty ones and that You are going away from Jerusalem without leaving Judaea.
That is what You were saying. Why do You ask me to repeat it? What has happened? ｻ
ｫNothing. Nicodemus is afraid I might be going away because of what he told Me.ｻ
ｫI told the Master that the Sanhedrin is more and more hostile, and that He ought to put Himself
under Lazarus' protection. He protected your property because Rome is on his side. He would
protect also Jesus.ｻ
ｫ It is true. It is good advice. Although my caste is disliked also by Rome, a word of Theophilus
saved my property during my proscription and my leprosy. And Lazarus is very friendly to You,
Master.ｻ
ｫI know. But I have decided. And I do what I said.ｻ
ｫWe are going to lose You, then! ｻ
ｫNo, Nicodemus. Men of all sects go to the Baptist. Men of all sects and positions will be able to
come to Me.ｻ
ｫWe came to You because we knew that You were greater than John.ｻ
ｫYou may still come. I will be a solitary rabbi like John, and I will speak to the crowds willing to
hear the voice of God and capable of believing that I am that Voice. And the others will forget Me.
If they are at least capable of that.ｻ
ｫMaster, You are sad and disappointed. And You are right. Everybody listens to You. And they
believe in You so much that they obtain miracles. Even one of Herod's men, whose natural
goodness must be corrupted by that incestuous court, even Roman soldiers believe in You. Only we
in Zion are so hard... But not everybody. You know... Master, we know that You have come from
God, that You are His doctor, and there is none greater than You. Also Gamaliel says so. No one
can work the miracles that You work unless God is with him. Also learned people like Gamaliel
believe that. Why then can we not have the same faith as the humble people of Israel? Oh! Tell me.
I will not betray You, even if You should say to me: "I lied to corroborate My wise words with a
seal that nobody can deride". Are You the Messiah of the Lord? The Expected One? The Word of
59
the Father, incarnate to teach and redeem Israel according to the Covenant? ｻ
ｫAre you asking that by yourself, or have others sent you to ask it? ｻ
ｫ By myself, Lord. I have a storm and a torment within me. Contrasting winds and voices. Why do
I, a mature man, not have the peaceful certainty that this fellow has, although he is almost illiterate
and a boy, the certainty that gives such a smile to his face, such light to his eyes, such sunshine to
his heart? How do you believe, John, to be so certain? Teach me, son, your secret, by means of
which you were able to see and understand that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah! ｻ
John becomes as red as a strawberry, he then bends his head, as if he were apologising for saying
such a great thing, and replies simply: ｫBy loving.ｻ
ｫBy loving! And what about you, Simon, an upright man, on the threshold of old age, you, a
learned man, so tried as to be induced to fear deceit everywhere? ｻ
ｫBy meditating.ｻ
ｫLoving! Meditating! I also love and meditate and I am not yet certain! ｻ
Jesus cuts in saying: ｫI will tell you the true secret. They knew how to be born again, with a new
spirit, free from all ties, virgin of all ideas. And they therefore understood God. If one is not born
again, one cannot see the Kingdom of God nor believe in its King.ｻ
ｫHow can a grown man be born again? Ejected from his mother's womb, man cannot go back into
it. Are You referring perhaps to reincarnation, in which many pagans believe? No, it is not possible
of You. In any case it would not be going back into a womb, but a reincarnation beyond time. That
is, not now. How? ｻ
ｫ There is but one life of the body in the world and only one eternal life of the soul beyond the
world. Now I am not speaking of the flesh and blood, but of the immortal spirit, which is born to
true life by means of two things: through water and the Spirit. But the greater is the Spirit, without
Whom water is but a symbol. He who has been cleansed through water, must then purify himself
through the Spirit and through the Spirit he must become inflamed and shine, if he wishes to live in
the bosom of God here and in the eternal Kingdom. Because what is born of the flesh, is and will
remain flesh, and dies with the flesh after serving it in its carnal lusts and sins. But what is born of
the Spirit is spirit and it lives going back to the Spirit of which it was born, after bringing up its own
spirit to the perfect age. The Kingdom of Heaven will be inhabited only by those beings which have
reached a perfect spiritual age. Do not be surprised, therefore, if I say: "It is necessary for you to be
born again". These two knew how to be born again. The younger subdued the flesh and caused his
spirit to revive by putting his ego on the stake of love. All matter was burnt. From the ashes there
arose his fresh spiritual flower, a wonderful helianthus that turns towards the eternal Sun. The older
one laid the axe of honest meditation to the root of his old way of thinking, he uprooted the old
plant leaving only the shoot of good will, of which he caused his new thoughts to be born. He now
loves God with a new spirit and sees Him. Everybody has his own method of reaching the harbour.
Every wind is good providing one knows how to unfurl the sails. You feel the wind blowing, and
according to its direction you can adjust the brails. But you cannot tell where the wind comes from,
neither can you call the one you need. Also the Spirit calls and It comes calling and passes by. But
only who is alert can follow it. A son knows the voice of his father, the spirit knows the voice of the
Spirit of which it was born.ｻ
ｫHow can that happen? ｻ
ｫYou, a teacher in Israel, are asking Me? Do you not know these things? We speak about and
witness to what we know and have seen. Now, then, I speak about and witness to what I know. How
will you ever be able to believe what you have not seen, if you do not believe the witness I am
bearing to you? How can you believe in the Spirit, if you do not believe in the Incarnate Word? I
have descended to ascend again and take with Me those who are down here. Only One descended
from Heaven: the Son of Man. And only One will ascend to Heaven with the power to open
Heaven: I, the Son of Man. Remember Moses. He raised a serpent in the desert to heal the diseases
of Israel. When I am raised, those who are now blind, deaf, dumb, mad, lepers, ill because of the
fever of sin, will be cured and whoever believes in Me will have eternal life. Also those who
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believe in Me, will have that blissful life. Do not bend your forehead, Nicodemus. I have come to
save, not to lose. God did not send His Only-Begotten Son into the world so that those in the world
might be condemned, but that the world might be saved through Him. In the world I have found all
the sins, all the heresies, all the idolatries. But can the swallow flying swiftly over dust soil its
feathers with it? No. It only takes along the sad roads of the earth a particle of blue sky, and the
scent of the sky, it utters a call to rouse men and make them raise their eyes from the mud and
follow its flight which returns to the sky. I do likewise. I have come to take you with Me. Come!...
Who believes in the Only Begotten Son will not be judged. He is already saved, because the Son
speaks in his favour to the Father and says: 'He loved Me.' But it is useless to perform holy deeds, if
one does not believe. He has already been judged because he did not believe in the name of the
Only-Begotten Son of God. Which is My Name, Nicodemus? ｻ
ｫJesus.ｻ
ｫNo. Saviour. I am Salvation. Who does not believe in Me, rejects his salvation and is judged by
the eternal Justice. And this is the judgement: "Light was sent to you and to the world, in order to
save you, but you and men preferred darkness to light, because you preferred evil actions, which
were customary to you, to the good actions that He pointed out to you, that you might follow them
and be saints". You hated the Light because evil-doers love darkness for their crimes, and you
avoided the Light that It might not illuminate your hidden wounds. I am not referring to you,
Nicodemus. But that is the truth. And the punishment will be proportioned to the judgement, both
for individuals and for communities. With regard to those who love Me, and practise the truth I
teach, and are therefore born in their spirits a second time, by a more genuine birth, I say that they
are not afraid of the light, on the contrary they go towards it, because their own light increases the
light by which they were enlightened, a reciprocal glory that makes God happy in His children and
the children in the Father. No, the children of the Light are not afraid of being enlightened. Nay, in
their hearts and by means of their deeds they say: "Not I, He, the Father, He, the Son, He, the Spirit,
have worked the good, in me. Glory be to them, for ever". And from Heaven replies the eternal song
of the Three Who love one another in their perfect Unity: "Eternal blessing to you, true son of Our
will". John, remember those words when the time comes to write them. Nicodemus, are you
convinced? ｻ
ｫYes, Master, I am. When will I be able to speak to You again? ｻ
ｫLazarus will know where to take you. I am going to him before going away from here.ｻ
ｫI am going, Master. Bless Your servant.ｻ
ｫMy peace be with you.ｻ
Nicodemus goes out with John.
Jesus addresses Simon: ｫDo you see the work of the power of Darkness? Like a spider, it lays its
snares and entangles and imprisons who does not know how to die in order to be born again like a
butterfly, so strong as to tear the dark cobweb and go beyond it, carrying on its golden wings pieces
of shining network as a souvenir of its victory, like oriflammes and banners taken from the enemy.
To die to live. To die to give you strength to die. Come, Simon, and rest. And God be with you.ｻ
It all ends.

117. Jesus at Lazarus' House Before Going to the ｫClear Water ｻ.

25th February 1945.

Jesus is climbing the steep path that takes one to the plateau on which Bethany is built. This time
He is not going along the main road, He has taken another road which is steeper and faster and runs
from northwest to east and is much less beaten, probably because it is so steep. Only wayfarers in a
hurry make use of it; those who have herds and prefer to avoid the bustle of the main road; those,
who, like Jesus today, do not wish to attract the attention of many people. He is climbing ahead of
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His disciples, talking animatedly to the Zealot. Behind, in a group, are His cousins with John and
Andrew, then in another group James of Zebedee, Matthew, Thomas and Philip; Bartholomew,
Peter and the Iscariot are last.
When they reach the plateau, on which Bethany looks very pleasant in the sunshine of a clear
November day, and from which, looking eastwards, the Jordan valley and the Jericho road can be
seen, Jesus tells John to go and inform Lazarus of His arrival. While John walks away fast, Jesus
proceeds slowly with His disciples, and is greeted everywhere by local people.
The first person to come from Lazarus' house is a woman, who prostrates herself to the ground
saying: ｫHappy is this day for the house of my landlady. Come, Master. Here is Maximinus, and
there is Lazarus, at the gate.ｻ
Also Maximinus comes towards them. I do not know exactly who he is. I am under the impression
that he is either a relative, not quite so rich, entertained as a guest by Theophilus' children, or a
steward of their large estates, treated as a friend because of his merits and his long service in the
house. Perhaps he is the son of one of the stewards of the father, and has been given the same
position by Theophilus' children. He is a little older than Lazarus, that is, he is about thirty-five
years old, perhaps a little more. ｫWe were not expecting to have You so soon ｻ he says.
ｫI ask hospitality for one night.ｻ
ｫIf it was for ever, You would make us very happy.ｻ
They are at the entrance and Lazarus kisses and embraces Jesus and greets the disciples. Then
holding his arm round Jesus' waist, he enters the garden with Him and departs from the others
asking at once: ｫTo what do I owe the joy of having You? ｻ
ｫTo the hatred of the members of the Sanhedrin.ｻ
ｫHave they done You ill? Again? ｻ
ｫNo. But they want to. The time has not yet come. Until I have ploughed the whole of Palestine
and sown the seed, I must not be overthrown.ｻ
ｫYou must also reap the harvest, my good Master. It is only fair that it should be so.ｻ
ｫMy friends will reap My harvest. They will use the sickle where I sowed. Lazarus, I have decided
to go away from Jerusalem. I know it is of no use. I know beforehand. But it will enable Me to
evangelise, if nothing else. In Sion I am denied also that.ｻ
ｫI sent Nicodemus to tell You to go to one of my houses. No one dares to violate it. You would
fulfil Your mission without any trouble. And, oh! my house. It would be the most blessed of all my
houses because it would be sanctified by Your teaching, by Your very breathing in it! Give me the
joy of being useful to You, my Master.ｻ
ｫYou see that I am already giving you it. But I cannot stay in Jerusalem. I would not be molested,
but those who came to Me would. I am going towards Ephraim, between this place and the Jordan.
I will evangelise it and I will baptise as the Baptist did.ｻ
ｫIn that part of the country I have a little house. It is used to store the tools of workers. Sometimes
they sleep there when making hay or at vintage time. It is a very poor house. Just a roof on four
walls. But it is in my land. And it is known... And such knowledge will frighten jackals. Accept it,
Master. I will send servants to prepare it...ｻ
ｫIt is not necessary. If your peasants sleep there, it will be quite sufficient also for us.ｻ
ｫI will not make it magnificent, but I will add more beds, oh! plain ones, as You wish, and I will
make them take blankets, seats, amphoras and cups. You must eat and cover yourselves,
particularly during the winter months. Let me see to it. I do not even have to do it myself. Here is
Martha coming. She has a practical and diligent talent for all household matters. She was born for
the house and to be the comfort of the bodies and souls in the house. Come, my gentle and chaste
hotel-keeper! See? I, too, have taken shelter under her motherly care, in her part of the heritage.
Thus I do not miss my mother so badly. Martha, Jesus is retiring to the plain of the "Clear Water".
There is nothing beautiful there, except the soil which is fertile; the house is a sheepfold. But He
wants a poor house. We must furnish it with the bare essentials. Give the orders, please, you are so
clever!ｻ and Lazarus kisses the beautiful hand of his sister who then lifts it to caress him with true
62
motherly love.
Then Martha says: ｫI will go at once. I will take Maximinus and Marcella with me. The men of the
wagon will help to sort things out. Bless me, Master, so that I may take with me something of
Yours.ｻ
ｫYes, My kind hotel-keeper. I will call you as Lazarus did. I give you My heart to take with you, in
your own heart.ｻ
ｫDo You know, Master, that Isaac, Elias and the others are in this part of the country today? They
asked me for pastures down in the plain, to be together for a little while, and I agreed. They are
moving today. I expect them here for their meal.ｻ
ｫI am glad. I will give them instructions...ｻ
ｫYes, so that we may keep in touch with one another. However, You will come now and again...ｻ
ｫYes, I will. I have already spoken to Simon about it. And as it is not fair that I should invade your
house with My disciples, I will go to Simon's house...ｻ
ｫNo, Master. Why give me that pain? ｻ
ｫDo not investigate, Lazarus. I know it is the right thing.ｻ
ｫBut, then...ｻ
ｫ But, then, I will always be in your domains. What even Simon does not know, I do know. He who
wanted to purchase, without showing himself and without discussion, to be near Lazarus of
Bethany, was the same son of Theophilus, the faithful friend of Simon the Zealot and the great
friend of Jesus of Nazareth. It is one whose name is Lazarus, who doubled the amount of money for
Jonah and did not deduct it from Simon's substance to give him the joy of being able to do a lot for
the poor Master and for the poor of the Master. It is Lazarus of Bethany, who discreetly and
diligently organises, guides and helps all the good efforts to assist, comfort and protect Me. I
know.ｻ
ｫOh! don't say that! I thought I had arranged things so well and secretly!ｻ
ｫThere is secrecy for men. Not for Me. I read into hearts. Shall I tell you why your natural
goodness is tinged with supernatural perfection? Because you are asking for a supernatural gift, the
salvation of a soul, your own holiness and Martha's. And you feel that it is not enough to be good
according to the world, but it is necessary to be good according to the laws of the spirit, to receive
grace from God. You did not hear My words. But I said: "When you do a good deed, do it secretly,
and the Father will give you a great reward". You did it out of a natural inclination to humility. And
I solemnly tell you that the Father is preparing for you a reward that you cannot even imagine.ｻ
ｫMary's redemption?!...ｻ
ｫ That, and much, much more.ｻ
ｫWhat then, Master, more than that is impossible? ｻ
Jesus looks at him and smiles. He then says in the tone of a psalm:
ｫThe Lord reigns and His saints with Him.
With His beams He interlaces wreaths and lays them on the heads of His saints.
That they may shine for ever in the eyes of God and of the universe.
Of what material is it made? Of which stones is it adorned? Gold, most pure gold is the ring, made
with the double fire of the divine love and the love of man, chiselled by the will that hammers,
files, cuts and refines.
Pearls in great abundance and emeralds more green than grass in April, turquoises as blue as the sky
and opals as translucent as the moon, amethysts like chaste violets, and jaspers and sapphires and
hyacinths and topazes. They are set for a whole lifetime. And a ring of rubies as the final touch, a
great crown on the glorious forehead.
Because the blessed man will have had faith and hope, he will have had meekness and chastity,
moderation and strength, justice and prudence, infinite mercy and at the end he will have written
with his blood My Name and his faith in Me, his love for Me, and his name in Heaven.
Rejoice, just people of the Lord. Man does not know and God sees.
In eternal books He writes My promises and your deeds, and your names with them, princes of the
63
future century, eternally triumphant with the Christ of the Lord.ｻ
Lazarus looks at Him amazed. He then whispers: ｫOh!... I... will not be able...ｻ
ｫDo you think so? ｻ And Jesus picks a flexible willow branch hanging loose over the path and
says: ｫ Look: as My hand easily bends this branch, so love will mould your soul and make an
eternal crown of it. Love is the individual redeemer. Who loves begins his own redemption. The Son
of man will accomplish its fulfilment.ｻ
It all ends.

118. Jesus at the ｫClear Waterｻ. Preliminaries for Life in Common with the Disciples.
26th February 1945.

If this little low rustic house is compared to the Bethany house, it is certainly a sheepfold, as
Lazarus says. But if it is compared to the houses of Doras' peasants, it is quite a good dwelling.
It is very low and very wide, of solid structure, it has a kitchen, that is, a huge fireplace in a room
completely blackened with smoke, in which there is a table, some chairs, amphoras and a rustic
rack with plates and cups. A large coarse wooden door gives light to it as well as access. On the
same wall as this door, there are three more doors, giving access to three long narrow rooms, with
whitewashed walls and a beaten earthen floor, as in the kitchen. In two of the rooms there are some
light beds. The rooms look like little dormitories. The large number of hooks fixed in the walls
testify that tools and probably agricultural products were hung there. They now serve as
clothes-hooks for mantles and haversacks. The third large room (it is a corridor, rather than a room,
because its length is out of proportion to its width) is empty. It must have been used also to shelter
animals because there is a manger and rings on the wall, and on the floor are the typical holes dug
by shod hooves. There is nothing in it at present.
Outside, close to this last room, there is a large rustic porch, consisting of a roof supported by
coarse barked tree trunks covered with brushwood and slates. It is not really a porch, but a shed,
because it is open on three sides: two are at least ten yards long, the third side, the narrow one, is
about five yards long, not more. In summer a vine stretches its branches from one trunk to another
on the southern side. The vine is now bare and shows its skeleton branches; also a huge fig-tree is
now bare, but in summer it must shade the large basin in the centre of the threshing floor, which
was certainly used to water animals. Beside it there is a rough well, that is, a hole on ground level;
it is encompassed by only one row of flat, white stones.
That is the house where Jesus will stay with His disciples in the. place called ｫClear Water.ｻ It is
surrounded by fields, or rather by meadows and vineyards, and about three hundred yards away
(please do not take as articles of faith the measurements I give) I can see another house in the
middle of fields. It looks nicer because there is a terraced roof, which this house has not got. Olive
groves and woods beyond the other house prevent one from seeing any farther.
Peter, his brother and John are working eagerly, sweeping the threshing floor and the rooms, sorting
the beds and drawing water. Peter is bustling around the well to sort and reinforce the ropes and
make it more practical and easy to draw water. Jesus' cousins instead are working with hammer and
files at the locks and shutters, and James of Zebedee helps them sawing and using a hatchet like a
shipyard worker.
Thomas is busying himself in the kitchen and seems an experienced cook by the way he controls
fire and flames and because of his skill in cleaning the vegetables which handsome Judas
condescended to bring from the nearby village. I understand that there is a village, a large or small
one, because Judas says that they bake bread twice weekly and consequently there was no bread on
that day.

64
Peter hears him and says: ｫWe will make some cakes. There is flour over there. Quick, take your
tunic off and knead it, and then I will cook them. I know how to do it.ｻ I cannot help laughing
when I see that the Iscariot stoops to mixing the flour, in his under-tunic, getting thoroughly
covered with it.
Jesus is not present. Also Simon, Bartholomew, Matthew and Philip are absent.
ｫToday is the worse day ｻ replies Peter to the mumbling of Judas of Kerioth. ｫIt will be easier
tomorrow. And in spring everything will be just right...ｻ
ｫIn spring? Are we staying here for ever? ｻ asks Judas frightened.
ｫWhy? ｻ Is this not a house? It does not rain in it. There is drinking water. And a fireplace. What
else do you want? It suits me very well. Also because I do not smell the stench of Pharisees and
company...ｻ
ｫPeter, let us go and haul in the nets ｻ says Andrew and drags his brother away before he and the
Iscariot start quarrelling.
ｫThat man does not like me ｻ exclaims Judas.
ｫNo, you can't say that. He is so frank with everybody. But he is good. It's you that is always
discontented ｻ replies Thomas, who, on the contrary, is always in high spirits.
ｫThe reason is that I thought it was something different...ｻ
ｫ My Cousin does not prevent you from going to different things ｻ says James of Alphaeus calmly.
ｫ I think that we all believed that it was a different thing to follow Him, because we were stupid. It
is because we are stubborn and very proud. He never concealed the danger and fatigue in following
Him.ｻ
Judas grumbles between his teeth. The other Judas, Thaddeus, who is working at a kitchen shelf,
which he wants to convert into a cupboard, replies to him: ｫ You are wrong. Also according to our
habit, you are wrong. Every Israelite must work. And we are working. Is work such a burden to
you? I don't feel it, because since I have been with Him, all work is light.ｻ
ｫI do not regret anything either. And I am happy to be just at home now ｻ says James of Zebedee.
ｫWe will do a lot, here!...ｻ remarks Judas of Kerioth ironically.
ｫIn short, what do you want? What do you expect? A satrap's court? I cannot bear you to criticise
what my Cousin does. Is that clear? ｻ bursts out Thaddeus.
ｫBe quiet, brother. Jesus does not approve of these disputes. Let us speak as little as possible and
do as much as possible. It will be better for all concerned. On the other hand... if He is not
successful in changing our hearts... can you possibly hope to do it by your words? ｻ says James of
Alphaeus.
ｫThe heart that does not change is mine, isn't it? ｻ asserts the Iscariot aggressively.
But James does not reply to him. He holds a nail between his lips and at the same time he nails
some boards vigorously, making such a loud noise, that Judas' grumbling cannot be heard.
Some time goes by, then Isaac and Andrew come in together, the former carrying eggs and a basket
of fresh sweet-smelling loaves, the latter with some fish in a fishing basket.
ｫHere ｻ says Isaac. ｫThe steward sends these and he wants to know if there is anything we need.
That is the instruction that he got. ｻ
ｫDo you see that we are not starving to death? ｻ says Thomas to the Iscariot. He then says: ｫ
Andrew, give me the fish. How lovely it is! But how do you cook it?... I don't know how to do it.ｻ
ｫI'll see to that ｻ says Andrew. ｫI'm a fisherman ｻ and in a comer he starts gutting his fish, still
alive.
ｫThe Master is coming. He has made a tour of the village and of the country. You will see that
people will be coming soon. He already cured a man whose eyes were diseased. I had already been
all over the country and they were informed...ｻ
ｫOf course! I... I! The shepherds do everything... We have given up a safe quiet life, at least I have,
and we have done many things, but apparently we have done nothing...ｻ
Isaac, astonished, looks at the Iscariot but... very wisely does not reply. The others do likewise... but
they are boiling with rage.
65
ｫPeace to you all.ｻ Jesus is at the entrance, smiling lovingly. The sunshine seems to increase in
brightness at His arrival. ｫHow clever of you! You are all at work! Can I help you, cousin? ｻ
ｫNo, have a rest. I have finished.ｻ
ｫWe are laden with foodstuffs. Everybody wanted to give us something. If all men had the kind
hearts of the humble people! ｻ says Jesus somewhat sad.
ｫOh! My Master. May God bless You! ｻ It is Peter who is coming in carrying a bundle of sticks on
his shoulders and who from under his load thus greets Jesus.
ｫAnd may the Lord bless you too, Peter. You have been working hard! ｻ
ｫAnd we will work even harder in our free time. We have a villa in the country! And we will make
an Eden of it. In the meantime I have sorted the well, so that by night we can see where it is, and
make sure that we don't lose our pitchers when drawing water. Then... see how clever Your cousins
are? They have prepared all the things which are necessary for those who have to live in a place for
a long time, and about which I, a fisherman, would not have known anything at all. Really clever.
Also Thomas. He could work in Herod's kitchen. Also Judas is clever. He made lovely cakes...ｻ
ｫBut quite useless. There is bread now ｻ replies Judas in a bad temper.
Peter looks at him and I am expecting a sharp reply, but Peter shakes his head, sorts the ashes and
lays his cakes on them.
ｫEverything will soon be ready ｻ says Thomas. And he laughs.
ｫAre You speaking today? ｻ asks James of Zebedee.
ｫYes, between the sixth and the ninth hour. Your companions said so. So let us eat at once.ｻ
After some time John puts the bread on the table, arranges the seats, lays the cups and amphoras,
while Thomas brings the boiled vegetables and the roasted fish.
Jesus is in the centre, He offers and blesses, hands the food out and they all eat with relish.
They are still eating when some people appear on the threshing floor. Peter gets up and goes to the
door: ｫWhat do you want? ｻ
ｫThe Rabbi. He is not speaking here? ｻ
ｫYes, He is. But He is eating now because He is a man, too. Sit over there and wait.ｻ
The little group go under the rustic shed.
ｫBut it is getting cold and it will often rain. I think we ought to use that empty stable. I cleaned it
thoroughly. The manger will be His seat...ｻ
ｫDon't talk nonsense! The Rabbi is a rabbi ｻ says Judas.
ｫWhat nonsense! If He was born in a stable, He can speak from a manger! ｻ
ｫPeter is right. But, please, be friendly to one another ｻ Jesus seems tired of repeating these
words.
They finish eating and Jesus goes out at once to meet the little crowd.
ｫWait, Master ｻ Peter shouts after Him. ｫYour cousin has made a seat for You because the soil is
damp under there.ｻ
ｫIt is not necessary. You know that I speak standing up. The people want to see Me and I want to
see them. You should rather make some seats and light beds. Some sick people may come... and
they will be needed.ｻ
ｫYou are always thinking of other people, my good Master! ｻ says John, kissing His hand.
Jesus goes towards the little crowd smiling somewhat sadly. All the disciples go with Him.
Peter, who is beside Jesus, makes Him bend down and whispers to Him: ｫThe veiled woman is
behind the wall. I have seen her. She has been there since this morning. She has followed us from
Bethany. Shall I send her away or leave her? ｻ
ｫLeave her. I said so.ｻ
ｫBut, if she is a spy, as the Iscariot says? ｻ
ｫShe is not. Rely on what I tell you. Leave her alone and say nothing to the others. And respect her
secret.ｻ
ｫI did not say anything, because I thought it was better...ｻ
ｫPeace to you, who are looking for the Word ｻ begins Jesus. And He goes to the end of the shed
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with His back to the house. He speaks slowly to about twenty people sitting on the ground or
leaning against the trunks, in the warmth of a faint November sunshine.
ｫ Man falls into error when considering life and death and applying these two nouns. He calls
"life" the period of time in which, born of his mother, he begins to breathe, to nourish himself, to
move, to think, to act; and he calls "death" the moment when he ceases breathing, eating, moving,
thinking, acting and he becomes cold insensitive remains, ready to go back into a bosom: a
sepulchre. But it is not so. I want to make you understand "life", and point out to you the actions
suitable to life.
Life is not existence. Existence is not life. Also this vine which is interwined around these columns,
exists. But it does not possess the life of which I am speaking. Also that bleating sheep, tied to that
far off tree, exists. But it does not have the life of which I am speaking. The life of which I am
speaking does not begin with the existence of the body and does not cease with the ending of the
flesh. The life to which I refer does not start in a mother's womb. It begins when a soul is created by
the Thought of God to dwell in a body, it ends when sin kills it.
Man, at first, is but a seed that grows, a seed of flesh, instead of gluten or of marrow, like the seeds
of cereals and of fruit. At first he is but an animal taking shape, the embryo of an animal like the
one now swelling in the womb of that sheep. But the moment that this incorporeal part, which is
also the most powerful in its subliming incorporeity, is infused into the human conception, then the
animal embryo does not only exist as a beating heart, but it lives according to the Creating Thought,
and becomes man, created in the image and likeness of God, the son of God, the future citizen of
Heaven.
But that happens if life lasts. Man can exist having only the image of man, but no longer being man.
That is, he is a sepulchre in which life putrifies. That is why I say: "Life does not begin with
existence and does not cease with the ending of the flesh". Life begins before birth. Life, then,
never ends, because the soul does not die, that is, it does not fall into nothingness. It dies to its
destiny, which is the celestial destiny, but it survives its punishment. It dies to that blissful destiny,
by dying to Grace. This life, hit by a canker which is the death of its destiny, lasts throughout
centuries in damnation and torture. This life, if preserved as such, reaches the perfection of living,
by becoming eternal, perfect, blissful like its Creator.
Have we any obligations to life? Yes, we have. It is a gift of God. Every gift of God is to be used
and preserved carefully, because it is as holy as the Donor. Would you ill-use the gift of a king? No.
It is handed down to the heirs, and to the heirs of the heirs, as a glory to the family. Why then
ill-treat a gift of God? How is this divine gift to be used and preserved? How is this heavenly flower
of the soul to be kept alive to preserve it for Heaven? How can you achieve "to live" above and
beyond existence?
Israel has clear laws on the matter and has only to comply with them. Israel has prophets and just
people who set examples and explain how to observe the laws. Israel has now also its saints. Israel
cannot, should not err. I see stained hearts and dead souls swarming everywhere. So, I say to you:
do penance; open your souls to the Word; practise the immutable Law; give fresh blood to the worn
out "life" which is languishing within you; if it is already dead, come to the true Life: to God.
Bewail your sins. Shout: "Mercy!" But rise from the dead. Do not be dead people alive, so that in
future you may not suffer eternally. I will speak to you only of the way to reach and preserve life.
Another man said to you: "Do penance. Cleanse yourselves of the impure fire of lust, of the mud of
sin". I say to you: My poor friends, let us study the Law together. Let us hear in it, once again, the
fatherly voice of the true God. And then let us pray together the Eternal Father saying: "May Your
mercy descend into our hearts".
It is now gloomy winter. But spring will come before long, a dead soul is more sad than a forest
made bare by frost. But if humility, good will, penance and faith penetrate you, life will come back
to you, like a forest in spring, and you will blossom to God, to bear the everlasting fruits of true life
in future, in the future of centuries without end.
Come to Life! Cease existing only and begin "to live". Death, then, will not be the "end", but the
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beginning. The beginning of a never ending day, of a peaceful immeasurable joy. Death will be the
triumph of what lived before the flesh, and the triumph of the flesh called to eternal resurrection, to
take part in this Life that, in the name of the true God, I promise to all those who "want" that "life"
for their souls, crushing under their feet sensuality and passions, to enjoy the freedom of the
children of God.
Go. Every day, at this time, I will speak to you of the eternal truth. The Lord be with you.ｻ
The crowd disperse slowly making comments. Jesus goes to the solitary house and it all ends.

119. Jesus at the ｫClear Water ｻ: ｫI Am the Lord Your God.ｻ

27th February 1945.

There are at least twice as many people as yesterday. There are also well-to-do people. Some have
come on donkey-back and are taking their meal under the porch, after tying the little donkeys to the
poles of the porch, waiting for the Master.
It is a cold but clear day. The people are talking among themselves in low voices, and the most
learned explain who the Master is and why He speaks in that place.
One asks: ｫIs He greater than John? ｻ
ｫNo. It's a different thing. John, of whom I was a disciple, is the Precursor, and is the voice of
justice. This one is the Messiah, and is the voice of wisdom and mercy.ｻ
ｫHow do you know? ｻ ask many.
ｫThree disciples of the Baptist told me. If you only knew what happened! They saw Him when He
was born. Just imagine, He was born of light! There was such a bright light that they, who were
shepherds, rushed out of the sheepfold, among the animals that had gone mad with terror, and they
saw that the whole of Bethlehem was on fire, and then the angels came down from Heaven and they
put the fire out with their wings, and He, the Child, was on the earth, born of light. All the fire
became a star...ｻ
ｫNo It's not so.ｻ
ｫYes, it is. One, who was a stableman at Bethlehem when I was a boy, told me. Now that the
Messiah is a man, he boasts about it.ｻ
ｫIt is not so. The star came afterwards, it came with the wise men of the east, one of whom was a
relative of Solomon, and therefore of the Messiah, because He is of the house of David, and David
is Solomon's father, and Solomon loved the queen of Sheba because she was beautiful and because
of the gifts that she brought him, and he had a child of her, and he belongs to Judah although he is
from beyond the Nile.ｻ
ｫWhat are you talking about? Are you crazy? ｻ
ｫNo. Do you mean that it is not true that His relative brought him the perfumes as is the custom
among kings and members of that family? ｻ
ｫI know the true story ｻ says another one. ｫThis is what happened. I know because Isaac is one of
the shepherds and is a friend of mine. So, the Child was born in a stable, of the house of David.
There was a prophecy...ｻ
ｫBut does He not come from Nazareth? ｻ
ｫLet me tell you. He was born in Bethlehem because He belongs to David, and it was at the time of
the edict. The shepherds saw a light, so beautiful that there has never been a more beautiful one,
and the youngest, because he was innocent, was the first to see the angel of the Lord, who spoke as
sweetly as the music of a harp saying: "The Saviour is born. Go and worship Him", and then the
angels sang: "Glory to God and peace to good men". And the shepherds went and they saw the little
baby in a manger between an ox and a donkey, and His Mother and father. And they worshipped
Him and then they took Him to the house of a good woman. And the Child grew like all children,
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beautiful, good and full of love. Then the wise men came from beyond the Euphrates and the Nile,
because they had seen a star and recognised it as the star of Balaam. But the Child was already
walking. And king Herod ordered the slaughter because he was afraid for his kingdom. But the
angel of the Lord had warned them of the danger and the babies of Bethlehem died, but He did not,
because He had escaped beyond Matharaea. Then He came back to Nazareth and worked as a
carpenter, and when His time came, after that His cousin, the Baptist announced Him, He started
His mission and first looked for His shepherds. He cured Isaac, who had been paralysed for thirty
years. And Isaac never tires in preaching Him. That is the truth.ｻ
ｫBut the three disciples of the Baptist did tell me those words! ｻ says the first man, somewhat
mortified.
ｫAnd they are true. It's the description of the stableman that is not true. He boasts about it? He
ought to go and tell the Bethlehemites to be good. The Messiah cannot preach in Bethlehem or in
Jerusalem.ｻ
ｫOf course! Just imagine if the Scribes and Pharisees want to hear His words! They are vipers and
hyenas, as the Baptist calls them.ｻ
ｫI would like to be cured. See? My leg is affected with gangrene. I thought I was going to die
coming here on a donkey. I looked for Him in Zion, but He was no longer there...ｻ says one.
ｫThey threatened Him with death...ｻ replies another man.
ｫThe dogs! ｻ
ｫYes. Where are you from? ｻ
ｫFrom Lydda.ｻ
ｫA long way! ｻ
ｫI... I would like to tell Him of a sin of mine... I told the Baptist, but I ran away, he reproached me
so violently. I don't think I can be forgiven...ｻ says another man.
ｫWhat have you done? ｻ
ｫA lot of evil. I will tell Him. What do you say? Will He curse me? ｻ
ｫNo. I heard Him speak at Bethsaida. I happened to be there. What words He spoke!!! He was
talking of a woman who had committed sin. Ah! I would almost have liked to be her to deserve
them!...ｻ says an old stately man.
ｫHere He comes ｻ many shout.
ｫMercy! I am ashamed! ｻ says the guilty man who is about to run away.
ｫ Where are you running, My son? Is there so much darkness in your heart that you hate the Light
to the extent of having to flee before it? Have you sinned so much as to be afraid of Me, Who am
Forgiveness? What sin can you have committed? Even if you had killed God you should not be
afraid, if you were truly repentant. Do not weep! Or come: we will weep together.ｻ Jesus, Who by
lifting one hand had ordered the fleeing man to stop, now holds him tight to Himself, and then turns
to those who are waiting and says: ｫJust one moment. That I may comfort this heart. Then I will
come to you.ｻ
And He walks beyond the house and going round the corner He knocks against the veiled woman,
who was standing there listening. Jesus stares at her for a moment, He walks ten more steps and
stops. ｫWhat have you done, son? ｻ
The man falls on his knees. He is about fifty years old. His face is ravaged by many passions and a
secret torture. He stretches his arms and shouts: ｫI killed my mother and brother... to have all my
father's heritage and enjoy it with women... I have had no more peace... My food... blood! My
sleep... nightmares... My pleasures... Ah! in the lap of women, in their lustful cries, I felt the cold
body of my dead mother and I heard the death-rattle of my poisoned brother. Cursed be pleasure
women, they are asps, medusae, unappeasable morays... my ruin! ｻ
ｫDo not curse. I do not curse you...ｻ
ｫAre You not cursing me? ｻ
ｫNo. I weep and I take your sin upon Me!... How heavy it is! It breaks My limbs. But I clasp it to
consume it for you... and I give you forgiveness. Yes. I forgive you your big sin.ｻ He lays His
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hands on the head of the sobbing man and prays: ｫFather, My Blood will be shed also for him. For
the time being, here are My tears and My prayer. Father, forgive, because he is repentant. Your Son,
to Whose judgement everything is left, wants itｻ He remains thus for a few minutes, He then
bends, raises the man and says to him. ｫYour sin is forgiven. It is for you to expiate what is left of
your crime, through a life of penance.ｻ
ｫGod has forgiven me. And my mother? My brother? ｻ
ｫWhat Gods forgives, everybody forgives. Go and sin no more.ｻ
The man cries louder and kisses His hand. Jesus leaves him to let him weep. He goes back to the
house. The veiled woman makes a gesture as if she wanted to go and meet Him, but she bends her
head and does not move. Jesus passes in front of her without looking at her.
He is now in His place. He speaks: ｫA soul has gone back to the Lord. Blessed be His omnipotence
that snatches from the demon's snares the souls He created and takes them back on to the way to
Heaven. Why was that soul lost? Because it had lost sight of the Law.
It is said in the Book that the Lord showed Himself on Sinai in all His fearful might, to say by
means of it: "I am God. This is My will. And this is the lightning I hold ready for those who will
rebel against the will of God". And before speaking He ordered that none of the people should go
up to contemplate Him Who is, and that also the priests should be purified before approaching the
limit of God, that they might not be struck. Because it was the time of justice and of trials. Heaven
was closed, as if by a stone, on the mystery of Heaven and on the wrath of God, and only the swords
of justice flashed from Heaven on the guilty children. But not now. Now the Just One has come to
consume all justice and the time has come, when without lightning and without limitations, the
Word of God speaks to man to give him Grace and Life.
The first word of the Father and Lord is this: "I am the Lord Your God".
There is not one instant of the day in which this word is not uttered by the voice of God and is not
written by His finger. Where? Everywhere. It is repeated continuously by everything. By grass and
stars, by water and fire, by wool and food, by light and darkness, by health and illness, by wealth
and poverty. Everything says: "I am the Lord. You received that from Me. One thought of Mine
gives it to you, another thought takes it away from you, there is no power of armies or of defence
that can shield you from My will". It shouts in the voice of the wind, it sings in the murmur of
water, it gives off scent in the sweet smell of flowers, it is engraved on mountain tops, and it
whispers, speaks, calls, shouts in consciences: "I am the Lord your God".
Never forget that! Do not close your eyes, your ears, do not suffocate your consciences, so that you
may not hear that word. In any case it stands and the moment will come when it will be written by
the fiery finger of God on the walls of banqueting halls or on the waves of rough seas, on the
smiling lips of a child, or on the pallor of a dying old man, on a sweet-smelling rose or on a fetid
sepulchre. The moment will come when in the exhilaration of wine and pleasure, in the bustle of
business, in the rest at night, during a lonely walk, it will raise its voice and say: "I am the Lord your
God" and not the flesh that you kiss so avidly, and not the food that you gobble so greedily, and not
the gold that you hoard so stingily, and not the bed in which you idle, and neither taciturnity, nor
loneliness, nor sleep can silence it. "I am the Lord your God", the Companion Who will not
abandon you, the Guest you cannot drive out. Are you good? Then the guest and companion is a
good Friend. Are you wicked and guilty? Then the guest and companion becomes the angry King
and gives no peace. But He does not leave you. Separation from God is granted only to damned
souls. But the separation is their unappeasable and eternal torture.
"I am the Lord your God" and it adds "Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house
of slavery". Oh! He really says that just now! And from what Egypt He is bringing you out, towards
the promised land, which is not this place, but Heaven! The eternal Kingdom of the Lord, where
there is no hunger or thirst, cold or death, but everything will exude joy and peace and every soul
will be replete with peace and joy.
He is now releasing you from real slavery. Here is the Redeemer. It is I. I have come to break your
chains. Every human ruler may die, and through his death slaves may be set free. But Satan does
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not die. He is eternal. He is the ruler who has fettered you in order to drag you wherever he wishes.
You are sinners and sin is the chain by means of which Satan holds you. I have come to break the
chain. I am coming in the name of the Father and because I wanted to come. The promise which
has not been understood is therefore now being fulfilled: "I brought you out of Egypt and of
slavery".
This is now being fulfilled spiritually. The Lord your God is bringing you out of the land of the idol
who seduced the First Parents, He frees you from the slavery of sin, He clothes you once again with
Grace and admits you to His Kingdom. I solemnly tell you that those who come to Me will be able
to hear the Most High say to the blessed hearts, in a soft fatherly voice: "I am the Lord your God
and I am drawing you to Me, free and happy".
Come. Turn your hearts and faces, your prayers and will to the Lord. The hour of Grace has come.ｻ
Jesus has finished. He passes by blessing and He caresses an old woman and a swarthy smiling little
girl.
ｫCure me, Master. I am suffering so much! ｻ says the man affected with gangrene.
ｫYour soul first. Do penance...ｻ
ｫBaptise me as John did. I cannot go to him. I am not well.ｻ
ｫCome.ｻ Jesus goes down towards the river, which is on the other side of two very large meadows
and is hidden by a wood. He takes His sandals off and so does the man who has dragged himself
there on crutches. They go down to the river bank and Jesus, cupping His hands, pours the water on
the head of the man, who is in the river up to half his shin.
ｫTake your bandages off, now ｻ Jesus tells him while going back up to the path.
The man obeys. His leg is healed. The crowd shout their astonishment.
ｫAlso I! ｻ
ｫAlso I! ｻ
ｫBaptise me, too! ｻ shout many.
Jesus, Who is already half way along the path, turns round: ｫTomorrow. Go now and be good.
Peace be with you.ｻ
It all ends and Jesus goes back to the house, to the dark kitchen although it is early afternoon.
The disciples gather round Him. Peter asks: ｫWhat was the matter with the man You took behind
the house? ｻ
ｫHe needed to be purified.ｻ
ｫBut he did not come back and he was not there asking to be baptised.ｻ
ｫHe went to where I sent him. ｻ
ｫWhere? ｻ
ｫTo expiate, Peter.ｻ
ｫIn jail? ｻ
ｫNo. To do penance for the rest of his life.ｻ
ｫDoes one not get purified by water? ｻ
ｫAlso tears are water.ｻ
ｫThat is true. Now that You have worked a miracle, I wonder how many people will come!... They
were already twice as many today...ｻ
ｫYes. If I had to do everything, I would not be able to. You will baptise. At first, one at a time,
then two, three, then many. And I will preach and cure the sick people and the guilty ones.ｻ
ｫAre we to baptise? Oh! I am not worthy! Dispense me, Lord, from that mission! I need to be
baptised! ｻ Peter is on his knees imploring.
But Jesus bends down and says: ｫYou will be the very first one to baptise, as from tomorrow.ｻ
ｫNo, Lord! How can I do that if I am blacker than that chimney? ｻ
Jesus smiles at the sincere humility of His apostle on his knees against His own knees, on which he
has joined his coarse big fisherman's hands. He then kisses Peter on his forehead, just below his
rough grey curly hair: ｫThere you are. I baptise you with a kiss. Are you happy? ｻ
ｫI would commit another sin to have another kiss! ｻ
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ｫNo. You must not mock at God by taking advantage of His gifts.ｻ
ｫWill You not give a kiss also to me? I have sins, too ｻ says the Iscariot.
Jesus stares at him. His look, which changes so easily, turns from the brightness of joy that made it
so clear while speaking to Peter, to a severe, and I would say, tired gloom, and He says: ｫYes...
also to you. Come. I am not unfair to anybody. Be good, Judas. If you only wanted!... You are
young. You have a whole lifetime to climb higher and higher, up to the perfection of holiness...ｻ
and He kisses him.
ｫNow, it is your turn, Simon, My friend. And yours, Matthew, My victory. And Yours, wise
Bartholomew. And yours, faithful Philip. And yours, cheerful Thomas. Come, Andrew, silently
active. And you, James, of our first meeting. And you now, joy of your Master. And you, Judas,
companion of my childhood and youth. And you, James, whose look and heart remind Me of the
Just One. You have all had My kiss. But remember that great is My love, but also your good will is
required. Tomorrow you will be taking one step forward in your lives as My disciples. And
remember that every step forward is an honour and an obligation.ｻ
ｫMaster... one day You said to me, John, James and Andrew, that You would teach us how to pray.
I think that if we prayed as You do, we would become worthy of doing the work that You want us
to do ｻ says Peter.
ｫAlso then I replied to you: "When you are sufficiently formed, I will teach you the sublime prayer.
To leave you 'My' prayer. But even that prayer will be nothing if you say it only with your lips. For
the time being, ascend to God with your souls and your will. Prayer is a gift that God grants to man
and that man presents to God".ｻ
ｫWhat? Are we not yet worthy of praying? The whole of Israel pray...ｻ says the Iscariot.
ｫYes, Judas. But from her deeds, you can see how Israel prays. I do not want to make traitors of
you. Who prays with an external attitude, and internally is against good, is a traitor.ｻ
ｫAnd when are You going to make us work miracles? ｻ Judas asks again.
ｫWe... miracles? Eternal mercy! And yet, we drink nothing but water! Miracles... us? Boy, are you
crazy? ｻ Peter is scandalised, frightened and is beside himself.
ｫHe told us, in Judaea. Did You not? ｻ
ｫYes, it is true. I did. And you will work them. But as long as there is too much flesh in you, you
will not work miracles.ｻ
ｫWe will fast ｻ says the Iscariot.
ｫIt is of no use. By flesh I mean the corrupted passions, the triple craving and the train of vices that
follow the treacherous triple craving... Like the children of a filthy bigamous union, the pride of the
mind gives birth, through the greed for flesh and power, to all the evil that is in man and in the
world.ｻ
ｫFor You we have left everything ｻ replies Judas.
ｫBut not yourselves.ｻ
ｫMust we die then? We would do it to be with You. At least I would...ｻ
ｫNo. I am not asking for your material death, I want animality and Satanism to die in you, and they
do not die as long as the flesh is satisfied and falsehood, pride, anger, arrogance, gluttony, avarice,
sloth are in you.ｻ
ｫWe are such faulty men near You, Who are so holy!ｻ whispers Bartholomew.
ｫAnd He has always been so holy. We know ｻ states His cousin James.
ｫHe knows what we are... Therefore we must not lose heart. We must just say: give us day by day
strength to serve You. If we said: "We are without sin" we would be deceived and we would be
deceivers. Of whom? Of ourselves who know what we are, even if we do not want to tell? Of God,
Who cannot be deceived? But if we say: "We are weak and sinners. Help us with Your strength and
forgiveness" God will not disappoint us and in His goodness and justice He will forgive us and
cleanse us of the iniquity of our poor hearts.ｻ
ｫMay you be blessed, John. Because the Truth speaks through your lips which are scented with
innocence and only kiss the adorable Love ｻ says Jesus standing up, and He draws to His heart His
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best-loved disciple, who had spoken from his dark comer.

120. Jesus at the ｫClear Water ｻ: ｫYou Shall Have No Gods in My Presence.ｻ
28th February 1945.

ｫIt is said: "You shall have no gods in My presence. You shall not make yourself a carved image or
any likeness of anything in heaven or on the earth beneath or in the waters under the earth. You
shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a strong and jealous God
and I punish the father's faults in the sons, the grandsons, and the great-grandsons of those who hate
Me, but I show kindness down to the thousandth generation of those who love Me and keep My
commandments".ｻ Jesus' voice resounds in the large room crowded with people, it is in fact
raining and they have all taken shelter in it. In the first row there are four invalids, that is, a blind
man led by a woman, a child covered with sores, a woman yellow with jaundice or malaria, and a
man who has been carried there on a stretcher.
Jesus is speaking leaning against the empty manger. John and the two cousins, Matthew and Philip
are near Him, while Judas, Peter, Bartholomew, James and Andrew are at the entrance door letting
in those who arrive late. Thomas and Simon are moving amongst the people telling children to be
quiet, collecting alms and listening to requests.
ｫ"You shall have no gods in My presence".
You have heard how God is omnipresent with His eyes and His voice. Truly, we are always in His
presence. Whether we are locked in a room or are amongst the crowds in the Temple, we are in His
presence. If we are concealed benefactors hiding our faces also from the people we help, or
murderers who attack and kill wayfarers in a lonely gorge, we are always in His presence. A king in
the middle of his court, a soldier on the battlefield, a Levite inside the Temple, a wise man bent
over his books, a peasant in the furrows, a merchant at his desk, a mother watching over a cradle, a
bride in her nuptial room, a virgin in the secrecy of her father's dwelling, a child studying at school,
an old man lying down to die, they are all in His presence. They are all in His presence and also the
actions of men are in His presence.
All the actions of men! A dreadful word! And a comforting one! Dreadful if the actions are sinful,
comforting if they are holy. To know that God sees us, prevents us from doing evil and encourages
us to do good. God sees that I am doing the right thing. I know that He does not forget what He sees.
I believe that He rewards good deeds. I am therefore certain that I shall be rewarded and I rest on
that certainty. It will give me a happy life and a placid death, because both in life and in death my
soul will be comforted by the bright light of God's friendship. That is the reasoning of a person who
does good. But why do evil-doers not consider that idolatry is one of the forbidden things? Why do
they not say: "God sees that whilst I simulate a holy cult, I worship a false god or false gods, to
whom I have erected an altar unknown to men but known to God"?
Which gods, you may object, if even in the Temple there is no image of God? Which are the faces
of these gods, if it was impossible for us to give. a face to the true God? Yes, it is impossible to
elaborate a face, because the Perfect and Most Pure One cannot be worthily represented by man.
Only the spirit can catch a glimpse of the incorporeal and sublime beauty and can hear His voice
and appreciate the caresses which He bestows upon a holy person worthy of such divine contact.
But the sight, the hearing, the hand of man cannot see or hear, and therefore they cannot repeat with
sound on a lyre, with a mallet and a chisel on marble, what the Lord is. Oh! endless happiness when
you, souls of just people, will see God! The first glance will be the dawn of the blessedness which
will be your companion for centuries without end. And yet what we cannot do for the true God,
man does for false gods. And one erects an altar to woman; another to gold; another to power;
another to science; another to military triumphs; one worships a mighty man, equal to himself by
nature, but greater in arrogance or luck; another worships himself and says: "There is no one like

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me". Such are the gods of those who are the people of God.
Do not be astonished at the heathens who worship animals, reptiles and stars. How many reptiles,
how many animals, how many dead stars you worship in your hearts! Lips utter lies to flatter, to
possess, to corrupt. Are those not the prayers of secret idolaters? Hearts brood over thoughts of
vengeance, of illicit trades, of prostitution. Are those not the cults devoted to the impure gods of
lust, greed, wickedness?
It is said: "You shall adore nothing but your true, one, eternal God". It is said: "I am a strong jealous
God".
Strong: no other strength is greater than His. Man is free to act, Satan is free to tempt. But when
God says: "Enough" man can no longer do wrong, Satan can no longer tempt. The latter is driven
back to his hell, the former is checked in his misuse of evil doing, to which there is a limit, beyond
which God does not allow anyone to go.
Jealous. Of what? Of which jealousy? Of the petty jealousy of petty men? No. The holy jealousy of
God for His children. The just, loving jealousy. He created you. He loves you. He wants you. He
knows what is harmful to you. He is aware of what is capable of separating you from Him. And He
is jealous of what interposes between the Father and His children and diverts them from the only
love which is health and peace: God. Understand that jealousy which is not mean, is not cruel, is
not restrictive of freedom. It is infinite love, infinite goodness, unlimited freedom, which gives
Itself to the limited creature, to draw it to Itself and in Itself for ever, and associate it to Its infinity.
A good father does not want to enjoy his wealth by himself. But he wants his children to enjoy it
with him. After all he accumulated his riches more for his children than for himself. God acts
likewise but He conveys to His love and desire the perfection which is in all His actions.
Do not disappoint the Lord. He promises the guilty fathers and the children of the guilty children
punishment. And God always keeps His promises. But do not be disheartened, o children of man
and of God. Listen to the other promise and rejoice: "I show kindness down to the thousandth
generation of those who love Me and keep My commandments". Down to the thousandth
generation of good people. And to the thousandth fault of the poor children of man, who fall not out
of wickedness but because of their thoughtlessness and Satan's snares. And His kindness is even
greater. I tell you that He stretches His arms out towards you, if with penitent hearts and faces
washed by tears you say: "Father, I have sinned. I know. I humble myself and I confess my sin to
You. Forgive me. Your forgiveness will be my strength to start 'living again' the true life".
Do not be afraid. Before you committed sins out of weakness, He knew that you would sin. His
Heart is closed only if you persist in your sin and want to sin, thus making of a certain sin or of
many sins your gods of horror. Demolish every idol, make room for the True God. He will descend
in His glory to consecrate your hearts, when He sees that He is the only one in you.
Give God's dwelling back to Him. His abode is not in the temples built with stones, but in the hearts
of men. Wash its threshold, clear its interior from all useless or sinful decorations. Only God. He
only. He is everything! In no way is inferior to Paradise the heart of a man in which God dwells, the
heart of a man who sings his love to the divine Guest.
Of every heart make a Heaven. Start your cohabitation with the Most High. In your eternal future it
will improve in power and joy. But even here it will exceed the trembling amazement of Abraham,
Jacob and Moses. Because it will no longer be the dazzling, frightening meeting with the Mighty
One, but the permanent life with Father and Friend Who descends to say: "It is a joy for Me to be
amongst men. You make Me happy. Thank you, son".ｻ
The crowd, over a hundred people, break the spell after some time. Some become aware that they
are weeping, some that they are smiling at the same hope of joy. At last the crowd seem to awake,
they seem to whisper, to sigh vigorously, and finally utter a cry as of liberation: ｫMay You be
blessed! You are opening for us the way of peace! ｻ
Jesus smiling replies: ｫPeace is with you, if from now on you follow good.ｻ
He then goes towards the invalids. He touches with His hand the child, the blind man, the woman
who is completely yellow, He bends over the paralytic and says: ｫI want it.ｻ
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The man looks at Him and then shouts: ｫThere is warmth in my dead limbs! ｻ and he stands up, as
he is, until they pull a blanket from his little bed over him, and the mother lifts her child, who is no
longer covered with sores, and the blind man winks at the first contact with light, and women shout:
ｫDina is no longer as yellow as buttercups.ｻ
The place is in utter confusion. Some people shout, some bless, some push to see, some try to go
out and tell the village. Jesus is assailed from all directions.
Peter sees that they are almost crushing Him and he shouts: ｫBoys! They are suffocating the
Master! Come and let us make room ｻ and with great efforts the twelve disciples elbow their way
through the crowd, kicking also a few shins, and they free the Master and take Him out. ｫI will see
to this tomorrow ｻ he says. ｫYou will stay at the door and the others at the other end of the room.
Have they hurt You? ｻ
ｫNo.ｻ
ｫThey seemed to have gone mad. What manners! ｻ
ｫLeave them. They were happy... and so was I. Go to those who want to be baptised. I am going to
the house. Judas, you and Simon will give alms to the poor. Give them everything. We have much
more than is fair for the apostles of the Lord. Peter, go. Do not be afraid of doing too much. I will
justify you with the Father, because I am ordering you to do it. Goodbye, friends.ｻ
And Jesus, tired and wet with perspiration, goes into the house, while each of the disciples does his
duty among the pilgrims.

Vol 2 - INDEX

THE SECOND YEAR OF THE PUBLIC LIFE

141. Instruction to the Disciples while Going towards Arimathea.

142. Instruction to the Apostles Going towards Samaria.

143. Photinai, the Samaritan Woman.

144. With the People of Sychar.

145. Evangelization at Sychar.

146. Goodbye to the People of Sychar.

147. Instruction to the Apostles and the Miracle of the Woman of Sychar.

148. Jesus Visits the Baptist near Ennon.

149. Jesus Teaches the Apostles.

150. Jesus at Nazareth. «Son, I Will Come with You ».

151. In Susanna's House in Cana. The Royal Officer.

152. In Zebedee's House. Salome Is Accepted as a Disciple.

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153. Jesus Speaks to His Disciples of Women's Apostolate.

154. Jesus at Caesarea on Sea Speaks to the Galley-Slaves.

155. Cure of the Little Roman Girl at Caesarea.

156. Annaleah Devotes Herself to God as a Virgin.

157. Instruction to the Women Disciples at Nazareth.

158. Jesus Speaks to Johanna of Chuza on the Lake.

159. Jesus at Gherghesa. John's Disciples.

160. From Naphtali to Giscala. Meeting with Rabbi Gamaliel.

161. The Grandson of Eli, a Pharisee of Capernaum, Is Cured.

162. Jesus in the House in Capernaum after the Miracle on Elisha.

163. Dinner in the House of Eli, the Pharisee of Capernaum.

164. Towards the Retreat on the Mountain before the Election of the Apostles.

165. The Election of the Twelve Apostles.

166. The First Sermon of Simon Zealot and John.

167. In the House of Johanna of Chuza. Jesus and the Roman Ladies.

168. Aglae in Mary's House at Nazareth.

169. The Sermon of the Mount: «You Are the Salt of the Earth ».

170. The Sermon of the Mount. The Beatitudes (Part One).

171. The Sermon of the Mount. The Beatitudes (Part Two).

172. The Sermon of the Mount. The Beatitudes (Part Three).

173. The Sermon of the Mount. The Beatitudes (Part Four).

174. The Sermon of the Mount. The Beatitudes (Part Five).

Encounter with the Magdalene.

175. The Leper Cured at the Foot of the Mountain.

176. The Sabbath after the Sermon. At the Foot of the Mountain.

177. The Servant of the Centurion Is Cured.

178. Jesus Meets Three Men who Want to Follow Him.

179. The Parable of the Sower.

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180. Lesson to the Apostles in Peter's Kitchen and
Announcement of the Baptist's Capture.

181. Parable of the Darnel.

182. On His Way to Magdala Jesus Speaks to Some Shepherds.

183. Jesus at Magdala. He Meets. with Mary Magdalene the Second Time.

184. At Magdala in the House of Benjamin's Mother.

185. The Calming of the Storm.

186. The Dernoniacs of Gadara.

187. Towards Jerusalem for the Second Passover.

From Tarichea to Mount Tabor.

188. From Tabor to Endor in the Cave of the Necromancer.

Encounter with Felix Who Becomes John.

189. The Son of the Widow of Nain.

190. From Nain to Esdraelon. Jesus Stays at Micah's.

191. The Sabbath at Esdraelon. Little Jabez.

The Parable of Rich Dives.

192. From Esdraelon to Engannim. Stopping at Megiddo.

193. From Engannim to Shechem in Two Days.

194. From Shechem to Beeroth.

195. From Beeroth to Jerusalem.

196. The Sabbath at Gethsemane.

197. In the Temple at the Hour of the Offering.

198. Jesus Meets His Mother at Bethany.

199. Jesus Goes to the Lepers of Siloam and Ben Hinnom.

The Power of Mary's Word.

200. Aglae Meets the Master.

201. Marjiam's Examination.

202. At the Temple on the Eve of Passover.

203. The «Our Father ».

204. Jesus to the Gentiles: Faith Is Built as Your Temples,

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205. The Parable of the Prodigal Son.

206. The Parable of Ten Virgins and the Parable of the Royal Wedding.

207. From Bethany to the Grotto of Bethlehem.

208. Going to Eliza's at Bethzur.

209. Jesus in Eliza's House Speaks of Sorrow that Bears Fruit.

210. Towards Hebron. The Worlds Reasons and God's.

211. Welcome Reception at Hebron.

212. At Juttah, Jesus Speaks in Isaac's House.

213. At Kerioth, Jesus Speaks in the Synagogue.

214. In Judas' House at Kerioth.

215. The Lunatic Girl of Bethginna.

216. In the Plain towards Ashkelon.

217. Jesus Is Master also of the Sabbath.

218. Arrival at Ashkelon.

219. Teaching at Ashkelon.

220. Jesus at Magdalgad Incinerates a Pagan Idol.

221. Lesson to the Apostles Going to Jabneel.

222. Towards Modin.

223. Jesus Speaks to Highwaymen.

224. Arrival at Bether.

225. The Paralytic at the Pool of Bethzatha.

226. Mary Has Sent for Martha at Magdala.

227. Marjiam Is Entrusted to Porphirea.

228. Jesus Speaks at Bethsaida.

229. The Woman with a Haemorrhage and Jairus' Daughter.

230. Jesus and Martha at Capernaum.

231. Two Blind Men and a Dumb Demoniac Cured.

232. The Parable of the Lost Sheep.

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233. Comment on Three Episodes Connected with the Conversion of Mary of Magdala.

234. Martha Has Her Victory within Her Grasp.

235. Mary Magdalene in the House of Simon, the Pharisee.

236. The Harvest Is Rich but the Labourers Are Few.

The Parable of the Treasure Hidden in the Field.

237. The Magdalene Is Accompanied by Mary among the Disciples.

238. The Parable of the Fishermen.

239. Marjiam Teaches Mary Magdalene the «Our Father ».

240. Jesus Is the Powerful Lover. The Parable of the Lost Drachma. *

241. Knowledge Is not Corruption if it Is Religion.

242. In the House at Cana.

243. John Repeats the Speech Made by Jesus on Mount Tabor.

244. Jesus at Nazareth.

245. In the Synagogue at Nazareth on the Sabbath.

246. Our Lady Teaches the Magdalene.

247. At Bethlehem in Galilee.

248. Going towards Sicaminon.

249. Jesus Meets the Disciples at Sicaminon.

250. At Tyre, Jesus Speaks of Perseverance.

251. Return to Sicaminon. Jesus Speaks of Faith.

252. Departure from Sicaminon. The Blessed Virgin Mary and Spiritualised Maternity.

253. Syntyche, the Greek Slave.

254. Goodbye to Mary of Magdala, to Martha and to Syntyche.

255. Jesus Speaks of Hope.

256. Jesus Goes up Mount Carmel with His Cousin James.

257. Jesus Reveals to James. of Alphaeus His Future Apostolic Mission.

258. Jesus and His Cousin James on Their Way Back from Mount Carmel.

259. Peter Speaks to Doras' Peasants about the Love Which Is Salvation.
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260. Jesus to Johanan's Peasants: «Love Is Obedience ». *

261. In the House of Dora and Philip.

262. The Man with the Withered Hand.

263. A Day of Judas Iscariot at Nazareth.

264. Instructions to the Apostles at the Beginning of Their Apostolate.

265. John the Baptist Sends His Disciples to Ask Jesus whether He Is the Messiah.

266. Jesus Works as a Carpenter at Korazim.

267. Jesus Speaks of Love.

268. The Dispute with the Pharisees and the Arrival of Jesus' Mother and Brothers.

269. The News of the Murder of John the Baptist.

270. Departure in the Direction of Taricheas.

271. Speaking to a Scribe on the Banks of the Jordan.

272. First Miracle of the Loaves.

273. Jesus Walks on the Water.

274. The Deeds of Corporal and Spiritual Mercy.

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241. Knowledge Is not Corruption if it Is Religion.
3rd August 1945.

When the boat moors in the little harbour of Tiberias, many idlers walking near the little pier come
to see who has arrived. There are people of all ranks and nationalities. Thus the long many-coloured
Jewish tunics, the dark heads and imposing beards of Israelities mix with the short, sleeveless,
white woollen garments and the clean shaven short-haired heads of sturdy Romans and with the
even scantier garments covering the agile effeminate bodies of Greeks. The latter seem to have
absorbed the skilful art of their remote fatherland even in posing, and look like statues of gods
descended upon the earth in mortal bodies, enveloped as they are in white tunics, with classic faces
adorned with curly scented hair and arms laden with bracelets, which their affected movements
cause to shine.
Many women of pleasure are mingled with the Romans and Greeks, who do not hesitate to show
their love affairs in squares and streets, whereas Palestinians refrain from this, although many gaily
indulge in free love with ladies of leisure at home. This clearly appears to be the case because
courtesans call several Jews familiarly by their names, among them being a Pharisee adorned with
ribbons, notwithstanding the fact that the Jews give the women ugly looks.
Jesus moves towards that part of the town where the more elegant people gather together. These
people are mainly Romans and Greeks with a few coutiers of Herod's and some rich merchants
from the Phoenician coast, presumably from Sidon and Tyre, as they are talking of those towns and
emporia and ships. The external porches of the Thermal baths are full of such elegant idle people
who kill time discussing petty topics, such as the favourite discobolus or the most agile and
smartest athlete in Graeco-Roman wrestling. Or they chatter of fashion and banquets and make
appointments for pleasure trips inviting to them the most beautiful courtesans or the perfumed
curly-haired ladies who come out from the Thermal baths or other buildings, pouring into this
hall-like artistic marmoreal centre of Tiberias.
The passing group is bound to rouse intense curiosity that becomes really morbid when someone
recognises Jesus, having seen Him at Caesarea and there is also someone who recognises the
Magdalene although she is completely enveloped in her mantle, with her veil lowered over her
forehead and cheeks, so that little of her face can be seen, as she is walking with her head bent.
«It's the Nazarene Who cured Valeria's daughter » says a Roman.
«I would love to see a miracle » another Roman replies to him.
«I would like to hear Him speak. They say He is a great philosopher. Shall we ask Him to speak? »
asks a Greek.
«Don't interfere, Theodate. His head is in the clouds and He talks accordingly. A tragedian would
like Him for a satire » replies another Greek.
«Don't become impatient, Aristobolus. He is apparently descending from the clouds and is
discussing sound arguments. See how many lovely young women He has got with Him » exclaims a
Roman jokingly.
«But that is Mary of Magdala! » shouts a Greek , who then calls: «Lucius! Cornelius! Titus! Look:
Mary is over there! »
«It's not her! Mary like that? Are you drunk? »
«It is Mary, I am telling you. She cannot deceive me, even if she is so disguised.»
Romans and Greeks crowd round the apostolic group, which is crossing the square adorned with
arcades and fountains. Some women join the curious men and it is a woman who goes almost under
Mary's face to see her properly and is dumbfounded when she sees that it is Mary.
She asks her: «What are you doing in this guise? » and laughs mockingly.
Mary stops, straightens herself, raises one hand and uncovers her face throwing her veil back. It is
Mary of Magdala, the powerful lady against whatever is despicable and mistress of her own
feelings, who appears. «It is I, yes » she says in her beautiful voice while her beautiful eyes are
flashing. «It is I. And I am revealing myself, so that you may not think that I am ashamed of being

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with these holy people.»
«Oh! Mary with holy people! Come away. Do not degrade yourself! » exclaims the woman.
«I have been degraded up till now. But not now.»
«Are you mad? Or is it a whim? » she replies.
A Roman winking and joking says: «Come with me. I am more handsome and merrier than that
moustached hired mourner who mortifies life and makes a funeral of it. Life is beautiful! A
triumph. A joyful orgy! Come. I will excell everybody in making you happy » and the swarthy
young man whose foxlike face is rather handsome, endeavours to touch her.
«Go away! Don't touch me. You spoke the truth: the life you lead is an orgy. And a most shameful
one. I loathe it.»
«Oh! But up till recently it was your kind of life » replies the Greek.
«She is playing the virgin now! » sneers a Herodian.
«You will ruin those holy people! The Nazarene will lose His halo with you. Come with us » insists
a Roman.
«You had better come with me and follow Him. Stop being animals and become at least men.»
A chorus of laughter and mockery is their reply.
Only an elderly Roman says: «Respect the woman. She is free to do what she likes. I will defend
her.»
«Listen to the demagogue! Did last night's wine upset you? » asks a young man.
«No. He is hypochondriac because his back is aching » replies another.
«Go to the Nazarene and ask Him to scratch it for you.»
«I will go and ask Him to scratch off the filth I picked up being with you » replies the elder.
«Oh! Crispus has become corrupt at the age of sixty » say many laughing, while they form a circle
round him.
But the man named Crispus is not worried at being scorned and he begins to walk behind the
Magdalene and they reach Jesus Who has stopped in the shade of a beautiful building which
occupies two sides of the square with porticoes and benches.
And Jesus has already come to grips with a scribe who reproaches Him for being in Tiberias with
such company.
«And why are you here? So far with regard to Tiberias. And I tell you also that there are souls to be
saved in Tiberias as well, nay, more here than anywhere else » replies Jesus.
«They cannot be saved: they are Gentiles, heathens, sinners.»
«I came for sinners. To make the True God known to everybody. To everybody. I came also for
you.»
«I do not need masters or redeemers. I am pure and learned.»
«I wish you were learned enough to understand your own condition! »
«And You to know how prejudicial is to You the company of a prostitute.»
«I forgive you also on her behalf. In her humility she has cancelled her sin. You have doubled yours
in your pride.»
«I have no sins.»
«You have the capital one. You are loveless.»
The scribe says: «Raca! » and goes away.
«It is my fault, Master! » says the Magdalene. And seeing the pale face on the Blessed Virgin she
moans: «Forgive me. I am causing Your Son to be insulted. I will withdraw...»
«No. You shall stay where you are. I want it » says Jesus in an incisive voice. His eyes flash with
majesty and there is such authority emanating from His whole person that it is almost impossible to
look at Him! He then adds more kindly: «Stay where you are. If anyone cannot bear being near you,
let him go away, by himself.»
And Jesus resumes walking towards the western part of the town.
«Master! » calls the stout elderly Roman who defended the Magdalene.
Jesus turns round.
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«They call You Master, and I call You thus as well. I was anxious to hear You speak. I am part
philosopher and part worldly sinner. But perhaps You could make an honest person of me.»
Jesus stares at him saying: «I am leaving the town where base human animality reigns and mockery
is sovereign.» And He resumes walking.
The man follows Him with difficulty and perspiring, because Jesus is striding and he is bulky and
rather old and weighed down by vices. Peter looks back and tells Jesus.
«Let him walk. Do not bother about him.»
Shortly afterwards the Iscariot says: «But that man is following us. It is not right! »
«Why? Out of pity or is there another reason? »
«Pity him? No. Because farther back there is the scribe and other Jews following us.»
«Leave them alone. It would have been better if you had pitied him instead of pitying yourself.»
«You, Master.»
«No: yourself, Judas. Be frank in acknowledging your feelings and confessing them.»
«I really pity the elder as well. It is difficult, You know, to keep up with You! » says Peter
perspiring.
«It is always difficult to follow Perfection, Simon.»
The man follows them without tiring, endeavouring to stay near the women, to whom, however, he
does not speak.
The Magdalene is weeping silently under her veil.
«Do not weep, Mary » says Our Lady comforting her and taking her by the hand. «Later the world
will respect you. The first days are the most painful ones.»
«Oh! It is not for my own sake! It is because of Him! I would never forgive myself if I were the
cause of trouble for Him. Did You hear what the scribe said? I am prejudicial to Him.»
«Poor daughter! Do you not know that such words have been hissing around Him like so many
snakes long before you thought of coming to Him? Simon told Me that they accused Him of that
even last year, because He cured a woman leper, once a sinner, whom He saw only when He
worked the miracle and never again, and was older than I am, and I am His Mother. Do you not
know that He had to come away from the Clear Water because a poor sister of yours had gone there
to be redeemed? How can they accuse Him if He is without sin? By telling lies. And where do they
find them? In His mission among men. His good deed is used as evidence of His sin. Whatever My
Son should do, they would always consider it a sin. If He retired to a hermitage, He would be guilty
of neglecting the people of God. If He comes among the people, He is guilty of doing that. He is
always guilty, as far as they are concerned.»
«Then, they are hatefully wicked! »
«No. They are stubbornly blind to the Light. My Jesus is the Eternal Misunderstood One. And He
will be more and more so.»
«And does that not grieve You? You seem so serene to me.»
«Be quiet. I feel as if My heart were wrapped in burning thorns. And every time I breathe I am
pierced by them. But He must not know! I strive to appear serene, in order to support Him by My
serenity. If His Mother does not console Him, where is My Jesus going to find comfort? On which
breast can He recline His head without being wounded or calumniated by doing so? It is only fair
that I, forgetting the thorns that rend My heart and the tears that I drink in My hours of solitude,
should lay a soft loving mantle, a smile, at any cost, to leave Him quieter... quieter, until... until the
wave of hatred will be such that nothing will be of any avail. Not even the love of His Mother...»
Two tears stream down Mary's pale face.
The two sisters, deeply moved, look at Her. «But we are here and we love Him. Then the
apostles...» says Martha to comfort Her.
«Yes, you are here. And He has the apostles... They are still much inferior to their task... And My
grief is deeper because I know that He is aware of everything...»
«So He knows that I am willing to obey, even to the extent of immolating myself, if necessary? »
asks the Magdalene.
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«He does. You are a great joy for Him on His hard way.»
«Oh! Mother! » and the Magdalene takes Mary's hand and kisses it effusively.
Tiberias ends at the vegetable gardens of the suburbs. Beyond them there is the dusty road that
leads to Cana; on one side there are orchards, on the other meadows and fields parched by the
summer sun.
Jesus proceeds into an orchard to rest in the shade of thick trees. The women reach Him first and
then the panting Roman arrives; he is utterly exhausted. He remains a little aside, does not speak,
but watches.
«Let us take some food while we are resting » says Jesus. «There is a well over there and a peasant
near it. Go and ask him to let us have some water.»
John and Thaddeus go. They come back with a pitcher dripping water, followed by the peasant who
offers some wonderful figs.
«May God reward you with good health and a rich harvest.»
«May God protect You. You are the Master, are You not? »
«I am.»
«Will You be speaking here? »
«There is no one here who wants Me to speak.»
«I do, Master. I wish it more that I wish water which is so good when one is thirsty » shouts the
Roman.
«Are you thirsty? »
«Yes, very. I have followed You from town.»
«Fountains of cool water are not lacking in Tiberias.»
«Do not misunderstand me, Master, or feign to misinterpret me. I followed You to hear You
speak.»
«Why? »
«I do not know why or how. It happened seeing her (and he points at the Magdalene). I do not
know. Something said to me: "He will tell you what you do not yet know". And I came.»
«Give the man some water and figs. That he may refreshen his body.»
«And what about my mind? »
«Minds are refreshened by the Truth.»
«That is why I followed You. I looked for the truth in human knowledge. I found corruption. Even
in the best doctrines there is something which is not good. I have become so disheartened that I am
disgusted and a disgusting man without any other future but the hour I live.»
Jesus stares at him while eating the bread and figs that the apostles have brought Him.
The meal is soon over.
Jesus, still sitting, begins to speak as if He were just giving a simple lesson to His apostles. Also the
peasant remains nearby.
«Many are those who look for the Truth throughout their lives, without reaching it. They look like
fools who are anxious to see and yet hold bronze blinkers before their eyes and they grope
searching convulsively so that they go farther and farther away from the Truth, or they hide it by
throwing on it various things that their foolish search shifts and causes to fall. Nothing but that can
happen to them, because they look for the Truth where the Truth cannot be. To find the Truth you
must join intellect to love and look at things not only with wise eyes, but with good eyes. Because
bounty is worth more than wisdom. He who loves will always find a path leading to the Truth.
To love does not mean to take delight in the flesh or for the flesh. That is not love. It is sensuality.
Love is affection from soul to soul, from superior part to superior part, so that man does not see in
his companion a slave, but the mother of his children, and nothing else, that is, the half that forms
with man a whole, capable of procreating life or more lives; that is, the companion who is the
mother and sister and daughter of man, who is weaker than a new-born baby or stronger than a lion,
according to circumstances, and who as mother, sister and daughter is to be loved with confident
protective respect. Whatever is not what I say, is not love. It is vice. It does not lead upwards but
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downwards: not to the Light, but to Darkness; not to the stars, but to filth. You must love your
woman to be able to love your neighbour. And you must love your neighbour to know how to love
God. And the way to the Truth is found.
That is where the Truth is, o men who are looking for it. The Truth is God. That is where the key to
understand knowledge is to be found. The faultless doctrine is God's doctrine. How can man answer
all his questions if God is not with him to give him the answers? Who can disclose the mysteries of
creation, only and simply those mysteries, but our Supreme Maker, Who made creation? Who can
understand the living marvel, which is man, the being in whom the animal perfection is united to
the immortal perfection, which is the soul, whereby we are gods, if our souls are alive, that is free
from those actions which would abase a brute, and which, however, man commits and of which he
is proud?
O men, searching for the Truth, I will repeat Job's words to you: "If you would learn more, ask the
cattle, seek information from the birds of the air. The creeping things of the earth will give you
lessons, and the fishes of the sea will tell you all". Yes, the earth, this verdant flowery earth, the
fruit swelling on trees, the proliferating birds, the winds blowing clouds, the sun that for centuries
and millennia has risen unerringly, everything speaks of God, everything explains God, everything
reveals and discovers God.
If Science is not based on God, it becomes error and does not elevate but abases. Knowledge is not
corruption if it is religion. He whose knowledge is based on God will not fall, because he is
conscious of his dignity and believes in his eternal future. But you must look for the real God, not
for phantoms that are not gods, but mere frenzies of men still enveloped in spiritual ignorance so
that there is not even the shadow of wisdom in their religions or the shadow of truth in their faith.
Every age is capable of becoming wise. Nay, once again in Job it is written: "At dusk a noonday
light will rise for you and when you think your end has come, you will rise like the morning star.
You will be full of confidence because of the hope waiting for you".
Good will is sufficient to find the Truth, which sooner or later will be found. But once it has been
found, woe to those who do not follow it, but imitate the obstinate people of Israel, who, although
already in possession of the thread to find God, that is, everything written in the Book about Me,
will not surrender to the Truth, nay they hate it, amassing in their minds and hearts the barrenness
of hatred and formulae. And they do not know that because of excessive weight the earth will open
under their steps, which they think are the steps of triumphers, whereas they are the steps of slaves
of formalism, of hatred, of selfishness. And they will be swallowed up and will be thrown headlong
into the abyss where those go who are consciously guilty of a paganism that is more guilty than the
heathenism that people have adopted by themselves in order to have a religion on which to base
their behaviour.
As I do not reject those who repent amongst the children of Israel, so I do not reject those idolaters
who believe in what they were given to believe and who inwardly implore: "Give us the Truth".
I have spoken to you. Let us rest now under these green trees, if this man will allow us. We shall go
to Cana in the evening.»
«Lord, I am leaving You. But as I do not wish to desecrate the wisdom that You have given me, I
will leave Tiberias this evening. I am going away from this country. I will retire to the coast of
Lucania with my servant. I have a house there. You have given me much. I realise that You cannot
give more to the old Epicurean. But what You have given me is enough to enable me to build up
my mind. And... pray Your God for old Crispus. He was Your only listener in Tiberias. Pray that I
may hear You again, before Libitina (1) clasps me, so that, through the capability which I think I
will be able to create within me, I may understand You and the Truth better. Hail, Master.» And he
salutes in the Roman way.
When he passes near the women who are sitting a little aside, he bows to Mary of Magdala and
says: «Thank you, Mary. It was a good thing that I knew you. You have given the searched for
treasure to your old feast companion. If I arrive where you already are, I will owe you that.
Goodbye.» And he goes away.
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The Magdalene presses her hands against her heart and her face shows wonder and radiance. Then,
she drags herself on her knees before Jesus. «Oh! Lord! So it is true that I may lead people to Good?
Oh! My Lord. That is too kind of You! » And bending until her face touches the grass, she kisses
Jesus' feet and wets them once again with tears: the tears of gratitude of the great lover of Madgala.

242. In the House at Cana.

4th August 1945.

In the house at Cana the rejoicing for Jesus' arrival is little less than it was at the miraculous
wedding. There are no players, no guests, the house is not adorned with flowers and evergreens,
there are no tables laid for many guests, nor any steward near the sideboards and the stone jars, full
of wine. But love excels everything and it is given in the right form and measure, that is, not to
the guest,

(1) Ancient Roman goddess of sepultures, whose name was used by Latin poets as synonymous
with death.
Who is probably also a distant relation, but still a man, but to the Master Guest Whose true Nature
is known and acknowledged and Whose Word is venerated as something divine. The hearts in
Cana, therefore, love with their whole selves the Great Friend, Who appeared in His linen tunic at
the garden entrance, in the green of the garden and the red of the sunset, beautifying everything
with His presence, communicating His peace not only to the hearts to whom He addresses His
greeting, but also to things.
And it really seems that a veil of solemn joyful peace is laid out wherever He turns His blue eyes.
Purity and peace flow from His eyes, wisdom from His lips and love from His heart. What I am
about to say may seem impossible to the reader of these pages. And yet, the same place, which
before Jesus' coming was an ordinary place, or a busy place excluding the possibility of peace,
which supposedly should be free from work bustling, is ennobled as soon as He appears there, and
the bustling becomes orderly and does not bar the possibility of supernatural thoughts mingled with
manual labour. I do not know whether I have made myself clear.
Jesus is never sullen, not even when He is more disgusted with something that has happened, but is
always majestically dignified and communicates such supernatural dignity to the place in which He
moves. Jesus is never a jolly fellow or a complainer laughing coarsely or looking hypochondriac,
not even in the moments of greatest delight or deepest depression. His smile is inimitable. No
painter will ever be able to reproduce it. It is like a light emanating from His heart, a bright light in
the hours of greatest joy because a soul has been redeemed or approaches Perfection: I would say a
rosy smile, when He approves of the spontaneous deeds of His friends or disciples and enjoys their
company; a blue angelical smile, to remain in the field of hues, when He bends over children to
listen to them, teach them and then bless them; a smile mitigated by piety when He looks at the
miseries of the flesh or the spirit; finally a divine smile, when He speaks of His Father or Mother, or
looks at or listens to His Most Pure Mother.
I have never seen Him hypochondriac, not even in the hours of bitter torment. During the torture of
being betrayed, during the anguish when He sweated blood, and the spasm of His passion, if
melancholy overwhelmed the sweet refulgence of His smile, it was not sufficient to cancel the
peace, which is like a diadem shining with heavenly gems on His smooth forehead and enlightening
His divine person. Neither have I ever seen Him indulge in immoderate merriment. He is not averse
to a hearty laugh, when the case demands it, but He immediately resumes His noble serenity. But
when He laughs, He prodigiously looks younger, to the extent of looking like a twenty year old man
and the world seems to blossom through His lovely, hearty, loud, melodious laughter. Neither can I
say that I have seen Him do things hurriedly. Whether He moves or speaks, He does so calmly,
without, however, being sluggish or listless. It is probably because, tall as He is, He can stride,
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without running, to go a long way and He can likewise reach at distant things without having to
stand up to do so. Even the way He moves is certainly gentlemanly and majestic.
And what about His voice? Well: I have heard Him speak for almost two years, and yet at times I
lose the thread of His speech as I become so engrossed in studying His voice. And Jesus, very
kindly and patiently, repeats what He said and He looks at me with His smile of the good Master to
ensure that nothing is missing in His dictation because of my delight in enjoying and listening to
His voice and studying its tone and charm. But after two years I am not in a position to say precisely
what the tone is. I definitely exclude the bass tone and also the light tenor tone. But I am always
doubtful whether it is a powerful tenor voice or a perfect baritone voice with a very wide vocal
range. I would say that it is the latter because His voice at times takes bronze-like notes, mellow
and so deep, particularly when He speaks to a sinner, to lead him back to Grace or He points out
human deviations to crowds. But when He analyses or condemns forbidden things or He shows the
hypocrisy of men, the bronze notes of His voices become clearer; and they are as sharp as the peal
of thunder when He imposes the Truth or His will and they vibrate like a sheet of gold struck with a
crystal hammer when He sings the praises of Mercy or exalts the work of God; but the timbre of His
voice is a most loving one when He speaks to or about His Mother. Jesus' voice is then really
imbued with love: the reverent love of a son, and the love of God Who praises His most perfect
work. And He uses the same tone, although not so strongly, when speaking to His favourites, to
converts and to children. And His voice never tires, not even in very long speeches, because it
colours and completes His thoughts and words, emphasising their power or kindness, according to
the case.
And at times I remain still, with the pen in my hand, listening, and I then realise that He has gone
too far ahead, and that it is impossible to catch up with Him... and I remain still, and Jesus kindly
repeats the words. He does the same when I am interrupted, to teach me to patiently endure
bothersome things or people, and I make Him understand how «bothersome » they are when they
deprive me of the beatitude of listening to Jesus...
Now, at Cana, He is thanking Susanna for the hospitality granted to Aglae. They are by themselves
under a pergola laden with grapes which are already ripening. All the others are in the kitchen,
refreshing themselves.
«The woman was very good, Master. She certainly was not a burden to us. She helped me every
time I did the washing, when we cleaned the house at Passover, as if she were a servant, and I can
assure You that she worked like a slave to help me finish our clothes for Passover. She was prudent
and withdrew every time someone came to the house; and she endeavoured not to be alone even
with my husband. She hardly spoke in the presence of the family and took little food. She got up
every morning to tidy herself before the men woke and I always found the fire lit and the house
cleaned. But when we were alone she would ask me about You and begged me to teach her the
psalms of our religion. She used to say: "That I may pray as the Master prays". Has she finished to
suffer now? Because she did suffer very much. She was afraid of everything and sighed and wept a
great deal. Is she happy now? »
«Yes, supernaturally happy and free from fear. She is in peace. And I thank you for the good you
did to her.»
«Oh! My Lord. What good? I treated her with love in Your name, because that is all I can do. She
was a poor sister. I realised that. And I loved her, out of gratitude to the Most High Who has kept
me in His grace.»
«And you have done more than if you had preached in the Bel Nidrasc. Now you have another one
here. Did you recognise her? »
«Who does not know her here? »
«Nobody, that is true. But you and the district here do not know the second Mary, the one who will
always be faithful to her vocation. Always. I ask you to believe it.»
«You say so. You know. I believe.»
«Say also: "I love". I know that it is more difficult to pity and forgive one of our own people, who
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has sinned, than one who has the excuse of being a pagan. But if our regret in seeing family
apostasies was keen, let our pity and forgiveness be keener. I have forgiven Israel everything »
concludes Jesus, stressing the last words.
«And I will forgive, as far as I am concerned. Because I think a disciple should do what the Master
does.»
«You are in the truth and God rejoices because of that. Let us go with the others. It is getting dark.
It will be pleasant to rest in the peace of the night.»
«Will You not speak to us, Master? »
«I do not know yet.»
They go into the kitchen where food and drinks have been prepared for supper.
Susanna moves forward and blushing slightly she says: «Will my sisters come upstairs with me? We
must lay the tables because afterwards we must prepare beds for the men. I could do it by myself.
But it would take me longer.»
«I am coming, too, Susanna » says the Blessed Virgin.
«No, we are enough and it will help us to become acquainted with one another, work does help to
fraternise.»
They go out together while Jesus, after drinking some water flavoured with some syrup - I do not
know what it is - goes and sits with His Mother, the apostles and the men of the house, in the cool
shade of the pergola, leaving the servants and the elderly landlady free to finish preparing the food.
The voices of the three women disciples laying the tables can be heard from the room upstairs.
Susanna tells of the miracle which was worked at her wedding and Mary of Magdala replies: «To
change water into wine is a great thing, but to change a sinner into a woman disciple is even
greater. God grant I become like that wine: that I may be of the best.»
«Have no doubt about it. He changes everything in a perfect way. There was one here, and a
heathen in addition, whose sentiments and faith He changed. Can you doubt that the same will not
happen to you, who are already an Israelite? »
«One? Young? »
«Young. Beautiful.»
«And where is she now? » asks Martha.
«Only the Master knows.»
«Ah! Well, she is the one of whom I spoke to you. Jesus was with Lazarus that evening and he
heard the words which were spoken concerning her. What a sweet scent there was in that room!
Lazarus' garments were imbued with it for several days. And yet Jesus said that the heart of the
convert excelled it with the perfume of her repentance. I wonder where she has gone. I think to
some solitary place...»
«She is lonely, and she was a stranger. I am here, and I am known. She expiates in solitude, I...
living in the world, amongst those who know me. I do not envy her destiny, as I am with the
Master. But I hope I will be able to imitate her one day, by being without anything that may distract
me from Him.»
«Would you leave Him? »
«No. But He says that He will go away. My soul will then follow Him. I can defy the world with
Him. Without Him I would be afraid of the world. I shall put a desert between me and the world.»
«And what about Lazarus and me? What shall we do? »
«What you did in your grief. You will love each other and will love me. And without blushing...
Because you will then be alone, but you will know that I am with the Lord. And I will love you in
the Lord.»
«Mary is strong and well determined in her decisions » comments Peter who has heard.
And the Zealot replies: «She is a straight blade like her father. She has her mother's features, but her
father's unyielding spirit.»
And the lady with the unyielding spirit is running down the stairs to tell her companions that supper
is ready.
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The country fades away in the serene moonless night. Only the faint light of stars shows the dark
masses of trees and the white ones of houses. Nothing else. Some night birds are fluttering silently
round Susanna's house, in search of flies, skimming past the people sitting on the terrace round a
lamp, which throws a faint yellowish light on the faces of those who are gathered round Jesus.
Martha, who must be terrified of bats, gives a scream every time a big noctule skims past her. Jesus
instead is busy with the moths attracted by the lamp and with His long arm He endeavours to keep
them away from the flame.
«They are both very stupid animals » says Thomas. The former mistake us for bluebottles, the latter
mistake the flame for the sun and get burnt. They have not even got a shadow of brains.»
«They are animals. Do you expect them to reason? » asks the Iscariot.
«No. But I would like them to have instinct at least.»
«It is not possible for them to have it. I am talking of moths. Because they die after their first trial.
Instinct awakes and develops through painful surprising experience » comments James of
Alphaeus.
«And what about bats? They should have it because they live for years. They are stupid, that's all »
retorts Thomas.
«No, Thomas. Not more than men. Many times men also look like stupid bats. They fly, or rather
they flutter, like drunk men, round things that can only cause grief. Here you are: My brother has
struck one down with his mantle. Give Me it » says Jesus.
James of Zebedee, at whose feet the stunned bat has fallen and is now tossing clumsily on the floor,
picks it up with two fingers by one of its membranous wings and holding it out, like a dirty rag, lays
it on Jesus' lap.
«Here is the unwary animal. Let us leave it alone and you will see that it will recover, but it will not
change its habits.»
«An unusual rescue, Master. I would have killed it » says the Iscariot.
«No. Why? It has a life, too, and is keen on it » replies Jesus.
«I don't think so. It either does not know it has a life or is not keen on it. It endangers it! »
«Oh! Judas! Judas! How severe you would be with sinners, with men. Also men know that they
have one life and another one and they do not hesitate to endanger both one and the other.»
«Have we got two lives? »
«The life of the body and the life of the soul, you know that.»
«Ah! I thought You were referring to reincarnation. Some people believe in it.»
«There is no reincarnation. But there are two lives. And yet man endangers both of them. If you
were God how would you judge men, who are gifted with reason besides instinct? »
«Severely. Unless it were a person of unsound mind.»
«Would you not take into account the circumstances that make people morally insane? »
«No, I would not.»
«So you would have no mercy on anyone who knows God and is acquainted with the Law, and yet
sins.»
«I would have no mercy. Because man must be able to control himself.»
«He should be able.»
«He must, Master. It is an unpardonable disgrace that an adult should commit certain sins,
particularly when nothing forces him.»
«Which sins according to you? »
«The sins of sensuality first. One degrades oneself irreparably...»
Mary of Magdala lowers her head... Judas goes on: «...and one corrupts others as well, because a
kind of ferment exhales from the bodies of impure people and it upsets even the pure and urges
them to imitate the impure...»
While the Magdalene lowers her head further, Peter says: «Hey, there! Don't be so severe! The first
to be guilty of such unpardonable disgrace was Eve, and you are not going to tell me that she was
corrupted by the impure ferment exhaling from a lascivious person. In any case I would like you to
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know that, as far as I am concerned, I am in no way upset even if I sit near a lustful person. It's his
business...»
«One is always infected by being near. If the body is not, the soul is, and that is worse.»
«You seem a Pharisee! Excuse me, in that case one should lock oneself up in a crystal tower and
stay there, sealed up.»
«But do not believe, Simon, that it would help you. Temptations are more dreadful in loneliness »
says the Zealot.
«Oh! Well! They would be like dreams. No harm » replies Peter.
«No harm? Don't you know that temptations lead to cogitations, cogitations to compromise to
satisfy somehow one's aroused instinct, and then compromise opens the way to refinement of sin in
which sensuality is joined to thought? » asks the Iseariot.
«I know nothing about all that, my dear Judas. Perhaps because I have never cogitated, as you say,
on certain things. But I think that we have gone very far from bats and that it is a good job that you
are not God. Otherwise you would be all alone in Paradise, with your severity. What do You say,
Master? »
«I say that it is wise not to be too absolute because the angels of the Lord listen to the words of men
and record them in the eternal books and it might not be pleasant one day to be told: "Let it be done
to you according to your own judgement". I say that if God sent Me it means that He wants to
forgive all the sins of which man repents, as He knows how weak man is, because of Satan. Judas,
tell Me: do you agree that Satan may take possession of a soul so as to force coercion on it, which
may diminish the gravity of sin in the eyes of God? »
«I do not. Satan can impair but the inferior part.»
«You are blaspheming, Judas of Simon » exclaim almost together the Zealot and Bartholomew.
«Why? In what way? »
«You are giving the lie to God and the Book. We read in it that Lucifer impaired also the superior
part, and God, through His Word, has told us many times » Bartholomew replies.
«It is also said that man has free will. Which means that Satan cannot do violence to man's mind
and feelings. Even God does not do it.»
«No, God does not, because He is Order and Loyalty. But Satan does, because he is Disorder and
Hatred » insists the Zealot.
«Hatred is not the sentiment opposed to loyalty. You are wrong.»
«I am right, because if God is Loyalty and therefore does not fail to keep His word to leave man
free in his actions, the demon cannot belie such word, as he never promised free will to man. But it
is true that he is Hatred and therefore attacks God and man, assailing the intellectual freedom of
man, in addition to his body, reducing such freedom of thought to slavery in possessed people,
whereby man does things, which he would not do, if he were free from Satan » maintains the
Zealot.
«I do not agree.»
«What about possessed people, then? You are denying the evidence of facts » shouts Judas
Thaddeus.
«Possessed people are deaf, or dumb or insane. They are not lustful.»
«Is that the only vice you have in mind? » asks Thomas ironically.
«It is the most common one and the lowest.»
«Ah! I thought it was the one you are better acquainted with » says Thomas laughing.
Judas jumps to his feet as if he wanted to react. But he controls himself and goes downstairs and
then walks away through the fields.
There is silence... Then Andrew says: «His idea is not completely mistaken. In fact one would say
that Satan takes possession only of senses: sight, hearing, speech and brains. But then, Master, how
can certain wicked actions be explained? Are they not possessions? Doras, for example?...»
«Doras, as you say, in order not to be uncharitable towards anybody, and may God reward you for
that, or Mary, as we all know, and she is the first to know, after the clear uncharitable hints by
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Judas, are those who are more completely possessed by Satan, who extends his power over the three
great powers of man. They are the most oppressive and subtle possessions, from which only those
can free themselves who are so little degraded in their souls as to be still able to understand the
invitation of the Light. Doras was not lustful. But even so he would not come to the Redeemer. And
that is where the difference lies. That is, whilst in the case of lunatic, dumb, deaf, blind people
possessed by the demon, their relatives endeavour and do the necessary to bring them to Me, in the
case of those whose spirits are possessed, only their spirits can seek freedom. That is why they are
forgiven as well as freed. Because it was their will to begin opposition to the demon's possession.
And now let us go and rest. Mary, since you know what it is to be caught, pray for those who lend
themselves intermittently to the Enemy's action, committing sin and causing grief.»
«Yes, my Master. I will. And without any ill-feeling.»
«Peace to everybody. Let us drop here the cause of so much discussing. There is darkness with
darkness, outside, in the night. But we are going inside to sleep under the protection of the angels.»
And He lays on a bench the bat, which makes its first attempts to fly away, and He withdraws with
the apostles to the room upstairs, while the women with the landlord and landlady go downstairs.

243. John Repeats the Speech Made by Jesus on Mount Tabor.

5th August 1945.

They are all climbing the cool short cuts leading to Nazareth. The Galilean hillsides seem to have
been created that very morning, because the recent storm has washed them so thoroughly and the
dew keeps them shiny and fresh, so that they are all bright in the early sunshine. The air is so clear
that all the details of the more or less distant mountains are visible and there is a deep sensation of
freshness and liveliness.
When they reach the top of a hill they delight in admiring the sight of a lake, which is most
beautiful in the pure morning light. They all admire it, as does Jesus. But Mary Magdalene soon
turns her eyes in a different direction looking for something. Her eyes rest on the mountain tops
lying northwest, but she does not seem to find what she is looking for.
Susanna, who is beside her, asks: «What are you looking for? »
«I would like to recognise the mountain where I met the Master.»
«Ask Him.»
«Oh! It is not worth disturbing Him. He is speaking to Judas of Kerioth.»
«What a man Judas is! » whispers Susanna. She does not say anything else, but... the rest is clearly
understood.
«That mountain is certainly not along this road. But I will take you there some time, Martha. It was
dawn, just like now, and there were so many flowers... And so many people... Oh! Martha! And I
had the audacity to appear in front of everybody in that shameful dress and with those friends... No,
you cannot be offended at Judas' words. I deserved them. I deserved every one of them. And the
present suffering is my expiation. Everybody remembers and everybody is right in telling me the
truth. And I must be silent. Oh! If one only pondered before sinning! Who offends me now is my
best friend, because he helps me to expiate.»
«But that does not mean that he has not done wrong. Mother, is Your Son really pleased with that
man? »
«We must pray very much for him. So He says.»
John leaves the apostles to come and help the women at a difficult passage, where their sandals slip
as the path is strewn with smooth stones, like reddish slates, and with glossy hard grass, which is
very dangerous as the foot has no grip on it. The Zealot imitates John and the women pass over the
difficult spot leaning on them.
«This is rather a difficult road. But there is no dust and no travellers on it. And it is shorter » says

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the Zealot.
«I know it, Simon » says Mary. «I came to that little village half way up the hill, with My nephews
when Jesus was driven out of Nazareth » says the Blessed Virgin with a sigh.
«But the world is beautiful from here. There is the Tabor over there, and the Hermon, and to the
north the mountains of Arbela, and over there, in the back, the great Hermon. It is a pity that the sea
is not visible as it is from Tabor » says John.
«Have you been there? »
«Yes, with the Master.»
«John, through his love for the infinite, obtained a great joy for us, because on the top of the
mountain Jesus spoke of God so ecstatically that we had never heard the like before. And after
receiving so much, we obtained a great conversion. You will meet the man too, Mary. And your
spirit will be fortified more than it already is. We found a man hardened with hatred, brutalised by
remorse and Jesus turned him into a man who, I am sure, will become a great disciple. Like you,
Mary. Because, you can be sure that what I tell you is the truth, we sinners are more yielding to
Good, which envelops us, because we feel the need to be forgiven even by ourselves » says the
Zealot.
«That is true. But it is very kind of you to say "we sinners". You were a poor wretch, not a sinner.»
«We are all sinners, some more some less, and he who thinks he is less a sinner, is the most likely
to become one, if he is not already so. We are all sinners. But the big sinners who repent are the
ones who know how to be as absolute in Good as they were in evil.»
«Your comforting words are a great relief to me. You have always been a father to the children of
Theophilus.»
«And like a father I rejoice because the three of you are Jesus' friends.»
«Where did you find that disciple who was a big sinner? »
«At Endor, Mary. Simon wishes to ascribe the merit of so many beautiful things to my desire to
contemplate the sea. But if John the elder came to Jesus it is no merit of the silly young John. It is
the merit of Judas of Simon » says Zebedee's son smiling.
«Did he convert him? » asks Martha doubtfully.
«No. But he wanted to go to Endor and...»
«Yes, to see the cave of the sorceress... Judas of Simon is a very strange type... One must take him
as he is... Of course!... And John of Endor led us to the cave and then remained with us. But, my
dear son, the merit is still yours, because without your desire for the infinite we would not have
gone that way and Judas would not have desired to go on that strange research.»
«I would like to know what Jesus said on Mount Tabor... as I would like to recognise the mountain
where I saw Him » sighs Mary Magdalene.
«The mountain is the one where the sun seems to be rising, because of the sparkling of a pond
there, which collects the spring water and herds make use of it. We were farther up where the top
seems to be split like a huge two-pronged-fork attempting to pierce the clouds and take them
somewhere else. With regard to Jesus' speech, I think John can repeat it for you.»
«Oh! Simon! Is it possible for a boy to repeat the words of God? »
«No, it isn't for a boy. It is for you. Try. To please your sisters and me, as I love you.»
John blushes very much when he begins to repeat the speech of Jesus.
«He said: "Here is the infinite page on which currents write the word: I 'believe'. Think of the chaos
of the Universe before the Creator decided to order the elements and arrange them into a wonderful
association, which has given man the earth and what it contains and has adorned the firmament
with stars and planets. Nothing existed: neither as amorphous chaos, nor as ordered system.
God made it. First He made the elements. Because they are necessary, although at times they seem
to be harmful. But always remember this: there is no small drop of dew, no matter how small it be,
which does not have a good reason for existing, there is no insect, however small and insignificant
it may be, which does not have its good reason for being. And likewise there is no monstruous
mountain vomiting from its bowels fire and incandescent lapilli, which does not have its good
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reason for existing. And there is no cyclone without a reason. And passing from things to people,
there is no event, no tear, no joy, no birth, death, no sterility and prolific maternity, no long
marriage life or early widowhood, no misfortune of calamities and diseases, or prosperity of wealth
and health, which does not have its good reason for being, even if it does not appear as such to the
short-sightedness and pride of men, who see and judge through the cataracts and fogs typical of
imperfect things. But the Eye of God, the infinite Thought of God, sees and knows. The secret of
living free from sterile doubts, which irritate, exhaust and poison the days on the earth, is to believe
that God does everything for a good intelligent reason, that God does what He does for love, not for
the stolid intention of tormenting for the sake of tormenting.
God had created the angels. And some of them, who did not want to believe that the level of glory
at which they had been placed was good, rebelled and with their minds parched by lack of faith in
their Lord, they attempted to assail the unreachable throne of God. They opposed their discordant
unjust pessimistic thoughts to the harmonious reasons of the faithful angels, and pessimism, which
is lack of faith, changed them from spirits of light into spirits of darkness.
Blessed are those for ever who both in Heaven and on the earth base all their thoughts on a
presupposition of fully enlightened optimism! They will not be wrong, at least as far as their spirits
are concerned, as they will continue to believe, hope and above all love God and their neighbour,
and will thus remain in God until the end of centuries!
Paradise had already been freed from those proud pessimists who saw gloomy sides also in the
brightest words of God, as the pessimists on the earth look on dark sides also of the clearest deeds
of men and by wishing to be separated in an ivory tower, as they consider themselves the only
perfect ones, they condemn themselves to a dark dungeon, which ends in the darkness of the
kingdom of hell, the kingdom of Negation. Because pessimism is Negation as well.
So God created the Universe. And as to understand the glorious mystery of Our being One and
Trine one must believe and understand that the Word existed from the beginning and was with God,
joined by the most perfect Love, Which can be effused only by two Who are Gods, being, however,
only One; so, to see creation as it is, it is necessary to look at it with eyes of faith because in its
being, as a son bears the indelible reflection of his father, so creation has within itself the indelible
reflection of its Creator. We shall then see that in the beginning there was the sky and the earth and
then light, which can be compared to love. Because light is delight, as love is. And light is the
atmosphere of Paradise. And the incorporeal Being, Who is God, is Light and is the Father of every
intellectual, affective, material, spiritual light, both in Heaven and on the earth.
In the beginning there was the sky and the earth and for them light was given and through light
everything else was made. And as in the most high Heaven the spirits of light were separated from
those of darkness, so in creation light was separated from darkness and Day and Night were made
and that was the first day of creation, with its morning and its evening, its midday and midnight.
And when the smile of God, that is light, came once again after night, then the hand of God, His
powerful will, stretched out over the shapeless empty earth, and over the sky where the waters
wandered, one of the free elements in chaos, and wanted the firmament to separate the disorderly
wandering of the waters between the sky and the earth, so that it would be a velarium for paradisiac
splendour, a limit to superior waters, and thus floods would not descend upon boiling metals and
atoms, washing away and disjointing what God was uniting.
Order was restored in the sky. And there was order on the earth through the command given by God
to the waters spread over the earth. And the sea began to exist. There it is. On it, as on the
firmament it is written: 'God is'. Whatever the intellectuality of man is, or his faith or disbelief, in
front of this page, in which a particle of infinity, which is God, shines, and in which there is the
evidence of His power, man is obliged to believe, because no human power and no natural
settlement of elements can possibly repeat such a wonder, not even in a very small way. Man is
obliged to believe not only in the Lord's power, but also in His goodness, as through that sea He
gives food and ways of communication to man, He gives wholesome salts, He mitigates the heat of
the sun and gives space to winds, and seed to lands remote from one another, and causes it to roar
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like storms to call the ant - man - to the Infinite One, his Father, and He gives man the possibility of
elevating himself to higher spheres, contemplating higher visions.
Three things speak most of God in creation, which is entirely a witness of His power: the light, the
firmament and the sea. The astral and meteorological order, which is a reflection of the divine
Order; the light, which only a God could create; the sea, the power which only God could confine
within firm limits, after creating it, and He gave it motion and voice, without, however, damaging,
as a turbulent disorderly element, the earth, which bears the sea on its surface.
Ponder on the mystery of light, which is inexhaustible. Raise your eyes towards the firmament
where stars and planets are resplendent. Look at the sea and consider it for what it is. It is not a
separation but a bridge between peoples who live on other shores and although they cannot be seen
and are unknown, one must believe that they exist, simply because the sea exists. God does not
make anything useless. He, therefore, would not have created the seemingly infinite sea, unless it
were limited by other lands beyond the horizon, which prevents us from seeing, lands which are
populated with other men, who have all come from one only God, and by God's will have been
carried there by storms and currents, to people continents and regions. And the sea sends remote
appeals through its waves, through the voice of its waves and its tides. It is a link, not a separation.
The anxiety which causes John a sweet anguish is the appeal of remote brothers. The more the
spirit dominates the flesh, the more capable it is of hearing the voices of spirits that are united even
if they are divided, like branches that spring up from the same root are united even if one cannot
see the other if an obstacle is interposed between them. Look at the sea with eyes full of light. You
will see lands strewn round its shores, at its limits, and other lands inside it and a cry will reach you
from every one of them: 'Come. Bring us the Light that you possess. Bring us the Life given to you.
Speak to our hearts the word with which we are not acquainted, but we know is the foundation of
the universe: love. Teach us to read the word that we see written on the infinite pages of the
firmament and of the sea: God. Enlighten us because we feel that there is a light, which is more real
than the one which reddens the sky and makes the sea glitter like gems. Bring to our darkness the
Light that God gave you after generating It through His love, and He gave It to you on behalf of all
peoples, as He gave light to the stars so that they might give it to the earth. You are the stars, we are
the dust. But form us as the Creator formed the earth with dust, so that man might people it adoring
Him now and for ever, until the hour comes when there is no earth, but the Kingdom comes. The
Kingdom of light, of love, of peace, as the living God told you it will be, because we are children of
this God as well, and we ask to became acquainted with our Father'.
And learn to go along the ways of infinity. Without fear and without disdain, towards those who
call you and weep. Towards those who will also grieve you because they feel God but do not know
how to adore God, but they will also procure you glory, because, the more you possess love and
bestow it, leading to the Truth the people who are waiting to reach it, the greater You will be".
Jesus said so, but much better than I did. But that was at least His idea.»
«John, you have repeated exactly what the Master said. You have only omitted what He said about
your capability to understand God through your generosity in giving yourself. You are good, John.
The best amongst us! We have come to the end of our way without noticing it. There is Nazareth on
its hill. The Master is looking at us and smiling. Let us reach Him at once to enter the village
together.»
«Thank you, John » says Our Lady. «You have given a great present to your Mother.»
«I thank you, too. You have opened infinite horizons to poor Mary...»
«What were you talking so much about? » Jesus asks those who have just joined Him.
«John has repeated the speech You made on Mount Tabor. Perfectly. And we were delighted.»
«I am glad that My Mother has heard it, because the sea is related to Her name and Her charity is as
vast as the sea.»
«Son, You possess such charity as the Man, and yet it is nothing as compared to Your infinite
charity of the divine Word. My sweet Jesus! »
«Mother, come near Me. As You held Me by the hand when we came back from Cana or from
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Jerusalem, when I was a little boy.»
And they look at each other with eyes full of love.

244. Jesus at Nazareth.

6th August 1945.

The first place where Jesus stops in Nazareth is the house of Alphaeus. He is about to enter the
kitchen garden when He meets Mary of Alphaeus who is going to the fountain carrying two copper
amphoras.
«Peace be with you, Mary! » says Jesus, embracing His relative, who, effusive as usual, kisses Him
shouting for joy.
«This will certainly be a peaceful joyful day, my Jesus, because You have come! Oh! My dearest
sons! How happy is your mother to see you! » and she kisses her big boys who were behind Jesus.
«You are staying with me today, are you not? I have just lit the oven for the bread. And I was going
to the fountain, because I do not want to interrupt its baking.»
«Mother, we will go » say her sons taking the amphoras.
«How kind they are, aren't they, Jesus? »
«Yes, they are so kind » confirms Jesus.
«Also to You, are they not? Because if they should love You less than they love me, they would be
less dear to me.»
«Be not afraid, Mary. They are nothing but joy to Me.»
«Are You alone? Mary went away so suddenly... I would have come too. She was with a woman...
A disciple? »
«Yes. Martha's sister.»
«Oh! Blessed be God! I have prayed so much for that. Where is she? »
«There she is, she is arriving with My Mother, Martha and Susanna.»
The women in fact have just turned the comer, followed by the apostles. Mary of Alphaeus runs to
meet them and she exclaims: «How happy I am to have you as my sister! I should say "daughter"
because you are young and I am old. But I will call you by the name which is so dear to me since I
call my Mary by it. Come, my dear, you must be tired... But you are certainly happy » and she
kisses the Magdalene holding her by the hand as if she wanted her to feel more deeply that she
loves her. The fresh beauty of Mary Magdalene seems more striking when she is close to the rather
run down figure of good Mary of Alphaeus.
«You are all staying with me today. I will not let you go away » and with a deep unvoluntary sigh of
her soul, confession escapes her: «I am always so lonely! When my sister-in-law is not here, my
days are sad and lonely.»
«Are your sons not here? » asks Martha.
Mary of Alphaeus blushes and sighs: «With their souls, yes. They are still here. To be a disciple
joins and divides... But as you came, Mary, they will come too » and she wipes a tear. She looks at
Jesus Who is watching her pitifully and she strives to smile and asks: «It takes a long time, doesn't
it? »
«Yes, Mary. But you will see it happen.»
«I was hoping... After that Simon... But he heard of other... things and he became hesitant again.
Love him just the same, Jesus! »
«Can you doubt it? »
While Mary is speaking she prepares some refreshments for the pilgrims, turning a deaf ear to the
words of everybody assuring her that they need nothing.
«Let us leave the women disciples in peace » says Jesus and He concludes: «And let us have a walk
through the village.»
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«Are You going away? The other sons may come.»
«I am staying all day tomorrow. So we will be together. I am now going to see My friends. Peace to
you, women. Goodbye, Mother.»
Nazareth is already in a state of excitement because of Jesus' arrival and in the company of the
Magdalene. Some rush to the house of Mary of Alphaeus, some to Jesus' and since the latter is
closed they all go back towards Jesus Who is crossing Nazareth going towards the centre of the
village. The town is always ill-disposed to the Master. Some people are ironical, some incredulous,
some are openly wicked as is obvious from certain biting remarks: they all follow the great Son of
Nazareth out of curiosity, without love, and they do not understand Him. Even in the questions they
ask Him there is no love, but disbelief and derision. But He feigns not to notice and replies kindly
and mildly to those who speak to Him.
«You give to everybody, but You seem a son without any tie to Your fatherland, because You give
it nothing.»
«I am here to give what you ask for.»
«But You prefer not to be here. Are we perhaps bigger sinners than the others? »
«There is no sinner, no matter how big he may be, whom I do not wish to convert. And you are not
worse than the others.»
«However, You do not say that we are better than the others. A good son always says that his
mother is better than any other mother, even if she is not so. Is perhaps Nazareth a stepmother to
You? »
«I am not saying anything. When it is not possible to say that one is good, and when one does not
wish to lie, to be silent is the charitable rule towards others and oneself. But you would be readily
praised if you only came to My doctrine.»
«So You wish to be admired? »
«No, only listened to and believed, for the good of your souls.»
«Speak, then! We will listen to You.»
«Tell Me about what you wish Me to speak.»
A middle-aged man says: «Listen. I would like You to come with me and explain something to me.
«I will come at once, Levi.»
And they go to the synagogue while people gather behind the Master and the head of the synagogue.
The synagogue is soon crowded.
The head of the synagogue takes a roll and reads: «Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter from the
Citadel of David up to the house he had built for her, because he said: "My wife must not live in the
palace of David king of Israel, because it was sanctified when the ark of the Lord entered it" Now I
would like to have Your opinion on the matter, whether You think that measure was right or not,
and why.
«It was undoubtedly right, because respect for David's house, which had been sanctified when the
ark of the Lord was brought into it, demanded it.»
«But since the Pharaoh's daughter was Solomon's wife, was she thereby not worthy to live in the
house of David. Does the wife not become, according to Adam's word, "bone of the bone" of her
husband and "flesh of his flesh"? If it is so, how could she desecrate what the husband did not
desecrate? »
«In the first Book of Ezra it is written: "You have committed sin by marrying foreign women; you
have added to the sin of Israel". And one of the causes of Solomon's idolatry was his marriages with
foreign women. God had said: "Foreign women will lead your hearts astray to the extent of making
you follow foreign gods". We are aware of the consequences.»
«But he was not led astray because he had married the Pharaoh's daughter, in fact he wisely judged
that she was not to live in the holy house.»
«God's goodness cannot be measured by our standards. Man, after one fault, does not forgive,
although he himself is always guilty. God is not inexorable after a first fault, but He does not allow
man to persist with impunity in the same sin. He therefore does not punish man the first time he
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falls; He then speaks to his heart. But He punishes when His goodness does not serve to convert, but
is mistaken for weakness by man. He then inflicts punishment, because God is not to be derided.
Although bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh, the Pharaoh's daughter had laid the first germs of
corruption in the heart of the Wise King, and you know that a disease breaks out not when there is
only one germ in the blood, but when the blood is corrupt with many germs that have multiplied
from the first one. Man's fall into sin always begins with an apparently innocuous laxity. Then
compliance with evil increases. Then one becomes accustomed to conscience compromises and to
neglecting one's duties and obedience to God and thus by degrees man falls into grave sins, even of
idolatry in the case of Solomon, who thus provoked a schism, the consequences of which are still
lasting.»
«So You say that it is necessary to be extremely careful and to have the greatest respect for holy
things? »
«Most certainly.»
«Now explain also this to me. You say that You are the Word of God. Is it true?»
«I am. He sent Me to bring the Gospel to all men on the earth and to redeem them from all their
sins.»
«So, if You really are what You say, You are greater than the Ark. Because God is not in the glory
dominating the Ark, but He is within You.»
«You are right. That is the truth.»
«Why, then, do You desecrate Yourself? »
«And did you bring Me here to tell Me that? I feel sorry for you, for you and for those who urged
you to speak. I ought not to justify Myself, because every justification is deliberately misunderstood
by your hatred. But I will give a justification to you who accuse Me of not loving you and of
desecrating My person. Listen. I know what you are hinting at. But I reply to you: "You are wrong".
As I open My arms to those who are dying in order to bring them back to life and I call the dead and
give their lives back to them, likewise I open My arms to those who are more truly about to die and
to those who are more truly dead: sinners, to bring them to eternal Life and raise them, if they are
already putrid, so that they may not die again. But I will tell you a parable. A man became a leper
because of his many vices. Human society banished him from its company and the man, in dire
solitude, began to ponder on his situation and his sins, which had brought him to that state. Many
years passed thus and when he had given up hope he suddenly recovered his health. The Lord had
mercy on him because of his many prayers and tears. What did the man then do? Could he go back
home because the Lord had had mercy on him? No. He had to show himself to the priest, who after
examining him for some time, had him purified and sacrificed two sparrows. And after washing his
clothes not only once, but twice, the man went back to the priest with the prescribed spotless lambs,
the ewe-lamb, flour and oil. The priest then led him to the door of the Tabernacle. And the man was
finally religiously readmitted amongst the people of Israel. But tell Me: when he went to the priest
the first time, why did he go? »
«To, be purified the first time and thus be able to go through the great purification, which would
readmit him amongst the holy people! »
«You are right. So he was not entirely purified? »
«Ehi! No. There is still a lot missing before he is; with regard both to his body and his soul.»
«How did he dare then to go near the priest the first time when he was utterly unclean, and a second
time to go near the Tabernacle? »
«Because the priest is the necessary means to be readmitted amongst the living.»
«And the Tabernacle? »
«Because only God can forgive sins and it is of our faith to hold that God rests in His glory beyond
the Holy Veil, dispensing His pardon from that source.»
«So the cured leper is not yet clear of sin when he approaches the priest and the Tabernacle? »
«No. Certainly not! »
«Men with twisted thoughts and insincere hearts, why do you accuse Me, if I, Priest and
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Tabernacle, allow spiritual lepers to approach Me? Why do you have two measures to judge? Yes,
the woman who was lost is now here with Me, as well as Levi the publican, who is here with his
new soul and his new office and many others as well, who came before them. They may stay
because they have been readmitted amongst the people of the Lord. They were brought to Me by
the will of God Who has given Me the power to judge and absolve, to cure and raise people from
the dead. There would be desecration if they persisted in their idolatry as Pharaoh's daughter did,
but there is no desecration because they have embraced the doctrine that I brought to the earth and
through it they have risen to the Grace of the Lord. Men of Nazareth, who lay snares for Me as you
do not think that it is possible that the true Wisdom and Justice of the Word of the Father are in Me,
I say to you: "Imitate sinners". They truly surpass you in coming to the Truth. And I also say to you:
"Do not have recourse to mean snares to oppose Me". Do not do that. Ask, and I will give you the
vital Word, as I give it to everyone who comes to Me. Receive Me as a son of this land of ours. I
bear you no grudge. My hands are full of caresses and My heart of the desire to teach you and make
you happy. I am so anxious to please you, that if you wish so, I will spend the Sabbath with you,
teaching you the New Law.»
There is a conflict of opinions amongst the crowd. But curiosity or love prevails and many shout:
«Yes, we will be here tomorrow and will listen to You.»
«I will pray that every obstacle oppressing your hearts may be removed during the night. So that
every prejudice may vanish and with free minds you may understand the Voice of God that has
come to bring the Gospel to the whole world, but it is My desire that the first place capable of
receiving it may be the town where I grew up. Peace to you all.»

245. In the Synagogue at Nazareth on the Sabbath.

7th August 1945.

We are once again in the synagogue at Nazareth, but on a Sabbath.

Jesus has read the apologue against Abimelech and ends with the words: «"May fire come from the
thorn bush and devour the cedars of Lebanon"». He then hands the roll to the head of the
synagogue.
«Are You not reading the rest? You ought to read it, so that they may understand the apologue »
says the head.
«It is not necessary. The days of Abimilech are very remote. I will apply the old apologue to the
present time.
Listen, people of Nazareth. You already know the moral of the apologue against Abimelech, as you
have been instructed by the head of your synagogue, who in his days was instructed by a rabbi, who
had learned from another rabbi and so on for ages, always with the same method and the same
conclusions. You will hear a different moral from Me. And I ask you to make use of your
intelligence and not to be like the ropes of a well pulley, which, until they are worn out, run from
the pulley down to the water, and then from the water back up to the pulley, without ever changing.
Man is not a rope or a mechanical device. Man has been gifted with intelligence and must make use
of it on his own behalf, according to needs and circumstances. Because if the letter of the word is
eternal, circumstances change. Those are poor masters who do not want the trouble or the
satisfaction of extracting each time new teachings, that is the spirit that the ancient wise words
always contain. They will be like echoes, which can but repeat, even dozens of times, the same
word, without ever adding one word of their own.
Mankind - the forest in fact, where all kinds of trees, shrubs and herbs are gathered, represents
mankind - feels the need to be led by someone who would take upon himself all the glory and the
even greater burden of authority and responsibility for the happiness or unhappiness of his subjects:
someone who would be responsible to the subjects, to neighbouring countries, and what is more

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dreadful, to God. Because it is true that crowns and social pre-eminence, whichever they may be,
are granted by men, but they are allowed by God, without Whose condescension no human power
can be imposed. Which explains the sudden unimaginable changes of dynasties, which were
considered everlasting and of powers which seemed untouchable, and which, when they
overstepped the limit in punishing or trying people, were overthrown by the same people, with
God's permission, and became nothing but dust or, at times, sewer filth.
I said: people feel the need to elect someone who will take upon himself all responsibilities towards
his subjects, towards neighbouring nations and towards God, which is the most dreadful of all.
Because if the judgement of history is dreadful and the interests of people endeavour in vain to
change it, because future events and people will restore it to its original terrible truth, God's justice
is even more relentless, because it is not affected by any pressure whatsoever, neither is it subject to
changes of humour or opinion, as men too often are, and above all it is not subject to wrong
judgement. Those, therefore, who are elected leaders of peoples and makers of history ought to act
with the heroic justice of saints, in order not to become ill-famed in future centuries and be
punished by God for ever.
But let us go back to Abimelech's apologue. So the trees wanted to have a king and went to the
olive-tree. But the latter, being a sacred tree and consecrated to supernatural use because of its oil
that burns in front of the Lord and is a predominant element in tithes and sacrifices, and forms the
holy balm to anoint altars, priests and kings, and for its properties I would say it is almost
thaumaturgic and as such is used both on healthy and sick bodies, the olive-tree replies: "How could
I fail my holy supernatural vocation to degrade myself in worldly matters?"
Oh! How gentle was the reply of the olive tree! Why is it not learned and repeated by all those
whom God elects to a holy mission, at least by those? Because in actual fact it should be
pronounced by every man as a reply to the suggestions of the demon, because every man is king and
a son of God, gifted with a soul, which makes him a regal divine son, called to a supernatural
destiny. His soul is an altar and a house. The altar of God, the house where the Heavenly Father
descends to receive the love and reverence of His son and subject. Every man has a soul, and as
each soul is an altar, every man is thereby a priest, a guardian of the altar and in Leviticus it is
written: "The Priest shall not profane himself." Man, therefore, ought to reply to the temptations of
the Demon, of the world and of the flesh: "Can I stop being spiritual and busy myself with material
sinful matters?"
The trees went then to the fig-tree, inviting it to reign over them. But the fig-tree replied: "How can
I forego my sweetness and my excellent fruit to become your king?"
Many apply to a meek and kind man to have him as their king. Not so much because they admire
his kindness, but because they hope that by being very kind he will end up by being a king they can
make fun of, from whom they can obtain anything they wish and whom they can abuse as they like.
But kindness is not weakness. It is goodness, It is just, intelligent, firm. Never mistake kindness for
weakness. The former is virtue, the latter a fault. And because it is a virtue it gives those who
possess it a righteous conscience, which enables them to resist human solicitations and allurements,
aiming at bending them towards worldly interests, which are not the interests of God, remaining
faithful to their destiny, at all costs. A kind-minded man will never repel reproaches with bitterness,
neither will he ever harshly reject those who ask his help. On the contrary, smiling sympathetically
he will always say: "Leave me to my peaceful destiny. I am here to comfort you and help you, but I
cannot become king, according to your expectations, because I am interested in one regality only,
for the welfare of your soul and mine: spiritual regality".
The trees went to the vine and asked it to be their king. But the vine replied: "How can I forego
being mirth and strength to come and reign over you?"
To be king always leads to spiritual gloom, both because of responsibilities and of remorse, because
a king who does not commit sin and does not cause himself to feel remorse is more rare than a
black diamond. Power allures while it shines from afar like a lighthouse, but when one reaches it,
one realises that it is not a star but only the faint light of a firefly. Furthermore, power is but a
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strength tied with the multitude of ropes of thousands of interests stirred up around a king: the
interests of courtiers, of allies, of relatives and personal ones. How many kings swear to themselves
while being anointed with oil: "I will be impartial" and later are unable to be so? Like a strong tree,
which does not rebel against the first embrace of flexible or thin ivy saying: "It is so slender that it
can do me no harm", on the contrary it is pleased to be decked with it and to be its protector
supporting its climbing, so a king, very often, I could say always, yields to the first embrace of the
interest of a courtier, of an ally, or a personal one or of a relative, who applies to him and he is
pleased to be their munificent protector. "It is such a trifle!" he says, even if his conscience warns
him: "Be careful!" And he thinks that it can harm neither his power nor his good name. Also the
tree believes that. But the day comes when the ivy, growing in strength and in length, more and
more voracious in sucking the lap of the soil and more and more anxious to climb up and conquer
the sun and light, embraces, branch after branch, the whole big tree, overwhelms it, chokes it and
kills it. And it was so slender! And the tree was so strong!
The same applies to kings. A first compromise with their mission, a first shrugging of shoulders at
the voices of their conscience, because praise is pleasant and it is delightful to be a soughtafter
protector, and the moment comes when the king no longer reigns, but the interests of other people
have taken over and imprison the king, they gag him and suffocate him, and if they have become
stronger than he is, they kill him when they see that he is slow in dying. Also a common man, who
is still a king in his spirit, is lost if he accepts a lower regality out of pride or greed. And he loses his
spiritual serenity that comes to him from his union with God. Because the Demon, the world and
the flesh can give an illusory power and joy, but at the cost of the spiritual cheerfulness that comes
from the union with God.
O cheerfulness and strength of the poor in spirit, you really deserve that man may say: "How can I
accept to become king in the inferior part, if by forming an alliance with you, I lose my internal
strength and joy, Heaven and its true royalty?" And those blessed poor in spirit, who aim at
possessing only the Kingdom of Heaven and despise all other riches not pertaining to that Kingdom,
can also say: "How can we fail in our mission, which is to yield ripe fortifying juices and joyful
juices for brotherly mankind that lives in the arid desert of animality and whose thirst is to be
quenched so that it will not die and has need to be nourished with vital juices like a child without a
nurse? We are the nurses of mankind that has lost the breast of God, and wanders barren and sick
and would die of despair or tortured by the darkest scepticism, if it did not find us who, with the
good-humoured activity of those who are free from every earthly tie, could convince them that there
is a Life, a Joy, a Freedom, a Peace. We cannot forego such Charity for the sake of an interest that
is miserable".
The trees then went to the thorn bush, which did not reject them. But it imposed severe terms. "If
you want me as your king, you must come under me. But if after electing me, you will not comply, I
will make every thorn of mine a burning torture and I will devour you all, including the cedars of
Lebanon".
Such is the regality that the world accepts as true! Arrogance and ferocity are mistaken by corrupt
mankind for true royalty, whereas meekness and goodness are considered foolish weak sentiments.
Man will not submit to God, but he submits to Evil. He is seduced by it and consequently he is
burnt by it.
That is Abimelech's apologue. But now I will propose another one to you. It does not refer to far
away and past events. But to present things and near at hand.
The animals decided to elect a king for themselves. And since they were shrewd they thought of
electing one who would not frighten them being strong or wild. So they discarded the lion and all
felids. They said they did not want rostrate eagles or any other kind of bird of prey. They did not
trust the horse, which with its speed could reach them and see what they were doing; and they
trusted even less the donkey, which they knew to be very patient, but also subject to sudden rage
and equipped with powerful hooves. They were horrified at the idea of having a monkey as their
king, because monkeys are too intelligent and revengeful. Under the pretext that the snake had
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favoured Satan in seducing man, they said that they did not want it as their king, notwithstanding its
graceful colours and its smart movements. In actual fact they did not want it because they were
aware of its silent gait, its powerful muscles and the dreadful effect of its poison. Could they
possibly choose as their king a bull or any other animal gifted with pointed horns? Never! "Also the
devil has them" they said. But they were thinking: "Should we one day rebel, it will wipe us out
with its horns".
After so much discarding, they saw a little fat white lamb hopping merrily on a green meadow,
butting his mother's round udder. He had no horns and his eyes were as meek as the April sky. He
was docile and simple. And he was satisfied with everything: with the water of the little stream
where he used to drink dipping his rosy little muzzle into the water; with the many-flavoured little
flowers that gratified both his eyes and palate; with the thick grass where it was pleasant to lie
when he was full; with the clouds, which seemed as many little lambs roving about the blue
meadows up there, and inviting him to play running in the field as they did in the sky; and, above
all, he was pleased with the caresses of his mother, as she still allowed him to suckle now and again
while she licked his white fleece with her pinkish tongue; with the safe fold, which was well
sheltered from winds, and with its soft fragrant litter, where it was lovely to sleep beside his
mother. "He is pleased. He has neither weapons nor poison. He is naïve. Let us make him our king".
And they did. And they were proud of him because he was beautiful and kind, admired by nearby
people and loved by his subjects because of his patient meekness.
The days passed and the lamb became a ram and said: "The time has now come when I must really
reign. Now I am fully aware of my mission. The will of God, Who permitted me to be elected king,
has formed me for my mission and has given me the capability to reign. It is therefore just that I
should exert it in a perfect manner, also because I do not want to neglect the gifts of God". And
when he saw that his subjects were doing things contrary to morality, or to charity, kindness,
loyalty, moderation, obedience, respect, prudence, and so on, he raised his voice to warn them. His
subjects laughed at his wise and kind bleating, which did not frighten them like the roar of felines,
or the screech of vultures when they dive onto a prey, or the hiss of a snake, or the barking of a
frightful dog.
The lamb, which was now a ram, did not limit himself to bleating. He went to the culprits to bring
them back to their duties. But the serpent slipped away through his legs. The eagle flew away and
thus deserted him. The felines pushed him aside with their paws threatening: "For the time being
our soft paws are only pushing you aside. But see what is in them? Claws". Horses and similar
racers began to gallop round him, making fun of him. Strong elephants and other pachyderms
pushed him about with their trunks, while monkeys threw objects at him from tree-tops.
The lamb, which had become a ram, at last was angry and said: "I did not want to use my horns or
my strength. Because my neck is powerful indeed, and in fact it will be taken as a model to knock
down war obstacles. I did not want to make use of it, because I prefer to use love and persuasion.
But since you will not yield to such weapons, I will use force, because if you fail in your duties
towards me and towards God, I do not want to fail in my duty towards God and towards you. I was
elected to this position by you and by God, to guide you to Justice and Good. And I want Justice
and Good, that is Order, to reign here". And he punished with his horns, but only slightly, because
he was kind, an obstinate cur, which continued to molest its neighbours and later with his most
powerful neck he broke down the door of the den where a greedy selfish pig had stored up victuals
to the detriment of other animals, and knocked down also the liana thicket, which two lustful
monkeys had chosen for their illicit love affairs.
"This king has become too strong. He really wants to reign. And he wants us to live as wise
animals. That is not to our liking. We must dethrone him" they decided. But a shrewd monkey
suggested: "We must do it only under the pretext of a just reason. Otherwise we shall cut a bad
figure with nearby peoples and we shall be disliked by God. Therefore let us spy on every action of
the lamb, which has become a ram, so that our accusation may appear a just one".
"I will see to that" said the snake. "And I, too" said the monkey. So they never lost sight of the
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lamb, as one crawled on the grass and the other remained on tree-tops, and every evening, when he
retired to rest after the fatigue of his mission and to ponder on the measures to be taken and the
words to be used to put down the rebellion and overcome the sinful habits of his subjects, all the
animals gathered, with the rare exception of a few honest faithful ones, to listen to the report of the
two spies and traitors. Because that is what they were.
The snake would say to its king: "I follow you because I love you, and should I see you being
attacked, I want to be able to defend you". The monkey used to say: "How much I admire you! I
want to help you. Look: from here I can see that someone is committing a sin beyond that meadow.
Run there", and then it would say to its companions: "Today also he took part in the banquet of
some sinners. He pretended to go there to convert them, but in actual fact he was an accomplice of
their orgy". And the snake reported: "He even went outside the limits of his people, as he
approached butterflies, blue-bottles and slimy snails. He is not faithful. He deals with impure
foreigners".
That is what they were saying behind the back of the innocent lamb, and they thought that he did
not know. But the spirit of the Lord, Who had formed him for his mission, enlightened him also on
the plots of his subjects. The lamb could have fled indignantly, cursing them. But he was kind and
humble-hearted. And he was full of love. His mistake was to love. And an even greater mistake was
to persevere in his mission, loving and forgiving, at the cost of death, to accomplish God's will. Oh!
What mistakes these are with men. Unforgivable! So much so that it was condemned because of
them. "Let him be killed; so that we may be free from his oppression". And the snake took upon
itself to kill the lamb because the snake is always the traitor...
That is the other apologue. It is for you to understand it, people of Nazareth! Because I love you, I
wish you to remain at least at the level of a hostile people, without going beyond that. The love for
the land where I came when a child, and in which I grew up loving you and being loved, compels
Me to say to you all: "Do not be more than hostile. Do not let history say: 'His traitor and His unjust
judges came from Nazareth' ".
Goodbye. Be righteous in judging and firm in willing. The former virtue applies to you all, my
fellow-citizens. The latter to those among you who are not upset by dishonest thoughts. I am
going... Peace be with you.»
And Jesus, sorrowfully, with His head lowered, leaves the synagogue of Nazareth, in a painful
silence, broken by two or three voices only, expressing approval.
He is followed by the apostles. Alphaeus' sons are the last ones. And their eyes do not certainly look
like the meek eyes of a lamb... They glare upon the hostile crowd and Judas Thaddeus does not
hesitate to plant himself in front of his brother Simon and say to him: «I thought my brother was
more honest and of a stronger character.»
Simon lowers his head and is silent. But the other brother, supported by other people of Nazareth,
exclaims: «You ought to be ashamed of offending your eldest brother! »
«No. I am ashamed of you. Of all of you. Nazareth is not a stepmother, but a perverted stepmother
to the Messiah. But listen to my prophecy. You will shed enough tears to feed a fountain, but they
will not serve to wash out the true name of this town and your own from history books. Do you
know what that name is? "Stupidity". Goodbye.»
James' salutation is gentler: he wishes them the light of wisdom. And they go out with Alphaeus of
Sarah and two young men, who, if I am not wrong, are the two ass-drivers who escorted the
donkeys that were used to go to Johanna of Chusa, when she was about to die.
The crowds, who have remained dumbfounded, whisper: «But where did He get so much wisdom?
»
«And how can He work miracles? Because He really works miracles. The whole of Palestine talks
about it.»
«Is He not the son of Joseph, the carpenter? We have all seen Him, at the bench of the carpenter of
Nazareth, making tables and beds, adjusting wheels and locks. He did not even go to school and His
Mother was His only teacher.»
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«A scandal which also our father criticised » says Joseph of Alphaeus.
«But your brothers also finished school with Mary of Joseph.»
«Eh! My father was weak with his wife...» replies Joseph again.
«In that case, also your father's brother? »
«Yes.»
«But is He really the carpenter's son? »
«Can't you see Him? »
«Oh! So many are like one another! I think He is one who says He is, but He is not.»
«Where is Jesus of Joseph, then? »
«Do you think that His Mother would not recognise Him? »
«His brothers and sisters are here and they all say that He is their relative. Is that right, you two? »
The two sons of Alphaeus nod assent.
«Well, then, He is either mad or possessed, because what He says cannot come from a workman.»
«We should not listen to Him. His alleged doctrine is either delirium or possession.»
Jesus is standing in the square waiting for Alphaeus of Sarah who is speaking to a man. And while
He is waiting, one of the ass-drivers, who had stopped at the door of the synagogue informs Him of
the slander uttered in the synagogue.
«Do not let it grieve you. A prophet generally is not honoured in his fatherland or at home. Man is
so foolish that he believes that one must be almost out of this world to be a prophet. And fellow-
citizens and relatives all know and remember more than anybody else the human nature of their
fellow-citizen or relative. But the truth is always triumphant. And now I say goodbye to you. Peace
be with you.»
«Thank you, Master, for curing my mother.»
«You deserved it because you believed. My people here are inert, because there is no faith here. Let
us go, My friends. We shall be leaving tomorrow at dawn.»

246. Our Lady Teaches the Magdalene.

8th August 1945.

«Where shall we stop, my Lord? » asks James of Zebedee, while they are walking through a gorge
between two hills, the sides of which are cultivated and green from foot to top.
«At Bethlehem in Galilee. But during the warm hours we shall stop on the mountain overlooking
Meraba. So your brother will be delighted once again seeing the sea » and Jesus smiles. He then
concludes: «We men could have gone farther, but we have the women disciples following us, and
although they never complain, we must not tire them excessively.»
«They never complain. That is true. We are more inclined to complain » agrees Bartholomew.
«And yet they are less accustomed to this life...» says Peter.
«Perhaps that is why they live it willingly » says Thomas.
«No, Thomas. They do it willingly out of love. You may be sure that neither My Mother nor the
other housewives, such as Mary of Alphaeus, Salome and Susanna leave their homes willingly to
come along the roads of the world and among people. And Martha and Johanna, when also the
latter will come, not being accustomed to such fatigue, would not do it willingly if they were not
urged by love. With regard to Mary of Magdala only a mighty love can give her the strength to
undergo this torture » says Jesus.
«Why did You order her to come, then, if You know it is a torture? » asks the Iscariot. «It does no
good to her or to us.»
«Nothing but the clear unquestionable demonstration of her change could persuade the world. And
Mary wants to persuade the world of that. Her separation from the past has been complete.»
«That is still to be seen. It is early to say so. When one gets used to a certain kind of life, it is

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difficult to part with it. Friendships and nostalgia take us back to it » says the Iscariot.
«Are you feeling nostalgia, then, for your previous life? » asks Matthew.
«I... no. I was just saying. I am I... a man, I love the Master and... in short, I have within me the
elements that help me to be steadfast in my purpose. But she is a woman, and what a woman! And
even if she were very firm, it is never very pleasant to have her with us. Should we meet some
rabbis, priests or important Pharisees, you may rest assured that their comments might not be
pleasing. When I think of it, I blush in advance.»
«Do not contradict yourself, Judas. If you have really broken off with your past, as you say, why do
you regret so much that a poor soul should follow us to complete her conversion to Good? »
«Out of love, Master. I do everything out of love, too: for You.»
«Improve your love, then. Love, to be really such, must not be exclusive. When one can love only
one object, and cannot love anything else, even if one is loved by what one loves, it is clear that that
is not true love. Perfect love loves, with due gradation, all mankind and also animals and
vegetables, stars and water, because it sees everything in God. One loves God, as is proper, and one
loves everything in God. Be careful: exclusive love is often selfishness. Endeavour therefore to love
everybody else out of love.»
«Yes, Master.»
The subject of the discussion is in the meantime proceeding beside Mary with the other women,
and she is unaware of being the cause of so much talk.
They reach and go through the village of Japhia, but none of its citizens shows any desire to follow
the Master or detain Him. So they proceed and as the apostles appear to be worried about the
apathy of the place, Jesus endeavours to calm them.
The valley runs in a westward direction and another village can be seen lying at the foot of another
mountain. This village, which I hear being called Meraba, is also unconcerned. Only some children
approach the apostles while they are drawing water from a clear fountain leaning against a house.
Jesus caresses them and asks their names, and the children ask His, who He is and where He is
going. Also an old, bent, almost blind man approaches them and stretches out his hand to receive
alms, which is in fact given to him.
They take to the road again, climbing a hill, the one lying across the valley, into which flow its little
rivers, now reduced to a trickle of water or to stones parched by the sun. But the road is good and
runs through olive-groves first and then through other trees, which intertwine their branches and
form a green gallery over the road. They reach the top, which is crowned with a forest of rustling
ash-trees, if I am not mistaken. And they sit down there to have a rest and some food. And while
eating and resting, they enjoy a delightful sight, because the view is beautiful, with the Mount
Carmel chain on their left, to the west. It is a very green mountainous chain, in which all the most
beautiful shades of green are present. And where the mountain ends, there is the sea, a shining,
open, endless sea, stretching with its surface lightly rippled by little waves towards the north,
washing the shores, which from the promontory formed by the last ramifications of Mount Carmel
extend towards Ptolemais and other towns and then fade away in the mist near the Syro-Phoenician
coast. It is not possible to see the sea south of the Carmel promontory, because it is hidden by the
chain of mountains, which is higher than the hill where the apostolic group is gathered.
Hours go by in the shade of the airy rustling wood. Some sleep, some speak in a low voice, some
watch. John leaves his companions and climbs up as high as possible to have a better view. Jesus
retires to a thicket to meditate and pray. The women have withdrawn behind a hedge of
honeysuckle in bloom and have refreshed themselves at a tiny spring, which is reduced to a trickle
and forms a pool on the ground, as the water is so scarce that it cannot flow away. The elder
women, being tired, have fallen asleep, while the Blessed Virgin, Martha and Susanna talk of their
far away homes and Mary says that She would like to have the beautiful shrub in bloom to adorn
Her little grotto.
The Magdalene, who had let her hair down, as she could not stand its weight, puts it up again and
says: «I am going to John, now that he is with Simon, to look at the sea with them.»
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«I am coming, too » replies the Blessed Virgin.
Martha and Susanna remain with their sleeping companions.
To reach the two apostles they have to pass near the thicket where Jesus has retired to pray.
«Prayer is My Son's rest » whispers Mary.
The Magdalene replies to Her: «I think that it is also essential for Him to be alone in order to keep
His wonderful control, which the world puts to hard tests. Do You know, Mother? I have done what
You told me. Every night I seclude myself for a more or less long time to restore within me the
calm, which many things upset. And I feel much stronger afterwards.»
«At present you feel strong, later you will feel happy. Believe Me, Mary, both in peace and in
struggle, in joy and in sorrow, our spirit needs to dive into the ocean of meditation to rebuild what
the world and events demolish and to achieve fresh strength to climb higher and higher. In Israel we
use and misuse vocal prayer. I do not mean that it is useless or displeasing to God. But I say that
meditation, mental elevation to God is always much more useful to the soul, because by
contemplating His divine perfection and our misery, or the misery of so many poor souls, not to
criticise them but to be indulgent to them and understand them, and to be grateful to God Who has
supported us keeping us away from sin, or has forgiven us, so that we would not be left in sin, by
meditating thus, we are really successful in praying, that is in loving. Because prayer, to be really
such, must be love. Otherwise it is mumbling of lips from which the soul is absent.»
«But is it lawful to speak to God when one's lips are still dirty with so many profane words? In my
hours of meditation, which I do as You, my most sweet apostle, taught me, I do violence to my
heart, which would like to say to God: "I love You"...»
«No! Why? »
«Because I feel I would be making a sacrilegious offer by offering my heart...»
«Do not do that, My dear daughter. First of all, your heart has been reconsecrated by the Son's
forgiveness, and the Father sees only that forgiveness. But even if Jesus had not yet forgiven you,
and in an ignored solitude, which could be both material and moral, you should shout to God: "I
love You. Father, forgive me my miseries. I am sorry for them because they grieve You", believe
Me, Mary, God the Father would absolve you Himself and your cry of love would be dear to Him.
Give yourself up to love. Do not do violence to it. Nay, let it become as violent as a blaze. A fire
consumes everything that is material, but it does not destroy one molecule of air. Because air is
incorporeal. On the contrary it purifies it from the tiny debris blown by winds and makes it lighter.
Love does the same to souls. It may consume man's matter quicker, if God allows that, but it will
not destroy his spirit. It will, instead, increase its vitality and will make it pure and agile to be able
to ascend to God. See John over there? He is only a boy. And yet he is an eagle. He is the strongest
of all the apostles. Because he has understood the secret of strength, of spiritual formation: loving
meditation.»
«But he is pure. I... He is a boy. I...»
«Look at the Zealot, then. He is not a boy. He has lived, struggled, hated. He admits it frankly. But
he has learned to meditate. And he, too, believe Me, is well high up. See? They look for each other,
those two. Because they feel they are alike. They have reached the same perfect age of the spirit
and by the same means: mental prayer. Through it the boy has become virile in his spirit and the
man, already old and tired, has recovered a strong virility. And do you know another one, who
without being an apostle will make much progress, nay, has already made much progress, because
of his natural inclination to meditation, which has become a spiritual necessity for him, since he is a
friend of Jesus'? Your brother.»
«My Lazarus?... Oh! Mother! Since You know so many things because God shows them to You, tell
me, how will Lazarus treat me, the first time we meet? Before he was disdainfully silent. But he did
it because I would not bear being criticised. I have been very cruel to my brother and sister... I now
realise it. Now that he knows that he can speak, what will he say to me? I am afraid of his frank
reproach. Oh! he will certainly remind me of all the grief of which I was the cause. I would like to
fly to Lazarus. But I am afraid of him. I used to go there, and not even the memories of my dead
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mother, her tears, which were still warm on the things she had used, tears she had shed for me,
through my fault, would upset me. My heart was cynical, shameless, deaf to every voice, except to
"evil". But now I no longer have the wicked strength of Evil and I tremble... What will Lazarus do
to me? »
«He will open his arms to you and will call you, more with his heart than with his lips "my darling
sister". He is so formed in God that he can but behave thus. Be not afraid. He will not say one word
about your past. It is just as if I could see him, he is there at Bethany and his days of waiting are
very long for him. He is waiting for you, to clasp you to his heart, to sate his brotherly love. All you
have to do is love him as he loves you to enjoy the happiness of being born of the same womb.»
«I would love him even if he reproached me, I deserve it.»
«But he will love you only. Nothing else.»
They have joined John and Simon who are talking of their future trips and stand up reverently when
the Mother of the Lord arrives.
«We have come too, to praise the Lord for the beautiful works of His creation.»
«Have you ever seen the sea, Mother?»
«Oh! I have. And although it was then stormy, it was less agitated than My heart, and less bitter
than My tears, when I was fleeing along the coast from Gaza towards the Red Sea, with My Child
in My arms, and the fear of Herod behind My back. And I saw it on our way back. And then it was
springtime both on the earth and in My heart. The spring season of our return home. And Jesus
clapped His little hands, happy as He was seeing new things... And Joseph and I were also happy,
notwithstanding that the kindness of the Lord had made our exile at Matarea less hard, in a
thousand ways.»
And their conversation goes on whilst I can no longer see or hear.

247. At Bethlehem in Galilee.

9th August 1945.

It is evening when they reach Bethlehem in Galilee. It is obvious that it is the destiny of towns with
this name to lie on undulating hills, covered with green, woods, meadows where flocks graze,
descending to the folds at night. The sky is still red after a glorious sunset, which is just over, and
the air is full of pastoral music of bells and trembling bleatings, which are joined by the merry
shouting of children and by the voices of mothers calling them.
«Judas of Simon, go with Simon and find lodgings for us and for the women. There is an inn in the
centre of the village and we shall meet you there.»
While Judas and Simon obey, Jesus turns to His Mother and says: «This time it will not be like the
other Bethlehem. You will find where to rest, Mother. Few people move about at this time of the
year and there is no edict.»
«In this season it would be pleasant to sleep also on meadows or amongst these shepherds and the
little lambs » and Mary smiles at Her Son and at some little shepherds who are staring at Her
curiously.
She smiles in such a way that one of them touches another with his elbow and whispers to him: «It
must be Her » and he comes forward, sure of himself, saying: «Hail, Mary, full of grace. Is the Lord
with You? »
Mary replies with an even sweeter smile: «There is the Lord » and She points to Jesus, Who has
turned round to speak to His cousins, asking them to give alms to the poor who are approaching
them with plaintive requests. And She touches Her Son lightly saying to Him: «Son, these little
shepherds are looking for You and they have recognised Me. I do not know how...»
«Isaac must have been here and left the perfume of revelation. Young man, come here.»
The little shepherd, a little swarthy fellow, about twelve-fourteen years old, strong though lean,
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with very dark bright eyes, and an ebony shock of hair, clad in sheep skin - and he seems to me a
young copy of the Precursor - approaches Jesus smiling happily, as if he were enchanted.
«Peace to you, boy. How did you recognise Mary? »
«Because only the Mother of the Saviour could have such a smile and countenance. I was told: "The
countenance of an angel, eyes like stars and a smile sweeter than the kiss of a mother, as sweet as
Her name, which is Mary, so holy as to be able to bend over the new-born God". That is what I saw
in Her and I greeted Her because I was looking for You. We were looking for You, Lord, and... I
did not dare greet You first.»
«Who spoke to you of Us? »
«Isaac, from the other Bethlehem, and he promised to take us to You in autumn.»
«Was Isaac here? »
«He is still in this area with many disciples. And he spoke to us shepherds. And we believed in his
word, Lord: allow us to adore You as our companions did on that blessed night » and while he
kneels down on the dust of the road, he utters a cry to the other shepherds who have stopped their
flocks at the gate of the town (gate so to say, because it is not a walled town), where also Jesus had
stopped, waiting for the women to enter the town together.
The little shepherd shouts: «Father, brothers and friends, we have found the Lord. Come and
worship Him.»
And the shepherds come crowding with their flocks round Jesus and they beg Him not to go
elsewhere but to accept their poor house, which is not far, as a dwelling place for Himself and His
friends. «It is a wide fold » they explain «because God protects us and there are rooms and porches
full of fragrant hay. The rooms are for Mother and Her sisters, because they are women. But there is
one also for You. The others can sleep with us in the porches, on the hay.»
«I shall stay with you, too. And I shall rest more pleasantly than if I slept in a king's room. But let us
go and tell Judas and Simon first.»
«I will go, Master » says Peter and he goes away with James of Zebedee.
They stop on the side of the road awaiting the return of the four apostles.
The shepherds look at Jesus as if He were already God in His glory. The younger ones are really
delighted and they seem to be wishing to impress in their minds every detail of Jesus and Mary,
who has bent to caress some lambs, which are rubbing their heads against Her knees and bleating.
«There was one, in the house of My relative Elizabeth, which used to lick My plaits every time it
saw Me. I called it "friend", because it was My friend, just like a child, and it came to Me every
time it could. This one reminds Me of it with its eyes of two different shades. Do not kill it! Also
the other was allowed to live because of its love for Me.»
«It's a ewe-lamb Woman, and we were going to sell it, because of the different shades of its eyes
and I think it can see very little with one of them. But we will keep it if You wish so.»
«Oh! yes! I would not like any little lamb to be killed... They are so innocent and with their
child-like voices they seem to be calling their mothers. I would think I was killing a baby if I had to
kill one of these.»
«But Woman, if all the lambs were to live, there would be no room for us on the earth » says the
oldest shepherd.
«I know. But I am thinking of their pain, and of the pain of their mothers. They weep so much when
their little ones are taken away from them. They look like real mothers, like us. I cannot bear to see
anybody suffer, but it tears My heart to see a mother tortured. It is a different grief from any other,
because the shock for the loss of a son tears not only our hearts and brains, but our very wombs. We
mothers are always united to our sons. And it rends us completely, when they are taken away from
us.» Mary no longer smiles, but tears shine in Her blue eyes and She looks at Jesus, Who is
listening to Her and looks at Her, while She lays a hand on His arm, as if She were afraid He might
be torn away from Her side.
A small escort of armed men arrives from a dusty road: six men together with some people who are
shouting. The shepherds look and whisper something to one another. They then look at Mary and
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Jesus.
The oldest one says: «So it was a good job that You did not go into Bethlehem this evening.»
«Why? »
«Because those people, who passed by going to town, have gone to tear a son from his mother.»
«Oh! But why? »
«To kill him.»
«Oh! no! What has he done? »
Jesus also asks the same question and the apostles have gathered to hear.
«Rich Joel was found dead on the mountain road: he had been killed. He was coming back from
Sicaminon with a lot of money. But he was not killed by highwaymen, because the money was still
there. The servant, who was accompanying him, said that his master had told him to run ahead and
inform relatives of their return, and on the way he saw the young man, whom they are now going to
kill, going toward the place where the man was murdered. And two men of the town now swear that
they saw the young man attack Joel. Joel's relatives now, demand his death. And if he is a
murderer...»
«Do you not think he is? »
«I don't think it is possible. The young man is a little older than a boy, he is good, and is always
with his mother, as he is her only son and she is a widow and a holy living person. He is well off.
He does not bother with women. He is neither quarrelsome nor foolish. So why did he kill? »
«Perhaps he has some enemies.»
«Who? Joel, the dead man, or Abel, the one who is accused? »
«The latter.»
«Ah! I would not know... But... No, I would not know.»
«Be frank, man.»
«Lord, it is something I am thinking of, and Isaac told us that we must not think ill of our
neighbour.»
«But one must have courage to speak to save an innocent person.»
«If I speak, whether I am right or wrong, I shall have to flee from here, because Aser and Jacob are
powerful.»
«Speak without fear. You will not have to flee.»
«Lord, Abel's mother is young, beautiful and wise. Aser is not wise, neither is Jacob. The former
likes the widow and the latter... everybody in town knows that the latter sleeps in Joel's bed. I think
that...»
«I see. Let us go, My friends. You women stay here with the shepherds. I shall be back soon.»
«No, Son. I am coming with You.»
Jesus is already walking fast towards the centre of the town. The shepherds are uncertain as to what
to do, but they leave the flocks to the younger ones, who stay with all the women, with the
exception of the Blessed Virgin and Mary of Alphaeus, who follow Jesus and they go to meet the
apostolic group.
At the third road crossing the main street in Bethlehem they meet the Iscariot, Simon, Peter and
James, who are coming towards them gesticulating and shouting.
«What a terrible thing, Master! And how painful! » exclaims Peter who is deeply upset.
«A son torn off his mother to be killed, and she is defending him like a hyena. But she is a woman
against armed men » adds Simon Zealot.
«Many parts of her body are already bleeding » says the Iscariot.
«They broke her door down because she had barricaded it » concludes James of Zebedee.
«I am going to her.»
«Oh! yes! You are the only one who can console her.»
They turn right, then left, towards the town centre. It is now possible to see the excited tumultuous
crowd pressing near Abel's house, and the heart-rending, inhuman, wild and at the same time pitiful
shouting of a woman can be heard.
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Jesus quickens His pace and arrives at a very small square, a widened curve of the street, rather
than a square, where the uproar is at its greatest.
The woman is still contending for her son with the guards, holding on with one hand, which is like
an iron claw, to the ruin of the knocked down door, and to her son's belt with the other one and she
savagely bites anyone who tries to loosen her grip, notwithstanding they deal her many blows and
pull her hair so cruelly as to throw her head back. When she does not bite she shouts: «Leave him!
Murderers! He's innocent! The night Joel was killed he was in bed beside me! Murderers!
Slanderers! Foul Perjurers! »
And the young man, whom the armed men are holding by the shoulders and dragging by the arms,
turns round terror-stricken and shouts: «Mother, mother! Why must I die if I have not done
anything? »
He is a handsome tall slender young man, with dark mild eyes, and dark wavy hair. His torn
garment shows the young agile body of an adolescent.
Jesus with the help of those who accompany Him, pushes His way through the crowd, as compact
as a rock, and reaches His pitiful group just at the moment when the exhausted woman is torn away
from the door and dragged along the stony road, like a sack, tied to the body of her son. But that
lasts for only a few yards. A more violent jerk tears the mother's hand off the young man's belt and
the woman falls prone on the ground beating the road with her face, which bleeds profusely. But
she gets up on her knees, stretching out her arms, while her son, who is being dragged away swiftly,
as far as the crowds allow, as they open out with difficulty, frees his left arm and waves it, twisting
round and shouting: «Mother! Goodbye! Remember, at least you, that I am innocent! » The woman
looks at him with staring eyes, she then faints and drops to the ground.
Jesus stops before the group of captors. «Stop for one moment. I order you! » His countenance
allows no objection.
«Who are You? » aggressively asks a citizen in the group. «We do not know You. Move aside and
let us go so that he may be killed before night.»
«I am a Rabbi. The greatest. In the name of Jehovah stop, or He will strike you by lightning ». In the
meantime He seems to be striking by lightning. «Who are the witnesses against this man? »
«I, him and him » replies the man who had spoken before.
«Your testimony is not valid because it is false.»
«How can You say that? We are ready to swear it.»
«Your oath is a sin.»
«We are sinning? Are we? »
«You are. As you nurse your lust and your hatred, as you are greedy for wealth, as you are
murderers, so you are also perjurers. You have sold yourselves to Filth. You are capable of any
filthy deed.»
«Watch how You speak! I am Aser...»
«And I am Jesus.»
«You do not belong to here, You are neither a priest nor a judge. You are nothing. You are a
foreigner.»
«Yes, I am the Foreigner because the earth is not My Kingdom. But I am Judge and Priest. Not only
of this small portion of Israel, but of the whole of Israel and of the whole world.»
«Let's go, let's go! We are dealing with a mad man » says the other witness and he gives Jesus a
vigorous push to draw Him aside.
«You shall not take another step » thunders Jesus, Whose majestic countenance subdues and
paralyses, as it can give life and joy when He wishes. «You shall not take another step. You do not
believe what I am saying? Well, look. There is no dust of the Temple here, or water from it, neither
are there words written with ink to make the water bitter, which is judgement on jealousy and
adultery (1). But I am here. And I will give judgement. » Jesus' voice is so

(1) For details of old Jewish rite, see Numbers 5, 11-31.

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piercing that it sounds like a blare.
People throng to see. Only the Blessed Virgin and Mary of Alphaeus have stayed to help the mother
who has fainted.
«And this is My judgement. Give me a pinch of dust from the road and a drop of water in a jug.
And while they are being brought to Me, you who are accusing, and you who are accused, reply to
Me. Are you innocent, son? Say so frankly to Him Who is your Saviour.»
«I am, Lord.»
«Aser, can you swear that you have spoken but the truth? »
«I swear it. I have no reason to lie. I swear it by the altar. May fire descend from Heaven and burn
me if I am not telling the truth.»
«Jacob, can you swear that you are sincere in accusing and that there is no secret motive urging you
to lie? »
«I swear by Jehovah. Only the love for my slain friend induces me to speak. I have no personal
grudge against him.»
«And you, servant, can you swear that you have told the truth? »
«I will swear it a thousand times, if necessary! My master, my poor master! » and he covers his
head with his mantle.
«Good. Here is the water and here is the dust. And this is the word. "Holy Father and Most High
God, pass judgement on truth through Me, so that life and honour may be given to the innocent man
and to the anguished mother, and suitable punishment to those who are not innocent. But because
of the grace, which I enjoy in Your eyes, let neither fire nor death, but a long expiation come to
them who have committed sin".»
He says these words stretching His hand over the pitcher, as priests do at the altar, during Mass at
offertory. He then dips His right hand into the pitcher and with His wet hand He sprays the four
men under judgement and makes each drink a drop of water: first the young fellow and then the
others. He then folds His arms across His chest and looks at them.
Also the crowds look, but after a few moments they utter a cry and throw themselves down, with
their faces on the ground. The four men then, who are lined up, look at one another and shout in
their turn: the young man out of amazement, the others out of horror because they see their faces
covered with sudden leprosy, whereas the young fellow is immune from it.
The servant throws himself at the feet of Jesus, Who steps aside, like everybody else, including the
soldiers, and taking young Abel by the hand draws him away as well, so that he may not become
contaminated near the three lepers. And the servant shouts: «No! No! Forgive me! I am a leper!
They paid me to delay my master until evening, so that they could kill him on the desert road. They
made me unshoe his mule on purpose. They instructed me how to lie saying that I had come ahead.
Instead I was with them killing him. And I will also tell You why they did it. Because Joel had
found out that Jacob was in love with his young wife and because Aser wanted the mother of this
young man and she refused him. So they made an agreement to get rid of Joel and Abel at the same
time and then have a nice time with the women. I have told You everything. Cleanse me of my
leprosy! Abel, you are good, pray for me! »
«Abel, go to your mother, so that when she comes round, she may see your face and thus come back
to life happily. And you... I should say to you: "Let it be done to you what you have done". And it
would be human justice. But I am entrusting you to a superhuman expiation. The leprosy, which
you abhor, saves you from being seized and killed as you deserve. People of Bethlehem, step aside,
open out, as the water of the sea did, and let these men go to their long imprisonment. A dreadful
imprisonment! More dreadful than sudden death. Divine pity has granted them the possibility to
make amends, if they wish so. Go!»
The crowds throng against the walls of houses leaving the centre of the road free, and the three
men, covered with leprosy as if they had been affected by the disease for years, go towards the
mountain, walking one behind the other. In the silence of approaching twilight, when all birds and
animals become quiet, only their moaning can be heard.
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«Purify the street with plenty water, after lighting fires on it. And you, soldiers, go and report that
justice has been done according to the most perfect Mosaic Law.» And Jesus is about to go where
His Mother and Mary of Clopas are still assisting the woman who is coming to herself slowly, while
her son is caressing and kissing her cold hands.
But the people of Bethlehem with almost terrified respect beg Him: «Speak to us, Lord. You are
really powerful. You are certainly the One mentioned by the man who came here announcing the
Messiah.»
«I will speak to you tonight, near the fold of the shepherds. I am now going to comfort Abel's
mother.»
And He goes to the woman, who is sitting on the lap of Mary of Alphaeus and is recovering her
senses. She looks at the loving face of Our Lady Who smiles at her, but she is not fully aware of the
situation until her eyes rest on the dark haired head of her son bent over her trembling hands, and
she asks: «Am I dead, too? Is this Limbo? »
«No, woman. This is the Earth. This is your son saved from death. And this is Jesus, My Son, the
Saviour.»
The first reaction of the woman is simply human. She collects all her strength and leans forward to
take the bent head of her son in her hands, she sees that he is safe and sound, she kisses him
frantically, weeping, laughing, repeating all possible pet names to express her joy.
«Yes, mother, yes. But now look, not at me, at Him, at Him Who saved me. Bless the Lord.»
The woman, still too weak to stand up or get up on her knees, stretches out her trembling bleeding
hands and takes Jesus' hand kissing and wetting it with tears.
Jesus lays His left hand on her head saying to her: «Be happy. In peace. And be always good. And
you, too, Abel.»
«No, my Lord. My son's life and mine are Yours, because You have saved them. Let him go with
Your disciples, as he has been wishing to, since they were here. I offer him to You with so much
joy and I beg You to allow me to follow him, to serve him and the servants of God.»
«And what about your house? »
«Oh! Lord! Can one risen from death have the same affections one had before dying? Myrtha has
come back from death and out of hell through You. In this town I may go as far as hating those who
tortured me through my child. And You preach love. I know. So let poor Myrtha love the Only One
Who deserves love, and let her love His mission and His servants. Just now I am still exhausted and
I would not be able to follow You. But allow me, my Lord, to do so as soon as I am fit. I will follow
You and be with my Abel...»
«You will follow your son and Me. Be happy and in peace now. With My peace. Goodbye.»
And while the woman goes into her house supported by her son and other kind people, Jesus leaves
the town with the shepherds, the apostles, His Mother and Mary of Alphaeus, and goes towards the
fold, which is situated at the end of a road, in the fields.
...A bonfire lights up the meeting. Many people sitting in semicircles are waiting for Jesus to come
and speak to them. In the meantime they are talking of the events of the day. Abel is there as well
and many congratulate him stating that everybody believed in his innocence.
The young man cannot help replying: «But you were still prepared to kill me! Even you, who had
greeted me at the doorstep of my house, just at the time Joel was killed ». And he adds: «But I
forgive you in Jesus' name.»
Jesus is now coming from the fold towards them: tall, clad in white, surrounded by the apostles,
followed by the shepherds and women.
«Peace to you all.
If My coming here has served to establish the Kingdom of God among you, blessed be the Lord. If
My coming here has served to make innocence shine, blessed be the Lord. If My coming here in
time to prevent a crime serves also the purpose of giving three culprits the possibility of redeeming
themselves, blessed be the Lord. Of all the many things on which this day induces us to meditate,
and on which we shall be meditating while night falls to envelop in its darkness the joy of two
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hearts and the remorse of three others - and in its darkness it hides, as in a chaste veil, the joyful
tears of the former and the bitter ones of the latter, which, however God sees - there is one thing
which points out that there is nothing useless in what God gave as His Law.
The Law given by God, nominally, is strictly observed in Israel. But in actual fact it is not. The Law
is analysed, dissected, hashed, to the extent of causing it to die through the torture of petty quibbles.
It is there. But as a mummified body has no life, no breathing and no blood circulation,
notwithstanding it looks like a body that is motionless because fast asleep, so the Law has no life,
no breathing, no blood in far too many hearts. One can sit on a mummy as on a stool. One can lay
things on a mummy, such as clothes, even filth, if one wishes, and the mummy will not rebel,
because it has no life. Likewise too many people make a stool of the Law, a place where to lay
things or discharge their filth, sure that it will not rebel in their consciences, which are dead.
I could compare a large portion of Israel to the petrified forests that one can see strewn in the Nile
valley and in the Egyptian desert. They were woods, woods of living trees, nourished with sap,
rustling in the sunshine, with beautiful leaves, flowers and fruit. They made of the spot where they
came up a small earthly paradise, dear to men and to animals, who forgot the desolate aridity of the
desert, the parching thirst which sand causes to man, penetrating his throat with its burning dust.
They forgot the merciless sun that calcifies corpses in a short time, removing their flesh and turning
it into dust, leaving clean skeletons stretched on the sand, so clean that they look as if they had been
diligently polished by a workman. They forgot everything in the green rustling shade, rich in water
and fruit, which refreshened and comforted them and gave them energy for new journeys.
Then, for some unknown reason, like cursed things, they withered like trees that, after dying, still
serve to light fires for man, or bonfires to illuminate the night, to keep away wild animals, or
disperse the dampness of the night for pilgrims far from their houses. But those did not serve as
firewood. They became like stones. The silica of the soil seemed to have climbed from the roots up
to the trunk, the branches and leaves, through witchcraft. The winds then broke the thinner
branches, which had become like alabaster, which is hard and soft at the same time. But the
stronger branches are still there, on the powerful trunks, to deceive tired caravans. In fact in the
dazzling reflection of the sun or the spectral moonlight, caravans can see the shadows of the
straight trunks stand out on tablelands or at the bottom of valleys, which receive water only at the
time of the fertile floods, and they rush towards the phantom forests, both because they are anxious
to find shelter, refreshment, water and fresh fruit, and because their tired eyes are dazzled by the
sun shining on the shadeless sand. True phantoms! Illusive likeness of living bodies. Real presence
of dead things.
I saw them. Although I was little older than a baby, I remember them as one of the saddest things
on the Earth. That is how they appeared to Me, until I touched, experienced, and weighed the
entirely sad things of the Earth, because they are completely dead things. Immaterial things, that is
dead virtues and dead souls. The former are dead in souls, the latter are dead because they killed
themselves.
There is the Law in Israel. But it is there like the petrified trees in the desert that have become
silica, death, deceit. They are things destined to wear away without being of any use. Nay, they are
harmful, because they cause mirages that allure people diverting them from true oases and thus
cause them to die of thirst, hunger and desolation. They are death, attracting others to death, as we
read in certain tales of pagan myths.
You have had an instance today of what a Law is when it is reduced to stone in a soul that has also
become stone. It is all kinds of sins and the cause of misfortune. May this serve you to learn how to
live and to let the Law live within you, in its integrity, which I enlighten with the light of mercy.
It is the dead of night. The stars are looking down at us and God is looking down at us as well. Look
up to the starry sky and elevate your souls to God. And without criticising the unhappy men already
punished by God, and without any pride of being free from such sins, promise to God and to
yourselves that you will not fall into the aridity of the cursed trees in the Egyptian deserts and
valleys.
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Peace be with you.»
He blesses them and then withdraws into the large fold enclosure, surrounded by rustic porches
under which the shepherds have spread much hay as beds for the servants of the Lord.

248. Going towards Sicaminon.

10th August 1945.

The calm sunny morning helps the apostolic group to climb up some hills stretching westwards,
that is towards the sea.
«We did the right thing by arriving at the mountains early in the morning. We could not have stayed
in the plain in this heat. It is shady and cool here. I feel sorry for those who are following the
Roman road. It is all right in winter, of course » says Matthew.
«After these hills we shall meet the wind from the sea. It always mitigates the air » says Jesus.
«We shall eat up on the top. The other day it was so beautiful. And from here it must be even more
so because we are closer to Mount Carmel and to the sea » adds James of Alphaeus.
«Our fatherland is beautiful indeed! » exclaims Andrew.
«Yes. There is really everything. Mountains covered with snow, pleasant hills, lakes and rivers, all
kinds of trees, and there is also the sea. It is really the delicious country celebrated by our psalmists,
prophets, our great warriors and poets » says Thaddeus.
«Repeat some of the passages, since you know so many things » asks James of Zebedee.
«"With the beauty of Paradise He formed the earth of Judas.
With the smiles of His angels He adorned the land of Naphtali and with rivers of heavenly honey
He flavoured the fruit of his land...
The whole creation is mirrored in you, gem of God, granted by God to His holy people.
O blissful land, your beauty is for the hearts of your children sweeter than the rich grapes maturing
on your hillsides, more delicious than the milk filling the udders of your ewe-lambs, more
inebriating than the honey with the flavour of flowers adorning you.
The sky descended to become a river uniting two gems, forming a pendant and a girdle on your
green dress.
The Jordan sings, one of your seas smiles, while the other reminds men that God is full of awe and
in the evening the hills seem to be dancing like merry girls on a meadow, and at angelical dawns
your mountains pray or sing halleluja in the ardour of the sun, or adore Your power with the stars,
Most High Lord.
You did not enclose us in narrow borders, but You gave us the open sea to tell us that the world is
ours".»
«Lovely Really beautiful! I have only been on the lake and to Jerusalem; for years and years I have
seen nothing else. So far I know only Palestine. But I am sure there is nothing more beautiful in the
world » says Peter full of national pride.
«Mary was telling me that also the Nile valley is beautiful » says John.
«And the man of Endor speaks of Cyprus as if it were paradise » adds Simon.
«Eh! But our land!...»
And all the apostles with the exception of the Iscariot and Thomas, who are with Jesus a little ahead
of the others, go on praising the beauty of Palestine.
The women are last to come, as they cannot restrain themselves from picking seeds of flowers to be
sown in their gardens, also because the flowers are beautiful and will be a remembrance of their
journey.
Some eagles, I think they are sea-eagles or vultures, are flying in wide circles over the hill tops,
swooping down now and again in search of prey. And two vultures begin to fight, attacking each
other in swift evolutions in the air, both losing feathers at each assault: an elegant but fierce duel

113
that ends with the flight of the defeated one, which perhaps withdraws to die on a remote
mountain-top. At least that is what everybody thinks, judging by its laborious flying, as if it were
about to die.
«Greed did it no good » comments Thomas.
«Greed and stubbornness always cause trouble. Also those three yesterday!... Eternal mercy! What a
dreadful destiny! » says Matthew.
«Will they never recover? » asks Andrew.
«Ask the Master ».
When Jesus is asked, He replies: «It would be better to ask whether they will convert. Because I
solemnly tell you that it is better to die a holy leper than a healthy sinner. Leprosy will remain on
the Earth, in the grave. Sins last for ever.»
«I liked Your speech of yesterday evening very much » says the Zealot.
«I, instead, didn't. It was too severe for too many people in Israel » says the Iscariot.
«Are you one of them? »
«No, Master.»
«Well, then. Why are you concerned? »
«Because it could be detrimental to You.»
«Should I then come to terms with sinners and be their accomplice, in order to avoid possible
detriment? »
«I don't say that. You could not do that. But be quiet. Do not alienate the mighty ones...»
«Silence gives consent. I do not consent to sin. Neither of common people, nor of mighty ones.»
«See what happened to the Baptist? »
«His glory.»
«His glory? I think it was his ruin.»
«Persecution and death suffered to be faithful to our duty are a glory for man. A martyr is always
glorious.»
«But by his death he prevents himself from being a master, and grieves disciples and relatives. He
frees himself from every pain, but leaves others in greater suffering. The Baptist has no relatives,
that is true. But he still has duties towards his disciples.»
«Even if he had relatives, it would still be the same. Vocation is more than blood.»
«And what about the fourth commandment? »
«It comes after those concerning God.»
«You saw yesterday how a mother can suffer for her son...»
«Mother! Come here.»
Mary hastens towards Jesus and asks: «What do You want, Son? »
«Mother, Judas of Kerioth is pleading Your cause, he loves You and loves Me.»
«My cause? In regard to what? »
«He wants to persuade Me to be more prudent, so that I may not have to suffer like our relative, the
Baptist. And he is telling Me that sons must have mercy on their mothers, by sparing themselves on
their behalf, because that is what the fourth commandment prescribes. What do You say? You may
speak, Mother, so that You may kindly instruct our Judas.»
«I say that I would no longer love My Son as God, that I would begin to doubt whether I have
always been mistaken and whether I have always been deceived concerning His Nature, if I saw
Him fail in His perfection, by lowering His thought to human consideration, losing sight of
superhuman considerations that is, the redemption, the effort to redeem men, for their own sake and
for the glory of God, at the cost of procuring for Himself affliction and hatred. I would still love
Him as a Son led astray by a wicked power, I would love Him out of pity, because He is My Son,
because He would be a poor wretch, but I could not love Him with the fullness of love with which I
love Him now that I see Him faithful to the Lord.»
«You mean to Himself.»
«To the Lord. Now He is the Messiah of the Lord and must be loyal to the Lord like anybody else,
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more than anybody else, because His mission is greater than any other that was, is or ever will be on
the Earth, and He certainly has from God suitable assistance for such a great mission.»
«But if anything wrong happened to Him, would You not weep? »
«I would shed all My tears. But I would weep tears of blood if I saw Him faithless to God.»
«That will greatly diminish the guiltiness of those who will persecute Him.»
«Why? »
«Because both You and He almost justify them.»
«Do not believe it. Their sins will always be the same in the eyes of God, whether we judge that it is
inevitable, or we deem that no man in Israel ought to be guilty towards the Messiah.»
«Man in Israel? And if they were Gentiles would it not be the same? »
«No, it would not. The Gentiles would be in the wrong only towards a fellow-man. Israel knows
who Jesus is.»
«Many in Israel do not know.»
«They do not want to know. They are deliberately incredulous. They thus add incredulity to
anti-charity and they deny hope. It is not a small sin, Judas, to tread on the three main virtues. It is a
grave sin, more grave spiritually than any material action against My Son.»
Judas, who is short of arguments, bends to lace a sandal and is left behind.
They reach the top of the mountain, or rather a ledge almost at the top, a ledge protruding forth as if
it wished to run towards the beautiful blue sea. A thick wood of holm-oaks filters a clear emerald
light, pierced by soft sunbeams as thin as needles. The charming airy mountain crest opens on to the
nearby sea coast, opposite the majestic Mount Carmel chain. Below, at the foot of the mountain
with the ledge protruding as if it were anxious to fly up, after some little fields situated in the
central part of the mountain side, there is a narrow valley with a deep torrent, which must certainly
be imposingly impetuous in time of floods, but is now reduced to a tiny silvery foaming stream in
the middle of its bed. The torrent flows towards the sea along the foot of Mount Carmel. A road
runs along the torrent, above its right hand bank and links a town situated in the middle of the bay
to other inland towns, perhaps in Samaria, if I am taking my bearings correctly.
«That town is Sicaminon » says Jesus. «We shall be there late in the evening. Let us have a rest
now, because the descent is difficult, though cool and short.»
And sitting in a circle, they talk to one another and to the women, while roasting on a rustic spit a
lamb, certainly a gift of the shepherds...

249. Jesus Meets the Disciples at Sicaminon.

11th August 194 5.

It is on the bank of the deep torrent that Jesus finds Isaac with many known and unknown disciples.
Among the known ones there are: the head of the synagogue of the Clear Water, Timoneus; Joseph
of Emmaus, the one accused of incest; the young man who did not bury his father to follow Jesus;
Stephen; Abel, the leper cured near Korazim with his friend Samuel; Solomon, the ferryman of
Jerico, and many more, whom I recognise, but I do not remember in the least where I saw them or
their names. Many faces indeed are known to me, but only as faces of disciples. And there are other
people who have been converted by Isaac or by the above mentioned disciples and are following the
main group hoping to find Jesus.
Their meeting is tender, joyful and respectful. Isaac's eyes are beaming with joy, when he looks at
the Master and shows Him his new flock and as a reward he asks Jesus to say a few words to his
people.
«Do you know any quiet place where we can gather together? »
«At the end of the bay there is a desert beach, with some hovels of fishermen, which are empty at
this time of the year because they are unhealthy and because the fishing season of fish to be salted

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is over and the fishermen have gone to Syro-Phoenicia to fish for murices. Many of them already
believe in You because they heard You speak in sea towns or because they found disciples, and
they have given us the little houses to rest in. We go there after a mission. Because there is a lot to
be done in this area. It is deeply corrupted by many things. I would like to go as far as
Syro-Phoenicia, and I could do it by sea, because the coast is parched by the sun and it is impossible
to go there on foot. But I am a shepherd, not a sailor, and among my people there is not even one
who can sail.»
Jesus, Who listens carefully, smiling lightly, lowering His head a little, as He is so tall compared
with the little shepherd who, like a soldier, is reporting everything to his general, replies: «God
helps you because of your humility. If I am known here it is due to you, My disciple, and to no one
else. We will now ask the men of the lake whether they feel they can sail the sea, and if possible,
we will go to Syro-Phoenicia.» And He turns round looking for Peter, Andrew, James and John,
who are talking animatedly to some disciples, while Judas is warmly congratulating Stephen, and
the Zealot, Bartholomew and Philip are near the women. The other four are with Jesus.
The four fishermen come at once. «Do you feel up to sailing the sea? » asks Jesus.
The four look at one another perplexedly. Peter ruffles his hair while pondering on the matter. He
then asks: «But where? Off shore? We are fresh water fish...»
«No, along the coast, as far as Sidon.»
«H'm! I think it can be done. What do you say? »
«I think so, too. Sea or lake, it is still the same thing: water » says James.
«Nay: it will be even more beautiful and easier » exclaims John.
«I don't know how you can say that » replies his brother.
«It's his fondness for the sea. He who loves something, sees every perfection in it. If you loved a
woman like that, you would be a perfect husband » says Peter jokingly shaking him affectionately.
«No, I am saying so because at Ashkelon I saw that manoeuvres are the same and navigation very
smooth » replies John.
«Well, let us go, then! » exclaims Peter.
«However, it would be better to have someone from here. We have no experience with this sea and
its depth contour » remarks James.
«Oh! I would not even think of that. We have Jesus with us! Before I was not yet certain, but after
He calmed the lake! Let us go with the Master to Sidon. Perhaps there is some good to be done
there » says Andrew.
«Well, we shall go. You will get the boats tomorrow. Ask Judas of Simon to give you the purse.»
And all mixed together, apostles and disciples - and it is needless to say how happy many are,
particularly the ones already well known to Jesus - they retrace their steps going back towards the
town, and walk round the outskirts, until they reach the end of the bay, which protrudes into the sea
like a bent arm. A few little houses there, spread on the narrow pebbly shore, represent the most
poverty-stricken and depopulated quarter of the town, which is inhabited only at intervals.
The walls of the little cubic shaped houses are worn away by saltness and age and they are all
closed. When the disciples open them, they show their smoky misery and bare essential furnishings.
«Here they are. They are not beautiful, but are clean and comfortable » says Isaac, who is doing the
honours of the house.
«The poor things are certainly not beautiful. The Clear Water was a royal palace in comparison.
And there were some who complained!...» grumbles Peter.
«But they are a real fortune to us.»
«Of course! The all important thing is to have a roof over your head and to be fond of one another.
Oh! look, there is our John! How are you? Where were you?»
But John of Endor, although smiling at Peter, runs to greet Jesus Who replies to him with very kind
words.
«I did not let him come because he has not been well... I prefer him to stay here. He is so clever
with citizens and with those who ask information on the Messiah...» says Isaac.
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The man from Endor is indeed much thinner than previously. But his countenance is serene. His
emaciation ennobles his features, so that one thinks of him as a man already affected by the double
martyrdom of flesh and soul.
Jesus watches him and asks: «Are you not well, John? »
«I am not any worse than I was before seeing You. And that as far as my body is concerned. With
regard to my soul, I think I am recovering from my peculiar wounds.»
Jesus looks at his peaceful eyes and hollow temples but does not say anything. He lays a hand on
his shoulder while entering a little house with him, into which they have brought basins of salt
water to refreshen their tired feet and pitchers of cool water to quench their thirst, while outside
they are laying the table on a rustic board shaded by a very poor pergola of creepers.
While twilight is falling and the sea is whispering its evening prayers with the surf rustling on the
pebbly shore, it is beautiful to see Jesus having supper with the women and the apostles, sitting at
the coarse board, while the others, sitting on the ground, or on seats or baskets turned upside down,
form a circle round the main table.
The meal is soon over and the table is cleared even sooner, because there were only very few plates,
only for the more important guests. The sea has become indigo-black in the starless night. And all
its majesty appears in this sad but solemn hour, typical of sea shores.
Jesus, Whose tall white figure is outstanding in the darker and darker shadows, rises from the table
and comes towards the middle of the apostolic group, while the women withdraw. Isaac and
another man light little fires on the beach to illuminate and keep away the clouds of mosquitoes,
which probably come from nearby marshes.
«Peace to you all.
The mercy of God has joined us before the appointed time, giving reciprocal joy to our hearts. I
have searched all your hearts, which are morally good, as is evidenced by your being here, waiting
for Me, formed in Me, but still spiritually imperfect as is proved by some of your reactions that
show how the old man of Israel still persists in you with all his ideas and prejudices, and the new
man, the man of Christ with Christ's wide, bright merciful mentality and even wider charity has not
yet come out of him, like a butterfly from its larva. Do not feel mortified if I have scanned you and
pried into all your secrets. A teacher must know his pupils in order to correct their faults, and
believe Me, if he is a good teacher, he is not disgusted with the more faulty ones, on the contrary he
pays greater attention to them, to improve them. You know that I am a good Master. And now let us
consider those reactions and prejudices, let us consider together the reason why we are here, and
because of the joy we experience by being together, let us bless the Lord, Who always achieves a
collective welfare from an individual one.
I have heard from your own lips how much you admire John of Endor, and your admiration is even
more remarkable because he professes to be a repentant sinner and on his past and present
condition he bases the argument of his preaching to those whom he wants to bring to Me. It is true:
he was a sinner. Now he is a disciple. Many of you have now come to the Messiah through his
merit. You can thus see that God creates the new people of God just by those means that the old
man of Israel would despise.
I now ask you to refrain from misjudging the presence of a sister, whom old Israel cannot
understand to be a disciple. I told the women to go and rest. I was not so anxious to let them rest as
I was to be able to give you a holy careful consideration on her conversion and thus prevent you
from committing a sin against love and justice, and that is why I gave that command, which has
certainly disappointed them.
Mary of Magdala, the great sinner, who had no excuse for her sin, has come back to the Lord. And
from whom will she expect faith and mercy but from God and the servants of God? The whole of
Israel, and with Israel the foreigners who are amongst us, who know her very well and judge her
very severely, criticise and deride her resurrection, now that she is no longer their accomplice in
vice.
Resurrection. That is the exact word. To raise the flesh from death is not the greatest miracle. It is
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only a relative miracle because it is destined to be cancelled one day by death. I do not give
immortality to those whose flesh I raise from death, but I give eternity to those who resuscitate in
their souls. And while a man, whose body is dead, does not join his will to Mine in order to come
back to life and therefore he has not merit, there is a firm will in the man who revives spiritually,
nay his will is there first. And he thus has merit.
I am not saying this to justify Myself. I have to give account of My action to God only. But you are
My disciples. And each of you must be another Jesus. And none of you must be ignorant or guilty of
any of those deep-rooted faults, whereby so many are united to God only by name.
Everything can become a good action. Also what seems less suitable to become so. When matter is
presented to the will of God, even if it were the most inert, cold and filthy, it can become living,
blazing pure beauty.
I will give you an instance taken from the book of the Maccabees. When Nehemiah was sent back
to Jerusalem by the king of Persia, they decided to offer sacrifices on the purified altar in the rebuilt
Temple. Nehemiah remembered that at the time they were captured by the Persians, the priests
assigned to the cult of God used to take the fire of the altar and hide it in a secret place, at the
bottom of a valley, in a deep dry well, and did it so carefully and secretly that they were the only
ones who knew where the sacred fire was. As Nehemiah remembered all that, he asked the
grandchildren of those priests to go to the place which the priests, before dying, had disclosed to
their sons, who in turn had informed their children, handing on the secret from father to son, and to
take the sacred fire to light the fire for the sacrifice. But when the grandchildren went down into the
secret well, they did not find the fire, and they found instead thick water, a putrid, stinking, heavy
slime, which had filtered down there from all the obstructed sewers of the devastated city of
Jerusalem. And they told Nehemiah, who told them to take some of that water and bring it up to
him. After laying firewood on the altar and the victims on top of it, he sprayed everything copiously
with the slimy water. The people was amazed and the priests scandalised, but they watched and did
everything respectfully, only because it was Nehemiah who told them. But how sad their hearts
were! And how discouraged they felt! As the overcast sky made the day a sad one, so uncertainty
made men melancholy. But the sun broke through the clouds and its rays descended upon the altar
and the firewood sprayed with the slimy water caught fire, which soon consumed the sacrifice,
while the priests were saying the prayers that Nehemiah had written, singing the most beautiful
hymns of Israel, until the whole sacrifice was consumed. And in order to convince the crowds that
God can work miracles also with the most unsuitable means, when they are used for a righteous
purpose, Nehemiah ordered the remaining water to be sprayed on to some large stones. And as soon
as the stones were sprayed, they caught fire and were burnt out in the great light coming from the
altar.
Every soul is a sacred fire laid by God on the altar of man's heart that it may burn the sacrifice of
life through love for the Creator of life. Every life is a holocaust, if spent properly, and every day is
a sacrifice to be offered holily. But marauders come, the oppressors of man and of man's soul. The
fire falls into the deep well, not through any holy need, but through fateful stupidity. And
submerged by all the drainage of the dens of vice, it becomes heavy putrid mud, until a priest
descends to that bottom and brings that mud up to daylight, laying it on the holocaust of his own
sacrifice. Because - and remember this - the heroism of the man to be converted is not sufficient:
also the heroism of him who converts is required. Nay, the latter must precede the former, 'because
souls are saved through our sacrifice. Because thus we are successful in getting mud to change into
fire and God to judge perfect and pleasing to His holiness the sacrifice that is being consumed.
Then, as it is still not enough to convince the world that repentant mud burns more than common
fire, even if it is consecrated fire, which common fire serves only to burn wood and victims, that is,
combustible material, then the repentant mud becomes so powerful as to set on fire and burn even
stones, which are incombustible material. Are you not wondering whence such property comes to
that mud? Do you not know? I will tell you: because in the ardour of repentance they merge with
God, flame with flame; rising flame, descending flame; flame which offers itself loving, flame
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which gives itself loving; the embrace of two who love and find each other, who join together
forming one thing only. And since the flame of God is a greater one, it overflows, excels,
penetrates, absorbs and the flame of the repentant mud is no longer a relative flame of a created
thing, but it is the infinite flame of the Uncreated Thing: of the Most High, Most Powerful, Infinite
God.
That is what truly and wholly converted big sinners are, who have generously devoted themselves
to their conversion without keeping anything of their past, burning themselves as the first thing, in
their heavier part, by means of the flame rising from their mud, which has run towards Grace and
has been touched by Grace. I solemnly tell you that many stones in Israel will be attacked by the
fire of God because of these burning furnaces, which will blaze more and more, until the human
creature is utterly consumed. And from their thrones in Heaven they will continue to burn the
stones, the tepidity, uncertainty, timidity of the Earth, and as true supernatural burning glasses they
will collect the One and Trine lights to converge them on to mankind and set it afire in God.
I would repeat that I did not have to justify My actions, but I wanted you to understand My
conception and make it your own. A wrong conception, a Pharisaical suspicion of contaminating
God by taking a repentant sinner to Him must never stop you from such a deed that is the perfect
coronation of the misson for which I destine you. Always bear in mind that I have not come to save
saints, but sinners. And do likewise, because a disciple is not worth more than his Master, and if I
do not loathe taking by the hand the dregs of the Earth who feel the need of Heaven, who at long
last feel it, and exulting I take them to God, because that is My mission, and every conquered soul
justifies My incarnation, which humiliated My Infinity, neither you must loathe doing so, as you are
imperfect men, and you have all become more or less acquainted with imperfection, as you are of
the same nature as your brother sinners, and I have elected you to the rank of saviours so that My
work on the Earth may be continued for ever, as if I continued to live on it in an endless life.
And such it will be, because the union of My priests will be like the vital part of the great body of
My Church, of which I will be the animating Spirit, and the numberless particles of believers will
assemble round this vital part to form one only body, which will be called after My Name. But if
the sacerdotal part should lack vitality would the numberless particles be able to live? In actual fact,
as I am in the body, I could extend My Life as far as the most remote particles, neglecting the
obstructed and useless channels and cisterns, reluctant to fulfill their mission. Because rain falls
wherever it wishes and the good particles, being capable by themselves of desiring life, would still
live My Life. But what would Christianity then be? A close assembly of souls, one near the other.
One near the other and yet separated by channels and cisterns that no longer link them, distributing
to each particle the vital blood coming from one only centre. But there would be dividing walls and
precipices across which the particles would look at one another, and they would be humanly
hostile, supernaturally anguished, saying in their spirits: "And yet we were brothers and we still feel
as such, notwithstanding they have divided us!" It would be a closeness of souls, not a fusion or an
organism. And My love would shine sorrowfully upon such ruin...
Further, do not think that that applies only to religious schisms. No. It applies also to all the souls
that remain all alone because priests refuse to support them, to take care of them, to love them,
violating their mission, which is to say and do what I say and do, that is: "Come to Me, all of you,
and I will lead you to God".
Go in peace, now, and God be with you.»
The crowd disperse slowly, going to their little houses. Also John of Endor stands up. He took notes
while Jesus was speaking and in order to see what he was writing, he became red-hot near the fire.
But Jesus stops him saying: «Stay for a little while with your Master ». And He keeps him close to
Himself until they have all gone away. «Let us go as far as that rock near the water. The moon is
high in the sky and we can see our way.»
John agrees without demur. They move away from the houses about two hundred metres and they
sit on a huge boulder, which I do not know whether it is the ruin of a pier, or the extreme
ramification of a cliff fallen into the sea, or the wreck of one of the little houses swallowed by the
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water that through centuries advanced on the shore. I know that whilst from the little beach it is
possible to climb on to the rock, making use of the cavities and juts, which form a sort of steps, on
the sea side the face is a sheer cliff ending in the blue sea. Because of the tide, half of the rock is
surrounded by water, which grumbles and lightly smacks the obstacle and then withdraws with the
sound of a huge sigh, becomes silent for a moment, starting all over again, with regular motions and
sounds of slaps, aspirations and pauses, like syncopated music. They sit on the very top of the
boulder struck by the sea. The moon forms a silvery road on the water and the sea looks deep blue
in the moonlight, whereas before the moon rose, it was like a large blackish expanse in the dark
night.
«John, are you not telling your Master the reason why your body suffers? »
«You know, my Lord. But do not say: "it suffers". Say: "it is being consumed". That is more exact,
and You know, and You also know that it is being consumed with delight. Thank You, Lord. I
recognised myself, too, in the mud that becomes flame. But I shall not have time to set the stones
afire. I shall soon die. I have suffered too much through the hatred of the world and I exult too
much because of the love of God. But I do not regret life. I might sin again here, or fail in the
mission to which You destine us. I have already failed twice in my life. In my mission of a master,
because I should have been able to find what was necessary to perfect myself and I did not train
myself: in my mission of a husband, because I was not able to mould my wife... which was logical.
As I was not able to perfect myself, I could not perfect her either. I might fail in my mission as a
disciple. And I do not want to fail with You. Blessed therefore be death if it comes to take me
where one can no longer sin! But if I am not destined to be a teaching disciple, I shall be a victim
disciple, which fate is more like Yours. You said that this evening: "Burning ourselves as first
thing".»
«John, is it a fate, which you suffer or is it an offer you are making? »
«An offer, which I am making, if God does not disdain mud that has become fire.»
«John, you are doing much penance.»
«Saints do, You are the first. It is fair that he should do it, who has so much to pay. But do You
think that mine is not pleasant to God? Are You prohibiting me from doing it?»
«I never interfere with the good yearnings of a loving soul. I have come to preach by actual facts
that suffering is expiation and sorrow redemption. I cannot contradict Myself.»
«Thank You, Lord. It will be my mission.»
«What were you writing, John? »
«Oh! Master! Sometimes old Felix emerges again with his habits of a teacher. I am thinking of
Marjiam. He has a whole life to preach You, but because of his age, he is not here to hear Your
sermons. I thought I should write certain instructions You have given us and which he has not
heard, because he is intent on playing, or he is far away with one of us. There is so much wisdom in
Your words, also in the least ones! Your familiar conversations are a lesson on matters of every day
and every man, on the least things in life, which after all are the most important, because by piling
up they form a heavy burden, which requires patience, perseverance, resignation to be borne holily.
It is easier to accomplish one only great heroic deed than a thousand little ones for which a constant
presence of virtue is required. And yet one will not attain a great deed, both in good and in evil, I
know by experience with regard to evil, unless one stores up many little deeds, which seem
insignificant. I began to kill when, tired of the frivolity of my wife, I looked at her scornfully for the
first time. I have written Your short lessons for Marjiam. And this evening I wanted to take a note
of Your great lesson. I will leave my work to the boy, so that he may remember me, the old master,
and he may have what otherwise he would never have had. Your words: a wonderful treasure for
him. Will you allow me? »
«Yes, John. But be in complete peace, like this sea. See? It would be too warm for you to go about
in the heat of the sun, and apostolic life is really hard. You have fought so much in life. Now God
calls you to Himself in this placid moonlight that makes everything calm and pure. Proceed in the
kindness of God. I can tell you: God is pleased with you.»
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John of Endor takes Jesus' hand, kisses it and whispers: «And yet it would have been lovely to say
to the world: "Come to Jesus!"»
«You will say that from Paradise, where You will be a burning glass, too. Let us go, John. I would
like to read what you have written.»
«Here it is, Lord. And tomorrow I will give You the other roll on which I wrote the other words.»
They descend from the boulder, and in a most clear moonlight, which has changed the pebbly shore
into silver, they go back to the houses. They say goodbye to each other, John kneeling down, Jesus
blessing him with His hand laid on his head and giving him His peace.

250. At Tyre, Jesus Speaks of Perseverance.

12th August 1945.

It is early morning when Jesus arrives in front of a sea-town. Four boats are following His. The
town juts out strangely towards the sea, as if it were built on an isthmus. Or rather: as if a slender
isthmus linked the part protruding on the sea to the part stretching along the shore. It looks like a
huge mushroom, as seen from the sea, with its crown lying on the waves, its roots under the shore,
the isthmus being the stem. There are two harbours, one on each side: one, to the north, is wider
and full of small boats; in the other, to the south, which is more sheltered, there are large ships
arriving or departing.
«We must go over there » says Isaac, pointing to the harbour of the smaller boats. «That is where
the fishermen are.»
They walk round the island and I can see that the isthmus is an artificial one, a kind of Cyclopean
dam linking the little island to the mainland. They built lavishly in those days! I gather from this
work and from the number of boats in the harbours that the town was wealthy and commercially
very active. Behind the town, beyond a flat area, there are some pretty looking little hills, and the
Great Hermon and the Lebanon chain of mountains can be seen very far behind. I also understand
that this is one of the towns I could see from Lebanon.
Jesus' boat is now entering the northern harbour, the roadstead, because it does not dock, but the
men row slowly backwards and forwards until Isaac sees those he is looking for and calls them at
the top of his voice. Two beautiful fishing boats come towards them and the crew bend over the
smaller boats of the disciples.
«The Master is with us, my friends. Come, if you wish to hear His word. This evening He is going
back to Sicaminon » says Isaac.
«We are coming at once. Where shall we go? »
«To a quiet place. The Master is not disembarking at Tyre nor at the town on the mainland. He will
speak from the boat. So choose a shaded and sheltered place.»
«Follow us towards the rock. There are some quiet shady inlets. You can also land.»
And they go to an inlet in the cliff, farther north. The very steep cliff protects from the sun. It is a
lonely spot: only sea-gulls and woodpigeons live there: they fly out for their raids at sea and then fly
back to their nests in the rocks, squeaking loud. Some more small boats have joined the leading one
and have thus formed a little fleet. At the end of the tiny bay there is a very small beach. It is really
a sham beach: a small square strewn with stones. It can hold about one hundred people.
They land making use of a large flat rock emerging from the deep water like a small natural wharf
and they gather on the little stony beach, sparkling with salt. They are thin swarthy men, parched by
the sun and the sea. Their short undergarments leave their thin agile limbs uncovered. They are

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clearly a different race from the Jews of the present time, but the difference is not so striking with
regard to Galileans. I would say that those Syro-Phoenicians are more like the old Philistines than
their neighbouring peoples. At least those I can see.
Jesus draws close to the beach and begins to speak.
«We read in the Book of Kings that the Lord ordered Elijah to go to Zarephath of Sidonians during
the drought and famine which afflicted the Earth for over three years. The Lord did not lack means
to appease the prophet's hunger in any place, neither did He send him to Zarephath because that
town was rich in food. On the contrary, they were already dying of starvation there. Why then did
God send Elijah the Tishbite?
There was in Zarephath a woman with a righteous heart. She was a widow, a holy living woman,
the mother of a boy; she was poor and lonely, yet she never rebelled against the dreadful
punishment, neither was she selfish in her hunger, or disobedient. God wanted to benefit her by
granting her three miracles. One for the water she took to the thirsty man, one for the little loaf of
bread she baked under ashes, when she had only a handful of flour left, one for the hospitality she
offered the prophet. He gave her bread and oil, the life of her son and the knowledge of the word of
God.
You can see that a charitable action not only satisfies the hunger of bodies or removes the grief for
a death, but it teaches the soul the wisdom of the Lord. You have given lodgings to the servants of
the Lord and He gives you the word of Wisdom. A good deed has brought the word of the Lord to
this land, where that word does not come. I can compare you to the only woman in Zarephath who
welcomed the prophet. Because if I had gone to town, the rich and mighty people would not have
welcomed Me, the busy merchants and sailors would have neglected Me and My coming here
would have been valueless.
I will now leave and you will say: "But what are we? A handful of men. What do we possess? A
drop of wisdom". And yet I say to you: "I entrust you with the task of announcing the hour of the
Redeemer". I leave you repeating the words of Elijah, the prophet: "The jar of flour will not run out.
The oil will not diminish until one comes who will give it more copiously".
You have already done that. Because there are Phoenicians here among you who have come from
beyond Mount Carmel. Which means that you have spoken as you were spoken to. You can thus
see that the handful of flour and the drop of oil have not run out, but have instead increased in
quantity. Continue to make it grow. And if you think that it is strange that God has chosen you for
this work, as you do not feel capable of carrying it out, repeat the word of great trust: "I will do
what you tell me, trusting your word".»
«Master, how are we to deal with the heathens here? We know these people because they are
fishermen, like ourselves. We fraternise because we do the same work. But what about the others? »
asks a fisherman of Israel.
«You say that you fraternise because of the same work. Well, then, should the same origin not
cause you to fraternise as well? God created both Israelites and Phoenicians. The people of the
plain of Saron or of High Judaea are not different from the people of this shore. Paradise was made
for all the sons of man. And the Son of man has come to take all men to Paradise. The purpose is to
attain Heaven and give joy to the Father. Meet therefore on the same road and love one another
spiritually as you love one another for reasons of your trade.»
«Isaac has told us many things. But we would like to know more. Is it possible for us to have a
disciple, although we are so far out of the way? »
«Send them John of Endor, Master. He is so clever and he is accustomed to living with pagans »
suggests Judas of Kerioth.
«No. John is staying with us » replies Jesus resolutely. He then turns to the shepherds: «When will
the murex fishing be over? »
«At the first storms in autumn. The sea is too rough here, afterwards.»
«Will you be going back to Sicaminon then? »
«We will be going there and to Caesarea. We supply many Romans.»
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«You will then be able to meet the disciples. For the time being... persevere.»
«On board my boat there is one whom I did not want and he came here almost in Your Name.»
«Who is he? »
«A young fisherman from Ashkelon.»
«Tell him to disembark and come here.»
The man goes on board and comes back with a young fellow who seems rather embarrassed at
being the centre of so much attention.
The apostle John recognises him. «He is one of those who gave us the fish, Master » and he gets up
to greet him. «You have come, Ermasteus? Are you alone here? »
«Yes, I am alone. At Capernaum I was ashamed... I stayed on the beach, hoping...»
«What? »
«To see your Master.»
«And not yours yet? My dear friend, why are you still hesitating? Come to the Light waiting for you.
See how He is watching and smiling at you.»
«How will they bear with me? »
«Master, please come here for a moment.»
Jesus gets up and goes to John.
«He does not dare to come because he is a foreigner.»
«There are no foreigners, as far as I am concerned. And your companions? Were you not many?...
Do not be upset. You are the only one who persevered. But I am happy also because of you alone.
Come with Me.»
Jesus goes back to His place with His new conquest. «We shall certainly give this young man to
John of Endor » He says to the Iseariot. He then speaks to everybody.
«A group of diggers went down into a mine where they knew there were some treasures well hidden
in the bowels of the earth... And they began to dig. But the ground was hard and the work laborious.
Many became tired, threw away their picks and went away. Some made fun of the foreman and
treated him almost as a fool. Some cursed their fate, the work, the ground, the metal and in a fit of
anger they struck the bowels of the earth tearing the vein into useless tiny bits and when they saw
that they had only caused damage without making any profit, they also went away.
Only one remained: the most persevering one. He dealt kindly with the hard layers of the soil to
pierce it without damaging anything, he made various tests, he dug and went down deeper. A
wonderful valuable vein was at last discovered. The perseverance of the miner was thus rewarded
and with the most pure metal he had found he was able to get many work contracts, a great glory
and many customers, because everybody wanted that metal, which perseverance only was able to
find, whereas lazy or angry people had achieved nothing.
But once the gold has been found, it must in its turn persevere and be available to be worked on, in
order to become beautiful and ready to be used by the goldsmith. If the gold, after being excavated,
should refuse to undergo further treatment, however painful it might be, it would remain a coarse
metal, unsuitable to be worked on. You can thus see that the first enthusiasm is not enough to be
successful, either as apostles, or disciples or believers. It is necessary to persevere.
Ermasteus had many companions, and in their first enthusiasm they all promised to come. He only
has come. I have many disciples and their number will increase. But only a few of them will
persevere until the end. Perseverance! It is the great word. For all good things.
When you cast the drag-net to catch murex shells, do you do that only once? No. Many times, for
hours, for days, for months, and you are willing to go back to the same spot the following year,
because your work brings bread and comfort to you and to your families. And would you behave
differently for more important things, such as the interests of God and of your souls, if you are
believers; your interests and your brothers', if you are disciples? I solemnly tell you that it is
necessary to persevere until the end, to extract purple for eternal garments.
And now let us stay here as good friends until it is time for us to go back. We shall thus become
better acquainted and it will be easy to recognise one another...»
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And they spread out in the little rocky bay, cooking mussels and crabs caught on the rocks, and
little fish caught with small nets. Some sleep on dried seaweeds in caves opened in the rock by
earthquakes or by the sea, while sky and sea are a dazzling blue kissing each other at the horizon.
Seagulls fly backwards and forwards, from the sea to their nests in the rocks, squeaking and
flapping their wings, the only noises which can be heard, together with the washing of the sea, in
these sultry summer hours.

251. Return to Sicaminon. Jesus Speaks of Faith.

13th August 1945.

The people of Sicaminon, impelled by curiosity, besieged the place where the apostles were, all day
long, awaiting the return of the Master. The women disciples, in the meantime, have not wasted any
time, but have washed the clothes covered with dust and wet with perspiration, and on the little
beach there is a bright display of garments drying in the wind and sunshine. As it is evening and
getting dark, the dampness of sea fog is felt, so they hasten to take in the clothes, although they are
still dampish. Before folding them they stretch them out in all directions and press them, so that
they may look tidy to the respective owners.
«Let us take Mary's clothes to her at once » says Mary of Alphaeus. And she concludes: «She has
been really suffering yesterday and today in that little stifling room!...»
I thus realise that Jesus has been absent for more than one day, during which time Mary of
Magdala, who had only one dress, had to remain indoors, until her dress was dry.
Susanna replies: «Fortunately she never complains! I did not think she was so good.»
«And so humble, you should say, and reserved. Poor woman! It was the devil who tormented her!
Since she was freed by my Jesus, she has become herself once again, exactly as she was when a
girl.»
And talking to each other, they arrive back home carrying the laundry.
In the meanwhile Martha is busy preparing food and the Blessed Virgin is cleaning vegetables in a
copper basin and then boils them for supper.
«Here you are. Everything is dry, clean and folded. And they badly needed it. Go to Mary and give
her her clothes » says Susanna handing the clothes to Martha.
The two sisters come back shortly afterwards. «I thank both of you. The sacrifice of wearing the
same dress for days was the most painful one to me » says Mary of Magdala smiling. «I now feel
fresh and cool.»
«Go and sit outside, there is a lovely breeze. You certainly need it after being closed in » remarks
Martha, Who, being smaller than her sister and not so buxom, was able to put on a dress of
Susanna's or of Mary of Alphaeus', while her clothes were being washed.
«This time we had to make the best of it. But in future we will bring little bags, like the others, and
we will not have all this trouble » says the Magdalene.
«What? Are you going to follow Him as we do? »
«Of course. Unless He tells me otherwise. I am now going to the beach to see whether they are
coming back. Are they coming back this evening? »
«I hope so » replies the Most Holy Virgin. «I am worried because He has gone to Phoenicia. But I
know that He is with the apostles and after all the Phoenicians may be better than many other
people. When I went to the fountain, a mother stopped Me saying: "Are You with the Galilean
Master, the One they call Messiah? If so, come and see my son. Fever has been tormenting him for
over a year". I went into the little house. Poor thing! He looks like a little flower about to die. I will
tell Jesus.»
«There are others as well who want to be cured. They are more anxious to be cured than to be
taught » says Martha.
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«It is difficult for a man to be entirely spiritual. The voice and needs of the flesh are more strongly
felt » replies the Virgin.
«However, many revive spiritually after a miracle.»
«Yes, Martha. And that is one of the reasons why My Son works so many miracles. Out of love for
man, but also to draw him by such means on to His Way, which, otherwise, many would not
follow.»
John of Endor, who had not gone with Jesus, comes back home with many disciples who are going
to the little houses where they live. Almost at the same time the Magdalene comes back saying:
«They are arriving. They are the five boats that left yesterday at dawn. I recognised them very
well.»
«They must be tired and thirsty. I will go and get some more water. The water of the fountain is
very cool » and Mary of Alphaeus goes out carrying some pitchers.
«Let us go and meet Jesus. Come » says the Blessed Virgin. And She goes out with the Magdalene
and John of Endor, because Martha and Susanna, both flushed and very busy preparing supper,
remain near the kitchen range.
Walking along a wall they arrive at a little pier, where other fishing boats have already come in and
are moored. From the end of the pier it is possible to have a very good view of the whole bay and of
the town after which it is called, and one can also see the five boats sailing fast, slightly heeled to
one side, as a light northern breeze fills the sails, and is thus favourable and at the same time brings
relief to the men who are tired and warm.
«See how well Simon and the others are manoeuvering. They are following the pilot's boat
excellently. They have now passed the breaker; they are now taking to the open sea to avoid the
current which is strong over there. Good... Now everything is all right. They will soon be here »
says John of Endor. The boats in fact are coming nearer and nearer and it is possible to distinguish
the people in them.
Jesus is on the first one with Isaac. He has stood up and His tall figure appears in all its
magnificence until the furling sail conceals Him for a few minutes. In fact the boat veers round to
approach the little pier and passes before the women standing on the point. Jesus smiles waving to
them, while they begin to walk fast to reach the landing place at the same time as the boat.
«May God bless You, My Son! » says Mary greeting Jesus Who is disembarking on the quay.
«May God bless You, Mother. Have You been worrying? The man whom we were looking for, was
not in Sidon. We went as far as Tyre. And we found him there. Come, Ermasteus... Here, John. This
man wants to be taught. I entrust him to you.»
«I shall not disappoint You in teaching him Your word. Thank You, Master! There are many people
waiting for You » replies John of Endor.
«There is also a poor sick boy, Son, and his mother wants You to go there.»
«I will go to her at once.»
«I know who she is, Master. I will take You there. Ermasteus, come with us. You will begin to
know the infinite goodness of our Lord » says the man from Endor.
Peter lands from the second boat, James from the third, Andrew from the fourth, John from the
fifth; the four pilots followed by the other apostles or disciples who were with them all gather round
Jesus and Mary.
«Go home. I shall soon be there as well. In the meantime prepare the supper and tell those who are
waiting that I will speak to them at the end of vesper.»
«And what if there are some sick people? »
«I will cure them first. Even before supper, so that they may go back home happily.»
They part. Jesus with John of Endor and Ermasteus goes towards the town, the others walk back
along the pebbly beach, telling what they have seen or heard, as happy as children returning to their
mothers.
Also Judas of Kerioth seems happy. He shows all the offerings given to him by the murex
fishermen, and above all he shows a little bundle containing the precious substance. «This is for the
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Master. If He does not wear it, who can possibly do so? They called me to one side saying: "We
have some precious madrepores in our boat, and we have also a pearl. Imagine! A treasure. I do not
know how we were so lucky. But we will give them willingly to you for the Master. Come and see
them". I went with them to please them, while the Master had withdrawn into a cave to pray. They
were beautiful corals and a pearl, not a big one, but beautiful. I said to them: "Don't deprive
yourselves of these things. The Master does not wear jewels. Give me instead some of that purple to
make an ornament for His tunic". They had this little packet. They insisted in giving it all to me, at
all costs. Take it, Mother, make something nice with it for our Lord, as You know how to do it. But
make sure You do so. If He becomes aware of it, He will have it sold for the poor. And we like to
see Him dressed as He deserves. Is that right? »
«Oh! It is true! I suffer when I see Him dressed so plainly amongst other people, while He is a king,
and they are less than slaves and yet they wear gorgeous decorations and garments. And they look at
Him as if He were unworthy of being near them! » says Peter.
«Ehi! Did you see how those gentlemen in Tyre were laughing when we took leave of the
fishermen?! » replies his brother.
«I said to them: "You ought to be ashamed, you dogs! A single thread of His white tunic is worth all
your finery".» says James of Zebedee.
«Since Judas has been able to get it, I would like You to have it ready for the Tabernacles » says
Judas Thaddeus.
«I have never spun purple. But I will try...» says the Blessed Virgin touching the light
bright-coloured wool, as soft as silk.
«My nurse is an expert at that. We shall find her at Caesarea. She will let you see how to do it. You
will learn at once, because You do everything so well. I would put a band round the neck, the
sleeves and at the hem of His tunic: purple on snow-white linen or wool, with palm or rosette
decorations as we see on the marble of the Holy, and David's knot in the centre. It would look
lovely » says the Magdalene who is an expert in such beautiful things.
Martha says: «Our mother made that design, because it was so beautiful, on the tunic that Lazarus
wore on his journey to Syria when he took possession of our land there. I kept it because it was the
last work of our mother. I will send it to You.»
«I will do it praying for your mother.»
They have reached the houses. The apostles spread out to gather those who want the Master,
particularly sick people...
And Jesus comes back with John of Endor and Ermasteus. And He passes by greeting those who
have crowded in front of the little houses. His smile is a blessing.
They bring Him the inevitable man with eye trouble, who is almost blind with ulcerous ophthalmia,
and He cures him. Then it is the turn of a man sick with malaria, as emaciated and yellow as a
Chinese, and He cures him. Then a woman asks for a particular miracle: milk for her breast, which
has none, and she shows her baby, only a few days old, underfed and all red probably because of
some inflammation. She moans: «See? We are told to obey man and to procreate. But what does it
serve if we see our children languish? This is my third one, and I have buried two in the grave,
because of my unfruitful breast. And this one is about to die, too, because he was born in this hot
season, the others lived: one ten months, the other six, to make me weep even more when they died
of intestine trouble. If I could give them my milk, that would not happen...»
Jesus looks at her and says: «Your child will live. Have faith. Go home and as soon as you are there
offer your breast to the baby. Have faith.»
The woman goes away obediently with the poor baby, who moans like a kitten, close to his mother's
heart.
«Will she have milk? »
«Of course she will.»
«I say that the baby will live, but she will never have any milk, and it is already a miracle if he
lives. He is almost dead with privations.»
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«Instead I say that she will have milk.»
«Of course.»
«No, she will not.»
The people present are of different opinions.
Meanwhile Jesus withdraws to eat. When He comes out to preach, the crowd is even larger because
the news of the miracle of the boy sick with fever, which Jesus worked as soon as He landed, has
spread throughout the town.
«I give you My peace that it may prepare you to understand. It is not possible to hear the Voice of
the Lord in a storm. Every perturbation is detrimental to Wisdom, which is peaceful, as it comes
from God. Perturbations instead do not come from God, because worries, anxieties, doubts are the
work of the Evil One to upset the children of man and separate them from God.
I will tell you a parable that you may understand My teaching more clearly.
A farmer had many trees in his fields and many vines which yielded much fruit, among which there
was a special quality, of which he was very proud. One year that vine produced many leaves but
few grapes. A friend said to the farmer: "That is because you did not prune it enough". The
following year the man pruned it much more. The vine had few shoots and fewer grapes. Another
friend said to him: "That is because you pruned it too much". The third year the farmer left it alone.
The vine did not produce any grapes at all, only a few crumpled leaves, covered with blight. A third
friend stated: "It is dying because the soil is not good. Burn it". "Why? It is the same soil that the
others have and I tend it exactly as I do with the others. Before it was doing so well!". His friend
shrugged his shoulders and went away.
An unknown wayfarer passed by and stopped to look at the farmer sadly leaning on the poor vine.
"What is the matter?" he asked. "Someone dead in the family?". "No. But this vine, of which I was
so fond, is dying. It has no more sap and yields no fruit. One year little, the next one less, this year
nothing. I have done everything they told me, but to no avail".
The unknown wayfarer entered the field and approached the vine. He felt the leaves, took a lump of
earth in his hand, smelt it, crumpled it with his fingers, looked at the trunk-of the tree supporting
the vine. "You must remove that trunk. The vine is made barren by it".
"It has been its support for years!"
"Tell me, man: when you planted this vine, what was it like, and what was that trunk like?"
"Oh! It was a lovely three year old vine-shoot. I got it from another vine of mine, and to bring it
here, I dug a deep hole, so that its roots would not suffer when they were taken away from the
native soil. I dug a similar hole here as well, nay a larger one, so that it should be at ease at once,
and I hoed the soil around it, to make it soft, so that the roots could spread out at once, without any
difficulty. I settled it carefully, laying underneath it some good manure. As you know, roots grow
strong immediately if they find suitable nourishment. I did not pay so much attention to the
elm-tree. It was only a little tree planted there to support the vineshoot. In fact I planted it
superficially near the vine-shoot, I earthed it up and went away. They both took roots, because the
soil is good. The vine grew every year, it was looked after, hoed and pruned. The elm-tree instead
hardly grew. But for what it was worth!... Then it grew strong. See how lovely it is now? When I
come here, from afar I can see its top standing out like a tower and it looks like the ensign of my
little kingdom. Once the vine covered it up and one could not see its beautiful foliage. But look
how lovely it is up there, in the sunshine! And what a trunk! Straight and strong. It could have
supported this vine for many years, even if it became like the ones that the explorers of Israel took
near the Torrent of Grapes. Instead...".
"It has killed it. It has overwhelmed it. Everything was right for its life: the soil, its place, light,
sunshine, the care you took of it. But the elm-tree killed it. It became too strong. It entangled its
roots suffocating them, it took all the sap of the soil, it prevented it from breathing and receiving
the necessary light. Cut down this useless powerful tree at once, and your vine will revive. And it
will revive even better if you patiently dig up the ground to expose the roots of the elm-tree and
then cut them, to ensure that they do not sprout. Their last ramifications will rot in the ground, and
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once dead they will become life, because they will become manure, a worthy punishment for their
selfishness. Burn the trunk, make thus good use of it. A useless harmful tree is good only as
firewood, and it is to be removed so that all the nourishment of the soil may go to the good and
useful plant. Have faith in what I am telling you and you will be happy".
"But, who are you? Tell me that I may have faith".
"I am the Wise One. He who believes in Me will be safe" and he went away.
The man was rather doubtful. Then he made up his mind and he got a saw. And he called his
friends to help him.
"Are you mad?" "You will lose both elm-tree and vine". "I would cut off only its top, in order to
give air to the vine. But no more". "It must have a support. You are going to do a useless job". "I
wonder who He was! Perhaps one who hates you, without you knowing it". "Or a madman" and so
on.
"I am going to do what he told me. I have faith in Him" and he cut the elm-tree down at its root, and
not happy, he laid bare the roots of both plants in a wide circle around them, and he patiently cut
the roots of the elm-tree, taking great care not to damage those of the vine, he then filled in the
hole, and as the vine had no support, he placed a strong iron pole near it with the word "Faith"
written on a wooden board tied to the top of the pole.
The others went away shaking their heads. Autumn and winter passed and spring came. The
vine-shoots twined round the support became adorned with buds, first closed like silvery velvet
cases, then half open against the emerald of the fresh leaves, then fully open, and finally producing
new strong shoots from the trunk, all covered with tiny flowers that turned into grapes. There were
more bunches of grapes than leaves, and the latter were large, green, strong, the size of two, three or
more clusters. And each bunch was thick with pulpy, juicy, wonderful grapes.
"And now what do you say? Was the tree the cause of the withering of my vine or was it not? Was
the Wise One right or not? Was I right or not in writing on that board the word: 'Faith'?" said the
farmer to his incredulous friends.
"You were right. You are happy because you had faith and you were able to destroy the past and
neglect the wrong information given to you".
That is the parable. With regard to the woman with the unfruitful breast, there is the answer. Look
towards the town.»
They all turn round and see the woman of a little while ago running towards them, and although she
is running she does not detach the baby from her breast now full of milk, which the child sucks with
such voracity as to almost choke himself. The woman stops only when she is at Jesus' feet, in front
of Whom she detaches the baby from her nipple for a moment, shouting: «Bless him that he may
live for You! »
After that moment Jesus resumes: «And you have had a reply to your various conjectures on the
miracle. But the parable has a wider meaning than the little episode of faith rewarded. And here it
is.
God had planted His vine, His people, in a suitable place, and supplied it with everything necessary
to grow and bear more and more fruit, supporting it with masters so that the people might
understand the Law more easily, and make it its strength. But the masters wanted to excel the
Lawgiver, and they grew more and more until they imposed themselves more than the eternal word
did. And Israel became sterile. The Lord then sent the Wise One so that those in Israel who with
righteous souls are sorry for such barrenness and try this and that remedy, according to the dictates
and advice of the masters, who are humanly learned but supernaturally unlearned, and thus far from
knowing what is to be done to give life back to the spirit of Israel, may have true healthy advice.
But what happens? Why does Israel not recover its strength and become energetic as in the golden
days of its loyalty to the Lord? Because the advice is: remove all parasites that have grown to the
detriment of what is Holy: the Law of the Decalogue, as it was given, without any compromise,
hesitation, hypocrisy, remove them to give air, space, nourishment to the Vine, to the People of
God, and a strong, straight, inflexible, unique support, with a name as bright as the sun: Faith. But
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that advice is not accepted. I therefore tell you that Israel will perish, whilst it could revive and
possess the Kingdom of God, if it believed and made amends and changed itself substantially.
Go in peace and the Lord be with you.»

252. Departure from Sicaminon.

The Blessed Virgin Mary and Spiritualised Maternity.
14th August 1945.

It is still night, a beautiful night with waning moon, when Jesus, the apostles and the women, John
of Endor and Ermasteus, silently take leave of Isaac, the only one to be awake, and set out along the
shore. The noise of their steps is only a slight creaking of gravel pressed by their sandals, and no
one speaks until they have gone a few metres beyond the last house. The people sleeping in it, or in
the ones before it, were certainly not aware of the silent departure of the Lord and His friends.
There is dead silence. Only the sea speaks to the moon about to set in the west and it tells the sand
the stories of its depths with the long wave at high tide, which begins leaving a narrower and
narrower dry margin on the beach.
This time the women are in front, together with John, the Zealot, Judas Thaddeus and James of
Alphaeus, who help them to get over small rocks spread here and there, which are damp and also
slippery with the humidity of the night. The Zealot is with the Magdalene, John with Martha, while
James of Alphaeus takes care of his mother and of Susanna, and Thaddeus does not surrender to
anybody the honour of taking in his long strong hand - which is like Jesus' - the little hand of Mary
to help Her in difficult spots. Each speaks in a low voice to his companion. They all seem to be
wishing to respect the sleep of the Earth.
The Zealot is conversing intensely with Mary of Magdala and I can see that Simon stretches out his
arms more than once, meaning: «it is so and there is nothing we can do about it » but I cannot hear
what they are saying as they are ahead of everybody.
John speaks to his companion only now and again, pointing at the sea and Mount Carmel, the
western side of which looks white in the moonlight. Perhaps he is talking of the road they took the
last time, skirting Mount Carmel on the other side.
Also James, who is between Mary of Alphaeus and Susanna, is speaking of Mount Carmel. He says
to his mother: «Jesus has promised me to climb up there with me alone and to tell me alone
something.»
«What does He want to tell you, son? Will you tell me, afterwards? »
«Mother, if it is a secret, I cannot tell you » replies James smiling with his smile which is so tender;
his likeness to Joseph, the spouse of the Blessed Virgin, is remarkable both with regard to his
features and even more to his serene kindness.
«There are no secrets for a mother.»
«In fact I have none. But if Jesus wants me up there, all alone to speak to me, it means that He does
not want anyone to know what He is going to tell me. And you, mother, are my dear mother, whom
I love so much, but Jesus is above you, as His will is. But, when the time comes, I will ask Him
whether I may repeat His words to you. Are you happy? »
«You will forget to ask Him...»
«No, mother. I never forget you, not even when you are far from me. Every time I see or hear
something beautiful, I always say: "I wish my mother were here!" »
«My dear! Give me a kiss, son.» Mary of Alphaeus is moved. But emotion does not kill curiosity.
After being quiet for a few moments, she makes a fresh assault: «You said: His will. So you know
that He wants to tell what His Will is. Come on, you can tell me at least that. He told you that in the
presence of everybody.»
«In actual fact I was alone with Him, ahead of the others » says James smiling.
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«But the others could hear you.»
«He did not tell me very much, mother. He reminded me of the words and the prayer of Elijah on
Mount Carmel: "Of all the prophets of the Lord, I alone am left". "Hear me, that this people may
acknowledge that You are the Lord God".»
«And what did He mean? »
«How many things you want to know, mother! Go to Jesus, then, and He will tell you » replies
James, to parry her embarrassing questions.
«He probably meant that, since the Baptist has been captured, He is the only prophet left in Israel
and that God must preserve Him for a long time, so that the people may be taught » says Susanna.
«H'm! I don't believe that Jesus asks to be preserved for a long time. He asks nothing for Himself...
Come on, dear James! Tell your mother.»
«Curiosity is a fault, mother; it is useless, dangerous, at times it is sorrowful. Make a nice act of
mortification...»
«Alas! Did He mean that your brother will be put in prison, and killed perhaps?! » asks Mary of
Alphaeus, who is thoroughly upset.
«Judas is not "all the prophets", mother, even if, as far as your love is concerned, each son of yours
is the whole world...»
«I am thinking also of the others... because you will certainly be among the future prophets. So... so
if you are the only one to be left... If you are the only one left, it means that the others, that my
Judas... oh!...» Mary of Alphaeus leaves James and Susanna, and she runs back fast, as if she were a
young girl, paying no attention to the question Thaddeus asks her.
She arrives in Jesus' group like one who has been chased. «My Jesus... I was speaking to my son...
about what You told him... of Mount Carmel... of Elijah... of the prophets... You said... that James
will be the only one left... And what will happen to Judas? He is my son, You know? » she says
panting because of her anguish and her racing.
«I know, Mary. And I also know that you are happy that he is My disciple. You see that you have all
the rights of a mother, and I have them as Master and Lord.»
«That is true... it is true... but Judas is my boy!...» and Mary, foreseeing the future, burst into tears.
«Oh! how badly shed your tears are! But the heart of a mother is forgiven everything. Come here,
Mary. Do not weep. I comforted you once before. Also on that occasion I promised you that your
grief would obtain great graces from God, for you, for your Alphaeus, for your sons...» Jesus has
laid His arm on the shoulder of His aunt drawing her close to Himself... He tells those who were
with Him: «Move forward...» When He is alone with Mary Clopas, He resumes speaking: «And I
did not tell a lie. Alphaeus died invoking Me. Thus every debt he had with God was cancelled. It
was your grief, Mary, that obtained that conversion to his misunderstood relative, to the Messiah
Whom he did not recognise before. Your present grief will get your hesitant Simon and your
stubborn Joseph to imitate your Alphaeus.»
«Yes, but... What will You do to Judas, to my Judas? »
«I will love him even more than I love him now.»
«No, no. There is a threat in those words. Oh! Jesus! Oh! Jesus!...»
The Blessed Virgin Mary comes back to comfort Her sister-in-law, although She does not know yet
the nature of her grief, and when She knows, because when Mary sees Her beside her, she weeps
more and informs Her, Our Lady becomes paler than the moon.
Mary of Alphaeus moans: «Will You tell Him, no, no, not death for my Judas...»
Our Lady, Who is deadly pale, says to her: «And can I ask that on your behalf, when I do not ask
salvation from death for My own Son? Mary, say with Me: "Your will be done, Father, in Heaven,
on the Earth and in the hearts of mothers". To do the will of God through the destiny of our sons is
the redeeming martyrdom of us mothers... In any case... No one said that Judas is to be killed, or
killed before you die. How burdensome your present prayer, that he may live to the most longeval
age, would be for you, when in the Kingdom of Truth and Love, you will see everything in the light
of God and in your spiritualised maternity. I am sure that you then, both as a blessed soul and a
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mother, would like your Judas to be like My Jesus in His destiny of Redeemer, and you would long
to have him soon with you again, for ever. Because it is a mother's torture to be separated from her
children. So great a torture, that I think it will last, as anxious love, also in Heaven, where we shall
be received.»
Mary's crying, so loud in the silence of early dawn, has caused everybody to come back, to learn
what has happened, and they thus hear the words of the Blessed Virgin and everybody is moved.
Mary of Magdala whispers weeping: «And I gave my mother that torture even here on the Earth.»
Martha weeps saying: «To be separated is sorrowful for both mothers and children.»
Peter's eyes are shining with tears and the Zealot says to Bartholomew: «Wonderful words of
wisdom to explain what the maternity of a blessed soul will be! »
«And how things will be considered by a blessed mother: in the light of God and her spiritualised
maternity... It takes your breath away as if you were facing a bright mystery » replies Nathanael.
The Iscariot says to Andrew: «Maternity is divested of all sensible weight and takes wings... when
described thus. We seem to be seeing our mothers already transformed into inconceivable beauty.»
«That is true. Our mother, James, will love us thus. Can you imagine how perfect her love will be?
» says John to his brother and he is the only one to smile brightly, so deeply moved he is at the
thought that his mother will be able to love perfectly.
«I am sorry I caused so much sorrow » apologises James of Alphaeus. «But she apprehended more
than I said... Believe me, Jesus.»
«I know, I know. But Mary is working on herself by herself, and that was a particularly hard stroke
of the chisel. But it will relieve her of so much dead weight » says Jesus.
«Come on, mother, stop weeping. I am sorry that you should suffer like a poor little woman who is
unaware of the certainties of the Kingdom of God. You are in no way like the mother of the
Maccabean brothers » says Thaddeus reproaching her severely, but he embraces her at the same
time and kisses her grey-haired head. «You are like a little girl who is afraid of shadows and of the
tales they tell her to frighten her. And yet you know where to find me in Jesus. What a mother! You
ought to weep if you had been told that, in future, I was to become a traitor to Jesus, or one who
would abandon Him, or would be a damned soul. In that case I agree. You ought to weep tears of
blood. But, with the help of God I will never give you such deep sorrow, mother. I want to be with
you for ever and ever...»
The reproach first, and the subsequent caresses stop the tears of Mary of Alphaeus, who is now
rather ashamed of her weakness.
Light, in the transition from night to day, has faded, because the moon has set, but it is not yet
daylight. It is twilight. But immediately afterwards light begins to assert itself: at first it is leaden,
then greyish, then greenish, afterwards whitish with bluish traces, and finally clear, like an
incorporeal silver, and it makes it easy to walk on the damp shingly shore, from which the sea has
receded, while it is delightful to contemplate the sea becoming pale blue and on the point of
brightening up with facets of gems. And then the air blends its silver with a darker and darker pink,
until the golden pink of dawn becomes a reddish pink shower on the sea, on faces, on the country,
with brighter and brighter contrasting hues, which reach the perfect climax, which I consider the
most beautiful of the day, when the sun bouncing out from the eastern horizon, darts its first rays on
mountains and hills, forests, meadows and the large expanses of sea and sky, emphasising each
shade, whether it is the whiteness of snow, or remote mountains of indigo changing into jasper
green, or cobalt sky attenuating to mix with pink, or sapphire veined with jade and lined with sea
pearls. And today the sea is a real prodigy of beauty. It is not dead in dull calm, it is not ruffled by
the fury of winds, but it is majestically alive in smiling little thin waves, just marked with ripplings
crowned with a tiny crest of foam.
«We shall arrive at Dora before the heat of the day. And we shall depart at sunset. Sisters, your
toilsome journey will end tomorrow at Caesarea. And we shall have a rest, too. Your wagon will be
certainly waiting for you. We will part... Why are you weeping, Mary? Am I supposed to see all the
Maries weep today? » says Jesus to the Magdalene.
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«She is sorry to leave You » says her sister excusing her.
«That does not mean that we shall not be meeting again and soon.»
Mary shakes her head. That is not the reason why she is weeping.
The Zealot explains: «She is afraid she will not be able to be good without being near You. She is
afraid of... of being tempted too strongly, when You are not near her to keep the demon away. She
was telling me a little while ago.»
«Do not be afraid for that. I never withdraw the grace I have granted. Do you want to sin? No? Then
do not worry. Be watchful, of course, but be not afraid.»
«Lord... I am weeping because at Caesarea... Caesarea is full of my sins. I can see them all now...
My human nature will have much to suffer...»
«I am glad of that. The more you suffer, the better. Because afterwards you will no longer suffer
such useless pains. Mary of Theophilus, I remind you that you are the daughter of a strong man, that
you are a strong soul and I want to make you most strong. I can bear with the weakness of the other
women disciples, because they have always been meek and shy, including your sister. But I will not
put up with it in your case. I will work you with fire and on the anvil. Because your character is to
be dealt with thus, in order not to spoil the miracle of your will and Mine. Let that be known to you
and to all those who among the people present or absent may think that, as I have loved you so
much, I may become weak with you. I allow you to weep for repentance and for love. But nothing
else. Is that clear? » Jesus is imposing and severe.
Mary of Magdala endeavours to swallow tears and sobs and she goes down on her knees, kisses
Jesus' feet and endeavouring to steady her voice she says: «Yes, my Lord. I will do what You want.»
«Get up then and be calm.»

253. Syntyche, the Greek Slave.

15th August 1945.

I do not see the town of Dora. The sun is setting and the pilgrims have directed their steps towards
Caesarea. But I did not see the stop at Dora. Perhaps it was a simple stop, without anything
remarkable to be noted. The sea seems on fire, as in its calm it reflects the red of the sky so much,
so deep a red that it looks unreal. Blood seems to have been shed on the vault of heaven. It is still
warm notwithstanding the sea air makes the heat bearable. They are walking along the sea all the
time, to avoid the fierce heat of the dry earth, and many of them have taken off their sandals and
pulled up their garments to paddle in the water.
Peter states: «If the women disciples were not here, I would strip myself and go in up to my neck.»
But he has to come out even from where he is, because the Magdalene, who was ahead with the
other women, comes back and says: «Master, I am familiar with this area. Can You see that yellow
strip in the blue sea over there? A river flows into the sea there, also in summer, as it is a perennial
one. And one must be careful in crossing it...»
«We have crossed so many. It is surely not the Nile! We will cross this one as well » says Peter.
«It is not the Nile. But in the water and on its banks there are dangerous water animals. You cannot
cross it carelessly or barefooted, if you do not want to be wounded.»
«Oh! What are they? Leviathans? »
«You are right, Simon. They are in fact crocodiles. Small ones, that is true, but capable of maiming
you for a while.»
«How did they come to be here? »
«I think they were brought there for religious rites of the Phoenician era. And they have remained
there, they have become smaller, but not less aggressive, and from the temples have passed into the
sludge of the river. They are now large lizards, with vicious teeth! The Romans come here hunting
and to amuse themselves in various ways. I have come with them, too. Everything helps to... occupy

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the time. Their skin is lovely and is used for many articles. Allow me therefore to be your guide, in
view of my experience.»
«All right. I would like to see them...» says Peter.
«We may see some, although they have almost all been destroyed, they are hunted so much.»
They depart from the shore and turn inland, until they find a main road, half way between the hills
and the sea and they soon reach an ogival bridge, thrown across a little river, the bed of which is
rather wide, but the scanty water flows only in its centre. Where there is no water there are reeds
and bog-grass, now almost parched by the summer heat, but in other seasons they perhaps form tiny
islands in the water. The banks instead are covered with thick bushes and trees.
Although they look very carefully, they can see no animal, and many of them are disappointed. But
when they are near the end of the bridge, the only arch of which is very high, so that it may not be
submerged by water in the period of floods - it is a very strong construction probably built by the
Romans - Martha gives a very shrill scream and runs back terrified. A very big lizard, that is all it
is, but with the typical head of a crocodile, is lying across the road, feigning sleep.
«Don't be afraid! » shouts the Magdalene. «When they are like that, they are not dangerous. The
trouble is when they are hidden and you put your foot on them without seeing them.»
But Martha remains prudently behind. Susanna also is frightened... Mary of Alphaeus is prudent but
more brave and walking close to her sons she advances and looks. The apostles are not afraid and
they look making comments on the ugly animal, which deigns to turn round its head slowly, so that
its face can be seen. It then moves and seems to be wanting to come towards those who have
disturbed it. Another scream from Martha who runs farther back, imitated also by Susanna and
Mary Clopas. But Mary of Magdala picks up a stone, throws it at the lizard which, hit on one side,
runs down the gravel bed and sinks into the mud.
«Come forward, you fearful woman. It's no longer here » she says to her sister. The women come
together.
«It is really ugly » comments Peter.
«Is it true, Master, that once they fed them with human victims? » asks the Iseariot.
«It was considered a sacred animal, it represented a god, and as we offer sacrifices to our God, so
the poor idolaters did it in the forms and with the errors becoming their condition.»
«But not now? » asks Susanna.
«I think that it is still possible that it might be done in idolatrous countries » says John of Endor.
«My God! But they will give them dead, eh? »
«No. If they give them, they give them alive. Generally girls or boys. The choice of the population.
At least that is what I read » replies John once again to the women who look around frightened.
«I would die of fear if I had to go near one » says Martha.
«Really? But these ones are nothing compared with real crocodiles. They are at least three times as
long and large.»
«And they are famished, too. This one was certainly replete with water snakes or wild rabbits.»
«Mercy! Water snakes, too! My Lord, where have You brought us? » moans Martha, who is so
frightened that she makes everybody laugh.
Ermasteus, who has always been quiet, says: «Do not be afraid. It is enough to make a lot of noise
to make them flee. I know because I have been to low Egypt many times.»
They set out clapping their hands or beating tree trunks. And the dangerous spot is left behind.
Martha has gone near Jesus and she often asks Him: «Will there be any more?»
Jesus looks at her, shakes His head, but reassures her: «The Saron plain is nothing but beauty, and
we are now there. But the women disciples have really surprised me to-day. I do not really know
why you are so fearful.»
«I do not know myself. But anything that creeps terrorises me. I seem to feel on me the cold of their
bodies, which are certainly cold and slimy. And I wonder why they exist. Are they necessary? »
«You should ask Him Who made them. But you may be sure that if He made them, it means that
they are useful. At least to make Martha's heroism shine » says Jesus, eyes shining wittily.
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«Oh! Lord. You are joking and You are right. But I am afraid and I will never be able to control
myself.»
«We shall see about that... But what is moving in those bushes over there? » says Jesus raising His
head and looking straight in front of Him, at a tangled mass of bramble and other plants with long
branches climbing towards an embankment of Indian figs, growing farther back with their leaves,
which are as rigid as the climbing branches are flexible.
«Another crocodile, Lord?!...» moans Martha, who is terrorised once again.
The rustling of the branches increases and the head of a woman appears. She looks. When she sees
so many men, she is uncertain whether to flee to the country or withdraw back into the wild tunnel.
The former alternative prevails and she runs away screaming.
«A leper? » «A mad woman? » «A woman possessed? » they ask perplexedly.
The woman comes back because a Roman wagon is arriving from Caesarea and is already near.
The woman looks like a mouse in a trap. She does not know where to go, because Jesus and His
group of people are near the thicket where she was sheltered, and thus she cannot go back to it, and
she does not want to go towards the Roman wagon... In the evening dusk, as night falls fast after a
powerful sunset, it is possible to see that she is young and pretty although her garments are torn and
she is unkempt.
«Woman! Come here! » commands Jesus peremptorily.
The woman stretches out her arms imploring: «Do not hurt me! »
«Come here. Who are you? I will do you no harm » and He says so, so kindly that He persuades her.
The woman moves forward with her head lowered and she throws herself on the ground saying:
«Whoever You are, have mercy on me. Kill me but do not hand me back to my master. I am a
fugitive slave...»
«Who was your master? And where are you from? You are certainly not Hebrew. It is obvious from
your way of speaking and from your garments.»
«I am Greek. The Greek slave of... Oh! mercy! Hide me! The wagon is about to arrive...»
They all form a group round the poor wretch curled up on the ground. Her dress torn by thorns
shows her shoulders streaked with lashes and covered with scratches. The wagon passes by without
any of its passengers paying attention to the group standing near the hedge.
«They have gone by, speak now. We will help you if we can » says Jesus laying the tips of His
fingers on her ruffled hair.
«I am Syntyche, the Greek slave of a noble Roman of the Proconsul's suite.»
«So you are the slave of Valerian! » exclaims Mary of Magdala.
«Ah! Have mercy! Don't denounce me to him » implores the unhappy woman.
«Do not be afraid. I will never speak to Valerian again » replies the Magdalene. And she informs
Jesus: «He is one of the richest and filthiest Romans we have here. And he is as cruel as he is
filthy.»
«Why did you run away? » asks Jesus.
«Because I have a soul. I am not merchandise... (the woman takes heart when she realises she has
come across compassionate people). I am not merchandise. He bought me. That is true. But he may
have bought my person to embellish his house, that I may brighten up his time by reading for him,
that I may serve him. But nothing else. My soul is mine! It cannot be bought. But he wanted also
that.»
«How do you know there is a soul? »
«I am not illiterate, Lord. I was a prey of war since my youth. But I was not plebeian. This was my
third master and a dirty faun. But I remember the words of our philosophers. And I know that we
are not made only of flesh. There is something immortal enclosed within us. Something which has
no precise name for us. But I recently learned its name. One day a man came from Caesarea, he
worked miracles and spoke better than Socrates and Plato. They, discussed him very much, in
thermal baths, in triclinia, or in gilt peristyles, contaminating his august Name by mentioning it in
the halls of foul orgies. And I, just I who already felt I had something immortal that belongs only to
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God and cannot be purchased as merchandise at slave markets, was ordered by my master to read
the works of philosophers to compare them and find out whether this unknown thing, that the Man
from Caesarea had called "soul", was described in them. He made me read that! Me whom he
wanted to enslave to his sensuality! I thus found out that this immortal thing is the soul. And while
Valerian and his like were listening to my voice, and belching and yawning he endeavoured to
understand, compare and discuss, I linked their conversation, referring the words of the Unknown
Man, with the words of the philosophers and I kept them here, in my heart, and my dignity became
stronger and stronger to reject his lustfulness... Some evenings ago he beat me to death because I
rejected him, biting him with my teeth... and I ran away the following day... I have lived in that
thicket for five days, picking blackberries and Indian figs at night. But I will end up by being
caught. He is certainly looking for me. I cost much money and his sensuality craves too much for
me to leave me alone... Have mercy on me! You are an Israelite and you certainly know where he
is, 1 ask you to take me to the Unknown Man who speaks to slaves and speaks of souls. They told
me that he is poor. I will starve, but I want to be near him that he may teach me and elevate me. It is
brutalising to live with brutes, even if one resists them. I want to possess my moral dignity once
again.»
«That man, The Unknown One, Whom you are looking for, is in front of you.»
«You? O unknown God of the Acropolis, Hail! » and she bows her forehead to the ground.
«You cannot remain here. But I am going to Caesarea...»
«Do not leave me, Lord! »
«I will not leave you... I think...»
«Master, our wagon is certainly at the appointed place, waiting for us. Send for it. She will be as
safe in the wagon as she would be in our house » suggests Mary of Magdala.
«Oh! yes, Lord! Send her to us, in the place of old Ishmael. We will teach her Your doctrine. She
will be torn from paganism » begs Martha.
«Do you want to come with us? » asks Jesus.
«With any of Your friends, providing I am no longer with that man. But... but a woman here said
that she knows him. Will she betray me? Will any Romans go to her house? No...»
«Be not afraid. Romans do not come to Bethany, above all Romans of the kind » replies the
Magdalene reassuring her.
«Simon and Simon Peter, go and look for the wagon. We shall wait for you here. We shall go to
town afterwards » orders Jesus.
...When the noise of the hooves and of the wheels and the lamp hanging from its roof announce the
arrival of the heavy closed wagon, those waiting for it come up from the river bank, where they
certainly had their evening meal, and come on to the road. The wagon comes jolting to a stop on the
edge of the rough road and Peter and Simon come off it. They are immediately followed by an
elderly woman who runs to embrace the Magdalene saying: «I did not want to delay one moment to
tell you that I am so happy, to tell you that your mother is rejoicing with me, to tell you that you are
once again the fair rose of our house, as when you used to sleep in the cradle after I had suckled you
» and she kisses her many times.
Mary weeps in her arms.
«Woman, I entrust this young woman to you and I ask you to make the sacrifice of waiting here all
night. Tomorrow you will be able to go to the first village on the consular road and wait there. We
shall come by the third hour » Jesus says to the nurse.
«Everything as You wish, may You be blessed! Just let me give Mary the clothes I brought her.»
And she climbs on to the wagon with the Most Holy Virgin, Martha and Mary. When they come out
the Magdalene is dressed as we shall always see her in future: a plain dress, a wide thin linen cloth
as a veil and a mantle without any ornament.
«You may go peacefully, Syntyche. We shall be coming tomorrow as well. Goodbye » says Jesus
greeting her. And He takes to the road again towards Caesarea...
The sea-front is crowded with people walking in the light of torches or lanterns carried by slaves,
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breathing the air coming from the sea, which is a relief to their lungs tired of the summer sultriness.
The ones walking are mainly rich Romans. The Jews are closed in their houses and enjoy the fresh
air on their terraces. The sea-front looks like a very long parlour during visits. To pass there means
to be examined closely in every detail. And Jesus passes just there... for the whole length of the
promenade, ignoring those who watch Him, make comments or deride Him.
«Master, You are here? At this time? » asks Lydia, who is sitting on a kind of armchair, or little
bed, which slaves have brought for her to the edge of the road. And she stands up.
«I am coming from Dora and I am late. I am looking for lodgings.»
«I would say to You: here is my house » and she points at a beautiful building behind her. «But I do
not know whether...»
«No. Thank you. I cannot accept. I have many people with Me and two have already gone ahead of
us to inform some people I know. I think they will give us hospitality.»
Lydia's eyes rest also on the women and the disciples at whom Jesus pointed, and she immediately
recognises the Magdalene.
«Mary It's you? So it's true? »
Mary's eyes are like those of a surrounded gazelle: she is tortured. And she is justified because
Lydia is not the only one she has to face, as many more look at her... But she looks also at Jesus and
plucks up courage again.
«It is true.»
«So we have lost you! »
«No. You have found me. At least I hope to find you again one day, and in a better friendship, on
the road that at long last I have found. Please tell all those who know me. Goodbye, Lydia. Forget
all the evil you saw me do, I ask you to forgive me...»
«Mary! Why are you lowering yourself? We have led the same life, the life of rich idle people, and
there is no...»
«No. No, my life was worse. But I have come out of it. And for ever.»
«Goodbye, Lydia » the Lord cuts short and He directs His steps towards His cousin Judas who is
coming towards Him with Thomas.
Lydia keeps the Magdalene back for another moment. «Tell me the truth, now that we are alone: are
you really convinced? »
«Not convinced: happy to be a disciple. I regret one thing only: that I did not meet the Light before
and that I have been feeding on filth instead of being nourished by It. Goodbye, Lydia.»
Her reply sounds clear in the silence enveloping the two women. None of the many people present
speak any more... Mary turns round and makes haste to reach the Master.
A young man stands on her way: «Is that your last foolish action? » he says, and tries to embrace
her. But half drunk as he is, he is not successful, and Mary evades him shouting: «No, it is my only
wise one.» She reaches her companions who are completely covered with their veils, such is their
disgust to be seen by those vicious people.
«Mary » says Martha anxiously «did you suffer much? »
«No, and He is right, I will never suffer again because of that. He is right...»
They all turn into a narrow dark street and enter a large house, certainly a hotel, for the night.

254. Goodbye to Mary of Magdala, to Martha and to Syntyche.

17th August 1945.

And they are once again on their way, going eastwards, towards the country.
The apostles and the two disciples are now with Mary Clopas and Susanna, a few yards behind
Jesus, Who is with His Mother and the two sisters of Lazarus. Jesus is engrossed in talking. The
apostles instead are silent. They look tired or disheartened. Their attention is not even attracted by

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the beauty of the country, which is really wonderful, with gentle undulations across the plain like
many green pillows under the feet of a giant king and its tiny hills spread here and there, preluding
the mountain chains of Mount Carmel and Samaria. Both the plain, which is the dominating part of
the country, and the small decorated hills and undulated ground, are completely covered with
blooming flowers and full of ripening fruit. It must be a well-watered place, notwithstanding its
position and the season, because it is too flourishing to be lacking in water. I now understand why
the plain of Saron is so often mentioned enthusiastically in the Holy Scriptures. But that enthusiasm
is not shared by the apostles, who look somewhat sulky, the only ones to look so, in this splendid
day and in this charming country.
The consular road, which is well kept, cuts across the most fertile land like a white ribbon and in
the early morning one frequently meets farmers laden with victuals and travellers going to
Caesarea. One of the farmers, leading a line of donkeys laden with sacks, who catches up with the
apostles and compels them to step aside to make room for the asinine caravan, asks arrogantly: «Is
the Kishon here? »
«Farther back» replies Thomas dryly, and mutters between his teeth: «You lout! »
«He is a Samaritan and that's enough! » replies Philip.
They become silent again. After a few yards, as if he were concluding an internal speech, Peter
says: «For what it was worth! Was it worth going all that road? »
«Of course! Why did we go to Caesarea if He did not say even one word? I thought He intended
working some wonderful miracle to convince the Romans. Instead...» says James of Zebedee.
«He exposed us to ridicule, that's all » comments Thomas.
The Iscariot aggravates the situation saying: «And He made us suffer. But He likes to be insulted
and He thinks we like that as well.»
«In actual fact it was Mary of Theophilus who suffered in this case » remarks the Zealot calmly.
«Mary! Mary! Has Mary become the centre of the universe? She is the only one who suffers, the
only heroine, the only one to be perfected. If I had known, I would have become a robber and a
killer in order to be the object of so much care» bursts out the Iscariot.
«Actually the last time we came to Caesarea and He worked a miracle and evangelized, we vexed
Him by expressing our discontent because He had done so» remarks the cousin of the Lord.
«The trouble is that we do not know what we want... If He does one thing, we grumble, if He does
the opposite thing, we still grumble. We are full of faults » says John seriously.
«Oh! There is the other wise man speaking! One thing is certain: no good has been done for some
time.»
«No good, Judas? What about the Greek woman, and Ermasteus, and Abel, and Mary, but...»
«It is not with such nonentities that He will establish the Kingdom » retorts the Iscariot, who is
haunted by the idea of an earthly triumph.
«Judas, please do not judge the actions of my Brother. It is a ridiculous pretence. A boy who wants
to judge his master, or I should say: a nonentity wishing to be placed in high quarters » says
Thaddeus, who has the same name and an invincible aversion for his namesake.
«Thank you for just calling me a boy. Actually, after living so long in the Temple I thought I could
be considered at least of age » replies the Iscariot sarcastically.
«How dull these discussions are! » says Andrew with a sigh.
«True Instead of being united, the more we live together, we are being divided. And yet at
Sicaminon He told us that we must be united to the flock... How shall we ever be so, if we are not
united as shepherds? » remarks Matthew.
«So we must not speak? We must never express our ideas? I don't think that we are slaves.»
«No, Judas, we are not slaves. But we are not worthy of following Him, because we do not
understand Him » says the Zealot peacefully.
«I understand Him very well.»
«No. You do not understand Him, and like you, those who criticise Him, do not understand Him
either... To understand means to obey without discussing, because one is convinced of the holiness
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of the guide » says the Zealot.
«Ah! You are talking of understanding His holiness! I was referring to His words. His holiness is
undisputed and indisputable » the Iscariot hastens to say.
«Can you separate one from the others? A saint will always possess Wisdom, and his words will be
wise.»
«That is true. But He does harmful things. Because of His excessive holiness. I agree. But the world
is not holy, and He causes trouble for Himself. Now, for instance, do you think that this Philistine
and that Greek woman will do us any good? »
«If I am going to be harmful, I will withdraw » says Ermasteus, who feels mortified. «I came with
the idea of honouring Him and doing the right thing.»
«You would grieve Him by going away for this reason » James of Alphaeus replies to him.
«I will pretend that I have changed my mind. I will say goodbye to Him... and I will go.»
«Surely not! You will not go away. It is not fair that the Master should lose a good disciple because
of the short temper of other people » replies Peter promptly.
«If he wants to go away for so little, it means that he is not sure of his own will. So let him go »
insists the Iseariot.
Peter loses his temper: «I promised Him, when He gave me Marjiam, that I would become paternal
to everybody, and I am sorry to break my promise. But you force me to. Ermasteus is here and is
staying here. Do you know what I must tell you? That you are the one who upsets the will of other
people and makes them feel uncertain. You are one who causes separations and disorder. That is
what you are. Shame on you.»
«What are you? The protector of...»
«Yes. You are quite right. I know what you mean. I am the protector of the Veiled woman, of John
of Endor, of Ermasteus, of the slave, of anyone else who has been found by Jesus and is not one of
those splendid ostentatious examples of the Temple, who are formed with the sacred mortar and
cobwebs of the Temple, the wicks scented with the dregs of the lamps of the Temple, those like
you, in other words, to make the parable clearer, because if the Temple is much, unless I have
become a fool, the Master is much more than the Temple and you are lacking ... » he shouts so loud
that the Master stops and turns round and is about to walk back, leaving the women.
«He has heard! He will be sorrowful! » says the apostle John.
«No, Master. Don't come. We were discussing... to kill the boredom of the journey » says Thomas
promptly.
But Jesus remains still so that they can reach Him.
«What were you discussing? Must I tell you once again that the women disciples surpass you? » His
kind reproach touches their hearts. They become silent and lower their heads. «My friends. Do not
be the cause of scandal to those who are being born to the Light just now! Do you not know that an
imperfection of yours is more harmful to the redemption of a heathen or a sinner, than all the errors
of paganism? »
No one replies because they do not know what to say to justify themselves or to avoid accusing the
others.
The wagon of Lazarus' sisters is near a bridge over a dry torrent. The two horses are grazing the
thick grass on the banks of the torrent, which has perhaps run dry only recently and thus the banks
are thick with grass. Martha's servant and another man, perhaps the driver, are also on the river-bed,
whilst the women are in the closed wagon, which is completely enveloped with a heavy cover with
tanned hides, which hang like heavy curtains down to the floor of the wagon. The women disciples
move towards it, and the servant who is the first to see them, informs the nurse, while the other man
takes the horses to the shaft.
In the meantime the servant rushes towards his mistresses bowing to the ground. The elderly nurse,
a fine woman with an olive complexion, but pleasant, comes down from the wagon quickly and
goes towards her mistresses. But Mary of Magdala says something to her and she directs her steps
towards the Blessed Virgin saying: «Forgive me... But my joy in seeing her is so great that I see
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nobody else. Come, blessed Mother. The sun is scorching. It is cool in the wagon.»
All the women get on to it waiting for the men who are far behind. And while they are waiting and
Syntyche, who is wearing the dress which the Magdalene had on yesterday, kisses the feet of her
mistresses, as she insists in calling them, although they tell her that she is neither their slave nor
their servant, but their guest in the name of Jesus, the Virgin Mary shows the precious little parcel
of purple asking how the very short threads can be spun as they refuse to be moistened or twisted.
«That is not how to do it, Donna. They are to be reduced to powder and used as any other dye. It's
the filament of the shell, not a hair. See how crumbly it is, now that it is dry? Reduce it to thin
powder, sift it, to remove all long bits, which would stain the yarn or the cloth. It is better to dye the
yarn in skeins. When You are sure that it is all fine powder, You dissolve it like cochineal, or
saffron, or indigo powder or the powder of any other bark, root or fruit and You use it. Fasten the
dye with strong vinegar the last time You rinse it.»
«Thank you, Naomi. I will do as you told Me. I have embroidered with purple threads, but they
were given to Me ready to be used... Here is Jesus. It is time to say goodbye, My daughters. I bless
you all in the name of the Lord. Go in peace and take peace and joy to Lazarus. Goodbye, Mary.
Remember that you wept on My breast your first happy tears. I am therefore your Mother because a
baby weeps its first tears on its mother's breast. I am your Mother and will always be such. What
may be burdensome for you to tell also the most kind sister, the most loving nurse, come and tell
Me. I will always understand you. What you would not dare say to My Jesus, because it is still
stained with humanity, which He does not want in you, come and tell Me. I will always be
indulgent to you. And if you should like to inform Me also of your triumphs - but I would prefer
you told Him, like sweet-smelling flowers, because He is your Saviour, not I - I will rejoice with
you. Goodbye, Martha. You are now going away happily, and your supernatural happiness will last.
So you need nothing else but to make progress in justice, in the peace which now nothing perturbs
in you. Do it for the sake of Jesus, Who has loved you so much as to love your sister whom you
love with complete love. Goodbye, Naomi. Go with the treasure you have found. As you used to
satisfy her hunger with your milk, satisfy now your own, with the words that she and Martha will
tell you, so that you may see in My Son much more than the exorciser who frees hearts from Evil.
Goodbye, Syntyche, flower of Greece, you perceived by yourself that there is something more than
flesh. Bloom now in God and be the first of the new Grecian flowers in Christ. I am very happy to
leave you united thus. I bless you with My love.»
The shuffling of feet is now close at hand. They lift the heavy curtain and see Jesus Who is a few
feet from the wagon. They come off in the parching sun, which is blazing down on the road.
Mary of Magdala kneels at Jesus' feet saying: «I thank You, for everything. And I thank You also
very much for making me do this pilgrimage. You only possess Wisdom. I am now leaving divested
of the remains of the Mary of time ago. Bless me, My Lord, to fortify me more and more.»
«Yes. I bless you. Enjoy the company of your brother and sister and with them form yourself more
and more in Me. Goodbye, Mary. Goodbye, Martha. Tell Lazarus that I bless him. I entrust this
woman to you. I am not giving her to you. She is My disciple. But I want you to give her the
opportunity, however small, of understanding My doctrine. I will come later. Naomi, I bless you,
and you two, as well.»
Martha and Mary have tears in their eyes. The Zealot greets them in particular handing them a letter
for his servant. The others greet them all together. The wagon then sets out.
«And now let us go and look for some shady spot. May God guide them... Are you so sorry, Mary,
that they have gone? » He asks Mary of Alphaeus, who is weeping silently.
«Yes. They were very good...»
«We shall be meeting them again soon. And they will have grown in numbers. You will have many
sisters... or daughters, if you prefer so. It is all love, whether it is maternal or brotherly » says Jesus
comforting her.
«Providing that does not cause trouble...» grumbles the Iscariot.
«Trouble to love one another? »
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«No. Trouble having people of different races or origin.»
«You mean Syntyche? »
«Yes, Master. After all she was the property of the Roman and it was wrong to take possession of
her. He will be angry with us and we will draw upon ourselves the rigour of Pontius Pilate.»
«What do you think Pontius Pilate cares if one of his subordinates loses a slave? He will know what
a slave is worth. And if he is generally honest, as they say he is, at least at home, he will say that the
woman did the right thing to run away. If he is dishonest, he will say: "Serves him right. I may find
her". Dishonest people are not sensitive to other people's sufferings. In any case, poor Pontius! With
all the trouble we make for him, he has enough to worry about instead of wasting his time with the
complaint of a man who let his slave run away! » says Peter. And many say that he is right and
laugh at the anger of the lewd Roman.
But Jesus discusses the matter at a higher level. «Judas, are you familiar with Deuteronomy? »
«Certainly, Master. And, I do not hesitate to say, as very few people are.»
«And what do you consider it is? »
«The spokesman of God.»
«Spokesman. So it repeats the word of God.»
«Exactly.»
«You judge it correctly. But, then, why do you not think that it is right to do what it commands? »
«I never said that. On the contrary! I find that we neglect it too much by following the new Law.»
«The New Law is the fruit of the old one, that is, it is the perfection achieved by the tree of Faith.
But none of us neglect it, as far as I know, because I am the first to respect it and to prevent others
from neglecting it.» Jesus is very incisive in saying these words. He resumes: «The Deuteronomy is
untouchable. Also when My Kingdom will triumph, and with My Kingdom the New Law and its
new codes and clauses, the Deuteronomy will always be applied to the new dictates, as the squared
stones of ancient buildings are used for new ones, because they are perfect and make very strong
walls. But My Kingdom does not yet exist, and I, a faithful Israelite, do not offend or neglect the
Mosaic Book. It is the base of My behaviour and My teaching. Upon the base of the Man and of the
Master, the Son of the Father places the heavenly construction of His Nature and Wisdom. In
Deuteronomy it is written: "You shall not hand over to his master the slave who has come to you.
He shall live with you, wherever he pleases, he shall stay peacefully in one of your towns and you
shall not molest him". This decree applies in any case where a slave has been compelled to run
away from a cruel master. In My case, in the case of Syntyche, the flight is not towards a limited
freedom, but towards the unlimited freedom of the Son of God. And now that this skylark has
escaped from the hunters' trap, do you expect Me to put her into a net once again and hand her over
to her prison to deprive her also of hope, after taking away her freedom? No, never! I bless the Lord
because, as our trip to Endor brought this son back to the Father, so our visit to Caesarea has
brought this woman to Me, that I may lead her to the Father. At Sicaminon I spoke to you of the
power of faith. Today I will speak to you of the light of Hope. But now let us eat and rest in this
orchard. Because the sun is scorching as if hell were open.»

255. Jesus Speaks of Hope.

18th August 1945.

Some vine-dressers, who are passing through the orchard, laden with baskets of golden grapes,
which seem to be made of amber, see the apostles and ask them: «Are you pilgrims or strangers? »
«We are Galilean pilgrims going towards Mount Carmel » replies on behalf of everybody James of
Zebedee, who with his fishermen companions is stretching his legs to overcome a residual
somnolence. The Iscariot and Matthew are just waking up on the grass on which they had lain
down, while the elder ones, being very tired, are still sleeping. Jesus is speaking to John of Endor

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and Ermasteus, while the Blessed Virgin and Mary Clopas are nearby, but they do not speak.
The vine-dressers ask: «Have you come from afar? »
«Caesarea was our last stop. Before that we were at Sicaminon and farther away. We come from
Capernaum.»
«Oh! It's a long way in this season! But why did you not come to our house? It's over there, see? We
could have given you cool water to refreshen yourselves, and some food, rustic food, but good.
Come now.»
«We are about to depart. May God reward you just the same.»
«Mount Carmel will not flee on a chariot of fire as its prophet did » says a peasant half-seriously.
«No more chariots come from Heaven to take prophets away. There are no more prophets in Israel,
They say that John is already dead » says another peasant.
«Dead? Since when? »
«That's what we were told by some people who came from beyond the Jordan. Did you venerate
him? »
«We were his disciples.»
«Why did you leave him? »
«To follow the Lamb of God, the Messiah Whom he announced. Men, He is still in Israel. And
much more than a chariot of fire would be required to transfer Him worthily to Heaven. Do you not
believe in the Messiah? »
«Of course we do! We decided to go and look for Him when the harvest is over. They say that He is
very zealous in obeying the Law and that He goes to the Temple on prescribed festivities. We shall
soon be going for the Tabernacles and will stay in the Temple every day to see Him. And if we do
not find Him, we will go looking for Him until we find Him. Since you know Him, tell us: is it true
that He is at Capernaum almost all the time? Is it true that He is tall, young, pale, fair-haired and
that His voice is different from every other man's, as it touches the hearts of men and even animals
and trees listen to it? »
«It touches every heart, except the hearts of Pharisees, Gamala. They have become harsher.»
«They are not even animals. They are demons, including the one whose name I bear. But tell us: is
it true that He is so kind as to speak to everybody, to comfort everybody, to cure diseases and
convert sinners? »
«Do you believe that? »
«Yes, we do. But we would like to be told by you who follow Him. Oh! I wish you would take us to
Him! »
«But you have your vineyards to look after.»
«But we have also a soul to take care of, and it is worth more than our vineyards. Is He at
Capernaum? By forced marches we could go and come back in ten days...»
«The One you are looking for is over there. He has rested in your orchard and is now speaking to
that old man and the young one, and His Mother and the sister of His Mother are beside Him.»
«That One... Oh!... What shall we do? »
They become stiff with amazement. They are all eyes looking at Him. All their vitality is
concentrated in their eyes.
«Well? You were so anxious to see Him, and now you are not moving? Have you become of salt? »
says Peter prodding them.
«No... it's... But is the Messiah so simple? »
«What did you expect Him to be? Sitting on a flashing throne wearing a royal mantle? Did you
think that He was a new Ahasuerus? »
«No. But... so simple, and He is so holy! »
«Man, He is simple just because He is holy. Well, let us do this... Master! Be patient, come here and
work a miracle. There are some men here who are looking for You, but they have become petrified
seeing You. Come and give them back motion and speech.»
Jesus, Who turned round when He was called, gets up smiling and comes towards the vine-dressers,
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whose countenance is so stupefied that they seem to be frightened.
«Peace be with you. Did you want Me? Here I am » and He makes the usual gesture with His arms,
which He stretches out as if He offered Himself.
The vine-dressers fall on their knees and remain silent.
«Be not afraid. Tell Me what you want.»
They offer their baskets full of grapes, without speaking.
Jesus admires the beautiful grapes, and saying: «Thanks » He stretches a hand and takes a bunch
and begins to eat them.
«O Most High God! He eats like us! » says with a sigh the one whose name is Gamala.
It is not possible not to laugh at such a remark. Jesus also smiles more noticeably and almost to
excuse Himself, He says: «I am the Son of man! »
His gesture has overcome their ecstatic torpor, and Gamala says: «Would You not enter our house,
at least until vesper? We are many, because we are seven brothers with wives and children, and
then there are the old ones who are waiting for death in peace.»
«Let us go. Call your companions and join us. Mother, come with Mary.»
And Jesus sets out behind the peasants who have got up and are walking a little sideways in order to
see Him walk. The path is a narrow one and runs between trees tied to one another by vines.
They soon reach the house, or rather the houses, because there are several houses forming a square
with a large common yard in the centre, where there is a well. The entrance is through a long
corridor, which serves as a lobby and is closed at night with a heavy door.
«Peace to this house and to those who live in it » says Jesus entering and raising His hand to bless,
and then lowers it to caress a little half-naked baby, who looks at Him ecstatically: he is lovely in
his little sleeveless shirt, which has fallen off his plump shoulder; he is bare-footed, with one finger
in his mouth and a crust of bread, dressed with oil, in the other hand.
«That's David, the son of my youngest brother » explains Gamala, while one of the other
vine-dressers enters the house next door to inform the people in it, he then comes out and enters
another one and so on, so that faces of every age look out and withdraw, and finally come out after
a short toilet.
There is an old man sitting in the shade of a shed, shielded by a huge fig-tree, and he is holding a
stick in his hands. He does not even raise his head, as if nothing were of interest to him.
«He is our father » explains Gamala. «He is one of the old people of the household, because Jacob's
wife also brought her father here, when he was left all alone, then there is the old mother of Leah,
who is the youngest wife. Our father is blind. His eyes are covered by a veil. So much sunshine in
the fields! So much heat from the soil! Poor father! He is very sad. But he is very good. He is now
waiting for his grandchildren, who are his only joy.»
Jesus goes towards the old man. «May God bless you, father.»
«May God give Your blessing back to You, whoever You are » replies the old man raising his head
towards the voice.
«Your fate is unpleasant, is it not? » asks Jesus kindly, beckoning to the others not to say who is
speaking.
«It comes from God, after so much good He has given me during my long life. As I accepted good
from God I must accept also the misfortune of my sight. After all, it is not eternal. It will end on the
bosom of Abraham.»
«You are right. It would be worse if your soul were blind.»
«I have always endeavoured to keep its sight perfect.»
«How did you do that? »
«You who are speaking, are young, Your voice tells me. Are You perhaps like the present-day
young people who are all blind, because they are without religion, eh? Be careful, it is a great
misfortune not to believe and not to do what God, told us. An old man tells You, my boy. If You
abandon the Law, You will be blind both on the earth and in next life. You will never see God.
Because the day will come when the Redemptor Messiah will open the gates of God for us. I am too
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old to see that day here on the earth. But I will see it from the bosom of Abraham. That is why I do
not complain of anything. Because I hope that through my darkness I will expiate anything I may
have done disagreeable to God, and that I may deserve Him in eternal life. But You are young. Be
faithful, son, so that You may see the Messiah. Because the time is near. The Baptist said so. You
will see Him. But if Your soul is blind You will be one of those of whom Isaiah speaks. You will
have eyes, but You will not see.»
«Would you like to see Him, father? » asks Jesus laying one hand on his white head.
«I would like to see Him. Of course. But I prefer to go without seeing Him, rather than I should see
Him and my sons should not recognise Him. I still have the ancient faith and it is enough for me.
They... Oh! the world nowadays...»
«Father, see therefore the Messiah, and may the evening of your life be crowned with delight » and
Jesus' hand slides from the white head down across his forehead as far as the bearded chin of the
old man, as if He were caressing him, and in the meantime He bends to be at the height of his senile
face.
«Oh! Most High Lord! But I can see! I see... Who are You, with this unknown face, which,
however, is familiar to me, as if I had already seen You?... But... Oh! How foolish I am! You Who
have given me back my eyesight are the blessed Messiah! Oh! » The old man weeps over Jesus'
hands, which he has grasped, covering them with tears and kisses.
All the relatives are in a turmoil.
Jesus frees His hand and He caresses the old man again saying: «Yes, it is I. Come, so that you may
become acquainted with My words as well as with My face.» And He goes towards a little staircase,
which leads up to a shady terrace entirely shielded by a thick pergola. Everybody follows Him.
«I had promised My disciples to speak to them about hope and I was going to tell them a parable to
explain it. This is the parable: this old Israelite. The Father of Heaven gives Me the subject to teach
you all the great virtue that supports Faith and Charity, like the arms of a yoke.
A sweet yoke. The scaffold of mankind like the arm of the cross, the throne of salvation like the
support of the wholesome snake raised in the desert. Scaffold of mankind. Bridge of the soul to fly
up to the Light. And it is placed in the middle, between essential Faith and most perfect Charity,
because without Hope there can be no Faith and without Hope, Charity dies. Faith presupposes
unfailing hope. How can one believe that one will reach God if one does not hope in His Bounty?
What can support you during your lifetime if you do not hope in eternal life? How can we persist in
justice if we do not entertain the hope that every good deed of ours is seen by God Who will reward
us for it? Likewise how can Charity be alive in us if we have no hope? Hope precedes Charity and
prepares it. Because a man needs to hope in order to love. Those who have lost all hope, cannot
love. This is the staircase, made of steps and banisters: Faith the steps, Hope the banisters; at the top
there is Charity to which one climbs by means of the other two. Man hopes in order to believe, and
believes in order to love.
This man knew how to hope. He was born. A baby of Israel like everybody else. He grew up with
the same teaching as everybody else. He became a son of the Law like all the others. He became a
man, a husband, a father, old, always hoping in the promises made to the patriarchs and repeated by
the prophets. In his old age shadows came over his eyes, but not over his heart. Hope has always
been lit in it. Hope to see God. To see God in next life. And, in the hope of that eternal vision, there
was a more intimate and dearer hope: "to see the Messiah". And he said to Me, not knowing who
was the young man speaking to him: "If you abandon the Law you will be blind both on the earth
and in Heaven. You will not see God and you will not know the Messiah". He spoke as a wise man.
There are too many people in Israel now who are blind. They have no hope because it was killed by
their rebellion to the Law, which is always a rebellion, even when veiled by sacred vestments, if it
is not complete acceptance of the word of God, I say of God, not of the superstructures put there by
man, which being too many and completely human, are neglected by the very ones who put them
there, and are fulfilled mechanically, compulsorily, wearily, unfruitfully by others. They have no
more hope. But they deride the eternal truth. Therefore they no longer have Faith or Charity. The
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divine yoke given by God to man that he might make it his obedience and merit, the heavenly cross
that God gave to man to conjure the serpents of Evil, that he might make it his health, has lost its
cross arm, the one supporting the white flame and the red one: Faith and Charity, and darkness
descended into the hearts of men.
The old man said to Me: "It is a great misfortune not to believe and not to do what God told us". It
is true. I confirm it. It is worse than bodily blindness, which can be cured to give a just man the joy
to see again the sun, meadows, the fruit of the earth, the faces of his sons and grandchildren, and
above all, what was the hope of his hope: "To see the Messiah of the Lord". I wish such virtue were
alive in the soul of every man in Israel and above all in the souls of those who are more learned in
the law. It is not sufficient to have been to the Temple or to be of the Temple, it is not sufficient to
know the words of the Book by heart. It is necessary to make them the life of our lives by means of
the three divine virtues. You have an example: everything is easy to deal with where they are alive,
even misfortune. Because the yoke of God is always a light one, which weighs only on the body but
does not deject the spirit.
Go in peace, you who live in this house of good Israelites. Go in peace, old father. You have the
certainty that God loves you. End your just day by laying your wisdom in the hearts of the children
of your own blood. I cannot stay, but My blessing remains here, among these walls rich in grace
like the grapes of this vineyard.»
And Jesus would like to go away. But He has to stay at least long enough to meet this tribe of all
ages, and receive what they wish to give Him, until their travelling sacks are like bulging
goat-skins... He can then take to the road again, along a short cut through the vineyard, shown to
Him by the vine-dressers, who leave Him only when they reach the main road, in sight of a little
village where Jesus and His friends can stay for the night.

256. Jesus Goes up Mount Carmel with His Cousin James.

19th August 1945.

«Evangelize in the plain of Esdraelon until I come back » Jesus orders His apostles on a clear
morning, while they are taking a little food, some bread and fruit, on the banks of the Kishon.
The apostles do not appear to be very enthusiastic, but Jesus comforts them, telling them how to
behave, and He concludes: «In any case you have My Mother with you. She will give you good
advice. Go to Johanan's peasants, and on the Sabbath endeavour to speak to Doras' peasants. Give
them some assistance and console the old relative of Marjiam, giving him news of the boy and tell
him that we will take him his grandson for the feast of the Tabernacles. Give those poor people very
much, everything you have. Tell them everything you know, give them all the love you can, all the
money we have. Be not afraid. As it goes, so it comes. We shall never die of starvation, even if we
have to live on bread and fruit only. And if you see people needing clothes, give them some, also
Mine. Nay, Mine first. We shall never be left nude. And above all if you come across poor wretches
looking for Me, do not disdain them. You have no right to do that. Goodbye, Mother. May God
bless you all through My lips. Go without any fear. Come, James.»
«Are You not taking Your bag? » asks Thomas seeing that the Lord is going away without picking it
up.
«I do not need it. I shall walk more freely.»
James also leaves his, notwithstanding his mother had taken care to fill it with bread, cheese and
fruit.
They set out following for a little while the bank of the Kishon, then they start climbing the first
slopes leading up to Mount Carmel and can no longer be seen by those left behind.
«Mother, we are now in Your hands. Guide us because... we are not capable of doing anything »
confesses Peter humbly.

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Mary smiles reassuringly and says: «It is very simple. All you need do is obey His orders and you
will do everything very well. Let us go.»
Jesus is climbing with His cousin and does not speak. Neither does James. Jesus is engrossed in
thought; James, who feels he is on the threshold of a revelation, is full of reverential love, of
spiritual tremor and looks now and again at Jesus, Whose pensive solemn face brightens up now
and again with a smile. James looks at Him as he would look at God not yet incarnate and shining
in His immense majesty. The apostle's face, which resembles the countenance of Saint Joseph, a
brownish visage, with, however, some red on the top points of cheeks, becomes pale with emotion.
But he respects the silence of Jesus.
They climb up steep short cuts, paying no attention to the shepherds pasturing their flocks on the
green meadows under holm-oaks, oaks, ash-trees and other forestry, and as they climb up, they
brush with their mantles glaucous juniper bushes, or golden broom ones, or emerald tufts strewn
with myrtle pearls, or trembling curtains of honeysuckle and flowery climatis.
They ascend leaving behind woodsmen and shepherds until they reach, after an exhausting climb,
the crest of the mountain, or rather a small tableland close to the crest crowned with gigantic oaks,
and surrounded by a veritable balustrade of forestry, whose base is formed by the tops of the other
trees on the mountain side, so that the little meadow seems to be resting on a rustling support,
isolated from the rest of the mountain, and is rather concealed by the branches beneath. Behind it
there is the peak, with its trees rising towards the sky, with the firmament above and in front the
unbroken horizon reddening in the sunset and stretching endlessly beyond the bright sea. A fissure
on the earth, which does not collapse only because the roots of gigantic oaks hold it firmly in
position, opens in the cliff and is barely wide enough for one man of normal build. The path is
further narrowed and lengthened by some fringe undergrowth.
Jesus says: «James, My dear brother, we shall stop here tonight, and although our bodies are so
tired, I ask you to pass the night in prayer. Tonight and all day tomorrow until this time. A whole
day is not too much to receive what I want to give you. »
«Jesus, My Lord and Master, I will always do what You want » replies James, who became even
paler when Jesus began to speak.
«I know. Let us go now and pick some blackberries and bilberries to eat and refresh ourselves at a
spring that I heard below here. You may leave your mantle in the cave. No one will take it.»
And together with His cousin He goes round the cliff and picks wild fruit off the bushes in the
undergrowth, and then, a few yards further down, on the opposite side to the one they came up, they
fill their flasks, the only things they brought with them, at a babbling spring, which runs out from a
mass of intertwined roots, and they refresh themselves because it is still very warm notwithstanding
the height. They then climb back to the tableland, and while the sun setting in the west reddens the
mountain top, they eat what they have picked and drink some water, smiling at each other like two
happy children or two angels. They speak only a few words: a remembrance of those left down in
the plain, an exclamation admiring the infinite beauty of the day, the names of two mothers...
Nothing else.
Then Jesus draws His cousin towards Himself and James takes John's habitual posture: his head
resting on the upper part of Jesus' chest, one arm hanging loose, the other hand in that of his
Cousin. They remain thus, while in the dusk, birds twitter loudly in the thicket, the tinkle of
cattle-bells recedes and fades in the distance, and a light breeze rustles caressingly in the tree tops,
cool and reviving after the heat of the day, and promising dew in the night.
They remain thus for a long time, and I think that only their lips are silent, whilst their souls, more
active than ever, are engaged in supernatural conversation.

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257. Jesus Reveals to James of Alphaeus His Future Apostolic Mission.
20th August 1945.

It is the same time on the following day.

James is still in the fissure of the mountain and is sitting all curled up, with his head almost resting
on his knees, which are drawn up and embraced by his arms. He is either engrossed in meditation or
sleeping. I do not know which. He is certainly unaware of what is happening around him, that is, of
the fight of two large birds, which for some private reason are duelling fiercely on the little
meadow. I would say that they are mountain-cocks, or wood-grouse or pheasants, because they are
the size of a cockerel, with variegated feathers but they have no combs, but only a helmet of flesh,
as red as coral, on the top of their heads and on their cheeks, and I can assure you (1) that if their
heads are small, their beaks must be like steel spikes. Feathers fly in the air and blood falls on to the
ground in a dreadful noise, which has caused all whistling, trilling and warbling to come to an end
among branches. Perhaps the little birds are watching the wild fight. James does not hear anything.
Jesus does hear and comes down from the hill top to which He had climbed and clapping His hands
He separates the two opponents, which fly away bleeding, one towards the mountain side, the other
to an oak-tree on the top, where it tidies its shaggy ruffled feathers.
James does not raise his head even at the noise made by Jesus, Who takes a few more steps smiling
and stops in the middle of the little meadow. His white tunic seems to become tinged with red on
the right hand side, so deep is the crimson of sunset. The sky seems to be catching fire. And yet
James cannot be asleep, because as soon as Jesus whispers, He just whispers: «James, come here »,
he lifts his head from his knees, frees his legs from the embrace of his arms, stands up and comes
towards Jesus. He stops a couple of paces before him and looks at Him.
Jesus returns the glance, gravely but encouraging him at the same time by means of a smile, which
is not formed by His lips or His eyes, and yet is visible. He stares at James, as if He wanted to read
the slightest reaction and emotion of His cousin and apostle, who, feeling as on the previous day,
that he is about to receive a revelation, turns pale and becomes even paler until he is as white as his
linen tunic when Jesus raises His arms and lays His hands on his shoulders, and remains thus with
arms stretched forth. James then looks just like a sacred host. Only his mild dark brown eyes and
his brown beard give some colour to his expectant face.
«James, My brother, do you know why I wanted you here, all by ourselves, to

(1) Maria Valtorta is addressing her confessor.

speak to you after hours of prayer and meditation? »

James seems to find it difficult to reply, as he is so deeply moved. But at last he replies in a low
voice: «To give me a special lesson; or with regard to the future or because I am the least capable of
all. I thank You from this moment, even if it is for a reproach. But, believe me, My Master and
Lord, if I am slow and incapable, it is due to inborn deficiency, not to poor will.»
«It is not a reproach but a lesson for the time when I shall no longer be with you. During the last
months you have pondered in your heart over what I told you one day, at the foot of this mountain,
when I promised to come here with you, not only to speak of the prophet Elijah and to watch the
infinite sea shining over there, but to speak to you of another sea, greater, more changeable and
untrustworthy than this one, which today looks like the most placid of all seas, and yet in a few
hours it may swallow boats and men in its voracious hunger. And you have always linked what I
told you then to the idea that your coming here had some connection with your future destiny... In
fact you are now becoming paler and paler, as you realise that it is a grave destiny, a heritage full of
such responsibility as to cause even a hero to tremble. A responsibility and a mission to be fulfilled
with all the holiness that is possible in man in order not to disappoint the will of God.
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Be not afraid, James. I do not want your ruin. Therefore if I destine you to it, it means that I know
that you will not receive any harm from it, but only supernatural joy. Listen, James. Set your heart
at rest, through a fine act of abandonment to Me, so that you may be able to hear and remember My
words. Never again shall we be all alone as we are now and with our souls so prepared to
understand each other.
I will go one day, like every man who has a limited period of time to stay on the earth. My stay will
come to an end in a way that is different from that of men, but it will still come to an end, and you
will no longer have Me with you, except through My Spirit which, I can assure you, will never
desert you. I will go after giving you what is necessary to enable My Doctrine to make progress in
the world, after completing the Sacrifice and obtaining Grace for you. By means of that Grace and
of the sapiential septiform Fire you will be able to do what you would now consider madness and
presumption even to imagine. I will go and you will remain. And the world that did not understand
Christ will not understand the apostles of Christ. You will therefore be persecuted and dispersed as
the greatest danger to the welfare of Israel. But since you are My disciples you must be happy to
suffer the same afflictions as your Master suffered.
One day in the month of Nisan I said to you: "You will be the one who is left of the prophets of the
Lord". Your mother, by spiritual ministry, almost understood the meaning of those words. But
before they come true for My apostles, they will be realised with regard to you. James, everybody
will be dispersed, except you, and that until you are called by God to His Heaven. You will remain
in the place to which God will have elected you through the word of your brothers, you, the
descendant of the royal race, in the royal city, to raise My sceptre and speak of the true King. Of the
King of Israel and of the world, according to a sublime regality that no one understands except
those to whom it is revealed.
They will be days when you will need strength, perseverance, patience and unlimited sagacity. You
will have to be just with charity and with the pure simple faith of a child, but at the same time
erudite as becoming a true master in order to support faith attacked in many hearts by so many
enemies, and to confute the errors of false Christians and the doctrinaire quibbles of old Israel,
which is blind now and will become even more blind after killing the Light and will twist the words
of the prophets and even the instructions of the Father from Whom I come, to convince the world
and itself, in order to give itself peace, that I was not the One of Whom patriarchs and prophets
spoke. They will instead state that I was a poor man, a madman, a dreamer, according to the better
ones, a possessed heretic according to the worse ones of old Israel.
I beg you then to be another Myself. No, it is not impossible! It is possible. You will have to bear in
mind your Jesus, His actions, His words, His deeds. You will have to become molten in Me, as if
you lay in the clay mould used by those who melt metals to shape them. I will always be present, so
present and alive with you, My faithful ones, that you will be able to unite yourselves to Me and
form another Me, if you only wish so. But you, who have been with Me since our earliest youth and
have received the food of Wisdom from the hands of Mary, even before you received it from Mine,
you who are the nephew of the most just man that Israel had, you must be a perfect Christ...»
«I cannot, I cannot, Lord! Give that task to my brother. Give it to John, to Peter Simon, to the other
Simon. But not to me, my Lord! Why to me? What have I done to deserve it? Can't You see that I
am a poor man capable of one thing only: that is, to love You and firmly believe what You say? »
«Judas' character is too strong. He will do well where paganism is to be demolished. Not here,
where those who are to be convinced of the Christian faith believe that they are absolutely right, as
they already are the people of God. Not here, where those are to be persuaded, who although they
believe in Me, will be disappointed at the course of events. They are to be convinced that My
Kingdom is not of this world, but it is the entirely spiritual Kingdom of Heaven, the prelude to
which is a Christian life, that is, a life in which spiritual values are the prevailing ones.
Persuasion is achieved by means of firm kindness. Woe to those who catch people by their throats
to persuade them. They will say: "yes" at the moment, to be freed from the grip. But they will run
away without looking back and they will refuse any further discussion, if they are not wicked, but
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only misguided. But if they are wicked or simply fanatics, they will run away to get armed and kill
the overbearing assertor of doctrines different from theirs. And you will be surrounded by fanatics.
There will be fanatics among Christians and among Israelites. The former will expect you to take
strong action or will claim authority from you to take strong action themselves. Because old Israel,
with its intolerance and restrictions, will still be wriggling its poisonous tail amongst them. The
latter will march against you and the others, as if they were fighting a holy war to defend the old
Faith, its symbols and ceremonies. And you will be in the middle of the stormy sea.
Such is the fate of leaders. And you will be the leader of all those belonging to the Jerusalem
converted to Christianity by your Jesus. You will have to know how to love perfectly in order to
lead them holily. You will have to oppose your heart to the weapons and anathemas of the Jews,
and not offer resistance with other weapons and anathemas. Never take the liberty of imitating the
Pharisees in judging the Gentiles as filth. I have come for them as well, because the humiliation of
God in taking flesh liable to death would have been out of proportion if done for Israel alone.
Because while it is true that My Love would have made Me become incarnate with joy for the
salvation of one only soul, Justice, which is also a divine perfection, demands that Infinite be
humiliated for an infinity: for Mankind. You will have to be kind to them as well, in order not to
repel them, confining yourself to being firm with regard to My doctrine, but indulging as far as
other forms of life different from ours, and material matters are concerned, without any detriment
to souls. But you will have to fight hard with your brothers over that, because Israel is enveloped in
practices that are external only and useless, as they do not change souls. You instead must be
concerned only with the spirit, and you must teach others to do the same. Do not expect Gentiles to
change their habits all of a sudden. You will not change yours with one blow either. Do not remain
anchored at your rock. Because to pick up wreckage at sea and take it to the dockyard and reshape
it for a new life, it is necessary to sail and not remain still. And you must go and look for wreckage.
There is some in paganism and also in Israel. Beyond the boundless sea there is God, Who opens
His arms to all His creatures, whether they are rich because of their holy origin, like Israelites, or
poor, because pagans. I said: "You shall love your neighbour". Your neighbour is not only your
relative or countryman. Also the Hyperborean, whose face is unknown to you, is your neighbour, as
well as the man who is now admiring dawn in regions of which you are unaware, or the man who
travels on the fabulous mountain chains covered with snow in Asia, or drinks at a river flowing in
the unknown forests in central Africa. And if a worshipper of the sun should come to you, or one
whose god is the voracious crocodile, or one who believes that he is Wisdom reincarnate, who
understood the Truth, but did not grasp its Perfection, neither did he give it as Health to his faithful
ones, or should a nauseated citizen of Rome or Athens come to you asking: "Give me knowledge of
God", you cannot and must not say to them: "I reject you because it would be a profanation to take
you to God". Bear in mind that they do not know, whereas Israel does. And yet many people in
Israel are and will be really more idolatrous and cruel than the most barbarian idolater in the world,
and they will not sacrifice human victims to this or to that idol, but to themselves, to their pride,
avid for blood after they have become parched with an unquenchable thirst, which will last until the
end of centuries. That terrible thirst maybe quenched only by drinking once again and with faith
what caused it. But it will then be the end of the world, because Israel will be the last to say: "We
believe that You are God and the Messiah", notwithstanding all the proofs that I have given and will
give of My Divinity.
You will watch and ensure that the faith of Christians is not vain. It would be vain if it consisted
only of words or hypocritical practices. It is the spirit that vivifies. There is no spirit in mechanical
or Pharisaic practices, which are but sham faith and not true faith. What would it avail man to sing
praises to God in the congregation of believers, if every action of his is an imprecation to God, Who
does not become the laughing-stock of such believer, but in His paternity, always maintains His
prerogatives of God and King?
Watch and ensure that nobody takes a place not belonging to him. The Light will be given by God
according to your situation. God will never let you be without Light, unless Grace is extinguished in
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you by sin. Many will love to be called: "master". One only is your Master: He Who is speaking to
you; and one only is your Mistress: the Church, which perpetuates Him. In the Church those will be
masters who have been consecrated with the special appointment to teach. But among the believers
there will be some who by the will of God and their own holiness, that is because of their good will,
will be overwhelmed by the vortex of Wisdom and will speak. There will be others, who are not
wise themselves but are docile instruments in the hands of artisans, and they will speak in the name
of the Artisan, repeating, like good children, what the Father tells them to say, although they do not
understand the full meaning of the words they speak. And finally there will be those who speak as if
they were masters, and their magniloquence will deceive simple people, but they will be proud,
hard-hearted, jealous, irascible, liars and lustful. While I tell you to receive the words of the wise in
the Lord and of the sublime children of the Holy Spirit, helping them to understand the depth of
divine words, because if they are the bearers of the Divine Voice, you, My apostles, will always be
the teachers of My Church, and you must assist those who are supernaturally tired of the
enrapturing and grave richness that God has granted them that they may take it to their brothers, so I
say to you: reject the false words of false prophets, whose lives are not in accordance with My
doctrine. A holy life, mildness, purity, charity and humility will never be lacking in the wise and
little voices of God. They will always be lacking in the others.
Watch and ensure that there are no jealousy and slander, or resentment or desire for revenge in the
congregation of believers. Watch and ensure that the flesh does not overwhelm the spirit. He,
whose spirit does not control his body, could not withstand persecutions.
James, I know that you will do it, but promise your Brother that you will not disappoint Me.»
«But my Lord! I am afraid of one thing only: that I am not capable of doing it. My Lord, I beg You,
give that task to someone else.»
«No. I cannot...»
«Simon of Jonah loves You, and You love him...»
«Simon of Jonah is not James of David.»
«John! John, the learned angel, make him Your servant here.»
«No. I cannot. Neither Simon nor John possess that nothingness, which is, however, so important
with men: kinship. You are a relative of Mine. After refusing to acknowledge Me, the better part of
Israel will endeavour to be forgiven by God and by themselves and will make an effort to know the
Lord Whom they cursed in the hour of Satan, and they will feel they have been forgiven, and will
thus feel strong to come on to My Way, if one of My blood is in My place. James, great things have
been accomplished upon this mountain. Here the fire of God consumed not only the holocaust, the
wood and stones, but even the dust and the very water that was in the ditch. James, do you believe
that God can do again such a thing, burning and consuming all the materiality of the man-James to
make a James-fire of God? We have been speaking while the setting sun has inflamed our tunics.
Do you think that the brightness of the chariot that took Elijah away, was like this or more or less
refulgent? »
«Much more refulgent because it was made of heavenly fire.»
«Consider therefore what a heart will be, when it has been turned into fire to have in itself God,
because God wants it to perpetuate His Word preaching the Gospel of Salvation.»
«But You, Word of God, eternal Word, why do You not remain? »
«Because I am Word and Flesh. By the Word I must teach, and by the Flesh, redeem.»
«Oh! My Jesus, how will You redeem? What have You to face? »
«James, remember the prophets.»
«But are their words not allegoric? Can You, the Word of God, be manhandled by men? Do they
perhaps not mean that Your divinity, Your perfection will be tormented but nothing more than that?
My mother is worried about Judas and me, but I am worried about You and Mary, and also about
ourselves, because we are so weak. Jesus, if men should overwhelm You, do You not think that
many of us would believe You to be guilty, and being disappointed, would abandon You? »
«I am sure of it. There will be confusion among all My disciples. But then peace will reign, and
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there will be a cohesion of all the better parts, upon which the fortifying wise Spirit: the Divine
Spirit will come, after My sacrifice and My triumph.»
«Jesus, in order that I may not deviate and may not be scandalised in the dreadful hour, tell me:
what will they do to You? »
«You are asking Me a great thing.»
«Tell me, my Lord. »
«It will be a torture for you to know it exactly.»
«It does not matter. For the love that has united us...»
«It is not to be known.»
«Tell me and then cancel it from my memory until the hour it is to be accomplished. Then bring it
back to my memory, together with the remembrance of this hour. I will thus not be scandalised and
I will not become Your enemy in the depth of my heart.»
«It will be of no avail, because you, too, will yield to the storm.»
«Tell me, my Lord! »
«I shall be accused, betrayed, captured, tortured, crucified.»
«No! » shouts James writhing as if he had been struck to death. «No! » he repeats. «If they do that
to You, what will they do to us? How shall we be able to continue Your work? I cannot accept the
position You have destined to me... I cannot... When You die, I will die too, having no more
strength. Jesus, listen to me! Don't leave me without You. Promise me at least that! »
«I promise that I will come and guide you with My Spirit, after My glorious Resurrection has freed
Me from the restrictions of matter. You and I will be again one thing only, as we are now that you
are between My arms » James in fact has begun to weep on Jesus' chest. «Do not weep any more.
Let us come out of this bright and painful hour of ecstasy, as one comes out from the shadow of
death, remembering everything except the act of dying, a fright that freezes one's blood and lasts
but one minute, and as an accomplished fact it lasts for ever. Come I will kiss you thus, to help you
forget the burden of My fate as Man. You will remember all this at the right moment, as you asked.
Here, I kiss your lips that will have to repeat My words to the people of Israel, and your heart that
will have to love as I told you, and there, on your temple, where life will cease together with the last
word of loving faith in Me. My beloved brother, I will come to you and be with you in the meetings
of believers, in the hour of meditation, in those of danger and in the hour of your death! No one, not
even your angel, will receive your spirit, because I will, with a kiss, thus...»
They remain embraced for a long time and James seems to doze off in the joy of God's kisses that
make him forget his suffering. When he lifts his head, he has become once again James of
Alphaeus, peaceful and kind, so much like Joseph, the spouse of Mary. He smiles at Jesus, his smile
is more mature, somewhat sad, but always so sweet.
«Let us take our food, James, and then we shall sleep under the stars. At daybreak we shall go down
to the valley... back to men...» and Jesus sighs... But He ends with a smile: «...and to Mary.»
«And what shall I tell my mother, Jesus? And my companions? They will ask me many questions...»
«You can tell them everything I told you, making you consider Elijah in his answers to Ahab, to the
people on the mountain, and meditating on the power of a man loved by God to achieve what is
wanted of people and all the elements, his zeal, which devours him, for the Lord, and how I made
you consider that with peace and in peace one understands and serves God. You will say to them as
I said to you: "Come", and as Elijah put his mantle on Elisha, so you by the mantle of charity will
be able to gain for the Lord new servants of God. And to those who are always worried, say that I
drew to your attention the joyful freedom from past things, which Elisha shows, when he got rid of
the oxen and plough. Tell them how I reminded you that evil and no good befalls those who want
miracles through Beelzebub, as it happened to Ahaziah, according to the word of Elijah. And finally
tell them, how I promised you that for those who are faithful until death, the purifying fire of Love
will come to burn their imperfections and take them straight to Heaven. The rest is for you only.»

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258. Jesus and His Cousin James on Their Way Back from Mount Carmel.
21st August 1945.

Jesus leaves the tableland on Mount Carmel and descends along dewy paths through woods that
become livelier with trills and voices in the early sunshine gilding the eastern side of the mountain.
When the sun dissolves the heat haze, the beauty of the whole plain of Esdraelon is displayed with
its orchards and vineyards all gathered around houses. It looks like a carpet, mostly green, with a
few yellowish oases strewn with red areas, which are the fields where the corn has been cut and
poppies now sparkle, a carpet enclosed by the triangular bezel of Mount Carmel, Mount Tabor and
Mount Hermon (Little Hermon) and by more remote mountains, the names of which I do not know,
which conceal the Jordan and are linked to the south-east to the mountains of Samaria. Jesus stops
and looks pensively at all that area of Palestine.
James looks at Him and says: «Are You looking at the beauty of this region? »
«Yes, also at that. But more than anything else I was thinking of future pilgrimages and of the
necessity of sending disciples without any delay to do real missionary work, and not just limited
work as we have done now. There are many areas where I am not yet known and I do not want to
leave any place without the knowledge of Me. It is a worry constantly present in My mind: to go
and do everything, while I can...»
«Now and again something happens that delays You.»
«Rather than delay Me they cause changes to My itinerary; because the trips we make are never
useless. But there is still so much to be done... Also because after being absent from one place I
find that many hearts have gone back to where they started from, and I have to start all over again.»
«Yes, the apathy of souls, their inconstancy and affection for evil are depressing and disgusting.»
«Depressing, yes, but do not say disgusting. The work of God is never disgusting. We must feel pity
not disgust for poor souls. We must always have the heart of a father, of a good father. A good
father is never disgusted at the diseases of his children. We must never have a dislike for anyone.»
«Jesus, may I ask You a few questions? I did not sleep last night. But I pondered very much while
watching You sleep. You look so young when You are asleep. My brother! You were smiling, with
Your head resting on Your folded arm, just like the posture of a little boy. I could see You very well
in the clear moonlight of last night. And I pondered. And many questions came up from my heart...»
«Tell Me.»
«I was saying: I must ask Jesus how we shall be able to set up that organised body, which You
called Church, and in which there will be hierarchies, if I understood properly, considering how
incapable we are. Will You tell us what we must do, or shall we have to do it by ourselves? »
«When the time comes, I will tell you who is its head. Nothing else. While I am with you, I will
inform you of its various classes with the differences between apostles, disciples and women
disciples. Because they cannot be avoided. But as I want the disciples to respect and obey the
apostles, so the apostles must love and be patient with the disciples.»
«And what shall we have to do? Preach You all the time and nothing else? »
«That is essential. Then you will have to absolve in My name and bless, readmit to Grace,
administer the Sacraments that I will institute...»
«What are they? »
«They are supernatural and spiritual means, applied also through material means, which are used to
convince men that the priest is really doing something. You know that man does not believe unless
he sees. He always needs something to tell him that there is something. That is why, when I work
miracles, I impose My hands, or I wet with saliva, or I give a morsel of soaked bread. I could work
a miracle by means of a simple thought. But do you think that in that case people would say: "God
has worked the miracle?" They would say: "The invalid is cured because it was time for him to be
cured". And they would ascribe the merit to the doctor, or to medicines or to the physical strength
of the invalid. The same will apply to sacraments: religious formalities to administer Grace, or give

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it again, or fortify it in believers. John, for instance, used to immerge sinners into water to
symbolise cleanness from sin. In actual fact the mortification of confessing oneself unclean because
of sins committed, was more useful than the water that washed only the body. I will have a baptism
as well, My baptism, which will not be only a symbol, but will really cleanse a soul of the original
sin and give back to it the spiritual state that Adam and Eve possessed before they sinned, a state,
which is now improved, because it will be granted through the merits of the Man-God.»
«But... water does not descend upon the soul! A soul is spiritual. Who can touch it in a new-born
baby, in an adult or in an old person? Nobody.»
«See, you admit that water is a material means, with no effect on a spiritual thing? So it will not be
the water, but the word of the priest, a member of the Church of Christ, consecrated in his service,
or the word of another true believer, who may replace him in exceptional cases, that will work the
miracle of redeeming the baptised person from original sin.»
«All right. But man commits sins of his own... Who will remove the other sins? »
«It will always be the priest, James. If an adult is baptised, also the other sins will be removed with
the original one. If a man has been baptised and he commits sins, the priest will absolve him in the
name of God One and Trine and through the merits of the Incarnate Word, as I do with sinners.»
«But You are holy! We...»
«You must be holy because you touch holy things and you administer what belongs to God.»
«So shall we baptise the same man several times, as John does, in fact he grants immersion into
water as many times as one goes to him? »
«John's baptism purifies only through the humility of the person who is immersed into water. I
already told you. You shall not baptise again those who have already been baptised, unless a person
has been baptised with a schismatic formula and not with the apostolic one, in which case a second
baptism is to be administered, subject to a precise request of the person to be christened, if adult,
and subject to a clear statement that the person in question wishes to become a member of the true
Church. In all other cases, to give a soul its friendship and peace with God, you will use the words
of forgiveness joined to the merits of Christ, and the soul that has come to you with true repentance
and a humble confession, will be absolved.»
«And if a man cannot come because he is so ill that he cannot be moved? Will he die in sin? Will
the fear for the judgement of God be added to the misery of his agony? »
«No. The priest will go to the dying person and give absolution. In actual fact he will give the
person a more ample form of absolution, not a comprehensive one, but an absolution for each and
every sense-organ, by means of which man generally sins. We have in Israel the Sacred Oil,
compound according to the prescriptions given by the Most High, with which the altar, the Pontiff,
priests and kings are consecrated. Man is really an altar. And he becomes king through his election
to a throne in Heaven; he can therefore be consecrated with the oil of Unction. The Holy Oil will be
taken with other rites of the Israelite cult and included in My Church, but with different uses.
Because not everything in Israel is evil and to be rejected. Nay, many recollections of the old stock
will be in My Church. And one will be the Oil of Unction, which will be used also in the Church to
consecrate altars, Pontiffs, all ecclesiastic hierarchies, kings and believers, when they become
princes and heirs of the Kingdom, or when they need the greatest help to appear before God with
their bodies and senses cleansed of all sins. The grace of God will assist both the soul and the body,
if God so wishes for the benefit of the sick person. A body does not always react against diseases
also because its peace is upset by remorse and because of the work of Satan, who through the death
of the sick person hopes to gain a soul to his kingdom and cause despair to those who are left
behind. The sick person passes from the satanic grip and internal emotion to a peaceful state,
through the certainty of God's forgiveness, which also brings about Satan's departure. And since the
gift of Grace was coupled in our first progenitors with the gift of immunity from diseases and from
all forms of sorrow, the sick person who has been restored to Grace as great as the Grace of a
new-born baby christened with My baptism, may get over the illness. The sick man is assisted also
by the prayers of his brethren, who are obliged to have not only physical but above all spiritual pity
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on invalids, in order to obtain both physical and spiritual salvation for their brother. Prayer is in fact
a form of miracle, James. The prayer of a just man, as you have seen in Elijah, can be very
powerful.»
«I understand only a little of what You say, but what I do understand fills me with deep respect for
the sacerdotal character of Your priests. If I have understood You correctly, we shall have many
points in common with You: preaching, absolution, miracles. Three sacraments, therefore.»
«No, James. Preaching and miracles are not sacraments. The Sacraments will be more: seven, like
the sacred candelabrum of the Temple and the gifts of the Spirit of Love. And in fact the
Sacraments are gifts and flames and are granted to man so that he may bum for ever before the
Lord. There will be a Sacrament also for the marriage of man. And it is already symbolised in the
holy marriage of Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, after she was freed from the demon. The Sacrament
will give the married couple all the assistance needed to live together according to the law and the
wishes of God. Husband and wife also become the ministers of a rite: the rite of procreation.
Husband and wife become also the priests of a small church: their family. They must therefore be
consecrated in order to procreate with the blessing of God and to bring up a progeny that will bless
the Most Holy Name of God.»
«And by whom will priests be consecrated? »
«By Me, before I leave you. You will, afterwards, consecrate your successors and those whom you
will aggregate to yourselves to propagate the Christian faith.»
«You will teach us, will You not? »
«I and He Whom I will send to you. Also His coming will be a Sacrament. It will be granted
voluntarily by the Most Holy God in His first Epiphany, and it will then be given by those who have
received the fullness of Priesthood. It will be strength and intelligence, confirmation in Faith, it will
be holy piety and fear, it will be assistance in advice and supernatural wisdom, and it will be
possession of a justice that by its nature and power will turn the child who receives it, into an adult.
But you cannot for the time being understand that. But He will make you understand: the Divine
Paraclete, the Eternal Love, when the moment comes for you to receive Him. And likewise, you
cannot for the time being understand another Sacrament. It is so sublime that it is almost
incomprehensible to angels. And yet you, simple men, will understand it by virtue of faith and love.
I solemnly tell you that those who will love it and nourish their souls by it, will be able to trample
on the demon with impunity. Because I will then be with them. Try to remember these things,
brother. You will have to repeat them many times to your companions and to believers. You will all
already know through your divine ministry, but you will be able to say: "He told me one day,
coming down from Mount Carmel. He told me everything because since then I was destined to be
the head of the Church of Israel".»
«Here is another question I wanted to ask You. I was thinking about it last night. Shall I have to say
to my companions: "I will be the head here?" I don't like it. I will do it if You tell me. But I do not
like it.»
«Be not afraid. The Paraclete Spirit will descend upon you all and will instil holy thoughts into you.
You will all have the same thoughts for the glory of God in His Church.»
«And will there be no more of those... so unpleasant discussions that we have now? Even Judas of
Simon will no longer be the cause of disagreement? »
«He will no longer be, do not worry. But there will still be differences of opinion. That is why I said
to you: be careful and watch, without ever tiring, doing your duty to the end.»
«Another question, my Lord. How am I to behave during persecutions? By what You say, it looks as
if I am the only one of the Twelve to be left. So the others will go away to avoid persecutions. And
what about me? »
«You will stay in your place. Because if it is necessary that you are not all exterminated until the
Church is well consolidated, which justifies the dispersion of many disciples and of almost all the
apostles, nothing would justify your desertion and your abandoning the Church of Jerusalem. Nay,
the greater its danger is, the more you will have to watch over it, as if it were your dearest child
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about to die. Your example will strengthen the souls of believers. And they will need it to pass the
test. The weaker you see them, the more you will have to support them with pity and wisdom. If
you are strong, do not be pitiless with weak people. Support them saying: "I have received
everything from God to become so strong. I must admit it humbly and act charitably on behalf of
those who have not been blessed with so many gifts of God", and you must share your strength
through your word, your assistance, your calm and example.»
«And if among the believers there should be some wicked ones, who are the cause of danger and of
scandal to the others, what shall I do? »
«Be wise when you accept them, because it is better to be few and good, than many and not good.
You know the old apologue of the good apples and the bad ones. Make sure it does not happen also
in your church. But should you find people who betray you as well, endeavour in every way to get
them to repent, using severe measures as a last resource. But if it is a matter of small individual
faults, do not be so severe as to dismay people. Forgive, always... A heart is more easily redeemed
by forgiveness joined to tears and loving words than by anathema. If the fault is a grave one, but is
the result of a sudden attack by Satan, and is so grave that the culprit feels the need to run away
from your presence, go and look for the offender. Because he is a lamb led astray, and you are the
shepherd. Do not be afraid of degrading yourself by going along muddy paths, searching pools and
precipices. Your forehead will then be crowned with the crown of the martyr of love, and it will be
the first of the three crowns... And if you are betrayed yourself, as the Baptist was, and like many
others, because every holy man has his traitor, forgive. Forgive the traitor more than you would
forgive anybody else. Forgive as God forgave men and as He will forgive. Call him "son" again,
who will grieve you, because that is how the Father calls you through My lips, and, truly, there is no
man who has not caused deep sorrow to the Father in Heaven...»
There is a long period of silence while they cross pastures strewn with grazing sheep.
At last Jesus asks: «Have you no more questions to ask Me? »
«No, Jesus. And this morning I understood my tremendous mission more clearly...»
«Because you are less upset than you were yesterday. When your time comes, you will be even
more calm and you will understand even better.»
«I will remember all these things... everything... except...»
«What, James? »
«Less what did not let me look at You last night without weeping. What I do not really know
whether You told me, and whether I should believe it if really told by You; or whether it was a
fright by the demon. How can You be so calm if... if that should really happen to You? »
«And would you be calm if I said to you: "That shepherd is dragging himself along with great
difficulty because of his maimed leg. Try to cure him in the name of God"? »
«No, my Lord. I would be beside myself thinking that I was tempted to usurp Your place.»
«And if I ordered you? »
«I would do it out of obedience and I would no longer be upset because I would know that You
want it, and I would not be afraid of not knowing how to do it. Because, if You sent me, You would
certainly give me the strength to do what You want...»
«You say so, and you are right. You can thus see that I, by obeying the Father, am always in peace.»
James lowers his head weeping.
«Do you really want to forget? »
«As You wish, my Lord...»
«You have two options: to forget or to remember. By forgetting you will be relieved from sorrow
and from the necessity of being absolutely silent with your companions, but you will be left
unprepared. By remembering you will become prepared for your mission, because in order never to
complain and to be strengthened spiritually seeing the whole of Christ in the brightest light, one
thing only is necessary: to remember what the Son of man suffers in His earthly life. Make your
choice.»
«To believe, to remember, to love. That is what I would like. And to die, as soon as possible,
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Lord...» And James continues to weep silently. If it was not for the tears shining on his brown
beard, one would not realise that he is weeping.
Jesus lets him weep... Then James asks: «And if in future You should allude again to... to Your
martyrdom, shall I say that I know? »
«No. Be quiet. Joseph was able to be silent on his sorrow of a bridegroom when he thought his
bride was unfaithful to him and on the mysteries of Her virginal conception and of My Nature.
Imitate him. That was a tremendous secret as well. And it was to be kept, because if it had been
disclosed, out of pride or carelessness, the whole Redemption would have been endangered. Satan
is constant in watching and acting. Remember that. If you spoke now, you would damage too many
people and too many things. Be silent.»
«I will... and it will be a double burden...»
Jesus does not reply. He lets James weep freely, sheltered by his linen hood.
They meet a man carrying an unhappy child tied to his back.
«Is he your son? » asks Jesus.
«Yes. He was born thus, and was the cause of his mother's death. Now, my mother is also dead, and
when I go to my work, I take him with me to watch him. I am a woodcutter. I lay him on the grass,
on my mantle, and while I cut trees down, he plays with flowers, the poor wretch! »
«It is a great misfortune.»
«Yes, it is. But we must accept peacefully what God wants.»
«Goodbye, man. Peace be with you.»
«Goodbye. Peace to You.»
The man climbs the mountain, Jesus and James continue to descend.
«How many misfortunes! I was hoping that You would cure him » says James with a sigh.
Jesus does not appear to hear.
«Master, if that man had known that You are the Messiah, perhaps he would have asked You to
work a miracle...»
Jesus does not reply.
«Jesus, will You let me go back and tell him? I feel sorry for that boy. My heart is already so
grieved. Give me at least the joy of seeing the little fellow cured.»
«You may go. I will wait for you here.»
James runs back. He comes up with the man and calls him. «Man, stop, listen! The man who was
with me is the Messiah. Give me your boy that I may take him to Him. You may come as well, if
you wish so, to see whether the Master will cure him.»
«Go, man. I have all this wood to cut. I am already late because of the child. And if I do not work, I
get no food. I am poor, and he costs me so much. I do believe in the Messiah, but it is better if you
speak to Him on my behalf. »
James bends to pick up the boy lying on the grass.
«Be careful » warns the woodcutter. «He is painful all over.»
In fact, as soon as James attempts to lift him, the boy weeps moanfully.
«Oh! How painful! » exclaims James with a sigh.
«A dreadful pain » says the woodcutter working with a saw on a hard trunk, and he adds: «Could
you not cure him? »
«I am not the Messiah. I am only a disciple...»
«Well? Doctors learn from other doctors. Disciples learn from their Master. Come on, be good.
Don't make him suffer. Try. If the Master wanted to come, He would have come. He sent you either
because He does not want to cure him or because He wants you to cure him.»
James is undecided. He then makes up his mind. He stands up and he prays as he has seen Jesus
pray. Finally he enjoins: «In the name of Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel and Son of God, be
cured » and immediately afterwards he kneels down saying: «Oh! My Lord, forgive me! I acted
without Your permission! But 1 did it out of pity for this child of Israel. Have mercy, my God! On
him and on me, a sinner! » and he sheds bitter tears bent over the boy outstretched on the grass. His
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tears fall on to the twisted inert legs. Jesus suddenly appears on the path. But no one sees Him,
because the woodcutter is working, James is weeping and the boy is looking at him curiously, and
then caressing him, he asks: «Why are you weeping? » and he stretches out his little hand to caress
him again, and without realising it, he sits up by himself, he stands up and embraces James to
comfort him. It is James' cry that makes the woodcutter turn round and he then sees his boy
standing straight on his legs, which are no longer inert or twisted. And turning round he sees Jesus.
«There He is! » he shouts pointing to the back of James who turns round and sees Jesus looking at
him beaming with joy.
«Master! I do not know how it happened... pity... that man... this child... Forgive me! »
«Stand up. Disciples are not above their Master but they can do what the Master does, when they do
it for a holy reason. Stand up and come with Me. May you two be blessed and remember that also
the servants of God accomplish the deeds of the Son of God » and He goes away, dragging James
who continues to say: «How could I do that? I do not understand yet. How did I work a miracle in
Your name? »
«By being pitiful, James. Through your desire to make Me loved by that innocent child and by that
man who believed and doubted at the same time. John worked a miracle near Jabneel out of love,
curing a dying man whom he anointed while praying. You cured here by means of your tears and
your pity. And with your faith in My Name. See how peaceful it is to serve the Lord when a disciple
has good intentions? Now let us walk fast, because that man is following us. It is not right that your
companions should be aware of this, for the time being. I will soon be sending you in My name... (a
deep sigh of Jesus), as Judas of Simon is anxious to work (another heavy sigh). And you will
work... But it will not do everybody good. Quick, James! Your brother, Simon Peter and the others
would suffer if they knew about this, as if it were favouritism. But it is not. It is to prepare someone
among you twelve who may be capable of guiding the others. Let us go onto the gravel bed of the
torrent that is covered with leaves. All trace of us will be lost... Are you sorry for the boy? Oh! we
shall meet him again...»

259. Peter Speaks to Doras' Peasants about the Love Which Is Salvation.
22nd August 1945.

«My dear friends, what are you doing near this fire? » asks Jesus when He finds His disciples round
a well fed fire, which blazes in the early evening shadows at a crossroads in the plain at Esdraelon.
The apostles start, as they did not see Him come, and they forget the fire to greet the Master. They
look as if they had not seen Him for ages. They then explain: «Listen! We settled an issue between
two brothers from Jezreel and they were so pleased that they gave us a lamb each. We decided to
cook them and give them to Doras' men. Micah of Johanan slaughtered and prepared them and we
are now going to roast them. Your Mother has gone with Mary and Susanna to tell Doras' men to
come here after vesper, when the steward goes home to tipple. Women do not attract attention so
much... We endeavoured to see them pretending we were wayfarers passing by their fields, but we
did not do much. We decided to gather here this evening and say... a little more, for their souls, and
satisfy also their bodies, as You have done in the past. And now that You are here it will be even
more pleasant.»
«Who was going to speak? »
«Well... A little each... informally. We are not capable of doing any more, also because John, the
Zealot and Your brother do not want to speak. Judas of Simon and Bartholomew are not anxious to
speak either... We even quarrelled over that...» says Peter.
«Why do those five not want to speak? »
«John and Simon because they say that it is not right that they should be the ones who always
speak. Your brother because he wants me to speak and says that if I never start... Bartholomew

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because... because he is afraid that he may speak too masterly and that he may not succeed in
convincing people. You can see that they are excuses...»
«And you, Judas of Simon, why do you not want to speak? »
«For the same reasons as the others! For all those reasons; because they are all fair...»
«Many reasons. But not one is specified. I will now decide, and My verdict will be inappellable.
You, Simon of Jonah, shall speak, as Thaddeus wisely says.. And you, Judas of Simon, shall also
speak. Thus, one of the many reasons, the one known to God and to you, will no longer exist.»
«Master, believe me, there is nothing else...» Judas endeavours to retort.
But Peter cuts him short saying: «Oh! My Lord! How can I speak in Your presence? I shall never be
able! I am afraid You may laugh at me...»
«You do not want to be alone; you do not want to be with Me... What do you want?»
«You are right. But... what shall I say? »
«There is your brother coming with the lambs. Help him, and while you are cooking them, think it
over. Everything helps to find a subject.»
«Also a lamb on the spit? » asks Peter incredulously.
«Yes. So obey.»
Peter heaves a deep sigh, a really pitiful one, but does not reply. He goes towards Andrew and helps
him to fix the lambs on to a sharpened stick which is used as a spit, and he watches them cooking
with such a grave countenance, that he looks like a judge on the point of passing sentence.
«Judas of Simon, let us go and meet the women » orders Jesus. And He goes away through the
barren fields of Doras. «Judas, a good disciple does not despise what his Master does not despise »
He says after a little while without wasting words.
«Master, I do not despise. But like Bartholomew, I feel that I would not be understood, and I prefer
not to speak.»
«Nathanael is afraid that he may not fulfil My desire, which is to enlighten and relieve hearts. He is
at fault, too, because he lacks confidence in the Lord. But you are much more at fault, because you
are not afraid of not being understood, but you disdain being understood by poor peasants, who are
ignorant of everything, except virtue. They surpass many of you, in fact, as far as virtue is
concerned. You have not yet understood anything, Judas. The Gospel is really the Good News
brought to the poor, the sick, the afflicted and the slaves. Later it will be given also to others. But it
is given just to assist and relieve those who suffer from all kinds of misfortunes.»
Judas lowers his head but does not reply.
The Blessed Virgin, Mary of Clopas and Susanna appear coming out from a thicket.
«I greet You, Mother! Peace to you, women! »
«Son! I went to those... poor wretches. But I was given news that did not make Me suffer too much.
Doras has got rid of this land and Johanan has taken it. It is not paradise... But it is no longer hell.
The steward told the peasants today. He has already gone taking away on his carts all the corn to the
last grain, and thus leaving everybody without anything to eat. And as Johanan's steward today has
food only for his own men, Doras' peasants were to be left with nothing to eat. Those lambs are
really providential! »
«It is also providential that the men no longer belong to Doras. We saw their houses... Pigsties »
says Susanna who is obviously scandalised.
«The poor people are so happy! » concludes Mary of Clopas.
«I am happy, too. They will be better off than previously » replies Jesus going towards the apostles.
John of Endor joins Him carrying some pitchers of water, which he is taking along with Ermasteus.
«Johanan's men gave them to us » he explains, after greeting Jesus respectfully.
They all go towards the spot where they are roasting the two lambs in a thick cloud of greasy
smoke. Peter keeps turning his spit and in the meantime he broods over his thoughts. Judas
Thaddeus, instead, is walking backwards and forwards, engrossed in conversation holding one arm
round his brother's waist. Of the other apostles some bring firewood, some... lay the table, carrying
large stones to be used as seats or as a table. I do not know.
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Doras' peasants arrive. They are thinner and more ragged than ever. But they are so happy! They are
about twenty in number and there is not even a child or a woman with them. Poor men all alone...
«Peace to you all and let us bless the Lord for giving you a better master. Let us bless Him by
praying for the conversion of the man who has caused you to suffer so much. Is that right? Are you
happy, old father? I am glad, too. I shall be able to come more frequently with the boy. Have they
told you? You are weeping for joy, are you not? Come here, be not afraid...» He says speaking to
Marjiam's grandfather, who stoops kissing His hand and weeping whispers: «I beg nothing else of
the Most High. He has granted me more than I asked. I would now like to die lest I should live so
long that suffering may overwhelm me again.»
The peasants, who were somewhat embarrassed being with the Master, soon take heart again, and
when the two lambs are laid on large leaves arranged on the stones brought previously, and the
portions are made, each of which is placed on a large bread-cake that serves also as a dish, they
relax in their simplicity and they eat with relish, satisfying their hunger, after starving so long: they
talk of the recent events.
One of them says: «I have always cursed locusts, moles and ants. But from now on they will look
like messengers of the Lord to me, because it is through them that we are leaving hell.» And
although the comparison of ants and locusts with angelical cohorts is somewhat queer, nobody
laughs because they all perceive the tragic circumstances concealed in those words.
The fire lights up the assembly, but their faces do not look at the flame, neither do they pay much
attention to what is in front of them. All eyes are turned towards Jesus' face, and are diverted only
for a few moments when Mary of Alphaeus, who is busy making portions, lays more meat on the
flat bread-cakes of the hungry peasants, and she finishes her work by wrapping two roasted legs in
some large leaves and says to Marjiam's grandfather: «Take this. You will have a morsel each also
tomorrow, And Johanan's steward in the meantime will provide something.»
«But what about you...»
«We will have less to carry. Take it, man.»
Of the two lambs there is nothing left but the picked bones and the persistent smell of dripped fat
still burning on the fire, which is dying out and its light is being replaced by moonlight.
Johanan's men also join the others. It is the moment to speak to them.
Jesus' blue eyes look up in search of Judas who is sitting near a tree, half hidden in the shade. And
when Jesus sees that Judas pretends he does not understand, He calls in a loud voice: «Judas! »
Judas is thus compelled to stand up and come forward. «Do not seclude yourself. Please evangelize
in My place. I am very tired. In any case, if I had not come this evening, one of you would have had
to speak! »
«Master... I do not know what to say... At least ask me some questions.»
«It is not for Me to ask you them. Men, what do you wish to hear or to have explained to you? » He
then asks the peasants.
The men look at one another... they are uncertain... At last a peasant asks: «We have become aware
of the power of the Lord and of His bounty. But we know little about His doctrine. Perhaps we will
now be able to learn a little more, being with Johanan. But we are really anxious to know which are
the essential things we must do in order to gain the Kingdom that the Messiah promises. As we can
practically do nothing, will we be able to gain it? »
Judas replies: «You are certainly in a very painful situation. Everything in you and around you
conspires to drive you away from the Kingdom. The lack of freedom to come to the Master
whenever you wish, your condition of servants of a master, who, if not a hyena like Doras, is, as far
as we know, a Molossian hound who keeps his servants prisoners, your sufferings and dejection, are
unfavorable conditions to your election to the Kingdom. Because it is difficult for you not to
cherish resentment and feelings of grudge, criticism and revenge for the man who treats you so
hard. And the bare essential is to love God and one's neighbour. Otherwise there is no salvation.
You must be watchful to maintain your hearts passively submitted to God's will, which is revealed
to you in your destiny, and bear your master patiently without ever taking the liberty of expressing a
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judgement that certainly could not be kind to your master, or express gratitude for your... your... In
short, you must not ponder on your situation, to avoid feelings of rebellion that would kill love. And
he who does not love will not reach salvation, because he infringes the first precept. But I am
almost certain that you will be saved because I see that you have good will joined to kind souls,
which give rise to hope that you will be able to refrain from hatred and desire for revenge. In any
case God's mercy is so great that He will remit what is still lacking for your perfection.»
There is silence. Jesus has lowered His head so much that His countenance cannot be seen; but the
faces of the rest can be seen and their expression is certainly not happy. The peasants look more
dejected than previously, the apostles and the women seem surprised and almost frightened.
«We shall endeavour to repress every thought against patience and forgiveness » the old man replies
humbly.
Another peasant says with a sigh: «It will certainly be difficult for us to reach the perfection of love,
because it is already a great thing that we have not become the murderers of those who tortured us!
A soul suffers a great deal, and even when it does not hate, it finds it difficult to love, like
emaciated children who grow with difficulty...»
«No, man. I, instead, think that just because you have suffered so much without becoming
murderers and revengeful, your souls love more strongly than ours. You love without even realising
it » says Peter to comfort them.
And he becomes aware that lie has spoken and he stops to say: «Oh! Master!... But... You told me
that I had to speak... and to find the subject even in the lambs that I was roasting. And I continued
to watch them to find some good words for our brothers here, and for their situation. But, as I am
stupid, I did not find anything suitable, and I do not know how, I found that I was wandering away
in thoughts, which I do not know whether they are strange, in which case they are certainly mine, or
holy, and if so, they have certainly come from Heaven. I will express them, exactly as they came to
me, and You, Master, will explain them to me or reproach me, and you, my friends, will bear with
me. I was looking first at the fire, and I thought: "Now: what is a fire made of? Of wood. But wood
does not burn by itself. And if it is not dry, it will not bum at all, because water makes it heavy and
prevents the tinder from lighting it. And when wood is dead, it rots and woodworms pulverise it,
but it will not catch fire by itself. And yet if one arranges it in a suitable manner and holding tinder
and flint close to it produces a spark and helps it to light by blowing on thin branches to increase
the flame, because one always starts from the smallest things, then the flame rises and becomes
beautiful and useful and sets everything on fire, also thick pieces of wood". And I said to myself:
"We are like wood. We do not light up by ourselves. But we must take care not to be too
impregnated with the heavy moisture of flesh and blood, to allow the tinder to be lit up by a spark.
And we must desire to be burnt because if we remain inactive we may be destroyed by inclement
weather and by woodworms, that is, by mankind and by the demon. Whereas if we give ourselves to
the fire of love, it will begin to burn the thinner branches and will destroy them, and I considered
the little branches to be imperfections, then it will grow and set on fire the bigger pieces of wood,
that is the stronger passions. And we, being like wood, something material, hard, dull, even ugly,
will become the beautiful, incorporeal, agile, bright thing that a flame is. And that because we have
given ourselves to love, which is the flint and tinder that turn us poor sinners into future angels and
citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven". And that was one thought.»
Jesus has raised His head a little and is listening with His eyes closed and the shadow of a smile on
His lips. The others are looking, they are still surprised but no longer frightened.
Peter continues to speak peacefully. «Another thought came to my mind looking at the lambs that
were roasting. Do not say that my thoughts are childish. The Master told me to look for them in
what I was watching... And I obeyed. So I was looking at the lambs and I said: "There you are. They
are two innocent meek animals. Our Holy Scriptures are full of gentle allusions to lambs, both to
remember Him Who is the promised Messiah and Saviour as was symbolised in the Mosaic lamb,
and to remind us that God will have mercy on us. The prophets say so. He comes to gather His flock
together, to assist wounded sheep and carry those whose limbs are fractured. How much goodness!"
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I was saying to myself. "We must not be afraid of a God Who promises us, poor wretches, so much
mercy! But", I still said to myself, "we must be meek, at least meek, since we are no longer
innocent. We must be meek and anxious to be consumed by love. Because what would the most
beautiful and pure little lamb also become, after it has been slaughtered, if it is not cooked on a
fire? A putrid carrion. Fire instead turns it into wholesome blessed food". And I concluded: "In
short, all good things are achieved through love. Love relieves us of the burden of humanity, it
makes us bright and useful, it enables us to be good to our brothers and grateful to God. It elevates
our good natural qualities raising them to a height that bears the name of supernatural virtues. And
he who is virtuous is holy, and who is holy possesses Heaven. So it is not science or fear that open
the way to perfection for us, it is love. It detaches us from evil, much more than the fear of
punishment, as through it we do not wish to grieve the Lord. It makes us pity our brothers and love
them because they come from God. Therefore love is the salvation and the sanctification of man".
That is what I was thinking while watching my roast and obeying my Jesus. Forgive me if that is all.
But those thoughts did me good. I offer them to you hoping they may do you good as well.»
Jesus opens His eyes, which are radiant with joy. He stretches out one arm and lays His hand on
Peter's shoulder: «I solemnly tell you that you have found the words that you had to find. Obedience
and love made you find them and humility and the desire to give solace to your brothers will make
of them as many stars in their dark sky. May God bless you, Simon of Jonah.»
«May God bless You, Master! And are You not speaking? »
«They will be commencing their new service tomorrow. I will bless their commencement with My
word. Go now in peace and may God be with you.»

260. Jesus to Johanan's Peasants: «Love Is Obedience ».

23rd August 1945.

It is not yet daybreak. Jesus is standing in the middle of Doras' ruined orchard: rows of withered or
withering trees, many of which have already been felled or uprooted. Around Him there are Doras'
and Johanan's peasants and the apostles, some standing, some sitting on the felled trunks.
Jesus begins to speak: «Another day and another departure. And I am not the only one who is
leaving. You are departing as well, if not materially, morally, as you are going to another master.
You will thus be joined to other good and pious peasants, and you will form one family, in which
you will be able to speak of God and of His Word, without having to resort to subterfuges to do so.
Sustain one another in your faith, help one another, bear one another's faults and edify one another.
That is love. And you heard from My apostles last night, although in different ways, that love is
salvation. Simon Peter with his simple kind word made you ponder how love changes your heavy
nature into a supernatural nature, how a man without love may become corrupt and corrupting, like
a slaughtered animal that is not cooked, or he may become useless like wood rotten with water that
will not burn in a fire, and how love makes a man live in the atmosphere of God and thus he comes
out of corruption and becomes useful to his neighbour. Because, believe Me, My dear children, love
is the great strength of the Universe. I will never tire telling you. All the misfortunes on the earth
come from lack of love, beginning from the death and diseases caused by the lack of love of Adam
and Eve for the Most High Lord.
Because love is obedience. He who does not obey is a rebel. He who is a rebel does not love him
against whom he rebels. Where do other general or particular misfortunes come from, such as wars
or the downfall of contending families? From selfishness, which is estrangement. And the ruin of
welfare through God's punishment follows the downfall of families. Because God sooner or later
will strike him who lives without loving.
I know that it is rumoured here - and because of such rumour I am hated by some, looked at with
fearful hearts by others, or invoked as a fresh punishment or tolerated for fear of a punishment - I

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know that it is rumoured here that it was My look that made these fields cursed. It was not My look:
but the punished selfishness of an unjust and cruel man. If My eyes were to scorch the land of all
those who hate Me, very little green would be left in Palestine! I never avenge Myself for ill will
manifested towards Me, but I hand over to the Father those who stubbornly persist in their sin of
selfishness towards their neighbour and sacrilegiously deride the precept of love, and the more one
endeavours to persuade them to love, by means of words and suitable deeds, the more cruel they
become. I am always willing to raise My hand and say to a repentant soul: “I absolve you. Go in
peace”. But I will not offend Love by agreeing to inconvertible harshness. Always bear that in
mind, to see things in the right light and disprove tales, which are always different from the truth,
whether they are told out of veneration or angry fear.
You are changing master, but you will not be leaving this land, to take care of which in its present
state seems madness. And yet I say to you: do your duty on it. You have done it so far for fear of
cruel punishment. Do it also now, although you are aware that you will not be dealt with as in the
past. Nay, I say to you: the more humanely you are treated, the more diligently and cheerfully you
are to work, to return humanity through your work to those who grant you humanity. Because while
it is true that masters are obliged to be humane to their subordinates - remembering that we are all
of one race and that every man is born nude in the same manner and dies putrifying in the same
manner, whether he is rich or poor, and that wealth is not the work of those who possess it, but of
those who either honestly or dishonestly have amassed it for them, and that one is not to be proud
of it or make use of it to oppress other people, instead one should use it with love, discretion and
justice in order not to be looked at with severity by the true Master, Who is God, Who cannot be
bought or seduced by jewels or gold talents, but can be made our friend only through our good
deeds - because while all that is true, it is also true that servants are obliged to be good to their
masters.
Do the will of God, Who wants you in your humble condition, with simplicity and good will. You
know the parable of Dives. You know that not gold, but virtue is rewarded in Heaven. Virtue and
submission to the will of God, make God the friend of man. I know that it is very difficult to be able
to always see God through the deeds of men. It is easy in good people. It is difficult in bad people,
because your souls may be induced to think that God is not good. But you must overcome the evil
done to you by men tempted by Satan, and beyond that barrier that costs so many tears, you must
see the truth of sorrow and its beauty. Sorrow comes from Evil. But as God cannot abolish it, as the
power of Evil exists and it is the assay of the spiritual gold of the children of God, He compels it to
extract from its poison the juice of a medicine which gives eternal life. Because the pungency of
sorrow inoculates good people with such reactions that spiritualise them more and more making
them holy.
Be therefore good, respectful, submissive. Do not judge your masters. There is One Who judges
them. I would like the man who commands you to become just, to make your life easier, and gain
eternal life himself. But remember that the more burdensome the task to be accomplished is, the
greater is the merit in the eyes of God. Do not try to defraud your master. Money or victuals
obtained by fraud do not enrich or satisfy anybody's hunger. Let your hands, lips and hearts be pure.
You will then keep the Sabbaths and holy days of obligation with grace in the eyes of God, even if
you are compelled to work in the fields. I solemnly tell you that your labour will be worth more
than the hypocritical prayer of those who go to fulfil their duty to be praised by the world, because
in actual fact they infringe the precept by disobeying the Law that prescribes that each man and all
the members of his family are to keep the Sabbath and festivals of Israel for their own sake.
Because prayer does not consist in actions, but in sentiments. And if your hearts love God in a holy
manner they will celebrate the rites of the Sabbath and festivals, which other people prevent you
from keeping, better than they do and under every circumstance.
I bless you and I will now leave you because the sun is rising and I want to be on the hills before the
heat of the day. We shall meet again soon because autumn is not far. Peace be with you all, both the
new and the old servants of Johanan and may your hearts be serene.»
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And Jesus sets out passing through the peasants and blessing them one by one.
Behind a large withered apple-tree there is a man half-hidden. But when Jesus is about to pass by
pretending He has not seen him, the man jumps out and says: «I am Johanan's steward. He said to
me: "If the Rabbi of Israel should come, let Him stop in my fields and let Him speak to my servants.
They will do more work for us, because He teaches only good things". And yesterday he wrote to
me informing me that as from today they (and he points to Doras' men) are with me, and these
fields belong to Johanan and he says: "If the Rabbi should come listen to what He says and act
accordingly. Let no calamity befall us. Load Him with honours but see if you can get Him to revoke
the curse on the land". Because You must know that Johanan bought it out of spite. But I think he
already regrets it. It will be a great achievement if we can turn into grazing ground...»
«Did you hear Me speak? »
«Yes, Master.»
«You know, then, how to behave, both you and your master, to have God's blessing. Tell your
master. And as far as you are concerned, moderate his orders, because you know how burdensome
in actual fact is the work of a man in the fields and you are well-liked by your master. But it is
better for you to lose his favour and your position, rather than lose your soul. Goodbye.»
«But I have to honour You.»
«I am not an idol. I do not need interested honours to grant graces. Honour Me with your soul, by
practising what you have heard and you will serve God and your master at the same time.»
And Jesus, followed by the apostles and the women, and then by all the peasants, goes across the
fields and directs His steps towards the hills, greeting everybody once again.

Vol 3 - INDEX
THE SECOND YEAR OF THE PUBLIC LIFE
(Conclusion)

275. Avarice and the Foolish Rich Man.

276. In the Garden of Mary of Magdala: Love for One's Neighbour.

277. Jesus Sends the Seventy-Two Disciples.

278. Jesus Meets Lazarus at the Field of the Galileans.

279. The Seventy-Two Disciples Report to Jesus What They Have Done.

280. At the Temple for the Tabernacles.

281. At the Temple They Are Aware of Ermasteus, of John of Endor and of
Syntyche.

282. Syntyche Speaks in Lazarus' House.

283. The Mission of Four Apostles in Judaea.

284. Jesus Leaves Bethany for Trans-Jordan.

285. Arrival at Ramoth with the Merchant from the Other Side of the Euphrates.

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286. From Ramoth to Gerasa.

287. Preaching at Gerasa.

288. The Sabbath at Gerasa.

289. From Gerasa to the Fountain of the Cameleer.

290. Going to Bozrah.

291. At Bozrah.

292. The Sermon and Miracles at Bozrah.

293. Farewell to the Women Disciples.

294. At Arbela.

295. Going to Aera.

296. Jesus Preaches at Aera.

297. The Little Orphans Mary and Matthias.

298. Mary and Matthias Are Entrusted to Johanna of Chuza.

299. At Nain, in the House of Daniel Raised from the Dead.

300. In the Sheepfold at Endor.

301. From Endor to Magdala.

302. Jesus at Nazareth for the Dedication.

303. Jesus with John of Endor and Syntyche at Nazareth.

304. Jesus' Lesson to Marjiam.

305. Simon Zealot at Nazareth.

306. An Evening at Home in Nazareth.

307. Jesus and the Wife of His Cousin Simon.

308. Simon Goes Back to Jesus.

309. Simon Peter at Nazareth.

310. Jesus Speaks about the Holy Economy of Universal Love.

311. John of Endor Will Have to Go to Antioch. End of the Second Year.

THE THIRD YEAR OF THE PUBLIC LIFE

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312. The Beginning of the Third Year at Nazareth, while Preparing for Departure.

313. Departure from Nazareth.

314. Towards Jiphthahel.

315. Jesus' Farewell to the Two Disciples.

316. Jesus' Sorrow, Prayer and Penance.

317. Leaving Ptolemais for Tyre.

318. Departure from Tyre on a Cretan Ship.

319. Storm and Miracles on the Ship.

320. Arrival and Landing at Seleucia.

321. From Seleucia to Antioch.

322. At Antigonea.

323. Farewell to Antioch after Preaching.

324. Return of the Eight Apostles and Arrival at Achzib.

325. At Achzib with Six Apostles.

326. Evangelizing at the Border of Phoenicia.

327. Arrival at Alexandroscene.

328. The Day after at Alexandroscene. Parable of the Vineyard Labourers.

329. The Sons of Thunder. Going towards Achzib with the Shepherd Annas.

330. The Cananean Mother.

331. Bartholomew Has Understood and Suffered.

332. On the Way Back to Galilee.

333. Meeting Judas Iscariot and Thomas.

334. Ishmael Ben Fabi. The Parable of the Banquet.

335. Jesus at Nazareth with His Cousins and with Peter and Thomas.

336. The Crippled Woman of Korazim.

337. Going towards Saphet. The Parable of the Good Farmer.

338. Going towards Meiron.

339. At Hillel's Sepulchre at Giscala.

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340. The Deaf-Mute Cured near the Phoenician Border.

341. At Kedesh. The Signs of the Times.

342. Going towards Caesarea Philippi. Peter's Primacy.

343. At Caesarea Philippi.

344. At the Castle in Caesarea Paneas.

345. Jesus Predicts His Passion for the First Time. Peter Is Reproached.

346. Prophecy on Peter and Marjiam. The Blind Man at Bethsaida.

347. From Capernaum to Nazareth with Manaen and the Women Disciples.

348. The Transfiguration and the Curing of the Epileptic.

349. Lesson to the Disciples after the Transfiguration.

350. The Tribute to the Temple and the Stater in the Mouth of the Fish.

351. The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Little Benjamin of Capernaum.

352. Second Miracle of the Loaves.

353. The Bread from Heaven.

354. Nicolaus of Antioch. Second Announcement of the Passion.

355. Going towards Gadara.

356. The Night at Gadara and the Sermon on Divorce.

357. At Pella.

358. In Matthias' House beyond Jabesh-Gilead.

359. Rose of Jericho.

360. Miracle on the Jordan in Flood.

361. On the Other Bank. Jesus Meets His Mother and the Women Disciples.

362. At Ramah. The Number of the Elect.

363. At the Temple. The "Our Father" and a Parable on True Sons.

364. At Gethsemane and Bethany.

365. Letters from Antioch.

366. The Thursday before Passover. Morning Preliminaries.

367. The Thursday before Passover. At the Temple.

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368. The Thursday before Passover. Instructions to the Apostles.

369. The Thursday before Passover. In Johanna of Chuza's House.

370. The Thursday before Passover. The Evening. *

371. Preparation Day. The Morning.

372. Preparation Day. At the Temple.

373. Preparation Day. In the Streets of Jerusalem.

374. Preparation Day. The Evening.

375. The Sabbath of the Unleavened Bread.

376. Mary Has Chosen the Better Part.

377. Jesus Speaks at Bethany.

378. Towards Mount Adomin.

379. After the Retreat upon Mount Cherith.

380. The Parable of the Unfaithful Steward. Essenes and Pharisees.

381. In Nike's House.

382. At the Ford between Jericho and Bethabara.

383. In Solomon's House. Old Ananias.

384. At the Cross-Road near Solomon's Village. Parable of the Labour Agents.

385. Towards the Western Bank of the Jordan.

386. At Gilgal. The Beggar Ogla. The Twelve Stones.

387. Towards Engedi. Taking Leave of Judas Iscariot and Simon Zealot.

388. Arrival at Engedi.

389. Preaching and Miracles at Engedi.

390. Elisha of Engedi. *

391. At Masada.

392. At the Country House of Mary Mother of Judas.

393. Farewell to Kerioth. Parable of the Two Wills.

394. Anne of Kerioth. Farewell to Judas' Mother.

395. Farewell to Juttah.

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396. Farewell to Hebron.

397. Farewell to Bethzur.

398. At Bether.

399. Jesus at Bether with Peter and Bartholomew.

400. Farewell to Bether.

401. Simon of Jonah' Struggle and Spiritual Victory.

402. Going towards Emmaus on the Plain.

403. Little Michael and Preaching near Emmaus on the Plain.

404. At Joppa Jesus Speaks to Judas of Kerioth and to Some Gentiles.

405. In the Estate of Nicodemus. The Parable of the Two Sons.

406. At the Estate of Joseph of Arimathea.

407. In the House of Joseph of Arimathea on a Sabbath.

John, a Member of the Sanhedrin.

408. The Apostles Speak.

409. The Miraculous Gleaning in the Plain.

410. The Lily of the Valley.

411. In Jerusalem for Pentecost.

412. Jesus at the Banquet of Helkai, the Pharisee and Member of the Sanhedrin.

413. At Bethany.

Maria Valtorta

THE POEM OF THE MAN-GOD

VOLUME THREE

THE SECOND YEAR OF THE PUBLIC LIFE

(Conclusion)

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371. Preparation Day. The Morning.
30th January 1946.

Men are lying asleep everywhere in Lazarus' palace, which has been changed into a dormitory for
one night. I do not see any women. They have perhaps been taken to the rooms upstairs. The clear
daybreak whitens the city slowly, it invades the courtyards of the palace, rousing the first timid
chirping of birds in the branches of the shady trees, and the early cooing of doves resting in the
cavity of the cornice. But the men do not wake up. Tired and full of food and excitement as they
are, they are sleeping and dreaming
Jesus goes into the hall and then into the main courtyard. He washes Himself at a fountain of clear
water gurgling in its centre, in a square of myrtle, at the foot of which there are little lilies, similar
to the so called French lilies of the valley. He tidies Himself and without making any noise He goes
to the staircase leading to the rooms upstairs and to the roof terrace. He goes up there to pray and
meditate...
He walks slowly to and fro and the doves are the only ones to see Him: stretching their necks and
cooing, they seem to be asking one another: «Who is that? » He then leans against the little wall and
remains still, engrossed in thought. Finally He raises His eyes, probably because His attention is
drawn by the sudden appearance of the sun, rising behind the hills concealing Bethany and the
Jordan valley, and He contemplates the view before Him.
Lazarus' palace is on one of the many ground elevations that make the streets in Jerusalem,
particularly the less beautiful ones, so undulated. It is in the centre of the city, slightly south-west. It
is situated in a beautiful street leading to the Sixtus, forming a T with it, and it overlooks the lower
part of the town and faces towards Bezetha, Moriah and Ophel and the Mount of Olives, which is
behind them; behind it there is Mount Sion, the area to which it belongs, while on both sides one's
eyes rove over the southern hills, whereas Bezetha to the north hides most of the view. But beyond
the Gihon valley, Golgotha comes into view looking yellowish in the pink light of dawn: it seems
dismal even in that joyful light.
Jesus is looking at it... His look, although more manly and pensive, reminds me of that of the
remote vision of Jesus disputing with the doctors, when He was twelve years old. But it is not a
terrified look as it was not then. It is the dignified look of a hero contemplating the field of his last
battle.
He then turns round to look at the hills to the south of the town and He says: «Caiaphas' house! »
and His eyes follow the itinerary from that spot to Gethsemane, then to the Temple, He then looks
beyond the town walls, towards Calvary...
The sun has now risen and the town is full of light...
Someone knocks loudly and uninterruptedly at the main door of the palace. Jesus leans out to see
who is knocking, but the projecting cornice and the fact that the door is in the inner side of the thick
walls, prevent Him from seeing anyone. But He hears the noise of the voices of the men who are
beginning to wake up, while the door, which was opened by Levi, is closed with a bang. And He
then hears many voices of men and women calling His Name... He hastens downstairs saying:
«Here I am. What do you want? »
As soon as those who were calling Him, hear Him, they rush upstairs shouting. They are the oldest
apostles and disciples, and amongst them there is Jonah, the caretaker of Gethsemane. They are all
speaking at the same time and it is thus impossible to understand what they say.
Jesus has to order them sternly to stop where they are and to be silent, in order to calm them. He
then approaches them asking: «What is the matter? »
There is great confusion once again, caused by their shouting, which cannot be understood. Behind
those who are shouting there are women and disciples who look sad or astonished.
«Let one speak at a time. You, Peter, first. »
«Jonah came... He said that there were many of them and that they looked for You everywhere. He
was upset all night and when the gates were opened, he went to Johanna's and was told that You

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were here. What shall we do? We have to keep Passover after all! »
Jonah of Gethsemane confirms the information saying: «Yes, they even ill-treated me. I told them
that I did not know where You were and that perhaps You were not coming back. But they saw all
your clothes and they understood that you were coming back to Gethsemane. Don't cause me any
harm, Master! I have always given You hospitality with all my heart, and last night I suffered
because of You. But ...»
«Be not afraid! From now on I will not expose you to any danger. I will no longer stay in your
house. I will come there when I happen to be passing through, at night time, to pray... You cannot
forbid Me...» Jesus is most kind to frightened Jonah of Gethsemane.
But the golden voice of Mary of Magdala bursts out vehemently: «Since when, man, are you
forgetting that you are a servant and that our compliance makes you behave as if you were the
master? To whom does the house and the olive grove belong? We are the only ones who can say to
the Rabbi: "Do not go and cause harm to our property". But we will not say that. Because it would
still be the greatest of blessings, if the enemies of the Christ should destroy trees walls and even
make the hill slide down, because everything would be destroyed for giving hospitality to Love, and
Love would repay us, His faithful friends, with love. Let them come and destroy everything. What
does it matter, if He loves us and is unhurt?! »
Jonah is seized with the fear of his enemies and of his earnest mistress, and he whispers: «What
about if they injure my son?....»
Jesus comforts him saying: «I am telling you not to be afraid. I will not stop there any more. You
can tell those who ask you, that the Master no longer lives at Gethsemane... No, Mary! It is better to
do so. Leave it to Me! I thank you for your generosity... But it is not My hour, it is not yet My hour!
I suppose they were Pharisees...»
«And members of the Sanhedrin, and Herodians, and Sadducees... and Herod's soldiers... and...
everybody... I am still trembling with fear... But You can see, Lord! I ran to warn You... at
Johanna's... then here...» The man is anxious to point out that he has done his duty on behalf of the
Master, at the risk of his own peace.
Jesus smiles kindly and sympathetically and says: «Yes, I see. May God reward you for it. Go home
in peace now. I will let you know where you should send our bags or I will send somebody to
collect them Myself.»
The man goes away and everybody, with the exception of Jesus and Our Blessed Lady, blames or
mocks him. Peter's remarks are biting, the Iscariot's caustic and Bartholomew's ironic. Judas
Thaddeus does not say anything, but looks at him in such a way! The whispering and the
reproachful glances continue also among the women, ending in the final blow of Mary of Magdala,
who replies to the bow of the servant-peasant: «I will tell Lazarus to come and get poultry crammed
at Gethsemane for the banquet of the feast.»
«I have no hen-house, madame.»
«You, Mark and Mary: three wonderful capons! »
Everybody laughs at the angry and... meaningful witty remark of Mary of Lazarus, who is furious at
the fear of her subjects and at the discomfort of the Master, Who is deprived of the quiet resting
place at Gethsemane.
«Do not be upset, Mary! Peace! Not everybody has a heart like yours! »
«Oh! Unfortunately not! If everybody had a heart like mine, Rabboni! Not even spears and arrows
shot at me, would separate me from You! »
The men whisper... Mary hears them and replies at once: «Of course! We shall see! And I hope
soon, whether this will help you to pluck up courage. Nothing will frighten me, if I can serve my
Rabbi! Yes, serve Him! And, my brothers, one helps when there is danger! When there is no
danger, one does not serve, one enjoys oneself!... And the Messiah is not to be followed by us, just
for the sake of enjoying ourselves! »
The men lower their heads, stung by the truth.
Mary squeezes through the crowd and comes before Jesus. «What have You decided, Master? It is
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Preparation Day. Where will You celebrate Your Passover? Give Your orders... and if I have found
grace with You, grant me to offer You my supper-room and to see to everything...»
«You have found grace with the Father of Heaven, and thus you have found it with the Son of the
Father. Every movement of the Father is sacred to the Son. But if I accept the supper-room, let Me
go to the Temple, to sacrifice the lamb, as a good Israelite...»
«And if they catch You? » many exclaim.
«They will not catch Me. They may dare to do so at night, in the dark, as rascals are wont to do. But
not in the middle of crowds who worship Me. Do not become cowardly!...»
«Oh! In any case there is Claudia now! » shouts Judas. «The King and Kingdom are no longer in
danger!...»
«Judas, please! Do not let them collapse within you! Do not lay snares for them within yourself. My
Kingdom is not of this world. I am not a king like those sitting on thrones. Mine is the Kingdom of
the spirit. If you lower it to the meanness of a human kingdom, you are laying snares for it and
causing it to collapse within you.»
«But Claudia!...»
«But Claudia is a heathen. She cannot, therefore, appreciate the value of the spirit. It is a lot if she
understands and supports Him, Who, according to her, is a Wise Man... Many people in Israel do
not even consider Me wise!... But you are not a heathen, My dear friend! Do not allow your
providential meeting with Claudia to become detrimental to you, and likewise do not allow the gift,
granted by God to strengthen your faith and your will to serve the Lord, to become a spiritual
disaster for you.»
«How could it, my Lord? »
«Easily. And not in you only. If a gift given to assist the weakness of man, instead of fortifying him
and making him desirous of supernatural good or even simply of moral good, should instead weigh
him down with human desires and divert him from the right way to vicious ways, then the gift
would become a damage. Pride is sufficient to turn a gift into a damage. The disorientation caused
by something that elates man is sufficient, whereby one loses sight of the supreme good Purpose,
and the gift becomes harmful. Are you convinced? Claudia's coming should give you only the
support of one consideration. This one: if a heathen has perceived the greatness of My doctrine and
the necessity that it should triumph, you, and all the disciples with you, should feel that more
intensely and, consequently, devote yourselves entirely to that. But always in a spiritual way.
Always... And now let us decide. Where do you think we ought to celebrate this Passover? I want
you to be in the peace of spirit for this ritual Supper, in order to feel God, Who is not perceived in a
state of agitation. We are many. But I would love to be all together so that you may be able to say:
"We celebrated one Passover with Him". Choose therefore a place where, being divided according
to the rite, we can form groups, each group being sufficient to consume its own lamb, and we may
be able to say: "We were all united, and one could hear the voice of his brother".»
Some mention this place, some that one. But Lazarus' sisters are the winners. «Oh! Lord! Here! We
shall send for our brother. We have many halls and rooms here. We will be all together and
according to the rite. Accept our offer, Lord! The palace has rooms suitable for at least two hundred
people divided into groups of twenty people each. But we are not so many. Make us happy, Lord!
Do it for our Lazarus who is so sad... and so ill » and the two sisters conclude weeping: «...we do
not think that he will live to eat another Passover...»
«What do you all think? Do you think we should agree with the good sisters?» says Jesus, putting
the question to everybody.
«I would say yes » says Peter.
«And I, too » says the Iscariot and many more with him.
Those who do not speak, nod assent.
«Do the necessary, then. And we will go to the Temple to prove that he who is sure that he is
obeying the Most High, is not afraid and is not a coward. Let us go. My peace to those who are
remaining.»
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And Jesus goes down the rest of the staircase, He crosses the hall and goes out with the disciples
into the street crowded with people.

372. Preparation Day. At the Temple.

31st January 1946.

Jesus enters the Temple. And from His very first steps in it one easily understands the evil
disposition of minds towards the Nazarene. They leer at Him and give orders to the Temple guards
to watch «the disturber », and they give them in public, so that everybody may hear and see; they
shout coarse scornful words at those who are with Him and deliberately push the apostles... In short
their hatred is such that the manners of the wonderful Pharisees, scribes and doctors are coarse
beyond comprehension and they do not realise, blinded as they are with malice, that their behaviour
disgraces them also as human beings.
Jesus passes by calmly as if their attitude did not concern Him! And whenever He sees any
important person who either by sacred rank or power belongs to the «ruling » class of the Jewish
world, He is the first to greet him. And if that person does not greet in return, Jesus does not change
His attitude. When He looks away from such proud people and He sees one or more of the many
humble people around Him, His face brightens with a very gentle smile. And there are many of the
beggars and sick people whom He gathered together yesterday and who, through their unexpected
good luck, are now in a position to celebrate Passover as perhaps they had not done for years, and
who have spontaneously formed groups and are now going to buy the lambs to be sacrificed, and
the poor wretches look so happy as they are now just like everybody else, both with regard to their
clothes and their means. And He stops and kindly listens to them, to their resolutions, to their
amazing stories, to their blessings... Old people, children, widows, people sick yesterday: now
cured; miserable, ragged, starving, forlorn yesterday: today clad and happy to be like all other men
in the days of the great Feast of the Unleavened Bread!
Jesus is greeted, accompanied and followed by a variety of voices, from the silvery ones of children
to the trembling voices of old people and between those two extremes there are the timid voices of
women. Kisses rain upon His garments and His hands. And Jesus smiles and blesses whilst His
enemies, who are as livid with anger as He is bright with peace, chafe with powerless rage.
I hear scraps of conversation...
«You are right! But if we lifted a finger, they (and a Pharisee points at the people pressing round
Jesus) would tear us to pieces.»
...«Just imagine! He gathered us together, He fed us, He gave us clothes and cured us, and many
have found work and help through His rich disciples. But in actual fact, everything came from Him,
may God always save Him! » says a man, who probably yesterday was ill and a beggar.
...«No wonder! That is how the rebel bribes people, and stirs them against us» says a scribe
threateningly, speaking to a colleague.
«One of His disciples took my name and she told me to go to her after Passover, because she will
take me to her property at Bether. Do you realise what that means? She will be taking me and my
children. So I will be working. It is a pleasure to work when one is protected and safe. And my Levi
will not break his back working in the fields. The lady who is taking us on will employ him in the
rose-gardens... It will be a pastime, I say! Ah! May the Eternal Father grant glory and welfare to His
Messiah! » says the widow from the plain of Sharron to a well to do Israelite woman, who was
questioning her.
«Oh! and could I not help?... Are you all settled, you who were gathered together yesterday? » asks
the wealthy Israelite.
«No, we are not, woman. There are still some widows with children and some men.»
«I would like to ask Him whether He will allow me to help Him.»

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«Call Him.»
«I dare not.»
«Go, Levi and tell Him that a woman wishes to speak to Him...»
The boy runs away and informs Jesus.
In the meantime a Sadducee ill-treats an old man who is lecturing in the middle of a crowd from
beyond the Jordan and is singing the praises of the Master of Galilee.
The old man defends himself saying: «Am I doing anything wrong? Did you want to be praised? All
you had to do was do what He does. But you, may God forgive you, you despise poverty and old
age, instead of loving them, because you are a false Israelite, as you do not respect Deuteronomy by
having mercy on the poor.»
«Do you hear that? That is the result of the doctrine of the instigator! He teaches common people to
offend the saints of Israel.»
A priest of the Temple replies to him: «But it is our fault, if that happens! We do nothing but utter
threats, without carrying them out! »
...Jesus in the meantime says to the woman of Israel: «If you really want to be a mother to orphans
and a sister to widows, go to Chuza's palace at the Sixtus. Tell Johanna that I have sent you. And
may the ground be as fruitful to you as Eden, because of your pity. And may your heart be more
fruitful in a deeper and deeper love for your neighbour.»
At the same time He sees the guards drag the old man who had spoken previously. He shouts:
«What are you doing to the old man? And what has he done? »
«He insulted the officials who were reprimanding him.»
«That is not true. A Sadducee maltreated me because I was speaking of You to those pilgrims. And
as he lifted his hand against me, because I am old and poor, I told him that he is a false Israelite
who tramples on the words of Deuteronomy.»
«Set the old man free. He is with Me. He spoke the truth. Not sincerity: the Truth. If God speaks
through the lips of children, He speaks also through the lips of old people. It is written: "Do not
despise a man in his old age, because those who have grown old belong to us". It is also written:
"Do not ignore the talk of the wise, be conversant with their proverbs, since from these you will
learn wisdom and the theory of intelligence", and also: "Do not be talkative where there are old
men". Let Israel remember that, that part of Israel which says that it is perfect, otherwise the Most
High will give the lie to it. Father, come here beside Me.»
The old man approaches Jesus, while the Sadducees, impressed by the reproach, go away angrily.
«I am a Jewess of the Diaspora, o expected King. Could I serve You like that woman whom You
sent to Johanna? » says a woman, who is very much like that one, named Nicky, who wiped Jesus'
face on Golgotha and received the Towel. But Jewesses are very much alike and after many months
after that vision, I might be wrong.
Jesus looks at her. He sees a woman about forty years old, well dressed, of frank manner. He asks
her: «You are a widow, are you not? »
«Yes, I am. And I have no children. I came back recently and I bought some land at Jericho, to be
close to the Holy City. But now I see that You are greater than it is. And I will follow You. And I
beg You to accept me as Your servant. I heard of You from Your disciples, but You exceed what
they told me.»
«All right. But what do you want exactly? »
«To, help You with the poor people and make people love You and know You, as best I can. I know
many people in the colonies of the Diaspora, as I used to follow my husband in his business. I have
means, but I need little for myself. So I can do quite a lot. And I am anxious to do much for Your
sake and to pray for the soul of him who married me twenty years ago and who was my loving
companion until he breathed his last. He told me when he was dying. He seemed to prophesy:
"When I am dead, deliver this flesh of mine, which loved you, to the tomb and go back to our
country. You will find the Promised One. Oh! You will see Him! Look for Him and follow Him. He
is the Redeemer and the Reviver and He will open the door of Life to me. Be kind and help me to
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be ready when He will open Heaven to those who have no debts with Justice and be good in order
to deserve to meet Him soon. Swear that you will do so and that you will turn the unfruitful tears of
widowhood into active strength. Follow the example of Judith, my darling, and all the nations will
know your name". My poor husband! I ask You only to take cognizance of me...»
«I will know you as a good disciple. You may go to Johanna as well and may God be with you.»
...As busy as bees Jesus' enemies attack Him once again while He is making His way to the
enclosure of the Temple, after He has sacrificed His lamb and has waited for those of the disciples
to be sacrificed, in order to have enough for everybody.
«When are You going to stop posing as a king? You are not a king! And You are not a prophet!
How long do You intend to trespass on our kindness, You sinner, rebel and cause of evil to Israel?
How many times have we to tell You that You have no right to act as a Rabbi in here? »
«I came to sacrifice a lamb. You cannot forbid that. In any case I would remind you of Adonijah
and Solomon.»
«What have they got to do with it? What do You mean? Are You Adonijab? »
«No. Adonijah made himself king by fraud, but Wisdom was watching and advising, and Solomon
only became king. I am not Adonijah. I am Solomon.»
«And who is Adonijah? »
«All of you.»
«We? How can You say that? »
«With truth and justice.»
«We comply with the Law, with every point of it, we believe in the prophets and...»
«No. You do not believe in the prophets. They mention Me, but you do not believe in Me. You do
not comply with the Law. It prescribes just deeds, which you do not do. Even the offerings, which
you come here to make, are not honest. It is written: "The sacrifice of an offering unjustly acquired
is a mockery". It is written: "The Most High takes no pleasure in offerings from wicked people, He
pays no attention to their offerings, multiplying sacrifices will not gain His pardon for sin". It is
written: "Offering sacrifice from the property of the poor is as bad as slaughtering a son before his
father's very eyes". That is what is written, Johanan! It is written: "A meagre diet is the very life of
the poor, he who withholds it is a man of blood". That is what is written, Ishmael! It is written: "A
man murders his neighbour if he robs him of his livelihood". That is what is written, o Doras son of
Doras. It is written: "He who sheds blood and he who withholds an employee's wages are brothers".
That is what is written, o Johanan, Ishmael, Hananiah, Doras, Jonathan. And remember that it is
also written: "Whoever turns a deaf ear to the cries of the poor, will cry too, but he will not be
listened to". And you, Eleazar ben Annas, remember and remind your father that it is written: "Let
My priests be holy, they must not allow themselves to be contaminated for any reason whatsoever".
And you, Cornelius, had better know that it is written: "Anyone who curses father and mother, must
die", and death is given not only by the executioner. A more severe death awaits those who sin
against their parents: the eternal dreadful death. And you, Tolmé, remember that it is written: "He
who practises magic, will be exterminated by Me". And you, Sadoc, golden scribe, remember that
between an adulterer and his procurer of adultery there is no difference in the eyes of God and that
it is written that he who swears falsehood will be devoured by everlasting flames. And tell him,
who has forgotten it, that he who marries a virgin and when he is satiated with her, he rejects her
with false accusations, is to be condemned. Oh! not in this world. In future life, because of his
deceit, his perjury, the damage caused to his wife and his adultery. What? Are you all running
away? Before the Defenceless One Who is speaking words that are not His own, but belong to those
whom you declare to be the saints of Israel, thus you cannot say that the Defenceless One is a
blasphemer, because if you did, you would call blasphemers the Books of Wisdom and those of
Moses, which were dictated by God? Are you fleeing from the Defenceless One? Are perhaps My
words stones? Or are they rousing your consciences by striking the hard bronze of your hardened
hearts, and your consciences feel that it is their duty to become purified, not only in your bodies, in
this Preparation Day, so that you may consume the holy lamb without any sin of impurity? Oh! if it
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is so, praised be the Lord! Because, since you wish to be praised as wise men, remember that it is
true wisdom to know oneself, to confess one's errors, to repent and thus celebrate the rites with
"true" devotion. That is, with the cult and rite of your souls, and not with an external cult... They
have gone! Let us go as well to give peace to those who are waiting for us...»

373. Preparation Day. In the Streets of Jerusalem.

2nd February 1946.

They come out of the Temple, overcrowded with people and plunge into the swarming streets,
where everybody is making haste in the last preparations for Passover and late-comers are anxiously
looking for a room, a hall, any place at all, to use as a supper-room, where to consume the lamb.
It is thus easy to meet people but it is also easy not to recognise one another in the dense agitated
crowd, as one sees faces of all ages, of all the regions where there are Israelites, and where the pure
blood of Israel, through mixture of blood or simply through mimicry, has become like other races.
One can thus see Jews who are like Egyptians or look like Nubians because of their thick prominent
lips, snub noses and facial angle; others with small fine features, slender bodies, witty eyes make
one understand that they come from the Greek colonies or are crossed with Greeks; whereas tall
robust men, with rather square faces, clearly show that they are connected with the Latin race; and
there are many who modern people would say are Circassians or Persians with a resemblance of
Mongolian or Indian eyes in the very white faces of the former and the olive-hued faces of the
latter. A beautiful, kaleidoscope of faces and garments! The result is that one's eyes become tired
and one ends up by looking without seeing. But what escapes one is noticed by another.
It is therefore understandable that what escapes the Master, Who is always absorbed in thought
when He is left in peace, without being asked questions, is noticed by this one or that one of His
followers. And the apostles, those who are closer to Jesus, point out to one another what they see
and talk to one another in low voices making worldly comments... on the people they point out.
One such biting comment on an ex-disciple who passes by haughtily, pretending he does not see
them, is heard by Jesus, Who asks: «To whom were those words referred? »
«To that blockhead over there » says James of Zebedee. «He pretended he did not see us, and he is
not the only one to do so. But when he wanted to be cured and was looking for You, he did see us! I
hope he gets a malignant pustule! »
«James!! Are you standing beside Me with such feelings while you are getting ready to consume the
lamb? In actual fact you are more inconsistent than he. He went away openly when he felt he could
not do what I said. You, instead, have remained but you do not do what I say. Are you not perhaps a
greater sinner than he? »
James blushes so deeply that he looks congested, and he withdraws behind his companions, as he is
humiliated.
«It hurts to see them behave like that, Master! » says John to support his brother who has been
reproached. «Our love rebels seeing their estrangement...»
«Of course. But do you think that you can bring them back to love by so doing? Discourteous acts,
bad words, insults have never brought a rival or a man of different opinion to where he should be
led. It is through kindness, patience, charity, persevering notwithstanding refusals, that you achieve
your purpose. I understand and pity your hearts, which suffer seeing that I am not loved. But I
would like to see and know that you are more supernatural in your acts and means to make Me
loved. Come on, James, come here. I did not speak to humiliate you. Let us love and understand
one another, at least among ourselves, My dear friends... There is already so much incomprehension
and sorrow for the Son of man! »
James, who is cheerful again, goes back beside Him.
They walk for some time in silence, then Thomas bursts into a thundering exclamation: «But it's

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really a shame! »
«What? » asks Jesus.
«The meanness of so many people! Master, don't You see how many pretend they do not know
You? »
«So what? Will their behaviour change one iota of what has been written about Me? No, it will not.
Only with regard to themselves what could be written will change. Because in the eternal books it
could be said of them: "Good disciples", whereas it will be written: "They were not good, the
coming of the Messiah meant nothing to them". Dreadful words, you know? Worse than: "Adam
and Eve sinned". Because I can cancel that sin. But I will not be able to cancel the sin of those who
deny the Word Saviour... Let us go this way. I will stop with My brothers, with Simon Peter and
James in the suburb of Ophel. Judas of Simon also will remain with Me. But Simon Zealot, John
and Thomas will go to Gethsemane to get the bags...»
«Yes, so Jonah's lamb will not go down his throat the wrong way » says Peter, who is still angry.
The others laugh...
«Be good! There is no reason to be astonished if he is afraid. You might feel the same tomorrow.»
«Me, Master? The sea of Galilee is more likely to turn into wine than I am to be afraid » states Peter
confidently.
«And yet... the other evening... Oh! Simon! You did not look so brave on the staircase of Chuza's
palace » remarks Judas of Kerioth pungently, without being too ironic... but sufficiently sarcastic to
bite Peter.
«I was afraid for the Lord, that is why I was worried! For no other reason.»
«Very well! Let us hope that we shall... never be afraid, so that we may not cut a bad figure, eh! »
replies Judas of Kerioth, clapping him on his shoulder, protectingly and maliciously...
At any other moment his behaviour would have given rise to a reaction. But Peter, since the
previous evening, is full of... admiration for Judas and puts up with him in everything.
Jesus says: «Philip and Nathanael with Andrew and Matthew, please go to Lazarus' palace and tell
them that we are coming.»
The four apostles part and the others proceed with Jesus. The disciples, with the exception of
Stephen and Isaac, go with the apostles sent to the palace.
At the Ophel suburb there is a further parting. Those bound for Gethsemane go away quickly with
Isaac. Stephen remains with Jesus, the sons of Alphaeus, Peter, James and the Iscariot and to avoid
stopping at the cross-roads, they proceed slowly in the same direction as those who have gone to
Gethsemane. They go along the same little street along which Jesus will be taken by His torturers
on the evening of Holy Thursday. Now, about midday, it is empty. After a short distance they come
to a little square with a fountain shaded by a fig-tree, which is opening its little tender leaves above
the calm water.
«There is Samuel of Annaleah » says James of Alphaeus, who must know him well. The young man
is about to enter a house carrying a lamb... and other foodstuffs.
«He is preparing the Passover supper also for his relative » remarks Judas of Alphaeus.
«Has he settled here now? Had he not gone away? » asks Peter.
«Yes, he has settled here. They say that he is flirting with the daughter of Cleopas, the
sandal-maker. She is wealthy...»
«Ah! So why does he say that Annaleah left him? » asks the Iscariot. «That's a lie! »
«Man often makes use of lies. And he does not realise that by doing so he takes the wrong path. The
first step, one step, is enough, and one can no longer get free... It is birdlime... it is a labyrinth... a
snare... A sloping snare...» says Jesus to Judas of Kerioth.
«What a pity! He seemed such a good man last year! » says James of Zebedee.
«Yes. I really thought that he would imitate his girl-friend devoting himself entirely to You and
forming a couple of married angels and Your servants. I would have sworn to it!...» says Peter.
«My dear Simon! Never swear on the future of man. It is the most uncertain of all things. No
element, existing at the time of the oath, can guarantee a safe oath. There are criminals who
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become saints, and there are just people, or apparently just, who become criminals » Jesus replies to
him.
Samuel in the meantime, after going into the house, has come out once again to draw water at the
fountain... He thus sees Jesus. He looks at Him with obvious contempt and hurls at Him what is
certainly an insult, although I do not understand it, as it was spoken in Hebrew.
The Iscariot jumps forward all of a sudden, he catches him by the arm, shaking him like a tree from
which one wants ripe fruit to drop: «Is that how you speak to the Master, you sinner? Down, on
your knees, at once! Apologise to Him, you foul tongue of a dirty pig! Down! Or I'll break your
neck! » Handsome Judas is furious in his sudden violence! His countenance has changed fearfully.
Jesus tries to calm him in vain. He does not release his hold until he sees the sinner kneeling on the
muddy earth around the fountain.
«Forgive me » says the unlucky fellow between his teeth, feeling Judas' fingers torture him like
pincers. But he says so badly, only because he is forced to it.
Jesus replies: «I am not angry, But you still are, notwithstanding what you say. Words are useless
unless they are uttered with one's heart. But you are still cursing Me in your heart. And you are thus
twice guilty. Because you accuse Me and you hate Me for a reason, which your conscience, from its
very depth, tells you is not true. And because you are the only one who is at fault, not Annaleah, not
I. But I forgive you everything. Go and try to become honest and pleasing to God. Let him go,
Judas.»
«I am going. But I hate You! You have led Annaleah astray, and I hate You...»
«But you have found consolation with Rebecca, the sandal-maker's daughter. And you have sought
consolation since Annaleah was your fiancée, and although ill, she thought of you only...»
«I was a widower... I thought I already was... and I was looking for a wife... I have now gone back
to Rebecca because... because Annaleah does not want me » says Samuel to justify himself, when
he realises that his mischief has been discovered.
Judas Iscariot concludes: «... and because Rebecca is very rich. She is as ugly as an old worn-out
sandal... and as old as a sole lost along the way... but rich, oh! very rich!...» and he laughs
sarcastically, while the other runs away.
«How do you know? » asks Peter.
«Oh!... it is easy to find out where there are virgins and money! »
«Well! Shall we go along this little street, Master? This square is as hot as an oven. It is shaded and
windy » implores Peter who is perspiring.
They walk slowly, waiting for the others to come back. The street is deserted.
A woman comes out of a door and prostrates herself at Jesus' feet weeping.
«What is the matter? »
«Master!... Are You already purified? »
«Yes. Why are you asking Me? »
«Because I wanted to tell You... But You cannot approach him. He is all rotten... The doctor says
that he is infected. I will call the priest after Passover... and... Hinnom will receive him. Don't say
that it is my fault. I did not know... He worked at Joppa for many months and he came back saying
that he had injured himself. I have used balms and I have bathed him with aromatic herbs... But
they do not help. I applied to a herbalist. He gave me some powders for the blood... I separated the
children... the bed... because I was beginning to realise. He got worse. I sent for the doctor. He said
to me: "Woman, you know what your duty is and I know mine. It is an injury caused by lust.
Separate him from yourself, I will separate him from the people, the priest from Israel. He should
have thought about it when he was offending God, you and himself. Let him expiate now". He
promised not to say anything until after the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. But if You had mercy
on the sinner, on me who love him and on the five innocent children...»
«What do you want Me to do for you? Do you not think that he who sinned should expiate? »
«Yes, Lord! But You are the Living Mercy! » All the faith of which a woman is capable is in her
voice, in her eyes, in her kneeling attitude, with her arms stretched out towards the Saviour.
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«And what are his feelings? »
«He is disheartened... What else could he be, Lord? »
«A supernatural feeling of repentance, of justice would be sufficient to obtain mercy!...»
«Justice? »
«Yes. He should say: "I have sinned. My sin deserves this and much more, but I ask those whom I
offended to have mercy on me".»
«I have already had pity on him. You, God, have mercy on him. I cannot say to You: come in... I am
not touching You myself either... But if You want I will call him and I will make him speak from
the terrace.»
«Yes, do.»
The woman, with her head inside the door of the house, shouts in a loud voice: «Jacob! Jacob! Go
up to the roof. Look out. Don't be afraid.»
A few moments later the man appears at the parapet of the terrace. His face is yellowish and
swollen, his neck and one hand are bandaged... the wreck of an infected man... He looks with the
watery eyes of a man affected by dishonourable diseases. He asks: «Who wants me? »
«Jacob, the Saviour is here...» The woman says no more but she looks as if she wanted to hypnotise
the sick man and instil her thoughts into him...
The man, whether he perceives her thoughts, or through a spontaneous act, stretches his arms and
says: «Oh! free me! I believe in You! It is terrible to die like this! »
«It is terrible to fail in one's duty. You did not think of that! You did not think of your children! »
«Have mercy, Lord... On them, on me... Forgive me! » And he leans on the low wall weeping. His
bandaged hand is protruding as well as his arm, which is uncovered as his sleeve is pulled up and is
spotted with pustules, and swollen: a repulsive sight... The man, in his present position, is like a
macabre puppet or a corpse abandoned there and about to decay. A pitiful and disgusting sight at
the same time.
The woman is weeping, still on her knees, in the dust. Jesus seems to be waiting for a further word.
At last it is heard among sobs: «I implore You with contrition in my heart! At least assure me that
they will not starve... and then.. I will go with resignation... But save my soul, o Blessed Saviour! At
least that! »
«Yes, I will cure you. For the innocent children's sake and to give you the opportunity to become
just. Do you understand? Remember that the Saviour cured you. God will absolve you of your sins
according to how you respond to this grace. Goodbye. Peace to you woman.» And He almost runs
away to meet those who are coming from Gethsemane. Not even the shouts of the man who feels
and sees that he has been cured can stop Him, or those of his wife...
«Let us go along this lane, to avoid passing there again » says Jesus after He has joined the others.
They walk along a miserable lane, which is so narrow that two people can hardly go along it
walking side by side and if one should meet a donkey with a pack-saddle, one would have to stick
to the wall like a stamp. The light is very faint because the roofs almost touch each other. It is a
solitary, silent, bad smelling lane. They proceed in single file to the end of it. Then at a little square,
crowded with boys, they all get together.
«Why did You say those words to that man? You never said them before...» asks Peter curiously.
«Because that man will be one of My enemies. And his future sin will aggravate his present fault.»
«And You cured him?! » they all ask with surprised countenance.
«Yes. For the innocent children's sake. »
«H'm! He will fall ill again...»
«No, he will take care of his body, after the fright he had and what he suffered. He will not be taken
ill again.»
«But he will sin against You, as You said. I would have let him die.»
«You are a sinner, Simon of Jonah.»
«And You are too good, Jesus of Nazareth » replies Peter.
They disappear in a central street and I no longer can see them.
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----------------------------
A note of mine.
I have recognised both the man who was cured and Samuel. The former is the man who hit Jesus'
head with a stone at His Passion. I recognise him better than his wife, who was sorrowful then as
she is now and I recognise the house, which has a characteristically tall door with three steps.
Likewise, notwithstanding the mask of hatred that transforms him, I recognise in Samuel the young
man who kills his mother with a kick in order to be able to go and strike the Master with a cudgel.

374. Preparation Day. The Evening.

3rd February 1946.

When Jesus enters the palace, He sees that it is crowded with servants from Bethany, who are busy
making preparations. Lazarus, who is lying on a little bed and is suffering very much, greets the
Master with a faint smile. He hastens towards him, bending kindly over the little bed and asking:
«You have suffered a great deal, My dear friend, because of the jolting of the wagon, have you not?
»
«Very much, Master » replies Lazarus, so exhausted that the very memory of what he felt makes
tears well up in his eyes.
«Through My fault! Forgive Me! »
Lazarus takes one of Jesus' hands up to his face, rubs his skinny cheek against it, kisses it and
whispers: «Oh! It was no fault of Yours, Lord! I am so happy that You are celebrating Passover with
me... my last Passover!...»
«With God's will, notwithstanding everything, you will celebrate many more, Lazarus. And your
heart will always be with Me.»
«Oh! I am a finished man! You are consoling me... but it is all over. And I am sorry...» He weeps.
«See, Lord? Lazarus does nothing but weep » says Martha compassionately. «Tell him not to cry.
He wears himself out! »
«The body still has its rights. It is painful to suffer, Martha, and the flesh weeps. And it needs relief.
But the soul is resigned, is it not, My friend? Your just soul is willing to do the will of the Lord...»
«Yes... But I weep because, since You are so persecuted, You will not be able to assist me at the
hour of my death... I shudder at the thought of death, I am afraid to die... But if You were here, I
would not feel thus. I would take shelter in Your arms... and I would fall asleep like that... What
shall I do? How shall I be able to die without feeling that I do not want to obey the dreadful Will? »
«Cheer up! Do not let that worry you! See? You are making your sisters weep... The Lord will help
you so paternally that you will not be afraid. Sinners must be afraid...»
«But You, if You can, will You come to me when I am in agony? Promise me!»
«I promise that and even more.»
«While they are preparing, tell me what You have done this morning...»
And Jesus, sitting on the edge of the little bed, holding one of Lazarus' skinny hands in His own,
tells him in detail what happened, until Lazarus, who is exhausted, falls asleep. Jesus does not leave
him even then. He remains still in order not to disturb his refreshing slumber and makes signs to
make the least possible noise, so much so that Martha, after bringing a refreshment to Jesus,
withdraws on tiptoe, drawing the heavy curtain and closing the solid door. The noise of the busy
house is thus deadened to a barely perceptible low sound. Lazarus is sleeping. Jesus is engrossed in
prayer and meditation.
Some hours pass thus, until Mary of Magdala brings a small lamp, because it is getting dark and the
windows are closed.
«Is he still sleeping? » she whispers.
«Yes. He is very calm. It will do him good.»
«He has never slept so long for months... I think that the fear of death made him restless. With You
close to him he is not afraid of anything... He is fortunate!»

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«Why, Mary? »
«Because he will be able to have You beside him when he dies. But I...»
«Why not? »
«Because You want to die... soon. And who knows when I will die. Let me die before You, Master!
»
«No, you will have to serve Me for a long time yet.»
«So I am right in saying that Lazarus is fortunate! »
«All the beloved ones will be as fortunate as he is, even more so...»
«Who are they? The pure, are they not? »
«Those who know how to love totally. You, for instance, Mary.»
«Oh! My Master! » Mary throws herself down, on the multicoloured mat that covers the floor of
this room, and she remains there, adoring her Jesus.
Martha, who is looking for her, looks into the room. «Come on, then! We must prepare the red hall
for the supper of the Lord.»
«No, Martha. Give that room to the most humble guests, to Johanan's peasants, for instance.»
«Why, Master? »
«Because each poor man is Jesus and I am in all of them. Always love the poor whom no one loves,
if you want to be perfect. Prepare for Me in the entrance-hall. If you leave open the doors of the
many rooms opening on to it, everybody will be able to see Me and I shall see everybody.»
Martha, who is not very happy, objects: «What? You in the entrance-hall?... It is not worthy of
You!...»
«Go, do as I say. It is most worthy to do what the Master advises.»
Martha and Mary go out noiselessly and Jesus remains patiently to watch His friend who is resting.
---------------------------------
Supper has now begun, with a distribution of the guests, which from a human point of view is not
very just, but with a superior view aiming at giving honour and love to those who are usually
neglected by the world.
Thus Johanan's peasants with Marjiam, Isaac and other disciples, to make up the ritual number, are
sitting in the splendid regal red hall, the vault of which is supported by two columns of red
porphyry, between which a long table has been placed. In the hall where they had supper the
previous evening there are some more of the most humble disciples. In the white hall, a dream of
white splendour, there are the virgin-disciples, and with them, only four in number, there are
Lazarus' sisters and Anastasica and other young women. But the queen of the feast is Mary, the
preeminent Virgin. In the next room, which is perhaps a library because all around the walls there
are tall dark bookcases, which perhaps contain or contained rolls, there are the widows and the
wives and they are looked after by Eliza of Bethzur and Mary of Alphaeus. And so on.
But what strikes one is to see Jesus in the marble entrance-hall. It is true that the refined taste of
Lazarus' sisters has turned the square entrance into a large hall, which is brighter, more embellished
and splendid than any hall. But it is still the entrance! Jesus is with the Twelve, but Lazarus is
beside Him. And with Lazarus there is also Maximinus.
The supper proceeds according to the rite... and Jesus shines with joy and pleasure being in the
centre of all His faithful disciples.
When the supper is over, the last chalice has been consumed and the last psalm sung, all those who
were in the different rooms crowd into the entrance. But they cannot all go in, because the table
takes up much room.
«Let us go into the red hall, Master. We will push the table against the wall and we will all be
around You » suggests Lazarus beckoning to the servants to do so.
Jesus, Who is sitting in the centre, between the two precious columns, under the bright chandelier,
on a tall pedestal formed with two bed-seats used for the supper, now really looks like a king on a
throne in the midst of His courtiers. His linen tunic, which He put on before supper, shines as if it
were woven with precious threads, and looks even whiter against the opaque red of the walls and
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the bright red of the columns. And His countenance is really divine and regal while He speaks or
listens to those around Him. Even the most humble ones, whom He wanted near Him, speak
confidently, mentioning their hopes, their worries with simplicity and faith, as they feel that they
are loved in a brotherly way by the others.
But the happiest among so many happy people is Marjiam's grandfather! He does not part from his
grandson even for one moment, and he delights in looking at him and listening to him... Now and
again, as he is sitting beside Marjiam, who is standing, he rests his white head on the chest of his
grandson, who caresses it.
Jesus sees him do this several times and He asks him: «Father, is your heart happy? »
«Oh! very happy, my Lord! I cannot believe that it is true. I have but one desire now...»
«Which? »
«The one I mentioned to my son. But he does not approve of it.»
«What is your desire? »
«I would like to die, if possible, in this peace. Soon, at least. Because I have already received the
greatest blessing. No human being can have more on the Earth. I want to go... suffer no more... go...
How rightly You spoke in the Temple, Lord! "Offering sacrifice from the property of the poor is as
bad as slaughtering a son before his father's very eyes". Only his fear of You prevents Johanan from
emulating Doras. He is forgetting what happened to the other one, his fields are thriving and he
fertilises them with our perspiration. Is perspiration not the property of the poor workman, his very
self that is worn out with work exceeding his strength? He does not beat us, he gives us enough to
enable us to work. But does he not exploit us more than his oxen? Will you tell Him, o my
companions...»
Johanan's new and old peasants nod assent.
«H'm! I think that... Yes, that Your words have made him a greater vampire... to their detriment...
Why did You say them, Master? » asks Peter.
«Because he deserved them. What do you say, you workers of his fields? »
«Oh! yes! The first months... it was all right. But now... it is worse than before» avers Micah.
«The bucket of the well is pulled down by its own weight » declares John the priest.
«Yes, and a wolf soon grows weary of looking like a lamb » confirms Hermas.
The women, who are deeply moved, whisper to one another.
Jesus looks at the poor peasants with eyes wide with pity, and He is anguished at not being able to
relieve them.
Lazarus says: «I offered absurd amounts of money to have those fields and give these men peace.
But I did not succeed in getting them. Doras hates me, he is exactly like his father.»
«Well... we shall die thus. It is our destiny. But the time for us to rest in Abraham's bosom will
certainly come! » exclaims Saul, another peasant of Johanan's.
«In God's bosom, son! In God's bosom. Redemption will be completed, Heaven will be open and
you will go to Heaven and...»
Somebody hammers at the main door, which resounds loudly. The guests become agitated.
«Who is it? »
«Who goes about in Passover evening? »
«Soldiers? »
«Pharisees? »
«Herod's soldiers? »
But while the agitation spreads, Levi, the caretaker of the palace, appears. «Forgive me, Rabbi » he
says «there is a man who wants You. He is in the entrance. He looks very depressed. He is old and
looks like a man of the people. He wishes to see You at once.»
«Hey! This is no evening for miracles! Tell him to come back tomorrow...» says Peter.
«No. Every evening is the hour for miracles and mercy » says Jesus standing up and descending
from His seat to go towards the hall.
«Are You going alone? I will come with You » says Peter.
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«No, stay where you are.» He goes out with Levi.
Near the heavy main door, at the other end of the entrance, which is now in half-darkness as all the
lights have been put out, there is a very excited old man. Jesus approaches him.
«Stop, Master. I have perhaps touched a dead body and I do not want to contaminate You. I am the
relative of Samuel, Annaleah's fiancé. We were eating our supper and Samuel drank all the time...
as it is not right to do. But the young man seems to have become mad for some time. It's remorse,
Lord! He was half-drunk and while drinking again he was saying: "So I cannot remember whether I
told Him that I hate Him. Because, I must tell you that I cursed the Rabbi". And he looked like Cain
to me, because he went on repeating: "My wickedness is too great. I do not deserve to be forgiven! I
must drink! I must drink to forget. Because it is written that he who curses his God will carry his sin
and must die". He was raving like that when a relative of Annaleah's mother came into the house to
ask about the repudiation. Samuel, who was almost drunk, replied with coarse words and the man
threatened to take him to justice for the damage he was causing to the family honour. Samuel
slapped his face. They came to blows... I am old, my sister is old, the servant and the maid are also
old. What could the four of us and the two girls, Samuel's sisters, do? All we could do was to shout
and try to separate them! Nothing else... And Samuel took the hatchet with which we had prepared
the firewood for the lamb and hit the man on the head with it... He did not split his head, because he
hit him with the butt-end and not the blade. The man staggered babbling and fell... We did not
shout any longer... as we did not wish to attract the attention of people... We bolted the door... We
were terrified... We poured some water on the man's head hoping he would come round. But he
babbled all the time. He was certainly dying. At times he seemed dead. So I ran here to call You.
His relatives will be looking for him tomorrow, perhaps earlier. And they will come to us, because
they certainly know that he came. And they will find him dead... And Samuel, according to the
Law, will be killed... Lord! Lord! Disgrace is already on top of us... We don't want that! For the sake
of my sister, Lord, have mercy on us! He cursed You... But his mother loves You... What shall we
do? »
«Wait for Me here. I will come » and Jesus goes back to the hall and from the door He calls: «Judas
of Kerioth, come with Me.»
«Where, Lord? » asks Judas obeying promptly.
«You. will see. All of you stay here in peace and love. We shall soon be back.»
They go out the hall, through the entrance and leave the house. Through deserted dark roads they
soon reach the tragic house.
«Samuel's house?! Why?...»
«Be quiet, Judas. I brought you with Me, because I rely on your common sense.»
The old man has made himself known. They go in. They go upstairs, to the supper room, where
they dragged the injured man.
«A dead man?! But Master, we will be contaminated! »
«He is not dead. You can see that he breathes and you can hear him groan. I will now cure him...»
«But his head has been struck! It's a crime! Who committed it?... And on the day of the lamb! »
Judas is terrified.
«It was he » says Jesus pointing at Samuel, who is curled up in a corner, closer to death than the
dying man, panting for breath with terror as the other man has the death-rattle in his throat, with
part of his mantle over his head not to see and not to be seen, looked at with terror by everybody,
except his mother, who with horror at the crime feels the torture of a guilty son already condemned
by the rigid law of Israel. «Do you see to what result a first sin leads? To this, Judas! He began by
perjuring himself over the girl, then over God; he then became slanderer, liar, blasphemer, then he
took to drinking and now he is a murderer. That is how one becomes subject to Satan, Judas.
Always bear it in mind...» Jesus is dreadfully solemn while He points at Samuel with His arm
outstretched.
He then looks at Samuel's mother, who clinging to a shutter can hardly stand up and struck with
terror seems to be dying, and He sadly says: «Judas, that is how poor mothers are killed by no
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weapon other than the crimes of their sons!... I feel sorry for her. I feel sorry for mothers! I, the Son,
Who will see no mercy for His Mother...»
Jesus weeps... Judas looks at Him in bewilderment...
Jesus bends over the dying man and lays His hand on his head. He prays.
The man opens his eyes. He looks stunned and amazed... but he soon revives. He sits up helping
himself with his arms. He looks at Jesus and asks: «Who are You? »
«Jesus of Nazareth.»
«The Holy One! Why are You here with me! Where am I! Where is my sister and her daughter?
What happened? » He tries to remember.
«Man, you called Me the Holy One. So, do you believe that I am such? »
«Yes, Lord. I do. You are the Messiah of the Lord.»
«So, is My word sacred to you? »
«Yes, Lord, it is.»
«Then...» Jesus stands up. He is imposing: «Then I, as Master and Messiah, order you to forgive.
You came here and you were insulted...»
«Ah! Samuel! Of course!... The hatchet! I will denounce...» he says getting up.
«No. Forgive in the name of God. That is why I cured you. You care for Annaleah's mother because
she has suffered. Samuel's mother would suffer even more. So forgive.»
The man hesitates somewhat. He looks at the injurer with evident ill-feeling. He looks at the
anguished mother. He looks at Jesus Who commands him... He cannot make up his mind.
Jesus stretches His arms towards him, and draws him to His chest saying: «For My sake! »
The man begins to weep... To be thus in the arms of the Messiah, to feel His breath in his hair and a
kiss where the wound was!... He weeps...
Jesus says: «Yes, is that true? You forgive him for My sake? Oh! blessed be the merciful! Weep, do
weep on My Heart. Let all ill-feeling come out with your tears! All new! All pure! There you are!
Be meek! Oh! meek, as a child of God ought to be...»
The man looks and, still weeping, says: «Yes. Your love is so sweet! Annaleah is right! I now
understand her... Woman, do not weep any more! Let bygones be bygones. No one will learn
anything from my mouth. Enjoy your son, providing he can give you joy. Goodbye woman. I am
going back to my house » and he is on the point of going out.
Jesus says to him: «I am coming with you, man. Goodbye, mother. Goodbye, Abraham. Goodbye,
girls.» Not a word to Samuel, who finds no word either.
His mother tears the mantle off his head, and as a result of what she suffered, she rushes upon her
son: «Thank your Saviour, you heartless man! Thank Him, you worthless man!...»
«Leave him, woman. His word would be of no value. Wine makes him silly and his soul is dull.
Pray for him... Goodbye.»
He goes downstairs, in the street He joins Judas and the other man, He frees Himself from old
Abraham, who wants to kiss His hands, and He begins to stride out in the early moonlight.
«Do you live far from here? » He asks the man.
«At the foot of Moriah.»
«Then we must part.»
«Lord, You have preserved me for my children, my wife, my life. What shall I do for You? »
«Be good, forgive and be quiet. Never, for any reason whatsoever, are you to say one word on what
happened. Will you promise? »
«I swear to it on the Sacred Temple! However, I regret I cannot say that You saved me...»
«Be just, and I will save your soul. And you will be able to say that. Goodbye, man. Peace be with
you.»
The man kneels down greeting Him. They part.
«How dreadful! » says Judas now that they are alone.
«Yes. Horrible. Judas, you are not to speak either.»
«No, Lord, I will not. But why did You want me with You? »
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«Are you not happy to have My confidence? »
«Oh! Very! But...»
«But because I wanted you to ponder on what falsehood, greed for money, orgy and the lifeless
practice of a religion, which is no longer felt and practised spiritually, can lead to. What did the
symbolic supper mean to Samuel? Nothing! A guzzling. A sacrilege. And through it he became
homicidal. Many in future will be like him, and with the taste of the Lamb in their mouths, not of a
lamb born of a sheep, but of the divine Lamb, they will commit crimes. Why? How? Are you not
inquiring why? I will tell you just the same: because they will have prepared that hour through
previous deeds performed carelessly first, and stubbornly later. Remember that, Judas.»
«Yes, Master, I will. But what shall we tell the others? »
«That a man was seriously ill. It is the truth.»
They turn the corner of a street and I no longer see them.

375. The Sabbath of the Unleavened Bread.

4th February 1946.

Many disciples, both men and women, have taken leave and have gone back to the houses where
they are guests, or have set out for home again.
On this wonderful afternoon in late April only the true and proper disciples, and particularly those
more devoted to preaching, have remained in Lazarus' house. That is, the shepherds Hermas and
Stephen, John the priest, Timoneus, Ermasteus, Joseph of Emmaus, Solomon, Abel of Bethlehem in
Galilee, Samuel and Abel of Korazim, Agapo, Aser and Ishmael of Nazareth, Elias of Korazim,
Philip of Arbela, Joseph the boatman from Tiberias, John of Ephesus, Nicolaus of Antioch. Besides
the well-known women disciples, also Annaleah, Dorcas, Judas' mother, Myrtha, Anastasica and
Philip's daughters have remained. I do not see Mirjiam of Jairus any longer or Jairus himself.
Perhaps they have gone back to the house that offered them hospitality.
They are walking slowly in the courtyards, or on the terrace of the house, while almost all the
women and all the old women disciples are around Jesus, Who is sitting near Lazarus' little bed.
They are listening to Jesus Who is speaking to Lazarus, describing the villages they have been
through during the last weeks before their Passover trip.
«You arrived just in time to save the little one » remarks Lazarus after hearing the story of the castle
of Caesarea Philippi, pointing at the baby who is sleeping peacefully in his mother's arms. And
Lazarus adds: «He is a lovely boy! Woman, will you let me see him here, near me? »
Dorcas stands up and silently but triumphantly she offers her child to the admiration of the sick
man.
«A lovely boy! Really lovely! May the Lord protect him and make him grow healthy and holy.»
«And faithful to his Saviour. I would rather see him dead now, than know that he is not faithful to
Him. I can stand anything, but I could not bear my son to be ungrateful to the Lord Who saved him
» says Dorcas resolutely, going back to her seat.
«The Lord always arrives in time to save » says Myrtha, the mother of Abel from Bethlehem. «My
son was just as close to death, and what a death!, as Dorcas' baby. But He came... and He saved.
What a frightful moment!...» The very memory makes Myrtha go pale.
«So You will come in time also for me, will You not? To give me peace...» says Lazarus, caressing
Jesus' hand.
«But are you not feeling a little better, brother? » asks Martha. «As from yesterday you look
somewhat relieved...»
«Yes, I do. And I am surprised myself. Perhaps Jesus...»
«No, My dear friend. The fact is that I instil My peace into you. Your soul is sated with it and that
dulls the pain of your body. It is God's decree that you must suffer.»

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«And die. You may as well say so. Well... may His will be done, as You teach us. From now on I
will not ask to be cured or relieved. I have received so much from God (and he unintentionally
looks at Mary, his sister) that it is just that I should repay for what I had with my submission...»
«Do more than that, My dear friend. It is a great thing to be resigned and bear sorrow. But you can
give it greater value.»
«Which, my Lord? »
«Offer it for the redemption of men.»
«I am a poor man myself, Master. I cannot aspire to be a redeemer.»
«You say so, but you are wrong. God became Man to help men. But men can help God. The deeds
of the just will be united to Mine in the hour of Redemption. Of the just who died ages ago, who are
still alive, or will live in future. Add yours, as from now. It is so beautiful to merge with the infinite
Bounty by adding to it what we can give of our limited bounty and say: "I am cooperating too,
Father, to the welfare of my brothers". There can be no greater love for the Lord and for our
neighbour, than this ability to suffer and die to give glory to the Lord and eternal salvation to our
brothers. To save ourselves for our own sake? It is very little. It is the "least" degree of holiness. It is
beautiful to save other people, by sacrificing ourselves, to love to such an extent as to become a
sacrificing fire to save our neighbour. Love is then perfect. And great will be the holiness of such
generous souls.»
«How beautiful that is, isn't it, sisters? » exclaims Lazarus with a dreamy smile on his thin face.
Martha, deeply moved, nods assent.
Mary, who is sat on a cushion at Jesus' feet, in her usual posture of humble ardent worshipper, says:
«Am I perhaps costing my brother such suffering? Tell me, Lord, that my anguish may be
complete!...»
Lazarus exclaims: «No, Mary, no... I was to die of this. Do not pierce your heart.»
But Jesus, Who is sincere to the utmost, says: «Yes, Mary, you most certainly are! I heard the
prayers and the heart-throbs of your good brother. But this must not cause a dull anguish to you, on
the contrary it must urge your will to become perfect, for what you cost. And rejoice! Rejoice
because Lazarus, for snatching you from the demon...»
«Not I! You did, Master.»
«...for snatching you from the demon, has deserved from God a future reward, whereby peoples and
angels will speak of him. And as for Lazarus, they will speak of other people, and particularly of
other women, who through their heroism have snatched the prey from Satan.»
«Who are they? » ask the women curiously, each hoping to be one.
Mary of Judas does not speak. But she looks at the Master... Jesus also looks at her. He could
beguile her, but He does not. He does not mortify her, but He does not deceive her. He replies to
them: «You will know in Heaven.»
Judas' mother, who is still full of anguish asks: «And if she should not succeed, although she is
willing, what will her destiny be? »
«As her good soul deserves.»
«Heaven? But, Lord, a wife, a sister, or a mother who should fail in saving those whom she loves
and should see that they are damned, could she enjoy Paradise, even if she were in Paradise? Do
You not think that she will never be able to rejoice because... the flesh of her flesh and the blood of
her blood have deserved eternal damnation? I think that she will not be able to rejoice seeing her
beloved ones in dreadful pain...»
«You are wrong, Mary. The vision of God, the possession of God are the sources of such infinite
beatitude that no grief can exist for the blessed souls. While they are active and diligent in helping
those who can be saved, they no longer suffer for those who are separated from God, and
consequently from themselves who are in God. The Communion of saints is for the saints.»
«But if they help those who can still be saved, it means that those who are helped are not yet saints
» objects Peter.
«But they have a will, at least a passive will, to be saints. The saints of God help also in material
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needs, to make them pass from a passive to an active will. Do you understand Me? »
«I do and I don't. For instance, supposing I were in Heaven and I saw, let us say, a fleeting kind
attitude in... Eli, the Pharisee, what would I do? »
«You would find all the means to increase his kind attitude.»
«And if it did not help in any way? Then? »
«Then, when he were damned, you would be unconcerned about him.»
«And if he deserved to be damned, as he does now, but he were dear to me - which will never be
the case - what should I do? »
«First of all, you had better know that you are in danger of being damned by saying that he is not
dear to you and never will be; secondly you must know that, if you were in Heaven, you would pray
for him and for his salvation, until the moment of his judgement. There will be souls that will be
saved at the last moment, after a whole life of prayer for them.»
A servant comes in saying: «Manaen has come. He wishes to see the Master.»
«Let him come. He certainly wishes to speak of some grave matter »
The women withdraw discreetly, followed by the men. But Jesus calls back Isaac, John the priest,
Stephen and Hermas, Matthias and Joseph, who are all shepherd-disciples. «It is better for you to be
informed as well, since you are disciples » He explains.
Manaen enters and bows to Jesus.
«Peace to you » greets Jesus.
«Peace to You, Master. The sun is setting. My first step after the Sabbath is for You, my Lord.»
«Did you have a good Passover? »
«Good!! There can be no good where there is Herod and Herodias! I hope it was the last time that I
ate the lamb with them. At the cost of my life I will not stay any longer with them! »
«I think you are making a mistake. You can serve the Master by remaining...» objects the Iscariot.
«That is true. And that is what has kept me there so far. But how nauseating! Chuza could replace
me...»
Bartholomew points out to him: «Chuza is not Manaen... He wangles. He would never denounce his
master. You are more sincere.»
«That is true. And what you say is true. Chuza is a courtier. He is spellbound by royalty... Royalty!
What am I saying!? By the mud of royalty! But he thinks that he is a king, by being with the king...
And he is terrified of royal disfavour. The other evening he looked crestfallen, when he almost
crept before Herod who had sent for him after he had heard the complaints of Salome, whom You
had chased away. Chuza was in dire difficulty. His desire to get out of trouble, at all costs, even by
accusing You, stating that You were wrong, was clearly visible on his face. But Herod... wanted
only to laugh at the girl behind her back, as he loathes her, now, as he loathes her mother. And he
laughed like a madman on hearing Chuza repeat Your words. He kept saying: "Such words are by
far too kind for that young... (and he uttered such an obscene word that I will not repeat it to You).
He should have trodden on her lustful breast... But He would have become contaminated!" and he
laughed. Then he became grave and said: "But... the insult deserved by the woman cannot be
allowed with regard to the crown. I am generous (it is his fixed idea that he is, and as nobody tells
him, he does so himself) and I will forgive the Rabbi, also because He told Salome the truth. But I
want Him to come to Court so that I may forgive Him completely. I want to see Him, hear Him and
make Him work miracles. Let Him come and I will be His protector". That is what he said the other
evening. And Chuza did not know what to say. He did not want to say no to the monarch and he
could not say yes. Because You certainly cannot yield to Herod's whims. Today he said to me: "You
are certainly going to see Him... Tell Him what I want". I have told You but I already know the
answer. However, tell me, so that I may refer to him.»
«No! » A thundering no.
«Will You not make him a powerful enemy against You? » asks Thomas.
«He may become My executioner. But I can only reply: "no".»
«He will persecute us...»
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«Oh! In three days' time he will have forgotten all about it » says Manaen shrugging his shoulders.
And he adds: «They have promised him... some pantomime dancers... They are arriving tomorrow...
And he will forget everything!...»
«The servant comes back: «Nicodemus, Joseph, Eleazar and other Pharisees and leaders of the
Sanhedrin are here, Master. They wish to greet You.»
Lazarus looks at Jesus inquiringly. Jesus understands: «Let them come! I will be happy to greet
them.»
Joseph comes in shortly afterwards with Nicodemus, Eleazar (the just man at Ishmael's banquet),
John (the guest at the remote banquet of Joseph of Arimathea), another man whose name I hear is
Joshua, a Philip, a Judas and lastly a Joachim. They seem to go on greeting for ever. The room is
fortunately a large one, otherwise there would be no room for so much bowing, embracing and rich
vestments. But although it is so large, it becomes so full that the disciples clear out. Only Lazarus
remains with Jesus. The disciples perhaps can hardly believe that they are not being looked up and
down by the eyes of so many members of the Sanhedrin!
«We heard that you were in Jerusalem, Lazarus. And we came » says the one whose name is
Joachim.
«I am amazed and happy. I had almost forgotten what your face looks like...» replies Lazarus
somewhat ironically.
«Well... you know... We always wanted to come. But... You disappeared...»
«And you could not believe that it was true! It is in fact rather difficult to visit an unhappy fellow! »
«No! Don't say that. We... respected your desire. But now that... now that... is that right Nicodemus?
»
«Yes, Lazarus. Old friends come back. Also to hear your good news and venerate the Rabbi.»
«What news have you brought me? »
«H'm... Well... The usual things... The world... Of course...» they cast sidelong glances at Jesus,
Who is sitting erect on His seat, rather engrossed in thought.
«How come you are all together today, when the Sabbath is just over? »
«We had a special meeting.»
«Today?! What was so urgent?...»
The visitors look at Jesus furtively and significantly. But He is engrossed... «There were many
reasons...» they eventually reply.
«And do any concern the Rabbi? »
«Yes, Lazarus. Him as well. But we also passed judgement on a grave fact, while we were all
gathered in town for the festivity...» explains Joseph of Arimathea.
«A grave fact? Which? »
«An... error of youth... H'm. Of course! A nasty discussion because... Rabbi, listen to us. You are
among honest people. Although we are not Your disciples, we are not Your enemies. In the house
of Ishmael You told me that I am not far from justice » says Eleazar.
«That is true. I confirm it.»
«And I defended you against Felix at Joseph's banquet » says John.
«That is also true »
«And these people are of the same opinion as we are. Today we were summoned to decide... and
we are not happy about the decision. Because we were defeated by a majority verdict. As You are
wiser than Solomon, we ask You to listen to us and let us have Your opinion.»
Jesus pierces them with a deep glance. He then says: «Speak.»
«Are we sure that no one cart hear us? Because it is... a dreadful thing...» says the man whose name
is Judas.
«Close the door and draw the curtain, and we will be in a grave » replies Lazarus.
«Master, yesterday morning You told Eleazar of Annas that for no reason whatsoever he was to
become contaminated. Why did You tell him? » asks Philip.
«Because it was to be said. He does become contaminated. I do not. The holy books tell us.»
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«That is true. But how do You know that he is contaminated? Did the girl perhaps speak to You
before she died? » asks Eleazar.
«Which girl? »
«The girl who died after she was raped and her mother died with her, and it is not known whether
grief killed them, or they committed suicide, or they were poisoned to prevent them from
speaking.»
«I know nothing about that. I saw the corrupt soul of Annas' son. I smelt the stench of him. I spoke.
I did not know or see anything else.»
«But what happened? » asks Lazarus with deep concern.
«Eleazar, the son of Annas, saw a girl, the daughter of a widow and... he called her saying that he
had some work to give her, because they earned their living doing needlework, and... he seduced
her. The girl died three days later, and her mother died, too. But before dying they told their only
relative everything, notwithstanding that they had been threatened not to... And their relative went
to Annas, to accuse his son, and as he was not satisfied, he told Joseph, me and other people...
Annas had him arrested and put into prison. From there he will be taken to the scaffold or he will
never be free again. Today Annas wanted to have our opinion on the matter » says Nicodemus.
«He would not have asked us, if he had not known that we were already aware of the fact »
grumbles Joseph between his teeth.
«Of course not... Well, with sham voting and counterfeited justice, judgement was passed on the
honour and life of three unhappy people and on the punishment for the culprit » concludes
Nicodemus.
«So? »
«So! It is obvious. We, who had voted for the freedom of the man and punishment for Eleazar, were
threatened and expelled as being unjust. What do You say? »
«That I am horrified at Jerusalem and that the Temple is the most fetid bubo there is in Jerusalem »
says Jesus slowly and fearfully. And He concludes: «And you may relate that to those of the
Temple.»
«And what did Gamaliel do? » asks Lazarus.
«As soon as he heard of the fact, he covered his face and went out saying: "May the new Samson
come soon to crush corrupt Philistines".»
«He was right. And he will soon come.» There is silence.
«And was no mention made of Him? » asks Lazarus pointing at Jesus.
«Yes. Before everything else. Someone reported that You had said that the kingdom of Israel is
"mean". So they said that You are a blasphemer, nay, a sacrilegious person. Because the kingdom of
Israel comes from God.»
«Did they? And what did the Pontiff say the seducer of a virgin is? He who disgraces his ministry?
Tell Me! » asks Jesus.
«He is the son of the High Pontiff. Because Annas is the real king in there » says Joachim, who is
frightened by the stateliness of Jesus, Who is standing in front of him, with His arm stretched out...
«Yes. The king of corruption. And shall I not call "mean" a Country in which we have a filthy and
murderous Tetrarch, a High Pontiff who is the accomplice of a seducer and murderer?...»
«Perhaps the girl committed suicide or died of grief » whispers Eleazar.
«Still murdered by her seducer... And are they not preparing now the third victim in the relative
who has been imprisoned so that he may not speak? And is the altar not being desecrated by those
who approach it with so many crimes? And is justice not being hushed up by enjoining silence on
the too rare just members of the Sanhedrin? Yes, let the new Samson come and destroy this
desecrated place, let him exterminate in order to reform!... As this wretched Country makes Me feel
sick, I not only say that it is mean, but I am going away from its corrupt heart, full of nameless
crimes... the very den of Satan... I am going away. Not because I am afraid of death. I will prove to
you that I am not afraid. I am going away because My hour has not yet come and I do not give
pearls to the swine of Israel, but I will take them to the humble people scattered in hovels, in the
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mountains and valleys of poor villages, where they still know how to believe and to love, if there is
someone to teach them, where under coarse garments there are souls, whilst here sacred vestments
and even more so the Ephod and the Pectoral cover up filthy carrions and conceal murderous
weapons. Tell them that in the name of the True God I consecrate them to their condemnation and
as a new Michael I drive them out of Paradise. For ever. As they wanted to be gods, whereas they
are demons. It is not necessary for them to die to be judged. They are already judged. With no
forgiveness.»
The imposing members of the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees seem to become smaller, and in fact
they cower before the dreadful wrath of the Christ, Who, on the contrary, seems to become a giant,
so dazzling is His appearance and so domineering His attitude.
Lazarus moans: «Jesus Jesus! Jesus! »
Jesus hears him and changing His tone and appearance He asks: «What is the matter, My dear
friend? »
«Oh! Be not so terrible! It's no longer You! How can one hope in mercy, if You appear so dreadful?
»
«And yet I will be thus, and even more, when I judge the twelve tribes of Israel. But cheer up,
Lazarus. He who believes in the Christ is already judged...» And He sits down once again.
There is silence.
At last John asks: «As we preferred to be insulted rather than make a false statement against justice,
how will we be judged? »
«With justice. Persevere and you will reach the place where Lazarus already is: God's friendship.»
They stand up.
«Master, we are going. Peace to You. And to you, Lazarus.»
«Peace to you.»
«What was said in here, is to remain here » some of them say imploringly.
«Be not afraid! Go. May God always guide you.»
They go out.
Jesus is left alone with Lazarus. After a short while the latter says: «How horrible! »
«Yes. How horrible!... Lazarus, I am going to arrange our departure from Jerusalem. I will be your
guest at Bethany until the end of the Unleavened Bread.» And He goes out...

376. Mary Has Chosen the Better Part.

14th August 1944.

I realise at once that we are still dealing with the Magdalene, because she is the first person I see,
wearing a plain pink lilac dress like the mallow flower. She is not wearing any precious ornament,
her hair is plaited and collected at the back of her neck. She looks younger than when she wore
sumptuous dresses. Her eyes are no longer shameless, as when she was a «sinner », neither are they
discouraged as when she was listening to the parable of the lost sheep, or shameful and shining with
tears as when she was in the hall of the Pharisee... Her eyes are now peaceful and they have become
as clear as those of a boy and they shine with a calm look.
She is leaning against a tree near the border of the Bethany property, looking towards the road. She
is waiting. She then utters a cry of joy. She turns towards the house and shouts loudly - to be heard
by everybody - in her earnest unmistakable voice: «He is arriving!... Martha, they told us the truth.
The Rabbi is here! » and she runs to open the heavy creaking gate. She does not give the servants
time to open it and she runs out onto the road, with her arms stretched out, as does a boy towards
his mother, and with a cry of loving joy: «O Rabboni!» (I am writing «Rabboni » because I see that
it is spelt so in the Gospel. But every time I hear Mary call Him, she seems to be saying «Rabbomi
», with an 'm' and not with an 'n') she prostrates herself at Jesus' feet, kissing them in the dust of the

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road.
«Peace to you, Mary. I have come to rest under your roof.»
«O my Master! » repeats Mary, looking up with an expression of respect and love, which is so
meaningful... it is thanksgiving, joy, an invitation to come in, happiness because He is entering...
Jesus has laid His hand on her head and seems to be absolving her once again.
Mary stands up and walking beside Jesus she goes into the enclosure of the property. In the
meantime servants and Martha have arrived, the servants with amphoras and cups. Martha with just
her love, which is so great.
The apostles, who are warm, take the fresh drinks poured by the servants. They would like to give
some to Jesus first, but Martha has forestalled them. She has taken a cup full of milk and has
offered it to Jesus. She must be aware that He likes it very much.
After the disciples have taken some refreshments, Jesus says to them: «Go and inform the believers.
I will speak to them this evening.»
The apostles scatter in various directions as soon as they are out of the garden.
Jesus proceeds between Martha and Mary.
«Come, Master » says Martha. «While waiting for Lazarus have a rest and take some refreshment.»
While they are entering a cool room which opens onto the shady porch, Mary, who had gone away
quickly, comes back. She is carrying a pitcher of water and is followed by a servant with a wash-
hand basin. But it is Mary who wants to wash Jesus' feet. She unlaces His dusty sandals and hands
them to the servant to be cleaned, together with His mantle, which needs brushing. She then dips
His feet in the water, which some spices have made pale pink, she dries them and kisses them. She
then changes the water, and offers it to Jesus for His hands. And while waiting for the servant with
the sandals, crouching on the carpet at Jesus' feet, she caresses them, and before putting His sandals
on, she kisses them once again saying: «O holy feet, which have walked so far looking for me! »
Martha, who is more practical in her love, considers the human side and asks: «Master, is anybody
else coming, besides Your disciples? »
And Jesus replies: «I am not sure, as yet. But you can prepare for five more people in addition to the
apostles.»
Martha goes away.
Jesus goes out into the cool shady garden. He is wearing His dark-blue tunic only. His mantle,
which Mary has carefully folded, is lying on a chest in the room. Mary goes out with Jesus.
They walk along well-kept paths, among blooming flowerbeds, as far as the fish-pond, which looks
like a mirror lying in the greenery. The very clear water is rippled here and there by the silvery
wriggling of fish and by the drizzle of a very tall slender jet in the centre of the pond. There are
seats around the wide basin, which looks like a little lake with irrigation canals departing from it.
Actually I think that one of the canals feeds the pond, while the other smaller ones discharge the
water for irrigation purposes.
Jesus sits on a seat placed against the border of the pond. Mary sits at His feet, on the green
well-kept grass. At first they do not speak. Jesus is clearly enjoying the silent restful cool garden.
Mary delights in looking at Him.
Jesus plays with the clear water of the pond. He dips His fingers into it, He combs its surface
forming little wakes and then He immerses His whole hand in the pure cool water. «How lovely this
clear water is! » He says.
And Mary: «Do You like it so much, Master? »
«Yes, Mary. Because it is so limpid. Look. There is not the least trace of mud. The basin is full of
water, but it is so clear that it does not seem to contain anything, as if the water were not a material
but a spiritual element. On the bottom we can read the words which the little fish whisper to one
another...»
«As one can read in the depth of pure souls. Is that right, Master? » and Mary sighs with secret
regret.
Jesus perceives the stifled sigh and reads her regret disguised by a smile and He at once relieves
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Mary's grief.
«Mary, where do we find pure souls? It is easier for a mountain to walk than it is for a
human being to be pure with the three purities. Too many things stir and ferment around adults.
And it is not always possible to prevent them from penetrating inside. Only children have angelical
souls, which their innocence preserves from knowledge liable to change into mud. That is why I
love them so much. I can see in them a reflection of the Infinite Purity. They are the only ones who
have within themselves this remembrance of Heaven. My Mother is the Woman with a child's soul.
Even more. She is the Woman with an angel's soul. As Eve was when the Father made her. Can you
imagine, Mary, what the first lily in bloom in the earthly garden was like? Also these ones, which
lead to this water are beautiful. But the first one, which came out of the hands of the Creator! Was
it a flower or a diamond? Were they petals or plates of the most pure silver? And yet My Mother is
purer than that first lily that scented the winds. And Her scent of inviolate Virgin fills Heaven and
Earth, and good people will follow it in future centuries. Paradise is light, perfume, harmony. But if
in it the Father did not delight in contemplating the Most Beautiful Lady Who changes the Earth
into a paradise, if Paradise in future should not have the living Lily in Whose bosom are the three
pistils of fire of the Divine Trinity, the light, perfume and harmony, which are the delight of
Paradise, would be halved. The purity of My Mother will be the gem of Paradise. But Paradise is
boundless! What would you think of a king who had but one gem in his Treasure? Even if it were
the pre-eminent Gem? When I open the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven... - do not sigh, Mary, I
have come for that - many souls of just people and children will come in, like a brilliant
immaculate wake, behind the purple of the Redemeer. But they will be too few to populate Heaven
with gems and form the citizens of the eternal Jerusalem. And later... after My Doctrine of truth and
holiness has become known to men, after My Death has restored Grace to men, how could men
conquer Heaven, if the poor life of men is continuously soiled with mud, which makes them
impure? So, will My Paradise be populated only by children? Oh! no! One must learn how to
become like a child. The Kingdom is open also to adults. Like children... That is purity. See this
water? It looks so limpid. But watch: if I only stir its bottom with this rush, it becomes muddy.
Waste and mud come to the surface. From clear it becomes yellowish and no one would drink it any
more. But if I remove the rush, it settles and little by little it becomes once again limpid and
beautiful. The rush: sin. The same applies to souls. It is repentance, believe Me, that cleanses...»
Martha arrives panting: «Are you still here, Mary? And I am so busy!... Time is flying. The guests
will soon be here and there is so much to be done. The maids are busy baking bread, the servants
flaying and cooking. I am preparing drinks, dishes and I am laying the tables. But the fruit is still to
be picked and the honey and mint water is to be prepared...»
Mary does not pay much attention to her sister's complaints. Smiling blissfully she continues to
look at Jesus, without moving from her position.
Martha begs Jesus' help: «Master, look how hot I am. Do You think that I should be the only one to
be so busy? Tell her to help me.» Martha is really annoyed.
Jesus looks at her smiling half kindly and half ironically, or rather jokingly.
Martha becomes rather impatient: «I really mean it. Look how idle she is while I am so busy. And
she sees...»
Jesus becomes serious: «It is not idleness, Martha. It is love. It was idleness previously. And you
wept so bitterly because of that worthless idleness. Your tears lent wings to My efforts to save her
and bring her back to your honest love. Do you want to forbid her to love her Saviour? Would you
prefer her to be far from here, so that she would not see you work, but would be far also from Me?
Martha, Martha! Have I to say that she (and Jesus lays His hand on her head) who has come from so
far, has excelled you in love? Have I to say that she, who did not know one word of love, is now
learned in the science of love? Leave her to her peace! She was so ill! She is now convalescent and
she is recovering by drinking what fortifies her. She was tormented so violently... Now that she has
come out of her nightmare, she looks around and within herself and finds herself new and discovers
a new world. Let her become certain. With her "new ego" she has to forget her past and conquer
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what is eternal... And the latter will not be conquered only through work, but also through
adoration. He who gives a piece of bread to an apostle and a prophet will receive his reward. But
double reward will be given to him who will forget to feed himself in order to love Me, because his
soul will be greater than his body, a soul that will cry even louder than human needs, also when the
latter are lawful and right. You worry and fret about too many things, Martha. She is concerned
with one only. That which is sufficient for her soul and above all for her and your Lord. Forget
useless things. Imitate your sister. Mary has chosen the better part, which will never be taken from
her. When all virtues become superfluous, because they are no longer necessary to the citizens of
the Kingdom, Charity alone will remain. It will last for ever. Alone and supreme. That is what Mary
has chosen and has taken as her shield and pilgrim's staff. Through it, as if she were flying with
angelical wings, she will come to My Heaven.»
Martha, who feels mortified, lowers her head and goes away.
«My sister loves You very much and is anxious to honour You » says Mary to excuse her.
«I know, and she will be rewarded for that. But she needs to be purified of her human way of
thinking, as this water was purified. Look how limpid it has become again, while we were speaking.
Martha will be purified by the words I spoke to her. You... through the sincerity of your
repentance.»
«No, through Your forgiveness, Master. My repenting was not sufficient to wash my great sin...»
«It was and will be sufficient for the sisters who will imitate you. It will be sufficient for all the
poor whose souls are diseased. Sincere repentance is a purifying filter; love, then, preserves from
further defilement. Thus, those who through life become adults and sinners, will be able to become
as innocent as children again and enter My Kingdom like them. Let us go home now. So that
Martha may not be left too long in her grief. Let us go and smile at her as Friend and sister.»
------------------------------
Jesus says:
«No comment is required. The parable of the water is the comment on the repenting action of
hearts.
You have thus seen the complete cycle of the Magdalene. From her death to the Life. Of all the
resurrected people of My Gospel she is the greatest. She was raised from seven deaths. She was
reborn. You have seen her raise the stalk of her new flower higher and higher above the mud of the
earth, like a flowery plant, and then bloom and smell sweetly for Me, and die for Me. You have
seen her when she was a sinner, then when, thirsty, she approached the Fountain, then when she
repented, then when she was forgiven, then you saw her as a lover, then as a pitiful woman bent
over the slain Body of her Lord, then as a servant of My Mother, Whom she loves because She is
My Mother; and finally you have seen her as a repentant soul at the threshold of her Paradise.
O souls who are afraid, learn not to be afraid of Me by reading the life of Mary of Magdala. O souls
who love, learn from her how to love with seraphic ardour. O souls who have erred, learn from her
the Science that will prepare you for Heaven.
I bless you all to help you to rise. Go in peace.»

377. Jesus Speaks at Bethany.

The vision dated 14th August 1944: The sheep in the fold at the feet of the Good Shepherd, is to
be put before this chapter.
-------------------------------
6th February 1946.
Jesus is at Bethany and the fertile country is full of blossoms and flowers in this beautiful month of
Nisan, which is so serene and clear that creation seems to have been cleansed of all filthiness. But
the crowds who have been looking for Him in Jerusalem and do not wish to go away without
hearing Him, to take away in their hearts His words, soon find Him. And they are so numerous that
Jesus orders His disciples to gather them all together, so that He may teach them. And the twelve
apostles and the seventy-two disciples, who have formed a group of approximately that number

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with the new disciples who joined them recently, spread out in all directions to carry out His
instructions.
In the meantime Jesus, in Lazarus' garden, takes leave of the women, and particularly of His
Mother, as they are all going back to Galilee, as instructed by Him, escorted by Simon of Alphaeus,
Jairus, Alphaeus of Sarah, Marjiam, Susanna's husband and Zebedee. They greet one another and
weep. Many wish they did not have to obey. A desire brought about by their love for the Master.
But the power of their perfect love for the Most Holy Word, being entirely supernatural, is stronger,
and that power makes them obey and accept the painful separation.
The one who speaks least is Mary, His Mother. But Her countenance is more eloquent than all the
words of the others put together. Jesus understands Her grief, and He reassures and comforts Her,
overwhelming Her with caresses, if a mother, and particularly that Mother, can ever be
overwhelmed, as She is full of love and in great distress for Her persecuted Son. And the women
depart at last, turning round several times to greet the Master, their sons and the lucky Judaean
women disciples who are still staying with the Master.
«They have suffered in going away...» remarks Simon Zealot.
«But it is better that they have gone, Simon.»
«Do You foresee sad days? »
«Troubled, at least. Women cannot bear fatigue as we do. In any case, now that I have almost as
many Judaeans as Galileans, it is better if they are divided. They will have Me in turns, and in turns
they will have the joy of serving Me, and I the consolation of their holy love.»
The crowds are continuously increasing in numbers. The orchard between Lazarus' house and that
which belonged to the Zealot is swarming with people. There are people of all castes and
conditions, as well as Pharisees from Judaea, members of the Sanhedrin and veiled women.
The members of the Sanhedrin who on Passover Sabbath had called on Lazarus in Jerusalem, come
out of Lazarus' house, with other people, in one group, close to a litter in which Lazarus is carried.
When passing by, Lazarus waves his hand and smiles happily at Jesus. And Jesus returns the
salutation, while He follows the little procession to where the people are waiting for Him.
The apostles join Him and Judas Iscariot, who has been exulting for some days, in a very happy
mood, turns his very dark bright eyes here and there and reports to Jesus what he discovers.
«Oh! look! There are also some priests!... Look! There is also Simon of the Sanhedrin. And there is
Helkai. What a liar! Only a few months ago he used to speak evil of Lazarus, and now he pays his
respects to him as if he were a god!... And Doro the Elder and Trison are over there. See? He is
greeting Joseph. And Samuel the scribe with Saul... And Gamaliel's son! And over there there is a
group of Herodians... And that group of women with veils... must be the Roman ladies... They are
standing on one side, but look how they are watching where You are going, so that they can change
place and hear You! I recognise them notwithstanding their large mantles. See? Two are tall, one is
broader than taller, the others are of middle height, but well shaped. Shall I go and greet them? »
«No. They have come here as strangers, as anonyms who wish to hear the word of the Rabbi. We
must consider them as such.»
«As You wish, Master. I wanted to remind... Claudia of her promise...»
«It is not necessary. And even if it were, we must never become beggars, Judas. Is that right?
Heroism in faith is to be perfected among difficulties.»
«It was for Your sake, Master.»
«And for your everlasting idea of a human triumph. Do not cherish false hopes, Judas. Neither with
regard to My future behaviour, nor with regard to promises you have received.. You believe in what
you say to yourself. But nothing will be able to change the thought of God, which is, that I am
Redemeer and King of a spiritual Kingdom.»
Judas does not reply.
Jesus is now in His place, in the middle of the apostles. Lazarus is in his little bed, almost at His
feet. Not far from Him there are the Judaean women disciples, that is Lazarus' sisters, Eliza,
Anastasica, Johanna with the children, Annaleah, Sarah, Marcella, Nike. The Roman ladies, or at
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least those pointed out by Judas as such, are a little behind, almost at the end, mingled in a group of
common people. Members, of the Sanhedrin, Pharisees, scribes, priests are in the first row, which is
unavoidable. But Jesus begs them to make room for three small litters with sick people, whom
Jesus asks questions, but He does not cure them at once.
Jesus, as a starting point for His speech, draws the attention of the audience to the large number of
birds that nestle in the trees in Lazarus' garden and in the orchard where His listeners are gathered.
«Watch them. Some are indigenous, some exotic, they are of all breeds and sizes. And when it gets
dark, they will be replaced by night birds, which are also very numerous, although we are inclined
to forget about them, because we do not see them. Why so many birds here? Because they find what
they need to live happily: sunshine, peace, plenty foodstuff, safe shelter, cool water. And they
gather coming here from east and west, north and south, if they are migrant birds, and they stay here
permanently if they are indigenous. So? Shall we thus see that the birds of the air exceed the sons of
man in wisdom? How many of these birds are the young ones of birds that are now dead, but last
year or farther back in time, built their nests here and were happy here. They told their little ones,
before dying. They showed them this place and the young ones obeyed and came here. The Father,
Who is in Heaven, the Father of all men, did He perhaps not tell His saints the truth, did He not give
them all the necessary instructions for the welfare of His children? All the instructions: those
concerning the welfare of the body and those concerning the welfare of the spirit. But what do we
see? We see that while what was taught for the health of the body - from the hide tunics, which He
made for the First Parents, stripped in their own eyes of the dress of innocence, which was torn by
sin, to the latest discoveries made by man through the light of God - is remembered, handed down
and taught, the rest, which was taught, ordered and pointed out for the spirit, is not kept, or taught
or practised.»
Many people of the Temple begin to whisper. Jesus calms them with a gesture.
«The Father, Whose goodness exceeds by far man's understanding, sent His Servant to remind men
of His teaching, to gather birds in healthy places, to give them clear knowledge of what is useful
and holy, to establish the Kingdom, where every angelical bird, every soul, will find grace and
peace, wisdom and health. And I solemnly tell you that as the birds born in this place, in springtime
will say to the birds of other places: "Come with us, because there is a good place where you will
enjoy peace and the bounty of the Lord", and thus next year new birds will be seen gathering here,
in the same way, we shall see numerous spirits rush from every part of the world, as predicted by
the prophets, towards the Doctrine, which has come from God, and towards the Saviour, the
founder of the Kingdom of God. But the day-birds are mixed in this place with night-birds, which
are birds of prey, disturbers and quite capable of terrifying and killing the good little birds. And
those birds have been such for years, for generations, and nothing can flush them, because they
work in darkness and in places impenetrable by man. They work in darkness, with their cruel eyes,
their silent flights, their voracity, their cruelty and unclean as they are, they spread filth and sorrow.
To whom shall we compare them? To those who in Israel do not want to accept the Light that has
come to illuminate darkness, the Word that has come to teach, Justice that has come to sanctify. I
have come for them in vain. Nay, I am the cause of sin for them, because they persecute Me and My
faithful believers. So what shall I say? What I have already said many a time: "Many will come
from east and west and will sit with Abraham and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven. But the
children of this kingdom will be thrown out into the dark".»
«The children of God in the dark? You are blaspheming! » shouts one of the hostile members of the
Sanhedrin. It is the first sprinkle of the slaver of the reptiles, who have been silent for too long and
who can no longer be quiet, otherwise they would be drowned in their own poison.
«Not the children of God » replies Jesus.
«You said so! You said: "The children of this kingdom will be thrown out into the dark".»
«And I repeat it. The children of this kingdom. The kingdom that is ruled by flesh, blood, avarice,
fraud, lust, crime. But that is not My Kingdom. My Kingdom is the Kingdom of Light. Yours is the
kingdom of darkness. Righteous spirits, including those that at present are heathens, idolaters,
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despised by Israel, will come to the Kingdom of Light from east and west, north and south. And
they will live in holy communion with God, having accepted the light of God within themselves,
while waiting to ascend to the true Jerusalem, where there are no tears, no sorrow and above all no
falsehood. The Falsehood that now rules over the world of darkness and gluts its children to such
extent that they cannot hold a tiny beam of the divine Light. Oh! Let the new children come and
replace the disowning children! Let them come! And wherever they come from, they will be
enlightened by God and will reign for ever and ever! »
«You have spoken to insult us! » shout the hostile Judaeans.
«I spoke to tell you the truth.»
«Your power lies in Your language, by which You, the new snake, allure and mislead the crowds.»
«My power is the strength that comes to Me by being One with My Father.»
«Blasphemer! » shout the priests.
«Saviour! You, who are lying at My feet, what are you suffering from? »
«I broke my spine when I was a child and I have been lying on my back for thirty years.»
«Rise and walk! And what are you suffering from, woman? »
«My legs have been hanging lifelessly since my son, who now carries me about with my husband,
was born » and she points at a young man who is at least sixteen years old.
«Rise, too, and praise the Lord. And why is that child not walking by himself?»
«Because he was born feeble-minded, blind, deaf and dumb. He is a lump of breathing flesh »
explain those who are with the poor child.
«In the Name of God, have intelligence, speech, sight and hearing. I want it! » And after working
the third miracle, He turns to His enemies and asks: «What do you say now? »
«Dubious miracles. Why do You not cure Your friend and supporter, if You can do anything? »

«Because God wants otherwise.»

«Ah! Ah! God! A fine excuse! If we bring You a sick man, nay, two, will You cure them? »
«I will, if they deserve it.»
«Wait then » and they go away quickly, grinning sarcastically.
«Be careful, Master! They may set a trap for You » some say.
Jesus makes a gesture as if He wanted to say: «Let them do as they like! » and He bends to caress
the children, who little by little have approached Him, leaving their relatives. Some mothers imitate
them, taking to Him those who are not yet steady in their first steps or sucklings.
«Bless our children, Blessed One, because we are lovers of the Light! » say the mothers.
And Jesus imposes His hands, blessing them. That brings about a bustle in the crowd. All those
with children want the same blessing and they push and shout to make their way through the crowd.
The apostles, both because they have been irritated by the usual mischievousness of scribes and
Pharisees, and because they feel pity for Lazarus, who risks being carried away by the wave of
relatives taking their little ones to the divine blessing, become impatient and shout reproaching and
pushing back this one and that one, particularly the little children who have come by themselves.
But Jesus says kindly and lovingly: «No, do not do that! Never prevent children from coming to Me,
nor their relatives from bringing them to Me. Because the Kingdom is of these innocent souls. They
will not be guilty of the great Crime, and they will grow up in My Faith. Let Me therefore
consecrate them to it. Their angels are leading them to Me.»
Jesus is now in the middle of a crowd of children looking at Him ecstatically; so many little faces
looking up at Him, so many innocent eyes, so many little smiling mouths...
The veiled ladies take advantage of the confusion to go round at the rear of the crowd and come
behind Jesus, as if they were urged by curiosity to do so.
The Pharisees and scribes come back with two sick people who seem to be suffering from severe
pain. One particularly is moaning in his little litter, and is completely covered with a mantle. The
other one, apparently, is not so seriously ill, but is certainly very ill, because he is reduced to a
skeleton and is panting.

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«Here are our friends. Cure them. They are really ill. Particularly that one! » and they point to the
moaning one.
Jesus lowers His eyes and looks at the sick people, He then looks up at the Jews. He darts a dreadful
look at His enemies. Standing behind the group of innocent children, who do not reach up to His
groin, He seems to be rising from a wreath of purity, to be the Avenger, as if from that purity He
were drawing the strength to be so. He opens His arms and shouts: «Liars! That man is not ill! I tell
you! Uncover him! Or he will be really dead in a moment, for attempting to deceive God.»
The man jumps out of his litter shouting: «No, no! Don't strike me! Here, you cursed ones, take your
money! » and he throws a purse at the feet of the Pharisees and takes to his heels...
The crowds howl, laugh, boo, applaud...
The other sick man says: «And what about me, Lord? They forced me out of my bed and they have
been using violence on me since this morning... But I did not know that I was in the hands of Your
enemies...»
«Be cured, poor son, and may you be blessed! » and He imposes His hands on him, after making
His way through the children.
The man lifts for a moment the blanket covering his body and he looks at I do not know what... He
then stands up. He is nude from his thighs downwards. And he shouts and shouts until he becomes
hoarse: «My foot! My foot! But who are You, Who can give back what was lost? » and he throws
himself at Jesus' feet. He then stands up, jumps precariously on his little litter shouting: «My disease
was eating away my bones. The doctor had torn off my toes, he had cauterised my flesh and had cut
me up to the bone of my knee. Look! Look at the scars. But I was going to die just the same. And
now... It is all cured! My foot has been restored... It is no longer painful! I feel well... strong... My
chest is free... My heart is sound! Oh! mother! I am coming to share my joy with you! »
He begins to run away. But gratitude stops him. He goes back to Jesus and he kisses His blessed
feet repeatedly, until Jesus, caressing his head, says to him: «Go! Go to your mother and be good.»
He then looks at His enemies, who have been held up to ridicule and says: «And now? What should
I do to you? What should I do, people, after this ordeal? »
The crowds shout: «Let the offenders of God be stoned! Death to them! No more snares for the
Holy One! May you be cursed! » and they begin picking up lumps of earth, branches, little stones,
ready to throw them.
Jesus stops them. «That is the word of the crowds. That is their answer. Mine is different. I say: Go
away! I will not soil My hands striking you. The Most High will take care of you. He is My defence
against the wicked.»
The culprits, instead of being silent, do not hesitate to offend the Master, and although they are
afraid of the people, they shout foaming with anger: «We are Judaeans and we are powerful! We
order You to go away. We forbid You to teach. We banish You. Go away! Enough of You. The
power is in our hands and we are making use of it; and we will use it more and more, persecuting
You, cursed usurper...»
They are about to say more in a tumult of cries, tears, hisses, when the tallest veiled woman comes
forward, placing herself between Jesus and His enemies with swift imperious movement, with even
more imperious countenance and voice; she uncovers her face and her sentence drops sharper and
more lashing than a whip on galley-slaves or an axe on a neck: «Which of you is forgetting that he
is a slave of Rome? » She is Claudia. She lowers her veil again. She bows lightly to the Master. She
goes to her place. It was enough.
The Pharisees calm down at once. One only, on behalf of everybody, says with creeping servility:
«Forgive us, domina! But He is upsetting the old spirit of Israel. As you are powerful, you should
forbid Him and get the brave just Proconsul to forbid Him to do so; long life and health to him! »
«That does not concern us. It is enough that He does not disturb the order of Rome. And He does
not! » replies scornfully the patrician, who then gives a sharp order to her companions and goes
away towards a thicket of trees at the end of the path and disappears behind it. She reappears in a
creaky covered wagon, all the curtains of which she has ordered to be lowered.
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«Are You happy now that You had us insulted? » ask the Judaeans, Pharisees, scribes and their
companions, making a fresh attack.
The crowds shout contemptuously. Joseph, Nicodemus and all those who have proved to be friends
- among them there is Gamaliel's son, who has not joined them but has spoken the same words -
feel that they must interfere and reproach the others for passing all bounds. The altercation thus
passes from Jesus' enemies to the two opposite groups, leaving out the One most interested in it.
Jesus is silent, with arms folded, listening, and I think that He emanates a power to hold the crowds
back and particularly the apostles, who are beside themselves with rage.
«We must defend ourselves and other people » shouts a hot-headed Jew.
«We are tired of seeing fascinated crowds run after Him » says another one.
«We are the powerful ones! Nobody else! We are the only ones to be listened to and followed »
cries a scribe.
«Away from here! Jerusalem is ours! » shouts a priest as red as beetroot.
«You are wicked! »
«You are more than blind! »
«The crowds have left you, because you deserve it.»
«Be holy if you want to be loved. If you vex and insult people, you lose your power, which is based
on the reputation of the people for its governors! » shout those of the opposite party and many of
the crowd.
«Silence! » orders Jesus. And when there is silence, He says: «Oppression and imposition cannot
change love or the consequences of good received. I gather what I gave: love. By persecuting Me,
you only increase such love, which compensates Me for your indifference. In all your wisdom, do
you not know that to persecute a doctrine serves no other purpose but to increase its power,
particularly when the doctrine in actual fact corresponds to what it teaches? Listen to a prophecy of
Mine, people of Israel. The more you persecute the Rabbi of Galilee and His followers, trying to
destroy by violence His Doctrine, which is divine, the more you will help it to thrive and spread
throughout the world. Every drop of blood of the martyrs killed by you, hoping to triumph and reign
with your corrupt hypocritical laws and precepts, which no longer correspond to the Law of God,
every tear of saints oppressed by you, will become the seed of future believers. And you will be
defeated just when you think that you are going to triumph. Go. I am going as well. Those who love
Me should look for Me at the borders of Judaea and beyond the Jordan, or they can wait for Me
there, because like lightning flashing from east to west, so fast will be the movement of the Son of
man, until He ascends the altar and the throne, new Pontiff and King, and will remain there firmly
in the presence of the world, of creation and of Heaven, in one of His many epiphanies, which only
good people can understand.»
The hostile Pharisees and their companions have gone. All the others have remained. Gamaliel's
son struggles against himself to come to Jesus, but he goes away without speaking...
«Master, You will not hate us because we belong to the same castes as they do? » asks Eleazar.
«I never strike with anathema a single person only because his class is guilty. Be not afraid » replies
Jesus.
«They will now hate us...» whispers Joachim.
«That will be an honour for us! » exclaims John, the member of the Sanhedrin.
«May God fortify wavering souls and bless strong ones. I bless everybody in the name of the Lord »
and opening His arms He gives the Mosaic blessing to all the people present.
He then takes leave of Lazarus, his sisters, Maximinus, the women disciples, and He sets out...
The green country on the sides of the road to Jericho receives Him while its green is growing red in
a glorious sunset.

378. Towards Mount Adomin.

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 7th February 1946.

«It is getting dark, where are we going? » the apostles ask one another. They are talking in low
voices of what happened. They are not saying anything loud, as they do not want to depress the
Master, Who is clearly very pensive.
Night falls while they proceed, following the Master Who is still very serious. A village appears at
the foot of a chain of very rough mountains.
«Let us stop here for the night » orders Jesus. «Or rather, you stop here. I will go up those
mountains to pray...»
«By Yourself? Ah! no! You are not going by Yourself up Mount Adomin! With all those thieves
who are lying in wait for You, no, You are not going!...» says Peter quite firmly.
«What can they do to Me? I have nothing! »
«You have... Yourself. I am talking of the real thieves, of those who hate You. And Your life is
quite enough for them. You are not going to be killed like... like... thus, I mean, in a cowardly
ambush. You would give Your enemies the opportunity to invent goodness knows what story to
divert the crowds also from Your doctrine » insists Peter.
«Simon of Jonah is right; Master. They would be quite capable of getting rid of Your body and then
saying that You have fled because You had realised that You had been unmasked. Or... they could
even take You to places of evil fame, to the house of a prostitute, and then say. "See where and how
He died? In a quarrel over a prostitute". You quite rightly said: "To persecute a doctrine is to
increase its power" and I noticed that Gamaliel's son, whose sight I never lost, was nodding assent
while You were saying so. But it is also right to say that to hold a saint and his doctrine up to
ridicule is the safest weapon to confute his doctrine and make him lose the esteem of the crowds »
says Judas Thaddeus.
«Of course. And that must not happen to You » concludes Bartholomew.
«Don't lend Yourself to the tricks of Your enemies. Consider that not only You would be damaged,
but also the Will of Him Who sent You would be made void by such imprudence, and one would
see that the children of Darkness have defeated, at least temporarily, the children of Light » adds
the Zealot.
«That's right! You always say, and You pierce our hearts, that You will be killed. I remember when
You reproached Simon Peter and I will not say to You: "Let that never happen". But I do not think
that I am Satan if I say: "At least let that be to Your glorification, as unequivocal seal of Your
Holiness, and definite conviction of Your enemies. So that the crowds may know and have valid
reasons to distinguish and believe". At least that, Master. The holy mission of the Maccabees never
appeared so holy as when Judas, the son of Mattathias, died as a hero and saviour in the battlefield.
Do You want to go up Mount Adomin? We will come with You. We are Your disciples! Where
You go as our Head, we will come as Your ministers » says Thomas, and I have seldom heard him
speak with such solemn eloquence.
«That is very true! And if they attack You, they will have to attack us first » several of them say.
«Oh! They will not attack us so easily! They are curing the smart of Claudia's words and... they are
very... too cunning! They must certainly consider that Pontius would know whom to punish for
Your death. They have betrayed themselves in the eyes of Claudia and they will ponder over that
and think of traps more reliable than vulgar aggression. Perhaps it is foolish of us to be afraid. We
are no longer the poor unknown people of the past. There is Claudia now! » says the Iscariot.
«Very well... But don't let us run any risk. What do You want to do on Mount Adomin? » asks
James of Zebedee.
«I want to pray and find a place where you can all pray in the next days, to be ready for fresh fiercer
and fiercer struggles.»
«Against our enemies? »
«Also against our egos. I am in great need of being fortified.»
«But did You not say that You wanted to go to the borders of Judaea and beyond the Jordan? »

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«Yes, and I will. But after praying. I will go to Achor and then to Jericho via Doco.»
«No, Lord! They are inauspicious places for the saints of Israel. Don't go there. I tell You, I can feel
it! There is something within me that tells me. Don't go! In the name of God, don't go! » shouts
John, who seems to be on the point of losing consciousness, as if he were seized by ecstatic fear...
They all look at him in amazement, as they have never seen him thus before. But no one sneers at
him. They all feel that they are in the presence of a supernatural fact and they respectfully remain
silent.
Jesus also is silent until He sees John regain his normal composure and hears him say: «O my Lord!
How much I suffered! »
«I know. We shall go to Mount Cherith. What does your spirit say? » I am deeply impressed by the
respect with which Jesus addresses His inspired apostle...
«You are asking me, Lord? You, the Most Holy Wisdom, are asking a poor foolish boy! »
«Yes, I am asking you. The least is the greatest when he humbly communicates with his Lord for
the welfare of his brothers. Tell Me.»
«Yes, Lord. Let us go to Mount Cherith. There are gorges there where we can safely collect our
thoughts in meditation, and the roads to Jericho and Samaria are not far. We will descend the
mountain to gather those who love You and hope in You and we will bring them to You, or take
You to them, and we will also nourish our souls with prayer... And the Lord will descend and speak
to our spirits... and will open our ears, which hear the Word but do not fully understand Him... and
above all will inflame our hearts with His fire. Because only if we are aflame, shall we be able to
bear the torments of the Earth. Because only if we first suffer the sweet martyrdom of total love,
shall we be ready to suffer the torture of human hatred... Lord... what have I said? »
«My words, John. Be not afraid. Let us stop here then, and tomorrow at dawn we will go up the
mountains.»

379. After the Retreat upon Mount Cherith.

9th February 1946.

It is occasionally possible to catch glimpses of parts of the Dead Sea, which lies to the south of the
place where the apostles are with the Master, from a group of mountains, which seem intent on
rising more and more. And, I would say, every phase of their effort is marked by a rough chain of
rocky hills, with sheer sloping sides, severed by narrow valleys similar to gigantic slashes and
crowned with wild peaks. It is not possible to see the Jordan and its peaceful fertile valley, or
Jericho or other towns. One can see nothing but mountains rising towards Samaria, and the gloomy
Dead Sea through the narrow gorge between two acuminated mountains. Down in the valley there
is a stream flowing from west to east towards the Jordan. There is loud screeching of hawks and
croaking of ravens in the bright blue sky. Many birds are chirping among the branches of the wild
slopes. The winds whisper as mellow as flutes among the gorges, carrying remote scents and noises,
or overwhelming those which are near, according to whether they are light or strong. An odd
harness-bell is heard now and again from the road, which must be down in the valley. One can also
hear the bleating of sheep grazing on the tablelands and the noise of water dripping from rocks or
murmuring in torrents. But the season is good, dry and mild, the mountain sides are covered with
bright flowers standing out against the emerald green of the grass, and bunches of flowers and
festoons hang from tree trunks and branches and the sight of the place is most pleasant.
The faces of the thirteen men gathered there are very happy, shining with a supernatural happiness.
The world has been forgotten... It is remote... Their spirits have recovered from many shocks, they
are once again in the halo of God, that is, in peace. And peace is visible on their countenances.
But the rest is over, and Jesus tells them so. And Peter repeats his prayer of Mount Tabor: «Oh!
Why do we not stop here? It is beautiful to be here with You!»

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«Because there is work awaiting us, Simon of Jonah. We cannot be only contemplative. The world
is waiting for our teaching. The workers of the Lord cannot stop when there are fields to be sown.»
«Then... since I become a little good only when I live apart as now, I will never be able to... The
world is so great! How shall we be able to work it all and then concentrate on You before dying? »
«You will certainly not work it all. It will take hundreds and hundreds of years. And when a part
has been worked, Satan will go there to spoil what has been done. It will thus be a continuous work
lasting until the end of the world.»
«Well, then, how shall I be able to be ready to die? » Peter is really depressed.
Jesus reassures him embracing him and says: «You will have time. It does not take long. An act of
perfect concentration is sufficient to prepare you to appear before God. And you will have all the
time you need. In any case you must realise that by fulfilling the will of God one is always
preparing to die in holiness. If God wants you to be active and you obey, you are preparing better
by obeying than you would by retiring among the most solitary rocks to pray and meditate. Are you
convinced? »
«Certainly! You say So! So what shall we do? »
«Go along the roads in the valley. Gather together those who are waiting for Me and preach the
Lord and Faith until I come.»
«Are You remaining alone here? »
«Of course. Be not afraid. You can see that at times evil is of some help to good. Elijah here was
fed by crows. We can say that fierce vultures fed us.»
«Do You think that it was a kind of beginning of conversion? »
«No. But charity, although it was urged by the consideration that by treating us generously, they
would put us in a situation not to betray them...»
«But we would not have betrayed them! » exclaims Andrew.
«No. But the wretched thieves do not know that. There is no spiritual feeling in them, laden as they
are with crimes.»
«Lord, You were saying that charity... What were You going to say? » asks John.
«I wanted to say: the fact that they treated us charitably will be rewarded, at least among the better
ones. The conversion, which did not take place now, may work slowly, but it can take place. That is
why I said to you: "Do not refuse their offerings". And I accepted them although I smelt the stench
of sin in them.»
«But You did not eat any...»
«But I did not mortify the sinners by rejecting them. They had initial good feeling. Why destroy it?
That torrent down there, does it not originate in the spring that trickles from that crag? Always
remember that. It is a lesson for your future life, when I shall no longer be among you. If in your
apostolic travels you should come across criminals, do not behave like Pharisees, who despise
everybody, and they do not consider that they should despise themselves first, corrupt as they are.
But approach them with great love. I would like to be able to say with "infinite love". Nay, I say so.
And that is possible, although man is "finite, limited" in his acts and actions.
Do you know how man can possess infinite love? By being so united to God, as to be all one with
God. Then, as the creature disappears in the Creator, it is the Creator Who really acts, and He is
infinite. And My apostles must be like that, all one with their God through the power of love, which
is so close to the Origin as to dissolve in it. It is not the way in which you speak, but the way in
which you love, that will convert hearts. Will you find sinners? Love them. Will you suffer because
of disciples who go astray? Try to save them through love. Remember the parable of the lost sheep.
Oh! for ever and ever it will be the sweet appeal made to sinners. But it will also be the definite
order given to My priests. With every artifice, with every sacrifice, at the cost of losing your own
lives in the attempt to save a soul, you must patiently go and look for those who are lost and bring
them back to the Fold. Love will give you joy. It will say to you: "Be not afraid". It will give you
such a power to expand all over the world, as I did not possess Myself. No longer is the love of
future just people to be set as a seal on the heart and on the arm, as the Song of Songs says. But it is
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to be set in the heart. It must be the spur urging souls to all actions. And each action must be
superabundance of charity, which is no longer satisfied with loving God or one's neighbour only
mentally, but it enters the lists against the enemies of God, to love God and neighbour concretely,
also through material deeds, which lead to wider and more perfect actions aiming at the redemption
and sanctification of brothers.
Through contemplation one loves God, through action one loves one's neighbour, but the two loves
are not separated, because there is one love only, and loving our neighbour we love God Who
orders this love and gave us our neighbour as a brother. Neither you nor future priests will be able
to say that you are My friends, if your charity and theirs is not entirely devoted to the salvation of
souls, for whom I became incarnate and for whom I will suffer. I give you the example of how one
must love. But you and those who will come after you, must do what I do. The new time has come.
The time of love. I have come to cast this fire into hearts and it will grow greater after My Passion
and Ascension, and it will inflame you when the Love of the Father and of the Son descends to
consecrate you to your ministry.
Most Divine Love! Why do You delay in consuming the Victim, in opening the eyes and ears, in
loosening the tongues and limbs of this flock of Mine, so that they may go among wolves and teach
that God is Charity, and that he who has no charity is a brute and a demon? Oh! come, most sweet
and strong Spirit, and inflame the Earth, not to destroy it, but to purify it. Inflame hearts! Make
other Christs of them, like Me, that is, anointed by love, active for love, holy and sanctifying
through love.
Blessed are those who love, because they will be loved, and their souls will never stop singing to
God together with the angels until they will sing the eternal glory in the light of Heaven. So be it for
you, My friends. Now go and do with love what I told you.»

380. The Parable of the Unfaithful Steward. Essenes and Pharisees.

10th February 1946.

Waiting for the Master many people are scattered over the lower slopes of a rather isolated
mountain, which rises from intertwined valleys surrounding it; in certain places the slopes rise
sheer from the valleys. To reach the top there is a path cut in the calcareous rock like a scratch
winding up the slope. In some parts the borders of the path are the steep incline of the mountain on
one side, and a deep precipice on the other. And the dark yellowish-red rugged path, looks like a
ribbon thrown among the low dusty-green thorny bushes, full of aculei; I would say the aculei are
the very leaves that cover the and rocky slopes and adorn themselves with bright violet-red flowers,
like tassels or flocks of silk torn from the garment of some unfortunate person who happened to
pass along the thicket of thorn bushes. And this blue-green tormenting vegetation, full of sharp
thorns, is as sad as if it were spread with impalpable ashes and extends in stripes also at the foot of
the mountain and in the plain between the mountain and other mountains, both north-west and
south-east, alternating with places where there are real bushes and real grass, which are neither
tormenting nor useless.
The crowds have camped on the green grass, patiently waiting the arrival of the Master. It must be
the day after the speech to the apostles, because it is a cool morning and the dew has not yet
evaporated from all the stems. It particularly decorates those thorns and leaves which are in the
more shady spots, transforming the quaint flowers of the thorny bushes into tassels studded with

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diamonds. This is certainly the beauty hour for the sad mountain. Because during the other hours, in
the scorching sun or in moonlit nights, it must look like a horrible place of hellish expiation. A
large wealthy town can be seen to the east, in the very fertile plain. Nothing else is visible from this
hillside, which is still low, where the pilgrims are, but from the top the eye must enjoy a wonderful
sight of the nearby districts. Taking into account the height of the mountain I think that one's eyes
would rove over the Dead Sea and the area to the east of it, as far as the mountain chains of
Samaria and those that hide Jerusalem. But I have not been to the top, so...
The apostles are moving about among the crowds, trying to keep them quiet and orderly and to put
sick people in the best places. They are assisted by some disciples, perhaps those who are active in
that locality and had led to the borders of Judaea the pilgrims anxious to hear the Master.
Jesus appears all of a sudden. He is wearing a white linen tunic and a red mantle, to make the heat
of the sunny days compatible with the coolness of the nights, as we are not yet in summer. He has
not yet been seen and He looks at the crowds waiting for Him and smiles. He seems to be coming
from behind the eastern side of the mountain, half-way up the hill, and He comes down quickly
along the difficult path.
It is a boy, who, either because he was looking at the flight of birds nestling among the bushes and
which take off when a stone rolls down the mountain side and frightens them, or because his eyes
were attracted by the sudden appearance, sees Jesus and bouncing to his feet shouts: «The Lord! »
They all turn round and see Jesus, Who is now about two hundred metres away. They start running
towards Him, but with a gesture of His arm and with His voice, which is heard clearly, perhaps
because it is echoed by the mountain, He says: «Remain where you are.» And smiling all the time
He comes down as far as those waiting for Him and stops at the highest spot of the tableland. He
greets them from there: «Peace to everybody » and with a particular smile He repeats His salutation
to the apostles and disciples who have gathered round Him.
Jesus is beaming with beauty. With the sun in front of Him and the greenish hillside behind His
back, He looks like the vision of a dream. The hours spent in solitude, something unknown to us, or
perhaps an overflow on Him of fatherly caresses, I do not know what, accentuate His ever perfect
beauty, they make it glorious, imposing, peaceful, serene, I would say joyful, as becomes a person
who comes back from a tryst and whose countenance, smiles and eyes show all his happiness. The
evidence of this divine encounter shines infinitely more brightly than can normally be seen after the
meeting of poor human lovers, and the Christ appears dazzling with it. And He subdues all the
people present who contemplate Him silently with admiration, as if they were intimidated by the
intuition of a mysterious reunion of the Most High with His Word... It is a secret, a secret hour of
love between the Father and the Son. No one will ever know it. But the Son keeps its seal, as if,
after being the Word of the Father, as He is in Heaven, He could hardly be once again the Son of
man. Infinity, sublimity find it difficult to become «the Man » again. Divinity overflows, explodes,
radiates from Humanity like sweet oil from a porous earthen jar or like the light of a furnace
through the veil of ground glass.
And Jesus lowers His beaming eyes, His blissful face, He conceals His wonderful smile, bending
over the sick people, whom He caresses and cures while they are seized with astonishment looking
at the bright loving face bent over their misery to make them happy. But at last He must stand up
and show the crowds the Face of the Peaceful, Holy One, of the God Incarnate, still wrapped in the
brightness of the ecstasy. He repeats: «Peace to you.» Even His voice is more melodious than usual,
as it resounds with sweet triumphant notes... It spreads powerfully over the silent listeners,
searching for their hearts, caressing them, shaking them and inviting them to love.
Everybody is deeply moved, with the exception of that group of Pharisees, who are more arid,
coarse, prickly and harsh than the mountain itself and are standing like statues full of
incomprehension and hatred in a comer, and with the exception of the other group, all dressed in
white and standing aloof, listening from a brow and whom Bartholomew and the Iscariot point out
as «Essenes ». And Peter grumbles: «And so there is another extra fowl-run of hawks! »
«Oh! Never mind. The Word is for everybody! » says Jesus, smiling at Peter, referring to the
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Essenes.
He then begins to speak.
«It would be lovely if man were as perfect as the Father in Heaven wants him. Perfect in every
thought, affection, deed. But man does not know how to be perfect and misuses the gifts of God,
Who has given freedom of action to man, ordering, however, good things, advising perfect things,
so that man might not say: "I did not know".
What use does man make of the freedom given to him by God? The greatest part of men use it as a
child would; or as a fool; the rest use it as criminals. Then death comes and man is subject to the
Judge Who asks severely: "How did you use or misuse what I gave you?". A dreadful question! How
less worthy than motes will then look the goods of the Earth, for which man so often becomes a
sinner! Poor in eternal misery, divested of a garment that nothing can replace, he will stand
dejected and trembling before the Majesty of the Lord, and will find no word to justify himself.
Because it is easy to justify oneself, deceiving poor men. But that cannot happen in Heaven. God
cannot be deceived. Never. And God does not resort to any compromise. Never.
Now, then. How can one be saved? How can man make everything be of use to his salvation, even
what has originated from Corruption, which taught men to use metals and gems as instruments of
wealth and fostered their eager desire for power and pleasure of the flesh? So will man, who,
however poor he may be, can always sin by desiring gold, offices, women immoderately, - and at
times he becomes the thief of such things to have what rich people have - so will man, rich or poor
as he may be, never be able to save himself? Of course he will. How? By exploiting wealth on
behalf of Good; exploiting misery on behalf of Good. The poor man who is not envious, who does
not curse, who does not attempt to take what belongs to other people, but is happy with what he
has, exploits his humble condition in order to achieve future holiness, and in actual fact, most poor
people know how to do that. But the rich are not so capable, as wealth is a continuous trap, set by
Satan, of the treble concupiscence.
But listen to a parable and you will see that the rich also can save themselves although they are rich,
or they can make amends for their past wrongs, by making good use of their riches, even if they
were unjustly obtained. Because God, the Most Good God, always grants many means to His
children so that they may save themselves.
So there was a rich man who had a steward. Some enemies of the latter, who were envious of the
good position he had, or because they were very friendly with the rich man and therefore mindful of
his wealth, accused the steward saying to his master: "He squanders your wealth. He embezzles
your goods. Or he does not make them yield any fruit. Be careful. Defend yourself!".
The rich man, after hearing such repeated accusations, summoned the steward. And he said to him:
"I have been told so and so. Why have you done that? Give me an account of your stewardship,
because I will not allow you to keep it any longer. I cannot trust you and I cannot make an example
of injustice and servile tolerance, which would induce the other servants to act as you did. Go and
come back tomorrow with your documents, that I may examine them and ascertain the situation of
my property before handing it to another steward". And he dismissed the steward, who went away
and began to worry saying to himself: "And now? What shall I do now that the master is taking the
stewardship from me? I have no savings, because, as I was sure that I would get away with it, I
spent in enjoyment everything I usurped. I do not feel like working as a peasant, subject to other
people, because I am no longer used to digging, and I have grown heavier with orgies. And I dislike
begging even more. It is too humiliating! But what shall I do?".
He thought it over and over again and he found a way out from his painful situation. He said: "I
have found it! As I secured a pleasant life for myself so far, in the same way I will make sure that
my friends will offer me hospitality out of gratitude, when I am dismissed from my office. He who
does good always has friends. Let us go, therefore, and help people, in order to be helped, and let us
go at once, before the news spreads and it is too late".
And he went to the sundry debtors of his master and he said to the first one: "How much do you
owe my master for the money he lent you three years ago in springtime?".
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And the debtor replied: "One hundred measures of oil for money and interest".
"Oh! Poor fellow! What, with such a large family and with your children afflicted by diseases, you
have to give so much?! But did he not give you money to the value of thirty measures?!".
"Yes, but I needed it urgently and he said to me: 'I will give it to you, but on condition that you will
pay me back whatever the sum will yield to you in three years'. It yielded the equivalent of one
hundred measures. And I must give them".
"But that is usury! Don't! He is rich, while you are not far from starving. He has a small family, you
have a large one. Write here that it yielded to the value of fifty measures and forget about it. I will
swear that it is the truth. And you will benefit by it".
"But will you not betray me? And if he finds out?".
"Do you think it is possible? I am the steward and what I swear is sacred. Do as I tell you and do not
worry".
The man signed the document, handed it to him and said: "May you be blessed! You are my friend
and saviour. How can I compensate you?".
"In no way! But if I should get into trouble and be dismissed because of this, you will welcome me
out of gratitude".
"Of course! Certainly! You may rely on that!".
The steward went to another debtor and talked to him more or less in the same way. This debtor
was to give back one hundred measures of wheat, because the drought had destroyed his crops for
three years, and he had to borrow what was necessary to feed his family.
"Forget about doubling what he gave you! How can one deny wheat and exact twice as much when
a fellow and his family are starving and one's wheat is eaten by worms in the barns, because there is
superabundance of it! Write eighty measures".
"But if he remembers that he gave me twenty, then another twenty, and then ten?".
"How can you expect him to remember? I gave them to you and I do not want to remember. Do as I
say and it is all settled. There must be justice between rich and poor people! If I were the master, I
would accept only the fifty measures, and perhaps I would remit them as well".
"You are good! I wish they were all like you! Remember that my house is open to you".
The steward called on other debtors, in the same way, stating that he was willing to get into trouble
to put matters right according to justice. And offers of help and blessings rained upon him.
When he was reassured about his future, he went to his master, who, in turn, had dogged his steps
and discovered his trick. The master, however, praised him saying: "What you did is not right and I
do not praise you for that. But I must praise you for your cunning. The children of this world are
really more cunning than the children of Light".
And I repeat to you what the rich man said: "Fraud is not right, and I will never praise anyone for
it. But I exhort you to be shrewd, at least like the children of this world, with the means of this
world, to make them serve as money to enter the Kingdom of Light". That is, make good use of
earthly riches, which are means distributed unjustly and used to purchase a fleeting welfare, which
is of no value in the eternal Kingdom, so that they may open its door to you. Assist the poor with
the means you have, give back what you or any other member of your family took unjustly, break
with the evil guilty love for riches. And all these things will be like friends who in the hour of your
death will open the eternal gates to you and will receive you in the blissful abode.
How can you expect God to give His heavenly goods, if He sees that you cannot make good use
even of earthly goods? As an impossible supposition, do you want Him to accept squanderers in the
heavenly Jerusalem? No, never. Up there one will live with charity, generosity and justice.
Everybody for One and everyone for everybody. The Communion of Saints is an active and honest
society, it is a holy society. And no one who has proved to be unjust and unfaithful can enter it.
Do not say: "But we shall be faithful up there, because we shall have everything up there without
any fear". No. He who is unfaithful in little, would be unfaithful even if he possessed Everything,
and he who is unjust in little is unjust in much. God does not trust true wealth to those who in the
earthly test prove that they do not know how to use earthly riches. How can God entrust you one
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day in Heaven with the mission of supporting spirits of your brothers on the Earth, when you have
shown that extortions, frauds and greed are your prerogatives? He will, therefore, deny you your
treasure, which He had kept for you, and He will give it to those who were shrewd on the Earth, by
using also what is unjust and unwholesome in deeds which make them just and wholesome.
No servant can serve two masters. Because he will belong to one or to the other, and he will hate
one or the other. The two masters whom man can choose are God or Mammon. But if he wishes to
belong to the former, he cannot wear the colours, or follow the voice, or use the means of the
latter.»
A voice rises from the group of the Essenes: «Man is not free to choose. He is forced to follow a
fate. We do not state that it is distributed unwisely. On the contrary the perfect Mind has fixed,
according to its own perfect plan, the number of those who will be worthy of Heaven. All the others
strive in vain to become so. That is the situation. And it cannot be otherwise. As one coming out of
a house may be killed by a stone falling from a cornice, whereas one in the thick of the battle may
not suffer the slightest wound, likewise he who wants to save himself, but it is not written so, will
only commit sin even unawares, because his damnation is fated.»
«No, man. It is not so. And change your mind. By thinking so you do the Lord wrong.»
«Why? Tell me and I will change my mind.»
«Because, by saying so, you mentally confess that God is unjust with His creatures. He created them
in the same way and with the same love. He is a Father. Perfect in His paternity, as He is in
everything else. How can He, therefore, make distinctions and curse a man when he is being
conceived and is an innocent embryo? When he is incapable of committing sin? »
«To take His revenge for the offence received from man.»
«No. God does not take His revenge thus! He would not be satisfied with a miserable sacrifice like
that, with an unjust forced sacrifice. The offence made to God can be removed by the God made
Man. He will be the Expiator. Neither this nor that man. Oh! I wish it had been possible for Me to
have to remove only the original sin! I wish there had been no Cain on the Earth, no Lamech, no
corrupt sodomite, no homicide, thief, fornicator, adulterer, blasphemer, no one without love for
one's parents, no perjurer, and so forth! But of each of those sins, the sinner is guilty and the author,
not God. God left His children free to choose between Good and Evil.»
«And that was wrong » shouts a scribe. «He tempted us beyond measure. Although He knew that we
were weak, ignorant, poisoned, He led us into temptation. That is either imprudence or wickedness.
Since You are just, You must grant that what I say is the truth.»
«You are telling lies to tempt Me. God had given Adam and Eve all the necessary advice, to what
avail? »
«He did the wrong thing even then. He should not have put the tree, the temptation, in the Garden.»
«In that case, where is the merit of man? »
«He would have done without it. He would have lived with no merit of his own, but only with the
merit of God.»
«They are tempting You, Master. Leave those serpents alone, and listen to us, who live in
continence and meditation » shouts once again the Essene.
«Yes, you live. But badly. Why do you not live holily? »
The Essene does not reply to the questions, but he asks: «As You gave me a convincing answer on
free will, and I will meditate on it with good will, hoping that I will be able to accept it, now tell
me. Do You really believe in the resurrection of bodies and in the life of souls completed by it? »
«And do you want God to put an end to the life of man thus? »
«But the soul... Since the soul is happy with its reward, why make matter rise again? Will it
increase the happiness of the blessed souls? »
«Nothing will increase the bliss of a saint when he possesses God. Or rather, one thing only will
increase it on the Last Day: the knowledge that there is no longer sin. But do you not think that it is
fair, that as during this day body and soul were united in the struggle to possess Heaven, they should
be united also in the eternal Day to enjoy the reward? Are you not convinced? Why do you live in
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continence and meditation, then? »
«To be... a more perfect man, the lord over the other animals that obey their instinct without control
and to be better than most men who are soiled with animality even if they display phylacteries,
fringes, tassels and wide garments and they call themselves "the separated ones".»
Anathema! The Pharisees, upon hearing the pungent remark, which is approved by the crowds with
a murmur, become excited and shout like madmen. «He is insulting us, Master! You are aware of
our holiness. Defend us » they shout gesticulating.
Jesus replies: «He, too, is aware of your hypocrisy. Garments have nothing to do with holiness.
When you deserve to be praised, I will be able to speak. But My answer to you, Essene, is that you
sacrifice yourself for too little. Why? For whom? For how long? For human praise. For a mortal
body. For as short a time as the flight of a falcon. Raise your sacrifice. Believe in the true God, in
the blissful resurrection, in the free will of man. Lead an ascetic life, but for those supernatural
reasons. And with your risen body you will enjoy eternal happiness.»
«It is late! I am old! I have perhaps wasted my life in an erroneous sect... It's the end!...»
«No. It is never the end for those who want good! Listen, sinners, and you, who are in error, or you,
whatever your past may have been. Repent. Come to Mercy. It opens its arms to you. I show you the
way. I am the pure vital fountain. Get rid of what has misled you so far. Undress and come to the
fountain. Clothe yourselves with light. Revive. Have you stolen like highwaymen, or like gentlemen
and craftily in business or in offices? Come. Have you had bad habits or lustful passions? Come.
Have you oppressed your neighbour? Come. Repent. Come to love and to peace. Oh! Let the love of
God flow upon you. Relieve that love, which is in anguish because of your resistance, your fear,
your hesitation. I beg you in the name of My Father and yours. Come to Life and to the Truth, and
you will have eternal life.»
A man shouts from the crowd: «I am rich and a sinner. What shall I do to come? »
«Give up everything for the sake of God and of your soul.»
The Pharisees grumble and scoff at Jesus, calling Him «vendor of illusions and heresies », and
«sinner feigning holiness », and they warn Him that heretics are always heretics and that such are
the Essenes. They say that sudden conversions are nothing but passing enthusiasm and that an
impure man will always be impure, a thief will always be a thief and a murderer a murderer. They
conclude by saying that, as they live in perfect holiness, they are the only ones entitled to Heaven
and to preaching.
«This was a happy day. Seeds of holiness were falling into hearts. My love, nourished by the kiss of
God, was giving life to the seed. The Son of man was happy in sanctifying... You have poisoned the
day. But it does not matter. I say to you - and if I am not gentle, the fault is yours - I say to you that
you are the ones who show themselves just, or try to do so, in the eyes of men, but you are not just.
God knows your hearts. What is great in the eyes of men, is abominable before the immensity and
perfection of God. You quote the old Law. Why, then, do you not live according to it? You alter the
Law in your favour, aggravating it with burdens that give you a profit. Why, then, do you not allow
Me to alter it to the benefit of these little ones, removing all the tassels and heavy useless burdens
of the precepts made by you, which are so many and such that the essential Law disappears under
them and is smothered? I feel sorry for these crowds, for these souls, who seek fresh air in Religion
and find a slip-knot. They seek love and find terror... No. Come, little ones of Israel. The Law is
love! God is love! This is what I say to those who are frightened among you. The severe Law and
the threatening prophets who foretold Me, but notwithstanding the cries of their distressing
prophecies they were not able to withhold sin, end with John. After John comes the Kingdom of
God, the Kingdom of love. I say to the humble: "Go in. It is for you". And everyone with a good will
strives to go in. But for those who will not lower their heads, beat their chests and say: "I have
sinned", there will be no Kingdom. It is written: "Circumcise your heart and be obstinate no longer".
This land saw the prodigy of Elisha, who made the foul water wholesome, by throwing some salt
into it. And do I not throw the salt of Wisdom into your hearts? Why are you then worse than water
and you do not change your spirits? Mix My salt with your formulae and they will have a fresh
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taste, because they will give the Law its primitive strength. In you, first of all, as you are the most
needy. Do you say that I change the Law? No. You tell lies. I give the Law its original form, which
you distorted. Because it is the Law that will last as long as the Earth, and both sky and earth will
disappear before one only of its elements or its advice. And if you alter it, because you like to do so,
and if you draw fine distinctions looking for loop-holes for your faults, you had better know that it
is of no avail. It is of no avail, Samuel! Of no avail, Isaiah. It is written: "You shall not commit
adultery" and I complete it adding: "He who sends back his wife to marry another one, is
adulterous, and he, who marries a woman repudiated by her husband, is adulterous, because what
God joined, death only can separate". But harsh words are for obdurate sinners. Those who have
sinned, but grieve desolately for doing so, must know and believe that God is Goodness, and let
them come to Him Who absolves, forgives and admits to Life. Go with this certainty. Spread it in
people's hearts. Preach mercy, which gives you peace, blessing you in the name of the Lord.»
The crowds disperse slowly, both because the path is narrow and because they are attracted by
Jesus. But they disperse.
The apostles remain with Jesus and while speaking they make their way. They seek the shade
walking close to a thicket of ruffled tamarisks. But there is an Essene in it. The one who spoke to
Jesus. He is taking off his white clothes.
Peter, who is ahead of everybody, is dumbfounded seeing that the man is left with only his drawers
on, and he runs back saying: «Master! A madman! The one who was speaking to You, the Essene.
He is undressed and is weeping and sighing. We cannot go there.»
But the man, who is lean, bearded, with no clothes on his body except his drawers and sandals, is
already coming out of the thicket and he turns his steps towards Jesus weeping and beating his
chest. He prostrates himself: «I am the one whose heart has been miraculously cured. You have
cured my soul. I will obey Your word. I want to clothe myself with light, leaving every other
thought, which might clothe me with errors. I will live apart to meditate on the true God, to obtain
life and resurrection. Is that enough? Give me a new name and tell me a place where I can live of
You and of Your words.»
«He is mad! We could not lead such a life and we have heard so many of His words! And he... just
after one sermon...» say the apostles to one another.
But the man, who has heard them, says: «Are you going to put limitations to God? He has broken
my heart to give me a free spirit. Lord!...» he implores, stretching his arms out towards Jesus.
«Yes. Your name is Elijah and be fire. That mountain is full of caves. Go there, and when you hear
the earth quake because of a dreadful earthquake, come out, and look for the servants of the Lord to
join them. You will then be re-born and you will be a servant, too. Go! »
The man kisses His feet, gets up and goes away.
«But is he going nude like that? » ask the dumbfounded apostles.
«Give him a mantle, a knife, tinder and flint, and some bread. He will walk today and tomorrow
and then he will retire to pray where we stopped and the Father will see to His son.»
Andrew and John run after him and they reach him when he is about to disappear round a bend.
They come back saying: «He took everything. We also told him where we were. What an
unexpected prey, Lord! »
«God makes plants flower also on rocks. And in the deserts of hearts He makes spirits of good will
rise to comfort Me. Now let us go towards Jericho. We will stop in some house in the country.»

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381. In Nike's House.
12th February 1946.

Although the road runs through a green country, with leafy trees along its sides, it is as hot as an
oven in the midday sun. Heat and the aroma of bread being baked in an oven come from the fields,
where the crops are maturing rapidly. The light is dazzling. Each ear of corn looks like a tiny gilded
lamp among the golden glumes and the pointed awns, and the sunshine sparkling on the straw of
the cornstalks is as troublesome to the eye as the dazzling road. In vain the pilgrims seek relief in
the leaves. If they look up at them, they expose their eyes even more to the glare of the oppressive
sunshine, and they must lower them at once, to shun such violence, and close them, leaving a
narrow gap between their dusty reddened irritated eyelashes. Perspiration trickling down their dusty
cheeks leaves shiny streaks on them. They drag their tired feet raising more dust, which increases
their torture.
Jesus comforts His tired apostles. Although He is perspiring as well, He has covered His head with
His mantle, to protect it from the sun, and advises the others to do likewise. They obey without
speaking, They are too exhausted to waste their breath on one of their usual complaints. They are
proceeding like drunk men...
«Cheer up. There is a house over there in the fields...» says Jesus.
«If it is like the others... there will be nothing but the distress of walking so much through fiery
fields to no purpose » grumbles Peter within his mantle. The others confirm uttering a depressed
«h’m! ».
«I will go. You stay here in this little shade.»
«No. We will come with You. They will have at least a well, as there is no shortage of water here...
and we will have a drink to quench the fire within us.»
«It will do you harm to drink while you are so hot.»
«We shall die... but it will be better than what we have now...»
Jesus does not reply. He sighs and He goes ahead of them along a path through fields of corn.
The fields do not stretch as far as the house, but they end at the border of a wonderful shady
orchard, which forms a rich refreshing ring round the house, as both light and heat are mitigated in
it. And the apostles thrust themselves into it, with an «ah! » of relief. But Jesus goes on, heedless of
their entreaties to stop for a little while.
The cooing of doves, the creaking of pulleys and the calm voices of women are heard from the
house and spread in the dead silence of the country.
Jesus arrives at a little esplanade, which surrounds the house like a wide clean pavement, over
which a pergola of grapes spreads its entangled leafy branches and a protecting shade. There are
two wells, one on the left and one on the right hand side of the house, shaded by the vine. There are
some flowerbeds against the walls of the house. Light dark-striped curtains are fluttering at the
open doors. Voices of women and noise of dishes come from a room. Jesus goes towards it and as
He passes by, a dozen doves, which were pecking cereals spread on the ground, take flight with
loud flapping of wings. The noise draws the attention of those in the room and it is
contemporaneous with the drawing of the curtain, which Jesus moves to the right with His hand,
while a servants pulls it to the left and remains astonished before the Unknown visitor.
«Peace to this house! May I, as a pilgrim, have some refreshment? » asks Jesus standing on the
threshold of the room, a large kitchen in which servants are washing the dishes used for the midday
meal.
«The landlady will not reject You. I will go and tell her.»
«There are twelve more people with Me, and if I should get refreshment only for Myself, I would
prefer to have none.»
«We will tell the mistress and she certainly...»
«Master and Lord! You here? In my house? What grace is this? » interrupts a voice, and a woman,
Nike, rushes forward and kneels to kiss Jesus' feet.

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The maidservants are left like statues. The one who was washing the dishes is standing with a towel
in her right hand and a dripping dish in her left one, reddened by the boiling water. Another one,
who was polishing knives, crouching in a corner, gets up on her knees to see better, and the knives
fall on the floor with a crash. A third one, intent on removing ashes from the cookers, raises her
face covered with ashes and remains thus, emerging open mouthed from the level of the fireplace.
«I am here. Many houses rejected us. We are tired and thirsty.»
«Oh! Come! Not here. Let us go into the rooms facing north, which are cool and shady. And you,
prepare water so that they can wash, and bring some aromatic drinks. And you, girl, go and awake
the steward and ask him to let you have some snacks, while waiting for the meal...»
«No, Nike! I am not a worldly guest. I am your persecuted Master. I ask for shelter and love, rather
than for food. I ask for pity, more for My friends than for Myself...»
«Yes, Lord. But when did You have Your last meal? »
«They... I do not know. I, yesterday at dawn, with them.»
«So You can see... I will not commit excesses. But as a sister or a mother I will give everybody
what is necessary, and as a servant and disciple, I will give You honour and assistance. Where are
the brothers? »
«In the orchard. But I think that they are coming. I can hear their voices.»
Nike runs out, she sees them and calls them and then she leads them with Jesus into a cool
entrance-hall, where there already are basins and towels, so that they can wash their faces, hands
and feet and get rid of dust and perspiration.
«I beg you, take off your dusty clothes and give them to the servants at once. You will feel much
better with clean clothes and cool sandals on. Then come into that hall. I will wait for you there.»
And Nike goes out closing the door...
...«Ah! It is lovely in this shade and so refreshing! » says Peter with a sigh entering the room where
Nike is waiting for them kindly and respectfully.
«My joy in giving you relief is certainly greater than your relief, o apostle of my Lord.»
«H'm! Apostle... Of course... But, listen, Nike, let us do without ceremony. You: without attaching
importance to the fact that you are rich and wise; I, without attaching importance to the fact that I
am an apostle. So... like good brothers and sisters, who need each other's help for their souls and
their bodies. The thought that I am an "apostle" frightens me too much.»
«What are you afraid of? » asks the amazed woman smiling.
«Of being... too big... with regard to the clay I am, and that I may collapse because of the weight... I
am afraid of... becoming arrogant with pride... I am afraid that... the others, I mean the disciples and
good souls, knowing that I am the apostle, may keep away from me and hold their tongues even if I
make mistakes... And I do not want that because among the disciples, also among those who
believe in a simple way, there are many who are better than I am, some with regard to this, some
with regard to that, and I want to do as... as that bee over there, which has come in, and of the
baskets of fruit that you ordered to be brought in for us, it sucked a little here and a little there, and
now, to complete the task, is sucking those flowers and then it will go out and suck clover and
cornflowers, camomiles and bindweeds. It takes a little of everything. And I must do likewise...»
«But you suck the most beautiful flower! The Master.»
«Yes, Nike. But from Him I learn to become a son of God. Men will teach me to become a man.»
«You are.»
«No, woman. I am little less than an animal. And really I do not know how the Master puts up with
me...»
«I put up with you because you know what you are, and I can work on you as easily as one can
knead dough. But if you were stubborn and offered resistance, and above all if you were proud, I
would drive you away as if you were a demon» says Jesus.
Some maidservants come in with cups of cold milk, and porous amphoras, which keep liquids very
cool.
«Take some refreshment » says Nike. «Then you will be able to rest until evening. There are rooms
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and beds in the house. And if I did not have them, I would give you mine, to let you rest. Master, I
will now withdraw to attend to household matters. You all know where to find me and the
maidservants.»
«Go and do not worry about us.»
Nike goes out. The apostles do ample justice to the snack offered to them. And while eating with a
good appetite, they speak and make comments.
«Lovely fruit! »
«And a good disciple.»
«Beautiful house. Not magnificent, not poor.»
«And it is controlled by a woman who is both kind and firm. There is order, neatness, respect, and
tenderness at the same time.»
«There are beautiful fields round it! A fortune! »
«Yes. And a furnace!...» says Peter, who has not forgotten what he suffered. The others laugh.
«But it is very pleasant here. Did You know that Nike lived here? » asks Thomas.
«Not any more than you did. I knew that she had recently bought some property near Jericho. But
that was all. The dear angel of pilgrims led us here.»
«Actually, he led You. We did not want to come.»
«I was ready to throw myself on the ground and let the sun burn me, rather than take another step »
says Matthew.
«It is not possible to travel during the day. The sun is very strong this year. It seems to be going mad
as well.»
«Yes, we will travel during the first hours in the morning and in the evening. But we shall soon be
up on the mountains. It is milder there.»
«To my house? » asks the Iscariot.
«Yes, Judas. And to Juttah and to Hebron.»
«Not to Ashkelon, eh? »
«No, Peter. We will go where we have never been. We shall still have to suffer from sunshine and
heat. A little sacrifice for My sake and for the sake of souls. Rest now. I am going into the orchard
to pray.»
«But are You never tired? Would it not be better if You had a rest as well? » asks Judas of
Alphaeus.
«Perhaps the Master wishes to stop here...» remarks the Zealot.
«No. We will leave at dawn to wade across the river in the cool hours.»
«Where are we going beyond the Jordan? »
«The crowds are going home after Passover. Too many looked in vain for Me in Jerusalem. I will
preach and cure at the ford. Then we will go and tidy up Solomon's house. It will be invaluable to
us...»
«But are we not going back to Galilee? »
«We will go there, too. But we will remain in these southern parts for a long time, and a shelter will
be most useful to us. Sleep. I am going.»
------------------------------
Supper must be over. It is night. Dew drops fall from cornices and resound on the vine leaves.
There is an unbelievable number of stars in the sky and eyes get lost contemplating them. Chirps of
crickets and night birds. The silence of the country.
The apostles have already withdrawn. But Nike is up and she is listening to the Master. He is sat
stiffly on a stone seat against the house. The woman is standing before Him, in an attitude of
respectful attention.
Jesus must be concluding a speech already started. He says: «Yes. The remark is correct. But I was
sure that the penitent, or rather the "reviving man" would not be left without the help of the Lord.
While we were having supper and you were serving and asking questions, I was thinking that you
are the help. You said: "I can only follow You for short periods of time, because I have to watch
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over the house and the new domestic staff ". And you regretted that and you said that if you had
known you were going to find Me so soon, you would not have bought the property, which is now
binding you. You can see that it has served to give hospitality to the evangelizers. So it is good. And
it may be useful again... while waiting to serve your Lord perfectly. I now ask a service of you, for
the sake of that soul, who is reviving and is full of good will, but is very weak. Excessive penance
might distress him, and Satan might take advantage of such distress.»
«What must I do, my Lord? »
«Go to him. Go to him every month, as if it were a rite. It is a rite of brotherly love. You will go to
the Cherith and climbing up the path among the bushes you will call: "Elijah! Elijah!". He will look
out in amazement and you will greet him thus: "Peace to you, brother, in the name of Jesus the
Nazarene". You will take him as many pieces of bread baked twice, as the days of a month. Nothing
else in summer. From the Feast of the Tabernacles onwards, you will take him also four jars of oil
each month, together with the bread. And at the Tabernacles take him a garment made of goatskin,
a heavy one, water resistant, and a blanket. Nothing else.»
«And no word? »
«Only those strictly useful. He will ask after Me. Tell him what you know. He will confide his
hesitations, his hopes and low spirits to you. You will tell him what your faith and piety inspire you.
The sacrifice, in any case, will not last long... Not even twelve months... Will you be merciful to
Me and to the penitent?»
«Yes, my Lord... But why are You so sad? »
«And why are you weeping? »
«Because in Your words I hear a foreboding of death... Will I be losing You so soon, Lord? » Nike
weeps behind her veil.
«Do not weep! There will be so much peace for Me, afterwards... No more hatred. No more
ambushes. No more all this... horror of sin against Me and around Me... No more atrocious
contacts... Oh! Do not weep, Nike! Your Saviour will be in peace. He will be victorious...»
«But before... I always read the prophets with my husband... And we shuddered with horror at the
words of David and Isaiah... But will it really be like that for You? »
«That and more...»
«Oh!... Who will comfort You? Who will let You die still... hopeful? »
«The love of My disciples and particularly of My women disciples.»
«Also mine, then. Because at no cost I will be far from my Saviour. Only... oh! Lord! Exact any
kind of penance from me, any sacrifice, but give me manly courage for that hour. When you will be
like "a dry potsherd", "with Your tongue stuck to Your jaw" out of thirst, when You will look "like
a leper who covers his face", grant that I may recognise You as the King of kings and I may assist
You, as a devoted servant. Do not conceal Your tortured face from me, o my God! But as You now
allow me to delight in Your brightness, o Morning Star, let me look at You then and may Your face
be impressed in my heart, because, oh! also my heart, like Yours, will melt like wax on that day,
through grief...» Nike is now on her knees, almost prostrated and now and again she raises her
weeping face to look at her Lord, Whose body is white in the white moonlight against the dark wall.
«You will have all that. And I shall have your pity. And it will come with Me to the scaffold and
from there it will rise to Heaven. Your crown for ever. Angels and men will utter the most beautiful
praise of you: "In the hour of calamity, of sin, of doubt, she was faithful, she did not sin and she
assisted her Lord". Stand up, woman. And may you be blessed as from now and for ever.»
He lays His hands on her head while she is getting up, and they then go into the silent house, for
their night's rest.

382. At the Ford between Jericho and Bethabara.

14th February 1946.

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The banks of the Jordan near the ford are exactly like a camp of nomads during these days, when
caravans are returning to their home towns. Tents or just blankets, tied to two tree-trunks, or resting
on branches planted in the ground, or tied to the high saddle of a camel, fixed, in short, somehow,
to enable people to get under them, and be sheltered from the dew which must be just like rain in
these places below sea level, are spread everywhere along the woods, which form a green frame
round the river.
When Jesus arrives with His disciples near the river banks, to the north of the ford, the camps are
slowly awaking. Jesus must have left Nike's house at dawn, because the sun has not yet risen and
the place is beautiful, cool and serene. The more earnest people, awakened by the neighing,
braying, the strange cries of horses, donkeys and camels, by the quarrels or songs of hundreds of
sparrows and other birds among the branches of willows, of reed-thickets, of the tall trees forming
green tunnels above the flowery banks, begin to steal out of the gaily-coloured tents and go down to
the river to wash. One can hear some children weeping and the sweet voices of mothers speaking to
their children.
All the signs of life revive minute by minute. All kinds of vendors arrive from the nearby town of
Jericho, with new pilgrims, guards and soldiers responsible for watching over and keeping order
during these days, when tribes of every region meet and do not spare themselves insults and
reproaches, and when there are frequent thefts by highwaymen, who mix with the crowds disguised
as pilgrims in order to steal; and there is no shortage of prostitutes, who have come on «their »
Passover pilgrimage, that is, to squeeze money and gifts out of the more wealthy and lustful
passengers in payment for an hour's pleasure, which miserably neutralises all Passover
purifications... The honest women, who among the pilgrims have husbands and grown up sons,
shout like upset magpies calling their men, who stand enraptured, or at least mothers and wives
think so, watching the prostitutes. And the shameless women laugh and give sharp answers to the
titles addressed to them by the honest women. The men, and the soldiers in particular, laugh and
willingly joke with the prostitutes. Some Israelites, morally rigid, or only hypocritically rigid, go
away indignantly, whilst others... make use of the deaf-and-dumb alphabet in advance, because they
make themselves clearly understood with the prostitutes by gestures.
Jesus does not follow the straight road that would take Him to the middle of the camp. He goes
down to the gravel bed of the river, takes His sandals off and walks where the water washes against
the grass. The apostles follow Him.
The elder ones, who are more uncompromising, grumble: «And to think that the Baptist preached
penance here! »
«Yes! And this place is now worse than a porch in the Roman thermae! »
«And those who call themselves saints do not disdain to amuse themselves there! »
«Did you see them, too? »
«Of course I did! I have eyes as well!...»
The younger or less rigid apostles - such as Judas of Kerioth who laughs and watches very carefully
what is happening in the camps and does not disdain contemplating the beautiful impudent women
who have come looking for customers; and Thomas, who laughs watching the angry wives and the
indignant Pharisees; and Matthew, who cannot speak severely against vices and corrupt people, as
once he was a sinner himself, and is content with sighing and shaking his head; and James of
Zebedee, who watches without interest and without criticising, indifferently - follow their little
group, ahead of which there is Jesus with Andrew, John and James of Alphaeus.
Jesus' face is uncommunicative, as if it were carved in marble. And it becomes more and more
uncommunicative, as from the top of the embankment He hears words of admiration or shameless
conversations between a not very honest man and a prostitute. He looks straight ahead all the time,
fixedly. He does not want to see. And His attitude makes His intention very clear.
But a young man, magnificently dressed, who is speaking to two prostitutes with other fellows like
him, says in a loud voice to one of the women: «Go! We want to have a good laugh. Go and offer

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yourself! Comfort Him! He is sad because, poor as He is, he cannot buy women.»
Jesus' ivory face blushes and then becomes pale once again. But He does not look round. His
blushing is the only sign that He has heard.
The impudent woman, with her necklaces tinkling loudly and her dress flapping lightly, utters an
affected cry and jumps from the low embankment on to the gravel bed, and in doing so, she
succeeds in showing much of her secret beauty. She falls just at Jesus' feet and with trilling laughter
on her beautiful lips, inviting eyes and figure, she shouts: «Oh! handsome one among those born of
woman! For a kiss of Your lips, I give all myself without payment! »
John, Andrew and James of Alphaeus are paralysed with scandalised astonishment and cannot
make a gesture. But Peter! He springs like a panther and from his group he falls heavily on the
unfortunate woman, now on her knees and leaning backwards, he shakes her, lifts her, hurls her,
with an awful epithet, against the embankment, then charges her to give her the rest.
Jesus says: «Simon! » A cry which is more than a sermon.
And Simon goes back to his Lord, red with anger. «Why do You not let me punish her? »
«Simon, you do not punish a garment which has become dirty. You wash it. Her garment is her
filthy body and her soul is polluted. Let us pray to cleanse her soul and her body.» He says so
kindly, in a low voice, but loud enough to be heard by the woman, and setting out again, He now
does cast a glance with His mild eyes at the wretched woman for one moment. One glance only!
For one moment only! But all the power of His merciful love is in it! And the woman lowers her
head, picks up her veil and covers herself with it... Jesus continues on His way.
He is now at the ford. The shallow water allows adults to cross to the other side on foot. It is
enough to lift one's clothes above one's knees and look for the large white stones submerged in the
crystal-clear water forming a kind of pavement for the people wading across. Those on horseback
cross over downstream.
The apostles wallow happily in the water half way up their thighs and Peter cannot believe that it is
true. And he promises the others and himself a «refreshing » bath when they stop in Solomon's
house, as compensation for yesterday's «roasting ».
They are now on the other side. Here also the crowds are becoming active after the night's rest, or
people are drying themselves after wading.
Jesus orders: «Spread around and inform people that the Rabbi is here. I am going near that fallen
tree-trunk and I will wait for you there.»
Many people are soon informed and they flock to hear Him.
Jesus begins to speak. A sad procession passes by following a litter, on which there is a young man
who has been taken ill in Jerusalem, and as the doctors have condemned him, he is now being
rushed home to die there. Everybody is speaking about him because he is rich and still young. And
many say: «It must be very sad to die when one is so wealthy and so young! » And some say
perhaps they are people who already believe in Jesus -: «It serves him right! He will not believe.
The disciples went to his relatives and said to them: "The Saviour is here. If you have faith and you
ask Him, He will cure him". But he was the first to refuse to come to the Rabbi.» Criticism follows
pity. And Jesus refers to that to begin His speech.
«Peace to everybody!
Rich and young people certainly do not like to die, when they are rich only in money and young in
age. But those, who are rich in virtue and young because of their pure habits, are not sorry to die. A
truly wise person, from the age of discretion onwards, acts in such a way as to die peacefully. Life
is preparation for death, just as death is preparation for a greater Life. The true wise man, when he
understands the truth of living and dying, the truth of dying to rise again, strives in every possible
way to divest himself of what is useless, and to become enriched with what is useful, that is, with
virtues and good deeds, in order to have a supply of goods before Him Who summons him to judge
him, to reward or punish him with perfect justice. The true wise man leads a life that makes him
more adult in wisdom than an old man, and younger than a teenager, because by living virtuously
and justly, he keeps such pure feelings in his heart that even youths at time do not possess. How
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sweet then it is to die! The wise man reclines his tired head on the bosom of the Father, he relaxes
in His embrace, and in the midst of the mist of fleeing life he says: "I love You, I hope in You, I
believe in You", saying so for the last time on the Earth, to repeat then the jubilant "I love You!",
for ever and ever in the brightness of Paradise.
Is death a harsh thought? No. A just decree for all mortals, it is a grievous worry for those who do
not believe and are full of sins. In vain man says, to explain the troubled anxiety of a man who is
dying and who was not good during his lifetime: "It's because he would not like to die as yet,
because he has not done any good, or only very little, and he would like to live to make amends". In
vain he says: "If he had lived longer, he could have had a greater reward, because he would have
done more good". A soul knows, at least vaguely, how much time it has been given. No time, as
compared to eternity. And the soul spurs the whole ego to act. But, poor soul! How often it is
overwhelmed, trodden upon, gagged, in order not to hear its words! That happens to those who lack
good will. Whilst just men, from their very childhood, listen to their souls, obey their advice, and
are continuously active; and saints die young in age but rich in merits, at times at the dawn of life;
and not even by the addition of one hundred or one thousand years, would they become holier than
they are, because the love for God and their neighbour, practised in every form and with utter
generosity, makes them perfect. What matters in Heaven is not how long, but how one has lived.
People mourn for corpses and weep over them. But corpses do not weep. People tremble at the
thought that they must die. But they do not worry about living in such a way as not to tremble at the
hour of their death. Why do people not mourn for and weep over living corpses, the real corpses,
those who have in their bodies, as in graves, dead souls? And those who weep thinking that their
bodies must die, why do they not weep over the corpses they have within themselves? How many
corpses I see, and they laugh and joke, but they do not weep over themselves! How many fathers,
mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, sons, friends, priests, teachers, I see who foolishly weep for a
son, a wife, a husband, a brother, a parent, a friend, a believer, a disciple who died in clear
friendship with God, after a life that was a crown of perfection and who do not weep over the
corpses of the souls of a son, a husband, a wife, a brother, a father, a friend, a believer, a disciple,
who is dead through vices and sins, and is dead and lost for ever, unless he repents! Why not try to
revive them? That is love, you know? It is the greatest love. Oh! foolish tears for dust, which has
become dust! Idolatry of affections! Hypocrisy of affection! Weep, but over the dead souls of your
dearest relatives. Try to bring them to Life. And I speak in particular to you, women, who can
influence so much those whom you love.
Let us now consider together what Wisdom indicates as the cause of death and shame.
Do not insult God by misusing the life He gave you, soiling it with evil deeds which dishonour man.
Do not insult your parents through behaviour that flings mud at their white hair and causes violent
sorrow to their last days. Do not abuse those who assist you, so that you will not be cursed for the
love you tread upon. Do not abuse those who govern you, because it is not by rebelling against
rulers that countries become great and free, but it is through the holy life of citizens that you obtain
the assistance of the Lord, Who can touch the hearts of rulers or remove them from their places or
even from life, as our history of Israel has shown several times, when they pass all bounds and
especially when the people, sanctifying themselves, deserve the forgiveness of God, Who thus
removes the oppressive yoke from the necks of the punished citizens. Do not abuse your wives by
putting an affront of adulterous love upon them, and do not abuse the innocence of your children
with the knowledge of unlawful love. Live holily in the eyes of those who, both because of their
love and of their duty, consider you the person who is to be the example of their lives. You cannot
sever your holiness in respect of your closest neighbour from your holiness towards God, because
one germinates the other, as the two loves: of God and neighbour germinate each other.
Be just with your friends. Friendship is a kinship of the soul. It is written: "How delightful it is for
friends to proceed all together". But it is delightful if they proceed on the path of virtue. Woe to
those who pollute and betray friendship by turning it into selfishness, treason, vice or injustice. Too
many are those who say: "I love you" to find out their friends' business and exploit the information
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to their own benefit! Too many are those who usurp the rights of their friends!
Be honest with judges. With all judges. From the most high judge, Who is God and cannot be
defrauded or deceived through hypocritical practices, to the intimate judge, that is, your conscience,
to the loving, suffering judges, watchful of their love, which are the eyes of your relatives, to the
severe judges of the people. Do not lie invoking God to corroborate your lies.
Be honest in selling and buying. When you are selling, and your greed says to you: "Steal to have a
bigger profit", whilst your conscience says to you: "Be honest because you would be sorry if you
were robbed", listen to the latter voice, remembering that we must not do to others what we would
not like done to ourselves. The money given to you in exchange for goods is often wet with the
perspiration and tears of the poor. It costs hard work. You do not know how much grief it costs,
how much sorrow and pain there is behind that money, which you vendors think that it is always
too little for what you give. Sick people, fatherless children, old people short of money... Oh! holy
grief and holy dignity of the poor, which the rich do not understand, why are you not taken into
consideration? Why are people honest when selling to the powerful and mighty ones, for fear of
retaliation, whereas they take advantage of defenceless unknown brothers? That is rather a crime
against love than against honesty itself. And God curses it, because the tears squeezed out of poor
people, who have but tears as a reaction against abuse of power, cry to the Lord with the same voice
as the blood drained from the veins of a man by a murderer, by a Cain of his fellow creature.
Be honest in your looks, as you are in your words and deeds. A look, given to those who do not
deserve it, or denied to those who do deserve it, is like a noose and a dagger. The look that meets
the impudent eyes of a prostitute, and says to her: "You are beautiful!", and replies to her inviting
look with assent, is worse than the slip knot for a hanged man. The look denied to a poor relative or
to a friend fallen into poverty, is like a dagger that pierces the hearts of those unhappy people. And
likewise the glance of hatred or of contempt cast at one's enemy or at a beggar. Enemies are to be
forgiven and loved at least with your souls, if your bodies refuse to love them. Forgiveness is love
of the spirit. Not to take revenge is love of the spirit. A beggar is to be loved because nobody
comforts him. It is not sufficient to throw a mite and pass by scornfully. The offering serves for the
starving, naked, homeless body. But the pity that smiles in offering, that takes an interest in the
tears of the unhappy fellow, is bread for his heart. Love, love, love.
Be honest in tithes and customary practices, be honest in your homes, without exploiting servants
beyond measure and without tempting the maidservant sleeping under your roof. Even if the world
is unaware of the theft committed in the secrecy of your house against your unaware wife and
against the maidservant you debauch, God is aware of your sin. Be honest in speaking. Be honest in
bringing up your sons and daughters. It is written: "Keep a sharp look-out, that your daughter does
not make you the laughing stock of the town". I say: "Keep a sharp look-out that the soul of your
daughter may not die".
And now go. I also will go away, after giving you provisions of wisdom. May the Lord be with
those who strive to love Him.»
He blesses them with a gesture, He descends quickly from the fallen tree and takes a lane among
the trees going upstream and soon disappears among the green vegetation.
The crowds make comments animatedly with opposing opinions. The unfavourable comments, of
course, are made by the few scribes and Pharisees who are among the crowds of humble people.

383. In Solomon's House. Old Ananias.

15th February 1946.

Solomon's little house, which I saw in the vision of the resurrection of Lazarus in 1944, without
knowing its owner, is one of the last houses in the only road that takes one to the river, in this poor
out-of-the-way village: one little village of boatmen, where the houses of the... wealthier people are

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situated along the little dusty road, and the others are spread at random among the trees of the
embankments. They are not many. I do not think that they are fifty in all. And they are so small,
that they could be all contained in one of those tenement houses in large modern towns. Springtime
now makes them appear less miserable, because it adorns them with its freshness, while garlands of
bindweed or festoons of vines, or cheery smiling yellow flowers of vegetable marrows adorn the
coarse fences marking the boundaries of properties, the borders of roofs, the doors of houses. There
is also an odd rose, which seems out of place in its beauty in the midst of baskets and nets, of
yellow mustards in bloom and of the early pods of humble swinging beans.
Also the road looks prettier, because the cane-brake at its end, has not only the hard berries of the
dusty knots, but it is also decorated with plumes, and wild gladioli display their swordshaped leaves
and bright-coloured flower spikes, while light bindweeds with threadlike stems embrace canes and
knots winding round them and at each twirl they put forth the very delicate chalice of their little
lilac-pink flower. And myriads of birds make love among the reed-thickets, flirting on the canes,
swinging on the bearbines, enlivening the green marshy embankments with their chirping and
many-coloured feathers.
Jesus pushes the little rustic gate admitting to a small kitchen garden or courtyard. If it was a
kitchen garden, now it is certainly a wild entanglement of grass, if it was a courtyard it is still a
disorder of weeds sown by the wind. Only some vegetable marrows have been wise by clinging to
the only vine and fig-tree, climbing up to put forth the smiling mouths of their flowers close to the
miniature bunches of grapes of the vine, or to the tiny tender fig leaves, which at their joints, in the
cradles of the stalks, have the hard gems of the fig-flowers just formed. Stinging-nettles are
tormenting the apostles' bare feet, so much so that Peter and Thomas pick up two worm-eaten oars
and are busy beating the irritating plants to lessen their poisonous effect.
In the meantime James and John are trying to turn the big rusty lock, and when they succeed, they
open the rustic door, entering a kitchen room smelling mouldy and close. Dust and cobwebs
decorate the walls. A rough table, some benches and seats and a shelf furnish it; there are two doors
in one of the walls.
Peter explores... «There is a little room with one bed only. It's good for Jesus... And there? Ah! I
see! This is the store-room, the lumber-room, the barn and the rats' nest... Look how they run! They
have gnawed away everything these months. But now I will see to you, don't you worry. Master...
can we act as if we were at home here? »
«That is what Solomon said.»
«Very well! Listen, brother, and you, James. Come here and close all these holes. And you,
Matthew stand here at the door with Judas, and make sure that not even one mouse gets out. Just
imagine that you are still the kind toll-collector at Capernaum. No customer escaped you then, not
even if he became as thin as a lizard after hibernating... And you go and get as much weed as you
can in the kitchen garden and bring it here. And You, Master, go... wherever You like, while I will
fix these filthy devils, which have ruined these good nets and have eaten the whole keel of a boat...
And while speaking he gathers together gnawed bits of wood, bits of nets reduced like tow,
faggots... everything in the middle of the room, and when he gets the green grass, he places it on top
of the rest and then sets fire to the lot and runs out when the first spirals of smoke rise from the pile.
And he laughs saying: «Let all the Philistines die! »
«But you are not going to set everything on fire? » asks Simon Zealot.
«No, my dear. Because the damp green grass chokes the flames, and the flames exhale smoke from
the grass and thus, as good allies, the dry and green elements help each other in taking revenge. Can
you smell how it stinks? And before long you will hear screams! Who told me that swans sing
before dying? Ah! Syntyche did! The mice will be singing, too, shortly.»
Judas Iscariot suddenly stops laughing and remarks: «We have not been able to find out anything
about her. And we have heard nothing of John of Endor. I wonder where they have ended up.»
«In the right place certainly » replies Peter.
«Do you know where? »
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«I know that they are no longer here to be harassed by ill-will.»
«Have you ever inquired about them? I have.»
«I have not. I am not interested in knowing where they are. I am quite satisfied thinking and praying
that they may persevere in holiness.»
Thomas says: «Some rich Pharisees asked me about them. They are customers of my father. I
replied that I do not know.»
«And are you not anxious to know? »
«I am not and that is the truth...»
«Listen Listen! The smoke is having effect. But let us go out, otherwise we shall be choking, too »
says Peter. And the distraction puts an end to the discussion.
Jesus is in the kitchen garden and is straightening the stems of legumes, creeping on the ground,
which have come up from seed fallen there.
«Are You working as a kitchen gardener? » asks Philip smiling.
«Yes. It upsets Me to see a plant creep uselessly, whereas it is destined to rise towards the sun and
bear fruit.»
«A beautiful subject-matter for a sermon, Master » remarks Bartholomew.
«Yes. Beautiful. But everything can be used as a subject, when one knows how to meditate.»
«We will help You, too. Come on! Who will go down to the river to get some canes for the
legumes? »
The younger disciples go away laughing, and the elder ones get busy weeding carefully.
«Oh! One can see that it is a kitchen garden like that. There is no salad. But there are leeks, garlic,
vegetables, fine herbs and legumes. And vegetable marrows! How many of them! The vine needs
pruning and the fig-tree wants to be cleared...»
«But, Simon, we are not staying here!...» says Matthew.
«But we shall come here often. He said so. And it will do us no harm to have a little order here.
Look! There is also a jasmine, poor thing, under this cascade of marrows. If Porphirea saw this
plant so dejected, she would weep over it, and she would talk to it as to a child. Of course, before
she had Marjiam she used to talk to her flowers as if they were her children... Here you are! I have
made room here. I removed the marrow because... Oh! Here are the boys with the canes and a...
Master, there is work for You. He is blind! »
In fact James, John, Andrew and Thomas come in, laden with canes, and Thomas is almost carrying
a poor old man, covered with rags; his eyes are white with cataracts.
«Master, he was trying to find chicory on the banks and almost fell into the water. He has been left
alone for some months, because the son who kept him died, and his daughter-in-law went back to
her house and he... lives as best he can. Is that right, father? »
«Yes, it is. Where is the Lord? » he says turning round his veiled eyes.
«He is here. Can you see that long whiteness? It's Him.»
But Jesus comes forward and takes him by the hand. «Are you alone, poor father? And you cannot
see? »
«No, I cannot. When I could, I made baskets and eel-pots and I made also nets. But now... I can see
more with my fingers than with my eyes, and looking for herbs, I make mistakes, and at times I
have suffered from stomach disorder because of harmful herbs.»
«But in the village...»
«Oh! They are all poor and with many children, and I am old... If a donkey dies... one is sorry. But
if an old man dies!... What is an old man? What am I? My daughter-in-law took everything away. If
she had only taken me with her, like an old sheep, that I might be near my grandchildren... my son's
children...» he weeps resting his head on the chest of Jesus, Who holds him in His arms caressing
him.
«Have you got a house? »
«She sold it.»
«And how do you live? »
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«Like an animal. At first the people in the village helped me. Then they became tired...»
«Solomon in that case is no longer of the same race, because he is generous » remarks Matthew.
«With us, though. Why did he not give the house to the old man? » asks Philip.
«Because the last time he came here, I had a house. Solomon is good. But for some time the people
of the village have said that he is mad, and they no longer do what Solomon had taught them » says
the old man.
«Would you be willing to stay with Me? »
«Oh! I would no longer regret my grandchildren! »
«Even if you were to remain poor and blind, would you be happy just by serving Me? »
«Yes! » A trembling yes, and yet so firm...
«All right, father. Listen. You cannot travel about as I do. And I cannot remain here. But we can
love each other and do each other a good turn.»
«You can, yes, to me. But I... What can old Ananias do? »
«You can take care of the house and of the kitchen garden so that I may find them in good order
when I come back? Do you like the idea? »
«Yes, I do! But I am blind... The house... I will become accustomed to the walls. But the kitchen
garden... How can I take care of it, if I cannot tell one herb from another? Oh! How lovely it would
be to serve You thus, Lord! And end my life thus...» The old man is pressing his hands against his
heart, dreaming of what is impossible.
Jesus bends smiling and kisses his dimmed eyes...
«But I... I am beginning to see... I can see... Oh! Oh!...» He staggers in his joy and would fall if
Jesus did not support him.
«Eh! what joy does!...» says Peter in a deeply moved voice.
«And hunger... He says that he has been living for days on chicory, without any oil or salt...»
concludes Thomas.
«Yes, that is why we brought him here. To feed him...»
«Poor old soul! » they all exclaim sympathetically.
The old man recovers his senses and weeps. The poor tears of old people... so sad also when they
are tears of joy, and he whispers: «Now... now I can serve You, Blessed One! » and he wants to
bend to kiss Jesus' feet.
«No, father. Now we shall go inside and we shall have something to eat. Then we will give you a
tunic and you will be among sons, and we shall have a father who will welcome us every time we
come back and will bless us every time we depart. We will go and find two doves, so that you may
always have living creatures around you. We will get seed for the kitchen garden and you will sow
them in the soil and you will sow faith in Me in the hearts of the people here.»
«I will teach them charity, for they have none! »
«Yes, also charity. But be kind...»
«Oh! I will be. I did not say one harsh word to my daughter-in-law when she left me. I understood
and I forgave.»
«I read that in your heart. That is why I loved you. Come. Come with Me…» And Jesus goes into
the house holding the old man by the hand.
Peter looks at them, and with the back of his hand he wipes off a tear, before resuming his work.
«Are you weeping, brother? »
Peter does not reply.
Andrew insists: «Why are you weeping, brother? »
«Mind your own business, the weeds in this case. If I am weeping it's because... it's because I know
why...»
«Tell us, too, be good » say several apostles.
«It's because, these lessons... given so... they touch my heart more than when He thunders
imposingly...»
«But we see the King in Him then! » exclaims Judas.
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«And here we see the Saint. Peter is right » says Bartholomew.
«But He must be powerful in order to reign.»
«And He must be holy in order to redeem.»
«I agree, with regard to souls. But with regard to Israel...»
«Israel will never be Israel unless souls become holy.»
The conflicting opinions bounce backwards and forwards.
The old man comes out with a water-jug in his hand. He is going to the fountain. He is so happy
that he is entirely different from the man he was previously.
«Old father, listen. According to you, what does Israel need to become great?» Andrew asks him.
«A king or a saint? »
«It needs God. That God Who is praying and meditating in there. Ah! My sons! Be good, you who
follow Him! Be good, very good! Ah! what a gift the Lord has given you! What a gift! » and he goes
away raising his arms towards the sky whispering: «What a gift! What a gift! »...

384. At the Cross-Road near Solomon's Village. Parable of the Labour Agents.
16th February 1946.

The little group comes out of the house; there is also the old man who admires himself in the tunic
of one of the rather short apostles.
«If you wish to remain here, father...» says Jesus.
But the old man interrupts Him: «No, I will come, too. Oh! let me come. I had a meal yesterday!
Last night I slept, and in a bed! And my heart is no longer grieved! I feel as strong as a youth...»
«Come, then. You will stay with Me, with Bartholomew and My brother Judas. The rest will go
around in twos as I said. We shall all be here again by the sixth hour. Go! and peace be with you.»
They part, some go towards the river, some towards the country. Jesus lets them go away and He
then sets out last. He crosses the village slowly and He is looked at by the fishermen coming back
from the river or going there and by the industrious housewives, who have got up at dawn to do the
washing, or water their kitchen gardens or bake bread. But none of them speak.
Only a boy, who is leading seven sheep to the river, asks the old man: «Where are you going,
Ananias? Are you leaving the village? »
«I am going with the Rabbi. But I will come back with Him. I am His servant.»
«No. You are My father. Every just old man is a father and a blessing for the place giving him
hospitality and for those who assist him. Blessed are those who love and respect the old » says Jesus
with solemn countenance.
The boy looks at Him and seems to be frightened. He then whispers: «I always gave some of my
bread to Ananias...» as if he wished to say: «Do not reproach me, for I do not deserve it.»
«Yes. Michael was good to me. He was a friend of my grandchildren... and he is still a friend of
their grandfather. His mother is also good and she would help. But she has eleven children and they
make their living by fishing...»
Some women approach them out of curiosity and listen.
«God will always help those who do what they can for the poor. And there is always a way to help
them. Very often it is a lie to say: "I cannot". Because if one is willing, one will always find a
superfluous mouthful, an old blanket, a garment that is no longer worn, and give it to someone who
has none. And Heaven rewards for the gift. God will give you back, Michael, the mouthfuls you
gave the old man.» Jesus caresses the boy and walks away.
The women remain mortified where they were, they ask the boy questions and he tells them what
he knows. And the stingy women are seized with fear, as they had closed their hearts to the needs of
the old man...
In the meantime Jesus has arrived at the last house and He turns His steps towards a cross-road,

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which from the main road leads towards the little village. From there they can see caravans on the
main road going back to the towns of the Decapolis and Perea.
«Let us go over there and preach. Do you want to preach, too, father? »
«I am not capable. What can I say? »
«You are capable. Your soul is aware of the wisdom in forgiving and being faithful to God and
resigned also in the hours of grief. And you know that God assists those who hope in Him. Go and
tell the pilgrims.»
«Oh! I can do that! »
«Judas, go with him. I will remain here at the cross-road with Bartholomew.»
And when He is there He stops in the shade of a group of leafy plane-trees and waits patiently.
The nearby fields have beautiful crops and orchards. They look fresh in the early morning and it is a
pleasure to admire them. And the caravans pass along the road... Only few people look at the two
leaning against the trunks of the plane-trees. Perhaps they think that they are tired travellers. But
some recognise Jesus and point Him out or they bow greeting Him.
At last there is one who stops his little donkey and those of his relatives, dismounts and goes
towards Jesus saying: «God be with You, Rabbi! I come from Arbela. I heard You in autumn. This
is my wife, this is her sister, a widow, and this is my mother. This elderly man is her brother. And
that young man is my wife's brother. And these are our children. Give us Your blessing, Master. I
heard that You spoke at the ford. But I arrived there last night... Will you not say a word to us? »
«The Word never refuses. But wait a few minutes, because other people are arriving...»
In fact the people of the village are arriving at the cross-road and they look very dejected. Other
people, who had passed by along the main road, going north, come back, while others stop out of
curiosity dismounting from their horses or remaining on horseback. The little group of listeners is
increasing more and more.
Judas of Alphaeus also comes back with the old man; there are also two sick people with them and
many more healthy ones.
Jesus begins to speak.
«Those who go along the roads of the Lord, the roads indicated by the Lord, and they do so with
good will, end up by finding the Lord. You have found the Lord coming here after fulfilling your
duty of faithful Israelites at holy Passover. And here is Wisdom speaking to you, as you wished, at
this cross-road, where Divine Providence has made us meet. Man comes to many cross-roads on the
way of his life. More supernatural cross-roads than material ones. Every day our conscience has to
face the road-forks and cross-roads of Good and Evil. And one must choose carefully to avoid
making mistakes. And if one does make a mistake, one must come back humbly, when one is called
and warned. And even if the way of Evil, or also the way of tepidness, looks more beautiful, one
must choose the rough but safe road of Good.
Listen to a parable.
A group of pilgrims, who had come from remote regions looking for work, arrived at the frontier of
a nation. At the frontier there were agents sent by various masters to employ labour. Some were
looking for men for mines, some for woods and forests, some for servants for a wicked rich man,
and some for soldiers for a king who lived in a castle on the top of a mountain, which could be
reached by a very steep road. The king needed soldiers, but he wanted them to be not so much men
of violence as of wisdom, to send them to his various towns to sanctify his subjects. That is why he
lived up there, in a kind of hermitage, to perfect his servants, preventing them from being corrupted
by worldly distractions, which delay or annul the perfecting of their spirits. He did not promise high
wages, or a comfortable life. But he assured them that they would obtain holiness and a reward at
his service. That is what his agents said to those who arrived at the frontier. The agents of the
owners of mines and fields instead said: "It will not be a comfortable life, but you will be free and
you will earn enough to enjoy yourselves". And those who were looking for servants for a wicked
master promised rich meals, an idle life, enjoyment, wealth: "All you need do is to give consent to
his exacting whims - oh! not at all painful! - and you will be able to enjoy yourselves like satraps".
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The pilgrims consulted with one another. They did not want to part... They asked: "The fields and
mines, the palace of the wealthy man and that of the king, are they close to one another?".
"Oh! no!" replied the agents. "Come to that cross-roads and we will show you the different roads".
They went.
"Now! This wonderful, shady, flowery, smooth road, with cool fountains, leads to the palace of the
wealthy man" said the agents looking for servants.
"Now! This dusty one, through pleasant fields, leads to the fields. It is exposed to the sun, but you
can see that it is beautiful, after all" said those of the fields.
"Now! This one furrowed by heavy wheels and stained with dark spots, takes to the mines. It is
neither beautiful nor ugly" said those of the mines.
"Now! This steep path, cut in the rocks inflamed by the sun, spread with thorn-bushes and ravines,
which delay people, but are excellent defence against attacks of enemies, leads eastwards, to the
severe, we could almost say sacred castle, where spirits are perfected in Good" said those of the
king.
And the pilgrims looked and looked. They reckoned... They were tempted by many things, of which
one only was entirely good. And they slowly parted. They were ten. Three went towards the fields...
and two towards the mines. The remainders looked at one another and two of them said: "Come
with us, to the king. We shall not make a profit and we shall not enjoy ourselves on the Earth, but
we shall be saints for ever".
"That path there? Do you think we are mad? No profit? No enjoyment? It was not worth leaving
everything and coming into exile to have even less than what we had in our country. We want to
earn much and enjoy ourselves...".
"But you will lose the eternal Good! Have you not heard that he is a wicked person?".
"Nonsense! After a little while we will leave him, but we shall have had a good time and we shall
be rich".
"You will never get rid of him. The first were wrong in complying with their greed for money. But
you! You are led by your greed for pleasure. Oh! Do not exchange your eternal destiny for a fleeting
hour!".
"You are fools and you believe in idealistic promises. We are after facts. Goodbye!" and they began
to run along the beautiful, shady, flowery, smooth road, rich in water, at the end of which the magic
palace of the wicked epicurean was shining in the sunshine.
The two remainders took the steep path weeping and praying. And they almost lost heart after a few
metres, as it was so hard. But they persevered. And their bodies seemed to become lighter and
lighter the more they proceeded and their fatigue was comforted by a strange rejoicing. They were
panting and scratched all over when they arrived at the top of the mountain and were admitted to
the presence of the king, who told them what he expected from them in order to make them his
brave men, and he concluded saying: "Think about it for eight days and then let me know".
And they thought it over and struggled fiercely with the Tempter, who wanted to frighten them with
their bodies which said: "You are sacrificing us", with the world, the remembrance of which was
still alluring. But they won. They remained. They became heroes of Good. Death came, that is their
glorification. From the height of Heaven they saw in the abyss those who had gone to the wicked
master. They were in chains also after their lifetime and were groaning in the darkness of Hell.
"And they wanted to be free and enjoy themselves!" said the two saints.
And the three damned souls saw them and cursed them and everybody, God first of all, in a horrid
manner, saying: "You have all deceived us!".
"No. You cannot say that. You were warned of the danger. You wanted your own ruin" replied the
blessed souls, who were serene even when seeing and hearing their obscene mockery and curses
cast at them.
And they saw those of the fields and of the mines in various regions of Purgatory, and those saw
them and said: "We were neither good nor bad, and we are now expiating our tepidity. Pray for us!".
"Oh! We will! But why did you not come with us?".
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"Because we were not demons, but men... We lacked generosity. We loved what is temporary, even
if honest, more than what is Eternal and Holy. We are now learning to know and love with justice".
That is the end of the parable. Every man is at a cross-roads. At a perpetual cross-roads. Blessed are
those who are firm and generous in following the ways of Good. May God be with them. And may
God touch and convert those who are not so and lead them to become so. Go in peace.»
«And what about the sick people? »
«What is the matter with that woman? »
«Malign fever, which distorts her bones. She has gone as far as the Great Sea. But without any
relief.»
Jesus bends over the sick woman and asks her: «Who do you think that I am?»
«He Whom I have been looking for. The Messiah of God. Have mercy on me, for I have looked for
You so much! »
«May your faith give health both to your limbs and to your heart. And what about you, man? »
The man does not reply. The woman who accompanies him, replies on his behalf: «A tumor is
eating his tongue. He cannot speak and he is dying of hunger.» The man in fact is a skeleton.
«Have you faith that I can cure you? »
The man nods assent.
«Open your mouth » orders Jesus, And with His face close to the horrible mouth eaten away by the
tumor, He breathes into it saying: «I want it! »
After a moment two cries are heard: «My bones are sound again »; «Mary, I am cured! Look! Look
at my mouth. Hosanna! Hosanna! » and he wants to stand up, but he staggers through weakness.
«Give him something to eat » orders Jesus. And He is about to withdraw.
«Don't go away! Other sick people will be coming! Others are coming back... Cure them, too! »
shout the crowds.
«Every morning I will be here from dawn until the sixth hour. Volunteers should gather the pilgrims
together.»
«I will, Lord! » several people say.
«May God bless you for that.»
And Jesus turns towards the village with His first companions and with the other disciples who
have come, few at a time while He was speaking, and who have brought other people with them.
«But where are Peter and Judas of Kerioth? » asks Jesus.
«They have gone to the nearby town. They have a lot of money. They have gone shopping...»
«Yes. Judas worked a miracle and he is jubilant » remarks Simon nZealot smiling.
«Also Andrew, and he got a sheep, as a souvenir. He cured the broken leg of a shepherd, who
rewarded him thus. We will give it to the old father. Milk is good for old people...» says John,
caressing the old man who is happy.
They go into the house and prepare some food...
They are about to sit at the table, when the two missing apostles arrive, laden like donkeys and
followed by a cart with a load of those mats used as beds by poor people in Palestine.
«Forgive me, Master. But this was needed. We are all right now » says Peter.
And Judas: «Look. We bought the bare necessities, clean and poor. As You like things » and they
are busy unloading, dismissing the carter.
«Twelve little beds and twelve mats. A few dishes. Here is the seed. And here are the doves. There
is the money. And tomorrow there will be many people. Phew! How warm it is! But everything is
all right now. And what have You done, Master?...»
And while Jesus tells him, they sit happily at the table.

385. Towards the Western Bank of the Jordan.

17th February 1946.

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Jesus is once again on the way. Facing south He walks along the meanderings of the river, looking
for someone who may ferry Him across. His apostles are all around Him, discussing the events of
the few days spent in Solomon's village and in his house. From what I gather, they remained there
until the news of Jesus' presence there spread in hostile surroundings, and when that happened, they
left, entrusting old Ananias, now serene in his no longer desolate poverty, with the care of the
house, which had just been set in order again.
«Let us hope that their present mood may last » says Bartholomew.
«If we come back here often, as the Master says, we will keep them in the same frame of mind »
replies Judas of Alphaeus.
«He was weeping, poor old soul! He had become fond of us...» says Andrew, who is also deeply
moved.
«And I liked his last speech. He spoke as a wise man, Master, didn't he? » says James of Zebedee.
«He spoke as a holy man, I would say! » exclaims Thomas.
«Yes, he did. And I will bear in mind his desire » replies Jesus.
«What did he say exactly? I had gone with John to tell Michael's mother to remember to do what
the Master had told her, so I do not know » says the Iscariot.
«He said: "Lord, if You happen to go through the village of my daughter-in-law, tell her that I bear
her no grudge and that I am happy that I am no longer forsaken, because thus the judgement of God
will not be so severe on her. Tell her to bring up my grandchildren in the faith of the Messiah, so
that I will have them with me in Heaven, and as soon as I am in the peace of God, I will pray for
them and for their good health". And I will tell her. I will look for the woman and I will tell her
because it is the right thing to do » says Jesus.
«Not one word of reproach! On the contrary he is happy that the woman's sin is no longer so grave,
since he is not dying of starvation or dereliction. He is admirable! » remarks James of Alphaeus.
«But will the fault of the daughter-in-law really diminish in the eyes of God? That is what I would
like to know! » says Judas of Alphaeus.
The opinions are conflicting. Matthew asks Jesus: «What is Your opinion, Master? Will the
situation remain as before or will it change? »
«It will change...»
«See... I was right! » exclaims Thomas triumphantly.
But Jesus beckons to them to let Him speak and He says: «It will change for the old man, also in
Heaven as it changed on the Earth because of his indulgent kindness. It will not change for the
woman. Her sin will always cry in the eyes of God. Only if she should repent, His severe judgement
may change. And I will tell her.»
«Where does she live? »
«At Masada, with her brothers.»
«And do You wish to go as far as that? »
«Those places are to be evangelized as well…»
«And what about Kerioth? »
«We will come back to Kerioth from Masada, and we will go to Juttah, Hebron, Bethzur, Bether,
and we shall be back in Jerusalem for Pentecost.»
«Masada is one of Herod's places...»
«What does it matter? It is a fortress. But he is not there. And even if he were!... It will not be the
presence of a man to prevent Me from being the Saviour.»
«Where shall we cross the river? »
«Near Gilgal. From there we will go along the coast, following the mountains. The nights are cool
and the new moon of Civ is bright in the serene sky.»
«If we are going through those places, why do we not go to the mountain where You fasted? It is
fair that everybody should become acquainted with it» says Matthew.
«We shall go there as well. But there is a boat. Negotiate the price so that we may cross to the other

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side.»

386. At Gilgal. The Beggar Ogla. The Twelve Stones.

18th February 1946.

I do not know what Gilgal is like now. When Jesus enters it, it is an ordinary Palestinian town, quite
densely populated, situated on a low hill covered mainly with vineyards and olive groves. But there
is so much sunshine, that cereals also can be cultivated, at random, under trees or between rows of
vines. And they ripen notwithstanding the foliage above them, because the sun is very warm and the
effect of the nearby desert is felt.
There is the dust, noise, dirt and confusion of market days. And inflexible as fate, there are the
usual zealous not convinced Pharisees and scribes, who are discussing with great gestures and
displaying their learning in the best corner of the square, pretending they do not see Jesus or they do
not know Him.
Jesus goes straight on and takes His meal in a little side square, almost in the outskirts, well shaded
by interlaced branches of all kinds of plants. I am under the impression that it is part of the
mountain recently annexed to the village and still keeping a semblance of its natural state.
The first person to approach Jesus, Who is eating bread and olives, is a man in ragged clothes. He
asks for a little bread. Jesus gives him His portion with all the olives that He is holding in His hand.
«And what about You? You know that we have no money » remarks Peter. «We gave everything to
Ananias...»
«It does not matter. I am not hungry. But I am thirsty...»
The beggar says: «There is a well at the rear of the village... But why did You give me everything?
You could have given me half of Your bread... If You are not disgusted at taking it back...»
«Eat it. I can do without it. But to remove every possible doubt that I feel disgusted with you, give
Me with your own hands just a mouthful and I will eat it to be your friend...»
The man's face, so far sad and gloomy, brightens in a smile of surprise and he says: «Oh! It is the
first time since I became poor Ogla that anyone says to me that he wants to be my friend! » and he
gives a mouthful of bread to Jesus. And he asks: «Who are You? What is Your name? »
«I am Jesus of Nazareth, the Rabbi of Galilee.»
«Ah!... I heard of You from other people... But... are You not the Messiah?...»
«I am.»
«And You, the Messiah, are You so good to beggars? The Tetrarch gets his servants to beat us, if he
sees us in his way...»
«I am the Saviour. I do not beat, I love.»
The man stares at Him. And he begins to weep slowly.
«Why are you weeping? »
«Because... I would like to be saved... Are You no longer thirsty, Lord? I could take You to the well
and speak to You...»
Jesus understands that the man wishes to confess something and He gets up saying: «Let us go.»
«I am coming, too! » exclaims Peter.
«No. I shall be back at once, in any case... And we must respect those who repent.»
He goes with the man behind a house, beyond which there is the country.
«The well is over there... Have a drink and then You can listen to me.»
«No, man. Pour first your anxiety into Me and then... I will drink. And perhaps I shall have for My
thirst a fountain even more pleasant than the water of this well.»
«Which, Master? »
«Your repentance. Let us go under those trees. The women are watching us here. Come » and
laying His hand on the man's shoulder He leads him towards a thicket of olive-trees.

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«How do You know that I am guilty and that I am repentant? »
«Oh!... Speak and be not afraid of Me.»
«Lord... We were seven brothers born of one father, but I was born of the woman whom my father
married when he became a widower. And I was hated by the other six. When my father died, he left
the same amount to each of us. But after his death my six brothers bribed the judges, took
everything away from me, and drove my mother and me away with infamous accusations. She died
when I was sixteen years old... and she died of want... And since then no one has ever loved me...»
he says weeping uncontrollably. He calms down and goes on: «My six brothers were rich and happy
and they throve also with what belonged to me, while I was dying of starvation, because I was taken
ill assisting my feeble mother... But God struck them one by one. I cursed and hated them so much,
that I set the evil eye on them. Was I doing the wrong thing? Certainly. I know. And I knew. But
how could I not hate them and curse them? The last one, who in actual fact was the third born, was
withstanding all curses, nay he was prospering with the property of the other five, as he legally got
the goods of the three younger brothers who had died without dependants, and he married the
widow of the first born who had died childless, and he had fraudulently taken possession of the
property of the second born, cheating his widow and orphans whom he deprived of most of their
share with tricks and loans. And when he met me by chance at the market, where I used to go as the
servant of a rich man to sell victuals, he insulted and beat me... I met him one evening... I was alone
and he was alone. He was intoxicated with wine... I was intoxicated with recollections and hatred...
It was the tenth anniversary of my mother's death... He insulted me and my dead mother He called
her "filthy bitch" and he called me "son of the hyena…". Lord if he had not insulted my mother, I
would have endured him... But he insulted her... I caught him by the neck. We struggled... I only
wanted to beat him... But he slipped and fell on the ground... and the sloping ground was covered
with slippery grass... and below there was a ravine and a torrent... Drunk as he was, he turned over
and fell... They are still looking for him after so many years... He is buried among the stones and the
sand of one of the torrents in Lebanon. I did not go back to my master. And he never went back to
Caesarea Paneas. I have been wandering without peace... Ah! The curse of Cain! To be afraid of
living... and to be afraid of dying... I was taken ill... And later... I heard of You... But I was afraid...
They told me that You could read the hearts of men. And the rabbis of Israel are so bad!... They do
not know what mercy is... You, the Rabbi of rabbis, were my terror... And I fled before You. And
yet, I would like to be forgiven...» He is prostrated on the ground and is weeping...
Jesus looks at him and whispers: «I will take also those sins upon Me! Listen, son! I am Mercy, not
terror. I have come also for you. Be not ashamed before Me... I am the Redeemer. Do you want to
be forgiven? Of what? »
«Of my crime. Why ask me? I killed my brother.»
«You said: "I only wanted to beat him" because you had been offended and you were angry. But
when you hated and cursed not one, but six brothers, you were not offended or angry. You did it as
spontaneously as you breathe. Hatred and curses, and the delight in seeing them struck was your
spiritual bread, is that right? »
«Yes, Lord. It was my bread for ten years.»
«So, your greatest crime began the moment you hated and cursed. You are six times the murderer
of your brothers.»
«But, Lord, they had ruined and hated me... And my mother died of starvation...»
«Do you mean that you had a reason to avenge yourself? »
«Yes, I do.»
«You had no reason. It was for God to punish. You should have loved. And God would have
blessed you on the Earth and in Heaven.»
«So, will He never bless me? »
«Repentance brings blessings again. But how much grief, how much anxiety you caused yourself!
You caused much more through your hatred than your brothers did!...»
«That is true! My horror has lasted twenty-six years. Oh! forgive me in the name of God. You can
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see that I am grieved for my sin! I am not asking anything for my life. I am a beggar and I am ill.
And I wish to remain such, to suffer and expiate. But give me the peace of God! I offered sacrifices
at the Temple and I starved to put together the money for the holocaust. But I could not confess my
crime and I do not know whether the sacrifice was accepted.»
«It was not. Even if you offered one every day, what value could it have for you, when you were
acting with falsehood? A rite which is not preceded by a sincere confession of sins is superstitious
and of no value. It is sin added to sin, and thus more than useless. A sacrilegious offer. What did
you say to the priest? »
«I used to say: "I have sinned out of ignorance, doing what the Lord had forbidden, and I want to
expiate". I used to think: "I know in what I have sinned, and God knows. But I cannot tell any man
openly. God, Who sees all things, knows that I am thinking of my sin".»
«Mental reservations, mean expedients. The Most High hates them. When one sins, one must
expiate. Never do that again.»
«No. Lord. And shall I be forgiven? Or must I go and confess everything? And pay with my life for
the life I took? All I want is to die with God's forgiveness.»
«Live to expiate. You cannot give her husband back to the widow or their father to the children...
One ought to think before killing, before letting hatred become one's master! But rise and walk
along the new way. On your way, you will find My disciples. They are certainly in the mountains of
Judaea and you will find them if you go from Tekoah to Bethlehem and farther towards Hebron.
Tell them that Jesus has sent you and that He said that before Pentecost He will go up to Jerusalem
via Bethzur and Bether. Look for Elias, Joseph, Levi, Matthias, John, Benjamin, Daniel, Isaac. Will
you remember those names? Apply especially to them. Let us go now...»
«But are You not having a drink? »
«I have drunk your tears. A soul returning to God! There is nothing more refreshing for Me.»
«So, I am forgiven?! You said: "Returning to God"...»
«Yes. You are forgiven. But never hate anybody again.»
The man bends again, as he had stood up, and kisses Jesus' feet.
They go back to the apostles and find them disputing with some scribes.
«Here is the Master. He will be able to reply to you and tell you that you are sinners.»
«What is the matter? » asks Jesus, Who greets respectfully but is not greeted in return.
«Master, they are harassing us with questions and mockery...»
«It is an act of mercy to put up with troublesome people.»
«But they are offending You. They are making You a laughing stock... and people hesitate. See?
We had been successful in gathering many people... But who is left now? Two or three women...»
«Oh! no! You have also a man, a filthy man! He is even too much for you! But, Master, don't You
think that You are becoming too contaminated, since You always say that filth disgusts You? » says
scoffingly a young scribe pointing at the beggar beside Jesus.
«He is not filth. He is not the filth which disgusts Me. He is a "poor man". Poor people do not
disgust. Their misery must inspire souls with feelings of brotherly pity. I feel disgusted with moral
miseries, with fetid hearts, with souls torn to shreds, with injured spirits.»
«And do You know that he is not such? »
«I know that he believes and hopes in God and in His mercy, now that he has become acquainted
with it.»
«Acquainted? Where does it live? Tell us, that we may go as well to see its face. Ah! The terrible
God, Whom Moses did not dare to look at, must have a dreadful face even in His mercy, even if His
rigour has softened after so many centuries! » insists the young scribe laughing and his laughter is
more negatory than blasphemy.
«I, Who am speaking to you, am the Mercy of God! » shouts Jesus, standing upright, dazzling with
the power of His eyes and gesture.
I do not know why the other one is not terrified... But although he does not run away, he can no
longer be sarcastic and he becomes silent, while another scribe replaces him: «Oh! how many
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useless words! We would only like to be able to believe. We could not ask for anything better. But
in order to believe, we must have proofs. Master, do You know what Gilgal is to us? »
«Do you think that I am a blockhead? » says Jesus. And in the tone of a psalm, in a slow rather
drawling utterance, He begins: «"And Joshua, rising before daybreak, struck camp. And he set out
from Shittim with all the Israelites and arrived at the Jordan where they stopped for three days, after
which the heralds went through the camp shouting: 'When you see the Ark of the Covenant of the
Lord your God carried by the levitical priests, you must leave as well and follow them, between you
and the Ark, however, keep a distance of two thousand cubits, so that you may see from afar which
road you have to take as you have never gone this way before and... ' ".»
«That is enough. You know the lesson. Now, in order to believe, we would like a similar miracle
from You. At Passover we were dinned in the Temple with the news brought by a boatman that
You had stopped the river in spate. Now, if for an ordinary man You did so much, we, who are
much more than a common man, ask You to go down into the Jordan with Your disciples and cross
it without wetting your feet, as Moses did at the Red Sea and Joshua at Gilgal. Come on! Sorcery
serves only with ignorant people. But we shall not be deceived by Your necromancy, although it is
well known that You are familiar with Egyptian secrets and magical formulae.»
«I do not need them.»
«Let us go down to the river and we will believe in You.»
«It is written: "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test"! »
«You are not God! You are a poor fool. You are one who subverts ignorant crowds. That is easy for
You because Beelzebub is with You. But with us, who are adorned with the power of exorcism,
You are less than nothing » says a scribe bitingly.
«Do not offend Him! Beg Him to satisfy our request. The way you treat Him, He will lose both
heart and power. Come on, Rabbi of Nazareth! Give us a proof and we will worship You » says a
venomous old scribe, who is more hostile in his crooked flattery than the others in their open
fierceness.
Jesus looks at him. He then turns southwestwards and stretching His arms out He says: «The desert
of Judah is over there and there the Evil Spirit asked Me to put the Lord My God to the test. And I
replied: "Be off, Satan! It is written that God only is to be worshipped; He is not to be put to the
test. And He is to be given priority over flesh and blood". I say the same to you.»
«Are You giving us the name of Satan? Are You? Ah! Curse You! » and behaving more like urchins
than doctors of the Law, they start picking up stones on the ground to strike Him, and they shout:
«Go away! May You be damned for ever! »
Jesus looks at them fearlessly. He paralyses them in their sacrilegious gesture, picks up His mantle
and says: «Let us go! Man, go ahead of Me! » and He goes back towards the well and into the
olive-grove of the confession... And He lowers His head, looking utterly crushed, while two
unrestrainable tears stream down His pale face.
They arrive at a road. Jesus stops and says to the beggar: «I cannot give you any money, because I
have none. I bless You. Goodbye. Do what I told you.» They part...
The apostles are distressed. They cast furtive glances at one another...
Jesus breaks the silence resuming the tone of the psalm interrupted by the scribe: «"And the Lord
said to Joshua: 'Choose out twelve men, one man from each tribe, and tell them to take from
mid-Jordan, where the feet of the priests stood, twelve very hard stones and to put them in the camp
where you will put up your tents tonight'. And Joshua called twelve men chosen from the children
of Israel, one from each tribe, and he said to them: 'Pass on before the Ark of the Lord your God
into mid-Jordan, and each of you take one stone on his shoulder, matching the number of the tribes
of Israel, to make a memorial in your midst. And when in future your sons ask you: What do these
stones mean? you will reply to them: The waters of the Jordan disappeared in front of the Ark of the
Covenant of the Lord, when it crossed them, and these stones are an everlasting reminder of this to
the Israelites' ".»
He then raises His head, and turns His eyes towards the apostles who are looking at Him. In a
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different voice, the voice of the moments of deepest sadness, He says: «And the Ark was in the
river. Not the waters, but the sky opened out of respect for the Word Who was sanctifying them and
making them more holy than the Ark did, standing in the bed of the river. And the Word chose
twelve stones. He chose very hard ones, because they are to last until the end of the world, and they
are to be the foundation of the new Temple and of the eternal Jerusalem. Twelve. Remember that.
That is to be the number. And then He chose twelve more as second witnesses. The first
shepherd-disciples and Abel the leper and Samuel the cripple, those cured first... and grateful...
They are very hard as well, because they will have to withstand the blows of Israel, who hates
God!... Who hates God!...»
How sorrowful and feeble is Jesus' voice - it almost sounds like a boy's voice - as He weeps over the
harshness of Israel. He resumes: «Time and men scattered the memorial stones in the river... Hatred
will scatter My twelve on the Earth. On the banks of the river, time and men have destroyed the
remembrance altar... The first and the second stones can no longer be identified: the bitter hatred of
demons, who dwell not only in hell, but also in the hearts of men, have used them for all purposes.
Some have been used also for killing. And how do I know that among the stones lifted against Me,
there were no splinters of the very hard stones chosen by Joshua? Very hard! Hostile! Oh! Very
hard! Also among My followers some perverted ones will act as a pavement for the demons
marching against Me... and they will become stones to strike Me... and they will no longer be the
chosen stones... but demons... Oh! James, My dear brother! How hard is Israel to its Lord! » and,
what has never been seen before, Jesus, overwhelmed by I do not know which impressively deep
depression, leans on the shoulder of James of Alphaeus and embraces him weeping...

387. Towards Engedi. Taking Leave of Judas Iscariot and Simon Zealot.
19th February 1946.

They must have continued their journey during the moonlit night, and after resting for a few hours
in a cave, they have set out again at dawn. And they are obviously fatigued after walking on crushed
stones, through thorny bushes and creeping liane, which often entangle their feet. Simon Zealot is
leading the way, as he appears to be thoroughly familiar with the area and he apologises for the
difficult road, as if he were the cause of the difficulty.
«When we are once again up on those mountains, which you can see, it will be easier and I promise
you plenty wild honey and ample water...»
«Water? I will dive into it! The sand has corroded my feet as if I had been walking on salt and my
skin is smarting. How horrible these places are! Oh! One feels that we are close to the districts that
Heaven punished with fire! The stench is still in the wind, in the earth, in the thorns, everywhere! »
exclaims Peter.
«And yet it was beautiful here once, is that right, Master? »
«Very beautiful indeed. In the early centuries of the world, this area was a little Eden. The soil was
very fertile and rich in spring waters suitable for many purposes. But they were so well arranged
that they were a blessing. Then... the disorder of men seemed to affect the elements. And it was the
end. The wise men of the heathen world explain the dreadful punishment in many ways. That is, in
human terms, at times with superstitious terror. But believe Me: it was only the will of God that
changed the order of the elements; and those of the sky involved those of the abyss, they broke
loose clashing one against the other in malefic turmoil, thunderbolts set on fire the bitumen that the
open veins of the earth had scattered everywhere in great disorder and fire from the bowels of the
earth and on the earth and thunderbolts struck the earth, which was shaken in dreadful convulsion,
and burned, destroyed and corroded acres of ground, which were previously a paradise, and turned
it into the hell that you now see and where existence is impossible.»
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The apostles are listening carefully...
Bartholomew asks: «Do You think that, if we could drain the dense salty water, we would find the
ruins of the punished towns on the bottom of the Great Sea? »
«Certainly. And almost intact; because the muddy water acts as mortar on the buried towns. But the
Jordan has spread a great deal of sand on them. So they are buried twice, that they may never rise
again, the symbol of those who, persisting in sin, are inexorably buried by God's malediction and by
the overbearance of Satan, whom they served so keenly in this life.»
«And did Mattathias of John of Simeon seek refuge here: the just Hasmonean who is with his son
the glory of Israel? »
«Yes, here. Among the mountains and in the deserts and here he reorganised the people and the
army, and God was with him.»
«But, at least... It was easier for him, because the Hasidaeans were more just than the Pharisees are
with You! »
«Oh! It is easy to be more just than Pharisees! Even easier than it is for this thorn to prick me and
stick in my leg... Look here! » exclaims Peter, who, while listening did not look where he was
walking and is entangled in a thorny bush which has made his leg bleed.
«There are not so many up in the mountains. See how they are already thinning out? » says Simon
Zealot comforting him.
«H'm! You know the place well...»
«I lived here when I was in exile and persecuted...»
«Oh! In that case...»
In fact the greenery is becoming less troublesome on the little mountains, which, however, are not
very shady and the herbs on them are rather short but sweet-smelling and are strewn with flowers
forming a many-coloured carpet. Bees suck them and then fly to the caves on the mountain sides
where they deposit the honey in natural hives under curtains of ivy and honeysuckle.
Simon Zealot goes into one of the caves and comes out with combs of golden honey; he then goes
into other caves until he has enough for everybody, and offers them to the Master and his friends
who relish the sweet trickling substance.
«I wish we had some bread! It is delicious! » says Thomas.
«Oh! It is very good also without it! Much better than Philistine ears of corn. And... let us hope that
no Pharisee will come to tell us that we cannot eat it! » says James of Zebedee.
They eat while walking and arrive at a reservoir, into which the waters of some streams flow and
are then conveyed I know not where. The water that overflows from the basin is cool and clear, as it
is protected from the sun and from pollution by the vault of the huge rock, in which the cistern has
been dug; it flows down into a tiny lake in the blackish siliceous rock.
The apostles are evidently delighted in taking off their clothes and bathing in turns in the
unexpected basin. But they wanted Jesus to be the first to enjoy it, «so that their bodies might be
sanctified » says Matthew.
They resume walking, they are refreshed but more hungry than before, and the ones who are most
hungry, in addition to the honey, nibble at the stalks of wild fennel and other edible shoots, the
names of which I do not know.
One enjoys a beautiful view from the tablelands of these strange mountains, the peaks of which
seem to have been cut off by a sword-thrust. Parts of other green mountains and of fertile plains can
be seen to the south, as well as stretches of the Dead Sea, which is visible to the east, with the
remote mountains of the other side fading in the mist of light clouds rising from south-east; the
remote green Jordan plain can be seen to the north between mountain crests, while the high
mountains of Judaea are visible to the west.
The sun is becoming warm and Peter states that «those clouds over the mountains of Moab are the
sign of great heat.»
«We will now go down into the Kidron valley. It is shady...» says Simon.
«The Kidron!?! Oh, how have we come so soon to the Kidron? »
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«Yes, Simon of Jonas. It is a rough road, but it cuts the journey short! Going along its valley we
shall soon be in Jerusalem » explains the Zealot.
«And in Bethany... I should send some of you to Bethany, to tell the sisters to take Eglah to Nike.
She begged Me so much, and quite rightly. The childless widow will also have a holy love and the
orphan girl a true Israelite mother, who will bring her up in our old faith and in Mine. I would like
to go too... A peaceful rest for My saddened spirit... In Lazarus' house the heart of the Christ finds
but love... But the journey I want to make before Pentecost is a long one! »
«Send me, Lord. And with me, someone with good legs. We will go to Bethany and then to Kerioth
and we will meet there » says the Iscariot with enthusiasm. The others, instead, while waiting for
someone to be selected for the journey, which would separate them from the Master, are not at all
enthusiastic.
Jesus is thinking, and while thinking, He looks at Judas. He is undecided whether He should agree
or not.
Judas insists: «Say yes, Master. Make me happy!...»
«You are the least suitable, Judas, to go to Jerusalem! »
«Why, Lord? I know the town better than anybody else! »
«That is why!... The town is not only well known to you, but it affects you more than anybody
else.»
«Master, I give You my word that I will not stop in Jerusalem and I will not look for anybody from
Israel... But let me go. I will arrive at Kerioth before You and...»
«And you will not put pressure on anybody to pay human homage to Me.»
«No, Master, I will not. I promise.»
Jesus is still pensive.
«Why do You hesitate so much, Master? Why do You not trust me? »
«You are so weak, Judas. And as soon as you go away from the Strength, you fall! You have been
so good for some time! Why do you want to become upset and grieve Me? »
«No, Master, I do not want that! But one day I shall have to be without You! And then? What shall I
do, if I do not prepare beforehand? »
«Judas is right » several of the apostles say.
«All right!... Go, then. Go with My brother James.»
The others give sighs of relief. James sighs heavily but he says kindly: «Yes, my Lord! Bless us and
we will depart.»
Simon Zealot feels sorry for him and says: «Master, fathers willingly replace their children to make
them happy. I took him as my son together with Judas. Time has gone by, but my mind is still the
same. Listen to my prayer... Send me with Judas of Simon. I am old, but I am as strong as a young
man, and Judas will not have to complain about me.»
«No, it is not fair that you should sacrifice yourself, leaving the Master, in my place. It would
certainly grieve you not to be with Him...» says James of Alphaeus.
«Grief is relieved by the joy of leaving you with the Master. Later you will tell me what you have
done... In any case... I go to Bethany willingly...» concludes the Zealot, as if he wished to belittle
the value of his offer.
«All right. You two will go. In the meantime let us proceed towards that village. Who will go up to
get some bread in the name of God? »
«I will! I will! » They all want to go.
But Jesus holds back Judas of Kerioth. When they have all gone, Jesus takes his hands and speaks
to him face to face. He seems to be wanting to instil His thought into him, influencing him to such
an extent that Judas may not have any other thoughts than those wanted by Jesus. «Judas... Do not
harm yourself, My dear Judas! Have you not been calmer and happier for some time, free from the
burden of your lower ego, of the human ego, which is so easily at the mercy of Satan and of the
world? Of course you know that you have! Well, protect your peace and your welfare. Do not injure
yourself, Judas. I can read you. You are in such a happy period at this moment! Oh! If I could only
229
keep you thus, at the cost of all My Blood, and destroy the last bulwark in which a great enemy of
yours hides, and make you completely spiritual, with spiritual intellect, spiritual love, completely
a... spirit! »
Judas, face to face with Jesus, his hands in the hands of the Master, is almost dumbfounded. He
whispers: «Injure myself? Last bulwark? Which one?...»
«Which one?! You know. You know how you injure yourself! By cherishing thoughts of human
grandeur and friendships, which you suppose are useful to procure such grandeur. Believe Me,
Israel does not love you. It hates you as it hates Me, as it hates whoever may seem a probable
victor. And since you do not conceal your ambition to be such, you are hated. Do not believe their
false words, their deceitful questions, by which they pretend to take an interest in your plans in
order to help you. They circumvent you to hurt you, to find out and injure you. I am not begging
you on My behalf, but only on your own. If I am the target of iniquity, I am still the Lord. They may
torture My body and kill it. But not beyond that. But in your case, they would kill your soul... Shun
temptation, My friend! Tell Me that you will shun it! Speak this word of peace to your poor
persecuted worried Master! »
Jesus clasps him in His arms and, cheek to cheek, speaks in his ear and His golden hair mixes with
the thick dark curls of Judas.
«I know that I have to suffer and die. I know that My crown will be the crown of a martyr. I am
aware that My Blood will be My purple. I came for that. Because through such martyrdom I will
redeem Mankind, and love has been urging Me for endless time to do so. But I would not like any
of My followers to be lost. Oh! All men are dear to Me, because in them there is the image and
likeness of My Father and the immortal souls that He created. But you, My loved and beloved ones,
you, the blood of My blood and the apples of My eyes, must not be lost! Oh! No torture could be
like that, not even if Satan, who is Sin, Horror, Disgust, should pierce Me with his weapons burning
with the sulphur of hell and he should bite and grasp Me, no torture could make Me suffer as much
as I would for one of My chosen ones who should be lost... Judas, My Judas! Shall I ask My Father
to let Me suffer My dreadful Passion three times, so that two of them may be offered to save you
alone? Tell Me, My friend, and I will do that. I will ask Him to multiply My suffering infinitely for
that purpose. I love you, Judas, I love you so much. And I would like to give you Myself, to make
you Myself, to save you from yourself...»
«Do not weep, do not say that, Master. I love You, too. I also would give myself to see You strong,
respected, feared, triumphant. I may not love You perfectly. I may not think perfectly. But I use and
perhaps I misuse my whole being, because I am anxious to see You loved. But I swear to You, I
swear on Jehovah, that I will not approach scribes, or Pharisees, or Sadducees, or Jews, or priests.
They will say that I am mad. But it does not matter. I shall be quite happy provided You are not
worried about me. Are You happy? A kiss, Master, as Your blessing and protection.»
They kiss each other and part while the others are running down the hill displaying cakes and fresh
cheeses. They sit down on the green grass of the banks and divide the food, saying that they were
made welcome, because the people of the few houses know the shepherd-disciples and are in
favour of the Messiah.
«We did not tell them that You are here, otherwise...» concludes Thomas.
«We will endeavour to come back here some other time. We must not neglect anybody » replies
Jesus.
The meal is over. Jesus stands up and blesses the two who are going to Bethany and who do not
wish to wait until evening to set out, as the valley is shady and rich in water.
Jesus and the ten who are staying with Him, lie down on the grass and rest awaiting sunset, when
they will go back to the Engedi and Masada road, as I hear them say.

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388. Arrival at Engedi.
20th February 1946.

The pilgrims, although tired after a long march, which they perhaps covered in two stages from
sunset to today's dawn, along difficult roads, cannot help uttering exclamations of admiration when,
after a long stretch of road along a hill-side, which sparkles like diamonds in the early morning
sunshine, they encounter the full view of the Dead Sea displayed before them from shore to shore.
The western side has a narrow plain between the sea and the Judaean type of luxuriant hills in the
hinterland, while on the east the mountains drop sheer to the sea basin. One gets the impression
that, the ground, in a frightful telluric catastrophe, slid down with a clean cut, leaving crevices
vertical to the lake, from which torrents descend, more or less rich in waters, destined to evaporate
into salt in the dark cursed water of the Dead Sea. In the distance, beyond the lake, and the first
range of hills, there are many more slopes, which are beautiful in the morning sunshine. To the
north one can see the green-blue mouth of the Jordan, and mountains framing the lake to the south.
It is grand, solemn, sad, majestically admonishing scenery, in which the charming view of the
mountains mingles with the gloomy one of the Dead Sea, the sight of which seems to remind one of
what sin and the wrath of the Lord can bring. Because such a large expanse of water without a sail,
a boat, a bird, an animal crossing it, flying over it or drinking on its shores, is really frightening!
And, in contrast to the punitive sight of the sea, there are the wonders of the sun on the little
mountains, on the dunes, as far as the desert sands, where the salt crystals look like precious jaspers
spread on the sand, on stones, on the rigid stems of desert plants, and thus everything is beautiful,
brightened by the diamond dust. And even more wonderful is the fertile aspect of a tableland, about
one hundred and fifty metres above sea level, with luxuriant palm-trees and all kinds of trees and
vines, and where blue waters flow and a beautiful town has been built, surrounded by a flourishing
countryside. When one looks at this landscape, which is so pleasant, charming and flowery, after
contemplating the gloomy sight of the sea, the tormenting view of the eastern shore, which displays
a sad tranquillity only in a low green strip of land jutting out into the south-eastern part of the sea,
the desolate desert of Judah, the severe view of the Judaean mountains, one seems to awake
suddenly from an oppressive nightmare that turns into a gentle vision of peace.
«This is Engedi, celebrated by the poets of our Fatherland. Look how beautiful the district is,
nourished by so much graceful water, in the midst of so much desolation! Let us go down and
plunge into its gardens, because everything here is garden: meadow, forest, vineyard. This is the
ancient Hazazon-Tamar, a name that evokes its beautiful palm-trees, under which it was even more
beautiful to build huts and cultivate the land, love one another, and bring up children and raise
flocks in the sweet-sounding rustling of palm leaves. This is the pleasant oasis, the survivor of the
lands of Eden punished by God, surrounded, like a pearl in a bezel, by paths accessible only to
goats and roe-deer, as is written in the Book of Kings, and along those paths there are caves for
persecuted, tired and forlorn people. Remember David, our king, and how kind he was to his enemy
Saul. This is Hazazon-tamar, now Engedi, the fountain, the blessed town, the beauty from which the
enemies moved against Jehoshaphat and the children of his people, who were frightened and were
comforted by Jahaziel, son of Zechariah, through whom the Spirit of God spoke. And they won a
great victory because they had faith in the Lord and they deserved His help, as they did penance and
prayed before the battle. This is the town sung by Solomon, as a comparison of the beauty of the
Most Beautiful of all beautiful women. It was mentioned by Ezekiel, because it was nourished by
the waters of the Lord... Let us go down! Let us go and take the living Water, that descends from
Heaven, to the gem of Israel.» And He starts running down a very steep path, which zigzags down
the reddish calcareous rock, that in the spots closest to the sea reaches the edge of the mountain,
that is, its ledge. A path that would make giddy even the most expert mountaineers.
The apostles are hardly able to follow Him, and the older ones are left far behind when the Master
stops at the first palm-trees and vineyards of the fertile tableland, where crystal-clear waters are
gurgling and all kinds of birds are singing. White sheep are grazing under the rustling roofs of

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palm-trees, of mimosae, of balm-plants, of pistachio-trees and others exhaling sweet or pungent
aromas, which mingle with those of rose-bushes, lavander in bloom, cinnamon, myrrh, incense,
saffron, jasmines, lilies, lilies of the valley, and of the flower of aloe, which is very big here, of
cloves and benzoins, which exude with other resins from incisions in tree-trunks. This is really «the
garden enclosed, the fountain of the garden », and fruit, flowers, sweet scents, beauty are found
everywhere! There is no place in Palestine as beautiful as this one, in size and natural charm. While
contemplating it, one understands many writings of Eastern poets, where they celebrate the beauty
of oases as if they were paradises spread over the Earth.
The apostles, perspiring but full of admiration, join the Master and all together they go down a
well-kept road towards the sea shore, where they arrive after crossing several cultivated
embankments, from which beneficent waters flow in small smiling cascades to nourish all the
vegetation as far as the plain, which ends at the beach. Half-way down the hill-side they enter the
white town, among rustling palm-trees and sweet-smelling rosebushes and thousands of flowers of
its garden, and they look for lodgings, in the name of God, at the first houses. And the houses, as
gentle as nature, open without any hesitation, while their inhabitants ask who is «The Prophet Who
looks like Solomon, dressed in linen and beaming with beauty.»...
Jesus, with John and Peter, enters a house where there is a widow with her son. The others scatter
in various directions, after being blessed by the Master and agreeing to meet in the main square at
sunset.

389. Preaching and Miracles at Engedi.

21st February 1946.

Towards sunset, a fiery one that ruddies the very white houses of Engedi and makes the Dead Sea a
sheet of black nacre, Jesus sets out towards the main square. He is now with the boy who gave Him
hospitality and who is now leading Him through the streets of the town, with its distinctly oriental
architecture.
To protect themselves from the sun - which must be very strong in this place so exposed to the
heavy expanse of the Salt Sea, which I understand must exhale hot fumes in the summer months,
and is so isolated in the midst of a bare desert on which the sun blazes down mercilessly burning
the ground - the inhabitants of Engedi built very narrow streets, which look even more narrow
because of the projecting eaves and cornices of the dwellings, so that anyone looking up can see
only a very thin strip of the deep blue sky.
The buildings are tall, most of them being two storey houses, with vine-clad roof terraces, giving
shade and delightful grapes, which must be as sweet as raisins, when they fully ripen in the golden
sun and the reflected heat of the walls and terrace-floors. And the vines compete in giving comfort
to men and the many birds, from sparrows to doves, which nest in Engedi, with the towering
palm-trees, which have grown everywhere, and with magnificent opulent fruit-trees, which have
come up in yards, in house gardens, and peep out over little lanes, hanging down white walls with
their branches already laden with fruit ripening in the bright sun, reaching down below the
numerous archivolts, which in some parts really form tunnels, interrupted here and there for
architectonic reasons, and they rise towards the blue sky, a sky so uniform and mellow, that if it
could be touched, it would be like touching thick velvet or smooth leather, painted and dyed by a
cunning craftsman with that perfect, beautiful, unforgettable hue, which is darker than a turquoise
and lighter than a sapphire.
And waters... How many fountains, large and small, must be gurgling in the yards and gardens of
houses, among thousands of plants! Walking along the narrow streets, still deserted, as the people
are either at work or at home, one can hear them dripping, gurgling, rustling like the notes of a harp
played by a hidden harpist. And the charm is increased by the many archivolts and corners that

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gather together the sounds of the waters, amplifying them and increasing them through numerous
echoes, composing a harmonious arpeggio.
And endless palm-trees!... Where there is a little square, even if only the size of a room, the very
tall slender trunks rise towards the sky, and their tops, tufts of rustling leaves tied like brushes
round the trunks, hardly move up there, and their shadows at midday fall perpendicular to the little
square, covering it completely, whilst now they are forming fantastical designs on the higher
terraces.
The town is clean as compared with Palestinian towns. Perhaps the fact that houses are so close
together and each has a yard and cultivated garden has helped to teach the population not to throw
garbage into the streets, but to gather such waste and animal excrement into special dunghills to be
used as fertilizer for trees and flower-beds, or it is... a very rare case of cleanliness. The little streets
are clean, dried by the sun and there is no unpleasant display of waste vegetables, old sandals, dirty
rags, excrement and the like, as can be seen even in Jerusalem, in streets quite near the town centre.
There is the first farmer coming back from his work, riding a little grey donkey. To protect the
animal from flies, the man has caparisoned it with jasmine branches and the beast is now trotting
away shaking its ears and harness-bells under the wavy scented screen of branches. When the man
turns round and greets him, the boy says: «Come to the main square. You will hear the Rabbi who
is staying with me.»
Now there is a flock of sheep invading the street coming from a little square beyond which one can
see the country background. They proceed close to one another, each putting its feet in the places
where the one preceding it puts them, with their heads stooped as if they were too heavy for their
necks - so thin compared with their fat bodies - trotting in their strange fashion and their obese
bodies looking like bundles resting on four sticks... Jesus, John and Peter imitate the man who is
with them, and they lean against the warm wall of a house to let them pass. A man and a boy are
following the flock. They look and greet. The young man says: «Put the sheep in the fold and come
to the main square with your relatives. The Rabbi of Galilee is here with us and He is going to
speak to us.»
And there is the first woman to come out, surrounded by a group of children, going I wonder where.
The young man says: «Come with John and his sons to hear the Rabbi, Whom they call the
Messiah.»
The houses open little by little in the oncoming evening, showing green backgrounds of gardens, or
peaceful yards where doves are having their last feed. The youth peeps in at each door and shouts:
«Come to listen to the Rabbi, the Lord.»
They finally come to a straight road, the only straight one in this town, which was not built as
people would have liked, but as palm-trees or the mighty age-old pistachio-trees wanted, and which
are respected as notables by the citizens, who are indebted to them for not dying of sunstroke. At
the end there is a square where many trunks of palm-trees act as columns. It looks like a hypostyle
hall of temples and ancient palaces, which consisted of a large room with columns placed at
symmetrical intervals forming a stony forest to support the roof. The palm-trees here act as columns
and, thick as they are, with their dense rustling foliage they form an emerald ceiling over the white
square in the middle of which there is a tall square fountain full of crystal-clear water gushing out
from a little column in the centre of the basin, and falling into lower basins, where animals can
water. Tame docile doves have rushed to it just now and they are drinking or dancing a minuet with
their little pink legs on the upper edge, or they are spraying their feathers which shine increasing
their iridiscent hues as the drops of water rest for a moment on the barbs of the feathers.
There are many people. And there are the eight apostles who had gone in various directions looking
for lodgings, and each of them has gathered some followers, who are anxious to hear Him, Whom
the apostle has pointed out as the promised Messiah. The apostles hasten towards the Master from
all directions trailing, like comets, the little groups they have conquered.
Jesus raises His hand to bless His disciples and the people of Engedi.
Judas of Alphaeus speaks on behalf of everyone: «Here, Master and Lord. We have done what You
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told us and these people are aware that the Grace of God is among them. But they want also the
Word. Many know You having heard of You. Many because they met You in Jerusalem.
Everybody, and the women in particular, wish to know You, and first of all, their head of the
synagogue. There he is. Come here, Abraham.»
The man, who is very old, comes forward. He is moved. He would like to speak, but moved as he is,
he cannot find any of the words he had prepared. He stoops to kneel down, leaning on his stick, but
Jesus stops him, embracing him at once and saying: «Peace to the old just servant of God! » and the
man, who is more and more moved, can only reply: «Praise be to God! My eyes have seen the
Promised Messiah! What else shall I ask of the Lord? » and raising his arms, in hieratic attitude, he
intones David's 40th psalm: «"I waited anxiously for the Lord and He has stooped to me".» But he
does not recite it all. He repeats only the passages which are more appropriate to the occasion: «"He
heard my cry and has pulled me out of the pit of misery, out of the slough of the marsh...
He has put a new song in my mouth.
Happy the man who puts his trust in the Lord.
How many wonders You have done for us, o Lord my God! You have no equal. I would like to
proclaim them again and again, but they are more than I can count.
You, Who wanted no sacrifice or oblation, opened my ear... (he is moved more and more).
It is written that I must do Your will... I have always loved Your Law from the depths of my being.
I have always proclaimed Your righteousness in the Great Assembly. I did not close my lips, as You
know well, o Lord.
I have never kept Your righteousness to myself, but I have proclaimed Your faithfulness and saving
help...
For Your part, o Lord, do not withhold Your kindness from me...
More misfortunes beset me than I can count (he is now weeping copiously, uttering his words in a
voice that is even more trembling and senile because of his tears)...
I am a poor wretch, but the Lord takes care of me. You are my help, my protector, my God, do not
delay!....".
That is the psalm, my Lord, and I add of my own: "Say to me: 'Come' and I will say to You what the
psalm says: 'Here I come!' ".»
He becomes silent and weeps with all his faith gathered in his eyes dimmed by age.
People explain: «His daughter died and left young grandchildren to him. His wife has become blind
and dull-witted through grief, and they do not know what happened to their only son. He
disappeared all of a sudden...»
Jesus lays His hand on the shoulder of the old man and says to him: «The sufferings of the just are
as swift as a swallow, as compared with the duration of the eternal reward. But we shall give back
to Sarah the eyesight of bygone days and the intelligence of her youth, so that she may comfort your
old age.»
«Her name is Colomba » informs one of the people...
«She is his princess. But listen to the parable I am going to tell You...»
«Will You not free first from darkness the eyes and the mind of my wife, so that she also may relish
Wisdom? » asks the old head of the synagogue anxiously.
«Do you believe that God can do everything and that His power spreads over the universe? »
«Yes, my Lord, I do. I remember one evening many years ago. I was then happy, but even in joy I
was a believer. Because that is what man is like! While he is happy, he can also forget about God.
But I believed in God also in those happy days, when my wife was young and healthy, and my
daughter Eliza was growing as beautiful as a palm tree and was already engaged, and Elisha was as
handsome as she was beautiful, but he exceeded her in strength as befits a man... I had gone with
the boy to the fountains near the vineyard, which is Colomba's dowry, while my wife and daughter
remained at home to weave the girl's trousseau... But perhaps I am boring You... A poor wretch
dreams remembering his past happiness... but other people are not interested...»

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«Go on, go on! »
«I had gone with the boy... The fountains... If You came along the western road, You know where
they are... The fountains were at the boundary of the blessed place, and looking beyond the desert,
one could see the white stones of the Roman road, which was then still visible among the sands of
Judah... Later... that landmark also disappeared! It does not matter if a landmark disappears, among
sands! But it is bad that the sign of God, sent to point You out, should dissolve in the hearts of
Israel. In too many hearts! My son said: "Father! Look! A great caravan, with horses and camels,
and servants and gentlemen going towards Engedi. They are perhaps coming to the fountains before
it gets dark…". As I was attending to the vine-branches, I raised my eyes, so tired after the abundant
vintage, and I saw... The men were really coming to the fountains. They dismounted, they saw me
and they asked whether they could camp there for one night.
"Engedi has hospitable homes and it is not far" I replied.
"No. We will be keeping watch to be ready to flee, because Herod is pursuing us. Our guards will
be able to control every road from here and it will be easy to escape from those seeking us".
"What sin have you committed?" I asked, as I was surprised and willing to show them the caves of
our mountains, as is our sacred custom to assist those who are persecuted. And I added: "You are
strangers and you come from different places... I do not see how you can have sinned against
Herod...".
"We have worshipped the Messiah Who was born in Bethlehem of Judah and to Whom we were led
by the star of the Lord. Herod is looking for Him, and that is why he wants to find us, so that we
may tell him where the Child is. But he is looking for Him to kill Him. We will perhaps die in the
deserts, on a long unknown road, but we will not reveal where is the Holy Child, Who descended
from Heaven!".
The Messiah! The dream of every true Israelite! My dream! And He was in the world! In Bethlehem
of Judah as it was foretold!... And pressing my son to my heart, I asked for more information and
details, saying: "Listen, Elisha! Remember! You will certainly see Him!". I was already fifty years
old and I no longer hoped to see Him... neither did I hope to live so long as to see Him grown into a
man... Elisha... can no longer worship Him...»
The old man is weeping again. But he collects himself and says: «The three Wise Men spoke kindly
and patiently and they described You in Your holy infancy, and Your Mother and father... I could
have spent the night with them... but Elisha was falling asleep in my lap. I said goodbye to the three
Wise Men and I promised that I would not say one word that might be detrimental to them. But I
told Colomba everything in our bedroom and that was our only joyful expectation in our subsequent
misfortunes. Later we heard of the slaughter... and for years I did not know whether You were alive.
Now I know. But I am the only one, because Eliza died, Elisha is no longer with us, and Colomba
cannot understand the happy news... But my faith in the power of God, which was already alive,
became perfect after that remote evening, when three men, of different races, bore witness to the
power of God by being united, through the voices of stars and of their souls, on the road of God, to
worship His Word.»
«And your faith will be rewarded. Now listen.
What is faith? Like the hard seed of a palm-tree, at times it is tiny and consists in a short sentence:
"God exists", supported by one only statement: "I have seen Him". As the faith Abraham had in Me,
through the words of the three Wise Men from the East. Like the faith of our people, from the most
ancient patriarchs, transmitted from one generation to the next one, from Adam to his descendants,
from Adam sinner, who, however, was believed when he said: "God exists, and we exist because He
created us. And I have known Him". Like the faith that came later, and was more perfect because
more deeply based on revelation, and is our heritage, shining with divine manifestations, with
angelical apparitions and the light of the Spirit. But still a tiny seed as compared with the Infinite. A
tiny seed. But it takes root, and splitting the hard bark of animal nature with its doubts and
inclinations, and triumphing over the harmful herbs of passions, of sins, over stale discouragement
and corroding vices, over everything, it rises in hearts, it grows, it rushes towards the sun, to
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Heaven, rising, rising... until it gets rid of the limitations of the flesh and merges with God, in its
perfect knowledge and full possession, beyond life and death, in True Life.
Who possesses faith, possesses the way of Life. Who can believe, does not err. A believer sees,
knows, serves the Lord and has eternal salvation. The Decalogue is of vital importance to him and
each commandment is a gem, which will adorn his future crown. The promise of the Redeemer is
salvation for him. It does not matter if the believer died before I came to the Earth. His faith makes
him equal to those who now approach Me with faith and love. The deceased just will soon be
rejoicing because their faith is about to be rewarded. After fulfilling the will of My Father, I will go
to them and say: "Come!", and all those who died in Faith will ascend with Me to the Kingdom of
the Lord.
Let your faith be like the palm-trees of your country, which sprout from tiny seeds, but are so
determined in growing up straight, that they forget the earth and are in love with the sun, the stars
and the sky. Have faith in Me. Believe what too few people believe in Israel, and I promise that you
will possess the heavenly Kingdom, through forgiveness of the original sin and the just reward to all
those who practise My doctrine, which is the most sweet perfection of the perfect Decalogue of
God.
I will stay with you today and tomorrow, which is the holy Sabbath, and I will leave at dawn the day
after the Sabbath. Let those who suffer come to Me! Let those who are in doubt come to Me! Let
those who want Life come to Me! Without any fear, because I am Mercy and Love.»
And Jesus makes a wide gesture to bless and dismiss His listeners, so that they may go and have
their evening meal and rest and He is about to set off, when a little old woman, so far concealed by
the corner of a narrow street, makes her way through the crowds still around the Master, and amid
the crying people, she goes and kneels at Jesus' feet shouting: «May You be blessed and the Most
High Who has sent You! And blessed be the womb that bore You, as it is greater than the womb of
women, if it was able to bear You! »
The shouting of a man mingles with the woman's: «Colomba! You see! You understand! You are
speaking wisely recognising the Lord! Oh! God! God of my fathers! God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob! God of the prophets! God of John, the Prophet! God! My God! Son of the Father! King like
the Father! Saviour obedient to the Father! God like the Father, and my God, God of Your servant!
May You be blessed, loved, followed, worshipped for ever! »
And the old head of the synagogue kneels down beside his wife, embracing her with his left arm,
pressing her to his heart, he stoops and makes her stoop to kiss the feet of the Saviour, while the
joyful shouting of the crowds is so loud that it makes tree-trunks vibrate and frightens the doves,
which take flight from the nests where they were already resting and fly over Engedi, as if they
wished to spread over the whole town the news that the Saviour is within its walls.

390. Elisha of Engedi.

22nd February 1946.

They must have advanced the time of their departure, and perhaps the inhabitants of Engedi advised
them to do so, because it is the dead of night and the moon almost full illuminates the town with a
very bright light. The narrow streets look like silver ribbons lying among the cube-shaped houses
and garden walls, the lime of which seems to have been changed into sculptural marble by the
magic rays of moonlight. Palm-trees and other trees look mysterious, enveloped in the lunar
phosphorescence. Fountains and rivulets are little waterfalls and diamond necklaces. And from tree
branches nightingales pour forth strings of golden notes thus adding their wonderful voices to the
gurgle of waters, which can be heard very clearly in the night.
The town is asleep. But there are some persons with Jesus, Who is departing. They are the men of
the houses that gave hospitality to Jesus and His disciples and they have been joined by other

236
people. The head of the synagogue is walking beside Jesus. Oh! He does not want to stop
accompanying Him, not even when Jesus begs him to go back, before proceeding into the open
country. They go straight towards the road leading to Masada, not the lower road along the Dead
Sea, which I hear is unhealthy and dangerous at night; but to the internal one, built on the slopes,
almost on the crests of the hills bordering the lake.
The oasis is wonderful in the lunar night! One seems to be walking in dream-land. Then the oasis
comes to an end and palm-trees thin out. Then there is the real mountain, with its forest trees, its
meadows and its slopes split by caves, like almost all the Palestinian mountains. But I would say
that the caves are more numerous here and their strange mouths, long or flat, straight or slanting,
round or like fissures, have a frightening look in the moonlight.
«Abraham, the road is farther down. Why are you climbing up, going the long way round, on this
impracticable path? » says one of Engedi, warning the old head of the synagogue.
«Because I have to show something to the Master and ask Him to do one thing more, to be added to
the great gifts He has already granted us. But if you are tired, go home, or wait for me here. I will
go by myself » replies the old man, who plods on panting, along the difficult steep path.
«Oh! no! We will come with you. But it grieves us to see you tire so. You are breathless...»
«Oh! it is not the path!... It is something else! It is a sword piercing my heart... and it is hope
swelling it. Come, my children, and you will see how much grief there was in the heart of the man
who relieved all your sorrows! How much... not despair, certainly not, but... he who always told you
to hope in the Lord Who can do everything, realised he could not possibly expect to have joy any
more... I taught you to believe in the Messiah… Do you remember when I used to speak of Him
without any fear, when I could do so without harming Him? And you would say to me: "What about
Herod's slaughter?". Yes. It was a sore thorn in my heart! But I clung to hope with my whole
being... I used to say: "If God sent His star to three men, who were not even from Israel, to invite
them to worship the Child Messiah, and He led them by it to the poor house unknown to the rabbis
of Israel, to the princes of priests and scribes, if in a dream He informed them not to go back to
Herod, in order to save the Child, is it possible that, even with greater power, He did not inform His
father and Mother to flee taking the hope of God and of man to a safe place?". And my faith in His
safety grew stronger and was attacked in vain by human doubt and the words of other people... And
when... and when the deepest grief for a father seized me... when I had to take a living being to the
sepulchre and say to him: "Remain here as long as your life lasts... and consider that if the desire for
your mother's caresses or any other reason should urge you towards the town, I would have to curse
you and be the first to strike you and relegate you where not even my most desolate love could
relieve you", when I had to do that... I had to cling even more to my faith in God, the Saviour of His
Saviour, and say to myself and to my son... to my leprous son... see?... leprous...: "Let us bow our
heads to the will of the Lord and believe in His Messiah! I Abraham... you Isaac, immolated by
disease, not by fire, let us offer our sorrow to have a miracle…". And every month, at each new
moon, when I came here secretly, laden with foodstuffs... clothes... love... which I had to leave far
from my son... because I had to come back to you... my children... to my blind wife, to my
feeble-minded wife, whom dreadful grief had made blind and dull... and I had to come back to my
childless home... without the peace of reciprocal conscious love... and to my synagogue to speak to
you of God... of His wonders... of the beautiful things He spread in the universe... and I could see
with my eyes the corroded sight of my son... whom I could not even defend when I heard people
speak ill of him, saying that he was an ungrateful son, or a criminal who had run away from
home..., and every month, when making this pilgrimage to the sepulchre of my living son, as I was
saying, I used to repeat to him, to encourage him: "The Messiah is on the earth. He will come. He
will cure you…". Last year at Passover, when I was looking for You in Jerusalem, during the short
time that I was away from my blind wife, I was told: "He really exists. He was here yesterday. He
cured also some lepers. He is going round the whole of Palestine curing, comforting, teaching". Oh!
I came back so quickly that I looked like a young man going to a wedding! I did not even stop at
Engedi, but I came here and I called my son, my boy, my dying seed, and I said to him: "He will
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come!". Lord... You have done all sorts of good to our town. You are going away, but there are no
sick people left... You have blessed even our trees and animals... And will You not... You have
already cured my wife... but will You not have mercy on the fruit of her womb?... A son to a
mother! Give back a son to his mother, You, the perfect Son of the Mother of all graces! In the
name of Your Mother have mercy on me, on us!...»
Everybody is weeping with the old man who has spoken with such powerful and heart-rending
feelings...
And Jesus clasps him in His arms, while he is sobbing, and He says to him: «Do not weep any
more! Let us go to your Elisha. Your faith, justice and hope deserve that and much more. Do not
weep, father! Do not let us delay any longer from freeing a man from such horror.»
«The moon is setting. The road is a difficult one. Could we not wait until dawn? » say some people.
«No. There are many resinous plants here around us. Pick some branches, light them and let us go »
orders Jesus.
They climb up a narrow troublesome path; it looks like the dried bed of alluvial water. The reddish
smoky torches crackle spreading a strong smell of resins through the air.
A cave with a narrow opening, almost hidden by thick bushes which have grown near the edges of a
spring, appears beyond a narrow tableland split in the middle by a crevice into which flows the
water of the spring.
«Elisha has been there, for years... awaiting death or the grace of God...» says the old man in a low
voice, pointing at the cavern.
«Call your son. Console him. Tell him not to be afraid, to have faith.»
And Abraham shouts in a loud voice: «Elisha! Elisha! Son! » and he repeats his cry, trembling with
fear because there is no reply.
«Is he perhaps dead? » some ask.
«No. Dead, just now, no! At the end of his torture! With no joy, no! Oh! my boy! » moans the
father...
«Do not weep. Call him again.»
«Elisha! Elisha! Why are you not answering your...»
«Father! Father! Why have you come at this unusual time? Is mother perhaps dead, and you have
come to...» the voice, which was previously far, has come nearer, and a spectre moves the branches
concealing the entrance; a horrible spectre, a half-naked corroded skeleton... who seeing so many
people with torches and sticks, imagines I wonder what, and withdraws shouting: «Father, why have
you betrayed me? I have never left this place... Why have you brought people to stone me?! » The
voice moves away and only the undulating branches are left to remind people of the apparition.
«Comfort him! Tell him that the Saviour is here! » urges Jesus.
But the old man has no strength left... He weeps desolately...
Jesus then speaks: «Son of Abraham and of the Father in Heaven, listen. What your just father
prophesied, is now being accomplished. The Saviour is here and your friends of Engedi are with
Him and the disciples of the Messiah have come to rejoice at your resurrection. Come and be not
afraid! Come as far as the crevice, and I will come, too, and I will touch you, and you will be
cleansed. Do not be afraid, come to the Lord Who loves you! »
The branches are shifted once again and the frightened leper looks out. He looks at Jesus, a white
figure walking on the grass of the tableland and stopping at the edge of the crevice... He looks at the
others... and especially at his father who appears to be fascinated and follows Jesus with his arms
stretched out and his eyes staring at the face of his leprous son. He is reassured and comes forward.
He walks with a limp, because of the sores on his feet... he stretches out his arms with their
corroded hands... He comes before Jesus... He looks at Him... And Jesus holds out His beautiful
hands, He raises His eyes to Heaven, He gathers, He seems to be gathering within Himself all the
light of the infinite stars, shedding its pure brightness on the impure, putrid, corroded flesh that
looks even more dreadful in the red light of the burning branches, which people are waving to give
more light.
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Jesus leans over the crevice, with the tips of His fingers He touches the tips of the leprous fingers
and says: «I want it! », with such a beautiful smile that it cannot be described. He repeats: «I want
it! » twice more. He prays and commands with that word...
He takes one step back opening His arms crosswise and says: «And when you have been cleansed
preach the Lord, because you belong to Him. Remember that God loved you so that you might be a
good Israelite and a good son. Get married and bring your children up for the Lord. Your very bitter
bitterness has been cancelled. Bless the Lord and be happy! »
He then turns round and says: «You with torches, come forward and see what the Lord can do for
those who deserve it.»
He lowers His arms, as open and covered by the mantle they prevented people from seeing the
leper, and He moves aside.
The first cry is from the old man kneeling behind Jesus: «Son! Son! You are as handsome as when
you were twenty years old. And just as healthy! Handsome, oh! you are more handsome now!... Oh!
a board, a branch, something, that I may come to you! » and he is on the point of rushing forward.
But Jesus holds him back: «No! Joy must not make you infringe the Law. He is to be purified first.
Look at him! Kiss him with your eyes and with your heart, but be strong now as you have been for
so many years. And be happy...»
In fact this is a complete miracle. It not only cured, but it restored what had been destroyed by
disease, and the man, about forty years old, is as whole as if he had not suffered from any disease;
he is only very thin, which gives him an ascetic fineness, which is not common but supernatural. He
waves his hands, kneels down and blesses... he does not know what to do to tell Jesus that he thanks
Him. At last he sees some flowers among the grass, he picks them, kisses them and throws them
beyond the crevice at the Saviour's feet.
«Let us go! You people of Engedi, stay here with your head of the synagogue. We will go on
towards Masada.»
«But you don't know... You cannot see...»
«I know the way. I know everything! Both the ways of the Earth and those of hearts, along which
God and the Enemy of God pass, and I see those who accept the latter or the Former. Remain here
with My peace! In any case it will soon be daybreak and with the burning branches we shall have
light till dawn. Abraham, come here, that I may kiss you goodbye. May the Lord always be with
you, as He has been so far, and with your family and your kind town.»
«Will you not come back to us again, Lord? To see my happy home? »
«No. My road is about to come to its end. But you will be in Heaven with Me, and your dear ones
will be with you. Love me and bring the little ones up in the faith of the Christ... Goodbye to
everybody. Peace and blessings to all those who are here and to their families. Peace to you, Elisha.
Be perfect out of gratitude to the Lord. My apostles, come with Me...»
And He sets off at the head of the little procession, walking with burning branches held aloft. He
turns round a projecting rock and disappears with His white mantle; then the apostles disappear one
by one, the shuffling of their feet fades away, the reddish light of the branches vanishes...
Father and son remain on the tableland, sitting on the edges of the crevice, contemplating each
other... Behind them, in a group, whispering their admiration, the people of Engedi... They await
dawn to go back to the town with the news of the wonderful cure.

Vol 4 - INDEX

THE THIRD YEAR OF THE PUBLIC LIFE

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(Conclusion)

414. The Beggar on the Road to Jericho.

415. The Conversion of Zacchaeus.

416. At Solomon's Village.

417. In a Little Village of the Decapolis. Parable of the Sculptor.

418. The Demoniac of the Decapolis.

419. The Yeast of the Pharisees.

420. Consider Yourselves Unprofitable Servants.

421. The Repentant Sinner Is always To Be Forgiven.

422. Martyrdom for Love Is Absolution.

423. At Caesarea on the Sea. Parable of the Father Who Gives Each of His
Children the Same Amount of Money.

424. At Caesarea on the Sea. The Roman Ladies and the Slave Galla Ciprina.

425. Aurea Galla.

426. Parable of the Vineyard and of Free Will.

427. Going about the Plain of Esdraelon.

428. The Fallen Nest and the Scribe Johanan ben Zaccai.

429. The Journey in the Plain of Esdraelon Continues.

430. Near Sephoris, with Johanan's Peasants.

*

431. Arrival at Nazareth.

432. Parable of Painted Wood.

433. The Sabbaths in the Peace of Nazareht.

434. Before Being a Mother, the Blessed Virgin Is a Daughter and Servant of
God.

435. Jesus and His Mother Converse.

436. The Blessed Virgin at Tiberias.

437. Aurea Does the Will of God.

438. Another Sabbath at Nazareth.

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439. The Departure from Nazareth and the Journey towards Bethlehem in Galilee.

440. Judas of Kerioth with the Blessed Virgin at Nazareth.

441. The Death of Marjiam's Grandfather.

442. Jesus Speaks of Charity to the Apostles.

443. Arrival at Tiberias. Parable of the Rain on the Vine.

444. Arrival at Capernaum.

445. Preaching at Capernaum.

446. At Magdala. Parable on Good and Bad Will.

447. Little Alphaeus of Meroba.

448. At the Village before Hippo.

449. Morning Sermon in the Village on the Lake.

450. Near the Place of the Leper. Parable on the Ten Commandments.

451. At Hippo. Love for the Poor. Cure of an Old Slave.

452. Towards Gamala. The Blessed Virgin's Love in Doing the Will of God.

453. Near Gamala, Jesus Entrusts the Church to the Blessed Virgin and Speaks of
Mercy on Oppressed People.

454. From Gamala to Aphek.

455. Preaching at Aphek.

456. At Gherghesa and Return to Capernaum.

457. Be as Wise as Serpents and as Simple as Doves.

458. The Sabbath at Capernaum.

459. At Johanna of Chuza's. Letters from Antioch.

460. At the Thermal Baths of Emmaus of Tiberias.

461. At Tarichea. Galatia, the Sinner.

462. In Chuza's Country House. The Tempting Proposal Made to Jesus and Made
Known by the Disciple Jesus Loved.

463. At Bethsaida and Capernaum. Departure on a New Journey.

464. In the House of Judas and Anne near Lake Merom.

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465. Parable on the Distribution of Waters.

466. Judas Iscariot Fills Jesus with Joy.

467. Farewell to the Few Believers in Korazim.

468. Jesus Speaks of Matrimony to a Mother-in-law.

469. Jesus Speaks to Barnabas of the Law of Love.

470. A Judgement of Jesus.

471. Cure of the Boy Born Blind from Sidon.

472. A Vision that Is Lost in a Rapture of Love.

473. Going towards Sephoris.

474. Jesus with the Leprous Sinners of Bethlehem in Galilee.

475. Jesus and His Mother in the Wood of Mattathias.

476. Jesus Converses with Joseph of Alphaeus.

477. Awaiting Johanan's Peasants near the Jezreel Tower.

478. Taking to the Road Again towards Engannim.

479. Jesus and John Arrive at Engannim.

480. Jesus and the Samaritan Shepherd.

481. The Ten Lepers near Ephraim.

482. At Ephraim. Parable of the Pomegranate.

483. At Bethany for the Feast of the Tabernacles.

484. At the Temple: «The Kingdom of God Does Not Come with Pomp ».

485. At the Temple: «Do You Know Me and Where I Come from? ».

486. At the Temple: «I Shall Remain with You for Only a Short Time Now ».

487. At Nob. The Miracle on the Wind.

488. Jesus at the Camp of the Galileans with His Apostle Cousins.

489. On the Last Day of the Feast of the Tabernacles. The Living Water.

490. At Bethany. «One Can Kill in Many Ways ».

491. Near the Fountain of En-Rogel.

492. The Pharisees and the Adulterous Woman.

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493. Instructions on the Road to Bethany.

494. At the Village of Solomon and in His House.

495. Jesus and Simon of Jonas.

496. Jesus to Thaddeus and to James of Zebedee.

497. The Man from Petra, near Heshbon.

498. Descending from Mount Nebo.

499. Parable of the Father Who Praises His Far-away Children. Cure of the Little
Blind Children Fara and Tamar.

500. Divine and Diabolical Possessions.

501. The Wife of the Sadducean Necromancer.

502. Death of Ananias.

503. The Parable of the Unscrupulous Judge.

504. Jesus, Light of the World.

505. Jesus Speaks in the Temple to the Incredulous Judaeans.

506. In Joseph's House at Sephoris. Little Martial Named Manasseh,

507. The Old Priest Matan (or Natan).

508. The Cure of the Man Born Blind.

509. At Nob. Judas of Kerioth Lies.

510. Among the Ruins of a Destroyed Village. *

511. At Emmaus in the Mountains. Parable of the Rich Wise Man and of the Poor
Ignorant Boy.

512. The Undecided Young Man. Miracles and Admonitions at Beth-Horon.

513. Towards Gibeon. The Reasons for Jesus' Sorrow.

514. At Gibeon. The Wisdom of Love.

515. Returning to Jerusalem.

516. Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

517. Towards Bethany and in Lazarus' House.

518. Going to Tekoah. Old Elianna.

519. At Tekoah.

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520. Arrival at Jericho. Zacchaeus' Apostolate.

521. At Jericho. Two Parables: That of the Sick and the Healthy, and That of the
Pharisee and the Publican.

522. In Zacchaeus' House with the Converts. The Soul and the Error of
Reincarnation.

523. Sabea of Bethlechi.

524. At Bethabara, Remembering the Baptist.

525. Going Back to Nob. Jesus' Omniscience. *

526. At Nob. Judas of Kerioth's Return.

527. At Nob during the Following Days. Hidden Possessions.

528. Judas of Kerioth Is Lustful.

529. Jesus Speaks to Valeria of Matrimony and Divorce. The Miracle of Little
Levi.

530. Jesus and the Prostitute Sent to Tempt Him.

531. Jesus and Judas of Kerioth Going towards Jerusalem.

532. In the Synagogue of the Roman Freedmen.

533. Judas Iscariot and Jesus' Enemies.

534. The Seven Lepers Cured. Instructions to the Apostles and Arrival at
Bethany.

535. At the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple.

536. Jesus Goes to the Grotto of the Nativity to be Alone.

537. Jesus and John of Zebedee.

538. Jesus with John and Manaen. End of the Third Year.

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 74. At Emmaus in the Mountains. Parable of the Rich Wise Man and of the
Poor Ignorant Boy.
14th October 1946.

The square in Emmaus is crowded with people. It is really packed. And in the middle of the square
there is Jesus, Who is moving with difficulty so much is He surrounded and pressed by those who
are besieging Him. Jesus is between the son of the chief of the synagogue and the other disciple and
around Him there are, with the hypothetical intention of protecting Him, the apostles and disciples
and among them many children, as they can easily creep everywhere, like little lizards in the tangle
of a thick hedge.
The attraction that Jesus exerted on the little ones is wonderful. Wherever He went, whether He
was known or unknown, He was at once surrounded by children, happy to cling to His garments,
even happier when His hand touched them lightly with a loving caress, even if at the same time He
said grave things to adults; most happy if He sat down on a seat, on a little wall, or stone, or fallen
trunk of a tree, on the grass. In that case, as they had Him at their own height, they were able to
embrace Him, rest their little heads on His shoulder or knees, creep under His mantle and thus find
themselves in His arms, like chicks that had found the most loving and protective defence. And
Jesus always defends them from the arrogance of adults, from their imperfect respect for Him, as
although imperfect for so many graver reasons, it pretended to be zealous by driving away the little
ones from the Master...
Even now the usual sentence of Jesus can be heard in defence of His little friends: «Leave them
alone! Oh! they do not disturb Me! It is not children who cause trouble and grief! »
Jesus bends over them, with a bright smile that makes Him young, so that He almost looks like their
older brother, a kind accomplice in some of their innocent amusements, and He whispers: «Be good
and quiet, so they will not send you away, and we shall be able to be together a little longer.»
«And will You tell us a nice parable? » asks the... boldest one.
«Yes. One all for you. Then I will speak to your relatives. Listen, everybody. What is useful to the
little ones is useful also to men.
A man one day was summoned by a great king who said to him: "I heard that you deserve a prize
because you are wise and you honour your town with your work and your science. Now, I will not
give you this or that thing, but I will take you into the hall of my treasures and you will choose what
you like, and I will give it to you. In this way I will also judge whether you are up to your fame".
At the same time the king, approaching the terrace which surrounded his hall, cast a glance at the
square in front of the royal palace and saw a poorly dressed boy pass by: a child of a very poor
family, perhaps an orphan and a beggar. He turned to his servants saying: "Go to that boy and bring
him here".
The servants went and came back with the child to appear in the presence of the king. Although the
dignitaries of the court said to him: "Make a bow, salute, say: 'Honour and glory to you, my king. I
bend my knee before you, powerful king whom the Earth exalts as the greatest being existing ' ", the
boy refused to bow and repeat those words, and the scandalised dignitaries shook him rudely and
said: "O king, this dirty boorish boy is a dishonour in your abode. Let us drive him out of here into
the street. If you wish to have a boy near you we will go and look for one among the rich people in
town, if you are tired of our children, and we will bring him to you. But not this boorish fellow who
does not even know how to greet a person!... ".
The rich wise man, who had previously humiliated himself with many deep servile bows, as if he
were before an altar, said: "Your dignitaries are right. For the sake of the majesty of your crown you
must ensure that your sacred person is given the homage due to it" and while saying these words he
prostrated himself to kiss the king's foot.
But the king said: "No. I want this boy. Not only that, but I want to take him as well into the hall of
my treasures, so that he may choose what he wants and I will give it to him. I am perhaps not
allowed, just because I am a king, to make a poor boy happy? Is he not my subject like each of you?
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Is it his fault if he is unhappy? No, God be praised! I want to make him happy at least for once!
Come, child, and be not afraid of me" and he stretched out his hand which the boy took with
simplicity kissing it spontaneously. The king smiled. And between two rows of stooping dignitaries,
on purple carpets with golden flowers, he turned his steps towards the treasure room, with the rich
wise man on his right hand side, and the poor ignorant boy on his left. And the royal mantle
contrasted strikingly with the frayed garment and the bare feet of the poor boy.
They went into the treasure room, the door of which was opened by two great men of the Court. It
was a high, round, windowless room. But light flooded in through the ceiling made of a huge plate
of mica. A mild light which, however, made the gold knobs of safes shine brightly and the purple
ribbons of many parchment rolls glow on high ornate reading-desks. Stately rolls, with precious
rods, and clasps and labels adorned with shining stones. Rare works which only a king could
possess. And, ignored on a grim dark low desk, a small parchment rolled on a white piece of wood,
tied with a rustic thread, as dusty as a neglected thing.
The king said pointing at the walls: "Here are all the treasures of the Earth, and others which are
even greater than earthly treasures. Because here are all the works of human genius, and there are
also works coming from superhuman sources. Go and take whatever you wish". And he stood in the
middle of the room, with folded arms, watching.
The rich wise man went first towards the safes and lifted their covers with more and more feverish
anxiety. Gold bars and jewels, silver, pearls, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, opals... were shining in all
the coffers... cries of admiration were heard as each one was opened... He then went to the
reading-desks, and when reading the titles, his lips uttered new cries of admiration, and at last the
man, highly enthusiastic, turned to the king and said: "You have an incomparable treasure: the
stones equal the value of the rolls, and the rolls of the stones! Can I really make my choice freely?".
"I told you. As if everything belonged to you".
The man threw himself with his face on the ground saying: "I worship you, o great king!". And he
got up and ran first to the coffers, then to the desks, taking from both the best things he saw.
The king, who had smiled a first time under his beard seeing the excitement with which the man
ran from one coffer to another, and a second time seeing him throw himself on the ground
worshipping, and a third time seeing the cupidity, the method and preferences by which he chose
gems and books, addressed the boy who was standing beside him saying: "And are you not going to
choose the beautiful stones and the valuable rolls?".
The boy shook his head in denial.
"Why not?".
"Because with regard to the rolls, I cannot read them and as far as the stones are concerned... I do
not know their value. They are nothing but little stones to me".
"But they would make you rich...".
"I have no father, no mother, no brother. Of what avail would it be to me to go to my shelter with a
treasure in my bosom?".
"But you would be able to buy a house with it...".
"I would still be alone in it".
"You could buy clothes".
"I would still be cold without the love of relatives".
"Food".
"I could not become satiated with my mother's kisses or buy them at any price".
"You could get teachers and learn to read...".
"I would like that better. But what could I read then?".
"The works of poets, philosophers, wise men... ancient words and the history of peoples".
"Useless things, either vain or past... Not worth it...".
"What a silly child!" exclaimed the man whose arms by now were full of rolls, and his belt and
tunic round his chest were swollen with gems.
The king smiled once again under his beard. And taking the boy in his arms he carried him to the
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coffers, where he dipped his hand into the pearls, the rubies, the topazes, the amethysts, letting
them drop like sparkling rain, tempting the boy to take some.
"No, king, I do not want any. I would like something else...".
The king took him to the desks and read stanzas of poets, episodes of heroes, descriptions of
countries.
"Oh! it is beautiful to read. But that is not what I would like...".
"What, then? Tell me, and I will give it to you, my boy".
"Oh! I don't think you can, o king, notwithstanding your power. It is not a thing of this world...".
"Ah! you do not want works of the Earth. Here, then: here are the works which God dictated to His
servants. Listen" and he read some of the inspired pages.
"That is much more beautiful. But to understand it properly, one must first know God's language
well. Is there no book which teaches that, that can make us understand what is God?".
The king was quite astonished and did not laugh any more, but he pressed the boy to his heart.
The man instead laughed derisively saying: "Not even the wisest men know what God is, and you,
an ignorant boy, want to know? If you want to become rich by that!...".
The king looked at him sternly while the little fellow replied: "I do not seek riches, I am seeking
love and one day I was told that God is Love".
The king took him to the grim desk, where the little dusty roll tied with a string was. He picked it
up, unrolled it and read the first lines: "Let little ones come to Me, and I, God, will teach them the
science of love. It is in this book, and I...".
"Oh! that is what I want! I will know God and by having Him, I shall have everything. Give me this
roll, o king, and I shall be happy,
"But it has no value moneywise. That boy is really foolish! He cannot read and he takes a book! He
is not wise and he does not want to learn. He is poor and he does not take treasures".
"I will strive to possess love, and this book will teach me. May you be blessed, o king, because you
are giving me something which will no longer make me feel a poor orphan!".
"At least worship him as I did, if you think that you have become so happy through him!".
"I do not worship the man, but God Who made him so kind".
"This boy is the true wise person in my kingdom, o man, whereas you have usurped the reputation
of being wise. Pride and avidity have intoxicated you to such an extent that you maintain that a
creature should be worshipped instead of the Creator, simply because a creature was giving you
stones and human works. And you have not considered that you have gems, and I have had them,
because God created them, and that you have rare rolls containing the thought of man, because God
gave man an intellect. This child who is cold and hungry, who is all alone, who has been struck by
all kinds of sorrow, who would be excused and justifiable if he became intoxicated with the sight of
riches, this child knows how to express just thanks to God for making my heart kind and he seeks
but the one only necessary thing: to love God, to know love in order to have true riches here and in
future life. Man, I promised I would give you what you would choose. The word of a king is sacred.
So, go with your stones and your rolls: multicoloured pebbles and... straw of human thought. And
live trembling with fear of thieves and moths: the former the enemies of gems, the latter of
parchments. And be dazzled by the vain flashes of those chips, and be disgusted with the sickly
sweet flavour of human science, which is only flavour and not nourishment. Go. This child will
remain with me and we will strive together to read the book that is love, that is, God. And we shall
have no vain flashes of cold gems, nor the sickly sweet flavour of straw of the works of human
knowledge. But the fire of the Eternal Spirit will grant us, even in this life, the ecstasy of Paradise
and we shall possess Wisdom, which is more fortifying than wine, more, nourishing than honey.
Come, child, to whom Wisdom has shown her face, that you may desire her as a genuine bride".
And after driving away the man, he kept the child and instructed him in divine Wisdom that he
might be a just man and a king worthy of the sacred anointment on the Earth, and a citizen of the
Kingdom of God in the other life.
That is the parable promised to the little ones and proposed to adults.
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Do you remember Baruch? He says: "Why, Israel, why are you in the country of your enemies,
growing older and older in an alien land, sharing defilement with the dead, reckoned with those
who go to Sheol?". And he replies: "Because you have forsaken the fountain of Wisdom. Had you
walked in the way of God, you would have lived in peace for ever".
Listen, you who too often complain of being in exile, although you are in our fatherland, since our
fatherland is no longer ours, but of our rulers; you complain of that and you do not know that in
comparison with what is awaiting you in future, it is like a drop of vinegar mixed with water,
compared with the inebriating drink given to condemned men and which, as you know, is more
bitter than any other drink. The people of God is suffering because it forsook Wisdom. How can
you possess prudence, strength, intelligence, how can you even know where they are, and
consequently know minor things, if you no longer drink at the fountains of Wisdom?
His Kingdom is not of this Earth, but God's mercy grants its source. It is in God. It is God Himself.
And God opens His bosom that it may descend upon you. Well, does Israel, who has or had - and
still thinks she has, with the foolish pride of prodigal people who squandered their money and think
they are still rich and in such belief exact homage, whereas they receive nothing but pity or derision
- does Israel, who has or had riches, conquests, honours, possess the only treasure? No, she does
not. And she loses also the others because he who loses Wisdom loses also the capability of being
great. And he who does not know Wisdom falls from one error into another. And Israel knows
many things, even too many, but she no longer knows Wisdom.
Baruch correctly says: "The young men of this people have seen the day, they peopled the Earth but
they have not known the way of Wisdom or her paths and their children have not received her and
she has gone far from them". Far from them! They have not received her! Prophetical words!
I am Wisdom speaking to you. And three quarters of the people in Israel do not receive Me. And
Wisdom goes away and will go farther away leaving them alone... And then what will those do,
who now consider themselves giants and therefore capable of forcing the Lord to assist them and
serve them? Are they giants useful to God in establishing His Kingdom? No, they are not. I with
Baruch say so: "To establish the true Kingdom of God, God will not choose those proud giants, and
He will let them perish in their own folly" outside the paths of Wisdom. Because to ascend to
Heaven with one's spirit and understand the lessons of Wisdom, one must have a humble, obedient
and above all an entirely loving spirit, because Wisdom speaks her own language, that is, she
speaks the language of love, because she is Love. To become acquainted with her paths it is
necessary to have limpid humble eyes, free from the treble concupiscence. To possess Wisdom one
must buy her with living money: virtues.
Israel did not possess that and I have come to explain Wisdom, to lead you to her Way, and sow
virtues in your hearts. Because I know everything and I am aware of everything and I have come to
teach My servant Jacob and My beloved Israel all that. I have come to the Earth to converse with
men, I, the Word of the Father, to take the children of men by the hand, I, the Son of God and of
man, I, the Way of Life. I have come to show you into the room of eternal treasures, I, to Whom
everything was given by My Father. I, eternal Lover, have come to take My Bride, Mankind, that I
want to elevate to My throne and to My nuptial room, so that men may be in Heaven with Me, and I
may introduce them into the wine-cellar that they may be exhilirated with the true Vine from which
the vine-shoots draw Life. But Israel is a sluggish bride and does not get up from her bed to open
the door to Him Who has come. And the Bridegroom goes away. He will pass. He is about to pass.
And later Israel will look for Him in vain, and will not find the merciful Charity of her Saviour but
the war wagons of the rulers, and she will be crushed and pride and life will be squeezed out of her,
after she wanted to crush also the merciful Will of God.
Oh! Israel, Israel, who are losing true Life for the sake of keeping a false dream of power! Oh!
Israel, who think that you are saving yourself and want to save yourself with different means than
those of Wisdom, and you are getting lost by selling yourself to Falsehood and Crime, shipwrecked
Israel who will not clutch at the solid rope thrown to rescue you, whereas you cling to the wreckage
of your shattered past, and the storm carries you away, to the open sea, a frightful lightless sea, o
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Israel, what is the good of saving your life or presuming to save it for one hour, one year, for ten,
twenty, thirty years, at the cost of a crime, and then perish for ever? What is life, glory, power? A
bubble of dirty water on the surface of a pond used by laundry-men, an iridescent bubble, not
because it is made of gems, but because it consists of greasy dirt that with potash swells into empty
bubbles destined to burst leaving no trace, except a circle on the water foul with human sweat. One
thing only is necessary, o Israel. To possess Wisdom. Even at the cost of one's life. Because life is
not the most precious thing. It is better to lose one hundred lives than lose one's soul.»
Jesus has finished in an admiring silence. And He tries to push through the crowd and go... But the
children claim His kisses, and adults His blessing. Only then, after taking leave of Cleopas and
Hermas of Emmaus, He can depart.

512. The Undecided Young Man. Miracles and Admonitions at Beth-Horon.

17th October 1946.

And Jesus is still in the mountains, followed by a crowd of people in addition to the apostles and
disciples. Some of the disciples are ex-shepherds, who have perhaps been found when passing
through some of the little villages. Jesus is climbing from a valley to a mountain, along a road, the
turns of which follow the side of the mountain, and is certainly a Roman road, with its
unmistakable paving and well-kept maintenance, to be found only in roads built and maintained by
the Romans. People are travelling along it, either going down to the valley, or up to the chain of
mountains, the tops of which are crowned with towns or villages. And some of the wayfarers,
seeing Jesus and those following Him, ask who He is and join the group, some watch only, some
shake their heads and sneer.
A squad of Roman soldiers catches up with them with heavy steps and jingling of arms and armour.
They turn round to look at Jesus, Who leaving the Roman road, is about to take a... Jewish one
which climbs to the top where there is a village. It is a pebbly muddy road, because it has rained,
and one's feet either slip on the stones or sink into the puddles. The soldiers, who are obviously
making for the same town, after stopping for a moment, set out again and people are compelled to
move to the sides of the narrow road to make way for the squad that passes by in strict formation.
Some insults are hissed in the air. But discipline prevents the soldiers in route column from giving
sharp answers.
They are once again near Jesus Who has moved aside to let them pass and looks at them with His
mild eyes which seem to be blessing and caressing with their bright sapphire irises. And the stern
faces of the soldiers brighten in a remembering smile which is not a sneering one, on the contrary it
is as respectful as a greeting.
They pass by. The people resume walking behind the Rabbi Who is in front of them all.
A young man departs from the crowd and catches up with the Master greeting him respectfully.
Jesus reciprocates the greeting.
«I would like to ask You something, Master.»
«Tell Me.»
«I listened to You by chance one morning after Passover near a mountain not far from the gorges of
the Cherit. And since then I have been thinking that... I also could be among those whom You call.
But before coming I wanted to have a very clear idea of what it is necessary to do and what must
not be done. And I asked Your disciples every time I met them. And some told me one thing, some
a different one. And I was uncertain, almost frightened, because they all agreed on one thing, some
more some less strictly, and that was the obligation to be perfect. I... I am a poor man, Lord, and
God only is perfect... I listened to You a second time... and You also said: "Be perfect". And I lost
heart. The third time, a few days ago, I heard You in the Temple. And although You were very
severe, I felt that it was not impossible to become so, because... I do not know myself why, how to

249
explain it to myself and to You. But I felt that if it was something impossible, or it was so
dangerous to wish to become so, as if one wanted to become a god, since You want to save us, You
would not suggest it to us. Because presumption is a sin. To want to be a god is the sin of Lucifer.
But perhaps there is a way to be perfect, to become so without committing sin, and it is by
following Your Doctrine, which is certainly a Doctrine of salvation. Am I right? »
«Yes, you are. So? »
«So I continued to ask this one and that one. And when I heard that You were at Ramah I came
here. And since then, with my father's permission, I have been following You. And now I am more
anxious to come...»
«Come, then! What are you afraid of? »
«I don't know... I don't know myself... I ask and ask... And every time, while it seems easy to me
and I make up my mind to come when I hear You, afterwards, thinking it over, and what is even
worse, when I ask this one and that one, it seems too difficult to me.»
«I will tell you how that happens: it is a snare of the demon to prevent you from coming. He
frightens you with phantasms, he confounds you, he makes you ask those who are in need of Light
as you are... Why did you not come to Me direct? »
«Because... I was... not afraid, but... Our priests and rabbis! So difficult and proud! And You... I did
not dare to approach You. But yesterday at Emmaus!... I think that I understood that I must not be
afraid. And now I am here, to ask You what I would like to know. One of Your apostles, a short
time ago, said to me: "Go and do not be afraid. He is kind also to sinners". And another one said:
"Make Him happy by confiding in Him. Those who confide in Him find Him kinder than a mother".
And another one said: "I do not know whether I am mistaken, but I tell you that He will say to you
that perfection is to love". That is what your apostles said, at least some of them, who are kinder
than the disciples. But not all of them, because among Your disciples there are some who sound
like the echo of Your voice, but they are too few. And among the apostles there are some who...
frighten a poor man like me. One said to me with a smile, which was not a kind one: "You want to
become perfect? We, His apostles are not, and you want to be so? It's impossible". If the others had
not spoken to me, I would have run away, completely discouraged.. But I am trying for the last
time... and if You also tell me that it is impossible...»
«Son, and is it possible that I came to propose impossible things to men? Who do you think it was
that put in your heart the desire to become perfect? Your own heart? »
«No, Lord. I think it was You with Your words.»
«You are not far from the truth. But tell Me, according to you, My words, what are they? »
«They are just.»
«All right. But I mean: words of a man or of one who is more than a man? »
«Oh! You speak like Wisdom and even more kindly and clearly. So I say that Your words are of
one who is more than a man. And I do not think that I am wrong if I correctly understood what You
said in the Temple. Because I got the impression that You said that You are the very Word of God,
so You speak as God.»
«You understood correctly and what you say is right. So who put the desire of perfection into your
heart? »
«God did, through You, His Word.»
«So it was God. Now just think: if God, Who is aware of the capabilities of men, says to them:
"Come to Me. Be perfect", it means that He knows that man, if he wishes, can become perfect. It is
an old word. It resounded the first time for Abraham as a revelation, a command, an invitation: "I
am the Almighty God. Walk in My presence. Be perfect". God revealed Himself so that the
Patriarch might not be in doubt about the holiness of the command and the truthfulness of the
invitation. He ordered him to walk in His presence, because he who walks in his lifetime,
convinced of doing so in the eyes of God, will not accomplish evil deeds. Consequently he puts
himself in condition of being able to become perfect according to God's invitation.»
«That is true! It's really true! If God said so, it means that it can be done. Oh! Master! How clear
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everything is when You speak! Why, then, do Your disciples, and also that apostle, give such a...
frightful idea of holiness? Do they not believe that those words and Yours are true? Or can they not
walk in the presence of God? »
«Do not worry about what it is. Do not judge. See, son. At times their very anxiety to be perfect and
their humility make them be afraid that they can never become so.»
«So are the desire for perfection and humility obstacles to becoming perfect?»
«No, son. The desire and humility are not obstacles. On the contrary one must strive to have them
in a very deep but orderly way. They are orderly when they do not imply heedless haste, unfounded
dejection, doubts and lack of confidence such as believing that, because of his imperfection, man
cannot become perfect. All virtues are necessary, as well as the desire to achieve justice.»
«Yes. Also those whom I questioned told me that. They told me that is was necessary to be
virtuous. But some said that one virtue was necessary, some another, and they all maintained the
absolute necessity of having that one, which they said was indispensable to be saints. And that
frightened me, because how can one have all the virtues in a perfect form, how can one grow them
all together like a bunch of different flowers? It takes time... and life is so short! Master, tell me
which is the essential virtue.»
«It is love. If you love you will be holy, because all virtues and all good deeds come from the love
for the Most High and for our neighbour.»
«Do they? It is easier thus. So holiness is love. If I have love I have everything... Holiness is made
of that.»
«Of that and of the other virtues. Because to be holy is not only to be humble, or only prudent, or
only chaste and so forth, but to be virtuous. See, son, when a rich man wishes to offer a dinner, does
he order only one dish? Also: when one wants to present somebody with a bunch of flowers, does
one take only one flower? One does not. Because even if he put piles of the same dish on the table,
his guests would criticise him as an incapable host concerned only with showing his means but not
his refinement as a gentleman who is anxious to satisfy the different tastes of his guests and wants
each of them not only to satisfy his appetite with this or that dish, but to enjoy them. The same
applies to him who offers a bunch of flowers. One flower only, no matter how big it is, does not
make a bunch. But many flowers do, and thus the different colours and scents gratify one's eyes and
smell and make one praise the Lord. Holiness, which we must consider as a bunch of flowers
offered to the Lord, is to comprise all virtues. Humility will prevail in one spirit, strength in
another, continence in another, patience in another, the spirit of sacrifice or penance in another, all
virtues born in the shade of the regal most scented tree of love, whose flowers will always prevail in
the bunch, but all the virtues make up holiness.»
«And which is to be cultivated more carefully? »
«Love. I told you.»
«Then? »
«There is no method, son. If you love the Lord, He will grant you His gifts, that is, He will
communicate with you and then the virtues which you strive to grow in strength, will grow in the
sun of Grace.»
«In other words, in a loving soul it is God Who acts mostly? »
«Yes, son. It is God Who acts mostly, letting man put, as his own contribution, his free will to tend
to perfection, his efforts to reject temptations in order to remain faithful to his purpose, his
struggles against the flesh, the world, the demon, when they assail him. And the reason for that is
that He wants His son to have merit in his holiness.»
«Ah! I see! Then it is quite right to say that man is made to be as perfect as God wants. Thank You,
Master. It is now clear to me and I will act accordingly. And You, Lord, please pray for me.»
«I will keep you in My heart. Go and be assured that God will not leave you without help.»
The young man parts from Jesus looking satisfied...
They are by now near the village. Bartholomew with Stephen joins Jesus to tell Him that while He
was speaking to the young man, a citizen of Beth-horon, a relative of Helkai the Pharisee, came
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begging them to take Him at once to his dying wife.
«Let us go. I will speak afterwards. Do you know where she is? »
«He left a servant with us. He is in the rear, with the others.»
«Make him come here and let us quicken our paces.»
The servant arrives. A strong old man looking dismayed. He greets and looks stealthily at Jesus
Who smiles at him asking: «What is your mistress dying of? »
«Of... She was expecting. But the child died in her womb and her blood became infected. She is
raving as if she were mad and is going to die. They opened her vains to make her temperature drop.
But her blood is completely poisoned and she will die. They put her in the cistern to abate her fierce
heat. It drops while she is in the ice-cold water. Then it becomes stronger than previously, and she
coughs and coughs... and she will die.»
«No wonder! With such treatment! » grumbles Matthew between his teeth.
«How long has she been ill? »
The servant is about to reply when the leader of the Roman squad runs down the hill towards them
and stops in front of Jesus.
«Hail! Are You the Nazarene? »
«I am. What do you want of Me? »
Jesus' followers rush there wondering who knows what...
«One day one of our horses struck a Jewish boy and You cured him to prevent the Jews from
making a din against us. Now the stones of the Jews have knocked down a soldier, who is now
lying with a broken leg. I cannot stop because I am on duty. No one in the village wants to take him
in and he cannot walk. I cannot drag him along with a broken leg. I know that You do not despise
us as all the Jews do...»
«Do you want Me to cure the soldier? »
«Yes, I do. You cured also the servant of the Centurion and Valeria's little girl. You saved
Alexander from the wrath of Your fellow-citizens. These things are known both in high and in low
quarters.»
«Let us go to the soldier.»
«And what about my mistress? » asks the discontented servant.
«Later.»
And Jesus follows the non-commissioned officer, who devours the way with his brawny legs free
from hampering clothes. But even striding thus ahead of everybody, he manages to speak some
words to Him Who is the first to follow him, that is to Jesus, and he says: «Some time ago I was
with Alexander. He... used to speak of You. Chance has put You close to me just now.»
«Chance? Why not say God? The true God? »
The soldier is silent for a moment, then in a low voice so that Jesus only can hear he says: «The true
God would be the Hebrew one... But He does not make Himself loved, if He is like the Hebrews.
They do not take pity even on a wounded man...»
«The true God is the God of the Hebrews, as well as of the Romans, the Greeks, the Arabs, the
Parthians, the Scythians, the Iberians, the Gauls, the Celts, the Lybians, the Hyperboreans. There is
but one God! But many do not know Him, others have a wrong knowledge of Him. If they knew
Him well, they would all be like brothers to one another, and there would be no abuse of power, no
hatred, no slander, no revenge, no lust, no thefts, no homicides, no adulteries and no falsehood. I
know the true God and I have come to make Him known.»
«They say... We must be all ears in order to report to the centurions who in turn have to report to
the Proconsul. They say that You are God. Is that true? » The soldier is very... worried in saying so.
He looks at Jesus from under the shade of his helmet, and he almost looks frightened.
«I am.»
«By Jove! So it is true that the gods descend to converse with men? After travelling all over the
world following the banners, I have come here, an old man, to find a god! »
«The God. The Only One. Not a god » says Jesus correcting him.
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But the soldier is stupified at the idea of preceding a god... He does not speak any more... He is
pensive, until, just at the entrance to the village they find the squad standing round the wounded
soldier, who is moaning on the ground.
«Here he is! » says the non-commissioned officer briefly.
Jesus makes His way through the crowd approaching him. His leg, which is badly broken, is lying
with the foot turned inside, and it is already swollen and livid. The man must be suffering very
much and when he sees Jesus stretch His hand out he implores: «Don't hurt me too much! »
Jesus smiles. With the tips of his fingers He lightly touches where the livid circle of the trauma
shows the fracture. He then says: «Stand up! »
«But he has another fracture farther up, at his hip » explains the non-commissioned officer,
certainly meaning: «Are You not going to touch that one? »
Just then a citizen from Beth-horon arrives and says: «Master, Master! You are wasting Your time
with heathens, and my wife is dying! »
«Go and bring her here.»
«I cannot. She is mad! »
«Go and bring her here to Me, if you have faith in Me.»
«Master, no one can hold her. She is nude and we cannot dress her. She is mad and tears her
clothes. She is dying and she cannot stand.»
«Go and bring her here if your faith is not inferior to the faith of these heathens.»
The man goes away discontentedly.
Jesus looks at the Roman lying at His feet: «And can you have faith? »
«Yes, I can. What must I do? »
«Stand up. »
«Be careful, Camillus, because...» the non-commissioned officer is saying. But the soldier is
already on his feet, agile, cured.
The Israelites do not shout hosanna. The man who has been cured is not a Hebrew. On the contrary
they appear to be dissatisfied or at least their faces seem to be criticising Jesus' action. But the
soldiers are not discontented, and they draw their short wide daggers and raise them into the grey
air after beating their shields with them to make a joyful noise. Jesus is in the middle of a circle of
blades.
The non-commissioned officer looks at Him. He does not know what to say or what to do, he, a
man near a god, a heathen near God... He is pensive and he realises that he must at least do for God
what he would for Caesar. And he orders his men to salute the emperor (at least I think it is so
because I hear a mighty «Hail! » resound while the blades shine as they are held almost horizontally
by the outstretched arms). And not yet satisfied, he says in a low voice: «Go without worrying also
at night. The roads... are all watched. Watched against highwaymen. You will be safe, I...» He
stops. He does not know what to say.
Jesus smiles at him saying: «Thank you. Go and be good. Be human also to highwaymen. Be
faithful to your service without being cruel. They are poor wretches. And they will have to give
account of their deeds to God.»
«I will. Hail! I would like to meet You again...»
Jesus stares at him, then says: «We shall meet. On a different mountain.» And He repeats once
again: «Be good. Goodbye.»
The soldiers start off again. Jesus enters the village. He walks a few metres and then He sees a large
group come towards Him and His followers shouting comments. A man and a woman depart from
the group - the man mentioned previously - and they bow before Jesus: the woman on her knees, the
man stooping.
«Stand up and praise the Lord. But I must tell you, o man, that your conscience is not clear. You
applied to Me out of selfishness, not out of love for Me or out of faith in Me. And you doubted My
word. And you know who I am! Then you had an unkind thought because I stopped to cure a
Gentile, as all the village acted unkindly by refusing to accept the wounded soldier. By an excess of
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mercy and in order to try and make your heart kinder I cured your wife without coming to your
house. You did not deserve it. I did it to show you that I need not go to do something. It is enough
for Me to want it. But I solemnly tell you all that those whom you despise are better than you are
and they believe in My power more than you do. Stand up, woman. You are not guilty, because you
were without the faculty of reason. Go and from now on believe out of gratitude to the Lord.»
The attitude of the inhabitants becomes cold and proud owing to Jesus' reproach. They follow Him
sulkily as far as the square where He stops to speak, as the synagogue leader does not invite Him
into the synagogue and no house opens to the Master.
«When God is with men, men can do everything against misfortune, whatever its name may be.
When, on the contrary, God is not with men, they can do nothing against misfortune. The chronicles
of this town mention such an occurrence more than once. God was with Joshua and he defeated the
Canaanites and along this road God helped him to destroy the enemies of Israel "hurling huge
hailstones from heaven and more died under the hailstones than at the edge of the sword" we read
in Joshua's book. God was with Judas Maecabee who came upon this hill with his small army to
look at the powerful army of Seron, the leader of the Syrian army, and God confirmed the words of
the commander of Israel with a striking victory.
But the necessary condition to have God with us is to act for reasons of justice. "For victory in war
does not depend on the size of the fighting force, but on the help that comes from Heaven" says the
Book of Maccabees. All good things in life do not depend on wealth, or power, or any other cause,
but on the help that comes from Heaven. And it comes because we ask for help for good things. For
our lives and our laws, says the Book of Maccabees again. But when one has recourse to God for a
wicked or impure purpose, it is useless to invoke His help. God will not reply or He will reply with
punishments instead of blessings.
This truth is too much forgotten now in Israel. And they want God's help and they implore Him for
purposes which are not good. And they do not practise virtues and the commandments are not kept
with true spirit of observance, that is, only their part that can be seen and praised by men is done.
But what is hidden by appearance is quite different. I have come to say: be sincere in your actions
because God sees everything and sacrifices are useless and prayers vain, if they are offered out of
mere ostentation of cult, while one's heart is full of sin, hatred and wicked desires.
Beth-horon, do not do of your inhabitants what Obadiah says of Edom. Edom, thinking she was
safe, took the liberty of oppressing Jacob and rejoicing at his defeats. Do not behave so, o
sacerdotal town. Take and meditate on the roll of Obadiah. Meditate on it and change your ways.
Follow justice if you do not wish to see days of horror. You will not be saved then by being on this
summit; or by being apparently out of the war routes. I see in you many who do not have God with
them and who do not want God. Are you grumbling? I am telling you the truth. I came up here to
tell you. That you may still be saved.
Was your name not one only? Was it not all Israel? Why then has it been divided and it has taken
two names? Oh! that really reminds Me of the marriage of Hoshea with a prostitute and of the
children born of her who had fornicated. But what does the prophet say? "The number of the
children of Israel will be like the sand of the seashore... Then, instead of saying to them: 'You are
not My people' it will be said to them: 'You are the children of the living God'. And the children of
Judah and Israel will come together again and will elect only one chief and will rise from the Earth
because great is the day of Jezreel". Oh! why then do you criticise Him Who is to re-unite them all
and make one people only, a great people, one, as God is one, why do you criticise Him for loving
all the children of man because they are all children of God, and Who is to make children of the
living God also those who at present seem dead? And can you judge My actions and their hearts and
yours? From where does light come to you? Light comes from God. But if God sends Me with the
task of re-uniting all men under one sceptre, how can you have a light, a truly divine light, that
shows you things contrary to how God sees them? And yet you see contrary to how God sees.
Do not grumble. It is the truth. You are outside justice. And those who seduce you into injustice are
even more so. And they will receive double punishment. You accuse Me of fornicating with the
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enemy, with the ruler. I read your hearts. But do you not fornicate with Satan by becoming
followers of those who fight the Son of man, the Messenger of God? And now you hate Me. But I
know the face of him who instils hatred into you. As it is said in Hosea, I came with My hands
laden with gifts and My heart full of love, I tried to attract you with all the kindest manners to make
you love Me. I spoke to My people as a bridegroom to his bride offering them eternal love, peace,
justice and mercy. There is still one hour left to prevent the people, who reject Me, and the leaders,
who stir up the people - I know them - from being left without king, prince, sacrifice and altar. But
near the den, where hatred is stronger and punishment will be more severe, they are working to
purchase consciences in order to lead them to crime. Oh! It is true that those who lead consciences
astray will be judged seven times seven more severely than those who have been misled.
Let us go. I have come and I worked a miracle and I have told you the truth to convince you Who I
am. I am now going away. And if among you there is only one man who is just, let him follow Me,
because sad is the future of this place, where snakes nestle to seduce and betray.»
And Jesus turns back to take the road by which He came.
«Why, Rabbi, did You speak to them thus? They will hate You » the apostles ask Him.
«I am not trying to conquer love through negotiations or falsehood.»
«But was it not better not to come here? »
«No. It is necessary not to leave the least doubt.»
«And whom did You convince? »
«Nobody, for the time being. But soon someone will say: "We cannot curse anybody because we
were warned and we did not take any action". And if they reproach God for striking them, their
reproach will be like blasphemy.»
«But to whom were You referring saying...»
«Ask Judas of Kerioth. He knows many people here and he is aware of their cunning.»
All the apostles look at Judas.
«Yes, this place is practically under Helkai's control. But... I don't think that Helkai...» the words die
on the lips of Judas who, raising his eyes from his belt which he was putting in order to strike an
attitude, meets Jesus' eyes. The Master's glance is so bright and piercing as to appear even
magnetic. Judas lowers his head and concludes: «It is certainly a proud hateful village, worthy of
him who dominates it. Everyone has what one deserves. They have Helkai. We have Jesus. And the
Master did the right thing in letting them know that He knows. Very good.»
«They are certainly bad. Did you notice that? Not even a greeting after the miracle! Not even a
mite! Nothing » remarks Philip.
«But I tremble when the Master unmasks them like that » says Andrew with a sigh.
«To do it or not to do it is the same thing. They hate Him just the same. I would like to go back to
Galilee! » says John.
«To Galilee! Of course! » says Peter sighing and he lowers his head looking very pensive.
In the rear, those who have followed Jesus and will not leave Him, continue to make their
comments with the disciples.

513. Towards Gibeon. The Reasons for Jesus' Sorrow.

18th October 1946.

But Jesus is not allowed to be engrossed in His thoughts for a long time. John and His cousin
James, then Peter and Simon Zealot approach Him drawing His attention to the view that they can
see from the hilltop. And perhaps in their intent to distract Him, because He is clearly very sad, they
recall episodes that took place in the district which their eyes are surveying. The trip towards
Ashkelon... the house of the peasants in the Sharon plain where Jesus made the old father of
Gamala and Jacob see again... the retreat of Jesus and James on Mount Carmel... Caesarea on Sea

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and the little girl Aurea Galla... the meeting with Syntyche... the Gentiles at Joppa... the
highwaymen near Modin... the miracle of the crops in the house of Joseph of Arimathea... the poor
old woman gleaner... Recollections which should cheer one up... but in which, for everybody or for
Him alone, there is the remembrance of tears and sorrow. Also the apostles become aware of that
and they whisper: «Truly there is sorrow in everything on the Earth. It is a place of expiation...»
But Andrew, who has joined the group with James of Zebedee, remarks quite rightly: «A just law
for us sinners. But why so much grief for Him? »
A polite discussion arises and remains such also when all the others, attracted by the voices of the
first ones, join the group. The only exception is Judas Iscariot who takes pains in the middle of the
humble people whom he instructs imitating the Master's voice, gestures and expressions; but it is a
bombastic theatrical imitation, lacking the warmth of persuasion and his listeners tell him quite
openly, which makes Judas irritable and he throws back in their faces that they are dull-minded and
thus they understand nothing. And he states that he is going to leave them because «it is not worth
the trouble to throw the pearls of wisdom to pigs.» But he remains because the humble people are
mortified and they beg him to bear with them admitting that «they are as inferior to him as an
animal is to man.»...
Jesus, in order to listen to what Judas is saying, does not pay attention to what the Eleven are saying
around Him, and what He hears does not certainly cheer Him up... But He sighs and is silent, until
Bartholomew interests Him directly by submitting to Him the different points of view concerning
the reason why He, who is innocent and free from sin, must suffer.
Bartholomew says: «I maintain that it happens because man hates him who is good. I am referring
to a guilty man, that is, to the majority of men. That majority realise that their guilt and vices show
up even more when they are compared with those who are innocent, and out of spite they revenge
themselves by making good people suffer.»
«I instead maintain that You suffer because of the contrast between Your perfection and our misery.
Even if no one despised You in any way, You would suffer just the same because Your perfection
must be sorrowfully disgusted at the sins of men » says Judas Thaddeus.
«On the contrary, I maintain that You, as You are not exempt from humanity, suffer through the
effort of having to control, by means of Your supernatural part, the rebellion of Your humanity
against Your enemies » says Matthew.
«And I, I am sure I must be wrong because I am silly, I say that You suffer because Your love is
rejected. You do not suffer because You cannot punish as Your human side might wish, but You
suffer because You cannot do good to people as You would like » says Andrew.
«Finally, I maintain that You suffer because You must suffer all sorrows, in order to redeem all
sorrows, as neither of Your Natures prevails in You, but they are both blended in perfect harmony,
to form the perfect Victim. So supernatural as to be able to appease the offence given to God, so
human as to be able to represent Mankind and lead it back to the immaculacy of the first Adam to
cancel the past and generate a new humanity. To re-create a new humanity, according to the
thought of God, that is, a humanity in which there is really the image and likeness of God and the
destiny of Man: the possession, the ability to aspire to the possession of God, in His Kingdom. You
must suffer supernaturally, and You do suffer, for what You see being done and for what surrounds
You, I could say, with perpetual offence to God. You must suffer humanly, and You do suffer, to
cut off the lewdness of our flesh poisoned by Satan. With the complete suffering of the two perfect
Natures You will completely cancel the Offence to God, the sin of man » says the Zealot.
The others are silent. Jesus asks: «Are you not saying anything? Which according to you is the just
definition? »
Some say this, some that. Only James of Alphaeus and John are silent.
«And what about you two? Do you not approve of any of them? » says Jesus teasingly.
«No. We feel there is something true, something very true in each of them. But we also feel that the
utter truth is missing.»
«And can you not find it? »
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«Perhaps John and I have found it. But it seems almost blasphemy to us to tell You, because... We
are good Israelites and we fear God so much that we can hardly mention His Name. And it seems a
blasphemous thought to us that while for a man of the chosen people, for a man son of God it is
almost impossible to pronounce the blessed Name and he has to create substitutes to mention the
name of his God, Satan may dare to harm God. And we feel that sorrow is always active against
You, because You are God and Satan hates You. He hates You more than anybody else. You find
hatred, Brother, because You are God » says James.
«Yes. You find hatred because You are Love. It is not the Pharisees, or the rabbis, or this man or
that one, or for this or that reason, that rise to grieve You. It is Hatred that pervades men and directs
them, livid with hatred, against You, because with Your love You snatch too many preys from
Hatred » says John.
«There is still one thing missing in the many definitions. Look for the reason which is the really true
one. The one by which I am...» says Jesus encouraging them.
But no one finds it. They think and think. They give up saying: «We cannot find it...»
«It is so simple. It is always in front of you. It resounds in our books, in the great figures of our
history... Come on, look for it! In all your definitions there is some truth, but the first reason is
missing. Do not look for it in the present times, but in the most remote past, beyond the prophets,
beyond the patriarchs, beyond the creation of the Universe...»
The apostles are pensive... but they do not find it.
Jesus smiles and then says: «And yet, if you remembered My words, you would find the reason. But
you cannot remember everything as yet. But one day you will remember. Listen. Let us go back up
the course of ages together, farther back than the limits of time. You know who spoiled the spirit of
man. It was Satan, the Snake, the Antagonist, the Enemy, the Hatred. Call him what you like. But
why did he spoil man? Because he was eaten up with envy: he saw man destined to Heaven, from
which he had been driven out. He wanted for man the exile that he had received. Why had he been
driven out? Because he rebelled against God. You know that. But in what? In obedience.
Disobedience is at the origin of sorrow. Then, is it not also necessarily logical that to restore Order,
which is always a Joy, there should be a perfect obedience? It is difficult to obey, particularly in
grave matters. What is difficult causes sorrow to those who accomplish it. Consider therefore
whether I, Who was asked by the Love whether I would take back Joy to the children of God,
should not suffer infinitely, to obey the Thought of God. I must, therefore, suffer to win, to cancel
not one or a thousand sins, but the very preeminent Sin that, in the angelical spirit of Lucifer or in
that animating Adam, was and will always be, until the last man, a sin of disobedience to God.
Your obedience, men, is to be limited to the little - it seems so much to you but it is so little - that
God asks of you. In His justice He only asks of you what you can give. Of the will of God, you
know only what you can understand. But I know all His Thought, concerning great and small
events. No limit has been imposed to Me concerning knowledge and execution. The loving
Sacrificer, the divine Abraham, does not spare the Victim and His Son. It is the unsatisfied and
offended Love that demands reparation and offerings. And if I should live for thousands of years, it
would be of no avail, if I did not consume Man to his last fibre, as nothing would have happened if
ab aeterno I had not said: "Yes" to My Father, preparing to obey as God Son and as Man, Whom
the Father had then found just. Obedience is sorrow and glory. Obedience, like the spirit, never
dies. I solemnly tell you that those who are truly obedient will become like gods, after a continuous
struggle against themselves, the world, Satan. Obedience is light. The more one is obedient, the
more one is luminous and sees. Obedience is patient, and the more one is obedient, the more one
bears things and people. Obedience is humble and the more one is obedient, the more one is
humble with his neighbour. Obedience is charitable because it is an act of love and the more one is
obedient the more numerous and perfect are the acts. Obedience is heroic. And the hero of the
spirit is the saint, the citizen of Heaven, the deified man. If charity is the virtue in which one finds
God One and Trine, obedience is the virtue in which one finds Me, your Master. Ensure that the
world knows you as My disciples, through absolute obedience to everything that is holy. Call Judas.
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I have something to tell him as well...»
Judas arrives. Jesus points at the view which becomes narrower as they descend and He says: «A
short parable for you, future masters of the spirit. The more you climb the way to perfection, which
is hard and painful, the more you will see. Before we could see two plains, the Philistine and the
Sharon plains, with many villages, fields and orchards, and even a remote blue expanse, that is, the
great sea, and the green Carmel over there at the end. Now we can see only little. The panorama has
narrowed and will narrow even more until it will disappear at the bottom of the valley. The same
happens to those who descend spiritually instead of ascending. One's virtue and wisdom become
more and more limited and one's judgement narrower and narrower until it vanishes completely. A
master of the spirit is then dead to his mission. He can no longer discern or guide. He is a corpse
and can corrupt as he is corrupt. At times it is alluring to descend, it is almost always tempting,
because at the bottom there are sensual satisfactions. We also are going down to the valley to find
rest and food. But if that is necessary to our bodies, it is not necessary to satisfy sensual lust and
spiritual laziness by descending into the valleys of moral and spiritual sensualism. You are allowed
to reach one valley only: the valley of humility. Because God Himself descends into it to abduct
humble spirits and raise them to Himself. He who humbles himself will be exalted. Any other valley
is lethal, because it removes one from Heaven.»
«Is that why You sent for me, Master? »
«Yes, for that. You had a long conversation with those who were questioning you.»
«Yes, but it is not worth it. They are more dull-minded than mules.»
«And I wanted to leave a thought where everything has vanished. That you may nourish your
spirit.»
Judas looks at Him with a perplexed countenance. He does not know whether he is being rewarded
or reproached. The others, who are unaware of Judas' conversation with the followers, do not
realise that Jesus is reproaching Judas for his pride.
And Judas wisely prefers to change the subject and he asks: «Master, what do You think? Those
Romans, and the man from Petra, will they ever be able to accept Your Doctrine, since they have
had such a limited contact with You? And that Alexander? He has gone away... We shall never see
him again. And these people, too. One might say that they instinctively search for the truth, but they
are up to their necks in heathenism. Will they ever succeed in doing anything good? »
«You mean in finding the Truth? »
«Yes, Master.»
«Why should they not succeed? »
«Because they are sinners.»
«Are they the only sinners? Are there none among us? »
«There are many, I agree. That is exactly why I say that if we, who have been nourished for ages
with wisdom and truth, are sinners and we are not successful in becoming just and followers of the
Truth that You represent, how will they be able to do it, sated with filth as they are? »
«Every man can succeed in reaching and possessing the Truth, that is, God, wherever he may start
from to reach it. When there is no mental pride and fleshly perversion, but sincere research for the
Truth and Light, purity of intent and yearning for God, a creature is surely on the way to God.»
«Mental pride... fleshly perversion... Master... then...»
«Continue with your thought, which is a good one.»
Judas hesitates, then he says: «Then they cannot reach God because they are perverted.»
«That is not what you wanted to say, Judas. Why have you gagged your thought and your
conscience? Oh! how difficult it is for man to rise to God! And the main obstacle is in man himself,
as he will not admit and meditate on himself and his faults. Really even Satan is very often
slandered, by ascribing every cause of spiritual ruin to him. And God is even more calumniated, as
all events are ascribed to Him. God does not infringe man's freedom. Satan cannot prevail over a
will firm in Good. I solemnly tell you that seventy times out of one hundred man sins of his own
will. And - one does not consider it but it is so - and he does not rise from sin because he avoids
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examining his own conscience, and even if his conscience, with unexpected motion reacts in him
and shouts the truth on which he did not want to meditate, man stifles that cry, he destroys the
figure which appears severe and sorrowful to his intellect, he twists with an effort his thought
influenced by the accusing voice, and he refuses to say, for instance: "Then we, I, cannot reach the
Truth because our minds are proud and our flesh corrupt". Yes, truly, we do not proceed towards
the ways of God because among us there is pride of minds and corruption of the flesh. A pride
which really vies with the satanic one, so much so that God's actions are judged and hampered,
when they are contrary to the interests of men and parties. And because of that sin many Israelites
will be damned for ever.»
«But we are not all like that.»
«No. There are still good spirits, in every class of people. They are more numerous among the
humble people than among the learned and rich. But they exist. But how many are they? How many
with regard to this Palestinian people, whom I have been evangelizing and assisting for almost three
years, and for whom I am wasting away? There are more stars shining in a cloudy night than spirits
in Israel willing to come to My Kingdom.»
«And the Gentiles, those Gentiles, will they come? »
«Not all of them, but many. Not even all My disciples will persevere until the end. But do
not let us worry about the fruit that fall from the tree because they are rotten! Let us try, as much as
possible, through kindness and firmness, through reproaches and forgiveness, through patience
and love, to prevent them from becoming rotten. Then, when they say "no" to God and to their
brothers who want to save them, and they throw themselves into the arms of Death, of Satan,
dying unrepentant, let us lower our heads and offer God our sorrow for not making Him happy
with that soul by saving it. Every master meets with such defeats. And they are useful, too. They
humble the pride of the master of souls and test his constancy in his ministry. A defeat must not
weary the will of the teacher of spirits. On the contrary it must spur him to do more and better in
future.»
«Why did You tell the decurion that You will see him on a mountain? How do You know? »
Jesus looks at Judas: a long strange look in which sadness mingles with a smile, and He says:
«Because he is one of the people who will be present at My assumption and he will tell the great
doctor of Israel a severe word of truth. And from that moment he will begin his safe journey
towards the Light. But here we are at Gibeon. Let Peter go with other seven to announce Me. I will
speak at once in order to dismiss those who have followed Me from the nearby villages. The others
will stay with Me until after the Sabbath. You, Judas, stay with Matthew, Simon and
Bartholomew.»
(I did not recognise in the decurion any of the soldiers who were present at the Crucifixion. But I
must say that, engaged as I was in watching my Jesus, I did not pay much attention to them. As far
as I was concerned, it was a group of soldiers on duty. Nothing else. Further, when I could have
watched them more carefully, because «everything was accomplished », there was such a faint light
that only well-known faces could be recognised. But taking into account Jesus' words, I think that it
was the soldier who said some words to Gamaliel, words that I do not remember and that I cannot
check, because I am all alone in the house and I cannot get anybody to give me the notebook of the
Passion.)

514. At Gibeon. The Wisdom of Love.

22nd October 1946.

In spring, summer and autumn, Gibeon, built on the top of a pleasant low hill isolated in a very
fertile plain, must be a kind airy town with a beautiful view. Its white houses are almost hidden
among the green foliage of perennial trees of all kinds, mingled with trees now laid bare by the
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season, and in the good season they must change the hill into a cloud of light petals, and later into a
glorious display of fruit. Now, in the winter greyness, it shows its slopes lined by bare vines and
grey olive-trees, or spotted with the dark trees of bare orchards. And yet the town is beautiful and
airy and one's eyes rest on the slope of the hill and on the ploughed plain.
Jesus goes towards a large cistern or well, which reminds me somehow of that of the Samaritan
woman, or also of En-Rogel and even more of the reservoirs near Hebron. There are many people
there, who are hastening to draw much water for the Sabbath now at hand, or are doing their last
business of the day, or, having finished their work, have already begun the Sabbath rest. In the
middle of the crowd are the eight apostles who are announcing the Master and have already been
successful, as I can see sick people being brought and beggars gathering together and many people
coming from their houses.
When Jesus sets foot where the basin is, there is a murmur which changes into a unanimous cry:
«Hosanna, Hosanna! The Son of David is among us! Blessed be Wisdom that is coming where she
was invoked! »
«Blessed be you who know how to welcome her. Peace! Peace and blessings.» And He goes at once
towards the sick people, towards those who are crippled either through misfortune or illness,
towards the inevitable blind or almost blind people, and He cures them.
Beautiful is the miracle of a little dumb boy, who is handed to Jesus by his weeping mother and is
cured by Him with a kiss on his lips. And the child makes use of words given to him by the Word to
shout the two most beautiful names: «Jesus! Mummy! », and from the arms of his mother, who was
holding him high above the crowd, he throws himself into Jesus' arms, flinging his arms round His
neck, until Jesus hands him back to his happy mother, who explains to Jesus that this first-born son
of hers, whom the hearts of his parents destined to be a Levite even before he was born, will be able
to become one, as he is now without defects: «I had asked the Lord, with my husband Joachim, not
for my own sake, but that he might serve the Lord. And I asked You to make him speak not to hear
him call me mother or tell me that he loves me, his eyes and his kisses already told me. But I asked
for it so that, like a little faultless lamb, he might be completely offered to the Lord to praise His
Name.»
To which Jesus replies: «The Lord heard the word of his soul because He, like a mother, changes
one's feeling into words and deeds. But your wish was a good one and the Most High has satisfied
it. Now have your son educated for perfect praise so that he may be perfect in serving the Lord.»
«Yes, Rabbi, but tell me what I must do.»
«Let him love the Lord with his whole being and perfect praise will spontaneously flourish in his
heart, and he will be perfect in the service of the Lord.»
«What You said is right, Rabbi. Wisdom is on Your lips. Please speak to all of us » says a dignified
citizen of Gibeon who had made his way through the crowd as far as Jesus and invites Him to the
synagogue. He is certainly the synagogue leader.
Jesus bends His steps towards it followed by everybody, and as it is impossible to let in all the
people of the town and those who were already with Him, Jesus takes the advice of the synagogue
leader that He should speak from the terrace of the latter's house which is adjacent to the
synagogue. A low long house, two sides of which are covered with the tenacious green vegetation
of a jasmine espalier. And Jesus' powerful harmonious voice spreads in the calm air of the
approaching evening and all over the square and the three streets leading into it, while a multitude
of heads look up listening.
«The woman of your town who wanted the faculty of speech for her little boy, not because she
wished to hear loving words from his lips, but that he might be fit for the service of God, reminds
Me of another remote word that flowed from the lips of a great man in this town. God consented to
his word, as He did to that of your woman, because in both He saw a request of justice, a justice
that should be in all prayers so that God may hear them and grant His grace. What is necessary to
do in your lifetime in order to obtain the eternal reward, the true endless Life in an endless
beatitude? It is necessary to love the Lord with your whole being and your neighbour as yourselves.
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And that is the most necessary condition to have God as a friend and receive graces and blessings
from Him. When Solomon who had become king after David's death, was invested with full
powers, He came up to this town and he offered a large number of holocausts. And the Most High
appeared to him that night saying: "Ask what you would like Me to give you". A great kindness of
God. And a great test for man. Because to each gift corresponds a great responsibility for him who
receives it, and the greater the gift, the greater the responsibility. And it is a proof of the degree of
improvement reached by the spirit. If a spirit blessed by God, instead of becoming more perfect
descends towards materialism, it fails the test thus showing its lack of improvement, or its partial
improvement. There are two signs of man's spiritual value: the way he behaves in joy and the way
he behaves in sorrow. Only he who has progressed in justice knows how to be humble in glory,
faithful in joy, grateful and persevering also after he has been satisfied and does not wish for
anything else. And only he who is really a saint knows how to be patient and to continue loving his
God, while afflictions persist.»
«Master, can I ask You something? » says a man from Gibeon.
«Yes, do.»
«Everything You say is true. And if I have understood correctly, You mean that Solomon passed the
test successfully. But later he sinned. Now tell me: why did God benefit him so much if later he was
to sin? The Lord certainly knew the future sin of the king. So why did He say to him: "Ask what you
want Me to give you"? Was it a good or a bad thing? »
«Always a good thing, because God does not do wicked things.»
«But You said that a responsibility corresponds to each gift. Now, since Solomon asked for and
received wisdom...»
«He had the responsibility of being wise and he was not, that is what you want to say. It is true. And
I tell you that his failure in wisdom was punished and with justice. But the action of God granting
him the requested wisdom was a good one. And Solomon's request for wisdom and not for material
things was a good one. And as God is a Father and He is Justice, He forgave a large part of the error
at the time it was made, considering that the sinner had once loved Wisdom more than any other
thing and creature. One action must have diminished the other. The good action performed prior to
the sin remains, and counts for forgiveness, when the sinner repents after his sin.
That is why I tell you not to miss any opportunity to do good actions, that they may be like money
discounting your sins when, through the grace of God, you repent of them. Good actions, even if
they seem to have gone by and consequently one may erroneously think that they no longer affect
us by creating in us new incentives and strength for good things, are always active, at least with the
remembrance which rises again from the depth of a downcast soul and provokes regret for the time
when one was good. Regret is often the first step on the way back to Justice. I have said that even a
chalice of water given with love to a thirsty person will not remain without reward. A drop of water
is nothing, with regard to its material value, but charity makes it great. And it will not remain
without reward. At times the reward may be a return to Goodness which is roused by the
remembrance of that act, of the words of the thirsty brother, of the feelings of one's heart at that
time, of the heart that offered a drink in the name of God and out of love. And so God, through a
sequence of recollections, comes back, like the sun that rises after a dark night, and shines on the
horizon of a poor heart that had lost Him and that, fascinated by His ineffable presence, humbles
itself and cries: "Father, I have sinned! Forgive me. I love You once again".
Love for God is wisdom. It is the Wisdom of wisdoms because he who loves knows everything and
possesses everything. Here, while night is falling and the evening breeze makes your bodies shiver
with cold and causes the lamps you have lit to flicker, I am not going to tell you what you already
know: the passages of the Wisdom Book describing how Solomon obtained Wisdom and the prayer
he said to obtain it. But I exhort you to read those pages with your synagogue leader, so that you
may remember Me and proceed on a safe path and have a light to guide you. The Wisdom Book
ought to be a code of spiritual life. Like a motherly hand it should guide you and lead you to a
perfect knowledge of virtue and of My doctrine. Because Wisdom prepares My ways and makes of
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men "with little time to live, with little understanding of justice and the laws, servants and sons of
God's serving maids" the gods of God's Paradise.
Seek Wisdom in the first place to honour the Lord and hear Him say to you, on the eternal day:
"Since you have this at heart above all and you asked not for riches, goods, glory, a long life or
victory over your enemies, Wisdom is granted you, that is, God Himself, because the Spirit of
Wisdom is the Spirit of God. Seek holy Wisdom first of all and, I tell you, everything else will be
given to you and in such a way that none of the mighty ones of the world can achieve so much.
Love God. Be only anxious to love Him. Love your neighbour to honour God. Devote yourselves to
the service of God, to His triumph in men's hearts. Convert to the Lord those who are not God's
friends. Be holy. Store up holy works as a defence against possible failings of the creature. Be
faithful to the Lord. Do not criticise either the living or the dead. But strive to imitate good people,
and not for your own earthly joy, but to give joy to God ask graces of the Lord and they will be
given to you.
Let us go. Tomorrow we shall pray together and God will be with us. »
And Jesus blesses them and dismisses them.

515. Returning to Jerusalem.

24th October 1946.

The damp cold wind is brushing the trees on the hill and blowing cumuli of greyish clouds in the
sky. All wrapped up in their heavy mantles, Jesus, the Twelve and Stephen are descending from
Gibeon to the road which takes them towards the plain. They are speaking to one another while
Jesus, immersed in silence, is absent from what surrounds Him. And He remains thus until they
arrive at a cross-road, half-way down the hill, nay almost at the foot of the hill, where He says: «Let
us take this road and go to Nob.»
«What? Are You not going back to Jerusalem? » asks the Iscariot.
«Nob and Jerusalem are practically the same thing for one who is accustomed to long walks. But I
prefer to be at Nob. Do you mind? »
«Oh! Master! As far as I am concerned, here or there... I am rather sorry that You did not show up
very much in a place so favourable to You. You spoke more at Beth-horon, which was certainly not
friendly to You. I think You ought to do the opposite. You should try to attract more and more the
towns which You feel are propitious to You, and use them as... defences against the towns
dominated by Your enemies. Do You know how important it is to have on Your side the towns near
Jerusalem? After all Jerusalem is not everything. Other places may be important as well and exert
some influence with their importance on the decisions of Jerusalem. Kings are generally
proclaimed such in the most loyal towns, and once the proclamation is made, also the others resign
themselves...»
«When they do not rebel, in which case there is fratricidal warfare. I do not think that the Messiah
wants to begin His Kingdom with a civil war » says Philip.
«I would like one thing only: that it should begin in you with a correct vision of the situation. But
your vision is not right yet... So, when will you be able to understand? »
When the Iscariot realises that a reproach may be coming, he asks once again: «So why did You
speak so little here at Gibeon? »
«I preferred to listen and rest. Do you not understand that I, too, need rest? »
«We could have stayed and made them happy. If You are so tired, why did You set off again? » asks
Bartholomew sadly.
«My limbs are not tired. I need not stop to rest them. It is My heart that is tired and needs rest. And
I rest where I find love. Do you perhaps think that I am insensible to so much bitter hatred? That
refusals do not grieve Me? Do you think that the conspiracies against Me leave Me indifferent?

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That the betrayals of him who feigns to be My friend, whereas he is a spy of My enemies, placed
beside Me to...»
«Let that never be, Lord! And You must not even suspect that. You offend us by saying that! » says
the Iscariot protesting with sad indignation, which is superior to that of all the others, although they
all protest saying: «You grieve us with such words, Master, You distrust us! » And James of
Zebedee exclaims impulsively: «I say goodbye to You, Master, and I am going back to Capernaum.
With a broken heart, but I am going away. And if Capernaum is not far enough, I will join the
fishermen of Tyre and Sidon, I will go to Cintium, I will go I don't know where. But so far that it
will be impossible for You to think that I betray You. Bless me for viaticum! »
Jesus embraces him saying: «Peace, My apostle. So many say that they are My friends, you are not
the only ones. My words grieve you, they grieve you all. But into which hearts shall I pour My
worries and where shall I seek comfort if not in the hearts of My beloved apostles and trustworthy
disciples? I am seeking in you part of the union that I left to unite men: the union with My Father in
Heaven; and a drop of the love that I left out of love for men: the love of My Mother. I seek them as
a support. Oh! the bitter wave, the cruel weight overwhelm and press on My heart, on the Son of
man!... My Passion, My hour, is becoming fuller and fuller... Help Me to endure it and fulfil it...
because it is so grievous! »
The apostles look at one another moved by the deep grief vibrating in the Master's words, and all
they can do is to press round Him, caressing and kissing Him... and Judas on the right hand side and
John on the left kiss simultaneously the face of Jesus Who closes His eyes while Judas Iscariot and
John kiss Him...
They take to the road again, and Jesus can terminate His interrupted thought: «In so much anguish
My heart seeks places where it may find love and rest, where, instead of speaking to arid stones, or
sly snakes or dreamy butterflies, it can listen to the words of other hearts and find comfort, as it
perceives them to be sincere, loving, just. Gibeon is one of these places. I had never come here. But
I found a field ploughed and sown by very good workers of God. That synagogue leader! He came
towards the Light, but he already was a luminous spirit. How much a good servant of God can do!
Gibeon is certainly not free from the intrigues of those who hate Me. Insinuations and corruption
will be tried there as well. But it has a synagogue leader who is just, and the poisons of Evil lose
venom in it. Do you think it is pleasant to Me having always to correct, criticise and even reproach?
It is much more agreeable to be able to say: "You have understood Wisdom. Proceed along your
way and be holy", as I said to the synagogue leader of Gibeon.»
«So shall we go back there? »
«When the Father makes Me find a peaceful place I enjoy it and bless My Father for it. But I have
not come for that. I have come to convert to the Lord places which are guilty and remote from Him.
You know that I could stay at Bethany, but I am not staying there.»
«Also to avoid harming Lazarus.»
«No, Judas of Simon. The very stones know that Lazarus is My friend. So, in that respect, it would
be useless for Me to check My desire for consolation. But it is because...»
«Because of Lazarus' sisters, Mary in particular.»
«Not even that, Judas of Simon. Even stones know that the lust of the flesh does not upset Me.
Consider that of the many charges made against Me, the first to be dropped was that one, because
even My most bitter enemies realised that by sustaining it they would unmask their false practices.
No honest person would have believed that I am sensual. Sensuality can allure only those who do
not feed on the supernatural and who abhor sacrifices. But what allurement can the pleasure of an
hour have for those who have vowed themselves to sacrifice and are victims? The joy of victim
souls is entirely in the spirit and, if they are clothed with flesh, it is nothing but a garment. Do you
think that the clothes we wear have feelings? The flesh is the same for those who live of the spirit: a
garment, nothing else. The spiritual man is the true superman, because he is not a slave of senses,
whereas the material man is valueless, with respect to the true dignity of man, because he has too
many appetites in common with brutes, and he is also inferior to them as he surpasses them by
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turning animal instinct into a degraded vice.»
Judas bites his lip perplexedly, then he says: «Yes, in any case, You would not be able to harm
Lazarus any longer. Death will soon rescue him from all dangers of revenge... So why do You not
go to Bethany more often? »
«Because I have not come to enjoy Myself, but to convert. I have already told you.»
«But... Do You rejoice at having Your brothers with You? »
«Yes. But it is also true that I have no favouritism for them. When we have to part to find room in
houses, they generally do not stay with Me, but you do. And that is to show you that in the eyes and
minds of those who have vowed themselves to redemption, flesh and blood have no value, but only
the improvement of hearts and their redemption are of value. We shall now go to Nob and we shall
part once again for the night. And I will keep you with Me again and I will keep also Matthew,
Philip and Bartholomew.»
«Are we perhaps the least improved? I in particular, since You always make me stay with You? »
«You are right, Judas of Simon.»
«Thank You, Master. I realised that » says the Iscariot with illrepressed anger.
«If you have understood, why do you not strive to improve yourself? Do you think that I might lie in
order not to mortify you? On the other hand, we are among brothers, and the faults of one must not
be an object of derision, and if one is admonished in the presence of the others, who are aware of
each brother's imperfections, one must not feel dejected. No one is perfect, I tell you. But also
reciprocal imperfections, so painful to see and put up with, must be a reason to improve yourselves
so that reciprocal inconvenience may not be increased. And believe Me, Judas, although I see you
for what you are, no one, not even your mother, loves you as I do or strives to make you good as
your Jesus does.»
«However, You reproach and mortify me, even in the presence of a disciple.»
«Is it the first time that I have recalled you to justice? » Judas is silent. «Answer My question. I tell
you! » Jesus says authoritatively.
«No.»
«And how many times did I do that in public? Can you say that I shamed you? Or must you say that
I covered you up and defended you? Speak up! »
«You defended me, it's true. But now...»
«But now it is for your own good. A man who caresses his guilty son will have to bandage his
wounds later, says the proverb. And another proverb says that a horse badly broken-in turns out
stubborn, and an uncontrolled son turns out headstrong.»
«Am I perhaps Your son? » asks Judas changing countenance, as he no longer frowns but looks
contrite.
«If I had begotten you, you could not be more so. And I would have My viscera torn out to give you
My heart and make you as I would like you to be...»
Judas has one of his fits of repentance... and looking really sincere he throws himself into Jesus'
arms shouting: «Ah! I do not deserve You! I am a demon and I do not deserve You! You are too
good! Save me, Jesus! » and he weeps, he really weeps with the pain of a heart upset by evil things
and by the remorse of grieving the Master Who loves him.

516. Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

25th October 1946.

Jesus, Who has entered the town by Herod's Gate, is now crossing it, going towards the Tyropoeon
and the Ophel district.
«Are we going to the Temple? » asks the Iscariot.
«Yes, we are.»

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«Watch what You do! » many say warning Him.
«I will only stop for the time of the prayer.»
«They will detain You.»
«No. We will go in through the northern gates and will come out through the southern ones and
they will have no time to organise themselves and harm Me. Unless there is always one behind Me
who watches and reports.»
No one replies and Jesus goes on His way towards the Temple which appears on the top of its hill,
looking almost ghastly in the green yellowish light of a dull winter morning, as the sun is only a
reminiscence, which insists on being present striving to make its way through the thick clouds. A
useless effort! The joyful brightness of dawn has turned into a pale reflection of an unreal yellow
hue, which is not diffused, but shows spots mixed with leaden hues veined with green. In such light
the marbles and gold decorations of the Temple look pale, gloomy, I would say dismal, like ruins
emerging from a dead area.
Jesus looks at it intensely while ascending towards the enclosure. And He looks at the faces of the
morning wayfarers. Mostly humble people: market-gardeners, shepherds with small animals for
slaughter, servants or housewives going to the markets. They all pass by silently, enveloped in their
mantles, bending a little to protect themselves from the chilly morning air. Also their faces look
paler than is usual with this race. It is the strange light that makes them look so greenish, almost
pearly in the contour of the coloured cloths of their mantles, which are green, bright violet, deep
yellow and thus not suitable to cast rosy reflections on their faces. Some greet the Master, but do
not stop. It is not the right time. There are no beggars as yet, uttering their plaintive cries at
crossroads or under the arches built across streets at short intervals. The hour and the season assist
Jesus in going freely without any obstacle.
They are now at the enclosure. They go in. They go to the Court of Israel. They pray while the
blares of trumpets, I would say silver ones by their timbre, announce something important
spreading over the hill, and while the smell of incence spreads pleasantly overwhelming every other
less pleasant odour which one can smell at the top of the Moriah, that is, I would say, the perpetual
smells of meat slaughtered and consumed by fire, of burnt flour, of burning oil, which are always
perceptible up there, more or less strongly, because of the continuous holocausts.
They come away following a different direction and they begin to be noticed by the first people
going to the Temple, by those belonging to it, by money-changers and vendors who are assembling
their benches and enclosures. But they are too few and their surprise is such that they do not react.
They exchange words of astonishment:
«He has come back! »
«He did not go to Galilee, as they said.»
«But where is He hiding if He could not be found anywhere? »
«He really wants to defy them.»
«What a fool! »
«What a holy man! » and so forth according to individual feelings.
Jesus is already outside the Temple and He is going down towards the street that takes one to
Ophel, when, at the crossing with the streets leading up to Zion, He meets with the man born blind,
cured recently, who laden with baskets full of sweet-smelling apples is going along cheerfully,
joking with other young men, equally laden, going in the opposite direction.
Perhaps the young man would not notice the encounter, as he does not know the face of Jesus or
those of the apostles. But Jesus recognises the face of the man He cured miraculously. And He calls
him. Sidonia, named Bartholmai, turns round and looks inquisitively at the tall stately man,
although modestly dressed, who is calling him by the name, going towards a narrow street.
«Come here » Jesus orders him.
The young man approaches Him, without putting down his load, looks stealthily at Jesus, and
thinking that He wants to buy some apples, he says: «My master has already sold them. But he has
more if You want them. They are beautiful and good. They arrived yesterday from the Sharon
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orchards. And if You buy many of them he will give you a good discount, because...»
Jesus smiles raising His right hand to check the talkative young man. And He says: «I did not call
you because I want to buy apples, but to congratulate you and bless the Most High Who has been
kind to you.»
«Oh! yes! I do that continuously, because of the light that I can see and because of the work that I
can do, helping my father and mother, at last. I found a good master. He is not a Hebrew but he is
good. The Hebrews did not want me be... because I have been ejected from the synagogue » says
the young man laying his baskets on the ground.
«They have ejected you? Why? What have you done? »
«I, nothing. I can assure You. The Lord did it. On a Sabbath He made me find that man who is said
to be the Messiah, and He cured me, as You can see. And that is why they drove me out.»
«Then, He Who cured you, did not do you a completely good turn » says Jesus tempting him.
«Don't say that, man! You are blaspheming! First of all He showed me that God loves me, and then
He made me see... You do not know what it is "to see" because You have always had Your
eyesight. But one who had never seen! Oh!... It is... It is all the things together that one has with his
sight. I tell You that when I saw, over there near the Siloam pool, I laughed and wept, for joy, eh? I
wept as I had never wept in my misfortune. Because I then understood how great it was and how
good was the Most High. And now I can earn my living and by means of a decent work. And then...
- this is above all what I hope the miracle I received will grant me - I hope to meet the man who is
said to be the Messiah and His disciple who had...»
«What would you do then? »
«I would like to bless Him. Him and His disciple. And I would like to ask the Master, Who must
really come from God, to take me as His servant.»
«What? Because of Him you are anathema, you have difficulty in finding a job, you may be
punished more severely, and you want to serve Him? Do you not know that all those who follow
Him Who cured you are persecuted? »
«Yes, I know! But he is the Son of God, that is what is said among us. Although those up there (and
he points at the Temple) do not want us to say that. And is it not worth leaving everything to serve
Him? »
«So do you believe in the Son of God and in His presence in Palestine? »
«I do believe it. But I would like to meet Him to believe in Him not only with my intellect, but with
my whole self. If You know Who He is and where He is, tell me, that I may go to Him and see Him,
and I may believe in Him completely, and serve Him.»
«You have already seen Him, and there is no need for you to go to Him. He, Whom you see just
now and Who is speaking to you, is the Son of God.»
I could not assert this with full certainty, but I got the impression that in saying these words Jesus
almost underwent a very short transfiguration, becoming most handsome and I would say bright. I
think that to reward the humble believer in Him and confirm him in his faith, for the duration of a
flash, He revealed His future beauty, I mean the beauty that He will assume after Resurrection and
will retain in Heaven, His beauty of a glorified human creature, of a body glorified and blended
with the inexpressible beauty of Perfection, which is exclusively His. I say, an instant. A flash. But
the semi-dark corner, where they have withdrawn to speak, under the archivolt of the lane, lightens
with a strange brightness emanating from Jesus Who, I would repeat, becomes very handsome.
Then everything returns to normal, with the exception of the young man, who is now prostrated on
the ground, his face in the dust, and who adores saying: «I believe, Lord, my God! »
«Stand up. I came into the world to bring light and the knowledge of God and to test men and judge
them. This time of Mine is the time of choice, election and selection. I have come for the pure in
heart and intention, for the humble, the meek, the lovers of justice, of mercy, of peace, for those
who weep and for those who know how to give the real value to the various riches and prefer
spiritual riches to material ones, that they may find what their spirits long for and those who were
blind may see because men have built thick walls to obstruct light, that is the knowledge of God -
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and those who consider themselves seers, may become blind...»
«Then You hate a large part of men and You are not as good as You say. If You were, You would
like everybody to be able to see, and those who can see not to become blind » interrupt some
Pharisees who have arrived from the main road and have cautiously approached the group at the
back of the apostles.
Jesus turns round and looks at them. He is certainly no longer transfigured into divine beauty, now!
It is a very severe Jesus Who stares at His persecutors with His sapphire eyes, and His voice no
longer has the golden note of joy, but it is a bronze voice and it is sharp and severe like the sound of
bronze while He replies: «I am not the one who wants those, who at present are fighting the truth,
not to be able to see it. They themselves are raising plates in front of their eyes in order not to see.
And they become blind of their own free will. And the Father sent Me that the division may take
place, and the children of Light and those of Darkness may be really known, those who want to see
and those who want to be blind.»
«Are we among these blind people as well? »
«If you were and you tried to see, you would not be guilty. But it is because you say: "We see", and
then you do not want to see, that you commit sin. Your sin persists because you do not try to see,
although you are blind.»
«And what have we to see?»
«The Way, the Truth, the Life. A man born blind, as this young man was, with the help of his stick
can always find the door of his house and move about it, because he knows his house. But if he
were taken to a different place he would not be able to go in by the door of the new house, because
he would not know where it is and he would bump against the walls.
The time of the new Law has come. Everything is renewed and a new world, a new people, a new
kingdom are rising. Now the people of the past do not know all this. They know their times. They
are like blind people taken to a new town where the regal house of the Father is, but they do not
know its location. I have come to lead them there and take them into it and that they may see. But I
am the Door through which one enters the paternal house, in the Kingdom of God, in the Light, in
the Way, in the Truth, in the Life. And I am also the One Who has come to gather the flock left
without a guide and lead it to one only sheep-fold: the Father's. I know the door of the Fold because
I am Door and Shepherd. And I go in and come out as and when I like. And I go in freely, and by
the door, because I am the true Shepherd.
When a man comes to give the sheep of God other instructions or tries to mislead them taking them
to other abodes and other ways, he is not the good Shepherd, but an idol shepherd. Likewise, he
who does not go in by the door of the fold, but tries to enter in a different way, jumping over the
enclosure, is not the shepherd, but a thief and an assassin, who goes in to kill and steal, so that the
stolen lambs with their wailing voices may not draw the attention of the watchmen and of the
shepherd. False shepherds are trying to insinuate themselves also among the sheep of the flock of
Israel to lead them astray from the pastures, far from the true Shepherd. And they go in ready to tear
them from the flock even by means of violence, and if necessary, they are also willing to kill them
and strike them in many ways, so that they may not speak informing the Shepherd of the tricks of
the false shepherds or they may cry to God to protect them from their enemies and the enemies of
the Shepherd.
I am the good Shepherd and My sheep know Me, and those who have been for ever the watchmen
of the true Fold know Me. They have known Me and My Name and they mentioned it to make it
known to Israel, and they described Me and prepared My ways, and when My voice was heard, the
last of them opened the door to Me saying to the flock awaiting the true Shepherd, the flock
gathered round his crook: "Now! Here is the One Who I said would follow me. One Who precedes
me because He was before me and I did not know Him. But for Him, that you may be ready to
receive Him, I have come to baptise with water, that He may be revealed to Israel". And the good
sheep heard My voice and when I called them by their names they came to Me and I took them with
Me, as a good shepherd does when he is known to the sheep that recognise his voice and follow
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him wherever he goes. And when he has let them all out, he walks in front of them and they follow
him because they love the voice of the shepherd. But they do not follow a stranger, on the contrary
they run away from him, because they do not know him and they are afraid of him. I also walk
ahead of My sheep to point out the road to them and be the first to face dangers and show them to
the flock, that I want to lead to safety in My Kingdom.»
«Is Israel no longer the kingdom of God? »
«Israel is the place from which the people of God must rise to the true Jerusalem and to the
Kingdom of God.»
«And what about the promised Messiah? That Messiah that You say You are, is He not to make
Israel triumphant, glorious, the master of the world, subjecting to His sceptre all the peoples and
revenging Himself, oh! revenging Himself cruelly on all those who subjugated it since it was a
people? So, nothing of all that is true? Are you denying the prophets? Are You saying that our
rabbis are stupid? You...»
«The Kingdom of the Messiah is not of this world. It is the Kingdom of God, based on Love. It is
nothing else. And the Messiah is not the king of peoples and armies, but the king of spirits. The
Messiah will come from the chosen people, from the royal stock, and above all from God, Who
generated Him and sent Him. The foundation of the Kingdom of God, the promulgation of the Law
of love, the announcement of the Good News mentioned by the prophet began from the people of
Israel. But the Messiah will be the King of the world, the King of kings, and His Kingdom will have
no limit or boundary, neither in time nor in space. Open your eyes and accept the truth.»
«We have understood nothing of Your nonsense. You speak words without any logical connection.
Speak and reply to us without parables. Are You or are You not the Messiah? »
«And have you not yet understood? I told you that I am Door and Shepherd for that. So far no one
has been able to enter the Kingdom of God, because it was walled up and without exits. But now I
have come and the door to enter has been made.»
«Oh! Others have said that they were the Messiah and later they were found out to be highwaymen
and rebels and human justice punished their wickedness. Who can assure us that You are not like
them? We are tired of suffering and of making the people suffer the severity of Rome, thanks to
liars who say that they are kings and they induce the people to rebel! »
«No. What you say is not correct. You do not want to suffer, that is true. But you are not sorry if the
people suffer. So much so that you add your rigour to the severity of our rulers, by oppressing the
common people with heavy tithes and in other ways. Who can assure you that I am not a rascal? My
deeds. I am not one who will make the hand of Rome heavy. On the contrary, if anything, I make it
lighter by advising the rulers to be human and the people ruled to be patient. At least that.»
Many people have assembled and they are growing more and more in numbers so much so that the
traffic is obstructed on the main road and so they all move into the little lane, under the arches of
which voices resound, as they express their approval saying: «He is quite right with regard to tithes!
It's true. He advises us to submit and the Romans to be compassionate.»
The Pharisees, as usual, become embittered because of the approval of the crowd and the tone in
which they speak to the Christ becomes more biting. «Reply to us without so many words, and
prove that You are the Messiah.»
«I solemnly tell you that I am. I alone am the Door of the Fold of Heaven. He who does not pass by
Me cannot enter. It is true. There have been other false Messiahs, and there will be still more. But I
am the only and true Messiah. Those who have come so far proclaiming themselves such, were not
the Messiah, they were only thieves and bandits. And not only those who made the few people of
their kind call them Messiah, but also others who without taking that name demand a worship
which is not even given to the true Messiah. Listen, anyone who has ears to hear. But take notice of
this. The sheep did not listen to the false Messiahs or to the false shepherds and masters, because
their spirits understood the falseness of their voices which wanted to sound kind and were instead
cruel. Only some billy-goats followed them to be their companions in wickedness. Wild unyielding
billy-goats that do not want to enter the Fold of God, under the sceptre of the true King and
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Shepherd. Because this is now what happens in Israel. That He Who is the King of kings becomes
the Shepherd of the Flock, whereas, once, he who was the shepherd of flocks became king and both
the Former and the latter come from the same root, that of Jesse, as it is stated in the promises and
prophecies.
The false shepherds did not speak sincere words or perform comforting deeds. They dispersed and
tortured the flock or they abandoned it to wolves, or they killed it to make a profit selling it to
secure their lives or they deprived it of its pastures to turn them into places of pleasure or thickets
for idols. Do you know which are the wolves? They are the evil passions, the vices that the same
false shepherds taught the flock, as they were the first to practise them. And do you know which are
the thickets for idols? They are one's selfishness before which too much incense is burnt. The other
two things need not be explained because the sermon is even too clear. But it is logical that false
shepherds should behave thus. They are nothing but thieves who have come to steal, kill and
destroy, to take the sheep to treacherous pastures or to false folds which are nothing but
slaughter-houses. But those which come to Me are safe and they will be able to go out to My
pastures or come back to rest with Me and become strong and fat with holy healthy food. Because I
have come for that. That My people, My sheep, so far thin and depressed, may have life and have it
abundantly, in peace and joy. And I want that so much that I have come to give My life so that My
sheep may have the full abundant Life of the children of God.
I am the good Shepherd. And when a shepherd is good he gives his life to defend his flock from
wolves and thieves, whereas a mercenary, who does not love the sheep but the money he gets for
leading them to pasture, is only worried about saving himself and the savings that he keeps in his
bosom, and when he sees wolves or thieves come, he runs away, save going back later to take some
sheep left half dead by the wolves or dispersed by the thieves, killing the former to eat them or
selling the latter to make more money and then with false tears he tells his master that not even one
sheep was spared. What does the mercenary care if a wolf fangs and disperses the sheep, and a thief
plunders them to take them to the butcher? Did he watch over them while they were growing and
did he work to make them strong? But the owner who knows how much sheep cost, how many
hours of work, of watch, how many sacrifices, loves them and takes care of them as they are dear to
him. But I am more than the owner. I am the Saviour of My flock and I know how much the
salvation of even one soul costs Me, and I am therefore willing to do anything to save a soul. It was
entrusted to Me by My Father. All the souls have been entrusted to Me with instructions that I
should save a very large number of them. The more I will be able to snatch from the death of the
spirit, the more will My Father be glorified. I therefore struggle to free them from all their enemies,
that is from their egos, from the world, from the flesh, from the demon, and from My enemies who
contend for them with Me to grieve Me. I do that because I know the Thought of My Father. And
My Father sent Me to do that, because He is aware of My love for Him and for souls. And also the
sheep of My flock know Me and My love and they feel that I am ready to give My life to give them
happiness.
And I have other sheep. But they do not belong to this Fold. Therefore they do not know Me for
what I am, and many do not know what I am and who I am. Sheep that to many of us appear to be
worse than wild billy-goats and are considered unworthy of knowing the Truth and of having Life
and the Kingdom. And yet it is not so. The Father wants them as well, so I must approach them, too,
to make Myself known and to make the Good News known, to lead them to My pastures and gather
them. And they also will listen to My voice because they will end up by loving it. And there will be
only one Fold under only one Shepherd, and the Kingdom of God will be formed on the Earth ready
to be transported to and received in Heaven, under My sceptre and My sign and My true Name.
My true Name! It is known to Me only! But when the number of the chosen ones is complete, and
among hymns of jubilation they sit at the great wedding feast of the Bridegroom and the Bride, then
My Name will be made known to My chosen ones, who through their loyalty to it have become
holy, without however knowing the full extent and the depth of what it means to be marked with
My Name and rewarded because of their love for it, or what the reward will be... This is what I
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want to give to My faithfull sheep. And that is My own joy...»
With His eyes bright with ecstatic tears Jesus looks at the faces turned towards Him, and a smile
trembles on His lips, such a spiritualised smile in His spiritualised face, that it thrills the crowds
who realise that the Christ has been in a beatific rapture and that out of love He wishes to see it
accomplished. He collects Himself and for a moment He closes His eyes concealing the mystery
that His mind sees and that the eyes might reveal, and He resumes:
«That is why the Father loves Me, o My people, o My flock! Because for your sake, for your eternal
good, I give My life. Later I will retake it. But first I will give it that you may have life and your
Saviour as your life. And I will give it in such a way that you may feed on it, as I will change from
Shepherd into pasture and fountain, which give food and drink, not for forty years as for the
Hebrews in the desert, but for all the time of exile in the deserts of the Earth. No one, actually,
takes My life. Neither those who loving Me with their whole beings deserve that I should sacrifice
it for them, nor those who take it through immense hatred and foolish fear. No one could take it if I
did not agree to give it and if the Father did not allow it, as we are both enraptured by an ecstasy of
love for guilty Mankind. I will give it Myself. And I have the power to retake it whenever I wish, as
it is not befitting that Death should prevail over Life. That is why the Father gave Me that power,
nay the Father ordered Me to do that. And through My life, offered and consumed, the people will
become one only People: Mine, the heavenly People of the children of God, and in the people the
sheep will be separated from the billy-goats and the sheep will follow their Shepherd to the
Kingdom of eternal Life.»
And Jesus, Who so far has spoken in a loud voice, turns towards Sidonia named Bartholmai, who
has been all the time in front of Him with his baskets of sweet-smelling apples at his feet, and He
says to him in a whisper: «You have forgotten everything because of Me. Now you will certainly be
punished and you will lose your job. See that? I am always the cause of sorrow to you. Because of
Me you lost the synagogue, and now you will lose your master...»
«And what am I going to do with all that, if I have You? You only are of value to me. And I will
leave everything to follow You, if You will allow me. Just let me take this fruit to him who bought
it and then I will come with You.»
«Let us go together. Then we will go to see your father. Because you have a father and you must
honour him by asking him to bless you.»
«Yes, Lord. Everything You wish. But teach me many things, because I know nothing, just nothing,
I cannot even read and write because I was blind.»
«Do not worry about that. Your good will will teach you.»
And He sets out to go to the main street, while the crowds comment, discuss, and even quarrel,
divided between the two usual opinions: is Jesus of Nazareth a person possessed or is He a saint?
The crowds, with discordant opinions, dispute, while Jesus goes away.

517. Towards Bethany and in Lazarus' House.

28th October 1946.

Jesus dismisses the disciples Levi, Joseph, Matthias and John, whom He met I do not know where
and to whom He entrusts the new disciple Sidonia named Bartholmai. This happens at the first
houses in Bethany. And the shepherd disciples go away with the newcomer and with seven other
men who were with them. Jesus looks at them go away, He then turns round to look at His apostles
and He says: «And now let us wait here for Judas of Simon...»
«Ah! You noticed that he has gone? » say the others who are surprised. «We thought that You were
not aware of it. There was such a large crowd. And You were speaking all the time, first with the
young man and then with the shepherds...»
«I noticed that he had gone from the very first moment. Nothing escapes My notice. That is why I

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went to some friendly houses, telling them to send Judas to Bethany, if he should look for Me...»
«God forbid! » grumbles the other Judas between his teeth.
Jesus looks at him, but pretends that He has not heard, and He goes on, speaking to everybody, as
He sees that they are all of the same opinion as Thaddeus (faces, at times, speak better than words):
«This will be a good rest while waiting for his return. It will be of comfort to everybody. Then we
will go towards Tekoah. The weather is cold but it is clearing up. I will evangelize that town, then
we will come back up passing through Jericho and we will go to the other bank. The shepherds told
Me that many sick people are looking for Me and I sent word that they need not set out on the
journey, and that they should wait for Me there.»
«Well, let us go » says Peter with a sigh.
«Are you not glad to go to Lazarus' house? » Thomas asks him.
«I am glad.»
«You don't seem to be, the way you say it.»
«It is not because of Lazarus. It's because of Judas...»
«You are a sinner, Peter » says Jesus admonishing him.
«I am. But... he, Judas of Kerioth, is he not a sinner since he goes away, is insolent and a torture? »
bursts out Peter angrily, as he cannot stand the situation any longer.
«He is. But if he is, you must not be. None of us must be. Remember that God will ask us, - I say:
will ask us, because God Father entrusted that man to Me before entrusting him to you - to account
for what we did to redeem him.»
«And do You hope to succeed, Brother? I cannot believe it. You, I believe this, You know the past,
the present and the future. So You cannot be mistaken about that man. And... But it is better if I
don't tell You the rest.»
«It is in fact a great virtue to be able to be silent. But you had better know that to foresee more or
less exactly the future of a heart does not exempt anyone from persevering until the end to save a
heart from being ruined. Do not fall into the fatalism of Pharisees who maintain that what is
destined must take place and nothing can prevent what is destined from being accomplished, and
with such reasoning they justify their sins and will justify their final act of hatred against Me. Many
a time God awaits the sacrifice of a heart, that overcomes its nausea and indignation, its antipathy,
even if justified, to rescue a spirit from the quagmire into which it is sinking. Yes, I tell you. Many
times God, the Almighty, the Everything, waits for a creature, a mere nothing, to make or not to
make a sacrifice, to say a prayer, in order to condemn or not condemn a spirit. It is never late,
never too late, to try and hope to save a soul. And I will give you proof of that. Even on the
threshold of death, when both the sinner and the just man who is anxious about him, are about to
leave the Earth to appear at the first judgement of God, one can always save or be saved. Between
the cup and the lips, says the proverb, there is always room for death. I instead say: between the
extremity of agony and death there is always time to obtain forgiveness, for oneself or for those
whom we want to be forgiven.»
Not one word is uttered by anybody.
Jesus, who by now has arrived at the heavy gate, calls a servant to have it opened. And He goes in
and asks after Lazarus.
«Oh! Lord! See? I have just come back from gathering bay-leaves and the leaves of the camphor
tree, and cypress-berries and other leaves and scented fruit to boil them with wine and resins, and
prepare baths for our master with them. His flesh is coming off in bits and it is impossible to
withstand the stench. You have come, but I do not know whether they will let You pass...» Lest the
very air should hear, he lowers his voice to a whisper saying: «Now that it is no longer possible to
conceal the sores, the mistresses do not receive anybody... lest... You know... Lazarus is not really
loved by many people... But many, and for many reasons, would be glad if... Oh! don't let me think
of this as it is the terror of the whole household.»
«And they are right. But do not be afraid. That misfortune will not take place.»
«But... will he be able to recover? A miracle of Yours...»
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«He will not recover. But that will serve to glorify the Lord.»
The servant is disappointed... Jesus cures everybody but does nothing here!... But only a sigh
expresses his thought. He then says: «I am going to the mistresses to announce You.»
Jesus is surrounded by the apostles who are interested in Lazarus' conditions and are filled with
dismay when Jesus informs them. But the two sisters are about to arrive. Their flourishing although
different beauty seems dulled with grief and with the fatigue of protracted watching at Lazarus'
bedside. Pale, humble, emaciated, their eyes, once so bright, tired, without rings or bracelets,
wearing two dark grey dresses, they look more like maidservants than mistresses. They kneel down
at a distance from Jesus, offering Him nothing but tears. Resigned, silent tears flowing from an
internal source and unable to stop.
Jesus approaches them. Martha stretches out her hands whispering: «Move away, Lord. We are
really afraid by now that we have infringed the law on leprosy. But we cannot, o God, we cannot
have such an ordinance against our Lazarus! But please do not come near us, as we are unclean as
we touch nothing but sores. We alone. Because we have kept everybody else away, and everything
is placed on the threshold for us, and we take it and wash and burn things in the room next to our
brothers. See our hands? They are corroded by the caustic lime which we use for the vases we have
to hand back to the servants. We think that by doing so we are less guilty » and she weeps.
Mary of Magdala, who has been silent so far, moans in her turn: «We should call the priest. But... I,
I am the more guilty one because I oppose that and I say that it is not the dreadful cursed disease in
Israel. It is not, it is not! But so many hate us and so much, that they would say it is. Your apostle
Simon was declared a leper for much less! »
«You are neither priest nor doctor, Mary » says Martha sobbing.
«I am not. But you know what I have done to be certain of what I am saying. Lord, I went and
covered the whole valley of Hinnom, all Siloam, all the sepulchres near En Rogel. I went dressed as
a maidservant, veiled, in the first light of dawn, loaded with foodstuffs, medicated waters, bandages
and clothes. And I gave, I gave everything. I said that it was a vow I had made for him whom I
loved. And it was true. I only asked to see the sores of the lepers. They must have thought that I was
mad... Who ever wishes to see those horrors?! But after laying my offering at the edges of the crags,
I asked to see. And they were above me, I was farther down; they were amazed, I was disgusted;
they wept, and I wept; and I looked and looked! I looked at bodies covered with scales, with crusts,
with sores, I looked at corroded faces, at white hair stiffer than bristles, at eyes exuding pus, at
cheeks through which I could see teeth, at skulls on living bodies, at hands which had become
claws of monsters, at feet resembling knobby branches... stench, horror, rottenness. Oh! if I sinned
worshipping flesh, if I took delight in my senses of sight, smell, hearing, touch, in what was
beautiful, scented, harmonious, soft and smooth, oh! I can assure you that my senses have been
purified in the mortification of such sights! My eyes forgot the enticing handsomeness of man on
contemplating those monsters, my ears expiated the past enjoyment of manly voices on hearing
those harsh ones, no longer sounding like human voices, my body shuddered, my smell revolted...
and all remainders of the cult of myself died, because I saw what we shall be after death... But I
brought back with me this certitude: that Lazarus is not a leper. His voice is not injured, his hair and
the hairy parts of his body are intact, and his sores are different. No, he is not a leper! And Martha
distresses me because she will not believe, because she does not comfort Lazarus by dissuading him
from believing that he is unclean. See? He does not want to see You, now that he knows that You
are here, lest he should infect You. The foolish fears of my sister are depriving him also of Your
comfort!...»
Her passionate nature makes her angry. But when she sees that her sister bursts into tears weeping
desolately, her impetuosity abates at once and she embraces and kisses Martha, saying: «Oh!
Martha! Forgive me! Grief is making me unfair! It's my love for you and Lazarus that wants to
convince you! My poor sister! What poor women we are! »
«Now, now, do not weep so! You are in need of peace and reciprocal compassion, for your own
sake and for his. Lazarus, in any case, is not leprous, I tell you.»
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«Oh! come to him, Lord. Who can judge better than You whether he is leprous? » says Martha
imploringly.
«Have I not already told you that he is not? »
«Yes. But how can You say so if You do not see him? »
«Oh! Martha! Martha! God forgives you because you are in pain and you are like one whose mind is
raving! I feel sorry for you and I will go to Lazarus and uncover his sores and...»
«and You will cure them!!! » shouts Martha standing up.
«I have already told that I cannot do it... But I will put your minds at rest, as you will know that you
have not infringed the law concerning lepers. Let us go...» And He is the first to set out towards the
house beckoning to His apostles not to follow Him.
Mary runs ahead, she opens a door, runs along a corridor, opens another door which leads into a
small internal yard, and after a few steps she enters a semidark room encumbered with basins, small
vases, amphorae, bandages... A mixed odour of spices and putrefaction is perceived. There is a door
opposite the first one and Mary opens it shouting in a voice that endeavours to be bright and joyful:
«Here is the Master. He has come to tell you that I am right, my dear brother. Cheer up and smile
because our love and peace is coming in! » and she bends over her brother, lifts him on the pillows,
kisses him, heedless of the smell that in spite of palliatives exhales from the ulcerated body, and
she is still bent tidying him, when Jesus' kind greeting resounds in the room, which, enveloped in a
faint light, seems to brighten up because of the divine presence.
«Master, You are not afraid... I am...»
«You are ill! Nothing else. Lazarus, the rules have been laid down, so comprehensive and severe,
out of an understandable sense of prudence. It is better to be exceedingly prudent than imprudent in
certain cases, such as catching diseases. But you are not infectious, My poor dear friend, you are not
unclean. And in fact I do not think that I lack prudence towards My brothers if I embrace you and
kiss you thus » and He kisses him taking his emaciated body in His arms.
«You really are Peace! But You have not yet seen me. Mary will now uncover the horror. I am
already a dead body, Lord. I do not know how my sisters can stand...»
I would not know either, so frightening and disgusting are the sores near the varicose veins of his
legs. Mary's beautiful hands massage them lightly while in her wonderful voice she replies: «Your
ills are roses for your sisters. Only because you suffer they are thorny roses. Here it is, Master. See?
Leprosy is not like that!»
«No, it is not. It is a bad disease and it consumes you, but it is not dangerous. Believe your Master!
You may cover him, Mary. I have seen.»
«Are You really not going to touch him? » asks Martha with a sigh, persevering in hope.
«It is not necessary. Not because of disgust, but to avoid irritating the sores.»
Martha, without insisting any more, bends over a basin containing spicy wine or vinegar and dips
some linens into it and then hands them to her sister. Silent tears drop into the reddish liquid...
Mary bandages the poor legs and lays the blankets once again on Lazarus' feet, which are as
motionless and yellowish as those of a dead man.
«Are You alone? »
«No. They are all with Me, except Judas of Kerioth who stayed in Jerusalem, and will come... Nay,
if I have already left, send him to Bethabara. I shall be there. And tell him to wait for Me there.»
«You are going away soon...»
«And I shall be back soon. It will soon be the Feast of the Dedication. I shall be with you those
days.»
«I shall not be able to honour You at the Feast of the Lights...»
«I shall be in Bethlehem on that day. I must see My cradle once again...»
«You are sad... I know... Oh! and I can do nothing! »
«I am not sad. I am the Redeemer... But you are tired. Do not strive to keep awake, My dear friend.»
«It was to honour You...»
«Sleep. We shall meet later...» and Jesus withdraws noiselessly.
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«Have You seen, Master? » asks Martha, outside, in the yard.
«Yes, I have. My poor disciples... I weep with you... But I truly confide to you that My heart is
much more ulcerated than your brother. Grief gnaws at My heart...» and He looks at them with such
deep sadness that they forget their sorrow because of His, and as their being women prevents them
from embracing Him, they confine themselves to kissing His hands and tunic and to serving Him as
loving sisters. And they serve Him in a little room, and overwhelm Him with their love.
The loud voices of the apostles can be heard from beyond the yard... All of them, except the voice
of the bad disciple. And Jesus listens and sighs... He sighs awaiting the fugitive patiently.

518. Going to Tekoah. Old Elianna.

29th October 1946.

They are still only eleven when they set out again. Eleven pensive shocked faces around the sad
face of Jesus, Who takes leave of the sisters, and Who, after a moment's consideration, says to
Simon Zealot and Bartholomew: «You will stay here. You will join Me at Tekoah, at Simon's
house, or in the house of Nike near Jericho, or at Bethabara, if he should come. And... serve
Charity. Have you understood? »
«Do not worry, Master. We will not be lacking in love for our neighbour in any way » says
Bartholomew assuring Him.
«At whatever hour he may arrive, leave at once.»
«We will, Master. And... thanks for trusting us » says the Zealot.
They kiss one another and while a servant closes the gate and Jesus goes away, the two apostles go
back to the house with the sisters.
Jesus is ahead, alone; Peter is behind Him between Matthew and James of Alphaeus; behind them
there is Philip with Andrew, James and John of Zebedee. Last, as silent as the others, come Thomas
and Judas Thaddeus. But I am wrong. Peter also is silent. His two companions exchange a few
words, but he, who is between them, does not speak. He proceeds silently, with his head lowered.
He seems to be holding a mute conversation with the stones and grass on which he is treading.
Also the last two seem to have the same attitude. The only difference is that, while Thomas seems
to be engrossed in the contemplation of a tiny branch of willow, which he strips leaf by leaf, and
looks at each leaf after detaching it, as if he were studying its light green shade on one side and the
silvery one on the other, or the veins of its design, Judas Thaddeus is staring straight ahead. I do not
know whether he is looking at the view which, after they have crossed over the ridge of a mountain,
stretches across the rather indistinct splendour of a plain at dawn, or whether he is only looking at
the fair hair of Jesus, Who has thrown His mantle back to enjoy the mild December sunshine on His
head.
And Thomas' occupation and Judas Thaddeus' contemplation of the view, or of the Master, end at
the same time. The latter lowers his eyes and turns round looking at his companion, while Thomas,
who has reduced his little branch to a riding-whip, raises his eyes to look at Thaddeus. A sharp and
at the same time kind sad look which meets a similar one.
«It is so, my friend! Just so! » says Thomas as if he were ending a speech.
«Yes, it is so. And deep is my grief... Also my love for a relative is involved...»
«I understand. But... You have a torture of love in your heart. But, what about me? I have a sense of
remorse torturing me. And it is even worse.»
«Remorse? You have no reason for remorse. You are good and loyal. Jesus is pleased with you and
we have never had from you any reason for scandal. So how can you have this feeling of remorse? »
«From a recollection. The remembrance of the day when I decided to follow the new Rabbi, Who
had appeared in the Temple... Judas and I were close to each other and we admired the action and
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the words of the Master. And we decided to look for Him... And I was more decided than Judas and
I almost dragged him. He says the opposite, but it is so. That is my remorse. That I insisted to make
him come... I brought an everlasting sorrow to Jesus. But I knew that Judas was loved by... many
and I thought that he would be useful. As foolish as all those who can but think of a king of Israel
greater than David and Solomon, but still a king... a king as He says that He will never be, I was
yearning to have him among the disciples as he might be useful!... I was hoping so. And only now I
understand, and I understand so more and more, how right Jesus was in not accepting him at once,
on the contrary He told me not to look for him... A cause for remorse, I tell you! Remorse! That
man is not good.»
«He is not. But do not create occasions of remorse for yourself. You did not act out of malice, so
you are not guilty. I tell you.»
«Are you really sure? Or are you saying so to console me? »
«I am telling you because it is the truth. Do not think of the past any more, Thomas. It does not help
to eradicate it...»
«That's easily said! But just think! If because of me some misfortune should befall the Master... I
am sick at heart and full of suspicion. I am a sinner because I am judging a companion, and my
judgement is not merciful. And I am a sinner because I should believe the words of the Master... He
excuses Judas... Do you... believe your brother? »
«In everything except that. But don't be distressed. We have all the same thought. Also Peter, who is
so worried, strives to think well of that man, and Andrew, who is meeker than a little lamb, and
Matthew, the only one among us who does not feel disgust for any sinner. And also the so loving
and pure John, who is so lucky that he need not fear evil or vice, because he is so full of charity and
purity that he has no room for anything else. And my brother has it, too. I mean Jesus. He certainly
has other thoughts as well, and thus sees the necessity of keeping Judas... until every attempt to
make him good becomes vain.»
«Yes. But... what will happen in the end? He has many... He has no... Briefly, you understand
without me telling you. How far will he go? »
«I don't know... Perhaps he will leave us... Perhaps he will stay, waiting to see who is stronger in
this struggle: Jesus or the Hebrew world...»
«Nothing else? Do you not think that he is already serving two masters? »
«That is certain.»
«And are you not afraid that he may serve the more numerous group, in order to cause complete
damage to the Master? »
«No, I am not. I do not love him. But I cannot believe that he... At least not for the time being... I
would certainly be afraid of that if one day the crowds stopped supporting the Master. If, instead, a
public acclamation should consecrate Him king and our leader, I am sure that Judas would abandon
everybody for Him. He is an exploiter... May God check him, and protect Jesus and us all!...»
The two realise that they have slackened their paces and that they have been left far behind their
companions and without speaking any more they begin to walk fast to join them.
«What have you been doing? » asks Matthew. «The Master wanted you...»
Thomas and Thaddeus proceed quickly to go to Jesus.
«Of what were you speaking between yourselves? » asks Jesus staring at them.
The two look at each other. Should they tell Him? Should they not? Sincerity wins. «Of Judas »
they say together.
«I knew. But I wanted to put your sincerity to the test. You would have distressed Me if you had
lied... But do not speak any more about him, and particularly in that manner. There are so many
good things about which you can speak. Why always debase oneself to consider what is very, nay,
too material? Isaiah says: "Trust no more in man, he has but a breath in his nostrils". I say to you:
stop analysing that man and take care of his spirit. The animal that is in him, his monster, must not
attract your attention and your judgement; but love his spirit with sorrowful active love. Free him
from the monster that is detaining him. You do not know.»...
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He turns round to call the other seven: «Come here, all of you, because what I am about to say is
useful to everybody, as you all have the same thoughts in your hearts... Do you not know that you
learn more through Judas of Kerioth than through any other person? You will find many Judases
and very few Jesus in your apostolic ministry. The Jesus will be kind, good, pure, faithful, obedient,
prudent, free from greed. They will be very few... But how many Judases of Kerioth you, your
followers and your successors will find along the ways of the world! And in order to be masters and
to know, you must attend this school... With his faults he shows you what man is; I show you what
man should be. Two examples equally necessary. By knowing both well, you must try to change the
former into the latter... And let My patience be your rule.»
«Lord, I was a big sinner, and I am certainly an example as well. But I would like Judas, who is not
such a sinner as I was, to become the convert that I am. Is it pride to say this? »
«No, Matthew, it is not pride. You honour two truths by saying so. The first is that the sentence
saying: "The good will of man works divine miracles" is truthful. The second is that God loved you
infinitely, since the time you thought nothing about it, and He did so because He was aware of your
capability for heroism. You are the fruit of two powers: your will and God's love. And I am putting
your will first, because without it God's love would have been vain. Vain, inert...»
«But could God not convert us without our will? » asks James of Alphaeus.
«Certainly. But man's will would still be required to persevere in the conversion obtained
miraculously.»
«So such will has not been and is not in Judas, either before knowing You, or now...» says Philip
impulsively. Some laugh, some sigh.
Jesus is the only one who defends the absent apostle: «Do not say that! He had it and has it. But the
evil law of the flesh overwhelms it at intervals. He is ill. A poor sick brother. In every family there
is a week or a sick person, someone who is the pain, the worry, the burden of the family. And yet is
a frail child not the one most loved by his mother? Is the unhappy brother not the one best served by
his brothers? Is he not the one to whom his father gives the dainty, taking it from his plate, to make
him happy, to make him feel that he is not a burden and thus make his illness less boring? »
«That is true. It is just like that. My twin sister was delicate in her childhood. I had taken all the
sturdiness. But the love of the whole family helped so much that now she is a buxom wife and
mother » says Thomas.
«Exactly. Do with your spiritual brother what You would do with a weak brother german. I will not
utter one word of reproach. Do not be more severe than I am. Your patient love is the sharpest
rebuke against which it is not possible to react. I will leave Matthew and Philip at Tekoah to wait
for Judas... Let the former remember that he was a sinner and the latter that he is a father...»
«Yes, Master. We will bear that in mind.»
«At Jericho, if Judas has not yet joined us, I will leave Andrew and John, and let them remember
that the gratuitous gifts of God have not been granted in the same measure to everybody... But go to
that old man who is staggering on the road over there. The town is in sight. With your alms he will
be able to buy some bread.»
«Master, we cannot. Judas has gone with the purse...» says Peter. «And the sisters did not give us
anything.»
«You are right, Simon. They are stunned with grief and we are as dazed as they are. It does not
matter. We have some bread. We are young and strong. Let us give it to the old man, that he may
not drop on the road.»
They search in their bags and put together a few morsels of bread, they give them to the old man
who looks at them with an amazed countenance.
«Eat, eat! » says Jesus encouraging him. And He lets him drink out of His flask, while asking him
where he is going.
«To Tekoah. There is a big market tomorrow. But I have had nothing to eat since yesterday.»
«Are you alone? »
«More than alone... My son drove me out of the house...» The senile voice is heart-rending.
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«God will open the gate of His Kingdom to you if you can believe in His mercy.»
«And in that of His Messiah. But my son will have no Messiah, because he who hates Him so much
as to hate his father who loves Him, cannot have the Messiah.»
«Is that why he drove you out? »
«Yes, it is. And that he might not lose the friendship of some people who persecute the Messiah. He
wanted to show them that his hatred is greater than theirs, as it exceeds the call of kinship.»
«How horrible! » they all exclaim.
«It would be more horrible if I had the same thoughts as my son » says the old man impulsively.
«But who is he? If I have understood correctly, he must be one who has power and authority...» says
Thomas.
«Man, it will not be a father to mention the name of his guilty son to have him despised. I must say
that I am cold and hungry, although by working hard I had increased the wealth of the family to
make my son happy. But not more than that. Consider than I am from Judaea, and he is from
Judaea, and that we are thus of the same race but of different opinions. The rest is of no
importance.»
«And since you are a just man, are you not asking anything of God? » Jesus asks kindly.
«That He may touch the heart of my son and induce him to believe what I believe.»
«But for yourself, just for yourself, are you not going to ask anything? »
«To meet Him Who, according to me, is the Son of God. To venerate Him and then die.»
«But if you die, you will not see Him any more. You will be in Limbo...»
«Only for a short time. You are a rabbi, are You not? I cannot see very well... My age... and the
many tears, and also hunger... But I can see the tassels of Your belt... If You are a good rabbi, and I
think You are, You must realise, too, that the time has come, I mean the time mentioned by Isaiah.
And the hour is about to come when the Lamb will take upon Himself all the sins of the world and
will bear all our evils and sorrows and will therefore be pierced and sacrificed that we may be
restored to health and we may be at peace with the Eternal Father. Then there will be peace also for
spirits... I hope so confiding in the mercy of God.»
«Have you ever seen the Master? »
«No. I only heard Him in the Temple at festivals. But I am small and age makes me even more so,
and I cannot see very well, as I said. So, if I go to the middle of the crowd I cannot see because
there is someone in front of me, if I stay out of the crowd I cannot see because I am too far away.
Oh! I would love to see Him! At least once! »
«You will see Him, father. God will satisfy you. And have you where to go at Tekoah? »
«No. I will stay under a porch or some door. I am used to it by now.»
«Come with Me. I know a good Israelite. He will receive you in the name of Jesus, the Galilean
Master.»
«But You are a Galilean, too. One can tell by Your accent.»
«Yes… Are you tired? But we are already at the first houses. You will soon be able to rest and you
will have some refreshment.»
Jesus bends to say something to Peter and Peter moves aside to tell the others what Jesus said but I
do not understand what he says. Then Peter quickens his steps and he enters the town with
Alphaeus' sons and John. Jesus follows him with the others, adapting His step to that of the poor old
man, who does not speak any more, tired as he is, and so he remains behind with Andrew and
Matthew.
The town seems to be empty. It is midday and many people are at home for their meals. After a few
metres they meet Peter who says: «It's done, Lord. Simon will accept him because You are taking
him, and he thanks You for thinking of him.»
«Let us bless the Lord! There are still just people in Israel. This old man is one, and Simon is
another. There are still some good merciful people, faithful to the Lord. And that compensates so
much bitterness. And it allows one to hope that divine justice will be appeased because of these just
people.»
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«However... That a son should expel his father from his house in order not to lose the friendship of
some powerful Pharisee...! »
«Their hatred for You can go to that extent! I am shocked! » says Philip.
«Oh! you will see much more than that! » replies Jesus.
«More? And what can there be more than a father being driven out because he does not hate You?
The sin of that man is a tremendous one!...»
«More tremendous will be the sin of a people against their God... But let us wait for the old man...»
«Who will his son be? »
«A Pharisee! »
«A member of the Sanhedrin! »
«A rabbi.» There are different opinions.
«A wretch. Do not investigate. Today he struck his father. Tomorrow he will strike Me. You can
see that the sin of Judas, his going away like an undisciplined son, is nothing in comparison. And
yet I will pray for this ungrateful son, for this Hebrew who offends his God. That he may mend his
ways. Do the same... Come, father. What is your name? »
«Elianna. I have never been happy! My father died before I was born, and my mother in giving birth
to me. My mother's mother, who brought me up, named me with the two names of my father and
mother joined together.»
«You really are an Eli, man, and your son is like Phinehas » says Philip who cannot set his mind at
rest because of such sin.
«God forbid, man. Phinehas died a sinner, and he died when the ark was captured. That would be a
misfortune for his soul and for the whole of Israel » replies the old man.
«Listen, this house is a friendly one and whatever I ask I get. It belongs to a certain Simon, a just
man in the eyes of God and of men. He will receive you for My sake, if you are willing to stay here
» says Jesus before knocking at the door.
«Am I to make a choice? I will invoke the blessing of Heaven on those who give me bread and the
shelter of charity. But I want to work. It is not a shame to be a servant. It is shameful to commit
sin...»
«We shall tell Simon » says Jesus with a smile of compassion, looking at the little old man,
destroyed by privations and grief.
The door is opened: «Come in, Master, peace be with You and with those who are with You. Where
is this brother whom You have brought me? That I may give him the kiss of peace and welcome »
says a man about fifty years old.
«Here he is. And may the Lord reward you.»
«I am rewarded. I have You as my guest. He who has You has God. I was not expecting You, and I
cannot honour You as I would like. But I hear that You will be coming back in a few days time and
I will be ready to receive You as becomes You.»
They are by now in a room in which steaming basins are ready for ablutions. The old man is
standing shily against the door, but the landlord takes him by the hand, and makes him sit down, he
wants to take his sandals off and serve him as if he were a king, and then put new sandals on his
feet, while the old man says: «Why? Why all this? I have come to serve, and you are serving me! It
is not right.»
«It is right, man. I cannot follow the Rabbi because I must help here in the house. But as the least
disciple of the holy Master I strive to put His words into practice.»
«You know Him well. Really, you know Him because you are good. There are many who know
Him in Israel, but how? With their eyes and their hatred. So they do not know Him. A man knows a
woman when he knows everything about her and he possesses her completely. It is the same with
Jesus of Nazareth, Whom I do not know with my eyes, but Whom I know better than many people
because I believe that Wisdom is in Him. But you really know Him, by sight and by His doctrine »
The man looks at Jesus but does not say anything.
The old man resumes speaking: «I told this rabbi that I want to work...»
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«Yes. We will find a job for you. For the time being come to the table. Master, Your disciples will
be coming shortly. Can we sit at the table just the same, or do You prefer to wait for them? »
«I prefer to wait for them. But if you have work to do...»
«Oh! Master. You know that it is a joy for me to obey Your least order.»
From this moment the old man begins to suspect of the identity of the Man Who assisted him on the
way and looks at Him over and over again, he then looks at His companions... diligently... walking
round them... The sons of Alphaeus come in with John. Jesus calls them by their names.
«Oh! Most High God! So... it was You! » exclaims the old man and he prostrates himself venerating
Him.
His amazement is not inferior to that of the others. His way of recognising the Master is so strange!
Peter in fact asks him: «What is there so special in these names so common in Israel, to make you
think that you are in the presence of the Messiah? »
«Because I know Judas. He always comes to my son, and...» the old man stops, as he feels
embarassed having mentioned his son...
«But I have never seen you, man » says Thaddeus, standing in front of him and bending to be face
to face with him.
«Neither do I know you. But one Judas, a disciple of the Christ, often comes to my son, and I heard
him speak of a John, of a James, and of a Simon, a friend of Lazarus of Bethany and of so many
other things... When I heard three names, known as those of the most intimate disciples of the
Master! And He, so good!... I understood, I did! But where is the other Judas? »
«He is not here. But it is true. It is I. The Lord is good, father. You wished to see Me, and you have
seen Me. Let us bless the mercy of God... Do not move away, Elianna. You were close to Me when
I was a Wayfarer to you and nothing else. But now that I am the Destination? You do not know how
much your heart has comforted Me! It is not possible for you to know. I, not you, I am the one who
has received most... When three quarters of Israel, and even more, hate Me to the point of being
criminals, when the weak ones move away from My way, when the thorns of ingratitude, of hatred,
of slander pierce Me on every side, when I can find no relief in the thought that My Sacrifice will
be salvation to Israel, to find one like you, father, is to receive compensation for My grief... You do
not know... None of you are aware of the deeper and deeper sadness of the Son of man. I thirst for
love... and too many hearts are dried springs which I approach in vain... But let us go...»
And holding the old man close to Himself, He goes into the room where the tables are already
laid...

519. At Tekoah.
31st October 1946.

The rear of Simon of Tekoah's house is actually a square delimited on two sides by the wings of the
U-shaped edifice. I call it a square because on market days, as the one I am observing, they open
three sections of the strong gate which separates it from a larger public square, and many vendors
invade with their stalls the porches which are situated on three sides of the house. I now understand
the financial... use, because Simon, being a clever Jew, passes collecting the hires of the places
occupied. And he drags after himself the old man, who is now wearing a decent garment, and he
introduces him to everybody saying: «As from today you will pay the amount agreed upon to him.»
Then, after completing the tour of the porches, he says to Elianna: «That is your work. Here, and
inside, with the hotel and the stables. It is not difficult or hard but it shows you how highly I esteem
you. I dismissed, one after the other, three men who were helping me, because they were not
honest. But I like you. And then, He brought you to me. And the Master knows hearts. Let us go to
Him and tell Him that if He wishes, this is the right time to speak.» And he goes away followed by
the old man...

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The square is becoming more and more crowded and the noise is increasing more and more. There
are women doing their shopping, cattle dealers, buyers of oxen to be yoked to the plough and of
other animals, peasants bent under the weight of baskets of fruit and praising their goods, cutlers
with all their sharp utensils well displayed on mats, making a great din by striking axes on stumps
to show the hardness of the metal, or hammering scythes placed across trestles to show the perfect
hardening of the blade, or lifting ploughshares with both hands and driving them into the ground,
which bursts open as if it were wounded, to give proof of the robustness of the share which no
ground can resist, and copper smiths with amphorae and buckets, pans and lamps, striking the
sonorous metal to the point of deafening people, to show them that it is solid, or shouting at the top
of their voices offering oil-lamps with one or more flames for the oncoming festival in Chislev; and
above all this uproar, as tedious and piercing as the lament of the nocturnal owl, there are the cries
of beggars spread out in the strategic points of the market.
Jesus comes from the house with Peter and James of Zebedee. I do not see the others. But I think
they must be going round the town announcing the Master, because I see that the crowds recognise
Him at once and many people arrive, while the shouting and noise die down. Jesus has alms given
to some beggars and He stops to greet two men who, followed by their servants, were about to leave
the market after doing their shopping. But they stop, too, to hear the Master. And Jesus begins to
speak, taking what He sees as a starting point:
«Everything at the right time, everything in the right place. You do not hold markets on the
Sabbath, neither do you trade in synagogues, nor do you work at night, but only during the day.
Sinners only trade on the day of the Lord, or desecrate the places destined for prayer by means of
human commerce, or steal at night committing robberies and crimes. Likewise: those who trade
honestly, busy themselves to demonstrate the good quality of their victuals or of their implements to
their customers and those who buy them are happy with the good purchase made. But if, for
instance, a vendor should succeed in deceiving a buyer with shrewd artifice, and the tool or the
victuals should turn out to be bad, inferior in value to the price paid, would the buyer not have
recourse to defensive measures, going from a minimum of stopping buying from that vendor to a
maximum of applying to a judge to have his money back? That is what would happen and it would
be just. And yet do we not see the people disappointed in Israel by those who sell rotten goods as
good ones and denigrate Him Who gives good merchandise, being the Just One of the Lord? Yes,
we can all see that.
Yesterday evening many of you came to tell of the evil artifices of bad vendors and I said: "Let
them carry on. Be firm in your hearts and God will provide". Those who sell things which are not
good, whom do they offend? You? Me? No. God Himself. He who is deceived is not as guilty as he
who deceives. The sin is not so much against man, as it is against God, by trying to sell things
which are not good, so that those who want to make a purchase may not come to good things. I do
not say: react, revenge yourselves. Such words cannot come from Me. I only say: listen to the true
sound of words, watch the actions of those who speak to you, diligently, in the great light, taste the
first draught or morsel offered to you, and if they taste sour, and if the behaviour of other people is
sinister, if the savour left in your hearts is upsetting, refuse what you are offered as a thing which is
not good. Wisdom, justice, charity are never sour, upsetting or fond of acting in the shadow.
I know that I have been preceded by some of My disciples and I will leave two of My apostles with
you; further, yesterday evening with deeds more than words, I testified where I come from and with
what mission. No long speech is required to draw you to My way. Meditate and be anxious to
remain on it. Imitate the founders of this town at the borders of the and desert. Consider that outside
My doctrine there is the aridity of the desert, whilst in My doctrine there are the sources of Life.
And whatever may happen, do not be upset or scandalised. Remember the words of the Lord in
Isaiah. My hand will never become too short or too small to do good to those who follow My ways,
neither will anything ever prevent the hand of the Most High from striking those who offend and
grieve Me, yet I came and I found very few willing to receive Me, I called and few replied to Me.
Because, as he who honours Me honours the Father Who sent Me, so he who despises Me despises
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Him Who sent Me. And according to the law of retaliation, he who disowns Me will be disowned.
But you, who have received My word, must not fear the abuse of men or tremble because of the
outrage committed first against Me, and then against you, because you love Me. Although I appear
to be persecuted and will seem to be struck, I will comfort and protect you. Be not afraid, do not
fear man, who is mortal, he is today and tomorrow he is but a remembrance and dust. But fear the
Lord, fear Him with holy love, without being frightened, but be afraid of not knowing how to love
Him proportionately to His infinite love. I will not say to you: do this or that. You are aware of what
is to be done. I say to you: love. Love God and His Christ. Love your neighbour as I taught you. And
you will do everything, if you know how to love.
I bless you, citizens of Tekoah, the town at the border of the desert, but an oasis of peace for the
persecuted Son of man, and may My blessing be in your hearts and in your homes, now and for
ever.»
«Stay, Master! Stay with us. The desert has always been kind to the saints of Israel! »
«I cannot. There are other people awaiting Me. You are in Me, I in you, because we love one
another.»
Jesus makes His way with difficulty through the crowd, who follow Him forgetting their trades and
everything else. Sick people cured bless Him again, hearts comforted thank Him, beggars greet
Him: «Living Manna of God »...
The old man is beside Him and remains with Him as far as the outskirts of the town. And only
when Jesus blesses Matthew and Philip who are remaining at Tekoah, he makes up his mind to
leave his Saviour and he does so kissing Jesus' bare feet, weeping and uttering words of gratitude.
«Stand up, Elianna, and come here that I may kiss you. The kiss of a son to his father and may that
reward you for everything. I apply to you the words of the prophet: "You who are weeping, shall
weep no more, because the Merciful One has had mercy on you". The Lord will give you a little
bread and a little water. I could not do more. If you have been driven away by one only, I have all
the mighty ones of the people driving Me away, and I am fortunate if I find food and shelter for My
apostles and Myself. But your eyes have seen Him Whom you desired to see, and your ears have
heard My words, just as your heart must feel My love. Go and be at Peace because you are a martyr
of justice, one of the precursors of all those who will be persecuted because of Me. Do not weep,
father! » And He kisses his white-haired head.
The old man kisses His cheek and whispers in His ear: «Do not trust the other Judas, my Lord. I do
not want to soil my tongue... but do not trust him. He does not come with good intentions to my
son...»
«Yes. But think no more of the past. It will soon be all over and no one will be able to harm Me any
more. Goodbye, Elianna. The Lord is with you.»
They part...
«Master, what did the old man say to You in such a low voice? » asks Peter who is walking beside
Jesus, and with some difficulty, because Jesus is striding with His long legs, and Peter cannot,
because he is rather short.
«Poor old man! What do you think he could tell Me, that I did not already know? » replies Jesus,
evading a precise answer.
«He spoke of his son, did he not? Did he tell You who he is? »
«No, Peter. I can assure you. He kept that name in his heart.»
«But do You know him? »
«I do. But I will not tell you.»
They remain silent for a long time. Then the anxious question of Peter and his confession. «Master,
but why, for what purpose does the Iscariot go to the house of a very wicked man, such as the son
of Elianna? I am afraid, Master! He has no good friends. He does not go openly. He has no strength
to resist evil. I am afraid, Master. Why? Why does Judas go to such people, and secretly? » Peter's
face is an expressive mask of a sorrowful query.
Jesus looks at him but does not reply. In fact, what can He reply, in order not to tell a lie and not to
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hurl faithful Peter against unfaithful Judas? He prefers to let Peter speak.
«Are You not replying? I have had no peace since yesterday, when the old man thought he had
recognised Judas among us. It is like the day when You spoke to the wife of the Sadducee. Do You
remember? Do You remember my suspicion? »
«Yes, I do. And do you remember what I said to you then? »
«Yes, Master, I remember.»
«There is nothing else to be said, Simon. The actions of men have appearances that are different
from reality. But I am glad that I provided for that old man. It is as if Ananias had come back.
Actually, if Simon of Tekoah had not accepted him, I would have taken him to Solomon's little
house, to have a father there always waiting for us. But for Eli it is better as it is. Simon is good and
he has many grandchildren. Eli loves children... And children make one forget many sad things...»
With His usual skill in distracting His interlocutor, and leading him on to a different subject, when
He finds that it is not convenient to answer dangerous questions, Jesus has distracted Peter from his
thoughts. And He continues to speak to him of children, whom they have met here and there, until
they remember Marjiam, who is perhaps hauling the nets just then, after fishing in the beautiful
lake of Gennesaret.
And Peter, whose thoughts are now far from Eli and Judas, smiles and asks: «But after Passover, we
are going there, are we not? It is so beautiful. Oh! much more than it is here. We Galileans are
sinners, according to those of Judaea... But to live here! Oh! Eternal Mercy! If we are going to be
punished, there will certainly be no reward here.»
Jesus calls the others who have been left behind and He goes away with them along the road
warmed by the December sunshine.

520. Arrival at Jericho. Zacchaeus' Apostolate.

1st November 1946.

Jesus is anxiously awaited. A large crowd is in the fields near the town waiting for Him, and as
soon as a look-out man, who has climbed a tall walnut-tree, shouts: «Here is the Lamb of God! » the
people stand up and run towards Jesus, Who is coming forward in the early misty twilight.
«Master! Master! We have been waiting for You for such a long time! Our sick people! Our
children! Your blessing! The old people are waiting for You to die in peace! If You bless us, Lord,
no misfortune will befall us! » they all speak at the same time, while Jesus raises His hand
repeatedly to bless and continues to say: «Peace, peace to all of you! » The apostles who are still
with Him are caught in the crowd and carried away from Jesus, Who is almost prevented from
walking by the very ones who gently complain of the long wait.
Poor Zacchaeus struggles convulsively to reach Jesus, to make himself heard by Him, or at least to
be seen. But so short as he is, and not very agile or strong, he is always pushed back by fresh waves
of people, his voice is lost in the clamour, and in the confusion of restless heads, arms and
garments, his person disappears. In vain he implores and at times he reproaches to have some
compassion. People are always selfish with regard to what gives them pleasure, and are cruel to
their weaker neighbour. Poor Zacchaeus, feeling exhausted after all his efforts and convinced of
their uselessness, is no longer willing to struggle and utterly disheartened, resigns himself. In fact
how can he possibly succeed if more people come rushing from every street, which look like
streams flowing into the same river: the street along which Jesus is walking? And each new
affluent, with a fresh wave that makes the crowd thicker and thicker, to the extent of making it
frightening to be caught in it, pushes back poor Zacchaeus.
Thaddeus sees him and tries to elbow his way through the crowd to tear him away from the corner
into which the crowd has pushed and confined him. But Judas Thaddeus in turn is pushed by those
pressing in upon him from behind and his attempt fails. Thomas, relying on his strength, elbows his
way and shouts in his powerful voice: «Make way! » for the same purpose... Not a hope! The crowd
is a wall more solid than rock, and at the same time as pliable as caoutchouc. It bends but will not

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break. It is no longer an embrace: it is an unbreakable chain. Thomas also resigns himself.
And Zacchaeus loses all hope, because Didimus is the last of the apostles caught in the stream of
people. And at last it passes... It has passed... Strips of cloth, tassels, fringes, hairpins, clothes-clasps
are lying on the ground witnessing the violence. There is also a little child's sandal, completely
crushed, and seems to be sadly awaiting the little foot that lost it... Zacchaeus queues up behind
them all looking sad as well, just like the little sandal snatched from its little owner by the crowd.
Jesus cannot be seen any longer. A bend in the street has concealed him from poor Zacchaeus'
eyes... When, last in the crowd, he arrives at the square where once he had his bench, he sees the
crowds have stopped shouting, praying, imploring. And he sees Jesus, Who has mounted the little
step of a house, shake His head and arms. And He says something that cannot be understood
because of the roar of the crowd. And finally he sees Jesus, Who has come off His pedestal with
difficulty, take to the road again and turn towards that part of the town where his house is.
Zacchaeus then grows daring again. The crowd is a large one, but the square is wide, the people
therefore are not so compact and... one can go through it, as if it were not too thick a hedge, if one
is willing to do so and is not afraid of being injured. And Zacchaeus, who has now become a
wedge, a catapult, a battering-ram, butts and bumps against people, insinuates himself, delivering
and receiving punches on the nose, thrusts with elbows in the stomach and kicks in the shin, but he
pushes his way through and moves forward... He is now at the opposite side... But the square
narrows here, and he meets the impenetrable wall again. He is only a few steps from Jesus, Who is
already standing near his house. But if deserts and rivers separated him from it, he could have better
hopes to succeed in reaching Him. He gets angry, and he shouts in a commanding voice: «I have to
go home! Let me pass! Can't you see that He wants to go into my house?»
He should never have said so! That rekindles the wishes of the people to have the Master in other
houses. Some people laugh making fun of poor Zacchaeus, some give him rude answers. There is
not one person who feels sorry for him. On the contrary they begin to shout and get excited so that
the Master may not hear or see Zacchaeus. And some shout: «You have already had even too much
from Him, you old sinner! » I think that the memory of old tax collections and vexations influences
so much ill-will... Even the man who is more inclined to the supernatural almost always has a little
corner in which the love for his hoard is lively and even more lively is the memory of whoever has
been detrimental to that hoard...
But the time for Zacchaeus' trial has passed and Jesus rewards his perseverance. Jesus shouts at the
top of His voice: «Zacchaeus! Come to Me. Let him pass, because I want to go into his house.»
It is absolutely necessary to obey. The people press against one another in order to open out and
Zacchaeus comes forward, flushed with fatigue and blushing for joy, and he tries to tidy his ruffled
hair, his unbuttoned garment, and his belt the tassels of which are around his back instead of being
in front of him. He looks for his mantle... Who knows where it is!... It does not matter. He is by now
in front of Jesus, stooping to pay his respects to Him. It is impossible for him to do more than that
as he has hardly enough room to bend a little.
«Peace to you, Zacchaeus. Come here, that I may give you the kiss of peace. You deserve it » says
Jesus smiling a really cheerful juvenile smile that makes Him look rejuvenated.
«Oh! yes, Lord. I did deserve it. How difficult it is to reach You, Lord » says Zacchaeus, raising
himself up as much as possible on the tips of his toes to be at the level of Jesus Who bends to kiss
him. As he does so, his face appears to be bleeding because of a scratch on his right cheek, and one
of his eyes is bruised, probably because of a thrust of an elbow on his eye-socket.
Jesus kisses him and then says:
«But I am not rewarding you for this effort. But for the others you have made, unknown to many
people, but known to Me. Yes, it is true. It is difficult to reach Me, and the crowd is not the only
obstacle, and it is not even the most difficult obstacle one finds to meet Me.
But, o people who have almost carried Me shoulder-high, the most difficult, the most composed
obstacle, and which is always recomposed after one tries to destroy it or overcome it, is one's ego. I
did not seem to be seeing, but I saw everything. And I evaluated everything. And what did I see? I
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saw a converted sinner, one who was hard-hearted, who loved comfort, was proud, vain, lascivious
and avaricious. And I saw him divest himself of his old ego also in minor matters, and change in his
behaviour and affections, in order to come to his Saviour, as he did by struggling to reach Him, by
imploring with humbleness, by accepting gibes and reproaches patiently, suffering in his body to
be knocked about by the crowd and in his heart to be pushed to the very end of it, without even one
glance from Me. And I saw other things in him. Things which you know as well, but you do not
want to take them into account, although they have given you relief.
You may say: "How do You know them, since You do not live among us?". I reply: as I read the
hearts of men so I am aware of the actions of men and I know how to be just and reward in
proportion to the distance covered to reach Me, to the efforts made to uproot the wild forest which
covered the spirit, to improve it eliminating what was not the vital tree, and making it the king of
one's ego, surrounding it with plants of virtues so that it may be honoured, and watching that no
animal that is unclean because it creeps, or is eager for corruption, or lascivious, or idle - the
various wicked passions - should nestle in the thicket, but this spirit of yours should be inhabited
only by what is good and capable of praising the Lord, that is supernatural affections, singing birds
and meek lambs willing to be sacrificed, inclined to perfect praise out of love for God.
And as I noticed Zacchaeus' action, thoughts and labour, so I noticed that in this town the love of
many people who have acclaimed Me, is more sensitive than spiritual. If you loved Me according to
justice, you would have taken pity on your fellow citizen and you would not have mortified him by
reminding him of his past. That past that he has cancelled and God does not remember, because He
does not go back on forgiveness granted, unless man sins again. And he is judged again only for
the new sin, not for the one already forgiven. Now I say to you, and I give this as a subject for
meditation at night, that true love for Me does not consist in acclamations, but in doing what I do
and teach, in practicing reciprocal love, in being humble and merciful, bearing in mind that your
material part was made with one only dust, and that dust always has an attraction for mire, and that
consequently, if so far what in you is the strength that has held you up above the mire, the spirit, has
never known defeats - and that is impossible because man is a sinner and God only is without sin -
in future your spirit might have to admit defeats, and in greater number and gravity than those of
the old sinner now reborn to Grace. In fact through Grace he has become juvenile and new, just like
a new-born baby, with in his favour the humility deriving from his recollection of having been a
sinner and the firm will to do, during the rest of his lifetime, as much good as is necessary to fill a
long life entirely consecrated to doing good, and thus make amends, and with full and overflowing
measure, for all the wrongs he may have done.
I will speak to you tomorrow. I have said enough for this evening. Go and bear in mind My warning
and bless God Who has sent you the Doctor Who amputates your sensuality hidden under a veil of
spiritual health, like hidden diseases that corrode life under a veil of seeming health... Come
Zacchaeus.»
«Yes, my Lord. I have only one old servant and I will open the door myself, and with it my deeply
moved heart, oh! how moved it is, because of Your infinite goodness.»
And after opening the gate he lets Jesus and the apostles go in, and leads Him towards the house,
through the garden, now turned into a kitchen garden. The house also has been stripped of all
superfluous items. Zacchaeus lights a lamp and calls the servant.
«Here we are. The Master is here. He will be sleeping here with His apostles and will have dinner
here. Have you prepared everything as I told you? »
«Yes, I have. With the exception of the vegetables, which I will boil now, everything is ready.»
«Change your clothes, then, and go and inform those I told you, that He is here and ask them to
come.»
«I am going, master. May You be blessed, Master, as You are letting me die a happy death! » He
goes away.
«He is the servant of my father and has remained with me. I dismissed all the others. But he is dear
to me. He is the voice that was never silent when I sinned. And because of that I used to ill-treat
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him. After You, he is the one I love more than anybody else... Come, my friends. There is a
fireplace there and what can give comfort to tired cold limbs. You, Master, to my room...» and he
takes Him towards a room at the end of a corridor.
He goes in, closes the door, pours hot water into a pitcher, takes off Jesus' sandals and serves Him.
Before putting the sandals on again, he kisses the bare foot and places it on his neck saying: «Thus!
That it may crush the residue of the old Zacchaeus! » He stands up. He looks at Jesus, with a smile
that trembles on his lips, a humble smile, which looks as if it were moistened with tears. He makes
a gesture indicating the whole room and says: «I sinned so much in here! But I have changed
everything, so that that savour should no longer be present... Memories... I am weak... I wanted only
the memory of my conversion to be alive on these bare walls, in this hard bed... The rest... I made
money of it, because I was left without any and I wanted to accomplish good deeds. Sit down,
Master...»
Jesus sits on a wooden seat and Zacchaeus places himself on the floor, at Jesus' feet, half sitting,
half kneeling. He resumes speaking.
«I do not know whether I have done the right thing, and whether You can approve of my behaviour.
Perhaps I began where I should have finished. But they exist, too. And only an old publican can
show no repugnance against them in Israel. No, I am wrong. Not only an old publican, but You as
well, nay it is You Who taught me to love them truly. Previously they were my accomplices in vice,
but I did not love them. Now I reproach them but I love them. You and I. The all Holy One, the
converted sinner. You because You have never sinned and You want to give us the joy that is
Yours, of the Man without sin. And I because I sinned so much and I know how sweet is the peace
that comes from being forgiven, redeemed, renewed... I wanted it for them. I looked for them. Oh!
it was hard at the beginning! I wanted to make them good and I had myself to improve... What a
difficult task! I had to watch over myself because I felt that they were watching over me. A mere
nothing would have sufficed to drive them away... And then... Many sinned out of need, urged by
their occupation. I sold everything to have money to keep them until they found other jobs, less
profitable, more laborious, but honest. And some of them still come, and they are half curious, half
willing to be men, not only animals. And I have to give them hospitality until they become
submissive to the new yoke. Many have been circumcised. The first step towards the true God. But
I do not compel them. I have wide arms to embrace their miseries, and I cannot be disgusted with
them. I also would like to give them what You would like to give everybody: the joy of being
without remorse, since we cannot be, like You, without sin. Now, tell me, my Lord, whether I have
been too daring.»
«You have acted well, Zacchaeus. You are giving them more than what you hope and think I want
to give men. Not only the joy of being forgiven, without remorse, but the joy of being soon citizens
of My heavenly Kingdom. I was aware of these deeds of yours. I followed you while you proceeded
along the hard but glorious path of charity; because that is charity, and of the purest quality. You
have understood the word of the Kingdom. Few people have understood it because the ancient idea
survives in them with the firm belief that they are already holy and learned. After removing the past
from your heart, you remained empty and you were able to, nay you wanted to put the new words,
the future, the eternal into your heart. Continue so, Zacchaeus, and you will be the collector of your
Lord Jesus » concludes Jesus smiling and laying His hand on Zacchaeus' head.
«Do You approve of what I did, Lord? Of everything? »
«Of everything, Zacchaeus. I also told Nike, who was speaking to Me about you. Nike understands
you. She is open to universal mercy.»
«Nike used to help me a lot. But now I see her only once a month, at the new moon... I would have
liked to follow her. But Jericho is favourable to my new work...»
«She will not stay long in Jerusalem... You would move for no time. Afterwards Nike will come
back here...»
«After how long, Lord? »
«After My Kingdom has been proclaimed.»
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«Your Kingdom... I am afraid of that moment. Will those who now say that they are faithful to you,
be able to be so, then? Because there will certainly be risings and struggles between those who love
You and those who hate You... Do You know, Lord, that they engage even highwaymen, the scum
of the people, to have followers ready to form a large mass and thus impose themselves on others? I
was told by one of my poor brothers... Oh! is there much difference between him who steals
lawfully, between him who steels somebody's honour and him who robs a wayfarer? I also used to
steal lawfully until You saved me, but even then I would not have countenanced those who hate
You... It was a young man. A thief. Yes, a thief. One evening, when I had gone towards mount
Adummim awaiting three peers of mine, who were coming from Ephraim with some cattle
purchased at a low price, I found him lying in wait in a gorge. I spoke to him... I have never had a
family, and yet I think that if I had had children, I would have spoken to them thus to convince
them to change life. He explained to me how and why he had become a thief... Eh! how often the
true culprits are those who do not seem to be doing anything wrong!... I said to him: "Don't steal any
more. If you are hungry, there is some bread for you, too. I will find you an honest job. As you have
not yet become a killer stop, save yourself". And I convinced him. He told me that he was by
himself, as all the others had been bought over with much money by those who hate You, and now
they are ready to foment risings and to say that they are Your followers, in order to scandalise the
people, and they hide in the caves of the Kidron, in the sepulchres, towards the Phasael, in the caves
to the north of the town, among the tombs of the Kings and Judges, everywhere... What do they
want to do, Lord? »
«Joshua was able to stop the sun, but by no means whatsoever will they be able to stop the will of
God.»
«They have money, Lord! The Temple is rich, and the gold offered to the Temple is not Corban for
them, if it serves them to triumph.»
«They have nothing. The power is Mine. Their building will collapse as if it were built with leaves
dried by the autumn winds and shaped into a castle by a little boy. Do not be afraid, Zacchaeus.
Your Jesus will be Jesus.» (1)
«God grant it!... They are calling us. Let us go. »..

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521. At Jericho. Two Parables: That of the Sick and the Healthy, and That
of the Pharisee and the Publican.
2nd November 1946.

Jesus comes out of Zacchaeus' house. It is late in the morning. He is with Zacchaeus, Peter and
James of Alphaeus. The other apostles are perhaps already out in the country announcing that the
Master is in town.
Behind the group of Jesus, Zacchaeus and the apostles, there is another one of people
considerably... varying in features, age and garments. One can state without hesitation that the men
in the group belong to different races, which are probably even opposed to one another. But the
events of life have brought them to this Palestinian town and have gathered them so that from their
depth they may rise towards light. They are mostly withered faces of people who have used and
abused life in several ways, most of them with tired eyes; the eyes of others seem to have become
greedy or hard owing to the long habit of attending to... fiscal robberies or to giving brutal orders,
and now and again their old looks appear again under a humble pensive veil drawn by their new
life. And that happens particularly when people from Jericho look at them scornfully or mumble
insolent words to them. Their eyes later become tired, humble and they lower their heads
disconsolately.
Jesus turns round twice to look at them and seeing them far behind, slackening their paces as they
come closer to the place selected for His speech, and already crowded with people, He slackens His
pace as well, to wait for them and He then says to them: «Go on ahead of Me and be not afraid. You
defied the world when you were doing evil; you must not be afraid of it now that you have divested
yourselves of it. Use also now what you made use of to subdue it in the past: indifference towards
the opinion of the world, the only weapon to make it tired of judging, and it will tire of having
anything to do with you, and it will absorb you, although slowly, annihilating you in the great
anonymous mass, that is, in this miserable world, to which, in actual fact, too much importance is
attached.»
The men, fifteen in all, obey and move forward.
«Master, the sick people of the country are over there » says James of Zebedee going towards Jesus
and pointing to a corner warmed by the sun.
«I am coming. Where are the others? »
«With the crowd. But they have already seen You and they are coming. Also Solomon, Joseph of
Emmaus, John of Ephesus, Philip of Arbela are with them. They are going to the house of Philip
and they have come from Joppa, Lydda and Modin. They brought with them men and women from
the seaside. In actual fact they were looking for You because they are at a variance on judging a
woman. But they will tell You...»
In fact Jesus is soon surrounded and greeted reverently by the other disciples. Behind them are
those who have been recently attracted by Jesus' doctrine. But John of Ephesus is absent and Jesus
asks why.
«He stopped with a woman and her relatives in a house far from the crowd. They do not know
whether the woman is possessed or she is a prophetess. She says wonderful things, according to the
people from her village. But some scribes have listened to her and they have judged her to be
possessed. Her relatives have called exorcizers several times, but they have not been able to expel
the demon that makes her speak and possesses her. But one of them said to the father of the woman
(she is a virgin widow who remained in the family): "The Messiah Jesus is needed for your
daughter. He will understand her words and will know where they come from. I tried to order the
spirit, that speaks in her, to go away in the name of Jesus called the Christ. The spirits of darkness
have always fled when I used that Name. But they didn't this time. From that I infer that: it is either
Beelzebub himself who speaks and can resist also that Name mentioned by me, or it is the Spirit of
God Himself, and consequently is not afraid being one with the Christ. I am more convinced of the
latter case than of the former. But to be certain, only the Christ can judge. He will know the words
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and their origin". He was maltreated by the scribes who were present and who said that he was
possessed as well, like the woman and like You. Forgive us if we have to say this... And some
scribes have never left us, and they guard the woman because they want to ascertain whether she
may be informed of Your arrival. Because she says that she knows Your face and Your voice, and
would be able to recognise You among thousands of people, whereas it is proved that she has never
left her village, nay, she has never moved from her house since her bridegroom died fifteen years
ago, on the eve of her wedding day; and it is also proved that You have never been to Bethlechi,
which is her village. And the scribes are waiting for this last test to say that she is possessed. Will
You see her at once? »
«No. I must speak to the people. And it would be too noisy to meet here, among the crowds. Go and
tell John of Ephesus, the woman's relatives and also the scribes, that I will wait for them, when the
sun begins to set, in the woods along the river, on the path to the ford. Go.»
After dismissing Solomon, who has spoken on behalf of everybody, Jesus goes towards the sick
people imploring to be cured and He heals them. Among them there is an elderly woman ankylosed
by arthritis, a paralytic, a dull-witted young man, a girl who I think was tubercular, and two people
with sore eyes.
The crowds utter thrilling cries of joy.
But the series of sick people has not yet come to an end. A woman disfigured by grief comes
forward, supported by two friends or relatives, and she kneels saying: «My son is dying. He cannot
be brought here... Have mercy on me! »
«Can you believe without limits? »
«Everything, my Lord! »
«Then, go home.»
«Home?... Without You?...» The woman looks at Him for a moment, full of anxiety, then she
understands. Her poor face brightens up. She shouts: «I am going, Lord. And blessed be You and
the Most High Who sent You! » And she runs away faster than her companions...
Jesus asks a dignified citizen of Jericho: «Is that woman a Jewess? »
«No, she isn't. At least not by birth. She is from Miletus. But she married one of us and since then
she believes in our faith.»
«She believed better than many Hebrews » remarks Jesus.
Then, climbing on the high step of a house, He makes the usual gesture of opening out His arms,
before speaking, to impose silence. When silence is created, He gathers the folds of His mantle,
opened on His chest by His gesture, and holds it with His left hand while He stretches out His right
one in the attitude of one who takes an oath, saying:
«Listen, o citizens of Jericho, to the parables of the Lord, and then meditate on them in your hearts,
and draw the conclusions to nourish your spirits. You can do so, because it is not since yesterday, or
last month, or last winter that you know the Word of God. Before I became the Master, John, My
Precursor, had prepared you for My coming, and when I became the Master, My disciples ploughed
this ground seven and seven times to sow the seed that I had given them. So you are able to
understand the word and the parable.
With whom shall I compare those, who were converted after being sinners? I will compare them
with sick people who have recovered. With whom shall I compare the others who have not sinned
in public or those, who are rarer than black pearls, who not even secretly have committed grave
sins? I will compare them with healthy people. The world is composed of those two categories,
both in the spirit and in the flesh and blood. But if the comparisons are the same, the way the world
treats sick people who have recovered from diseases of the body is different from the way it treats
converted sinners, that is people whose spirits were diseased and who have become healthy.
We see that even when a leper, who is the most dangerous sick person and the most isolated
because of the danger, receives the grace of recovery, he is admitted again into society, after he has
been examined by a priest and purified, and the people of his town give him a hearty welcome
because he is cured and has come back to life, to his family and his business. There is a big feast in
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the family and in the town when a leper receives that grace and becomes healthy! His relatives and
fellow-citizens vie in taking various things to him, and if he is all alone, without home or furniture,
they offer him bed and pieces of furniture, and they all say: "He is held 'dearest by God. His hand
has cured him. Let us therefore honour him and we will thus honour Him Who created and
re-created him". It is right to do so. And when unfortunately a man shows the first signs of leprosy,
with how much love full of anguish his relatives and friends overwhelm him with endearments, as
long as it is possible to do so, as if they wished to give him, all at once, the treasure of love they
would have given him in many years, that he may take it with him to the sepulchre of a living
being.
But why do they not do so with the other sick people? A man begins to commit sins, his relatives
and above all his fellow-citizens notice that. Why then do they not try to tear him away from sin
with loving efforts? A mother, a father, a wife, a sister still do that, but brothers are unlikely to do
so, never mind the children of the father's or mother's brother. And, finally, the fellow-citizens the
more just ones, do nothing but criticise, scoff at, abuse, be scandalised, exaggerate the sins of the
sinner, pointing him out, keeping him away as if he were a leper, whereas those who are not just
become his accomplices, to enjoy themselves at his expense. But only very rarely there is a mouth,
and above all a heart, that goes to the poor wretch with compassion and firmness, with patience and
supernatural love, and anxiously strives to stop the descent into sin. What? Is the disease of the
spirit not more serious, really grave and mortal? Does it not deprive one, and for ever, of the
Kingdom of God? Should the first form of love towards God and our neighbour, not be the anxiety
to cure a sinner for the good of his soul and the glory of God?
And when a sinner is converted, why do people persist in judging him, and almost regret that he has
come back to spiritual salvation? Is it because you realise that your prediction of the certain
damnation of a fellow-citizen of yours is given the lie? But you ought to be happy, because He Who
gives you the lie is merciful God, Who gives you a measure of His goodness to comfort you in your
more or less grave sins. And why persist in considering soiled, despicable, worthy of remaining
isolated, what God and the good will of a heart have made clean, admirable, worthy of the esteem,
nay of the admiration of one's brothers? But you do rejoice if an ox of yours, or a donkey or camel,
or a sheep of your flock or your pet dove recovers from a disease! You do exult if a stranger, whom
you can hardly remember by name having heard about him when he was isolated because he
suffered from leprosy, is healed! Why then do you not exult at these spiritual recoveries, at these
victories of God? Heaven rejoices when a sinner is converted. Heaven: God, the most pure angels,
who do not know what it is to commit sin. And do you, you men, want to be more intolerant than
God?
Be honest-hearted and recognise the presence of the Lord not only in the clouds of incense and in
the songs of the Temple, in the place where only the holiness of the Lord, in the High Priest, must
enter and ought to be as holy as indicated by its name, but also in the wonder of these spirits which
have risen again, and of these reconsecrated altars on which the Love of God descends with its fire
to consume the sacrifice.»
Jesus is interrupted by the mother seen previously, as with cries and blessings she wants to worship
Him. Jesus listens to her, blesses her and sends her back home, resuming His interrupted speech.
«And if the behaviour of a sinner was once the cause of scandal to you, whereas now it is an
edifying example, do not mock at it, but imitate it. Because no one is ever so perfect as to make it
impossible for another person to edify him. And Good is always a lesson to be accepted, even if it is
given by one who was once blame-worthy. Imitate and help him, because by doing so you will
glorify the Lord and prove that you have understood the Word. Do not be like those whom you
criticise in the secret of your hearts because their actions do not correspond to their words. But let
each good action of yours be the crowning-piece of each good word of yours. And then you will
really be looked at and listened to benevolently by the Eternal Father.
Listen to this other parable to understand which things are of value in the eyes of God. It will teach
you to rectify a bad thought often found in many hearts. Most men are their own judges, and
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considering that one man only in a thousand is humble, it so happens that each man considers
himself the only perfect one, whereas he finds hundreds of faults in his neighbour.
One day two men, who had gone to Jerusalem on business, went up to the Temple, as becomes
every good Israelite every time he sets foot in the Holy City. One was a Pharisee, the other a
publican. The former had come to collect the rents of some shops and to make up accounts with his
stewards who lived near the town. The latter had come to pay in the taxes he had collected and to
invoke compassion for a widow who could not pay the taxation on a boat and nets, because the
amount of fish caught by her oldest son was barely sufficient to feed her many children.
Before going up to the Temple, the Pharisee had called on the tenants of the shops, and after
looking round in the shops and seeing that they were full of goods and buyers, he was pleased with
himself and he then called the tenant and said to him. "I see that your business is thriving".
"Yes, by the grace of God. I am pleased with my work. I have been able to increase the stock of
goods and I hope to increase it further. I made improvements to the place and next year I shall have
no expenses for benches and shelves and I will thus have more profit".
"Well! Very well! I am glad! What is your rent for this place?".
"One hundred didrachmae a month. It is dear but the position is a good one...".
"You are right. It is good. I therefore double the rent".
"But, sir" exclaimed the shopkeeper. "If you do that, you leave me no profit!".
"What I said is right. Have I to make you rich with my property? Be quick. You either give me two
thousand four hundred didrachmae at once, or I will expel you and keep the goods. The place
belongs to me and I can do what I like with it".
He did that with the first, the second and the third tenant, doubling the price to each of them,
turning a deaf ear to their entreaties. And as the third tenant, who had a large family, wanted to
offer resistance, he sent for the police and had the official seals of distraint affixed to the door, and
the poor tenant driven out.
Then in his mansion, he examined the registers of his stewards, finding faults whereby he punished
them as sluggards and sequestered the goods they had kept for themselves by full right. One of them
had a dying son, and because of the heavy expenses he had sold part of his master's oil to buy
medicines. So he had nothing to give the greedy master.
"Have mercy on me, sir. My poor son is on the point of death, and later on I will do extra work to
pay you what you think is fair. But now, as you can understand, I am not in a position to do so".
"Are you not? I will show you whether you can pay me or not". And he went to the oil-mill with the
poor steward and took away also the little oil the man had kept for his family and to feed the lamp
that enabled him to watch at night at the bedside of his son.
The publican, instead, went to his superior who, on receiving the taxes he had collected said to him:
"Three hundred and seventy ases are missing here. How come?".
"Well, I will explain it to you. In the village there is a widow with seven children. Only the oldest is
fit to work. But he cannot go far from the shore in his boat, because his arms are too weak to handle
the oars and the sail, and he cannot afford to engage an assistant. As he fishes near the shore he
catches very little which is hardly sufficient to feed the eight poor wretches. I had not the heart to
collect the tax".
"I see. But the law is law. It would be dreadful if people knew that it is compassionate. Everybody
would find some reason not to pay. Let the young man change trade and sell his boat if they cannot
pay".
"It is their daily bread, also for the future... and it is a souvenir of their father".
"I understand. But it is not possible to compromise".
"All right. But I cannot think of eight unfortunate people being deprived of their only resource. I
will pay the three hundred and seventy ases".
Then the two went up to the Temple and on passing near the treasury hall the Pharisee took a bulky
purse from his bosom ostentatiously and emptied it to the last coin into the treasury. The purse
contained the money taken from the shopkeepers and the proceeds of the steward's oil that the
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Pharisee had immediately sold to a merchant. The publican instead threw in a handful of small
coins after taking from it what he needed to go back home. So they both gave what they had.
Apparently the Pharisee was the more generous because he gave to the last coin he had. But one
must also consider that he had more money in his mansion and he had credits with rich
money-changers.
They then went before the Lord. The Pharisee at the very front, near the limit of the Court of the
Hebrews, toward the Holy; the publican at the back, almost under the vault opening into the
Women's Court, where he remained stooped, crushed by the thought of his misery as compared with
divine Perfection. And they both prayed.
The Pharisee, standing up straight, almost insolent, as if he were the landlord of the place and he
were the one who condescended to do homage to a visitor, said: "Here I am, I have come to
venerate You in the House that is our glory. I have come, although I feel that You are in me,
because I am a just man. I know how to behave to be so. However, although I am aware that it is
only through my own merit that I am such, I thank You, as prescribed by the law, for what I am. I
am not greedy, unjust, adulterous, or a sinner like that publican who threw a handful of small coins
into the Treasury at the same time as I did. As for me, as You saw, I gave You all I had with me.
That greedy fellow, instead, divided his money into two parts and gave You the smaller one. He
will certainly keep the other part for revelries and women. But I am pure. I will not be polluted. I
am pure and just, I fast twice a week, I pay the tithes of what I possess. Yes, I am pure, just and
blessed, because I am holy. Bear that in mind, o Lord".
The publican, from his remote corner, without daring to raise his eyes towards the precious doors of
the Temple, and striking his chest, prayed saying: "Lord, I am not worthy to be here. But You are
just and holy, and You still allow me to stay here because You know that man is a sinner and if he
does not come to You he becomes a demon. Oh! my Lord! I would like to honour You day and
night, but for many hours I am the slave of my work. An unpleasant work that disheartens me
because it is the cause of grief to the poorest of my neighbours. But I must obey my superiors,
because it is my daily bread. Grant me, o my God, to be able to mitigate my duty towards my
superiors with charity towards my poor brothers, so that I may not be condemned because of my
work. Every work is holy if performed with charity. Let Your charity be always present to my heart
so that I, miserable as I am, may bear with my subjects as You bear with me, a big sinner. I would
have liked to honour You more, Lord. You know. But I thought that to take some of the money
destined to the Temple was better than putting it in the Treasure and causing eight poor innocent
people to weep desolately. But if I made a mistake, let me understand that, o Lord, and I will give
You up to the last farthing and I will go back to my village on foot begging for a piece of bread. Let
me understand Your justice. Have mercy on me, o Lord, because I am a big sinner".
That is the parable. I solemnly tell you that while the Pharisee left the Temple with a fresh sin
added to those he had committed before going up to the Moriah, the publican came away justified
and the blessing of God followed him to his house and remained in it. Because he was humble and
merciful and his actions were even holier than his words. The Pharisee, instead, was good only in
words and exteriorly, whilst internally he was and acted as a demon because of the pride and
hardness of his heart, and God therefore detested him.
He who exalts himself will, sooner or later, be humbled. If not in this, in future life. And he who
humbles himself will be exalted, particularly in Heaven where the actions of men are seen in their
true reality.
Come, Zacchaeus. Come, you who are with him and you, My apostles and disciples. I will go on
speaking to you privately. »
And enveloping Himself in His mantle, He goes back to Zacchaeus' house.

75. In Zacchaeus' House with the Converts. The Soul and the Error of

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 Reincarnation.
3rd November 1946.

They are all gathered in a large bare room. It was certainly beautiful once. Now it is nothing but a
large room. From the dining-room and the bedrooms they have brought chairs and small beds into it
and they are all sitting round the Master, Whom they have seated on a kind of armchair, of
engraved wood, covered with a long-pile carpet. It is the most luxurious piece of furniture in the
house.
Zacchaeus is speaking of a croft bought with the money gathered among them: «After all we had to
do something. Idleness is not a good medicine to avoid sin. The ground is not fertile as yet, because
it was neglected, just like us, and like us it was full of bramble, stones, barrenness and weeds. Nike
sent us her peasants to show us how to clear neglected wells, to clean the fields, to prune the few
trees left, and plant new ones. We were aware of so many things... but not of the holy work of man.
But in this work so new to us, we really find a new life. Nothing around us reminds us of our past.
Only our consciences remember it. But that is a good thing... We are sinners... Will You come to
see it? »
«We shall depart together from here going towards the Jordan, and we shall stop at your croft. You
told Me that it is just on the road to the river...»
«Yes, Master. But it is not a pleasant sight. The house is dilapidated. There is no furniture in it. We
did not have enough money for everything... after making amends, as far as we could, for the
wrongs done to our neighbour. With the exception of Demetis, Valens and Levi, who are too old for
certain sacrifices and sleep here, the others must make shift with some hay, Lord.»
«Very often I do not even have that. I will sleep on hay, too, Zacchaeus. I slept My first sleeps on it
and they were peaceful because they were watched over by love. I can sleep on it also tonight and it
will not be a restless sleep, because I shall be among men whose good will has revived.» And He
looks at those first redeemed men from every country so kindly that He seems to be caressing them.
And they look at Him... They are not men ready to weep. On the contrary who knows how many
tears they have caused people to shed. Their faces are like books in which their wicked past is
written, and if now their new life veils the brutality of those words, they can still be deciphered so
clearly as to enable one to realise from which abyss they are rising towards Light. And yet their
faces clear up and brighten, their eyes look reassured, a light of supernatural hope, of moral
satisfaction shines in them upon hearing the Master say that they are men of good will once again.
Zacchaeus then says: «So You approve of what I have done? See, Master. On that day I said: "I will
follow You", and I really wanted to follow You physically. But that very evening Demetis came to
me for one of those... for one of his ill-famed affairs... and he was in need of money. He came from
Jerusalem... they say that she is holy, but she is covered with shame, and the first to bring such
shame on her are the very ones who then want to stone us as if we were lepers... But I must tell my
sins, not theirs. I had no money left. I had given it all to You. Also what was left in the house was as
good as given, because I had divided it up to give it back to those from whom I had extorted it by
practising usury. So I said to him: "I have no money, but I have more than a treasure". And I told
him about my conversion, Your words and the peace I had in me... I spoke so much that the light of
the new day came in making our faces look pale, and the lamps useless, while I was still speaking. I
do not know what I exactly said. I know that with his fist he violently struck the table at which we
were sitting and exclaimed: "Mercury has lost a follower and his satyrs a companion. Take this
money as well, it is not enough for the criminal deed, but it will buy some bread for a beggar, and
take me with you. I want to become acquainted with a perfume after so many foul smells". And he
remained with me. We went to Jerusalem together, I to sell some items, he to free himself from all
engagements. And on our way back I said - I had prayed in the Temple, after such a long time, with
the pure pacified heart of a boy - I said to myself: "Is this not to follow the Master, and perhaps
follow Him in a better way, by remaining in Jericho, where my wretched publican friends like me,
gamblers, procurers, usurers, after being superintendents of galley slaves and convicts, of slaves,

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torturers of all miserable people, lawless and pitiless soldiers, used to carousing to forget remorses
in drunkenness, come to see me to invest their cursed money, or to propose affairs, or to invite me
to banquets or to other infamous filthiness? The town despises me. The Hebrews will always
consider me a sinner. But they will not consider themselves such. But they are like me. They are
filthy, but they may have something in them urging them to be good and they do not find who can
give them a helping hand. I helped them in evil. Perhaps they sinned also because of my advice, for
what at times I asked of them. It is my duty to help them to come towards goodness. As I paid those
whom I had injured, as I made amends with regard to my fellow-citizens, so I must try and redress
any wrongs done to them". And I remained here. Now one, now another one would come from this
or that town, and I spoke to them. They did not all behave like Demetis. Some ran away after
mocking at me. Some were hesitant. Some stayed here but after some time they went back to their
miserable life. These ones have remained. And now I feel that this is the way I must follow You,
that we must follow You thus, struggling against ourselves, putting up with the scorn of the world
that cannot forgive us. Our hearts bleed when we see that the world does not forget, when
recollections come back... and are so many and so painful... In some they are...»
«The dreadful Nemesis that always throws our crimes in our faces and promises vengeance in the
hereafter » says one.
«They are the cries of those whom I struck to make them work, although they were exhausted.»
«They are the curses of those I enslaved after taking all their properties through usurious practices.»
«They are the entreaties of widows and orphans who could not afford to pay and whose last
belongings I had sequestered in the name of the law.»
«They are the cruelties accomplished in conquered countries against defenceless people terrorised
by their defeat.»
«They are the tears of my mother, of my wife, of my daughter, who died of privations while I was
squandering everything in banquets.»
«They are... oh! there is no name for my crime! Lord, my hands are not stained with blood, I did not
steal money, I did not impose exorbitant taxes, I did not fleece anybody, I did not strike the
defeated enemy, but I exploited all miseries, and I made money at the expense of innocent girls of
the beaten enemy, of orphan girls, of women sold like merchandise for a piece of bread. I travelled
round the world seizing such opportunities, following armies, where there was famine, where an
overflowing river had deprived people of food, where pestilence had left young lives without
protection, and I treated them as goods, infamous yet innocent goods. Infamous with regard to me,
as I made money out of it, innocent because they were not yet aware of so much horror. Lord, I
have in my hands the virginity of young girls seduced, and the honour of young wives taken in
conquered towns. My trade centres... and my brothels were famous, Lord... Do not curse me, now
that You know!...»
The apostles have unintentionally moved away from the last man who has spoken. Jesus stands up
and approaches him. He lays a hand on his shoulder and says: «It is true! Your crime is grave. You
have much to redress. But I, the Mercy, tell you that even if you were the demon himself and you
were responsible for all the crimes of the Earth, if you want, you can make amends for everything
and be forgiven by God, the true, great, paternal God. If you want. Join your will to Mine. I also
want you to be forgiven. Join Me. Give Me your poor spirit, so ill-famed, ruined, full of scars and
disheartened after you abandoned sin. I will put it on My Heart, where I place the biggest sinners
and I will take it with Me to the redeeming Sacrifice. The holiest Blood, that of My Heart, the last
Blood of Him Consumed on behalf of men, will be shed on the greatest ruins and will regenerate
them. Have hope for the time being. Let your hope be greater than your immense crime, in the
mercy of God, because it has no limit, o man, for those who can trust in it.»
The man would like to take and kiss the hand resting on his shoulder, so pale and thin against his
brown garment and his strong shoulder. But he dare not. Jesus understands and stretches out His
hand saying: «Kiss the palm of it, man. I will find that kiss again and it will cure My torture. A
kissed hand, a wounded hand. Kissed out of love. Wounded for love. Oh! I wish all men could kiss
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the great Victim, and the great Victim could die in its clothes made of sores, knowing that in each
are the kisses, the love, of all men redeemed! » and He holds his hand pressed against the clean-
shaven lips of the man, who, judging from his overall appearance, I would say is a Roman. He holds
it there until the man moves away as if he were sated with it after quenching the parching thirst of
his remorses by drinking the Mercy of the Lord in the hollow of the divine hand.
Jesus goes back to His place and when passing He lays His hand on the curly hair of a very young
man. I would say that he is hardly twenty years old, if that. One who has never spoken, and is
certainly of Hebrew race. Jesus asks him: «And you, My son, are you not saying anything to your
Saviour? »
The young man raises his head and looks at Him... A full speech is in his look. A story of grief, of
hatred, of repentance, of love.
Jesus, bending lightly over him, staring at his eyes, reads a mute story and then says: «That is why I
call you "son". You are no longer alone. Forgive all those of your own blood and those who are
strangers, as God forgives you. And love the Love Who saved you. Come with Me for a moment. I
want to say a word to you privately.»
The young man stands up and follows Him. When they are alone, Jesus says: «I want to tell you
this, son. The Lord has loved you very much, although it may not appear to be so to a superficial
judge. You have been sorely tried by life. Men have harmed you seriously. Both could have ruined
you irreparably. Behind them there was Satan, jealous of your soul. But above you there was the eye
of God. And that blessed eye stopped your enemies. His love sent Zacchaeus along your path. And,
with Zacchaeus, He sent Me, Who am now speaking to you. And now I tell you that in this love you
must find what you have not had, you must forget what embittered you, and forgive, forgive your
mother, your ill-famed master, and yourself. Do not hate yourself in an evil way, son. Hate your
time of sin, but not your spirit that has been successful in leaving that sin. Let your thought be a
good friend of your spirit, so that together they may reach perfection.»
«Me, perfect! »
«Did you hear what I said to that man? And yet he was in the depth of the abyss!... And thank you,
son! »
«For what, my Lord? I have to thank You...»
«For not going to those who buy men to betray Me.»
«Oh! Lord! How could I do it, if I knew that You do not despise even us highwaymen? I also was
among those who brought You the lamb at the Cherit. And one of us, who has now been captured
by the Romans - at least so they say, he has certainly not been seen in the refuge of the highwaymen
since before the Tabernacles - told me the words You spoke in a valley near Modin... Because at
that time I had not yet joined the highwaymen. I went to them at the end of last Adar and I left them
at the beginning of Ethanim. But I did not do anything that deserves Your thanks. You were good. I
wanted to be good, and to warn a friend of Yours... can I say so of Zacchaeus? »
«Yes, you can. All those who love Me are My friends. You are one, too.»
«Oh!... I wanted to warn him so that You should be on the lookout. But a warning does not deserve
thanks...»
«I will repeat it to you again: I thank you for not selling yourself to those who are against Me. That
is important.»
«And is the warning not? »
«Son, nothing will be able to prevent Hatred from assailing Me. Have you ever seen a torrent
overflow? »
«Yes, I have. I was near Jabesh-Gilead and I saw the damage caused by the river that had
overflowed before flowing into the Jordan.»
«And could anything stop the water? »
«No, it flooded and ruined everything. Even some houses were swept away.»
«Hatred is like that. But it will not carry Me away. I shall be submerged but not destroyed. And in
the very bitter hour the love of those who would not hate the Innocent One will be My consolation,
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my light in the dark of that hour of Darkness, My sweetness in the chalice of wine mixed with gall
and myrrh.»
«You?... You are speaking of Yourself as if... That chalice is for highwaymen, for those who go to
die on the cross. But You are not a thief! You are not guilty! You are...»
«The Redeemer. Give Me a kiss, son.»
He takes the man's head in His hands and kisses his forehead, then He bends to receive his kiss. A
timid kiss that hardly touches the emaciated cheek... Then the young man collapses on Jesus' chest
weeping.
«Do not weep, son! I am sacrificed by love. And it is always a sweet sacrifice even if it is grievous
to human nature.»
He holds him in His arms until he stops weeping and then He goes back, holding him by the hand
close to Himself, to the place where Peter was previously.
He resumes speaking: «While we were taking our food, one of you, not from Israel, said that he
wanted to ask Me to explain something. Let him do so now, because we shall soon have to go back
to the crowd and then part.»
«It is I who said that. But many wish to know. Zacchaeus cannot explain it clearly, neither can any
of us who follow Your religion. We asked Your disciples, when they passed through here. But they
did not give us a clear explanation.»
«So what do you wish to know? »
«We did not even know that we had a soul. That is... we, at least, should have known, because our
ancestors... But we did not read the old books. We were like animals... And we no longer knew
what this soul is. We do not know even now. What is the soul? Is it perhaps our reason? We do not
think so, because in that case we would have been without it, and we have been told that without
soul one cannot live. So what is the soul, which we have been told is incorporeal and immortal, if it
is not our reason? Thought is incorporeal, but it is not immortal because it ends with our life. Even
the wisest man thinks no more after his death.»
«A soul is not a thought, man. The soul is the spirit, the immaterial prime cause of life, the
impalpable but true principle that animates the whole man and lasts after man. That is why it is said
to be immortal. It is so sublime that even the most powerful thought is nothing in comparison with
it. A thought comes to an end. The soul, instead, has a beginning, but has no end. Whether blissful
or damned it continues to exist. Blessed are those who know how to keep it pure, or to restore it to
its purity after making it impure, in order to give it back to the Creator as He gave it to man to
enliven his humanity.»
«But is it within us, or above us, like the eye of God? »
«In us.»
«Imprisoned in us until death, then? A slave? »
«No. A queen. In the eternal thought, the soul, the spirit is what reigns in man, in the animal created
and named man. The soul was created queen, with the authority and destiny of a queen, as it came
from the King and Father of all kings and fathers, His breath and image, His gift and right, and its
mission is to make of the creature named man a king of the great eternal kingdom and a god in the
hereafter, a "living being" in the Abode of the most sublime only God. Its maidservants are all the
virtues and faculties of man, its minister is the good will of man, the thought of man is its servant
and disciple. It is from the spirit that thought acquires power and truthfulness, justice and wisdom,
and can rise to regal perfection. A thought deprived of the light of the spirit will always be lacunose
and obscure, it will never be able to understand the reason for truths that are more
incomprehensible than mysteries to those who are separated from God, having lost the royalty of
their souls. The thought of man will be obscure and dull, if it lacks the basic point, the lever
indispensable to understand, to rise leaving the Earth and dashing upwards, towards the
Intelligence, the Power, the Divinity, in one word. I am speaking thus to you Demetis, because you
have not always been a money-changer, so you can understand and explain this to the others.»
«You are really a seer, Master. No, I have not been only a money-changer... Nay, that was the last
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step of my descent... Tell me, Master. If the soul is a queen, why then does it not reign and subdue
the evil thought and evil flesh of man? »
«Subjection would be neither freedom nor merit; it would be oppression.»
«But thought and the flesh overwhelm also the soul, I am speaking of myself, of us, and they
enslave it too often. That is why I asked whether it was in us in the form of a slave. How can God
allow such a sublime thing - You called it "breath of God and His image" - to be degraded by
inferior beings? »
«According to the divine Thought the soul was not to be aware of slavery. But are you forgetting
about the enemy of God and of man? The infernal spirits are known to you as well. »
«Yes, and all of them with cruel desires. And remembering my childhood, I can say that I must
ascribe only to those infernal spirits the man I became and was, up to the threshold of old age. I
have now found the lost child of those days. But shall I be able to become such a child as to go back
to the purity of my childhood? Is it possible to go backwards in time? »
«It is not necessary to go backwards. You would not be able to do it. Bygone days will not come
back, one cannot make them come back or go back to them. And it is not necessary. Some of you
come from places where the theory of Pythagoras' school is known. A wrong theory. Souls, when
they end their stay on the Earth, do not come back to it again in any body. Not in the body of an
animal, as it would not befit such a supernatural being to dwell in a brute. Not in the body of a man,
because how could the body be rewarded when it is reunited to the soul in the Last Judgement, if
that soul had been clothed with many bodies? Those who believe in that theory say that it is the last
body that rejoices, because the soul through successive purifications, in successive lives, reaches
the perfection deserving a reward only in the last reincarnation. An error and an offence! Error and
offence against God, as it admits that God was able to create only a limited number of souls. Error
and offence against man, as it considers him so corrupt that he deserves a reward only with great
difficulty. The reward may not be granted at once, ninety-nine times in a hundred a purification will
be required in life to come. But purification is preparation to joy. So he who is being purified is
already saved. And once he is saved he will rejoice, after Doomsday, with his body. He will have
only one body for his soul, as he had one life here, and with the body that his parents made for him,
and with the soul that the Creator created for him to give life to his body, he will take delight in the
reward. It is not possible to be reincarnated, as it is not possible to go back in time. But it is
possible to be re-created through one's free will, and God blesses and assists such will. Each of you
has had that will. And then man, who was sinful, vicious, filthy, delinquent, thieving, corrupt,
corrupting, murderous, impious, adulterous, revives spiritually through the purification of
repentance, he destroys the corrupt kernel of the old man, he dispels the mental ego which is even
more corrupt, as if the will to be redeemed were an acid that attacks and destroys the unwholesome
case concealing a treasure, and after laying bare his spirit, purifying it and restoring it to health, he
clothes it with a new mentality, with a new, pure, good juvenile garment. Oh! a garment that can go
close to God, that can worthily cover the recreated soul, protect and assist it until its supercreation,
that is its complete holiness, that in future - perhaps a remote future if measured with human mind
and means; very close if contemplated with the thought of eternity - will be glorious in the
Kingdom of God. And every man can, if he so wishes, recreate in himself the boy of his childhood,
the loving, humble, sincere, kind boy, whom the mother used to press to her breast and the father
looked at glorying, whom the angel of God loved and God admired with love. Your mothers!
Perhaps they were women of great virtue... God will not leave their virtue unrewarded. Strive
therefore to be equally virtuous, to be united to them when there will be only one thing for all the
virtuous people: the Kingdom of God for good people. Perhaps they were not good and they
contributed to your ruin. But if they did not love you, if you do not know what love is, if the lack of
love made you bad, now that a divine Love has embraced you, be holy so that with heavenly joy you
may take delight in the Love that exceeds all love. Have you anything else to ask? »
«No, Lord. We have everything to learn. But for the moment we have nothing else...»
«I will leave John and Andrew with you for a few days. Later I will send you some good wise
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disciples. I want wild colts to know the ways of the Lord and His pastures, like the people of Israel,
because I have come for everybody and I love everybody in the same way. Stand up and let us go.»
And He is the first to go out into the changed garden, closely followed by His apostles who
complain gently saying: «Master, You have spoken to them as You have seldom done to Your
chosen ones...»
«And do you complain of that? Do you not know that they do so also in the world, when they want
to conquer someone they love? But with those who we know love us with their whole beings, there
is no need for the art of conquering. It is sufficient to see one another in order to be in one another
with joy and peace» says Jesus with a divine smile, really divine, so much being the joy it
communicates.
And the apostles no longer complain, on the contrary they look at Him blissfully, lost as they are in
the exultation of loving one another.

523. Sabea of Bethlechi.

5th November 1946.

The croft that feeds the heterogeneous group of Zacchaeus' friends is a very poor one indeed,
particularly now that the winter season does not certainly cheer up hearts. Yet they are fond of it
and they are proud of showing it to Jesus. Three corn fields, ploughed and brown, the orchard with
few fruitful trees and others too young for any hope of fruit, a few stunted rows of vines, a
vegetable garden... a small stable with a little cow and a donkey for the water-wheel, an enclosure
with a few hens and five pairs of doves, six sheep, a hovel with a kitchen and three rooms, a shed
used as wood-store, lumber-room and hay-loft, a well with a chipped rim and a cistern with muddy
water. Nothing else...
«If the season is favourable...»
«If the animals will litter...»
«If the trees take root...»
Everything is conditional ... Very poor hopes...
But one of them remembers what he heard years before - of the wonderful crop Doras had because
of a blessing given by the Master, so that Doras might be humane to his peasants - and he says:
«And if You blessed this place... Doras also was a sinner...»
«You are right. What I did, although I knew that it would not change his heart, I will do also for
you, whose hearts have changed.» And He stretches out His arms to bless saying: «I will do that at
once to convince you that I love you.»
Then they proceed on the road towards the river, along ploughed fields with dark fertile land, and
orchards stripped by the season.
At a bend some scribes come forward. «Peace to You, Master. We have been waiting for You here
to venerate You...»
«No. To be sure that I work no fraud. You have done the right thing. You must be convinced that I
have had no opportunity to see the woman or any of the people who are with her. You were on
watch at Zacchaeus' house and you saw that none of us came out. You preceded Me on the way and
you saw that none of us went ahead of you. You are thinking of imposing terms on Me with regard
to the meeting with that woman, and I tell you that I will accept them even before you mention
them.»
«But... if You do not know them...»
«Is it not true that you do want to impose them? »

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«It is true.»
«As I am aware of your intention, which is known only to you, I am also aware of what you will say
to Me. And I tell you that I will accept what you intend to propose, because it will serve to give
glory to the Truth. Speak up.»
«Do You know what the situation is? »
«I know that you consider her to be possessed, and that no exorciser has been able to expel the
demon. And I know that she does not speak words worthy of a demon. That is what those who have
heard her speak say.»
«Can You swear that You have never seen her? »
«A just man never swears, because he is entitled to have his word accepted. I tell you that I have
never seen her and that I have never been to her village, and the whole village can confirm that.»
«And yet she maintains that she knows Your face and Your voice.»
«Her soul in fact knows Me by the will of God.»
«You say by the will of God. But how can You state that? »
«I have been told that she speaks inspired words.»
«The demon also speaks of God.»
«But mixing errors on purpose, to lead men astray with wrong thoughts.»
«Well... we would like You to allow us to put the woman to a test.»
«In what way? »
«Do You really not know her? »
«I have told you that I do not.»
«Well then. We will send somebody ahead shouting: "Here is the Lord" and we shall see whether
she greets him as if it were You.»
«A poor test! But I agree. Pick those to be sent ahead, from My followers. I will follow you with the
others. But if the woman speaks, you must let her speak, that I may judge her words.»
«That is fair. The agreement is made and we will keep it loyally.»
«Let it be so and may your hearts be touched.»
«Master, we are not all enemies. Some of us are in a position of expectation... sincerely anxious to
see the truth and follow You » says a scribe.
«That is true. And they will still be loved by God.»
The scribes examine the apostles and are surprised at the absence of many, of the Iscariot in
particular. They then choose Judas Thaddeus and John. They also take the young converted thief
who is pale and thin and with hair verging to a reddish hue. In short, they take those who, because
of their age and features, look like the Master.
«We will go on with them. You will remain here with Our companions and Yours, and will follow
us after some time.»
They do that.
The woods along the river are already in sight. The winter sunshine at sunset gilds the tree-tops and
spreads a bright yellow light on the people gathered near the trees.
«Here He is! Here is the Master! Get up! Come and meet Him! » shout the scribes who had gone
ahead, deviating towards a path that ends against a huge oak, with mighty roots half uncovered,
forming seats for those who take shelter near its trunk.
The people gathered there, turn round, stand up, open out and part to come and meet those who are
arriving. Only three scribes remain near the trunk, with John of Ephesus, and an elderly man and
woman, and another woman who is sitting on one of the protruding roots, her back to the trunk, her
head bent on her knees which are embraced by her arms with clasped hands, all covered with such a
deep violet veil, that it seems to be black. She seems indifferent to everything. She does not stir
despite all the shouting.
A scribe touches her shoulder: «The Master is here, Sabea. Stand up and greet Him.»
The woman does not reply and does not move.
The three scribes look at one another and smile ironically, nodding meaningfully to the others who
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are coming forward. And as those who were waiting had become quiet, because they did not see
Jesus, they begin to shout louder than ever with their accomplices, so that the woman may not
become aware of the deceit.
«Woman » says a scribe to the old mother who is with her daughter «you, at least, ought to greet the
Master, and tell your daughter to greet Him.»
The woman prostrates herself with her husband before Thaddeus and John and the repentant thief,
then standing up, she says to her daughter: «Sabea, your Lord is here. Worship Him.»
The young woman does not stir.
The scribes smile more ironically, and one of them, a thin bignosed man, says in a nasal drawling
voice: «You were not expecting this test, were you? And your heart is trembling. You realise that
your fame of a prophetess is in danger and you are not prepared to tempt fate... I think that that is
enough to say that you are a liar...»
The woman raises her head all of a sudden. She throws her veil behind her head and looking with
wide-open eyes she says: «I do not lie, scribe. And I am not afraid because I am in the truth. Where
is the Lord? »
«What? You say that you know Him and you do not see Him? He is in front of you.»
«None of these is the Lord. That's why I did not move. None of them.»
«None of them? What? Is that fair-haired Galilean not the Lord? I do not know Him, but I know that
He is fair-haired and His eyes are sky-blue.»
«He is not the Lord.»
«Well, it is that other one, who is tall and severe looking. Look at His royal features. It's certainly
Him.»
«He is not the Lord. The Lord is not amongst them » and she lowers her head on her knees as
before.
Some time passes. Then there is Jesus coming forward. The scribes have ordered the few people
present to be silent. So His arrival is not given away by any hosanna. Jesus is coming forward
between Peter and His cousin James. He is walking slowly... Silently... The thick grass deadens all
shuffling of feet. While the old woman wipes her tears with her veil and a scribe offends her saying:
«Your daughter is mad and a liar », and her father sighs and reproaches his daughter, Jesus arrives
at the end of the path and He stops.
The young woman, who could not hear or see anything, jumps to her feet, throws away her veil,
uncovering thus her head, stretches out her arms with a mighty cry: «Here is my Lord coming to
me! This is the Messiah, o men, who want to deceive and humiliate me. I can see upon Him the
light of God Who points Him out to me and I honour Him! » and she throws herself on the ground,
remaining where she was, at about two metres from Jesus. With her face on the ground, on the
grass, she shouts: «I greet You, o King of peoples, o Wonder, o Prince of Peace, Father of the
century that has no end, Leader of the new people of God! » and she remains prostrated under her
wide dark mantle, of a violet almost black shade like her veil.
But the moment she stood up against the black trunk - and after throwing away her veil, she
remained with her arms stretched forward like a statue - I noticed that under her mantle she wore a
heavy woollen dress of a white-ivory shade, fastened at her neck and waist only by a cord. And
above all I was able to admire her beauty of a middle-aged woman. She must be about thirty years
old. And generally speaking, thirty years in Palestine are equivalent to at least forty of our years; if
Our Lady is an exception to this rule, other women reach maturity early, particularly those of dark
complexion and hair and buxom like this one. She is the classical type of a Jewish woman. I think
that Rachel, Ruth and Judith, who were famous for their beauty, must have been like her. Tall,
buxom yet slender, with smooth skin of a pale brown hue, a small mouth and lips lightly tumid and
deeply red, a straight long thin nose, deep dark velvet-like eyes under an arch of long thick
eyebrows, a high smooth regal forehead, a rather long oval-shaped face and ebony hair as
wonderful as an onyx wreath. Not a jewel, but a statuesque body and the majesty of a queen.
She is now getting up pushing her hands, which are long, brown, beautiful, joined to her arms by
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thin wrists. She is now on her feet, standing against the dark trunk. She now looks at the Master in
silence, and shakes her head because the scribes say to her: «You are wrong, Sabea. He is not the
Messiah, but it is the one you saw previously without recognising him.» She shakes her head
decidedly and severely, without taking her eyes off the Lord. Then her face becomes transfigured
into an expression that I cannot say whether it is of intense joy or ecstatic drowsiness. It looks like
both, because she grows pale like one about to faint, while all her life seems to concentrate on her
eyes which become bright with a light of joy, of triumph, of love... I do not know. Are those eyes
smiling? No, they are not, as her severe lips are not smiling. And yet a light of joy shines in them
and they acquire a greater and greater power of intensity, that is striking.
Jesus looks at her with His meek somewhat sad eyes. «Don't You see that she is mad? » a scribe
whispers to Him. Jesus does not reply. With His left hand hanging down His side, His right one
holding His mantle on His chest, He looks and is silent.
And the woman opens her mouth and stretches her arms as she did previously. She looks like a
huge butterfly with violet wings and a body of ancient ivory. And a new cry is uttered by her lips:
«O Adonai, You are great! You alone are great, o Adonai! You are great in Heaven and on the
Earth, in time and in ages, and beyond Time, from time immemorial and for ever, o Lord, Son of
the Lord. Your enemies are under Your feet and Your throne is supported by the love of those who
love You.»
Her voice becomes steadier and steadier and louder and louder while her eyes are taken off Jesus'
face and they look at a point in the distance, a little above the heads of those who are paying
attention around her and whom she dominates without difficulty, standing straight against the trunk
of the oak, which is on a rising of the ground like a low bank.
After a pause she resumes speaking: «The throne of my Lord is adorned with the twelve stones of
the twelve tribes of the just. In the great pearl that is the throne, the white precious bright throne of
the Most Holy Lamb, there are mounted topazes with amethysts, emeralds with sapphires, rubies
with sardonyxes, and agates and chrysolites and beryls, onyxes, jaspers, opals. Those who believe,
those who hope, those who love, those who repent, those who live and die in justice, those who
suffer, those who leave error for the Truth, those who were hard-hearted and have become meek in
His Name, the innocent, the repentant, those who divest themselves of everything to be agile in
following the Lord, the virgins whose spirits shine with a light like the dawn of the Heaven of
God... Glory to the Lord! Glory to Adonai! Glory to the King sitting on His throne! »
Her voice is a sharp sound. The people quiver with emotion. The woman seems to be really seeing
what she says, as if the golden cloud sailing in the clear sky and which she seems to be following
with her enraptured eyes, were a lens with which she saw the heavenly glories.
She rests as if she were tired but without changing attitude. Only her face becomes more
transfigured as it grows paler and her eyes shine more brightly. She resumes speaking lowering her
eyes on Jesus Who is listening to her attentively among a group of scribes who shake their heads
sceptically and scornfully, and among His apostles and followers who are pale with holy emotion.
She resumes speaking in a clear but lower voice: «I see! I see in the Man what is concealed in the
Man. Holy is the Man, but my knee bends before the Holy of Holies enclosed in the Man.»
Her voice becomes loud again and imperious like a command: «Look at your King, o people of
God! Become acquainted with His Face! The Beauty of God is before you! The Wisdom of God has
taken a mouth to teach you. It is no longer the prophets, o people of Israel, who speak to you of the
Unnamable One. It is He Himself. He, Who knows the mystery that is God, speaks to you of God.
He Who knows the thought of God Who presses you to His bosom, o people who are still a baby
after so many centuries, and nourishes you with the milk of God's Wisdom to make you an adult in
God. To do that He has become incarnate in a womb. In the womb of an Israelite woman, greater in
the eyes of God and of men than any other woman. She stole the heart of God with one only of Her
throbs of a dove. The beauty of Her spirit fascinated the Most High and of Her He made His throne.
Miriam of Aaron sinned because sin was in her. Deborah decided what was to be done, but she did
not act with her own hands. Jael was strong, but she soiled her hands with blood. Judith was just
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and she feared the Lord, and God was in her words and allowed her the deed that Israel might be
saved, but for the love of her country she made use of murderous cunning. But the Woman Who
generated Him exceeds those women because She is the perfect Maid of God and serves Him
without sinning. Entirely pure, innocent and beautiful, She is the beautiful Star of God, from its
rising to its setting. Entirely beautiful, shining and pure to be Star and Moon, Light to men to find
God. She does not precede and does not follow the holy Ark as Miriam of Aaron did, because She
is the Ark Herself. On the muddy water of the Earth covered with the flood of sins, She sails and
saves, because those who enter in Her find the Lord. Spotless dove She goes out and brings the
olive-branch, the branch of peace to men, because She is the beautiful Olive-tree. She is silent and
in Her silence She speaks and acts more than Deborah, Jael and Judith and She does not advise to
fight, She does not urge to slaughter, She sheds no blood but Her own most chosen blood, with
which She made Her Son. Unhappy Mother! Sublime Mother!... Judith feared the Lord, but her
flower had belonged to a man. This Woman gave Her inviolate flower to the Most High, and the
Fire of God descended into the calyx of the sweet lily and the womb of woman contained and
carried the Power, the Wisdom and the Love of God. Glory to the Woman! Sing, o women of Israel,
Her praises! » The woman becomes silent as if her voice were exhausted. In fact I do not know how
she can hold such a strong timbre.
The scribes say: «She is mad! She is mad! Make her keep quiet. She is either mad or possessed.
Order the spirit possessing her to go away.»
«I cannot. There no spirit in her but God's, and God does not eject Himself.»
«You. are not doing it because she praises You and Your Mother and that tickles Your pride.»
«Scribe, meditate on what you know about Me and you will see that I know no pride.»
«And yet only a demon can speak in her to sing the praises of a woman thus!... A woman! And what
is woman in Israel and for Israel? What, but sin in the eyes of God? The seduced and seducer! If it
were not part of our faith, one could hardly believe that woman has a soul. She is forbidden to go
close to the Holy because of her uncleanliness. And this woman says that God descended into
Her!...» says another scandalised scribe and his accomplices aid and abet him.
Jesus says, without looking at anybody in the face, He seems to be speaking to Himself: «"The
Woman will crush the head of the Serpent... The Virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son Who
will be called Immanuel... A shoot will spring from the stock of Jesse, a flower will come up from
this root and the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him". That Woman. My Mother. Scribe, out of
respect for your knowledge, remember and understand the words of the Book.»
The scribes do not know what to reply. They have read those words thousands of times and said
that they were true. Can they now deny it? They keep quiet.
One gives instructions to light some fires as it is getting cold near the banks of the river where the
evening wind is blowing. The order is obeyed and bonfires of sticks blaze in circle around the
people who have grouped together.
The dancing light of the fire seems to rouse the woman who had become silent with her eyes closed
deeply absorbed in herself. She opens her eyes and stirs herself. She looks at Jesus again and shouts
once more: «Adonai! Adonai! You are great! Let us sing a new hymn to the Divine One! Shalom!
Shalom! Malchich!!... (I am spelling it thus, but the "h" is aspirated almost like a "c" as pronounced
by people in Tuscany). Peace! Peace! O King Whom nothing can resist!...»
Then she becomes silent all of a sudden. She looks round, for the first time since she began to
speak, at those surrounding Jesus, and she stares at the scribes as if it were the first time she saw
them, and without any apparent reason tears well up in her large eyes and her face becomes sad and
dull. She speaks slowly now and in a deep voice like one relating sorrowful things: «No. There is
who resists You! O people, listen! After my grief, o people of Bethlechi, you have heard me speak.
After years of silence and grief I heard and I said what I had heard. Now I am no longer in the green
woods of Bethlechi, a virgin widow who finds her only peace in the Lord. I have not around me
only my fellow-citizens to say to them: "Let us fear the Lord because the hour has come when we
must be ready for His call. Let us clothe our hearts with beautiful garments in order not to be
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unworthy of being in His presence. Let us gird ourselves with strength because the hour of the
Christ is an hour of trial. Let us purify ourselves like victims for the altar, so that we may be
received by Him who sends the Christ. Let those who are good become better. Let those who are
proud become humble. Let thus who suffer from lust divest themselves of their flesh to be able to
follow the Lamb. Let the miser become a benefactor because God assists us through His Messiah,
and let everybody practise justice in order to belong to the people of the Blessed One Who is
coming". Now I am speaking before Him and before those who believe in Him, and also before
those who do not believe and scoff at the Holy One and at those who speak and believe in His
Name and in Him. But I am not afraid. You say that I am mad, you say that a demon speaks in me. I
am aware that you could have me stoned as a blasphemer. I know that what I am going to tell you
will sound like an insult and blasphemy, and that you will hate me. But I am not afraid. Being
perhaps the last of the voices that speak of Him before His Manifestation, I may follow the lot of
many more voices, and I am not afraid. The exile in the cold and solitude of the Earth is too long
for those who think of the bosom of Abraham, of the Kingdom of God that the Christ opens to us
and is holier than the holy bosom of Abraham. Sabea of Carmel of the stock of Aaron is not afraid
of death. But she fears the Lord. And she speaks when He makes her speak in order not to disobey
His will. And she speaks the truth because she speaks of God with the words given to her by God. I
do not fear death, even if you call me a demon and you have me stoned as a blasphemer, even if my
father, mother and brothers should die because of such disgrace, I shall not tremble with fear or
pain. I know that the demon is not in me, because all wicked incentives are inert in me, and the
whole of Bethlechi knows that. I know that the interruption that stones may cause to my song will
be shorter than a sigh, and afterwards more breath will be given to my song in the freedom beyond
the Earth. I know that the grief of my kinsfolk will be comforted by God, and it will be short,
whereas their joy of martyr relatives of a martyr will be eternal. I am not afraid of your death, but of
that which would come to me from God, if I did not obey. And I speak. And I say what I have been
told. O people, listen, and you too, o scribes of Israel, listen.»
She raises her sorrowful voice again and says: «A voice, a voice comes from high above and shouts
in my heart. It says: "The ancient People of God cannot sing the new hymn, because it does not love
its Saviour. The new hymn will be sung by those saved in every country, those of the new People of
the Christ Lord, not those who hate My Word"... Horror! (she really utters a cry that makes one
shudder). The voice gives light, the light gives sight! Horror! I see! » Her shout is almost a howl.
She writhes as if she were held firm before a dreadful sight torturing her heart, and she were trying
to put an end to it by running away. Her mantle slips off her shoulders, and she is left in her white
dress against the huge dark trunk. In the light fading slowly in the reflected green of the wood and
in the reddish dancing reflection of the flames, her face becomes tremendously tragic. Shadows
appear under her eyes, around her nostrils, under her lip. It seems a face disfigured by grief. She
wrings her hands repeating in a lower voice: «I see! I see!» and she drinks her tears while she
continues: «I see the crimes of this people of mine. And I am powerless to stop them. I see the
hearts of my fellow-citizens and I am unable to change them. Horror! Horror! Satan has left his
place and has come to dwell in these hearts.»
«Make her keep quiet » the scribes order Jesus.
«You promised to let her speak...» replies Jesus.
The woman continues: «Your face on the ground, in the mud, o Israel, who still know how to love
the Lord. Cover yourself with ashes, wrap yourself in sackcloth. For yourself! For them! Jerusalem!
Jerusalem! Save yourself! I can see a town rioting and requesting a crime. I hear, I can hear the
shouts of those who with hatred invoke blood upon themselves. I can see the Victim being raised in
the Passover of Blood and I can see that Blood flowing, and I can hear that Blood cry louder than
the blood of Abel, while heaven opens and the earth quakes and the sun grows dark. And that Blood
does not cry out for vengeance, but it implores mercy on its murderous People and on us!
Jerusalem!!! Be converted! That Blood! That Blood! A stream! A stream that washes the world
curing all evils, cancelling all sins... But for us, for us of Israel, that Blood is fire, for us it is a chisel
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that engraves the name of deicides and the curse of God on the sons of Jacob. Jerusalem! Have
mercy on yourself and on us!...»
«Tell her to be quiet, it's an order! » shout the scribes while the woman sobs covering her face.
«I cannot order the Truth to be quiet.»
«Truth! Truth! She is mad and she is raving! What kind of a Master are You, if You accept as true
the words of a raving woman?»
«And what Messiah are You if You cannot make a woman be quiet? »
«And what Prophet are You if You cannot drive out a demon? And yet You have done it on other
occasions! »
«Yes, He did. But it does not suit Him now. It is nothing but a well planned trick to frighten the
crowd! »
«And I would have chosen this moment, this place and this handful of men to do it, when I could
have done it in Jericho when I had over five thousand people who followed and surrounded Me
several times, when the enclosure of the Temple was too small to contain all those who wanted to
hear Me? And can the demon speak words of wisdom? Which of you can honestly say that one
error has come out of her lips? Are the dreadful words of the prophets not resounding on her lips, in
her womanly voice? Do you not hear the howl of Jeremiah and the weeping of Isaiah and of the
other prophets? Do you not hear the voice of God spoken through a creature, the voice that strives
to be accepted by you for your own good? You do not listen to Me. You may think that I speak in
My own interest. But what profit does this woman, who is unknown to Me, hope to have from these
words? What will she gain, except your contempt, your threats and perhaps your revenge? No, I will
not order her to be silent! On the contrary, that these few people may hear her, and you also may
hear her and mend your ways I say to her: "Speak! Speak up, I tell you, in the name of the Lord!"»
Jesus is now majestic, He is the powerful Christ of the moments of miracles, with His large
magnetic eyes shining like blue stars, made even brighter by the flames of a bonfire which is
burning between Him and the woman. The woman instead, overwhelmed by grief, is less regal
looking, with her head lowered, her face covered with her hands, and with her dark hair, which has
become loose, falling over her shoulders and in front of her, like a mourning veil over her white
dress.
«Speak up, I tell you. Your sorrowful words are not fruitless. Sabea, of the stock of Aaron, speak
up! »
The woman obeys. But she speaks in a low voice, in fact they all press closer to hear her better. She
seems to be speaking to herself, looking towards the river that flows babbling on her right hand
side, with the last gleams of the water in the fading light of the day. And she seems to be addressing
the river: "O Jordan, sacred river of our fathers, your water is sky-blue and wavy like precious
byssus, and you reflect the pure stars and the pale moon in it, and you caress the willows on your
banks, and you are the river of peace and yet you know so much sorrow; o Jordan, in stormy times
with your swollen agitated waves you carry the sand of a thousand torrents and at times you tear
away a tender shrub on which there is a nest and you carry it away vortically towards the deadly
abyss of the Salt Sea, and you have no mercy on the pair of birds, which screeching with pain fly
following their nest, destroyed by your robbery; thus, o sacred Jordan, you will see the people, that
did not want the Messiah, go towards its ruin, struck by divine wrath, torn away from their homes
and from the altar, and perish on the greatest death. My people, save yourselves! Believe in your
Lord! Follow your Messiah! Recognise Him for what He is. Not the king of peoples and armies. He
is the King of souls, of your souls, of all souls. He descended to gather the just souls, He will ascend
again to lead them to the eternal Kingdom. O you, who are still able to love, press round the Holy
One! O you, who have the destiny of our Fatherland at heart, join the Saviour! Let not all the
offspring of Abraham die! Shun the false prophets who with lying mouths and rapacious hearts
want to tear you away from Salvation. Come out of the darkness rising around you. Listen to the
voice of God! In the decree of God, the mighty ones of whom you are now afraid, are already dust.
One only is the Living Being. The places in which they reign and from which they oppress people,
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are already in ruin. One only is lasting. Jerusalem! Where are the proud sons of Zion of whom you
boast? Where the rabbis and the priests with whom you adorn yourself and whom you regard with
respect? Look at them! Oppressed, in chains, they are going towards their places of exile, among
the ruins of your buildings, among and the dead bodies of those who were slaughtered or died of
starvation. The fury of God is upon you, Jerusalem, who reject your Messiah and strike His face and
heart. All your beauty has been destroyed. Every hope of yours is dead. The Temple and the altar
are desecrated...»
«Make her be silent! She is blaspheming! Make her be quiet, we say.»
«...the ephod is torn. It is no longer of any use...»
«You are guilty if You do not command her to be silent! »
«...because he no longer reigns. There is another, an eternal Pontiff, and He is holy, and has been
sent by God: King and Priest for ever, sent by Him Who considers as given to Himself the offences
given to the Christ and avenges them. Another Pontiff. The True Holy Pontiff, Anointed by God
and by His Sacrifice, in the place of those on whose heads the tiara is a dishonour as it covers
horrible thoughts!...»
«Be quiet, you cursed one! Be quiet or we will strike you! » and the scribes maltreat her rudely. But
she does not appear to hear them.
The people set up a protest shouting: «Let her speak, since you speak so much. She is telling the
truth. It is so. There is no more holiness among you. One only is Holy and you are vexing Him.»
The scribes deem it wise to be quiet, and the woman continues in her tired sorrowful voice: «He
had come to bring you light. And you waged war against Him... Health. And you sneered at Him...
Love. And you hated Him... Miracles. And you said He was a demon... His hands cured your sick
people. And you pierced them. He brought you the Light. And you spat on His face and covered it
with filth. He brought you Life. And you killed Him. Israel, grieve over your fault and do not curse
the Lord, while you are going into the exile, that will not come to an end as the exiles of the past.
You will roam all over the Earth, Israel, as a defeated cursed people, pursued by the voice of God
with the same words spoken to Cain. And you will not be able to come back here and build a solid
home, unless you acknowledge with the other peoples that this is Jesus, the Christ, the Lord Son of
the Lord...» The woman's voice is thin with pain and fatigue, as tired as the voice of one who is
dying.
But she does not refrain from speaking, on the contrary, she takes courage again for a last
command: «Lie down, people who do not yet know how to love. Roll in ashes, wrap yourself in
sackcloth. The fury of God is hanging over us like a cloud laden with hailstones and lightning over
a cursed field.»
The woman collapses on her knees, her arms stretched out towards Jesus, and she shouts: «Peace,
peace, o King of justice and of peace! Peace, o great and mighty Adonai, Whom not even the Father
resists! Implore peace for us, in Your Name, o Jesus, Saviour and Messiah, Redeemer and King,
and God, three times holy! » and shaken by sobs, she falls to the ground with her face on the grass.
The scribes surround Jesus taking Him aside and turning away everybody else with threatening
looks and words, and one of them says: «The least You can do is to cure her. Because if You insist
on saying that she is free from a demon, You must admit that she is ill. Women!... And women
sacrificed by fate... Their vitality must find relief somehow... and they digress... and they see unreal
things... and above all they see You, Who are young and handsome... and »
«Be quiet, you mouth of a snake! You do not believe yourself what you are saying » bursts out Jesus
so authoritatively that He cuts short the words on the lips of the lean big-nosed scribe, who at the
beginning of the incident had scoffed at the woman as a false prophetess.
«Let us not offend the Master. We appointed Him judge of a case on which we are unable to pass
judgement...» says another scribe, the one who went with the others to meet Jesus on the road and
told Him that not all the scribes are against Him, as some watch Him to form an opinion and to
follow Him with a sincere will, if they consider Him to be God.
«Be quiet, Joel named Alamoth, son of Abijah! Only an ill-bred man like you can say such words »
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say the others angrily.
The scribe blushes at the insult. But he controls himself and he replies in a dignified manner: «If
nature has been hostile to my person, that has not impaired my intellect. Nay, by precluding many
pleasures from me, it made a man of wisdom of me. And if you were holy people you would not
humiliate the man, but you would respect the sage.»
«Well! Let us talk of what matters to us. You must cure her, Master, because in her frenzy she
frightens people and offends the priesthood, the Pharisees and us.»
«If she had praised you, would you ask Me to cure her? » Jesus asks kindly.
«No. Because it would serve to make people respectful to us, these capricious people who hate us
in their hearts and sneer at us whenever they get a chance » replies one of the scribes without
realising that he is falling into a trap.
«But would she still not be a sick person? Would I not have to cure her? » Jesus asks kindly again.
He sounds like a schoolboy who is asking his teacher what he has to do. And the scribes, blinded by
pride, do not realise that they are giving themselves away...
«In that case, no. On the contrary! She ought to be left in her frenzy! And we should do everything
in our power to make people believe that she is a prophetess. Honour her! Point her out...»
«But if it were not true?!...»
«Oh! Master! Once we do away with what she says against us, the rest would be of great assistance
to raise the pride of Israel against the Romans again, and to humble the pride of the people against
us! »
«But we could not say to her: "Speak thus, but do not say that"» says Jesus resolutely.
«Why? »
«Because those who rave do not know what they say.»
«Oh! with money and some threats... we would achieve anything. Even the prophets were under
control...»
«Truly, I do not know about that...»
«Eh! because You do not know how to read between the lines and because not everything has been
written.»
«But the prophetic spirit is not subject to orders, o scribe. It comes from God, and God cannot be
bought over or frightened » says Jesus changing tone. It is the beginning of His counter-attack.
«But this woman is not a prophetess. It is no longer the time for prophets.»
«It is no longer the time for prophets? Why not? »
«Because we do not deserve them. We are too corrupt.»
«Really? And you say so? A short while ago you judged her to be worthy of punishment because
she said the same thing? »
The scribe is disconcerted. Another scribe comes to his rescue saying: «The time of prophets ended
with John. They are of no use any more. »
«Why? »
«Because You are here to tell us the Law and to speak to us of God.»
«Also in the days of the prophets there was the Law and Wisdom spoke of God. And yet they were
there, too.»
«But what did they prophesy? Your coming. Since You have come, they do not serve any more.»
«Hundreds of times I have heard you, the priests and the Pharisees ask Me whether I was the Christ
or not, and because I affirmed it, I was said to be a blasphemer and a madman, and you picked up
stones to throw them at Me. Are you not Sadoc, the so-called golden scribe? » says Jesus pointing at
the big-nosed scribe who had maltreated the woman after trying to deceive her.
«I am. So? »
«Well, you, exactly you, have always been the first, at Giscala and in the Temple, to stir up violence
against Me. But I forgive you. I remind you only that you did so saying that I could not be the
Christ, whereas now you maintain it. And I remind you also of the challenge I issued to you at
Kedesh. You will shortly see part of it being fulfilled. When the moon will come back to the phase
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in which she is now shining in the sky, I will give you the proof. The first one. You will have the
second when the corn, which is now sleeping in the earth, will shake its still green ears in the
breeze of Nisan. But to those who say that the prophets are useless, I reply: "And who will put
limits to the Most High Lord?". I solemnly tell you that there will always be prophets as long as
there are men. They are torches in the darkness of the world. They are the fireplaces among the ice
of the world. They are the blares of trumpets that will awake drowsy people. They are the voices
that remind men of God and of His truth, forgotten and neglected through time, and they bring the
voice of God directly to man, arousing thrills of emotion in the forgetful listless children of man.
They will have other names, but the same mission and the same destiny of human sorrow and
superhuman enjoyment! Woe to men if there were no such spirits whom the world will hate and
God will love dearly! Woe to men if they did not exist to suffer and forgive, to love and work
obeying the Lord! The world would perish in darkness, frozen in deadly drowsiness, in idiocy, in
wild brutal ignorance. God will therefore give rise to them, and there will always be some of them.
And who can order God not to do so? You, Sadoc? or you? or you? I solemnly tell you that not even
the spirits of Abraham, Jacob and Moses, of Elijah and Elisha could impose such a limitation on
God, and God only knows how holy they were and what eternal lights they are.»
«So You will neither cure the woman nor condemn her? »
«No, I will not. »
«And do You judge her to be a prophetess? »
«Yes, an inspired prophetess.»
«You are a demon like her. Let us go. It is not right to lose more time with demons » says Sadoc,
pushing Jesus rudely to move Him aside.
Many follow him. Some stay. Among the latter, the one whom they called Joel Alamoth.
«And are you not following them? » asks Jesus pointing at those going away.
«No, Master. We shall go away because night has fallen. But we want to tell You that we believe in
Your judgement. God can do everything, that is true. And as we fall into many sins, He can give
rise to spirits who will call us back to justice » says a very elderly one.
«You are right. And your humility is greater than your knowledge in the eyes of God.»
«Then, remember me when You are in Your Kingdom.»
«Yes, Jacob, I will.»
«How do You know my name? »
Jesus smiles without replying.
«Master, remember us as well » say the other three. And Joel Alamoth, the last one to speak, says:
«And let us bless the Lord Who has given us this hour.»
«Let us bless the Lord! » replies Jesus.
They greet one another and part.
Jesus joins His apostles and goes with them towards the woman, who has resumed the position she
had at the beginning, sitting all curled up on the protruding root.
Her mother and father ask the Master anxiously: «So is our daughter a demon? They said so before
going away.»
«She is not. Set your minds at rest. And love her because her destiny is a very sorrowful one.
Exactly as all destinies like hers.»
«But they said that that is Your judgement...»
«They have lied. I do not lie. Be at peace.»
John of Ephesus comes forward with Solomon and the other disciples and says: «Master, Sadoc has
threatened them. I tell You.»
«Them or her? »
«Them and her. Isn't that right? »
«Yes. They said to us, to my wife and me, that if we cannot convince our daughter to be silent,
there will be trouble for us. And they said to Sabea: "If you speak we will denounce you to the
Sanhedrin". We foresee sad days for us!... But our hearts are at peace because of what You told us...
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and we will put up with the rest. But with regard to her... What shall we do? Tell us, Lord.»
Jesus is pensive, then He replies: «Have you no relatives far from Bethlechi?»
«No, Master.»
Jesus is pensive and then He raises His head and looks at Joseph, John of Ephesus and Philip of
Arbela. He says to them: «You will set out with these people and then from Bethlechi you will go
with her and her trousseau to Aera. You will tell Timoneus' mother to keep her in My name. She
knows what it means to have a persecuted son.»
«We will do that, Lord. It's a wise decision. Aera is far and out of the way » say the three men.
Sabea's father and mother kiss the Master's hands and they thank Him and bless Him.
Jesus bends over the woman, He touches her veiled head and calls her gently: «Sabea, listen to Me!
»
The woman raises her head, she looks at Him and then falls on her knees.
Holding His hand to her head Jesus says: «Listen, Sabea. You will go where I send you: to a mother.
I would have liked to send you to My Mother. But it is not possible. And continue to serve the Lord
with justice and obedience. I bless you, woman. Go in peace.»
«Yes, my Lord and my God. But shall I be able to speak when I have to?...»
«The Spirit Who loves you will guide you according to the moment. Be sure of His love. Be
humble, chaste, simple and sincere, and He will not abandon you. Go in peace! »
He joins again the apostles and Zacchaeus with his friends, who had stopped a few paces away
holding back other curious people.
«Let us go. Night has fallen. I do not know how you who have to go to Jericho will get there.»
«Particularly for the woman and her relatives, I would say. But if You think that it is a good idea,
we will stay outside and You and they will be able to sleep in the house until morning » suggests
one of Zacchaeus' friends.
«A good idea. Go and tell Sabea to come here with her relatives and the disciples. They will sleep
in the house. I will stay with you. It is not a windy night. We will light some fires and we will wait
for dawn thus, while I teach you and you listen to Me.»
And He slowly sets off in the early moonlight...

524. At Bethabara, Remembering the Baptist.

7th November 1946.

«Peace to You, Master! » greet the shepherd disciples who had gone ahead some days previously
and were waiting beyond the ford with the sick people they had gathered together, and other people
anxious to hear the Master.
«Peace to you. Have you been waiting for Me long? »
«For three days.»
«I was held up on the way. Let us go to the sick people.»
«We put up some tents to give shelter to them without going backwards and forwards to and from
the nearby villages. We were given milk for them by some of our shepherd friends, who are now
over there with their herds waiting for You» say the disciples while leading Jesus into a thicket,
which by itself would be a protection for anyone taking shelter in it.
There are about twenty small tents supported by poles, or stretched between two trunks of trees, and
under them there is the large sad crowd of sick people who are waiting, and as soon as they realise
Who is coming they utter the usual cry: «Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us.»
Jesus does not want to keep them waiting long and appearing, or rather bending from tent to tent, as
His height does not allow Him to go in standing straight, He looks into each smiling, and His smile
is already a grace. The sun shining behind Him casts His shadow on the little beds and emaciated
faces or on the inert limbs. He only says a few words: «Peace to you who believe » and He then

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passes to the next tent. And the cry follows Him. A cry repeated each time His sentence is repeated,
a cry that is heard in the tent just left, as if it were the echo of the one uttered in the previous tent: «I
am cured. Hosanna to the Son of David! »
And the large group of sick people, previously lying under the dark tents, comes out and gathers
together behind the Master. They are all full of joy and they throw away their sticks or crutches,
they wrap themselves in the blankets of the now useless stretchers, they take off the no longer
needed bandages, and above all they exult in the joy of their recovery.
They have all been cured by now. And Jesus turns round and with a most loving smile He says:
«The Lord has rewarded your faith. Let us bless His goodness together » and He intones the psalm:
«Acclaim the Lord, all the Earth, serve the Lord gladly. Come into His presence with songs of joy.
Know that He, the Lord, is God, He made us, etc.»
The people follow Him as best they can. Some, who are probably not Israelites, follow the song
with a murmur of their lips. But their hearts do sing, as one can tell from their faces. God will
certainly accept that poor murmur better than the perfect but arid song of some Pharisees.
Matthias says to Jesus: «O Lord, when You speak to those who are awaiting Your word, mention
our John.»
«I was thinking of doing that because this place brings back to My heart an even livelier
recollection of the figure of the Baptist » and surrounded by the crowd He climbs a rising of the
ground, covered with thin grass, and He begins to speak.
«What have you come to seek in this place? The health of your bodies, o sick people, and it was
given to you. The word that evangelizes, and you have found it. But the health of your bodies must
prepare you to seek the health of your spirits, as the word that evangelizes must prepare your wills
to seek justice. How dreadful it would be if the health of the body were confined to the joy of the
flesh and blood, being instead inactive with regard to the spirit! I made you praise the Lord Who
granted you the gift of health. But your gratitude to the Lord must not come to an end after the
moment of exultation. And gratitude reveals itself in the good will to love Him. Every gift of God is
nothing, no matter how full of active strength it is, if in man there is no will to recompense it with
the gift of his own spirit to God.
This place heard the preaching of John. Many among you certainly heard it. Many people in Israel
heard it, but it did not have the same results in everybody, although John spoke the same words to
everybody. Why so much difference then? What is the cause of it? The different wills of men who
heard those words. Some were really prepared by them to receive Me, and consequently they were
prepared for their own holiness. Others instead were prepared against Me, and consequently for
their own injustice. They resounded like the cry of a sentinel, and the army of spirits divided,
although one only was the cry. Some of them prepared to follow their Leader. Some armed
themselves and studied plans to fight Me and My followers. And because of that Israel will be
defeated, because a kingdom, which is divided in itself, cannot be strong, and foreign countries take
advantage of it to subdue it.
The same applies to individual spirits. In every man there are good and bad powers. Wisdom speaks
to the whole man, but only few men want one part only to reign: the good one. In deciding to
choose one part only as queen, the children of the world are more skilful. They know how to be
completely wicked, when they so wish, and they throw away the good parts, as if they were useless
garments, whereas they could oppose resistance in them. The men, instead, who are not of the
world and who are stimulated towards the Light, only with difficulty can imitate the children of the
world and throw away, like rejected garments, the wicked parts which try to resist in them.
I said that if one eye causes you to sin, it should be torn out, if a hand causes you to sin, it should be
cut off, because it is better to enter the eternal Light crippled, than enter eternal Darkness with both
eyes or hands. The Baptist was a man of our days. Many of you have known him. Imitate his
heroical example. Out of love for the Lord and for his soul, he gave away much more than an eye
and a hand, he gave his very life, to be faithful to Justice. Many among you were perhaps his
disciples and still say that they love him. But bear in mind that you prove your love for God and for
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the teachers who take you to God by doing what they taught you, imitating their works of justice
and loving God with your whole selves, to the extent of heroism. Then, by doing so, the gifts of
health and wisdom granted by God do not remain idle and do not become condemnation, on the
contrary they are a ladder to ascend to the abode of My and your Father, Who awaits everybody in
His Kingdom.
For your own good, ensure that the sacrifice of the Baptist - a whole life of sacrifice ended in
martyrdom - and My sacrifice - a whole life of sacrifice and ending in a martyrdom hundreds of
times greater than My Precursor's - may not be fruitless for you. Be just, have faith, obey the word
of Heaven, renew yourselves in the New Law. Let the Gospel be really good news for you, making
you good and deserving to enjoy the Bounty, that is the Most High Lord in an eternal Day. Learn to
tell true shepherds from false ones, and follow those who will give you the words of Life they
learned from Me.
The feast of Lights, the celebration of the Dedication of the Temple is close at hand. Remember
that many lights to honour the festivity and the Lord are of no avail, if your hearts are without light.
Love is light and its lamp- holder is the will to love the Lord with good deeds. Remember that the
Dedication of the Temple is a good thing, but it is much greater, better and more pleasant to the
Lord to dedicate one's spirit to God and reconsecrate it through love. Just spirits in just bodies,
because the body is like the walls surrounding the altar, and the spirit is the altar upon which the
glory of the Lord descends. God cannot descend upon altars desecrated by one's sins, or by contact
with flesh bitten by lust and by wicked thoughts.
Be good. The fatigue of being so through the continuous tests in life is rewarded a hundredfold by
the future prize, and at present, by the peace comforting the hearts of just people at the end of each
day, when they lie down to rest and find their pillows free from remorse, which is instead the
nightmare of those who want to enjoy themselves illicitly and they only succeed in being seized
with a restless frenzy. Do not envy the rich, do not hate anybody, do not wish to have what you see
other people have. Be satisfied with your condition considering that to do the Will of God in
everything is the key that opens the gates of the eternal Jerusalem.
I am leaving you. Many among you will not see Me again, because I am about to go to prepare the
places for My disciples... My special blessing to your children, to your women whom I shall not see
again. And to you, men... Yes, I want to bless you... My blessing will help those who are stronger
not to fall, and the weaker to rise up again. Only for those who will betray Me because they hate
Me, My blessing will be of no value.»
He blesses them all together, He then blesses the women, He kisses the children and then He goes
back to the ford with the five apostles who are still with Him and with the shepherd disciples.

525. Going Back to Nob. Jesus' Omniscience.

8th November 1946.

They are already on the slopes of the Mount of Olives and the three pairs of apostles left at Jericho,
Tekoah and Bethany are once again with the Master. But Judas of Kerioth is still absent and the
apostles are speaking in low voices about him...
Jesus is infinitely sad... The apostles have noticed that and they are saying to one another: «It is
certainly because of Lazarus. He is a broken man... And his sisters arouse so much pity... The
Master cannot even stop in their house, persecuted as He is by so much hatred. It would have been a
great consolation to the sick man, his sisters and also for the Master.»
«I cannot understand why He does not cure him! » exclaims Thomas.
«It would be also fair. A friend... He helps so much... A just man...» murmurs Bartholomew.
«Ah! with regard to justice, he is just indeed. I think you have persuaded yourself of that these last
days...» says the Zealot to Bartholomew.

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«Yes, that's true. And also what you imply is true. I was not quite convinced of his justice...
Because of their familiarity with Gentiles, because of the education they received from their father
who was very, very... I would say inclined to yield to new forms of life different from ours...»
«Their mother was an angel » says Simon Zealot decidedly.
«Perhaps that is the reason why they are just... Let us overlook Mary's past. She is now redeemed...»
says Philip.
«Yes, but all that made me suspicious. Now I am really convinced, and I am surprised that the
Master...»
«My Brother knows how to appraise the merits of men. We suffered as well for a long time from a
natural human jealousy, because we saw that strangers were more gratified than the members of our
family. But now we have understood that the error was in our way of thinking and that He was
right. We considered His behaviour as being indifferent, and as a depreciation and incomprehension
of our value. Now we have understood. He prefers to draw to Himself those who are deformed and
unformed. He... with His infinite means, entices the souls that are most wretched and remote and
thus more exposed to danger. Do you remember the parable of the lost sheep? The truth, the key to
His way of behaving is in that parable. When He sees his faithful sheep follow Him or stay where or
how He wishes, His spirit is at peace. And He makes use of that peace to pursue the lost sheep. He
knows that we love Him, that Lazarus and his sisters love Him, that the women disciples and the
shepherds love Him, and so He does not lose His time with us with any special trial of love. He
always loves us. He has us in His heart all the time. We ourselves enter it and we do not want to
come out of it. But the others... sinners, those who are misled!... He must run after them, He has to
draw them to Himself with love, miracles and His power. And He does that. Lazarus, Mary and
Martha will continue to love Him even without a miracle...» says James of Alphaeus.
«That is true. But... What did He mean with His last greeting? You heard Him say: "The love of the
Lord for you will be revealed in proportion to your love. And remember that love has two wings to
be perfect, and the more unbounded they are, the more perfect love is: faith and hope" » says
Andrew.
«Of course! What did He mean? » several of them ask.
There is silence. Then Thomas with a deep sigh concludes an interior speech of his own: «...But His
good patience does not always win redemptions. I also have suffered at time because of the
predilections He shows for Judas of Kerioth...»
«Predilection? I don't think so. He reproaches him as He does with any of us...» says Andrew.
«According to justice, yes. But consider how much more severity that man would deserve...»
«That is true.»
«Well, I suffered many times because of that. But now I realise that He certainly does so because...
he is the most imperfect amongst us.»
«The most wretched, you must say, Thomas! The most wretched. You think that His sadness (and
he points at Jesus Who is walking ahead of them, all alone, absorbed in His grief) is brought about
by Lazarus' disease and by the tears of his sisters. I say that it is brought about by Judas' absence. He
was hoping to be met by him on the way when He was going to Bethabara. He was hoping to find
him at least at Jericho, Tekoah or when He came back to Bethany. Now He no longer hopes. He is
now sure of Judas' evildoing. I have watched Him all the time... and I noticed that His face looked
utterly desolate when you, Bartholomew, said: "Judas has not come" » says Thaddeus.
«But He is aware of events before they take place, I am certain of that! » exclaims John.
«Of many, not of all of them. I think that His Father conceals some of them from Him, out of pity »
says the Zealot.
The eleven are divided into two parties, some agree to one version, some to the other, and each
states his reasons supporting his own.
John exclaims: «Oh! I do not want to listen to either, not even to myself! We are all poor men, and
we cannot see things right. I am going to Jesus and I will ask Him.»
«No. He might be thinking of something else and this question may remind Him of Judas and make
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Him more grieved » says Andrew.
«No. I will certainly not tell Him that we were speaking of Judas. I will ask Him so... without any
reference.»
«Go then. It may help Him to take His mind off sad thoughts. Don't you see how sad He is? » says
Peter pushing John.
«I am going. Who is coming with me? »
«Go by yourself. He speaks to you without reserve. And then you will tell us...»
John goes away. «Master! »
«John! What do you want? » and Jesus with a smile that brightens His face embraces His dearest
apostle with one arm, holding him close to Himself while walking.
«We were talking among ourselves and we were uncertain about one thing. This: whether You
know all the future or is part of it hidden from You. Some of us said one thing, some another.»
«And what did you say? »
«I said that the best thing was to ask You.»
«And so You came. You did the right thing. This gives you and Me the opportunity to enjoy a
moment of love... Only so rarely now we can have some peace!...»
«It's true! How beautiful the early days were!...»
«Yes. For the man, which we are, they were more beautiful. But for the spirit which is in us, these
days are better. Because the word of God is better known and because we suffer more. The more
one suffers, the more one redeems, John... So, although we remember the happy days, we must be
more fond of these ones that grieve us, and through grief they give us souls. But I will answer your
question. Listen. I know as God. And I know as man. I know future events because I am with the
Father since before time and I see beyond time. As a man free from imperfections and limitations
connected with the Sin and with sins, I have the gift of introspection of hearts. Such gift is not
limited only to the Christ. But in different degrees it is in all those who, having achieved holiness,
are so united to God that one can say that they do not act by themselves, but through the Perfection
existing in them. So I can reply to you that as God I am aware of the future of centuries, and as a
just man I know the state of hearts.»
John is pensive and silent. Jesus leaves him alone for a moment, then says: «For instance now I see
this thought in you: "Then my Master knows the state of Judas of Kerioth exactly!" »
«Oh! Master! »
«Yes. I know. I know and I will continue to be his Master, and I would like you to continue to be
his brothers.»
«Holy Master!... But do You really always know everything? See, at times we say that it is not so,
because You go to places where You find enemies. Before going, do You know that You will find
them, and You go there to fight them with Your love, to gain them to love, or... do you not know
and do You see Your enemies only when they are in front of You and You read their hearts? Once
You said to me - You were very depressed even then, and always for the same reason - You said
that You were like one who cannot see...»
«I experienced also that torture of man: to have to proceed without seeing, relying entirely on
Providence. I must be acquainted with everything pertaining to man, with the exception of
consumed sin. Not because of a protective barrier placed by My Father against the flesh, the world
and the demon, but because of My will of man. I am like you. But I have a stronger will- power than
you. So I am subject to temptation but I do not yield to them. And My merit lies in that, as it does
for you.»
«You tempted!... It seems almost impossible to me...»
«Because temptations do not affect you very much. You are pure, and you think that I, being purer
than you, should not experience temptation. In fact the carnal one is so weak as compared with My
chastity, that it is never perceived by My ego. It is as if a petal struck a solid piece of granite. It
skims it... The very demon is tired of shooting that arrow at Me. But, John, do you not consider how
many other temptations there are around Me? »
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«Around You? You do not crave for riches or honours... So which are they?...»
«And do you not take into consideration that I have a life, affections, and duties towards My
Mother, and that such things tempt Me to avoid the danger? The Snake calls it "danger". But its true
name is "Sacrifice". And do you not think that I have feelings, too? My moral ego is present in Me
and suffers offences, derision, double-dealing. Oh! My John! Do you realise how loathsome
falsehood and liars are to Me? Do you know how many times the demon tempts Me to react against
these things that grieve Me, by relinquishing My meekness and becoming hard-hearted and
intolerant? And lastly, do you not consider how many times he blows his breath burning with pride,
and says: "Be proud of this or that. You are great. The world admires You. The elements are at your
service!". The temptation to delight in being holy! The most subtle one! How many lose the holiness
already acquired, because of such pride! How did Satan corrupt Adam? By tempting his sensuality,
his thought, his spirit. Am I not the Man Who must recreate man? The new mankind is to come
from Me. And there is Satan trying the same means to destroy, and for good, the race of the
children of God. Now go to your companions and repeat My words to them. And do not wonder
whether I know or do not know what Judas is doing. Consider that I love you. Is that thought not
sufficient to fill a heart? » He kisses him and dismisses him.
And when He is once again all alone, He raises His eyes to the sky that can be seen through the
branches of the olive-trees and He says in a plaintive voice: «Father! Grant Me at least this, that I
may be able to conceal the Crime until the last hour, to prevent My beloved disciples from staining
their hands with blood. Have mercy on them, Father! They are too weak to refrain from reacting
against offence! Let there be no hatred in their hearts in the hour of perfect Love! » and He wipes
the tears that God only sees...

Maria Valtorta

THE POEM OF THE MAN-GOD

VOLUME FOUR

THE THIRD YEAR OF THE PUBLIC LIFE

(Conclusion)

Vol 5° * ON LINE *
PREPARATION FOR THEINDEX PASSION

539. The Judaeans in Lazarus' House.

540. The Judaeans with Martha and Mary.
541. Martha Sends a Servant to Inform the Master.
542. Lazarus' Death.
543. The Servant of Bethany Informs Jesus of Martha's Message.

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544. At Lazarus' Funeral.
545. Jesus Decides to Go to Lazarus.
546. Resurrection of Lazarus.
547. In Jerusalem and in the Temple after the Resurrection of Lazarus.
548. At Bethany after the Resurrection of Lazarus.
549. Going to Ephraim.
550. The First Day at Ephraim.
551. Jesus Respects the Precept of Love More Than the Sabbatic Law.
552. The Following Day at Ephraim. Parable on the Remembrance of Man's
Eternal Destiny.
553. Jesus Explains to Peter the Mandate for Remitting Sins and Why Saints and
Innocents Suffer.
554. On a Sabbath at Ephraim Jesus Speaks in the Synagogue.
555. The Arrival of the Relatives of the Children with Many People of Shechem.
556. The Parable of the Drop That Excavates the Rock.
557. Pilgrims Arrive in Ephraim from the Decapolis. Manaen's Secret Mission.
558. The Secret Meeting with Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.
559. The Saphorim Samuel.
560. What People Say at Nazareth. *

561. False Disciples Arrive in Shechem. At Ephraim Jesus Restores the Tongue
to the Dumb Slave of Claudia Procula.
562. The Man of Jabneel.
563. Samuel, Judas of Kerioth and John. Parable of the Bees.
564. At Ephraim, before and after the Arrival of Jesus' Mother and of the Women
Disciples with Lazarus.
565. Parable of the Tom Cloth and Miracle of the Woman in Childbed. Judas of
Kerioth Is Caught Stealing.
566. Farewell to Ephraim. Going towards Shilo.
567. At Shiloh. First Parable on Advice.
568. At Lebonah. Second Parable on Advice.
569 Arrival at Shechem.
570. At Shechem. Third Parable on Advice.
571. Leaving for Enon.
572. At Enon. The Young Shepherd Benjamin.
573. Jesus Is Rejected by the Samaritans. With Judas of Kerioth.
574. The Rich Young Man.
575. The Third Prophecy of the Passion. The Request of Zebedee's sons.
576. Meeting with the Disciples Led by Manaen and Arrival at Jericho.
577. With Some Unknown Disciples.
578. Prophecy on Israel. Miracles Worked During the Journey from Jericho to
Bethany.
579. Arrival at Bethany.
580. The Friday before the Entry into Jerusalem. Judas of Kerioth Impenitent. *
581. The Friday before the Entry into Jerusalem. Farewell to the Women
Disciples and the Encounter with an Unhappy Child.
582. The Sabbath before the Entry into Jerusalem. Parable of the Two Lamps and
the Parable Applied to the Miracle on Shalem.
583. The Sabbath before the Entry into Jerusalem. Pilgrims and Judaeans at
Bethany.
584. The Sabbath before the Entry into Jerusalem. The Supper at Bethany.

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585. Farewell to Lazarus.
586. Judas Goes to the Leaders of the Sanhedrin.
587. From Bethany to Jerusalem.
588. Jesus Enters into Jerusalem.
589. The Evening of Palm Sunday.
590. The Monday before Passover. The Cursed Fig-Tree and the Parable of the
Wicked Husbandmen.
591. Monday Night before Passover. Teachings to the Apostles at Gethsemane.
592. The Tuesday Morning before Passover. The Questions of the Tribute to
Caesar and of the Resurrection of the Dead.
593. The Tuesday Night before Passover. Other Teachings to the Apostles.
594. The Wednesday before Passover. From the Discussions with Scribes and
Pharisees to the Eschatological Discourse. The Widow's Mite.
595. The Night of the Wednesday before Passover. Last Teachings to the
Apostles.
596. The Thursday before Passover. Preparation for the Supper and
Announcement of the Glorification through Death.
597. The Thursday Evening before Passover. Arrival at the Supper-Room and
Farewell to the Mother.
598. The Passover Supper.

THE PASSION
599. The Agony and the Arrest at Gethsemane.
600. The Various Trials.

601. Death of Judas of Kerioth. The Behaviour of Mary towards Judas Cancels
Eve's Bearing towards Cain.
602. Other Teachings on the First Parents and on the Parallelism between Cain
and Judas.
603. John Goes to Get Mary.
604. The Way of the Cross from the Praetorium to Calvary.
605. The Crucifixion.
606. The Burial of Jesus and the Spiritual Distress of Mary.
607. The Return to the Supper Room.
608. The Night of Good Friday.
609. The Redeeming Value of Jesus' and Mary's sufferings. John Is the Head of
Lovers.
610. The Holy Saturday.
611. The Night of Holy Saturday.

THE GLORIFICATION

612. The Morning of the Resurrection.

613. The Resurrection.
614. Jesus Appears to His Mother.
615. The Pious Women at the Sepulchre.
616. Comment on the Resurrection.
617. Jesus Appears to Lazarus.
618. Jesus Appears to Johanna of Chuza.
619. Jesus Appears to Joseph of Arimathea, to Nicodemus and to Manaen.
620. Jesus Appears to the Shepherds.

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621. Jesus Appears to the Disciples of Emmaus.
622. Jesus Appears to the Other Friends.
623. Jesus Appears to the Ten Apostles.
624. The Incredulity of Thomas. Jesus' Warning to the "Thomases" of Today.
625. Jesus Appears to the Apostles with Thomas. Speech on Priesthood.
626. At Gethsemane with the Apostles.
627. The Apostles Go along the Way of the Cross.
628. Jesus Appears to Various People in Different Places.
629. Jesus Appears on the Shores of the Lake. The Mission Conferred to Peter.
630. Jesus Appears on Mount Tabor to the Apostles and to about Five Hundred
Believers.
631. The Last Teachings before Ascension-Day.
632. The Supplementary Passover.
633. Farewell to His Mother before Ascension.
634. Farewell and Ascension of the Lord.
635. The Election of Matthias.
636. The Descent of the Holy Spirit. End of the Messianic Cycle.
637. Peter Celebrates the Eucharist in a Meeting of the First Christians.
638. The Blessed Virgin Takes up Her Abode at Gethsemane with John, Who
Foretells Her Assumption.
639. The Blessed Virgin and John in the Places of the Passion.
640. The Two Shrouds of the Lord.
641. The Martyrdom of Stephen. Saul and Gamaliel.
642. Deposition of Stephen's Body.
643. Gamaliel Becomes a Christian.
644. Peter Converses with John.
645. The Blissful Passage of the Blessed Virgin.
646. The Assumption of Our Lady.
647. On the Passage, the Assumption and Royalty of the Blessed Virgin.
The Reasons for the Work. Farewell to the Work.

Maria Valtorta

THE POEM OF THE MAN-GOD

VOLUME FIVE

PREPARATION FOR THE PASSION

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 76. False Disciples Arrive in Shechem. At Ephraim Jesus Restores the Tongue to the Dumb
Slave of Claudia Procula.
7th February 1947.

The main square in Shechem. A characteristic trait of spring-time is given to it by the new foliage
of the trees that surround it in a double row along the square-shaped walls of the houses, forming a
kind of gallery. The sun plays among the tender leaves of plane-trees projecting an embroidery of
light and shadows on the ground. The basin in the centre of the square is a silver plate in the
sunshine. People in groups are discussing their business here and there.
Some people, who are apparently strangers, as everybody is asking who they are, come into the
square, they look round and approach the first group they meet. They exchange greetings to
everybody's amazement. But when they say: «We are disciples of the Master of Nazareth » all
mistrust ends and some go to inform the other groups, while those who remain say: «Did He send
you? »
«He did, on a very secret mission. The Rabbi is in great danger. No one loves Him any more in
Israel and He, Who is so kind, asks you at least to remain faithful to Him.»
«But that is what we want! What are we to do? What does He want of us? »
«Oh! He wants nothing but love. Because He relies too much in the protection of God. And with
what is said in Israel! But you are not aware that He is being accused of satanism and insurrection.
Do you know what that means? Reprisals of the Romans against everybody. And we who are
already so miserable will be struck even harder! And we shall be condemned by the holy ones of
our Temple. It is certain that the Romans... Also for your own sake you ought to take action, and
persuade Him to defend Himself and defend Him, and make it almost, nay, make it definitely
impossible for Him to be caught and thus be harmful, having no intention of being so. Persuade
Him to withdraw to the Gerizim. Where He is now, He is still too exposed and He does not appease
the anger of the Sanhedrin or the suspicions of the Romans. The Gerizim is certainly entitled to the
right of sanctuary! There is no sense in telling Him. If we told Him He would say that we are
anathema because we advise Him to be cowardly. But it is not so. It is love. It is prudence on our
part. We are not allowed to speak. But you can! He loves you. He has already preferred your region
to the others. So organise yourselves to accept Him. Because you will at least find out for certain
whether He loves you or not. If He should refuse your assistance, it would mean that He does not
love you, and then it would be better if He went elsewhere. Because, believe us - we are telling you
this with sorrow - His presence is a danger for those who give Him hospitality. But you are, of
course, the best of His admirers and you do not worry about dangers. However, if you risk reprisals
of the Romans, it is fair that you should do so for an exchange of love. We advise you for
everybody' sake.»
«You are right. And we will do as you say. We shall go to Him...»
«Oh! be careful! He must not become aware that it was our suggestion! »
«Don't worry! Don't be afraid! We know what to do. Of course! We will let people see that the
despised Samaritans are worth a hundred, a thousand Judaeans and Galileans to defend the Christ.
Come. Come to our houses, you messengers of the Lord. It will be the same as if He came to us!
Samaria has been waiting for such a long time to be loved by God's servants! »
They go away keeping in the middle of their group those whom I do not think I am mistaken in
calling emissaries of the Sanhedrin, and they say: «We realise that He loves us because this is the
second group of disciples that He has sent to us in a few days. And we did the right thing in being
kind to the first one. It is right to be so kind to Him because of the little children of that dead
woman of our town! He knows us by now...»
And they go away looking happy.
----------------------------------
All the people of Ephraim pour into the streets to see the unusual event of a procession of Roman
wagons passing through the town. There are many wagons and covered litters, flanked with slaves
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and preceded and followed by legionaries. The people make gestures of mutual understanding and
whisper. When the procession arrives at the crossroad for Bethel and Ramah it separates into two
parts. A wagon and a litter stop with an escort of armed men, while the rest go on.
The curtains of the litter are drawn for a moment and a lady's white hand studded with gems
beckons the head of the slaves to go near it. The man obeys without speaking. He listens. He
approaches a group of curious women and asks: «Where is the Rabbi of Nazareth? »
«He lives in that house. But at this time of the day He is usually at the stream. There is a little island
there, near those willow-trees, over there, where that poplar is. He stays there praying all day long.»
The man goes back and reports. The litter sets out again. The wagon remains where it was. The
soldiers follow the litter as far as the banks of the stream and bar the way. Only the litter proceeds
along the stream as far as the islet, which in the process of the season has become well-wooded: a
huge impenetrable tuft of greenery surmounted by the trunk and the silvery foliage of the poplar. At
an order the bearers with tucked up garments enter the water and the litter crosses to the other side
of the little water course. Claudia Procula comes out of it with a freedwoman, and Claudia beckons
a dark slave escorting the litter to follow her. The others go back to the bank of the stream.
Claudia, followed by the two people, proceeds into the islet, towards the poplar standing out in the
centre. The tall grass stifles the noise of steps. She thus arrives where Jesus is absorbed in thought,
sitting at the foot of the tree. She calls Him advancing by herself while with an authoritative gesture
she makes her two faithful attendants stop where they are.
Jesus looks up and He stands up at once as soon as He sees the woman. He greets her holding
Himself upright against the trunk of the poplar. He does not appear to be astonished, or annoyed or
irritated at the intrusion.
After greeting Him, Claudia enters into the subject promptly: «Master. Some people have come to
me, or rather to Pontius... I do not make long speeches. But as I admire You, I say to You what I
would have said to Socrates, if I had lived in his days, or to any other virtuous man unjustly
persecuted: "I cannot do very much, but I will do what I can". And in the meantime I will write
where it is possible for me to do so, to have You protected... and to make You powerful. So many
undeserving people live on thrones or in high positions...»
«Domina, 1 have not asked honours and protection of you. May the true God reward you for your
thought. But give your honours and protection to those who long for them. I do not crave after
them.»
«Ah! There You are! That is what I wanted! So You really are the Just Man I foresaw! And the
others, Your worthless slanderers! They came to us and...»
«You need not tell Me, domina. I know.»
«Do You also know that they say that because of Your sins You have lost all power and
consequently You live here as an outcast? »
«I know that, too. And I know that it was easier for you to believe the latter rumour than the former.
Because your heathen mind can descry the human power or the human meanness of a man, but it
cannot yet understand what is the power of the spirit. You are... disappointed by your gods who in
your religion appear to be quarrelling continuously and to have such a failing power, subject to easy
interdictions because of their reciprocal contrasts. And you think that the true God is the same. But
it is not so. As I was the first time you saw Me cure a leper, such I am now. And such I shall be
when I appear to be completely destroyed. «That is your dumb slave, is it not? »
«Yes, Master.»
«Tell him to come forward.»
Claudia utters a cry and the man moves forward and prostrates himself on the ground between Jesus
and his mistress. His poor heart of a savage does not know whom he should venerate more. He is
afraid that to venerate the Christ more than his mistress may cause him to be punished. But even so,
after casting a suppliant glance at Claudia, he repeats the gesture he made at Caesarea: he takes
Jesus' bare foot in his big dark hands and stooping with his face on the ground he lays the foot on
his head.
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«Domina, listen. According to you, is it easier for a man to conquer a kingdom by himself, or to
make grow again a part that no longer exists of a human body? »
«To conquer a kingdom, Master. Fortune favours the brave. But no one, that is, only You can make
a dead man revive and give eyes to the blind.»
«Why? »
«Because... Because God can do everything.»
«So according to you I am God? »
«Yes... or, at least God is with You.»
«Can God be with a wicked person? I am talking of the true God, not of your idols that are the
frenzy of those who seek what they perceive to exist without knowing what it is, and they imagine
phantoms to satisfy their souls.»
«No... I would not say so. Even our priests lose their power as soon as they fall into sin.»
«Which power? »
«Well... the power to read the signs of the sky and the responses of victims, the flights and singing
of birds. You know... Augurs, haruspices...»
«I know. So? Look. Raise your head and open your mouth, man, whom a cruel human power
deprived of a gift of God. And by the will of the true, only God, the Creator of perfect bodies, have
what man took away from you.»
He has put His white finger into the open mouth of the dumb man. The freedwoman, who is very
curious, cannot remain where she is, and she comes forward to see. Claudia has bowed to watch.
Jesus removes His finger shouting: «Speak, and make use of the reborn part to praise the true God.»
And, all of a sudden, like the blast of a trumpet, of an instrument so far mute, a guttural but clear
cry replies: «Jesus! » and the negro falls to the ground weeping for joy and he licks, he really licks
Jesus bare feet, just as a grateful dog would do.
«Have I lost My power, domina? Give this reply to those who throw out such innuendos. And you...
stand up and be good thinking how much I have loved you. I have had you in My heart since that
day at Caesarea. And with you all those like you, who are regarded as goods, considered inferior
even to brutes, whereas you are men, equal to Caesar, by conception and probably better because of
the good will of your hearts... You may withdraw, domina... There is nothing else to be said.»
«Yes. There is something. There is the fact that I doubted... that I, with grief, almost believed what
they said about You. And I was not the only one. Forgive us all, except Valeria, who has never
changed her mind, nay, nay her mind is more determined than ever. And there is my gift to be
accepted: this man. He could no longer serve me now that he can speak, and my money.»
«No, neither.»
«So, are You not forgiving me?»
«I forgive also those of My people, who are twice guilty of not knowing Me for what I am. And
should I not forgive all of you, deprived as you are of all divine knowledge? Here. I said that I
would not accept your money or the man. I will now accept both and with the money I will free the
man. I give your money back to you because I am buying the man. And I am buying him to make
him free, so that he may go back to his country to say that on the Earth there is the Man Who loves
all men, and the more He sees their unhappiness the more He loves them. Keep your purse.»
«No, Master, it is Yours. The man is free just the same. He is mine. I have given him to You. You
are freeing him. No money is needed for that.»
«Well... Have you a name? » He asks the man.
«We used to call him Callisto scoffingly. But when he was caught...»
«It does not matter. Keep that name, and make it real by becoming very handsome in your spirit (1).
Go. Be happy because God has saved you.»
Go! The negro does not tire of kissing and saying: «Jesus! Jesus! » and he lays Jesus' foot once
again on his head saying: «You. My only Master.»
«I. Your true Father. Domina, you will take upon yourself to let him go back to his country. Use the
money for that and give him the rest. Goodbye, domina. And never listen to the voices of darkness.
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Be just. And strive to know Me. Goodbye, Callisto. Goodbye, woman.»
And Jesus puts an end to the conversation by jumping across the stream to the side opposite to the
one where the litter is and He disappears among the bushes, the willows and the reed thickets.
Claudia calls the litter bearers and enters the litter again with a pensive countenance. But if she is
silent, the freedwoman and the free slave talk as much as ten people and even the legionaries forget
their rigid discipline in the presence of the wonder of a reborn tongue. Claudia is too absorbed in
thought to order them to be silent. Reclined in the litter, one elbow resting on pillows, her head
supported by her hand, she does not hear anything. She is engrossed in thought. She does not even
notice that the freedwoman is not with her but is chattering like a magpie, with the litter bearers
while Callisto is speaking to the legionaries who, if they keep lined up, do not keep silent. They are
too excited to do so!
Going back the same way, they arrive at the Bethel and Ramah crossroads; the litter leaves Ephraim
to join the rest of the procession.

(1) Callisto is in fact a Greek word meaning «very beautiful, very handsome ».

562. The Man of Jabneel.

7th February 1947.

Several days must have gone by. I am saying so because I see that the corn, which in the last visions
was hardly a span high, after the last downpour and the lovely sunshine that followed it, is already
tall and is about to give ear. Cereals, still tender in their calami, are waved by a light breeze, that
plays with the new leaves of the early fruit trees, which after blossoming or while the petals flutter
about and fall, have already opened their light-emerald tender shiny little leaves, as beautiful as
everything that is pure and new. The vines, still bare and knotty, blossom later, but on the twisted
vine-shoots, which interlace with one another from trunk to trunk, the buds have already burst the
dark bark that contained them, and, although still closed in it, they display the silver-grey down that
is the nest for future new vine-leaves and tendrils, and the woody twisted festoon-like branches
seem to be softened by a fresh gracefulness. The sun, which is already warm, has begun its action
by colouring everything and distilling vegetable essences, and while with brighter hues it paints
what only a few days ago looked paler, it warms and thus extracts various types of scents from
clods of earth, from flowery meadows, from fields of cereals, from vegetable gardens and orchards,
from woods, from walls, from the very clothes hanging to dry, blending them harmoniously into a
smell that will last throughout summer until it changes into the strong reek of must in the vats
where the squashed grapes become wine. There is a loud chorus of birds singing among trees, and
an eager bleating of rams among herds. And the singing of men along slopes. And the cheerful
voices of children. And the smiles of women It is springtime. Nature is in love. And man gets
pleasure from the love of nature, which will make him wealthier shortly, and he takes delight in his
own love, which becomes livelier in such serene revival, and his wife seems more loving to him,
while he appears to be a greater protector to his wife, and their children dear to both of them, as at
present they are their joy and their care, and in future, when they are old, they will be the joy and
protection of their declining age.

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Jesus passes along the fields that rise or slope downwards following the inclination of the
mountain. He is alone. He is wearing a linen garment, as He gave His last woollen one to Samuel,
and a rather bright-blue mantle thrown over one shoulder, softly enveloped round His body and held
by His arm across His chest. The strip covering His arm flutters gently in the light breeze and as He
is bare-headed, His hair shines in the sunshine. He goes by and where there are children He bends
to caress their little innocent heads and to listen to their little secrets, admiring what they hasten to
show Him as if they were treasures.
A little girl, who is so small that she still stumbles when running and gets entangled in the little
skirt that is too long for her as she probably inherited it from a brother born before her, arrives near
Jesus with a smile that makes her eyes shine and displays her tiny incisors between her pink lips.
She is carrying a bunch of daisies, a big bunch held with both hands, as many as her tender tiny
hands can hold, and she holds up her trophy saying: «Take it! It's Yours. To mummy later. A kiss,
here! » and with her little hands, now free, as Jesus has taken the little bunch thanking her with
words of admiration, she touches her lips and she stands on her bare feet, with her head bent
backwards, almost losing her balance, in the vain effort to stretch her tiny person up to the face of
Jesus, Who laughs picking her up in His arms and taking her, nestled up there like a little bird on a
tall tree, towards a group of women who are steeping new pieces of cloth in the clear water of a
stream, to lay them out in the sunshine later, to bleach them.
The women, bent over the water, stand up greeting and one of them says smiling: «Tamar has been
giving trouble to You... But she has been picking flowers here since dawn in the secret hope of
seeing You pass by. She would not give me one as she wanted to give them to You first.»
«They are dearer to Me than the treasures of kings. Because they are as innocent as children and
have been given to Me by one who is as innocent as a flower.» He kisses the little girl putting her
down, and He greets her saying: «May the grace of the Lord come to you.» He greets the women
and goes on His way greeting the peasants or shepherds who wave to Him from fields or meadows.
He seems to be going down to the lower part of the country, towards Jericho. But He comes back
and takes another path that climbs once again towards the mountains to the north of Ephraim. The
crops here are even more beautiful, as the soil is in a more favourable position and sheltered from
northern winds. The path runs between two fields and in one of them there are fruit trees planted
almost at regular intervals, and the buds of the early fruits are already like pearls on the branches.
A road descending from north to south crosses the path. It must be a rather important road because
at the crossroads there is one of the milestones used by the Romans, with: «Neapolis » engraved on
its northern side, in the large lapidary letters of the Latins, and strong like them, and under it, in
much smaller letters just scratched on the stone: «Shechem»; on the western side:
«Shiloh-Jerusalem»; and on the southern one: «Jericho ». There is no name on the eastern side.
But one could say that if there is no name of any town, there is the name of a human misfortune.
Because on the ground, between the milestone and the ditch along the road, dug to drain rain-water,
as in all the roads looked after by the Romans, there is a man, benumbed, a bundle of rags and
bones, probably dead.
Jesus bends over him when He sees him among the weeds that springtime downpours have made
luxuriant in the ditch and He touches him asking: «Man? What is the matter with you? »
A moan is the answer. But the tangle moves, unrolls and an emaciated face, as white as death,
appears and two tired, suffering languid eyes look full of astonishment at Him Who is bent over his
misery. He tries to sit up pressing his emaciated hands against the ground, but he is so weak that he
would not succeed without Jesus' help.
Jesus helps him and props him with his back against the milestone. And He asks him: «What is the
matter with you? Are you ill? »
«Yes. » A very faint «yes ».
«But why did you set out all alone, in this state? Have you not got anybody? »
The man nods assent, but he is too weak to reply.
Jesus looks around. There is nobody in the fields. The place is really deserted. To the north, almost
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at the top of a hill, there is a small group of houses; to the west, among the green vegetation of the
slope that rises with more hillocks where fields are replaced by meadows and woods, there are
some herdsmen among a flock of restless goats. Jesus looks at the man again and asks him: «If I
supported you, do you think you would be able to come to that village? »
The man shakes his head and two tears stream down his cheeks that are so withered that they seem
wrinkled by age, whereas his raven beard proves that he is still young. He gathers his strength to
say: «They drove me away... Fear of leprosy... I am not... And I am dying... of hunger.» He pants out
of weakness. He puts a finger into his mouth and pulls out a greenish pulp, saying: «Look... I have
been chewing corn... but it is still green grass.»
«I am going to that shepherd. I will bring you some warm milk. I shall not be long.» And He almost
runs where the flock is, about two hundred metres above the road.
He arrives at the shepherd, He speaks to him and shows him where the man is. The shepherd turns
round to look, he seems undecided whether he should comply with Jesus' request. He then makes
up his mind. He detaches from his belt the wooden bowl that he carries like all shepherds, he milks
a goat and gives the full bowl to Jesus, Who goes down the slope cautiously, followed by a boy who
was with the shepherd.
He is now once again near the starving man. He kneels beside him, He passes one arm round his
back to support him and takes the bowl, in which the milk is still covered with foam, close to his
lips. He makes him take small sips. He then lays the bowl on the ground saying: «That is enough
now. If you take it all at once, it will hurt you. Let your stomach recover some strength with the
milk I gave you.»
The man does not protest. He closes his eyes and is silent, while the boy looks at him with much
surprise.
After some time Jesus offers him the cup again for a longer drink and He goes on thus, at shorter
and shorter intervals, until there is no milk left. He hands the bowl back to the boy and dismisses
him.
The man recovers slowly. With gestures that are still shaky he tries to tidy himself somehow. He
smiles with gratitude looking at Jesus Who has sat down on the grass beside him. He apologises
saying: «I make You lose Your time.»
«Do not worry! The time spent in loving one's brothers is never lost. When you feel better we shall
speak.»
«I am feeling better. My body is warming up and my eyes... I thought I was going to die here... My
poor children! I had lost all hope... And up to that moment I had hoped so much!... If You had not
come, I would have died... just like that... along the road...»
«It would have been very sad. That is true. But the Most High looked at His son and assisted him.
Have a little rest now.»
The man obeys for some time. Then he opens his eyes again and he says: «I feel a new man. Oh! I
wish I could go to Ephraim! »
«Why? Have you got anyone there waiting for you? Do you come from Ephraim? »
«No, I come from the country of Jabneel, near the Great Sea. But I went to Galilee, along the
shores, as far as Caesarea. Then I went to Nazareth. Because I have a disease here (he touches his
stomach). A disease that no one can cure and it does not let me work the land. And I am a widower.
With five children... A man from our place, because I was born at Gaza, of a Philistine father and of
a Syro-Phoenician mother, a man of our place was a follower of the Galilean Rabbi and he came to
us with another man, and spoke to us of the Rabbi. I heard him, too. And when I was taken ill I
said: I am a Syrian and a Philistine, loathsome to Israel. But Ermasteus used to say that the Rabbi of
Galilee is as good as He is powerful. And I believe it. And I am going to Him". And as soon as the
weather improved I left the children to the mother of my wife, I took my few savings, because many
had been spent for my disease, and I came looking for the Rabbi. But money does not last long
when one travels. Particularly when one cannot eat all kinds of food... and one has to stop at inns
when pains prevent one from travelling. At Sephoris I sold my donkey because I had no more
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money left for myself and to give what was due to the Rabbi. I thought that once I was cured, I
would be able to eat everything on the road and thus go back home quickly. And working there in
my fields and in those of other people I hoped I would make up for what I had lost... But the Rabbi
is neither at Nazareth nor at Capernaum. His Mother told me. She said: "He is in Judaea. Look for
Him at the house of Joseph of Sephoris at Bezetha or at Gethsemane. They will be able to tell you
where He is". I came back, on foot. I was getting worse and worse... and my money was
diminishing. At Jerusalem, where I had been told to go, I found the people but not the Rabbi. They
said to me: "Oh! They drove Him away a long time ago. He is cursed by the Sanhedrin. He ran away
but we do not know where". I... felt as if I were dying... just like today. Nay, more than today. I
inquired of hundreds and hundreds of people in town and in the country. No one knew. Some wept
with me. Many struck me. Then one day, when I began to beg outside the enclosure of the Temple,
I heard two Pharisees say: "Now that we know that Jesus of Nazareth is at Ephraim…". I lost no
time, and weak as I was I came here, begging for some bread, and I was more and more in rags and
sick looking. And as I was not familiar with the road, I took the wrong one... Today I came from
there, from that village. For two days I had sucked nothing but wild fennels, and I had chewed
chicory and green corn. They thought I was a leper because of my pallor and they drove me away
pelting me with stones. I was only asking for a piece of bread and to show me the road to
Ephraim... I fell here... But I would like to go to Ephraim. I am so close to my goal! Is it possible
that I should not reach it? I believe in the Rabbi. I am not an Israelite. But neither was Ermasteus,
and He loved him just the same. Is it possible that the God of Israel may treat me with a heavy hand
to revenge Himself for the sins of those who procreated me? »
«The true God is the Father of men. He is just, but good. He rewards those who have faith and does
not make innocents pay for sins not committed by them. But why did you say that when you heard
that the residence of the Rabbi was unknown, you felt as if you were dying more than you were
today? »
«Eh! because I said: "I have lost Him even before finding Him''.»
«Ah! because of your health! »
«No. Not only for that. But because Ermasteus said certain things about Him that I thought that if I
became acquainted with Him, I would no longer be corrupt.»
«So, do you believe that He is the Messiah? »
«I do believe it. I do not know exactly what the Messiah is, but I believe that the Rabbi of Nazareth
is the Son of God.»
Jesus' smile is bright when He asks: «And are you sure that if He is such, He will hear you, although
you are not circumcised? »
«I am certain because Ermasteus said so. He said: "He is the Saviour of all men. As far as He is
concerned there are no Hebrews or idolaters. But only creatures to be saved because the Lord God
has sent Him for that". Many laughed. I believed. If I can say to Him: "Jesus, have mercy on me",
He will hear me. Oh! if You come from Ephraim, take me to Him. Perhaps You are one of His
disciples...»
Jesus smiles more and more and He suggests: «Try and ask Me to cure you...»
«You are good, man. There is so much peace near You. Yes, You are as good as... the Rabbi
Himself, and He has certainly granted You the power to work miracles, because to be as good as
You are, You can but be one of His disciples. I have found all those, who told me they were such,
to be good. But do not be offended if I say to You that You may be able to cure bodies, but not
souls. And I would like also my soul to be cured, as it happened to Ermasteus. To become a just
man... And only the Rabbi can do that. I am a sinner besides being diseased. I do not want to be
cured in my body and then die one day also with my soul. I want to live. Ermasteus said that the
Rabbi is the Life of the soul and that the soul that believes in Him lives for good in the Kingdom of
God. Take me to the Rabbi. Be good! Why are You smiling? Probably because You think that I am
bold in wanting to be cured without being able to give an offering? But once I am cured I shall be
able to cultivate the land once again. I have beautiful fruit. Let the Rabbi come when the fruit
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ripens and I will pay Him with hospitality as long as He wishes.»
«Who told you that the Rabbi wants money? Ermasteus? »
«No. On the contrary he used to say that the Rabbi takes pity on the poor and He assists them first.
But that is the custom with all doctors and... and with everybody, in short.»
«But not with Him. I can assure you. And I tell you that if you can urge your faith to ask for the
miracle here, and to believe it possible, you will have it.»
«Is what You say true?... Are You sure? Of course, if You are one of His disciples you cannot lie or
be wrong. And although I am sorry not to see the Rabbi..., I want to obey You... Perhaps, persecuted
as He is... He does not want to be seen... He trusts no one any longer. You are right. But we shall
not be the ones who will ruin Him. It will be the true Hebrews... But, well. I say here (he kneels
down with difficulty): "Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!"»
«And let it be done to you as your faith deserves » says Jesus making His gesture of authority over
diseases.
The man seems to be dazzled as if he were struck by a sudden light. The man realises - I do not
know whether through a flash of his intellect or through a physical sensation or through both at the
same time - who is the Man Who is before him, and he utters such a shrill cry that the herdsman,
who had come down towards the road probably to see, quickens his pace.
The man is on the ground with his face in the grass. And the herdsman pointing at him with his
crook asks: «Is he dead? More than milk is required when a man is done for! » and he shakes his
head.
The man hears and stands up, strong and healthy. He shouts: «Dead? I am cured! I am a new man.
He has done this to me. I am no longer languishing with hunger or suffering from any disease. I feel
as I did the day I got married! Oh! blessed Jesus! How did I not recognise You before?! Your pity
should have told me Your name! The peace I experienced near You! It was silly of me. Forgive
Your poor servant! » And he throws himself on the ground once again, worshipping.
The herdsman leaves his goats and goes towards the little village running and jumping.
Jesus sits down near the cured man and says: «You were speaking to Me of Ermasteus, as if he were
dead. So you know how he died. I want only one thing of you. That you come to Ephraim with Me
and mention how he died to a man who is with Me. Then I will send you to Jericho, to a woman
disciple of Mine, so that she may help you on your return trip.»
«If You wish so, I will go. But, now that I am healthy, I am no longer afraid of dying on the road.
Even grass can nourish me and it is not shameful to beg because I did not spend everything I had on
orgies, but for an honest purpose.»
«That is what I want. You will tell her that you have seen Me and that I am waiting for her here.
She can come now. No one will annoy her. Will you be able to tell her that? »
«Yes, I will. Ah! Why do they hate You, when You are so good? »
«Because many men are possessed by demons. Let us go.»
Jesus sets out towards Ephraim and the man follows Him without faltering. Only his remarkable
leanness is the sign of his past disease and privations.
In the meantime many people are coming down from the little village shouting and gesticulating.
They call Jesus. They tell Him to stop. Jesus does not listen to them, on the contrary He quickens
His pace. And they follow Him...
There He is once again near Ephraim. The peasants who are getting ready to go home, as the sun is
beginning to set, greet Him and look at the man who is with Him.
Judas of Kerioth appears suddenly from a lane. He starts with surprise seeing the Master.
But Jesus does not show any surprise. He only addresses the man saying: «This is one of My
disciples. Tell him about Ermasteus.»
«Eh! it is soon said. He was untiring in preaching the Christ, also after he decided to part from his
companion to stay with us. He said that we are in greater need than anybody else to know You,
Rabbi, and that he wanted to make You known to his fatherland, and that he would go back to You
after he had announced Your name publicly in all the smallest villages. He lived like a penitent. If
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some pitiful people gave him some bread he blessed them in Your name. If they threw stones at
him, he would withdraw blessing them just the same, and he fed on wild fruit or on sea mollusks
that he picked off reefs or he dug in the sand. Many said that he was "mad". But nobody really
hated him. At most they drove him away as if he were a man of ill omen. One day they found him
dead along a road, not far from my place, on the road that takes one into Judaea, almost at the
border. It has never been found out of what he died. But the rumour is that he was killed by
somebody who did not want the Messiah to be preached. He had a large wound on his head. They
said that he had been trampled by a horse. But I do not believe that. He still smiled stretched out on
the dust of the road. Yes. He really seemed to be smiling at the last stars of the clearest night in the
month of Elul and at the rising sun in the morning. Some market-gardeners found him at daybreak,
while they were going to town with their vegetables, and they told me when they came to collect
my cucumbers. I rushed there to see him. He was resting in great peace.»
«Have you heard? » Jesus asks Judas.
«Yes, I have. But did You not tell him that he would serve You and have a long life? »
«I did not say exactly that. The time that has gone by has obscured your mind. Has he not served
Me evangelizing in places of mission, and has he not got a long life? Which life is longer than that
conquered by those who die in the service of God? Long and glorious.»
Judas has that sly laugh that annoys me so much, but he does not reply.
In the meantime those from the little village have joined many people from Ephraim and they are
speaking to them pointing at Jesus.
Jesus says to Judas: «Take the man home and finish restoring him. He will leave after the Sabbath
that is just beginning.»
Judas obeys and Jesus remains all alone and He walks slowly bending to watch some stalks of corn,
on which slight indications of ears are beginning to appear.
Some men from Ephraim ask Him: «This corn is beautiful, isn't it? »
«Beautiful. But the same as that of other regions.»
«Of course, Master. It's all corn! It must be the same.»
«Do you think so? Then corn is better than men. Because if it is skilfully sown it yields the same
fruit here as in Judaea or Galilee or, we can say, in the plains along the Great Sea. Men, instead, do
not yield the same fruit. And also the soil is better than men. Because when a seed is entrusted to it,
it is good to the seed without making any difference whether the seed is from Samaria or Judaea.»
«It is so. But why do You say that corn and soil are better than men? »
«Why?... Not long ago a man begged for a piece of bread, out of pity, at the gate of a village. And
he was driven away because the people of that place thought he was a Judaean. He was expelled as
people threw stones at him and crying him a "leper", which he thought referred to his thinness, but
was intended for his origin. And that man almost died of starvation along the road. Thus the people
of that village, the people that sent you to question Me and would like to come to the house where I
live, to see the man who was cured miraculously, are worse than corn and clods of earth. Because
they were not able, although they had been well taught by Me for a long time, to bear the same fruit
as was yielded by that man, who is neither a Judaean nor a Samaritan and had never seen or heard
Me, but had accepted the words of one of My disciples and believed in Me without knowing Me.
And because they are worse than the clods of earth, as they rejected the man because he was of a
different seed. They would now like to come to satisfy their hunger for curiosity, whilst they were
not able to satisfy the hunger of a languishing man. Tell them that the Master will not satisfy such
vain curiosity. And you all had better learn the great law of love, without which you will never be
able to be My followers. It is not your love for Me that by itself will save your souls. But it is the
love for My doctrine. And My doctrine teaches brotherly love without distinction of race and
census. So let those hard-hearted people who have grieved My Heart go away, and let them repent
if they want Me to love them. Because, bear this in your minds, if I am good, I am also just; if I
make no distinctions and I love you as I love those of Galilee and Judaea, that must not make you
so stupidly proud as to think that you are the favourite people or authorise you to do wrong without
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being afraid of being reproached by Me. I praise and reproach, according to justice, My relatives
and apostles as well as any other person, and there is love in My reproach. And I do so because I
want justice in the hearts of people so that one day I may reward those who have practised it. You
may go and inform the others so that the lesson may bear fruit in everybody.»
Jesus envelops himself in His mantle and strides towards Ephraim, leaving His interlocutors who go
away rather dejectedly to repeat the Master's words to the people of the unmerciful village.

563. Samuel, Judas of Kerioth and John. Parable of the Bees.

10th February 1947.

Jesus is still all alone, engrossed in thought, while walking slowly towards the thick wood to the
west of Ephraim. The rustling noise of water rises from the torrent and the songs of birds come
from trees. The bright springtime sunshine is pleasant under the tangle of branches, and silent is the
tread on the luxuriant grassy carpet. The sunbeams form a mobile carpet of circles or golden strips
on the green grass and some flowers still covered with dew shine as if their petals were precious
scales, when a disc of light centres on them while all around there is shadow.
Jesus climbs towards a ledge protruding like a balcony over the empty space underneath. A balcony
on which a huge oak-tree grows, and from which the flexible twigs of wild blackberries, or
dogroses, or ivy and clematis hang down, as they do not find room or supports in their native place,
too narrow for their exuberant vitality, and they hang in the empty space like loose dishevelled hair
and they stretch out hoping to find something to which they may cling.
Jesus is now at the level of the ledge. He moves towards the most projecting spot, shifting aside the
tangle of bushes. A flock of small birds fly away whirring and chirping for fear. Jesus stops
watching the man who has preceded Him up there and who, lying on the grass with his face
downwards, almost on the edge of the ledge, his elbows pressed on the ground, his face resting in
his hands, is looking at the empty space, towards Jerusalem. The man is Samuel, the ex-pupil of
Jonathan ben Uziel. He is pensive. He sighs. He shakes his head...
Jesus shakes some branches to attract his attention and, seeing that His attempt has been vain, He
picks up a stone from the grass and rolls it down the path. The noise of the stone bouncing down
the slope rouses the young man, who turns round surprised saying: «Who is there? »
«It is I, Samuel. You have preceded Me in one of the places where I prefer to pray » says Jesus
showing Himself from behind the massive trunk of the oak-tree growing at the edge of the little
path and He does so as if He had just arrived there.
«Oh! Master! I am sorry... But I will leave Your place free at once » he says standing up hurriedly
and picking up his mantle that he had taken off and he had spread on the ground to lie on it.
«No. Why? There is room for two. The place is so beautiful! So isolated, solitary, suspended over
the empty space, with so much light and such a wide view! Why do you want to leave it? »
«Well... to leave You free to pray...»
«And can we not do so together, or meditate, speaking to each other, elevating our spirits to God...
forgetting men and their faults, thinking of God, our Father and the good Father of all those who
seek and love Him with good will? »
Samuel shows surprise when Jesus says «forgetting men and their faults...» But he does not say
anything. He sits down again.
Jesus sits beside him on the grass and says to him: «Sit here. And let us be together. See how clear
the view is today. If we had the eyes of an eagle we should be able to see the white villages on the
tops of the mountains around Jerusalem. And, perhaps, we could see a spot shining like a gem in
the air and that would make our hearts throb: the golden domes of the House of God... Look. There
is Bethel. You can see its white houses and there, beyond Bethel, there is Beeroth. How subtly
crafty were the inhabitants of that place and of the neighbourhood! But it turned out well, although

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deceit is never a good weapon. It turned out well because it placed them at the service of the true
God. It is always better to lose human honours in order to gain closeness to divinity. Even if human
honours were many and valuable, and the closeness to divinity is humble and unknown. Is that
right? »
«Yes, Master. What You say is right. That is what happened to me.»
«But you are sad, although the change should make you happy. You are sad. You are suffering. You
live in isolation. You look at the places you left. You look like an imprisoned bird that, pressed
against the bars of its prison, looks with so much regret at the place it loved. I am not asking you
not to do that. You are free. You may go and...»
«Lord, has Judas perhaps spoken ill of me that You are saying so? »
«No, Judas has not spoken to Me. He has not spoken to Me, but he spoke to you. That is why you
are sad. And you live in isolation as you are down-hearted because of that.»
«Lord, if You know all that, although no one has mentioned that to You, You must also know that I
am sad not because I want to leave You, because I regret I was converted, or because I have a
longing for the past... or because I am afraid of men, as they would like to instil the fear of their
punishments into me. I was looking over there. That is true. I was looking towards Jerusalem. But
not because I am anxious to go back there. I mean: to go back there as I was previously. Because I
am certainly eager, like everybody else, to go back as an Israelite who loves to go into the House of
God and worship the Most High, and I do not think that You can reproach me for that.»
«I am the first, in My double Nature, to long for that altar and I would like to see it surrounded by
holiness, as befits it. As the Son of God, everything that honours Him is a sweet voice to Me, and as
the Son of man, as an Israelite, and therefore a Son of the Law, I see the Temple and the altar as the
most sacred place in Israel, in which our humanity can approach Divinity and become scented with
the air surrounding the throne of God. I do not abolish the Law, Samuel. It is sacred to Me because
it was given by My Father. I perfect it and complete it with new parts. As the Son of God I can do
that. My Father sent Me for that. I have come to establish the spiritual Temple of My Church,
against which Temple neither men nor demons shall prevail. And the tables of the Law will have a
place of honour in it, because they are eternal, perfect, untouchable. The commandment "do not
commit this or that sin" contained in those tables, which in their lapidary conciseness comprise
what is necessary to be just in the eyes of God, is not cancelled by My word. On the contrary! I also
give those ten commandments to you. I only tell you to keep them with perfection, that is, not for
fear of the wrath of God on you, but out of love for your God Who is your Father. I have come to
put your hands of sons into the hands of your Father. For how many ages those hands have been
divided! Punishment divided them. Sin divided them. Now that the Redeemer has come, sin is
about to be cancelled. Barriers are falling. You are once again the sons of God.»
«That is true. You are good and you comfort. Always. And You know. So I shall not tell
You my worry. But I ask You: why are men so wicked, insane and foolish? How and with which
expedients can they diabolically influence us to do evil things? And why are we so blind as not to
see real facts and to believe false ones? And how can we become such demons? And persist when
one is close to You? I was looking there and I was thinking... Yes. I was thinking of how many
streams of poison come out from there to upset the children of Israel. I was considering how the
wisdom of the rabbis can be joined to so much iniquity that misrepresents things in order to deceive
people. I was thinking above all of that, because...» Samuel, who had spoken passionately, stops
and lowers his head.
Jesus ends the sentence: «...because Judas, My disciple, is what he is, and he grieves Me and those
who are around Me or come to Me, as you did. I know. Judas is trying to send you away from here
and he makes insinuations and sneers at you...»
«Not only at me. Yes. He poisons my joy of coming to justice. He poisons it so skilfully that I think
I am like a traitor here, betraying You and myself. Myself, because I flatter myself that I am better,
whereas I shall be the cause of Your ruin. In fact I do not know myself as yet... and if I meet those
of the Temple I may fail in my purpose and be... Oh! if I had done it then, I would have had the
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excuse of not knowing You for what You are, because I knew of You what I was told to make a
cursed man of me. But if I did it now! What curse will be that of the traitor of the Son of God! I was
here... Pensive, yes. I was wondering where I might flee to save myself from myself and from them.
I was thinking of fleeing to some remote place, to join those of the Diaspora... Away, far away, to
prevent the demon from making me commit sin... Your apostle is right in not trusting me. He
knows me, because he knows us all knowing our Leaders... And he is right in doubting me. When
he says: "Don't you know that He tells us that we shall be weak? Just imagine: we are His apostles
and have been with Him for such a long time. And you, infected as you are with old Israel, have just
come, and you have come when circumstances make us shudder, do you think you have enough
strength to remain just?" when he says so he is right.» The man is down-hearted and lowers his
head.
«How much grief the sons of men can give themselves! Satan really knows how to make use of that
disposition of theirs to terrorise them completely and separate them from the Joy that comes
towards them to save them. Because the sadness of the spirit, the fear of the morrow and worries
are always weapons that man puts in the hands of his enemy, who frightens him by means of the
same phantasms that man himself imagines. And there are other men who really form an alliance
with Satan to help him frighten his brothers. But, My dear son, is there not a Father in Heaven? A
Father Who, as this fissure in the rock provides for this blade of grass - this fissure full of earth
situated in such a way that the moisture of dews flowing on the smooth stone gathers in that thin
furrow, so that the blade of grass may live and yield this tiny little flower, which is not less
admirable for its beauty than the great sun shining up there: both the perfect work of the Creator - a
Father Who takes care of the blade of grass grown on a rock, will He not take care of one of His
sons who firmly wants to serve Him? Oh! God really does not disappoint the "good" wishes of
man. Because it is He Who kindles them in your hearts. He providently and wisely creates the
circumstances to encourage the wishes of His children, not only, but in the event that a desire to
honour Him should follow an imperfect path, He straightens and perfects it so that it may follow
the right path. You were among the latter. You believed, you wanted and were convinced that you
were honouring God by persecuting Me. The Father saw that your heart did not hate God, but it
longed to give glory to God by removing from the world Him Who you were told was the enemy of
God and the corrupter of souls. So He created the circumstances to comply with your desire to give
glory to your Lord. And here you are now among us. And can you believe that God will abandon
you, now that He brought you here? Only if you abandon Him, the power of evil will be able to
overwhelm you.»
«I do not want that. My will is sincere! » states the man.
«So what are you worried about? About the word of a man? Let him say. He thinks with his own
thought. And man's thought is always imperfect. But I will see to that.»
«I do not want You to reproach him. Your assurance that I will not sin is enough for me.»
«I assure you. It will not happen to you because you do not want it to happen. Because see, son, it
would not help you to go to the Diaspora or even to the end of the world to preserve your soul from
hating the Christ and from being punished for such hatred. Many in Israel will not sully themselves
with the Crime materially, but they will not be less guilty than those who condemn Me and execute
the sentence. I can speak to you of these matters. Because you are already aware that everything has
been arranged for them. You know the names and the thoughts of My most pitiless enemies. You
said: "Judas knows us all because he knows all the Leaders". But if he knows you, you also, the
minor ones, because you are like lesser stars near the major planets, you also know what is being
done, how it is done and who does it, and what plots are made and which means are studied... So I
can speak with you. I could not do so with the others... What I can suffer and bear with, others
cannot...»
«Master, but how can You, knowing that, be so... Who is coming up the path?» Samuel stands up to
look. He exclaims: «Judas! »
«Yes. It is I. I was told that the Master had passed through here, instead I find you. So I will go
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back, leaving you to your thoughts » and he laughs with his sly laugh that is more mournful than the
cry of an owl, so insincere it is.
«I am here as well. Do they want Me at the village? » says Jesus appearing behind Samuel's
shoulders.
«Oh! You! So you were in good company, Samuel! And You, too, Master...»
«Yes. The company of one who embraces justice is always good. So you wanted Me, to be with
Me. Come, then. There is room for you and also for John, if he were with you.»
«He is down in the village, at grips with other pilgrims.»
«If there are some pilgrims, I must go.»
«No, They will be staying all day tomorrow. John is settling them in our beds for their stay. He is
happy to do so. Of course, everything makes him happy. You are really like each other. I do not
know how you manage to be always happy even when things are most... worrying.»
«The same question I was going to ask when you came! » exclaims Samuel.
«Ah! Were you? So you are not happy, and you are surprised that other people, in conditions even
more... difficult than ours, can be so.»
«I am not unhappy. I am not speaking for myself. But I am thinking from which sources the serenity
of the Master may come, as He is aware of His future and yet He is not upset by anything.»
«From heavenly sources, of course! It is natural! He is God! Do you doubt it? Can a God suffer? He
is above sorrow. His Father's love is for Him like... like an exhilarating wine. And the firm belief
that His actions... are the salvation of the world is an exhilarating wine for Him. And then... Can He
have the physical reactions that we, humble men, have? That is contrary to common sense. If
Adam, when innocent, was not aware of any kind of sorrow, neither would he have ever become
aware of it if he had remained innocent, Jesus... the Superinnocent, the creature... I do not know
whether I should say so: uncreated being God, or created because He has relatives... oh! how many
insoluble "whys" for future generations, my Master! If Adam was free from sorrow because of his
innocence, can one think that Jesus must suffer? »
Jesus' head is bent. He has sat down once again on the grass. His face is veiled by His hair. So I
cannot see His countenance.
Samuel standing in front of Judas, who is also standing, replies: «But if He is to be the Redeemer,
He must really suffer. Do you not remember David and Isaiah? »
«I do remember them! But although they saw the figure of the Redeemer, they did not see the
immaterial help He would receive to be... shall we say: tortured, without feeling any pain.»
«Which help? A man may love sorrow or suffer it with resignation, according to his perfection of
justice. But he will always feel it. Otherwise... if he did not feel it... it would not be sorrow.»
«Jesus is the Son of God.»
«But He is not a ghost! He is true Flesh! And flesh suffers if it is tortured. He is a true Man! And the
thought of man suffers if it is offended and despised.»
«His union with God eliminates such human things in Him.»
Jesus raises His head and says: «I solemnly tell you, Judas, that I suffer and shall suffer like every
man, and more than every man. But I can be equally happy, enjoying the holy spiritual happiness of
those who have achieved freedom from the sadness of the Earth, because they have embraced the
will of God as their only bride. I am able to do so because I have overcome the human concept of
happiness, the uneasiness of happiness, as men imagine it. I do not pursue what, according to men,
happiness consists of; but I place My joy in exactly the opposite of what man pursues as such. The
things that are avoided and despised by man, because they are considered burdensome and
grievous, are the sweetest thing for Me. I am not interested in one hour. I consider the
consequences that one hour may bring about in eternal life. My episode will come to an end, but its
fruit will last. My sorrow will end, but the value of My sorrow will not end. And what could I do
with one hour of the so called "happy state" on the Earth, an hour achieved after pursuing it for
years and years, when that hour could not come with Me as delight in eternal life and I had to enjoy
it all by myself, without sharing it with those whom I love? »
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«But if You should triumph, we, Your followers, would take part in Your happiness! » exclaims
Judas.
«You? And who are you, compared with the past, present and future multitudes to whom My grief
will bring joy? I see far beyond earthly happiness. I look at the supernatural beyond it. I can see My
sorrow change into eternal delight for a multitude of people. And I embrace sorrow as the greatest
power to reach the perfect happiness, which is to love one's neighbour to the extent of suffering to
give him joy, to the extent of dying for him.»
«I do not understand that happiness » states Judas.
«You are not wise yet. Otherwise you would understand it.»
«And is John wise? He is more ignorant than I am! »
«From a human point of view he is. But he possesses the science of love.»
«All right. But I do not think that love can prevent clubs from being clubs and stones from being
stones and both from causing pain to the bodies they strike. You always say that sorrow is dear to
You because it is love for You. But when You are really caught and tortured, if that is possible, I do
not know whether You will still be of the same mind. You had better think about it while You can
shun pain. It will be dreadful, You know? If men will be able to get hold of You... oh! they will
have no respect for You! »
Jesus looks at him. He is very pale. His wide open eyes seem to be seeing, beyond Judas' face, all
the tortures awaiting Him, and yet, although sad, they remain meek and kind, and above all, serene:
two limpid eyes of an innocent at peace. He replies: «I know. I know also what you do not know.
But I hope in God's mercy. He, Who is merciful with sinners, will have mercy also on Me. I will not
ask Him not to suffer, but to be able to suffer. And now let us go. Samuel, go a little ahead of us
and tell John that I shall soon be in the village.»
Samuel bows and goes away quickly. Jesus begins to descend.
The path is so narrow that they have to proceed one behind the other. But that does not prevent
Judas from saying: «You trust that man too much, Master. I told You who he is. He is Jonathan's
most hot-headed and excitable disciple. Of course, it is late now. You have put Yourself into his
hands. He is a spy close to You. And You more than once thought that I was a spy and the others
thought so more than You did! I am not a spy.»
Jesus stops and turns round. Grief and majesty mingle on His face and in His eyes fixed on His
apostle. He says: «No. You are not a spy. You are a demon. You have stolen the Serpent's
prerogative to seduce and deceive in order to take people away from God. Your behaviour is neither
a stone nor a club, but it hurts Me more than a blow with a stone or a club. Oh! in My atrocious
suffering there will be nothing greater than your behaviour capable of torturing the Martyr.» Jesus
covers His face with His hands, as if He wished to conceal so much horror, and then He begins to
run down the path.
Judas shouts after Him: «Master! Master! Why are You grieving me? That liar has certainly made a
slanderous report to You... Listen to me, Master! »
Jesus does not listen. He runs, He flies down the slopes. He does not stop when He passes by the
woodcutters and shepherds who greet Him. He passes, He waves to them but does not stop. Judas
resigns himself to being silent...
They are almost down when they meet John who, with his pellucid face brightened by a serene
smile, is climbing towards them. He is holding by the hand a little boy who is prattling while
sucking a honeycomb.
«Master, here I am! There are people from Caesarea Philippi. They heard that You are here and
they came. How strange it is! No one has spoken and everybody knows where You are! They are
resting now. They are very tired. I went and asked Dinah to give me some milk and honey because
there is a sick person. I put him in my bed. I am not afraid. And little Annas wanted to come with
me. Don't touch him, Master; he is all sticky with honey » and kind John, who has many drops and
finger-marks of honey on his tunic, laughs. He laughs trying to hold back the boy who would like to
go and offer Jesus his half-sucked honeycomb and shouts: «Come. There are so many of them for
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You! »
«Yes. They are removing the honeycombs at Dinah's. I knew. Her bees swarmed not long ago » says
John.
They set out again and arrive at the first house where the bee-masters are still making the usual
deafening noise near the beehives, I do not know exactly why. Swarms of bees - they look like big
bunches of strange grapes - are hanging from some branches and some men are taking them to put
them into the new beehives. Farther away, untiring buzzing bees are going in and coming out of
beehives already settled.
The men greet Jesus and a woman approaches Him with some lovely honeycombs which she offers
Him.
«Why are you depriving yourself of them? You have already given John some…»
«Oh! My bees have made much honey. It's a pleasure for me to offer it. But please bless the new
swarms. Look, they are taking the last one. This year we had to double the beehives.»
Jesus goes towards the tiny towns of the bees and He blesses them one by one raising His hand
amidst the humming of the worker-bees that do not stop working.
«They are all merry and they are also all excited. A new house...» says a man.
«And a new wedding. They really look like women preparing a wedding feast» says another one.
«Yes, but the women do more talking than work. The bees, instead, work in silence and they work
also on the days of wedding feasts. They work all the time to build their kingdom and their wealth »
replies a third man.
«To be always working in virtue is lawful, nay, it is dutiful. To work always for the sake of gain,
no, it is not. Only those can do it who do not know that they have a God Who is to be honoured on
His day. To work in silence is a merit that everybody should learn of the bees. Because holy things
are done holily in silence. Be like your bees in justice. Untiring and silent. God sees. God rewards.
Peace be with you » says Jesus.
And when He is alone with His two apostles He says: «To the workers of God in particular I
propose the bees as their model. They deposit in the secrecy of the beehive the honey formed in
their interiors through their unremitting work on wholesome corollas. Their fatigue does not even
appear to be such, as they do it with so much good will, flying, like golden dots, from flower to
flower, and then, laden with juice, going in to elaborate their honey in the privacy of their little
cells. People ought to imitate them, choosing lessons, sound doctrines and friendships, capable of
producing juices of true virtue, then living in isolation to elaborate, using what has been actively
gathered, virtue, justice, which are like the honey extracted from many wholesome elements, of
which one of the most important ones is good will, without which the juices collected here and
there would be of no use. It is also necessary to meditate humbly, in the secrecy of one's heart, on
the good we have seen and heard, without being envious if queen bees are near working bees, that
is, if there is someone who is more just than he who meditates. Both queens and workers are
necessary in the beehive. It would be a disaster if they were all queens or all workers. Both the
former and the latter would die. Because the queens would have no food to procreate if there were
no workers, and the workers would no longer exist if the queens did not procreate. And the queens
are not to be envied. They have their work and their penitence. They see the sun but once, in their
only one nuptial flight. Before it and after it, they are in perpetual seclusion within the
amber- coloured walls of the beehive. Each one has its task, and each task is an appointment, and
each appointment is an onus besides being an honour. And the working bees waste no time in vain
or dangerous flights around diseased or poisonous flowers. They make no adventurous attempts.
They do not fail to carry out their mission, they do not rebel against the purpose for which they
were created. Oh! Admirable little beings! How much you teach men!...» Jesus becomes silent, lost
in His meditation.
Judas suddenly remembers that he has to go I do not know where, and he almost runs away. Jesus
and John remain. And John looks at Jesus without letting Him notice. A keen look of anxious love.
Jesus raises His head, turns round a little, meeting the eyes of His Favourite apostle who is
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watching Him. His face brightens when He draws John to Himself.
John, while walking embraced thus, asks: «Judas has grieved You again, has he not? And he must
have upset Samuel as well.»
«Why? Has he said anything to you? »
«No. But I have understood. He only said: "Generally speaking when one lives near someone who is
really good, one becomes good. But Judas is not, although he has lived with the Master for three
years. He is corrupt in the depth of his heart, and the goodness of the Christ does not penetrate him,
so full he is of wickedness". I did not know what to say, because it is true... But why is Judas like
that? Is it possible that he will never change? And yet... we are all getting the same lessons... and
when he came among us, he was not any worse than we were...»
«My John! My meek child! » Jesus kisses his forehead, so open and pure, and He whispers through
his fair hair that undulates lightly: «There are people who seem to live to destroy the good that is in
them. You are a fisherman and you know what a sail does when a hurricane strikes it. It bends so
low near the water that it almost overturns the boat and becomes a danger for it, so that at times it is
necessary to lower it, and one is thus left without wings with which to fly towards one's nest,
because a sail, struck by a hurricane is no longer a wing, but it becomes ballast that takes one to the
bottom, to death and not to salvation. But if the violent blast of the hurricane abates, even for a few
moments, then the sail becomes wing at once and the boat sails fast towards the harbour taking the
people in it to salvation. The same happens to many souls. It is enough that the hurricane of
passions subsides, and the soul that was bent and almost submerged by... by what was not good,
begins to yearn for Goodness.»
«Yes, Master. But... so... tell me... will Judas ever reach Your harbour? »
«Oh! Do not make Me look at the future of one of My dearest apostles! I have in front of me the
future of millions of souls for whom My sufferings will be useless!... I have in front of Me all the
base actions of the world... The nausea upsets Me. The nausea of the seething of filthy things that
like a river cover and will cover the Earth, in different ways, but always dreadful for the Perfection,
until the end of time. Do not make Me look! Let Me quench My thirst and find comfort at a spring
that does not taste of corruption, and let Me forget the verminous rottenness of too many people, by
looking at you alone, My peace! » and He kisses him again between his eyebrows looking deeply
into the limpid eyes of the pure loving apostle...
They go into the house. Samuel is in the kitchen chopping the wood to spare the old woman work
when lighting the fire.
Jesus asks the woman: «Are the pilgrims sleeping? »
«I think so. I do not hear any noise. I am going to take this water to the mounts. They are in the
wood-store.»
«I will do that, mother. You had better go to Rachel's house. She promised me some fresh cheese.
Tell her that I will pay her on the Sabbath » says John picking up two tubs full of water.
Only Jesus and Samuel remain. Jesus approaches the man who bending over the fire is blowing to
light the flame and He lays His hand on his shoulder saying: «Judas interrupted us up there... I want
to tell you that I will send you with My apostles the day after the Sabbath. Perhaps you prefer
that...»
«Thank You, Master. I am sorry not to be near You. But in Your apostles I shall find You once
again. Yes, I prefer to be far away from Judas. I did not dare to ask You...»
«All right. That is settled. And take pity on him. As I do. And do not tell Peter or anybody else...»
«I can hold my tongue, Master.»
«The disciples will come later. There is Hermas and Stephen, and there is Isaac, two wise men and
a just one, and many more. You will like it, among true brothers.»
«Yes, Master. You understand and help us. You really are the good Master » and he bends to kiss
Jesus' hand.

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522. At Ephraim, before and after the Arrival of Jesus' Mother and of the
Women Disciples with Lazarus.
12th February 1947.

In Mary of Jacob's house they are already up although it is hardly daybreak. I would say that it must
be a Sabbath, because I see that the apostles also are present, whereas they are usually away
evangelizing. They are busy lighting fires and boiling water, and Mary is helped in sieving flour and
kneading it to bake bread.
The old woman is very excited, as excited as a little girl, and while working actively she asks this
one and that one: «Will it really be today? And are the other places ready? Are you sure that they
are not more than seven? »
Peter, who is skinning a lamb preparing it to be cooked, replies on behalf of everybody: «They were
to be here before the Sabbath, but the women were probably not yet ready and so they have delayed.
But they will certainly come today. Ah! I am happy! Has the Master gone out? Perhaps He has gone
to meet them...»
«Yes. He went out with John and Samuel towards the road to central Samaria» replies
Bartholomew coming out with a pitcher of boiling water.
«Then we can be certain that they are arriving. He always knows everything » states Andrew.
«I would like to know why you are laughing like that. What is there to laugh at when my brother
speaks? » asks Peter who has noticed the sly laugh of Judas, who is idle in a corner.
«I am not laughing because of your brother. You are all happy and I can be happy as well and laugh
without any reason.»
Peter looks at him meaningly, but he resumes his work.
«Here it is! I managed to find a flowery branch. It is not the branch of an almond-tree, as I wanted.
But after the almond-tree has bloomed, She has other branches and She will be pleased with mine »
says Thaddeus who comes in dripping dew, as if he had been walking in woods, and carrying a
bunch of flowery branches. A miracle of dewy whiteness that seems to brighten and decorate the
kitchen.
«Oh! How beautiful! Where did you find them? »
«At Naomi's. I knew that her orchard is late because of its northern position. And I went up there.»
«That's why you look like a forest tree yourself! The dew-drops shine in your hair and have wet
your garment.»
«The path was as damp as if it had rained. It is already the plentiful dew of the most beautiful
months.» Thaddeus goes away with his flowers, and shortly afterwards he calls his brother to help
him arrange them.
«I will come. I am an expert. Woman, have you an amphora with a thin neck, if possible of red
clay? » says Thomas.
«I have what you want and other vases as well... The ones I used on feast days... for the weddings of
my sons or some other important occasion. If you wait for me to put these cakes in the oven, only a
moment, I will come and open the chest where the beautiful things are kept... Ah! they are only few
now, after so much misfortune! But I have kept some to... remember... and to suffer, because even
if they are memories of happy days, they now make one shed tears because they remind one of what
is finished.»
«In that case it would have been better if no one had asked them of you. I would not like what
happened to us at Nob to occur again here. So many preparations for nothing...» says the Iscariot.
«I tell you that a group of disciples informed us! Do you think they had dreamt of it? They spoke to
Lazarus. He sent them ahead on purpose. They came to tell us that His Mother would be here before
the Sabbath in Lazarus' wagon, with Lazarus and the women disciples...»
«But they have not come...»
«Since you have seen that man, tell me: does he not give you a fright? » asks the old woman drying

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her hands in her apron after entrusting her cakes to James of Zebedee and Andrew who take them
to the stone oven.
«A fright? Why? »
«H'm! a man who comes back from the dead! » She is utterly moved.
«Don't worry, mother. He is exactly like us » says James of Alphaeus comforting her.
«Rather than be afraid you had better make sure that you do not chatter with other women about it,
otherwise we shall have the whole of Ephraim here bothering us » says the Iscariot peremptorily.
«I have never spoken imprudently since you came here, either with the people of the town or with
pilgrims. I have preferred to be considered foolish rather than appear wise, in order not to disturb
the Master and harm Him. And I will be quiet today as well. Come, Thomas...» and she goes out to
show him her hidden treasures.
«The woman is frightened thinking that she will be seeing a man who has been raised from the dead
» says the Iscariot laughing ironically.
«She is not the only one. The disciples told me that they were all excited at Nazareth and also at
Cana and Tiberias. One that comes back from the dead after being four days in a sepulchre is not as
easily found as daisies in springtime. We were also very pale when he came out of the sepulchre!
But instead of standing there making idle comments, could you not do some work? Everybody is
working and there is still so much to be done... Go to the market, since you can do that today, and
buy what is needed. What we bought is no longer sufficient, now that they are coming, and we had
no time to go back to town and do some shopping. We would have been held up, where we were, by
sunset.»
Judas calls Matthew, who comes into the kitchen dressed up, and they go out together.
The Zealot also comes into the kitchen, he is well dressed as well, and he says: «Our Thomas! He is
really an artist. With very little he has decorated the room as if it were for a wedding dinner. Go and
see it.»
They all rush to see it, with the exception of Peter, who is finishing his work. Peter says: «I am
dying to see them here. Perhaps Marjiam is with them. In a month's time it will be Passover. He
must have already left Capernaum or Bethsaida.»
«I am happy, for the Master's sake, that Mary is coming. She will comfort Him more than anybody
else. And He needs it » the Zealot replies to him.
«So much. And have you noticed how sad is John also? I have asked him. But in vain. In his
kindness he is more firm than all of us, and if he does not want to speak, nothing can make him do
so.
But I am sure that he is aware of something. And he seems to be the Master's shadow. He follows
Him all the time. And he is always looking at Him. And when he knows that he is not being
watched - because, if he knows, he looks at you with such a smile that would make even a tiger
mild - when he knows that nobody is watching him, I say, his countenance is very sad. You should
try and ask him. He is very fond of you. And he knows that you are more prudent than I am...»
«Oh! certainly not. You have become an example of prudence for all of us. No one would recognise
the old Simon in you. You are really the stone that by its hard sound compactness supports us all.»
«Not at all! Don't say that! I am a poor man. Certainly... by staying with Him for so many years, one
becomes a little like Him. A little... very little, but quite different from what one was previously.
We have all... no, not all of us, unfortunately. Judas is always the same. Here as he was at the Clear
Water...»
«And may God grant that he may always be the same! »
«What? What do you mean? »
«Nothing and everything, Simon of Jonah. If the Master heard me He would say: "Do not judge".
But I am not judging. I am afraid. I am afraid that Judas is worse than he was at the Clear Water.»
«He certainly is, even if he is as he was then. Because he should have changed very much, he
should have grown in justice, instead he is always the same. So in his heart there is the sin of
spiritual indolence, which was not there previously. Because at the beginning... yes, he was mad,
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but he was full of good will... Tell me, the fact that the Master has decided to send Samuel with us
and to gather together all the disciples, all those that can be gathered at Jericho for the new moon of
Nisan, what does it make you think? Previously He had said that the man was to stay here... and He
had also forbidden us to say where He was. It makes me suspicious...»
«No. In my opinion the situation is clear and logical. By now, we do not know by whom and how
the news has been spread that the Master is here and it is known all over Palestine. You know that
pilgrims and disciples have come here from Kedesh to Engedi, from Joppa to Bozrah. So there is no
sense in keeping it secret any longer. Further, Passover is approaching and the Master certainly
wants to have His disciples with Him for His return to Jerusalem. You heard that the Sanhedrin says
that He has been defeated and has lost all His disciples. And He will reply to it by entering the town
at the head of them...»
«I am afraid, Simon. Very much afraid... You have heard that everybody, also the Herodians, have
joined together against Him...»
«Yes! It's true. May God help us!...»
«And why is He sending Samuel with us? »
«Certainly to prepare him for his mission. I see no reason why we should worry... They are
knocking! It's certainly the women disciples!...»
Peter throws away his bloodstained apron and runs following the Zealot, who has rushed to the door
of the house. All the others who are in the house appear from the various doors and shout: «Here
they are! Here they are! »
But when they open the door they are so obviously disappointed in seeing Eliza and Nike, that the
two women disciples ask: «Is there anything wrong? »
«No! No! The fact is that... we thought it was the Mother and the women disciples from Galilee...»
says Peter.
«Ah! you have taken it badly. But we are very happy to see you and to hear that Mary is about to
arrive » says Eliza.
«No, we have not taken it badly... We are disappointed! But come! Come in! Peace be with our
good sisters » says Thaddeus greeting them on behalf of everybody.
«And to you. Is the Master not in? »
«He has gone with John to meet Mary. We know that She is coming along the Shechem road in
Lazarus' wagon » explains the Zealot.
They go into the house while Andrew takes care of Eliza's donkey. Nike has come on foot. They
speak of what is happening in Jerusalem, they inquire after friends and disciples... after Annaleah,
Mary and Martha, old John of Nob, Joseph, Nicodemus and many more. The absence of Judas
Iscariot allows them to speak peacefully and openly.
Eliza, an elderly experienced woman, who at the time they were at Nob, has been in touch with the
Iscariot and by now knows him very well and also «she only loves him out of love for God » as she
says openly, asks whether he is in the house and does not want to join the others for some whim of
his, and only after she learns that he is out, shopping, she speaks of what she knows: «that
everything seems to have calmed down at Jerusalem, that not even the well known disciples are
questioned any more, that it is rumoured that it happened because Pilate had spoken in a
threatening voice to those of the Sanhedrin, reminding them that he is the only one who administers
justice in Palestine and therefore they should put an end to their nonsense.»
«But they also say » remarks Nike « - and it is Manaen who says this and other men with him, nay
other women, because Valeria is the other voice - that Pilate is really so tired of all the risings that
continuously excite the country and that may cause him trouble, and that he is also so struck by the
insistence of the Jews in insinuating that Jesus is aiming at proclaiming Himself king, that if he did
not have the concordant favourable reports of the centurions and above all, if he were not pressed
by his wife, he would end up by punishing the Christ, if only by banishing Him, in order not to be
troubled any more.»
«That would be the last straw. And he is capable of doing it! Quite capable! It is the lightest Roman
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punishment, and the most used after scourging. But can you imagine that! Jesus all alone, goodness
knows where, and we scattered here and there...» says the Zealot.
«Of course! Scattered! That's what you say. But they will not scatter me. I will follow Him...» says
Peter.
«Oh! Simon! Can you flatter yourself that they would allow you to do that? They tie you up like a
galley slave, and they take you wherever they want, even on a galley or to one of their prisons, and
you would no longer be able to follow your Master » says Bartholomew. Peter ruffles his hair
looking perplexed and downhearted.
«We shall tell Lazarus. Lazarus will go to Pilate frankly. Pilate will certainly see him with pleasure
because the Gentiles love to see extraordinary beings...» says the Zealot.
«He has probably been there before he left, and Pilate may no longer be anxious to see him! » says
Peter dejectedly.
«He will then go as Theophilus' son. Or he will take his sister Mary to visit the ladies of rank. They
were friends when... well, when Mary was a sinner...»
«Do you know that Valeria, after her husband divorced her, has become a proselyte? She has been
in earnest. She lives an honest life and is an example to many of us. She freed all her slaves and she
instructs them in the true God. She had gone to live in Zion. But now that Claudia has come, she
has gone back to her...»
«Then!...»
«No. She said to me: "As soon as Johanna comes I am going to stay with her. But now I want to
convince Claudia"... Claudia does not seem to be able to get over the limit of her opinion on Christ.
According to her He is a wise man. Nothing else... Nay before she came to town, she seems to have
been somewhat upset by the rumours that were spread and to have said sceptically: "He is a man
like our philosophers, and not of the best, because His word does not correspond to His life", and
she had some... in short she allowed herself certain things that she had previously given up » says
Nike.
«That was to be expected. Heathen souls! H'm! There may be a good one... But the others!...
Corrupt! Corrupt! » Bartholomew says sententiously.
«And what about Joseph? » asks Thaddeus.
«Who? The man from Sephoris? He is terrified! Your brother Joseph came. He came and left at
once, but he passed by Bethany to tell the sisters that at all costs they should keep the Master from
going to town and from remaining there. I was there and I heard him. Likewise I heard that Joseph
of Sephoris had a lot of trouble and now he is much afraid. Your brother asked him to keep well
informed of what is plotted in the Temple. The man from Sephoris can find out through that
relative who is the husband either of the sister or of the daughter of his wife's sister, I do not know,
and who is employed at the Temple » says Eliza.
«How much fear! Now, when we go to Jerusalem, I want to send my brother to Annas. I could go
myself, because I also know the sly fox well. But John is more capable. And Annas was very fond
of him when we listened to the words of the old fox believing that he was a lamb! I will send John.
He will be able to put up even with abuse without reacting. I... if he said anathema of the Master to
me, or even if he only said that I am anathema because I follow Him, I would jump to his neck, I
would seize him and squeeze his old stout body as if it were a net out of which water is to be
squeezed. I would make him give back the wicked soul he has! Even if all the soldiers and priests
of the Temple were around him! »
«Oh! if the Master heard you speak thus! » exclaims Andrew, who is utterly scandalised.
«I am saying so exactly because He is not here! »
«You are right! You are not the only one to have certain wishes. I have them, too! » says Peter.
«And I, too, and not only with regard to Annas » says Thaddeus.
«Oh! in that case I... would serve several of them. I have a long list... Those three old crocks of
Capernaum - I leave out Simon, the Pharisee, because he seems to be tolerably good - those two
wolves of Esdraelon, and that old heap of bones of Hananiah, and then... a slaughter, a real
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slaughter, I tell you, at Jerusalem, with Helkai at the head of them all. I cannot bear those snakes
lying in wait any longer!» Peter is furious.
Thaddeus, calm in speaking, but even more impressive in his glacial calm than if he were as furious
as Peter, says: «And I would give you a hand. But... perhaps I would begin by removing the snakes
close at hand.»
«Who? Samuel? »
«No. Not at all! Not only Samuel is close at hand. There are many who show a face but their souls
are different from the face they show! I never lose sight of them. Never. I want to be sure before
acting. But when I am sure! David's blood is hot, and hot is the blood of Galilee. They are both in
me through my paternal and maternal lines.»
«Oh! In the event... tell me! I will help you...» says Peter.
«No. Blood revenge is the concern of relatives. It's for me to take it.»
«But, my dear children! Do not speak thus. That is not what the Master teaches! You look like little
furious lions instead of being the lambs of the Lamb! Restrain so much spirit of revenge. The days
of David went by long ago! The law of blood and retaliation has been cancelled by the Christ. He
confirms the ten unchangeable commandments, but He cancels the other hard Mosaic laws. The
commandments of Moses concerning pity, humanity and justice remain and are condensed and
perfected in His greater commandment: "To love God with our whole selves, to love our neighbour
as we love ourselves, to forgive those who offend us, to love those who hate us". Oh! forgive me, if
I, a woman, have dared to teach my brothers, who are greater than I am! But I am an old mother.
And a mother can always speak. Believe me, my children! If you yourselves call Satan by hating
enemies, by wishing for revenge, he will come into you and corrupt you. Satan is not strength.
Believe me. God is strength. Satan is weakness, a burden, he us sluggishness. You would not be
able to move a finger any more, not only against your enemies, but not even to caress our distressed
Jesus, if hatred and revenge should enchain you. Cheer up, my dear children, all of you! Also those
who are as old as I am, perhaps older. You are all sons for a woman who loves you, for a mother
who has found once again the joy of being a mother by loving you as her children. Do not make me
feel distressed once again, having lost my dear children again and for good; because if you die
cherishing hatred or crime, you die for ever, and we shall not longer be able to gather all together
up there, in joy, around our common love: Jesus. Promise me here, at once, as I implore you,
promise me, a poor woman, a poor mother, that you will never have such thoughts again. Oh! they
even disfigure your faces. You seem strangers to me, you are different! How ugly hatred makes
you! You were so meek! But what is happening? Listen to me! Mary would say the same words as
mine to you, with greater power, because She is Mary; but it is better if She is not aware of all the
grief... Oh! poor Mother! But what is happening? So have I to really believe that the hour of
darkness has already come, the hour that will swallow everybody, the hour in which Satan will be
king in everybody, with the exception of the Holy One, and he will lead astray also saints, you also,
making you cowards, perjurers, as cruel as he is? Oh! so far I have always hoped! I have always
said: "Men will not prevail against the Christ". But now! But now I am afraid and I tremble for the
first time! I see the great Darkness, whose name is Lucifer, stretch out and invade this serene sky of
Adar and darken all of you, and pour poisons that make you sick. Oh! I am afraid! » Eliza, who for
some time had been weeping silently, drops with her head on the table at which she was sitting and
sobs sorrowfully.
The apostles look at one another. Then, although distressed, they begin to console her. But she does
not want consolations and she says so: «One, only one is good for me: your promise. For your own
good! So that Jesus may not have the greatest of His sorrows: to see you, His beloved disciples,
damned.»
«Of course, Eliza. If that is what you want! Do not weep, woman! We promise you. Listen. We will
not lift a finger against anybody. We shall not even look, so that we may not see. Don't weep! Don't
weep! We will forgive those who offend us. We will love those who hate us! Don't weep.»
Eliza raises her face shining with tears and says: «Remember. You have promised it! Repeat your
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promise! »
«We promise you it, woman.»
«How dear you are, my children! Now I do like you! I see that you are good again. Now that my
worry is appeased and that you are once again free from that bitter ferment, let us get ready to
receive Mary. What is there to be done? » she asks and she finishes wiping her tears.
«Actually... we have prepared, as men can do. But Mary of Jacob helped us. She is a Samaritan, but
she is very good. You will soon see her. She is out at the stone oven watching the bread. She is
alone: her children are either dead or have forgotten her, her riches have vanished, and yet she bears
no one ill-will...»
«Ah! see! Can you see that there is who knows how to forgive also among heathens and
Samaritans? And it must be dreadful, you know, to have to forgive a son!... Better dead than a
sinner! Ah! Are you sure that Judas is not here? »
«If he has not become a bird, he cannot be here, because the windows are open, but all the doors are
closed, except this one.»
«Then... Mary of Simon has been to Jerusalem with her relative. She came to offer sacrifices at the
Temple. Then she came to us. She seems a martyr. How depressed she is! She asked me and
everybody whether we had any news of her son. Whether he was with the Master. Whether he had
always been with Him.»
«What is the matter with that woman? » asks Andrew quite astonished.
«Her son. Do you not think that it is enough? » asks Thaddeus.
«I comforted her. She wanted to go back to the Temple with us. We all went there together to
pray... Then she left, always with her worry. I said to her: "If you stay with us, we shall be going to
the Master shortly. Your son is there". She already knew that Jesus is here. It has been known as far
as the borders of Palestine. But she said: "No, no! The Master told me not to be in Jerusalem in
spring. I am obeying Him. But I wanted to go up to the Temple before He returned. I am in such
need of God". And she said a strange word... She said: "I am blameless. But I am so tortured that
hell is in me and I am in it"... We repeatedly asked her why. But she would not say anything else,
with regard to her torture or to the reasons for Jesus' prohibition. She asked us not to say anything to
Jesus or to Judas.»
«Poor woman! So will she not be there at Passover? » asks Thomas.
«No, she will not.»
«Well! If Jesus told her that, He must have a reason... Did you hear what she said, eh? It is really
known everywhere that Jesus is here! » says Peter.
«Yes. And some people said that those who were spreading the news were doing so to gather men
in His name, to rise "against the tyrants". Others said that He is here because He realises that He has
been unmasked...»
«Always the same reasons! They must have spent all the gold of the Temple to send those...
servants of theirs everywhere! » remarks Andrew.
There are some knocks at the door. «They are here! » they say and they rush to open.
It is instead Judas with his shopping. Matthew follows him. Judas sees Eliza and Nike and he greets
them asking: «Are you alone? »
«All alone. Mary has not come yet.»
«Mary is not coming from the southern regions and thus she cannot be with you. I was asking
whether Anastasica is here.»
«No. She remained at Bethzur.»
«Why? She is a disciple, too. Do you not know that from here we shall be going to Jerusalem for
Passover? She should be here. If the women disciples and the believers are not perfect, who will be
so? Who will form the train of the Master, to discredit the legend that everybody had abandoned
Him? »
«Oh! with regard to that, it will not be a poor woman to fill the gaps! Roses are all right among
thorns and in enclosed gardens. I act as her mother and I ordered that.»
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«So will she not be there at Passover? »
«No, she will not.»
«And that makes two! » exclaims Peter.
«What are you saying? Which two? » asks Judas suspiciously.
«Nothing, nothing! A calculation of mine. Many things can be counted, can they not? Also... flies,
for instance, that alight on my skinned lamb.»
Mary of Jacob comes in followed by Samuel and John who are carrying loaves just taken out of the
oven. Eliza greets the woman, and so does Nike. And Eliza has a kind word to make her feel at
ease: «You are among sisters, in sorrow, Mary. I am alone as I lost husband and children, and she is
a widow. So we will love one another, because only who has wept can understand.»
In the meantime Peter says to John: «How come you are here? And the Master? »
«On the wagon. With His Mother.»
«And are you not saying anything? »
«You have not given me time. All the women are there. But you will see how worn out Mary of
Nazareth is! She seems to have aged years and years. Lazarus says that She was very upset when he
told Her that Jesus had taken shelter here.»
«Why did that fool tell Her? Before dying he was intelligent. Perhaps His brain became mushy in
the sepulchre and it has never recovered. One does not lie dead with impunity!...» says Judas of
Kerioth ironically and scornfully.
«Nothing of the kind. You had better wait and listen, before speaking. Lazarus of Bethany told
Mary when they were already on the way, as She was surprised at the road that Lazarus was taking
» says Samuel sternly.
«Yes. The first time he passed through Nazareth he only said: "I will take You to Your Son in a
month's time". He did not even say to Her: "We are going to Ephraim" when they were about to
leave, but...» says John.
«Everybody knows that Jesus is here. Was She the only one who did not know? » asks always
rudely Judas, interrupting his companion.
«Mary knew. She had heard it being said. But since a muddy stream of several lies flows through
Palestine, She did not accept any news as true. She was wasting away with grief, in silence, praying.
But once they were on the road, as Lazarus had taken the road along the river, in order to bewilder
the Nazarenes, and all those at Cana, Sephoris, Bethlehem of Galilee...»
«Ah! Is Naomi also there with Myrtha and Aurea? » asks Thomas.
«No. They were ordered by Jesus not to come. When Isaac came back to Galilee he brought His
order.»
«So... also these women will not be with us as last year.»
«No, they will not be with us.»
«And that's three! »
«Neither our wives and daughters. The Master told them before leaving Galilee. Nay, He repeated
His order. Because my daughter Marian told me that Jesus had informed them since last Passover.»
«But... very well! Is at least Johanna there? Salome? Mary of Alphaeus? »
«Yes. And Susanna.»
«And Marjiam certainly... But what is that noise? »
«The wagons! The wagons! And all the Nazarenes who have not surrendered and have followed
Lazarus... and those from Cana...» replies John running away with the others.
Once the door is opened, a tumultuous sight can be seen. Besides Mary sitting near Her Son and the
women disciples, besides Lazarus, besides Johanna, in her wagon with Mary and Matthias, Esther
and other maidservants and faithful Jonathan, there is a crowd of people: known faces and unknown
ones. From Nazareth, Cana, Tiberias, Nain, Endor. And Samaritans from all the villages they
passed through on their journey and from other nearby ones. And they rush to the front of the
wagons, obstructing the passage to those who want to come out or go in.
«But what do these people want? Why have they come? How did they know?»
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«Eh! those of Nazareth were on the look-out, and when Lazarus came in the evening to leave the
following morning, during the night they ran to the nearby towns, and those from Cana did the
same, because Lazarus had passed there to get Susanna and to meet Johanna. And they followed
and preceded him, to see Jesus and to see Lazarus. And also those of Samaria heard about it and
they joined the rest. And here they are, all of them!...» explains John.
«Listen! You who were afraid that the Master would have no train, do you think this one is
sufficient? » Philip says to the Iscariot.
«They came for Lazarus...»
«Once they had seen him, they could have gone away. Instead they remained and have come here.
Which means that there are also some who came for the Master.»
«Well. Let us have no idle talk. Instead let us make way to let them go in. Come on, boys! In order
to get into practice again! We have not elbowed a way through the crowd for the Master for a long
time! » and Peter is the first to begin to open a passage through the crowd that sings hosannas, is
curious, devout, talkative according to the various moods. And when he succeeds with the help of
other people and of many disciples who, spread out among the crowds, are trying to join the
apostles, he keeps the space empty so that the women may take shelter in the house with Jesus and
Lazarus. He then closes the door, being the last one to go in, and he bars it and bolts it and sends the
others to close the door on the side of the kitchen garden.
«Oh! at long last! Peace be with You, blessed Mary! At last I see You! Now everything is beautiful
because You are with us! » says Peter greeting Her and he stoops before Mary. A Mary with a sad
pale tired face, it is already the face of Our Lady of Sorrows.
«Yes, everything is now less sorrowful because I am here near Him.»
«I had assured You that I was telling nothing but the truth! » says Lazarus.
«You are right... But the sun became obscured for Me and I had no peace when I heard that My Son
was here... I understood... Oh! » More tears stream down Her wan cheeks.
«Do not weep, Mother! Do not weep! I was here among these good people, near another Mary who
is a mother...» Jesus leads Her towards a room that opens onto the peaceful kitchen garden. They all
follow Him.
Lazarus says apologising: «I had to tell Her, because She knew the road, and She could not
understand why I was taking that one. She thought that He was with me at Bethany... And at
Shechem also a man shouted: "We are going to Ephraim, too, to the Master". It was impossible for
me to find an excuse... I was also hoping to outdistance those people by setting off at night along
strange routes. Nothing doing! They were on the alert everywhere, and while one group followed
me, another went around spreading the news.»
Mary of Jacob brings some milk, butter and new bread and offers them to Mary first. She looks
Lazarus up and down stealthily, half curious, half frightened, and her hand jerks when, offering
Lazarus some milk, she touches his hand lightly and she cannot help exclaiming «oh! » when she
sees Him eat his cake like everybody else.
Lazarus is the first to laugh and he says in an affable gentlemanly manner, with the confidence of
all men of high birth: «Yes, woman. I eat just like you, and I like your bread and your milk. And I
am sure I shall like your bed, because I feel tired exactly as I feel hungry.» He turns round saying:
«There are many who touch me with some excuse to feel whether I am flesh and bones, whether I
am warm and I breathe. It is a bit of a nuisance. And when my mission is over, I will retire to
Bethany. If I were near You, Master, I would stir up too many distractions. I have shone, I have
borne witness to Your power as far as Syria. I shall now disappear. You alone must shine in the sky
of miracles, in the sky of God and in the eyes of men.»
Mary in the meantime says to the old woman: «You have been good to My Son. He told Me how
good you have been. Let Me kiss you to tell you how grateful I am to you. I have nothing to give
you as a reward, except My love. I am poor, too... and I also can say that I no longer have a son,
because He belongs to God and to His mission... And may it always be so, because holy and just is
what God wants.»
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Mary is kind, but she is already heart-broken... All the apostles look at Her compassionately to the
extent of forgetting those who are rioting outside, and of inquiring after their far away relatives.
But Jesus says: «I will go up to the terrace to dismiss and bless the people » and Peter then rouses
himself and asks: «But where is Marjiam? I have seen all the disciples but not him.»
«Marjiam is not here » replies Salome, the mother of James and John.
«Marjiam is not here? Why? Is he ill? »
«No. He is well. And your wife is well. But Marjiam is not here. Porphirea did not let him come.»
«Silly woman! In a month's time it will be Passover and he has to come for Passover! She could
have let him come with you now and make the boy and me happy. But she is more backward than a
sheep in understanding certain things...»
«John and Simon of Jonah, and you, Lazarus with Simon Zealot, come with Me. You, all of you,
stay here where you are, until I dismiss the crowd, separating the disciples from it » orders Jesus,
and He goes out with the four closing the door.
Through the corridor and the kitchen He goes out into the kitchen garden followed by Peter, who is
grumbling, and by the others. But before setting foot on the terrace, He stops on the little staircase,
He turns round laying a hand on the shoulder of Peter who raises his unhappy face. «Listen to Me
carefully, Simon Peter, and stop accusing and reproaching Porphirea. She is innocent. She obeyed
an order of Mine. Before the feast of the Tabernacles I ordered her not to let Marjiam come to
Judaea...»
«But Passover, Lord! »
«I am the Lord. You say that. And as the Lord I can order anything, because every order of Mine is
just. So do not be upset by scruples. Do you remember what is stated in Numbers? "If anyone of
your country becomes unclean by touching a dead body or is on a journey abroad, such person shall
keep Passover for the Lord on the fourteenth day of the second month, in the evening".»
«But Marjiam is not unclean, I hope that Porphirea does not want to die just now, and he is not on a
journey...» says Peter objecting.
«It does not matter. That is what I want. There are things that make one unclean more than a dead
body. Marjiam... I do not want him to be contaminated. Let Me do as I wish, Peter. I know. Be
obedient as your wife is and Marjiam, too. We shall keep the second Passover with him, on the
fourteenth day of the second month. And we shall be so happy then. It's a promise.»
Peter makes a gesture as if to say: «Let us resign ourselves », but he makes no objection.
The Zealot remarks: «It is a lot if you do not continue your calculation of how many will not be in
town at Passover! »
«I do not feel like counting any more. All this gives me a strange sensation... An icy feeling... Can
the others be told? »
«No. I took you aside deliberately.»
«Then... I also have something to tell Lazarus in particular.»
«Tell me. If I can, I will reply to you » says Lazarus.
«Oh! even if you do not reply it does not matter. It is enough for me if you go to Pilate - the idea is
of your friend Simon - and talking of various matters, you worm out of him what he is thinking of
doing for Jesus, in good or in evil... You know... craftily... Because there are so many rumours!…»
«I will. As soon as I arrive in Jerusalem. I will go to Bethany via Bethel and Ramah instead of
Jericho, and I will stop in my mansion in Zion, and I will go to Pilate. Don't worry, Peter, because I
shall be skilful and sincere.»
«And you will waste your time for nothing, My dear friend. Because Pilate - you are aware of it as a
man, I as God - is but a reed that bends to the side opposite the hurricane, endeavouring to avoid it.
He is never insincere. Because he is always convinced that he wants to take action, and he does
what he says in that moment. But a moment later, because of the howling of a storm from another
direction, he forgets - oh! he does not break his promise or his will - he forgets, just that, what he
wanted previously. He forgets because the cry of a will stronger than his makes him lose his
memory, it blows away all the thoughts that another cry had placed in it, and replaces them with
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new ones. And then, above all the storms that with numberless voices, from that of his wife who
threatens to separate if he does not do what she wants - and once he is separated from her, that is
the end of all his strength, of his protection with "divine" Caesar, as they say, although they are
convinced that this Caesar is more abject than they are... But they can see the Idea in the man, nay
the Idea annihilates the man representing it, and one cannot say that the Idea is unclean: every
citizen loves, and it is fair that he should love his Fatherland, and should want it to triumph...
Caesar is the Fatherland... so... also a miserable man is... great because of what he represents... But I
did not want to speak of Caesar, but of Pilate! - So I was saying that above all the voices, from that
of his wife to those of the crowds, there is the voice, oh! what a voice! of his ego. Of the small ego
of the small man, of the greedy ego of the greedy man, of the proud ego of the proud man; that
smallness, that greed, that pride want to reign to be great, they want to reign to have
superabundance of money, they want to reign to be able to rule over a multitude of subjects
stooping to pay homage to them. Hatred is smouldering underneath, but the little Caesar named
Pilate, our little Caesar does not see it... He can only see the backs bent feigning homage and fear
before him or really feeling both. And because of the stormy voice of his ego he is prepared to do
anything. I say: anything. Provided he may continue to be Pontius Pilate, the Proconsul, the servant
of Caesar, the Ruler of one of the many regions of the empire. And because of all that, even if now
he is My defender, tomorrow he will be My judge, and inexorable. The thought of man is always
uncertain. Most uncertain when that man's name is Pontius Pilate. But, Lazarus, you may satisfy
Peter... If that is to console him...»
«Not to console me but... to calm me a little...»
«Then please our good Peter and go to Pilate.»
«I will go, Master. But You have described the Proconsul as no historian or philosopher could have
done. A perfect portrait! »
«I could likewise depict every man in his real image: his character. But let us go to these people
who are rioting.»
He climbs the last steps and shows Himself. He raises His arms and says in a loud voice: «Men of
Galilee and of Samaria, disciples and followers. Your love, your wishes to honour Me and My
Mother and My friend by escorting their wagon, tell Me what your thoughts are. I can but bless you
for such thoughts. But go back to your homes, to your business, now. You from Galilee, go and tell
those who remained there that Jesus of Nazareth blesses them. Men of Galilee, we shall meet again
in Jerusalem at Passover, and I will enter the town the day after the Sabbath before Passover. Men
of Samaria, you may go, too, and do not confine your love for Me to following and looking for Me
on the routes of the Earth, but on those of the spirit. Go and may the Light shine in you. Disciples of
the Master, part from the believers and remain in Ephraim to receive My instructions. Go. Be
obedient.»
«He is right. We are disturbing Him. He wants to be with His Mother! » shout the disciples and the
Nazarenes.
«We are going away. But we want His promise first: that He will come to Shechem before
Passover. To Shechem! To Shechem! »
«I will come. Go. I will come before going to Jerusalem for Passover.»
«Don't go! Don't go! Stay with us! With us! We will defend You! We will make You King and
Pontiff! They hate You! We love You! Down with the Jews! Long live Jesus! »
«Silence. Stop rioting! My Mother suffers because of this shouting that can harm Me more than a
voice cursing Me. My hour has not yet come. Go. I will come to Shechem. But remove from your
hearts the thought that I, for base human cowardice and a sacrilegious rebellion against the will of
My Father, may not fulfil My duty as an Israelite, worshipping the true God in the only Temple in
which He can be worshipped, and as Messiah, by being crowned anywhere but in Jerusalem, where
I shall be anointed universal King according to the words and the truth foreseen by the great
prophets.»
«Down! There is no other prophet but Moses! You are a daydreamer.»
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«And you, too. Are you perhaps free? No, you are not. What is the name of Shechem? Its new
name? And what happened to Shechem, happened also to many other towns in Samaria, Judaea and
Galilee. Because the Roman mangonel has levelled us all alike. Is its name Shechem? No. Its name
is Neapolis. As Beth-Shean is named Scythopolis, and many other towns that either by will of the
Romans or by the will of adulating vassals have taken the names imposed by domination or by
adulation. And you, as individuals, are you going to be worth more than a town, more than our
rulers, more than God? No. Nothing can change what is destined for the salvation of everybody. I
follow the straight road. Follow Me, if you want to enter the eternal Kingdom with Me.»
He is about to withdraw. But the Samaritan people are uproarious so much so that the Galileans
react and those who were in the house rush out at the same time into the kitchen garden, and then
up the staircase and on to the terrace. The sad pale distressed face of Mary is the first to appear
behind Jesus' shoulders, and She embraces and clasps Him as if She wished to defend Him from the
insults rising from below: «You have betrayed us! You took refuge among us making us believe
that You loved us whereas now You despise us! And we shall be more despised through Your
fault!» and so forth.
Jesus is approached also by the women disciples, by the apostles, and last by Mary of Jacob, who is
frightened. The shouts from below explain the origin of the uproar, a remote but certain origin: «So
why did You send Your disciples to us to tell us that You are persecuted? »
«I did not send anybody. Those from Shechem are over there. Let them come forward. What did I
say to them one day on the mountain? »
«That is true. He said to us that He can only be a worshipper in the Temple, until the new time
comes for everybody. Master, we are not to be blamed, believe us. But they have been deceived by
false messengers of Yours.»
«I know. But go now. I will come to Shechem just the same. I am not afraid of anybody. But go
now so that you may not harm yourselves and those of your blood. Can you see over there the
cuirasses of the legionaries shine in the sun as they go down the road? They have certainly followed
you at a distance, seeing such a procession and they have remained waiting in the wood. Your
shouting is now attracting them here. Go, for your own sake.»
In fact, far away on the main road that can be seen rising towards the mountains, the one on which
Jesus found the starving man, it is possible to see lights gleam and move forward. The people
disperse slowly. Those from Ephraim, the Galileans and the disciples remain.
«You may go to your homes as well, you people from Ephraim. And you, too, Galileans, please go
away. Obey Him Who loves you. »
They also go away. Only the disciples remain and Jesus orders the apostles to let them go into the
house and the kitchen garden. Peter goes downstairs with the others to open.
Judas of Kerioth does not go down. He laughs! He laughs saying: «You will now see how "the good
Samaritans" hate You! To build the Kingdom You are scattering the stones. And stones dispelled
from a building become weapons to strike. You have despised them! And they will not forget.»
«Let them hate Me. I will not avoid doing My duty for fear of their hatred. Come, Mother. Let us go
and tell the disciples what they are to do before I dismiss them » and between Mary and Lazarus He
goes downstairs into the house where the disciples who gathered at Ephraim are crowded, and He
orders them to spread everywhere informing all their companions to be at Jericho for the new moon
of Nisan and wait for Him until He arrives, and to let the people of the villages through which they
pass know that He will leave Ephraim and that they should look for Him in Jerusalem at Passover.
He then divides them into three groups entrusting the new disciple Samuel to Isaac, Hermas and
Stephen. Stephen greets Samuel saying: «The joy in seeing you relieves my pain to see that
everything becomes an obstacle for the Master.» Hermas instead greets him thus: «You left a man
for a God. And God is now really with you.» Isaac, humble and bashful, only says: «Peace be with
you, brother.»
After handing out bread and milk that the people from Ephraim kindly think of offering, also the
disciples depart and at last there is peace...
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But while the lamb is being prepared, Jesus has still something to do. He approaches Lazarus and
says to him: «Come with Me along the torrent.» Lazarus obeys promptly as usual.
They move away from the house about two hundred metres. Lazarus is silent waiting for Jesus to
speak. And Jesus says: «I wanted to tell you this. My Mother is very depressed, as you can see. Send
your sisters here. I will really go towards Shechem with all the apostles and women disciples. But
then I will send them on, to Bethany, while I will stay for some time in Jericho. I can still dare to
keep some women here in Samaria, but not anywhere else...»
«Master! You really fear... Oh! if so why did You raise me from the dead? »
«To have a friend.»
«Oh!!! If that is the case, well, here I am. All sorrows, if I can comfort You with my friendship, are
nothing to me.»
«I know. That is why I use and will use you as the most perfect friend.»
«Must I really go to Pilate? »
«If you think so. But for Peter. Not for Me.»
«Master, I will let You know... When are You leaving this place? »
«In eight days' time. There is just enough time to go where I want and then be with you before
Passover. I want to acquire new strength at Bethany, the oasis of peace, before plunging into the
turmoil of Jerusalem.»
«Are You aware, Master, that the Sanhedrin is quite determined to create charges, since there are
none, to compel You to flee for good? I learned that from John, the member of the Sanhedrin, when
I met him by chance at Ptolemais, and he was very happy because of the son about to be born to
him. He said to me: "I am sorry that the Sanhedrin is so determined. Because I would have liked the
Master to be present at the circumcision of my child, as I hope it will be a boy. He is to be born
early in the month of Tammuz. But will the Master still be among us by that time? And I would
like... Because I would like little Immanuel, and that name will tell you what I think, to be blessed
by Him at his first appearance in the world. Because my son, lucky fellow, will not have to struggle
to believe, as we had to. He will be brought up in the Messianic times and it will be easy for him to
accept the idea". John has arrived at believing that You are the Promised One.»
«And that one out of many compensates Me for what the others do not do. Lazarus, let us say
goodbye here, in peace. And thank you for everything, My dear friend. You are a true friend. With
ten friends like you it would have been pleasant to live among so much hatred...»
«Now You have Your Mother, my Lord. She is worth ten... one hundred Lazarus. But remember
that whatever You may need, if it is at all possible, I will get it for You. Give me Your orders, and I
will be Your servant, in everything. I may not be wise or holy, like other people who love You, but
if You exclude John, You will not be able to find another one more faithful than I am. I do not
think that I am being proud saying this. And now that we have spoken of You, I will tell You about
Syntyche. I saw her. She is as active and wise as only a Greek woman, who has been able to
become Your follower, can be. She suffers to be so far away. But she says that she enjoys preparing
Your way. She hopes to see You before she dies.»
«She will certainly see Me. I do not disappoint the hopes of the just.»
«She has a little school attended by many girls of all places. But in the evening she keeps some poor
little girls of mixed race, and thus of no religion. And she instructs them in Your doctrine. I asked
her: "Why do you not become a proselyte? It would be of great help to you". She replied: "Because I
do not want to devote myself to those of Israel, but to the empty altars awaiting a God. I prepare
them to receive my Lord. Then, once His Kingdom is established, I will return to my Fatherland,
and under the sky of Hellas I will spend my life preparing hearts for the masters. That is my dream.
But if I should die before, of a disease or in a persecution, I shall go away equally happy, because it
means that I have fulfilled my work and that He calls to Himself the servant who has loved Him
since the first time she met Him".»
«It is true. Syntyche has really loved Me since our first meeting.»
«I did not want to tell her how distressed You are. But Antioch resounds like a shell with all the
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voices of the vast Roman empire, and consequently also with what happens here. And Syntyche is
aware of Your grief. And she suffers even more to be far away. She wanted to give me some
money, which I refused, and I told her to use it for her girls. But I took a headgear woven by her
with two types of byssus of different thickness. Your Mother has it. With the yam Syntyche has
described Your story, her own and that of John of Endor. And do You know how? By weaving a
hem all around the square and representing on it a lamb that defends two doves from a pack of
hyenas, one of the doves has both wings broken, and the other has a broken chain that held it
fastened. And the story proceeds, alternately, to the flight towards the sky of the dove with the
broken wings and the voluntary captivity of the other at the feet of the lamb. It looks like one of
those stories that Greek sculptors carve on the marble festoons of temples and on the stelae of their
dead relatives, or painters paint on vases. She wanted to send it to You by my servants. I brought
it.»
«I shall wear it because it comes from a good disciple. Let us go towards the house. When are you
thinking of leaving? »
«Tomorrow at dawn. To let the horses rest. Then I will not stop until I arrive in Jerusalem and I will
go to Pilate. If I succeed in speaking to him, I will send You his replies by Mary.»
They go slowly back into the house, talking of minor topics.

20. Parable of the Torn Cloth and Miracle of the Woman in Childbed.
Judas of Kerioth Is Caught Stealing.
15th February 1947.

Jesus is with the women disciples and the two apostles on one of the first undulations on the
mountain behind Ephraim. Neither the children nor Esther are with Johanna. I think that they have
been sent to Jerusalem with Jonathan. So, besides Jesus' Mother, there are only Mary Clopas, Mary
Salome, Johanna, Eliza, Nike and Susanna. Lazarus' two sisters are not yet present.
Eliza and Nike are folding garments, which have certainly been washed in a stream that shines
down in the valley, or have been brought here from the stream and then laid out on this sunny
tableland. And Nike, after examining one of them, takes it to Mary Clopas saying: «Your son has
unstitched also the hem of this one.» Mary of Alphaeus takes the garment and puts it near the others
that are spread close to her on the grass.
All the women disciples are busy sewing and mending the damages done in the many months when
the apostles were alone.
Eliza, who comes close to them with other dry garments, says: «One can see that for three months
you have not had an experienced woman with you! There is not one garment in good order, with the
exception of that one of the Master, Who on the other hand, has only got two, the one He is wearing
and the one washed today.»
«He has given them all away. He seemed to be seized with the mania for not possessing anything.
He has been wearing linen clothes for many days » says Judas.
«Fortunately Your Mother thought She should bring You some new ones. The one dyed purple is
really beautiful. You needed it, Jesus, although You look so handsome dressed in linen. You really
look like a lily! » says Mary of Alphaeus.
«A very tall lily, Mary! » says Judas satirically.
«But He is so pure as you are certainly not and neither is John. You are wearing a linen garment as
well, but believe me, you do not look like a lily! » replies frankly Mary of Alphaeus.
«My hair is dark and so is my complexion. That is why I am different.»
«No. It does not depend on that. The fact is that your candour is on your outward appearance, His is
instead within Him and it transpires through His eyes, His smile, His word. That is the situation!
Ah! How lovely it is to be with my Jesus.» And the good Mary lays her toilworn honest hand of an

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elderly hard working woman on the knee of Jesus, Who caresses it.
Mary Salome, who is inspecting a tunic, exclaims: «This is worse than a tear! Oh! son! Who closed
this hole like that for you? » and scandalised as she is, she shows her companions a kind of... very
wrinkled navel, forming a raised ring on the cloth, held together by some very coarse stitches,
enough to horrify a woman. The strange repair is the epicentre of a series of puckers that widen out
radially on the shoulder of the tunic.
They all laugh. And John is the first - he did the mending - and he explains: «I could not go about
with the hole, so... I closed it! »
«I can see that, poor me! I see that! But could you not get Mary of Jacob to mend it for you? »
«She is almost blind, poor woman! And then... the trouble was that it was not a tear! It was a real
hole. The garment got stuck to the faggot I was carrying on my shoulder, and when I dropped the
faggot from my shoulder, also a piece of the cloth came off. So I just repaired like that! »
«You spoiled it like that, son. I would need...» She inspects the tunic but shakes her head. She says:
«I was hoping I could use the hem. But it is no longer there...»
«I took if off at Nob, because it was cut at the fold. But I gave your son the bit I removed...»
explains Eliza.
«Yes. But I used it to make cords for my bag...»
«Poor sons! How badly you need us near you! » says the Blessed Virgin mending a garment
belonging to whom I do not know.
«And yet some cloth is needed here. Look. The stitches have ended up by tearing the cloth all
around, and a great damage has become an irreparable one; unless... I can find something to replace
the missing cloth. Then... one will still see it... but it will be passable.»
«You have given Me the starting point for a parable...» says Jesus, and Judas at the same time says:
«I think I have a piece of cloth of that shade at the bottom of my bag, the scrap of a tunic that was
too discoloured to be worn; so I gave it to a little man who was so much smaller than I am, that we
had to cut almost two palms off it. If you wait, I will go and get it for you. But I should like to hear
the parable first.»
«May God bless you. Listen to the parable first. In the meantime I will fit the cords on to this tunic
of James'. These ones are all worn out.»
«Speak, Master. Then I will make Mary Salome happy.»
«Yes. I compare the soul to a cloth. When it is infused, it is new, without tears. It has only the
original stain, but it has no injuries in its structure, or stains or waste. Then with time and the
acquisition of vices, it wears out at times to the extent of tearing, it becomes stained through
imprudence, it breaks through disorder. Now, when it is torn one must not mend it clumsily, which
would be the cause of many more tears, but it is necessary to mend it patiently and perfectly and for
a long time to remove the damage already caused as much as possible. And if the cloth is too badly
torn, nay if it has been so rent as to be deprived of a bit of it, one must not be so proud as to pretend
to repair the damage by oneself, but one must go to Him, Who is known to be able to make the soul
strictly honest once again, as He is allowed to do everything and He can do everything. I am
referring to God, My Father, and to the Saviour, Who I am. But the pride of man is such that the
greater is the ruin of his soul, the more he tries to patch it up with unsuitable means that make the
damage more and more serious. You may object that a tear can always be seen. Salome also said
so. Yes, one will always see the damage a soul has suffered. But a soul fights its battle, it is
therefore obvious that it may be struck. There are so many enemies around it. But no one, seeing a
man covered with scars, the signs of as many wounds received in battle to gain victory, can say:
"This man is unclean". On the contrary one will say: "This man is a hero. There are the purple
marks of his worth". Neither will anyone ever see a soldier avoid being cured, because he is
ashamed of a glorious wound, on the contrary he will go to the doctor and say to him with holy
pride: "Here I am, I fought and I won. I did not spare myself, as you can see. Now heal my wounds
that I may be ready for more battles and victories". He instead who is suffering from foul diseases,
brought about by shameful vices, is ashamed of his sores before relatives and friends, and also
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before doctors, and at times he is so silly that he conceals them until their stench reveals them.
Then it is too late to remedy. The humble are always sincere, and they are also valiant fighters who
have not to be ashamed of the wounds received in the struggle. The proud are always false and
base, through their pride they end up by dying, as they do not want to go to Him Who can cure, and
say to Him: "Father, I have sinned. But, if You want, You can cure me". Many are the souls that
because of their pride in not wanting to confess an initial sin end up by dying. Then, also for them,
it is too late. They do not consider that divine mercy is more powerful and more extensive than any
plague, however powerful and extensive the latter may be, and that it can heal everything. But
they, the souls of the proud, when they realise that they have despised all means of salvation, fall
into despondency, because they are without God, and when they say: "It is too late ", they condemn
themselves to the last death: to damnation. And now, Judas, you may go and get the cloth ... »
«I am going. But I did not like Your parable. I did not understand it.»
«But if it is so clear! I have understood it, and I am a poor woman! » says Mary Salome.
«And I have not. Once Your parables were more beautiful... Now... bees... cloth... towns changing
names... souls that are boats... Such mean things, and so confused, which I do not like any more and
I do not understand... But now I will go and get the cloth, because I say that it is in fact needed, but
the garment will always be a spoilt one » and Judas stands up and goes away.
Mary lowered Her head more and more over Her work, while Judas was speaking. Johanna instead
raised hers, fixing her eyes on the imprudent apostle with indignant authority. Eliza also raised her
head, but then she imitated Mary and Nike did the same. Susanna opened her big eyes wide, being
astonished, and looked at Jesus and not at the apostle, wondering why He does not react. But no one
has spoken or made any gesture. Mary Salome and Mary of Alphaeus, two women with common
manners, looked at each other shaking their heads, and as soon as Judas goes away, Salome says:
«It's his head that is spoilt! »
«Yes. That is why he understands nothing, and I do not think that even You will be able to mend it.
If my son were like that, I would break his head. Yes, as I made it for him that it might be the head
of a just man, so I would break it. It is better to have a disfigured face than a disgraced heart! » says
Mary of Alphaeus.
«Be indulgent, Mary. You cannot compare your sons, who were brought up in an honest family, in a
town like Nazareth, to this man » says Jesus.
«His mother is good. His father was not a wicked man, so I heard » replies Mary of Alphaeus.
«Yes. But his heart was not lacking in pride. That is why he took his son away from his mother too
early, and he also helped in developing the moral heritage, that he had given his son, by sending
him to Jerusalem. It is painful to say, but the Temple is certainly not the place where hereditary
pride may diminish...» says Jesus. «No place in Jerusalem, even if it is a place of honour, is suitable
for diminishing pride or any other fault » says Johanna with a sigh. And she adds: «And not even
any other place of honour, whether at Jericho or Caesarea Philippi, at Tiberias or at the other
Caesarea...» and she sews quickly bending her face over her work more than is necessary.
«Mary of Lazarus is imperious, but not proud » remarks Nike.
«Now. But previously she was very proud, just the opposite of her relatives, who were never such »
replies Johanna.
«When are they coming? » asks Salome.
«Soon, if we are to leave in three days' time.»
«Let us work quickly, then. We shall just manage to finish everything in time» says Mary of
Alphaeus urging them.
«We were late in coming because of Lazarus. But it was better so, because Mary was spared much
work » says Susanna.
«But do You feel You can do so much walking? You are so pale and tired, Mary! » asks Mary of
Alphaeus laying her hand on Mary's lap and looking at Her anxiously.
«I am not ill, Mary, and I can certainly walk.»
«No, You are not ill, but You are so distressed, Mother. I would give ten and ten years of my life,
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and I would embrace all sorrows, to see You once again as I saw You the first time » says John,
who looks at Her compassionately.
«Your love is already a medicine, John. I can feel My heart calm down when I see how you all love
My Child. Because there is no other cause for My suffering. None, except seeing that He is not
loved. I am already recovering here, close to Him, and among you, who are so faithful. Of course...
those months... all alone at Nazareth... after seeing Him depart so distressed, already so
persecuted... and hearing all those rumours... oh! How much! How much grief! Now, being near
Him, I see, I say: "At least My Jesus has His Mother to comfort Him and say words that drown other
words", and I see also that love is not completely dead in Israel. And I have peace. A little peace.
Not much... because...» Mary does not say anything else. She lowers Her face that She had raised to
speak to John, and it is only possible to see the top of Her forehead, that blushes through a mute
emotion... and then two tears shine on the dark garment She is mending.
Jesus sighs and stands up, He goes and sits down at Her feet, in front of Her, and He rests His head
on Her knees, kissing Her hand that is holding the cloth and remaining thus like a child who is
resting. Mary removes the needle from the cloth, in order not to hurt Her Son, and then She lays
Her right hand on His head bent on Her knees and She looks up towards the sky, and She certainly
prays although She does not move Her lips; from Her whole attitude it is clear that She is praying.
She then bends to kiss Her Son's hair near His bare temple.
The other women do not speak until Salome says: «But how long is it taking Judas? The sun will be
setting and I shall not be able to see! »
«Someone has probably detained him » replies John and he asks his mother: «Shall I go and tell him
to hurry? »
«You had better go. Because if he has not found the cloth, I will shorten your sleeves, as it will soon
be summer, and I will make another garment for you for autumn, because you cannot wear this one
any longer, and with the piece I take off, I will mend this one here. It will be all right to go fishing.
Because after Pentecost you will certainly come back to Galilee...»
«I will go, then » says John and being always kind he asks the other women: «Have you any
garments already mended that I can take to our lodgings? If you have, give them to me. You will
have less to carry on your way back.»
The women gather together what they have already mended and give it to John, who turns round to
go away but he stops at once seeing Mary of Jacob running towards them.
The old woman is plodding along as fast as her old age allows her, and she shouts to John: «Is the
Master there? »
«Yes, mother. What do you want? »
The woman replies while continuing to run: «Adah is ill, very ill... And her husband would like to
call Jesus to comfort her... But as those Samaritans have been... so wicked, he does not dare... I
said: "You do not know Him yet. I will go and... He will not say no to me".» The old woman is
panting after hurrying uphill.
«Don't rush any farther. I will come with you. Nay, I will go ahead. Follow us slowly. You are old,
mother, to hurry thus » Jesus says to her. Then He says to His Mother and the women disciples: «I
am staying in the village. Peace to you.»
He takes John by the arm and runs down fast with him. The old woman, takes breath and would
like to follow Him after replying to the women who ask her questions: «H'm! Only the Rabbi can
save her. Otherwise she will die like Rachel. She is becoming cold and is losing her strength and
she is writhing in the spasms of pain.»
But the women detain her saying: «But have you tried with hot bricks under her kidneys? »
«No! It is better to envelop her in woollen cloth soaked in wine with spieces, as warm as possible.»
«I was helped, for James, by unctions with oil and then by hot bricks.»
«Make her drink a lot.»
«If she could stand straight and take a few steps while a woman rubbed her kidneys hard.»
The women mothers, that is all of them, except Nike and Susanna, and Mary, Who did not suffer
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the labour pains of every woman when She gave birth to Her Son, advise this or that remedy.
«Everything! They have tried everything. But her kidneys are too tired. It's the eleventh child! But I
am going now. I have taken breath. Pray for that mother! That the Most High may keep her alive
until the Rabbi arrives there.» And she toddles away, the poor good lonely old woman.
Jesus in the meantime is going down fast towards the town that is warmed by the sun. He enters the
town at the side opposite the one where their house is, that is at north-west of Ephraim, whereas
Mary of Jacob's house is south-east of it. He walks fast, without stopping to speak to those who
would like to detain Him. He greets them and goes on.
A man remarks: «He is angry with us. Those from other villages behaved badly. He is right.»
«No He is going to Jonoè. His wife is dying at her eleventh delivery.»
«Poor children! And is the Rabbi going there? How good He is. Although offended, He helps.»
«Janoè did not offend Him. None of us offended Him! »
«But they were men of Samaria.»
«The Rabbi is just and He can tell one from another. Let us go and see the miracle.»
«We shall not be able to go in. It's a woman and she is giving birth.»
«But we shall hear the new-born baby cry and it will be the voice of a miracle.»
They run to join Jesus. Other people also gather together to see.
Jesus arrives at the house, which is disconsolate because of the impending misfortune. The ten
children - the oldest is a young girl in tears pressed by younger brothers who are weeping - are in a
corner in the vestibule near the wide open door. Old wives are going and coming, whispers are
heard and the shuffling of bare feet moving on the brick floor.
A woman sees Jesus and shouts: «Janoè! You can hope! He has come! » and she runs away with a
steaming pitcher.
A man rushes and prostrates himself. He makes only a gesture and says: «I believe. Mercy! For
them » and he points at his children.
«Stand up and take heart. The Most High helps those who have faith and He has mercy on His
distressed children.»
«Oh! come, Master! Come! She is already black. Choked by convulsions. She can hardly breathe.
Come! » The man, who has lost his head, and ends up by losing it completely upon hearing the cry
of an old woman who shouts: «Janoè, run! Adah is dying! », pushes and pulls Jesus to make Him go
quick towards the room of the dying woman, deaf to Jesus' words: «Go, and have faith! »
The poor man has faith, but what he lacks is the capability to understand the meaning of those
words, the secret meaning of the certainty of a miracle. And Jesus, pushed and pulled, climbs the
steps to go into the room upstairs, where the woman is. But He stops on the landing of the staircase,
at about three metres from the open door, through which it is possible to see the deadly pale face
that is already livid and contracted in the mask of agony. The old wives make no further efforts.
They have already covered the woman up to her chin and are looking at her. They are petrified
awaiting her death.
Jesus stretches out His arms and shouts: «I want it! » and He turns round to go away.
The husband, the old women, the curious people who have gathered together are disappointed,
because they probably expected Jesus to do something more astonishing and to see the baby be born
at once. But Jesus, elbowing His way and fixing His eyes on their faces while passing before them,
says: «Do not be in doubt. Have faith for a little longer. For a moment. The woman has to pay the
bitter tribute of childbirth. But she is out of danger.» And He goes downstairs leaving them
disconcerted.
But when He is about to go out onto the road, saying to the ten frightened children when passing
near them: «Be not afraid! Your mummy is all right » - and in saying so He touches their scared
faces with His hand - a loud cry resounds in the house and spreads as far as the road where Mary of
Jacob is just arriving and who shouts: «Good gracious! » thinking that that cry meant death .
«Be not afraid, Mary! And go quickly! You will see the baby being born. She has recovered strength
and she is in labour again. But there will soon be great joy.»
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He goes away with John. No one follows Him because everybody wants to see whether the miracle
will take place, nay, more people rush towards the house, because the news has spread that the
Master had gone to save Adah. And so, slipping into a secondary little street, Jesus can go without
any hindrance to a house which He enters calling: «Judas! Judas! » Nobody replies.
«He went up there, Master. We can go home as well. I will put here the garments of Judas, of
Simon and of Your brother James, and then I will put those of Simon Peter, Andrew, Thomas and
Philip in Anna's house.»
They do so and I realise that in order to make room for the women disciples, the apostles, if not all
of them, at least part of them, have spread out in other houses.
As they have now got rid of all the garments, they go towards the house of Mary of Jacob, talking to
each other, and they go in through the kitchen garden little gate, which is always left ajar. The
house is silent and empty. John sees a pitcher full of water laid on the floor, and probably thinking
that the old lady had put it there before being called to assist the woman in childbed, he picks it up
and goes towards a room that is closed. Jesus loiters in the corridor taking off His mantle and
folding it with His customary care before putting it on the chest in the vestibule.
John opens the door and utters «ah! » almost in terror. He drops the pitcher and covers his eyes with
his hands, bending as if to grow smaller, to disappear, not to see. From the room comes the noise of
coins falling on the floor tinkling.
Jesus is already at the door. It took me longer to describe the scene than it took Him to arrive. He
vehemently pushes aside John who moans: «Away! Go away! » He opens the door that was ajar and
goes in.
It is the room where they take their meals, now that the women are there. In it there are two old
coffers reinforced with iron fittings and in front of one of them, opposite the door, there is Judas,
livid, his eyes full of anger and dismay at the same time, with a bag in his hands... The coffer is
open... there are coins on the floor and more fall on it from an open bag, half inclined on the edge
of the coffer. Everything testifies, in a manner that leaves no doubt, to what was happening. Judas
entered the house, he opened the coffer and stole. He was stealing.
No one speaks. No one moves. But it is worse than if they all shouted and rushed at one another.
Three statues. Judas the demon, Jesus the Judge, John terrorised by the revelation of his
companion's baseness.
The hand of Judas holding the bag trembles, and the coins in it tinkle with a dull sound.
John is trembling from head to foot, and although he still has his hands pressed against his mouth,
his teeth are chattering, while his frightened eyes look more at Jesus than at Judas.
Jesus does not quiver. He is straight and glacial, so stiff as to be glacial. At last He takes a step, He
makes a gesture, and utters one word. A step towards Judas; a gesture: to make a sign to John to
withdraw; a word: «Go! »
But John is afraid and moans: «No! No! Don't send me away. Let me stay here. I will not say
anything... but leave me here, with You.»
«Go away! Be not afraid! Close all the doors... and if anybody comes... whoever it may be... even
My Mother... do not let them come here. Go! Obey! »
«Lord!...» John is so entreating and broken-hearted that he seems to be the guilty one.
«Go, I tell you. Nothing will happen. Go » and Jesus moderates His order by laying His hand on the
head of His Favourite and caressing it. And I now see that His hand is trembling. And John feels
that it is trembling and takes it and kisses it with a sob that says so many things. He goes out.
Jesus bolts the door. He turns round to look at Judas who must be really crushed if he, who is so
daring, dare not say one word or make one gesture. Jesus goes straight in front of him, going round
the table, which is in the middle of the room. I cannot say whether He moves fast or slow. I am too
frightened by His face to be able to measure time. I can see His eyes and I am afraid like John.
Judas himself is afraid, he draws back between the coffer and a wide open window, the red light of
which, as it is sunset, is projected on Jesus.
What eyes has Jesus! He does not say one word. But when He sees a kind of picklock stick out from
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the belt of Judas' tunic, He has a fearful outburst of rage. He raises His arm with its clenched fist as
if He wanted to strike the thief, and His lips begin to utter the word: «Cursed! » or «Curse! ». But
He controls Himself. He stops His arm that was about to strike, and He breaks the word at the first
three letters. And with an effort of self-control that makes His whole body tremble, He just
unclenches His fist and lowers His raised arm to the level of the bag that Judas has in his hand and
He snatches it and throws it on the floor, saying in a dull voice, while He tramples on bag and coins
and scatters them with controlled but dreadful fury: «Away! Filth of Satan! Cursed gold! Spittle of
hell! Snake's poison! Away! »
Judas, who uttered a stifled cry when he saw Jesus on the point of cursing him, does not react any
further. But another cry is heard from beyond the closed door when Jesus throws the bag on the
floor. And John's cry irritates the thief. It gives him back his demoniac daring. It makes him furious.
He almost flings himself on Jesus shouting: «You had me spied upon to bring dishonour on me.
Spied by a foolish boy who cannot even keep quiet. Who will shame me in front of everybody!
That's what You wanted. In any case... Yes! That's what I want, too. I want that! To force You to
drive me away! To force You to curse me! To curse me! To curse me! I have tried everything to
make You reject me.» He is hoarse with rage and as ugly as a demon. He is panting as if something
were choking him.
In a low but dreadful voice Jesus repeats to him: «Thief! Thief! Thief! » and He ends saying: «A
thief today. A murderer tomorrow. Like Barabbas. Worse than him.» He breathes that word on his
face, as they are now very close to each other, at each sentence of the other.
Judas takes breath and replies: «Yes. A thief. Through Your fault. All the evil I do is attributable to
You, and You never get tired of ruining me. You save everybody. You give love and honours to
everybody. You accept sinners, prostitutes do not disgust You, You treat thieves, usurers and
Zacchaeus' procurers in a friendly way, You welcome the spy of the Temple as if he were the
Messiah, You fool! And You have appointed an ignorant man as our chief, an excise-man as Your
treasurer, a fool as Your confidant. But with me, You ration even farthings, You do not leave me a
coin, You keep me close to You as a galley-slave is tied to the rowing bench, You do not even want
us, I say us, but it is I, only I who must not accept the offerings of pilgrims. Because You do not
want me to touch money, You ordered everyone not to take money from anybody. Because You
hate me. Well: I hate You, too! You were not able to strike and curse me a little while ago. Your
curse would have reduced me to ashes. Why did You not lay Your curse upon me? I would have
preferred that, rather than see You so inept, so enfeebled, such a finished defeated man...»
«Be quiet! »
«No! Are You afraid that John may hear? Are You afraid that at long last he may realise who You
are and he may leave You? Ah! So You are afraid, although You play the hero! Yes, You are afraid!
And You are afraid of me. You are frightened! That's why You could not curse me. That's why You
pretend to love me whereas You hate me! To blandish me! To keep me quiet. You know that I am
powerful. You know that I am the power. The power that hates You and will defeat You! I
promised You that I will follow You until death offering You everything, and I have offered You
everything, and I will be near You until Your hour and mine. What a magnificent king who cannot
curse and drive people away! King of clouds! Idol king! Foolish king! Liar! Betrayer of Your own
destiny. You have always despised me, since the first time we met. You have not corresponded to
me. You thought You were wise. You are an idiot. I taught You the good road. But You... Oh! You
are the pure one! You are the creature that is man but is God, and You despise the advice of the
Intelligent One. You have been mistaken since the first moment and You are mistaken. You... You
are... Ah!»
The torrent of words stops suddenly and a lugubrious silence replaces so much clamour and a
lugubrious stillness after so many gestures. Because, while I was writing without being able to say
what was happening, Judas, bending just like a wild dog that points a prey and approaches it ready
to dash on it, has come closer and closer to Jesus, with a face that it was impossible to look at, his
fingers hooked like claws, his elbows pressed against his sides, as if he were on the point of
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assailing Jesus, Who does not show the least sign of fear and moves turning round to open the door
with His back to the other, who could attack Him seizing Him by His neck. But he does not do that
and Jesus opens the door and looks to see whether John has really gone away. The corridor is empty
and almost dark, as John has closed the door opening onto the kitchen garden after going out. Jesus
then bolts the door and leans against it, waiting, without a gesture or word, for the fury to abate. 1
am not competent, but I do not think that I am wrong if I say that Satan himself spoke through
Judas' lips and that this is a moment of obvious possession by Satan of the perverted apostle, who is
already on the threshold of the Crime and is damned through his own will. The very manner how
the torrent of words stopped, leaving the apostle dumbfounded, reminds me of other scenes of
possession seen in the three years of Jesus' public life.
Jesus, leaning against the door, all white against the dark wood, does not make the least gesture.
Only His eyes, powerful in grief and fervour, look at the apostle. If one could say that eyes pray, I
should say that Jesus' eyes are praying while He looks at the wretch. Because not only authority
transpires from those eyes, which are so distressed, but also the fervour of prayer. Then, towards the
end of Judas' words, Jesus opens His arms, so far held pressed against His body, but He does not
open them to touch Judas, or to make any gesture towards him, or to raise them towards the sky. He
opens them horizontally, taking the posture of the Crucified, there, against the dark wood and the
reddish wall. It was then that the last words from Judas' lips slow down and he utters that «Ah! »
that interrupts his speech.
Jesus remains still, with His arms stretched out, with His eyes always fixed on the apostle, with a
look of sorrow and prayer. And Judas, like one coming out of delirium, rubs his forehead and
sweaty face with his hand... he thinks, he recollects, and remembering everything he collapses on
the floor, whether weeping or not, I do not know. He certainly falls on the floor, as if his strength
failed him.
Jesus lowers His eyes and arms, and in a low but clear voice He says:
«Well? Do I hate you? I could strike you with My foot, I could tread on you calling you "worm", I
could curse you, as I freed you from the power that makes you rave. You thought that My
impossibility to curse you was weakness. Oh! it is not weakness! It is because I am the Saviour.
And the Saviour cannot curse. He can save. He wants to save... You said: "I am the strength. The
strength that hates You and will defeat You". I also am the Strength, nay, I am the only Strength.
But My strength is not hatred. It is love. And love does not hate and does not curse, never.
The Strength could also win single battles, like this one between you and Me, between Satan who is
in you, and Me, and remove your master from you, for good, as I did now by transforming Myself
into the sign that saves, the Tau that Lucifer abhors. It could win also these single battles as it will
win the oncoming one against incredulous murderous Israel, against the world and against Satan
defeated by Redemption. It could win also these single battles as it will win the last one, remote for
those who count by centuries, close at hand for those who measure time with the measure of
eternity. But of what avail would it be to infringe the perfect rules of My Father? Would it be
justice? Would it be merit? No. It would be neither justice nor merit. It would not be justice with
regard to guilty men, who have not been deprived of the freedom of being so, and who on the last
day could ask Me the reason for their damnation and reproach Me for My partiality for you alone.
Ten thousand and one hundred thousand people, seventy times ten thousand and one hundred
thousand people will commit the same sins as yours and will become demons through their own
wills, and they will be the offenders of God, the torturers of their fathers and mothers, killers,
thieves, liars, adulterers, lewd and sacrilegious people, and in the end deicides, killing the Christ
materially on a day close at hand, killing Him spiritually in future times. And each of them could
say to Me, when I will come to separate lambs from billy-goats, to bless the former and curse, then,
yes, to curse the latter, to curse them because there will be no further redemption then, but glory or
damnation, to curse them once again after cursing them individually at their death, first, and at their
individual judgement. Because man, and you know this because you have heard Me say so a
hundred, a thousand times, because man can save himself while he is alive, up to his last breath. An
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instant, a thousandth of a minute is sufficient for a soul to say everything to God, to ask to be
forgiven and obtain absolution... Each of them, I was saying, each of these damned souls could say
to Me: "Why did You not tie us to Good, as You did with Judas?". And they would be right.
Because every man is born with the same natural and supernatural things: a body, a soul. And while
the body, being generated by men, may be more or less robust and healthy at birth, the soul, created
by God, is the same for everybody, endowed by God with the same properties and gifts. Between
the soul of John, I mean the Baptist, and yours, there was no difference, when they were infused
into your bodies. And yet I tell you that, even if Grace had not presanctified him, so that the Herald
of the Christ might be without stain, as all those who announce Me ought to be, at least with regard
to actual sins, his soul would have been, would have become, quite different from yours. Nay, yours
would have become quite different from his. Because he would have preserved his soul in the
freshness of innocence, nay, he would have adorned it more and more with justice complying with
the will of God, Who wishes you to be just, developing the gratuitous gifts received with greater
and greater heroic perfection. You instead... You have ruined and dissipated your soul and the gifts
God had given it. What have you done with your free will? What with your intellect? Have you kept
for your spirit the freedom that belonged to it? Have you used the intelligence of your mind
intelligently? No, you have not. You who do not want to obey Me, I do not say Me-Man, but not
even Me-God, you have obeyed Satan. You have used the intelligence of your mind and the
freedom of your spirit to understand Darkness. Voluntarily. Good and Evil were placed before you.
You chose Evil. Nay, only Good was placed before you: I. Your eternal Creator, Who followed the
evolution of your soul, Who was aware of such evolution because the Eternal Thought is aware of
everything that happens since Time began to exist, placed Good before you, Good only, because He
knows that you are weaker than an alga growing in a ditch.
You shouted to Me that I hate you. Now, as I am One with the Father and with the Love, One here
as One in Heaven - because if there are two Natures in Me, and the Christ, because of His human
nature and until victory will free Him from human limitations, is at Ephraim and cannot be
elsewhere at the same moment; as God, the Word of God, I am in Heaven as on the Earth as My
Divinity is always omnipresent and omnipotent - now, as I am One with the Father and the Holy
Spirit, the charge you made against Me, you made it against God One and Trine. Against that God
Father Who created you out of love, against that God Son Who became incarnate to save you out of
love, against that God Spirit Who has spoken to you so many times to instil good wishes into you,
out of love. Against that God One and Trine Who has loved you so much, Who brought you on My
way, making you blind to the world to give you time to see Me, deaf to the world, to enable you to
hear Me. And you!... And you!... After seeing and hearing Me, after coming freely to the Good,
realising with your intellect that that was the only path of true glory, you rejected the Good and you
have freely given yourself to Evil. But if through your free will you wanted that, if you have always
more and more rudely rejected My hand that was offered to you to pull you out of the vortex, if you
have always moved farther and farther away from the harbour to plunge into the raging sea of
passions, of Evil, can you say to Me, to Him from Whom I come, to Him Who formed Me as Man
to try to save you, can you say that We have hated you?
You reproached Me for wanting what is evil for you... Also a sick child reproaches the doctor and
his mother for the bitter medicines they make him drink and for the things he wishes to have and
they deny him for his own good. Has Satan made you so blind and mad that you do not understand
the true nature of the action I took on your behalf, and that you can call malevolence and wish to
ruin you what is a provident cure of your Master, of your Saviour, of your Friend to restore you to
health? I kept you close to Me... I took money away from your hands. I prevented you from
touching that cursed metal that drives you crazy... But do you not know, do you not feel that it is
like one of those magic potions that bring about an unquenchable thirst, and produce in the blood a
fierce heat, a fury that leads one to death? You - I can read your thought - reproach Me thinking:
"Why, then, for such a long time You allowed me to be the administrator of the money?". Why?
Because if I had prevented you from touching money earlier, you would have sold yourself and you
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would have stolen earlier. You sold yourself just the same because there was little you could steal...
But I had to try to avoid that without doing violence to your freedom. Gold is your ruin. Because of
gold you have become lustful and treacherous...»
«There You are! You believed Samuel's words! I am not...»
Jesus, Who had become more and more animated in speaking, without ever assuming a violent tone
or threatening punishment, suddenly utters a cry of authority, I would say a cry of anger. He darts a
furious look at Judas who has raised his face to speak those words and imposes «Be quiet! » in a
voice that sounds like the roar of thunder.
Judas falls back on his heels again and speaks no more.
There is silence and Jesus with visible effort recomposes His humanity in such a composure and
with such powerful control that testifies by itself the divinity that is in Him. He resumes speaking in
His usual voice that is warm and kind also when it is severe, persuasive, conquering... Demons only
can resist that voice.
«I am not in need of information from Samuel or anybody else to know what you do. But, you
wretch! Do you know in front of Whom you are? It is true! You say that you do not understand My
parables any longer. You no longer understand My words. Poor wretch! You do not even
understand yourself any more. You do not even understand good and evil any more. Satan, to whom
you have given yourself in many ways, Satan whom you have followed in all the temptations he
presented to you, has made you stupid. And yet once you understood Me. You believed that I am
He Who I am! And you still retain a clear memory of that. And can you believe that the Son of God,
that God needs the words of a man to know the thought and the actions of another man? You are
not yet perverted to such an extent as not to believe that I am God, and that is where your greatest
fault lies. The proof that you believe Me to be such is that you are afraid of My wrath. You realise
that you are not struggling against a man, but against God Himself, and you shiver. You shiver,
Cain, because you can but see and think of God as the Avenger of Himself and of innocents. You
are afraid that it may happen to you as it happened to Korah, Dathan and Abiram and their
followers. And yet, as you know Who I am, you struggle against Me. I should say to you: "Cursed!".
But I would no longer be the Saviour...
You would like Me to reject you. You do everything, you say, to achieve that. Such reason does not
justify your actions. Because it is not necessary to commit sin in order to part from Me. You can do
that, I tell you. I have been telling you since Nob, when you came back to Me, one pure morning,
filthy with lies and lust, as if you had come out of hell to fall into the mud of a pigsty, or on the
litter of libidinous monkeys, and I had to struggle against Myself not to repel you with the point of
My sandal like a revolting rag and to check the nausea that was upsetting not only My spirit but also
My bowels. I have always told you. Even before accepting you. Even before coming here. Then, I
made that speech just for you, only for you. But you always wanted to stay. For your own ruin. You!
My greatest grief! But you, o heretical founder of a large family that will come after you, you think
and say that I am above sorrow. No. I am only above sin. I am only above ignorance. Above the
former, because I am God. Above the latter, because there can be no ignorance in the soul
unspoiled by the Original Sin. But I am speaking to you as a Man, as the Man, as Adam Redeemer
Who has come to make amends for the Sin of Adam sinner, and to show what man would have
been if he had remained as he was created: innocent. Among the gifts given by God to that Adam
was there not an intelligence without impairment and a very great science, as the union with God
instilled the light of the Almighty Father into His blessed son? I, the new Adam, am above sin
through My own will...
One day, a long time ago, you were surprised that I had been tempted, and you asked Me whether I
had ever yielded to temptation. Do you remember? And I replied to you. Yes, as I could reply to
you... Because since then you were such... an impoverished man that it was useless to open the most
precious pearls of Christ's virtues under your eyes. You would not have understood their value
and... you would have mistaken them for... stones, as they were of such an exceptional size. Also in
the desert I replied to you repeating the words, the meaning of the words I had spoken to you that
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evening while going towards Gethsemane. If John or also Simon Zealot had repeated that question
to Me, I would have replied in a different manner, because John is pure and he would not have
asked with the malice with which you asked, as you were full of malice... and because Simon is an
old wise man, and although he is not unacquainted with life, as John is, he has achieved that
wisdom that can contemplate every episode without being upset in his ego. But they did not ask Me
whether I had yielded to temptations, to the most common temptation, to that temptation. Because
in the irreproachable purity of the former there are no memories of lust, and in the contemplative
mind of the latter there is so much light to see purity shine in Me. You asked... and I replied to you.
As I could. With that prudence that must never be separated from sincerity, both being holy in the
eyes of God. That prudence that is like the treble veil, stretched between the Holy and the people,
to conceal the secret of the King. That prudence that adapts words to the person listening to them,
to his intellectual power of understanding, to his spiritual purity and to his justice. Because certain
truths mentioned to corrupt people become for them the object of laughter, not of veneration...
I do not know whether you remember all those words. I do. And I am repeating them here, just now
that we are both on the brink of the Abyss. Because... But it is not necessary to say that. I said in the
desert, in reply to the question that My first explanation had not satisfied: "The Master never felt
that He was superior to man to be the 'Messiah', on the contrary knowing that He was the Man, He
wanted to be so in everything except sin. To be masters it is necessary to have been pupils. I knew
everything as God. My divine intelligence was able to make Me understand also the struggles of
man through intellectual power and intellectually. But one day some poor friend of Mine could
have said: 'You do not know what it means to be a man and to have senses and passions'. It would
have been a just reproach. I came here to get ready not only for My mission, but also for temptation.
A satanic temptation. Because man could not have had power over Me. Satan came when My
solitary union with God ceased and I perceived that I was the Man with real flesh subject to the
weaknesses of the flesh: hunger, tiredness, thirst, cold. I felt matter with its needs, morale with its
passions. And if through My will I subdued evil passions at birth, I allowed the holy ones to grow".
Do you remember those words? And I also said, the first time, to you, to you alone: "Life is a holy
gift and is to be loved holily. Life is a means serving a purpose, which is eternity". I said: "Then let
us give life what it needs to last and to serve the spirit in its conquest: continence of the flesh in its
lusts, continence of the mind in its wishes, continence of the heart in all the passions belonging to
humanity, infinite ardour for Heavenly passions, love for God and our neighbour, good will to serve
God and our neighbour, obedience to the voice of God, heroism in good and in virtue".
Then you told Me that I was able to do that because I was holy, but you could not do it because you
were a young man, full of life. As if to be young and strong were an excuse to be vicious, and only
old and sick people, being impotent, because of their age or weakness to do what you were
thinking, burning as you are with lewdness, were free from sensual temptations! I could have
replied to you with many arguments, then. But you were not able to understand them. You are not
able even now, but at least now you cannot smile with your incredulous smile, if I tell you that a
healthy man can be chaste, if he does not accept the allurements of the demon and of senses, of his
own free will. Chastity is spiritual love, it is an impulse that influences the body and pervades it all,
elevating, scenting and preserving it. He who is imbued with chastity has no room for any other evil
incentives. Corruption does not affect him. There is no room for it. And then! Corruption does not
enter one from outside. It is not an impulse penetrating inside from outside. It is an impulse that
from inside, from the heart, from thoughts comes out and penetrates and pervades the envelope: the
flesh. That is why I said that corruption comes from the heart. Every adultery, every lust, every
sensual sin does not originate outside. But it comes from the intense activity of the mind, which
being corrupt, clothes everything it sees with alluring appearance. All men have eyes to see. How
come then that a woman who leaves ten men impassive, as they look at her as a creature like
themselves and they also consider her a beautiful work of Creation without feeling obscene
incentives and phantasms rise in them, upsets the eleventh man and leads him to shameful
concupiscence? Because the heart and thought of the eleventh man are corrupt and where ten see a
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sister, he sees a female.
Although I did not say that to you then, I told you that I had come just for men, not for the angels. I
have come to give back to men their royalty of children of God teaching them to live as gods. God
is without lewdness, Judas. But I want to show to all of you that man also can be without lewdness.
I wanted to show you that one can live as I teach you. To show you that I had to take a real body
and thus be able to suffer the temptations of man and say to man, after instructing him: "Do as I
do". And you asked Me whether I had sinned when I was tempted. Do you remember? As I saw that
you could not understand that I had been tempted without sinning, because you thought that
temptation was unbecoming for the Word and that it was impossible for the Man not to sin, I
replied to you that everybody can be tempted, but only those are sinners who want to become so.
Great was your surprise and you were incredulous, so much so that you insisted saying: "Have You
ever sinned?". It was then possible for you to be incredulous. We had known each other only for a
short time. Palestine is full of rabbis whose lives are the antitheses of their doctrine. But now you
know that I have not sinned, that I do not sin. You know that even the fiercest temptation provoking
a healthy virile man, who lives among men and is circumvented by them and by Satan, does not
disturb Me to the extent of making Me commit sin. On the contrary, every temptation, although its
virulence increased when it was rejected, because the demon made it fiercer to overcome Me, was
a greater victory. And not only with regard to lewdness, a whirl that revolved around Me without
succeeding in shaking or scratching My will. There is no sin where there is no consent to
temptation, Judas. There is instead sin, even without consummating the act, when one accepts the
temptation and contemplates it. It may be a venial sin, but it prepares the way to mortal sin in you.
Because when one accepts the temptation and allows one's thought to linger over it, following the
phases of a sin mentally, one grows weaker. Satan is aware of that, and that is why he repeatedly
hurls blazing thrusts, always hoping that one may penetrate and work inside... Afterwards... it
would be easy to change the person who is tempted into a sinner.
You did not understand that then. You could not understand it. You can now. Now you are less
deserving to understand than you were then, yet, I repeat those words that I spoke to you, for you,
because it is in you, not in Me, that the repelled temptation does not subside... It does not calm
down because you do not repel it completely. You do not consummate the act, but you brood over
the thought of it. That is what happens today, and tomorrow... Tomorrow you will fall into real sin.
That is why I taught you, then, to ask the help of the Father against temptation, I taught you to ask
the Father not to lead you into temptation. I, the Son of God, I, Who had already defeated Satan,
asked the Father for help, because I am humble. You did not. You did not ask salvation and
preservation of God. You are proud. That is why you collapse...
Do you remember all that? And can you now understand what it means to Me, true Man, with all
the reactions of man, and true God, with all the reactions of God, to see you thus: lustful, liar, thief,
betrayer, homicide? Do you realise what a stress you impose on Me, having to put up with your
being near Me? Do you know how laborious it is for Me to control Myself, as I am doing now, to
fulfil My mission for you till the very end? Any other man would have seized you by your throat,
seeing you, a thief, intent on picking the lock of a coffer and stealing money, and learning that you
are a traitor, and worse than a traitor... I have spoken to you, still with pity. Look. It is not yet
summer and the cool breeze of the evening is coming in through the window, and yet I am
perspiring as if I had been working at a very hard task. But do you not realise how much you cost
Me? Or what you are? Do you want Me to drive you away? No, never. When a man is drowning, he
who lets him go is a murderer. You are between two forces attracting you, Satan and Me. But if I
leave you, you will have him only. And how will you save yourself? And yet you will leave Me...
You have already left Me with your spirit... Well, I will still keep Judas' chrysalis near Me. Your
body deprived of the will to love Me, your body inert towards Good. I will keep it until you exact
also this nonentity, that is, your mortal remains, to join them to your spirit and sin with your whole
self…
Judas!... Will you not speak to Me? Have you not one word for your Master? Not even a prayer? I
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do not expect you to say: "Forgive me!". I have forgiven you too many times in vain. I know that
that word is a mere sound on your lips. It is not an impulse of your contrite spirit. I would like an
impulse of your heart. Are you so dead as to have no further wishes? Speak! Are you afraid of Me?
Oh! if you were afraid! At least that! But you are not afraid of Me. If you were afraid of Me, I
would repeat the words that I spoke to you on that remote day when we spoke of temptations and
sins: "I tell you that also after the Crime of crimes, if its culprit should rush to the feet of God with
true repentance, and implored Him with tears to be forgiven, offering himself to expiation with
confidence, without despairing, God would forgive him, and through expiation, the culprit would
still save his soul". Judas! If you are not afraid of Me, I still love you. Have you nothing to ask My
infinite love in this hour? »
«No. Or at most one thing only: that You order John not to speak. How do You expect me to make
amends if I am a disgrace among you? ». He says so with arrogance.
And Jesus replies to him: «And you say so like that? John will not speak. But at least you, and I ask
you this, must behave in such a way that nothing may leak out about your ruin. Pick up those coins
and put them back into Johanna's bag... I will try to close the coffer... with the tool you used to open
it...»
And while Judas with a bad grace picks up the coins that had rolled everywhere, Jesus leans on the
open coffer, as if He were tired. The light is fading in the room, but not so much as to prevent one
from seeing Jesus weep silently, looking at His apostle stoop to pick up the scattered coins.
Judas has finished. He goes towards the coffer. He takes Johanna's large heavy bag, puts the coins
in it and closes it saying: «There it is! » He moves aside.
Jesus stretches out His hand to take the coarse picklock made by Judas, and with a trembling hand
He gets the spring-lock to work closing the coffer. He then rests the iron bar on His knee and bends
it in V shape, pressing it down completely with His foot, making it unserviceable. He then picks it
up and hides it in His chest. In doing, so some tears fall on His linen tunic.
Judas at long last has a gesture of resipiscence. He covers his face with his hands and bursts into
tears saying: «I am cursed! I am the opprobrium of the Earth! »
«You are the eternal wretch! And to think that, if you wanted, you could still be happy! »
«Swear it to me! Swear that no one will be told... and I swear to You that I will redeem myself »
shouts Judas.
«Do not say: "and I will redeem myself". You cannot. I alone can redeem you. He who was
speaking through your lips a short while ago, can be defeated only by Me. Tell Me the words of
humility: "Lord, save me!", and I will free you from your ruler. Do you not understand that I am
waiting more for that word of yours, than for a kiss of My Mother? »
Judas is weeping, but he does not say that word.
«Go. Go out of here. Go up to the terrace. Go wherever you wish, but make no noisy scene. Go. Go.
No one will find you out, because I shall be watching. As from tomorrow you will keep the money.
Everything is quite useless now.»
Judas goes out without replying. Jesus, now all alone, drops on a seat near the table and with His
head resting on His arms folded on the table He weeps distressingly.
After some minutes John enters quietly and stops for an instant at the door. He is as white as death.
He then runs towards Jesus and embraces Him imploring: «Do not weep, Master! Do not weep! I
love You also for that wretch...» He lifts Him, kisses Him, drinks the tears of his God and weeps,
too.
Jesus embraces him and the two fair-haired heads, close to each other, exchange tears and kisses.
But Jesus soon controls Himself and says: «John, for My sake forget what happened. I want that.»
«Yes, my Lord. I will try to do that. But do not suffer any more... Ah! How sorrowful! And he made
me sin, my Lord. I lied. I had to lie because the women disciples came back. No. The relatives of
the woman came first. They wanted You to bless You. A baby boy was born without complications.
I said that You had gone back to the mountain... Then the women disciples came and I lied again
saying that You were out and that You had probably gone to the house where the baby was born... I
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could not find any other excuse. I was so dumbfounded! Your Mother saw that I had wept and She
asked me: "What is the matter with you, John?". She was excited... She seemed to know. I lied for
the third time saying: "I am moved because of that woman…". Being close to a sinner can lead to
such an extent! To falsehood… Absolve me, my Jesus.»
«Be at peace. Forget all about this hour. Nothing. It was nothing... A dream...»
«But it is Your sorrow! Oh! how changed You are, Master! Tell me this, only this: has Judas at least
repented? »
«And who can understand Judas, son? »
«None of us. But You can.»
Jesus replies only with fresh silent tears streaming down His tired face.
«Ah! He has not repented!...» John is terrified.
«Where is he now? Have you seen him? »
«Yes. He looked out of the terrace. He looked to see whether there was anybody, and when he saw
me all alone, as I was sitting under the fig-tree, utterly anguished, he ran downstairs and went out
through the little gate of the kitchen garden. Then I came in...»
«You have done the right thing. Let us tidy up in here, putting the chairs back in their places, and
pick up the amphora, so that there are no traces...»
«Did he scuffle with You? »
«No, John. He did not.»
«You are too upset, Master, to remain here. Your Mother would understand... and She would be
grieved.»
«That is true. Let us go out... Give the key to our next-door neighbour. I will go ahead, along the
banks of the stream, towards the mountain...»
Jesus goes out and John remains to tidy up the place. Then he goes out as well. He gives the key to
a woman who lives in a house nearby and he runs away, hiding among the bushes on the bank, not
to be seen.
At about one hundred metres from the house there is Jesus sitting on a rock. Upon hearing the steps
of the apostle He turns round. His face is pale in the evening light. John sits on the ground close to
Him and rests his head on His lap, raising his face to look at Him. He sees that there are still tears
on Jesus' cheeks.
«Oh! do not suffer any more! Do not suffer any more, Master! I cannot bear to see You suffer! »
«And am I not to suffer because of that? My deepest grief! Remember that, John: this will be for
ever My deepest grief! You cannot understand everything yet... My deepest grief...» Jesus is
depressed. John is holding Him close to himself, with his arms round His waist, anguished at not
being able to console Him.
Jesus raises His head, opens His eyes that He had closed to refrain His tears and says: «Remember
that we are in three to know: the culprit, you and I. And no one else must know.»
«No one will learn it from me. But how could he do that? While he took the money of the
community... But that!... I thought I had become mad when I saw... Horrible! »
«I told you to forget...»
«I am trying hard, Master. But it is too horrible...»
«It is horrible. Yes, John, it is! Oh! John! » And Jesus, embracing His Favourite, rests His head on
his shoulder and weeps desolately.
The shadows, which become rapidly deep in the thicket, hide in their darkness the two who are
embracing each other.

566. Farewell to Ephraim. Going towards Shilo.

24th February 1947.

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«Let us follow You, Master. We shall not trouble You » implore many people of Ephraim who have
gathered in front of the house of Mary of Jacob, who is weeping all her tears leaning against the
post of the wide-open door.
Jesus is in the middle of His twelve apostles; farther away, in a group around His Mother there are
Johanna, Nike, Susanna, Eliza, Martha and Mary, Salome and Mary of Alphaeus. The men and the
women are in travelling clothes, with tunics tucked up and girded to leave their feet free, with new
sandals fastened not only at their ankles but also at the lower part of their legs by means of small
strips of interlaced leather, as is customary when one has to take impassable roads. The men have
burdened themselves also with the bags of the women disciples.
The people implore Jesus to let them follow Him, while the little ones scream, with their little faces
and arms raised: «A kiss! Take me in Your arms! Come back, Jesus! Come back soon to tell us
many beautiful parables! I will keep the roses of my garden for You! I will not eat any fruit to keep
it for You! Come back, Jesus! My little sheep is about to lamb and I want to give You the lambskin,
with its wool You can have a tunic made like mine... If You come soon I will give You the cakes
my mother makes with the early corn...» They chirrup like many little birds around their great
Friend, they pull His tunic, hang on to His belt trying to climb up to His arms, lovingly despotic, so
much so that Jesus is prevented from replying to the adults, because there is always a fresh face to
kiss.
«Away! That's enough! Leave the Master alone! Women! Take your children!» shout the apostles
who are anxious to set off in the early morning hours. And stretching out their hands they give
gentle slaps to the most intrusive ones.
«No. Leave them. Their kindness is fresher to Me than this dawn. Leave them and Me alone. Allow
Me to be comforted by their love, which is pure and free from interests and trouble » says Jesus
defending His little friends and as he stretches out His arms, His wide mantle hangs down and
receives them under its blue protecting wings. And the little ones press against one another in the
warm blue dim light and become happily silent, like chicks under motherly wings.
Jesus at last can say to the adults: «You may come, if you think you can do so.»
«And who will stop us, Master? We are in our region! »
«The corn, the vines and orchards need all your work, and the sheep are to be shorn and this is their
mating time, and those that mated in the past season are about to lamb, and it is time to make
hay...»
«It does not matter, Master. The elderly people can see to the shearing and mating of the sheep, and
the children, and women to their lambing, and also to the hay. The orchards and fields can wait.
Because if the corn is already hardening in the ears, it is still early to cut it, and vineyards,
olive-groves and orchards have only to let their abundant fruit ripen in the sunshine. There is
nothing we can do for them until harvest-time, just like the mother of a family who can do nothing
to bake the bread until the dough rises. The sun is the yeast of fruits. It's for him to act now, as the
wind did previously fecundating the blossoms along the branches. In any case!... If we should lose
some bunches of grapes, or some fruits, or if bearbines or darnels should suffocate some ears of
corn, it would be a very small damage as compared with losing one of Your words! » says an old
man whom I have always seen highly honoured in the village.
«You are right. So let us go. Mary of Jacob, I thank you and I bless you, because you have been a
good mother to Me. Do not weep! Those who have accomplished a good deed must not weep.»
«Ah! I am losing You and I shall not see You again! »
«We shall certainly meet again.»
«Are You coming back here, Lord? » asks the woman smiling through her tears. «When? »
«I shall not come back, as now...»
«Then, where shall we meet again, if I, a poor old woman, cannot come along the roads of the
world looking for You? »
«In Heaven, Mary. In the House of our Father. Where there is room for Judaeans and for
Samaritans, where there is a place for those who will love Me in spirit and truth. You are already
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doing so, because you believe that I am the Son of the true God...»
«Oh! I do believe that! But there is no hope for us because You alone love us without
discrimination.»
«When I have gone, these (and He points at the apostles) will come in my stead. And in memory of
Me they will not ask who it is who requests to join the flock of the true and only Shepherd.»
«I am old, Lord. I shall not live so long as to see that. You are young and strong, and Your Mother
will have You for a long time, and those who love You and belong to Your people will have You...
Why are You weeping, o Mother of the Blessed Lord? » she asks, amazed at seeing tears drop from
the Blessed Virgin's eyes.
«I have nothing but My grief... Goodbye, Mary. May God bless you for what you have done to My
Son. And remember that if your sorrow is great, there is no sorrow greater than Mine, and there
never will be on the Earth. Never! Remember the sorrowful Mary of Nazareth... Goodbye! » And
Mary parts from the old woman weeping after kissing her on the doorstep and She sets off among
the women, with John beside Her.
And John, with his usual lightly bent posture and his face raised looking at Her, says: «Do not weep
thus, Mary. If many hate Your Jesus, many love Him. Comfort Your spirit, Mother, looking at these
who now and in the course of ages will love Your Son with their whole selves » and he concludes
in a low voice, almost whispering the words to Mary alone, Whom he guides and supports holding
Her elbow so that She may not stumble against the stones of the path, blinded as She is by Her
tears: «Not every mother will be able to see her child loved... There are some who will shout
distressingly: "Why did I conceive him?"»
Jesus joins them, as Mary and John have remained alone, a little behind the women disciples.
James of Alphaeus is with Jesus. The others are behind in a group, as pensive and sad as the women
disciples, who are ahead of them all. Last, in a group, many men from Ephraim, talking in low
voices to one another.
«Goodbyes are always sad, Mother. Particularly when one does not know that an end is the
beginning of something more perfect. It is the sad consequence of sin. And it will remain even after
forgiveness. But men will bear it with greater courage as they will have God as their friend.»
«You are right, Jesus. But there is a sorrow that God lets us relish although He is the most fatherly
Friend there can be. He is such to Me. Oh! God is good! So good. I should not like James and John,
or anybody else to be scandalised by My tears. God is good. He was always good to poor Mary. I
have repeated that to Myself every day since I was able to think. And now... now I say so every
hour... every moment. The more grief is impending the more I say so to Myself... God is good. He
gave You to Me: a loving holy Son and such, even only as a creature, as to compensate every
sorrow of a woman... He gave You to Me, a poor girl elevated to Mother of His incarnate Word...
And the joy of being able to call You "Son", My adored Lord, is so great that no tear should drop
from My eyes, whatever the torture may be, if I were as perfect as You teach us. But I am a poor
woman, Son! And You are My Creature... And... which mother can refrain from weeping when she
knows that her creature is hated, and she knows?... Son, succour Your maidservant... Certainly
there was still pride in Me when I thought I was strong... But then... the time was still remote... Now
it is here... I perceive it... Succour Me, Jesus, My God! If God allows Me to suffer thus, it is
certainly for a good purpose for Me. Because if He wanted, He could let Me suffer only for what
happens... It was He Who formed You in My womb thus!... How... There is no comparison to
explain how You made Yourself... But He wants Me to suffer... and may He be blessed for that...
always. But help Me, Jesus. Help Me all of you... all of you... because it is so bitter the sea in which
I have to quench My thirst...»
«Let us say the prayer. The four of us, who love You with all our hearts, Mother. Here; I Your Son,
and John and James who love You as if You were their mother... Our Father, Who art in Heaven...»
and Jesus, guiding the little chorus of the three voices that follow Him in a low tone, says all the
Lord's Prayer, stressing certain sentences such as: «thy will be done »... «lead us not into
temptation.» He then says: «Well. The Father will help us to do His will, even if our weakness of
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human beings is such that we think we are not able to do it, and He will not lead us into the
temptation of thinking that He is not so good, because while we drink of the very bitter chalice, He
will send His angel to wipe our embittered lips with heavenly comfort.» Jesus is holding by the
hand His Mother Who has bravely struggled with Her tears restraining them in the bottom of Her
heart. The two apostles are beside them: John is near Mary and James of Alphaeus is near Jesus,
and they look at them deeply moved.
The women disciples have looked back now and again hearing Mary weep and the prayer of the
four. But they have refrained from joining them.
In the rear, the apostles have asked one another: «But why is Mary weeping thus? » I said the
apostles, but I mean all of them with the exception of Judas of Kerioth, who is proceeding all alone,
and looks very pensive, almost gloomy, so much so that Thomas notices it and says to the others:
«But what is the matter with Judas that he looks like that? He looks like one sentenced to death! »
«Who knows?! He may be afraid to go back to Judaea » replies Matthew.
«I... What did the Master tell you about the money? » asks the Zealot.
«Nothing in particular. He said to me: "We are now going back to the previous situation. Judas will
be the treasurer and you the bestowers of alms. The women disciples want to help us with regard to
expenses". I could not believe that it was true! I have handled so much money that I hate it.»
«And the women disciples are helping very well. These sandals are so safe... One does not feel as if
one were walking on a mountain. I wonder how much they cost! » says Peter looking at his feet
shod with the new sandals that protect both heels and toes and support ankles with the thin leather
strips.
«Martha got them. One can see her rich provident hand. In the past we used to tie them like this as
well, but the strings were a torture. We did not lose the soles, but we lost the skin of our legs...»
says Andrew.
«And they hurt heels and toes... That's why he who is behind us always wore them like these! » says
Peter pointing at Judas of Kerioth.
The road climbs towards the crest of the mountain. Looking back one can see Ephraim all white in
the sun, and the village seems already so far below them...
Then the apostles mingle with the women disciples to help them climb up the path that is very steep
on that spot, and Bartholomew, who has been left behind, says to the people from Ephraim: «You
have shown us a very difficult path, my friends.»
«Yes, but beyond that wood there is a good road that will take you to Shilo in a short time. So you
will be able to rest there longer than if you arrived by night along a different road » replies one.
«You are right. The harder the road, the quicker it takes you to your destination.»
«Your Master is aware of that. That is why He does not spare Himself! Ah! we shall never forget!...
Above all that He has helped us these last days, although He had heard some people of our region
insult Him so unfairly. He alone is good and so He helps also those who hate Him.»
«You did not hate Him.»
«No, we did not. But there are many more whom we do not hate, and yet we are hated without any
reason.»
«Do what He does, without any fear, and you will see that...»
«Then, why do you not do so? It's the same thing. We are here, you are there, and a mountain
between us: the one raised by common errors. Above: the common God. Then, why do neither we
nor you climb the slope to meet up there, at the feet of God, close to one another? »
Bartholomew understands the just reproach, because in his undeniable virtue, he has the fixed idea
of being an Israelite, and is inflexible with regard to what is not Israel. He changes the subject
without giving a direct reply and says: «It is not necessary to climb. God has come down among us.
It is sufficient to follow Him.»
«To follow Him, we agree. We should like to do that. But if we went to Judaea with Him, would we
not damage Him? You, too, are aware of what He is accused and of what we are accused: of being
Samaritans, that is, demons.»
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Bartholomew sighs and parts from them saying: «They are beckoning to me to go...» and he
quickens his step.
Those from Ephraim look at him go away and one whispers: «Ah! He is not like Him! How much
we lose by losing Him! » and he makes a gesture of discouragement.
«Do you know, Elias, that yesterday evening He took a large sum of money to the head of the
synagogue, who is to hand it to Mary of Jacob, so that she may not suffer the pangs of hunger any
more? »
«No, I don't. Why did He not give it to her? »
«He did not want to be thanked by the old woman. She does not know yet. I know because the head
of the synagogue told me, to ask my advice whether he ought to buy her John's property, that his
brother wants to sell, or he should give her the money a little at a time. I adviced him to buy John's
property. It will give her enough corn, oil and wine to live without starving. Whereas the money...
That...»
«So it is really a large sum?! » says a third man.
«Yes. Our head of the synagogue received quite a lot, also for other poor people in town and in the
country. That "they also may keep the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, to greet the new time" the
Master said. »
«He must have said the new year.»
«No. He said: "the new time". In fact the head of the synagogue is not going to use that money
before the Feast of the Unleavened Bread.»
«Oh! and what did He mean? » ask many.
«What does it mean? I don't know. Nobody knows. Not even John, His beloved apostle, nor Simon
of Jonah, who is the head of the disciples. I asked them and the former became pale, the latter
became engrossed in thought like one who is trying to guess.»
«And what about Judas of Kerioth? He is important among them. Perhaps more than the other two.
He knows everything, so he says. He may know also that. Let us go and ask him. He likes to say
what he knows. »
They hurry to join Judas who is lonely as at the beginning, all alone, by now, on the path, because
the others have gone round a bend and they seem to have been swallowed up by the green thicket
on the slope.
«Judas, listen to us. The Master says that He wants a great celabration for the Feast of the
Unleavened Bread, to greet the new time. What does He mean? »
«I don't know. Am I perhaps in the mind of the Master? Ask Him since He loves you so much » and
he quickens his step leaving them disappointed.
«He is not the Master either. There is not one who has His pity...» they say shaking their heads.
«Well, are we following them? We are following Him! And we are doing the right thing. Let us go.
Perhaps, we may learn from His lips, before He goes to Judaea, what He meant to say.»
And they quicken their paces joining the others, who are resting in a wood of age-long oak-trees,
facing one of the most beautiful views in Palestine.

567. At Shiloh. First Parable on Advice.

27th February 1947.

Jesus is speaking in the middle of a square planted with trees. The sun, which is just beginning to
set, brightens it with a yellow-green light, glimmering through the new leaves of gigantic plane-
trees. A thin precious velarium seems to be spread over the large square filtering the sun-light
without obstructing it.
Jesus says:
«Listen. Once a great king sent his beloved son to a part of his kingdom, whose justice he wanted to

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test and he said to him: "Go everywhere, do good to the people in my name, inform them of me,
make me known and loved. I grant you full powers, and everything you do will be well done". The
king's Son, after being blessed by his father, went where he had been sent and with some squires an
friends he began, working untiringly, to cover that part of his father's kingdom.
Now, through a series of unhappy events, that region was morally broken up into parts opposed to
one another. Each part was making a great fuss on its own account, and was sending urgent
entreaties to the king to tell him that each was the best and the most loyal, and that the
neighbouring ones were perfidious and deserved to be punished. So the king's son found himself in
front of citizens whose humours varied according to the town to which they belonged, but were
alike in two things; first: each town believed it was better than the others; secondly: each town
wanted to ruin the neighbouring enemy one, making it disreputable in the opinion of the king. As
the son of the king was just and wise, with much clemency he tried to instruct each part of the
region in justice, to make them all friendly with his father and beloved by him. And as he was good,
he was succeeding, although slowly, because, as it always happens, only the upright-hearted people
of each province of the region followed his advice. Nay, it is right to say that he found more good
will to listen to him and become wise in the truth, exactly where they scornfully said that there was
less good will and wisdom.
Then those of the neighbouring provinces said: "Unless we take pains, the grace of the king will go
entirely to those whom we despise. Let us go and overthrow those whom we hate and let us go
feigning that we are converted and willing to forget our hatred in order to honour the king's son".
And they went. In the guise of friends they spread among the towns of the rival province and with
deceitful kindness they adviced what to do to pay greater and greater honour to the son of the king
and consequently to his father, the king. Because the honour paid to the son, the messenger of his
father, is also honour paid to him who sent him. But they did not honour the king's son, on the
contrary they hated him cordially, to the extent of wishing to make him loathsome to his subjects
and to the king himself. They were so astute in their false geniality, they succeeded so well in
presenting their advice as the best policy, that many people of the neighbouring region accepted as
good what was wicked, and they left the right path that they had followed, and took an unjust one,
and the king's son realised that his mission was a failure with regard to many.
Now tell Me: who was the greatest sinner in the eyes of the king? What was the sin of those who
advised, and of those who took their advice? And I ask you another question: with whom will the
good king be more severe? Do you not know the answers? I will tell you.
The greatest sinner in the eyes of the king was he who incited his neighbour to do evil out of hatred
for him, as he wanted to thrust him into deeper darkness of ignorance, out of hatred for the king's
son, whom he wanted to defeat in his mission by making him appear incapable in the eyes of the
king and of his subjects, out of hatred for the king himself, because if the love given to the son is
also love given to the father, likewise the hatred for the son is hatred also for the father. So the sin
of those who gave evil advice, knowing fully well that they were giving evil advice, was a sin of
hatred in addition to a sin of falsehood, a sin of premeditated hatred, and the sin of those who took
the advice thinking that it was good, was only a sin of stupidity.
But you know very well that only he who is intelligent is responsible for his actions, whereas he
who through disease or other reasons is foolish, is not responsible personally, but his relatives are
responsible in his stead. That is why while a boy is not of age, he is considered irresponsible, and it
is his father who answers for the actions of his son. So the king, who was good, was severe with the
intelligent ill advisers, but he was benign with those who had been deceived by them, and he only
reproached them for believing this or that subject before asking the king's son himself, in order to
learn from him what was really to be done. Because only the son of the father really knows the will
of his father.
That is the parable, o people of Shiloh, of Shiloh where several times in the course of ages advice
of different nature was given by God, by men or by Satan, and that advice bore good fruit when it
was taken as advice for good purposes or when it was rejected by people who recognised it as
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leading to evil, and it bore bad fruit if it was not accepted when it was holy or it was taken when it
was wicked.
Because man has his wonderful free will and he can freely choose between good and evil, and he
has the other magnificent gift of an intellect capable of distinguishing between right and wrong, so
reward or punishment may be brought about not so much by the piece of advice itself, as by the way
in which it may be taken. Because if no one can forbid wicked people to tempt their neighbour to
ruin him, nothing can interdict good people from rejecting the temptation and remaining faithful to
good. The same piece of advice may harm ten people, and avail other ten. Because if he who
follows it does harm to himself, he who does not follow it does his soul good.
So no one may say: "We were told to do so". But everybody must sincerely say: "I wanted to do it".
Then you will at least receive the forgiveness that is given to sincere people. And if you are
doubtful about the goodness of the advice given to you, meditate before taking it and putting it into
practice. Meditate imploring the Most High Who never denies the spirits of good will His light.
And if your conscience, enlightened by God, sees only one tiny imperceptible spot, but such that
cannot exist in a deed of justice, then say: "I will not do that because it is an impure justice".
Oh! I solemnly tell you that he who makes good use of his intellect and of his free will and invokes
the Lord to see the truth in things, will not be ruined by temptation, because the Father Who is in
Heaven will help him to do what is good in spite of all the snares of the world and of Satan.
Remember Anna of Elkanah and Eli's sons. The bright angel of the former had adviced Anna to
make a vow to the Lord if He made her fecund. Eli, the priest, adviced his sons to go back to a life
of justice, and not to sin any further against the Lord. And yet, although it is easier for man, because
of his heaviness, to understand the voice of another man than the spiritual - but imperceptible by
physical senses - speech of the Lord's angel speaking to the spirit, Anna of Elkanah took the advice,
because she was good and upright in the eyes of God, and she gave birth to a prophet, whereas Eli's
sons, as they were wicked and far from God, did not take their father's advice and were punished by
God with a violent death.
Advice has two values: that of the source from which it comes, and it is already great because it
may have incalculable consequences, and that of the heart to which it is given. The value given to it
by the heart to which it is proposed is not only incalculable, but also immutable. Because if the
heart is good and follows a good piece of advice, it gives that advice the value of a just deed, and if
it does not follow it, it deprives it of the second part of its value, as it remains just a piece of advice,
but not a deed, that is, it is a merit only for the adviser. And if it is a wicked piece of advice and is
rejected by a good heart, which has been tempted in vain through blandishments or terrors to put it
into practice, it achieves the value of victory over Evil and of martyrdom for loyalty to Good, and
thus it prepares a great treasure in the Kingdom of Heaven.
So when your hearts are tempted by other people, meditate, guided by the light of God, whether it is
a good word, and if with the help of God, Who allows temptations but does not want your ruin, you
see that it is not a good thing, have the courage to say to yourselves and to those tempting you: "No.
I will remain loyal to my Lord and may my loyalty absolve me of my past sins and allow me to
enter the gates of the Kingdom and not be left outside, near them, because the Most High sent His
Son for me also, to lead me to eternal salvation".
Go. If anybody needs Me, you know where I rest during the night. May the Lord enlighten you.»
568. At Lebonah. Second Parable on Advice.
28th February 1947.

They are about to enter Lebonah, a town which I do not think is very important or beautiful, but on
the other hand is very busy as there are many caravans going to Jerusalem for Passover from
Galilee, Ituraea, Gaulanitis, Trachonitis, Hauran and the Decapolis. I would say that Lebonah was a
track for caravans, or rather a junction of such tracks coming from those regions, from the
Mediterranean to the mountains on the eastern side of Palestine, and from the north of it, and that
they join here on the main road that takes pilgrims to Jerusalem. People probably prefer this road

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because it is garrisoned by the Romans and consequently they feel safer from the danger of
unpleasant meetings with highwaymen. That is what I think. But it may be preferred for other
reasons, because of historical or religious memories, I do not know.
As it is the right time - judging by the sun I would say that it is about eight o'clock in the morning -
the caravans are about to set off amid a great uproar of voices, shouts, brayings, harness-bells,
wheels. Women call their children, men spur their animals, vendors offer their goods, Samaritans
haggle over prices with those... less rigid Jews, that is, those from the Decapolis and from other
regions, as they are not so intolerant, being more mingled with the heathen element, and if a
wretched vendor from Samaria approaches a champion of Judaism offering his goods, he is
repulsed scornfully and almost abused. They shout so much at the anathema that they seem to have
been approached by the devil himself... stirring up fierce reactions from the offended Samaritans.
And there would be an odd scuffle if the Roman soldiers did not keep a good watch.
Jesus proceeds through so much confusion. The apostles are around Him, the women disciples
follow them, and behind, in the rear, the train of the people from Ephraim, whose number has been
increased by many people from Shiloh.
A murmur precedes the Master. It spreads from those who see Him to those who are farther away
and cannot as yet see Him. Another murmur, a louder one, follows Him. And many put off their
departure to see what is happening.
They ask one another: «What? Is He going farther and farther away from Judaea? What? Is He
preaching in Samaria now? »
A voice says in the typical singing tone of Galileans: «The holy ones have rejected Him, and He is
going to those who are not holy, to sanctify them, to shame the Judaeans.»
A reply more sour than acid poison is heard: «He has found His nest and who understands His word
of a demon.»
Another voice shouts: «Be quiet, you murderers of the Just One! This persecution of yours will
mark you with the most ill-famed name for ages. You are three times more corrupt than us from the
Decapolis.»
Another sharp voice of an old man exclaims: «He is so just that He is running away from the
Temple for the Feast of Feasts. Ha! Ha! Ha! »
A man from Ephraim, red with anger, says: «It is not true. You are lying, you old snake! He is now
going to His Passover.»
A bearded scribe remarks disdainfully: «Via Gerizim.»
«No. Via the Moriah. He is coming to bless us, because He is love, then He will ascend to your
hatred, you cursed people! »
«Be quiet, Samaritan! »
«You be quiet, demon! »
«Those who stir up a rebellion will be imprisoned. That is Pontius Pilate's order. Bear than in mind.
Disperse now » orders a Roman non-commissioned officer getting his men to separate those who
are about to come to blows in one of the many regional and religious quarrels, always ready to rise
in Palestine in the days of Christ.
The crowd disperses. But no one departs any more. Donkeys are taken back to stables or to the
place where Jesus is going, Women and children dismount and follow husbands or fathers, or they
remain in chattering groups, if their husbands' or fathers' humour so orders «that they may not hear
the demon speak.» But friendly or enemy or simply curious men rush towards the place where Jesus
has gone. And while running they cast evil glances at one another or they take courage from such
unexpected joy, or they ask questions, according to whether they are friends with enemies, or
friends with friends or with curious people.
Jesus has stopped in a square near the inevitable fountain in the shade of trees. He is there, leaning
against the damp wall of the fountain that here is covered by a small porch open only on one side.
Perhaps it is more a well than a fountain. It is like the well at En Rogel.
He is speaking to a woman who is showing Him the little child she is holding in her arms. I see
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Jesus nod assent and lay His hand on the child's head. And immediately afterwards I see the mother
raise the child and shout: «Malachi, Malachi, where are you? Our boy is no longer deformed » and
the woman trills her hosanna which is joined by the shouts of the crowd, while a man makes his
way to prostrate himself before the Lord.
The people make their comments. The women, mostly mothers, congratulate the woman who
received the grace. Those who are farther away stretch their necks and ask: «What happened? »
after shouting «hosannas », to join those who are aware of what took place.
«A hunchbacked boy, so hump-backed that he could stand on his legs only with difficulty. He was
that size, I tell you, just that, so bent he was. He looked like a boy three years old, but he was seven.
Look at him now! He is as tall as everybody, as straight as a palm-tree and lively. See him over
there how he climbs on the little wall of the fountain to be seen and to see. And how happily he
laughs! »
A Galilean turns towards a man, who, judging by the large tassels on his belt I think I am right in
saying is a rabbi, and asks him: «Ehi? What do you say? Is that work of the demon, too? Really, if
the demon does that, removing misfortunes to make men happy and have God praised, shall we not
have to say that he is God's best servant! »
«Blasphemer, be silent! »
«I am not blaspheming, rabbi. I am commenting on what I see. Why does your holiness bring us
nothing but burdens, misfortunes, making us speak abuse, and mistrust the Most High, whereas the
works of the Rabbi of Nazareth give us peace and the certainty that God is good? »
The rabbi does not reply, he moves aside and goes to speak in a low voice to other friends of his.
And one of them leaves the group, elbows his way going in front of Jesus, Whom he asks, without
greeting Him first: «What do You intend doing? »
«I intend to speak to those who ask for My word » replies Jesus staring at his eyes, without disdain,
but also without fear.
«You are not allowed. The Sanhedrin forbids You.»
«That is the will of the Most High, Whose servant the Sanhedrin ought to be.»
«You have been condemned, You know. Be silent or...»
«The Word is My name. And the Word speaks.»
«To the Samaritans. If it were true that You are Who You say You are, You would not give Your
word to the Samaritans.»
«I have given it and will give it to Galileans, to Judaeans, to Samaritans, because there is no
difference in the eyes of Jesus.»
«Try to give it in Judaea, if You dare!…»
«I solemnly tell you that I will. Wait for Me. Are you not Eleazar ben Parta? Are you? Then you
will certainly see Gamaliel before I see him. Tell him, in My name, that I will give him also, after
twenty one years, the reply for which he is waiting. Have you understood? Remember this carefully:
after twenty one years I will give him also the reply that he awaits. Goodbye.»
«Where? Where do You want to speak, where do You want to reply to the great Gamaliel? He has
certainly already left Gamala in Judaea to go to Jerusalem. But even if he were still in Gamala You
could not speak to him.»
«Where? And where do the scribes and rabbis of Israel meet? »
«In the Temple? You, in the Temple? And would You dare? But do You not know...»
«That you hate Me? I do know. It is sufficient for Me not to be hated by My Father. Before long the
Temple will tremble because of My words.» And without minding His interlocutor any longer He
opens His arms to impose silence on the people who are excited and divided into opposite
tendencies and are shouting at disturbers.
There is soon silence and in the silence Jesus speaks:
«At Shiloh I spoke of ill advisers and of how much good or evil a piece of advice can do. I now
propose this parable not only to you, people of Lebonah, but to the people of all Palestine. We shall
call it: "The parable of the ill-advised".
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Listen. Once there was a very large family, so large as to form a tribe. Numerous sons had got
married forming, around the first family, many more families rich in offspring, who in their turn got
married and had formed more families. So that the old father had found himself, so to say, at the
head of a small kingdom, of which he was the king. As it always happens in families, among the
many children and children's children, there were different characters: some were good and just,
some were overbearing and unjust. Some were content with their situation and some were envious,
as they thought that their shares were inferior to those of brothers or relatives. And near the most
wicked one there was the best one. And it was natural that this very good one should be the most
tenderly loved by the father of all the large family. And, as it always happens, the wicked one and
those more like him, hated the good one because he was the most loved, not considering that they
could have been loved as well, if they had been as good as he was. And the good son, to whom his
father confided his thoughts that he might repeat them to everybody, was followed by other good
ones. So that after years and years, the large family was divided into three parts. The part of the
good members of the family and that of the bad ones. And between the two there was the third part,
formed by the uncertain members, who were attracted towards the good son, but were afraid of the
wicked one and of those of his party. This third part was keeping in with both sides and was not
able to make up its mind resolutely in favour of one or the other.
Then the old father, seeing such uncertainty, said to his beloved son: "So far you have spent your
word particularly for those who love it and for those who do not love it, because the former ask you
for it, so that they may love me more and more according to justice, and the latter are fools who
need to be taken back to justice. But you can see that those fools not only do not accept your word,
and they remain what they were, but to their first unjust attitude towards you, the messenger of my
wishes, they add the unfairness of corrupting, by means of evil advice, those who are not yet firmly
willing to follow the better road. So go to them and explain to them what I am, what you are, and
what they must do to be with you and with me".
The son, who was always obedient, went as his father wished, and he conquered some hearts every
day. So the father was able to clearly see who were his rebellious children, and he looked at them
severely but without reproaching them, because he was their father and he wanted to attract them to
himself with patience, love and the example of the good sons.
But when the wicked ones realised that they were all alone they said: "It is now too obvious that we
are the rebels. Previously they mistook us for those who were neither good nor bad. Look at them
now over there! They are all following the beloved son. We must take action and destroy his work.
Let us go, feigning that we want to mend our ways, to those who have just been converted and also
to those who are the most simple souls among the best ones and let us spread the rumour that the
beloved son pretends that he wants to serve his father, but in actual fact he is gathering supporters
to rebel against him; or we can also say that the father wants to eliminate his son and those who
follow him, because they are becoming too powerful and are outshining the glory of the father-king,
and that consequently, in order to defend the beloved betrayed son, it is necessary to keep him
among us, far from the paternal house where betrayal is awaiting him".
And they went and were so shrewdly subtle in suggesting advice and spreading rumours, that many
were caught in the snare, particularly the recent converts, to whom the evil advisers gave the
following bad piece of advice: "Do you realise how much he loved you? He preferred to be among
you rather than stay with his father, or at least with his good brothers. He has been so clever that in
the sight of all the world he has raised you from your abjection of persons who did not know what
they wanted and were thus ridiculed by everybody. Because of his partiality for you, it is your duty
to defend him, and to keep him in your fields, even by force, if your words are not sufficient to
convince him. Or rise, proclaiming him your leader and king, and march against the iniquitous
father and his sons who are as iniquitous as he". And when anyone hesitated and remarked: "But he
wants, he wanted us to go with him to honour our father and he has obtained blessing and
forgiveness for us", they replied to them: "Don't believe that! Not everything he told you is true,
neither did the father show you all the truth. He has behaved like that because he realises that his
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father is about to betray him and he wanted to test your hearts to find out where he can find
protection and shelter. But may be... he is so good! perhaps he will repent of doubting his father and
may want to go back to him. Do not allow him to do that". And many promised: "We will not allow
him" and they were filled with enthusiasm planning what to do to detain the beloved son, without
noticing that while the evil advisers were saying: "We will help you to save the blessed man", their
eyes were shining with falsehood and cruelty, and that they were winking at one another rubbing
their hands and whispering: "They are being caught in the snare! We shall win!" every time
somebody gave assent to their sly words.
Then the evil advisers went away. They went away spreading the rumour in other places that the
betrayal of the beloved son would soon become known, as he had left the land of his father to
establish a kingdom against his father, with the help of those who hated the father or whose love
was at least uncertain. In the meantime those influenced by the evil advice were conspiring to
induce the beloved son to rebel against his father, a sin that would scandalise the world. Only the
wisest among them, those into whom the word of the just son had penetrated more deeply and had
taken root because it had fallen on soil anxious to receive it, after pondering said: "No. It is not
right to do so. It is a wicked action against the father, against the son and us. We are aware of the
justice and wisdom of both of them. We are aware of it although unfortunately we have not always
followed it. And we must not think that the advice of those who have always been openly against
the father and justice, and also against the beloved son of the father, may be more just than the
advice given to us by the blessed son". And they did not follow them. On the contrary, with love
and sorrow, they let the son go where he had to go, and they only accompanied him with gestures of
affection as far as the boundaries of their fields, and on taking leave of him they said to him as a
promise: "Go. We shall stay. But your words are in our hearts and from now on we will do what the
father wants. Go and do not worry. You have raised us for good from the state in which you found
us. Now that we are on the good path we will advance on it until we arrive at the house of our
father so that we may be blessed by him". On the contrary some gave assent to the bad advice and
they sinned tempting the beloved son to commit sin and gibing at him as being foolish because he
was obstinate in fulfilling his duty.
I now ask you: "Why did the same piece of advice have different effects?". Are you not replying? I
will tell you as I told those of Shiloh. Because advice achieves value or becomes void according to
whether it is taken or not. Man is tempted in vain by evil advice. If he does not want to sin, he will
not sin. And he will not be punished for having to hear the insinuations of wicked people. He will
not be punished because God is just and He does not punish anyone for sins not committed. He will
only be punished if, after having to hear the Evil tempting him, he puts it into practice, without
using his intellect to meditate on the nature and source of the advice. Neither can he say as an
excuse: "I thought it was a good piece of advice". What is pleasant to God is good. Can God
approve of and be delighted with disobedience or with what induces to disobedience? Can God
bless what is in contrast with His Law, that is, with His Word? I solemnly tell you that He cannot.
And I also solemnly tell you that one must prefer to die rather than infringe the divine Law.
At Shechem I will speak to you again to make you wise in wanting or not wanting to take the
advice given to you. You may go now.»
The people go away making their comments.
«Did you hear that? He knows what they told us! And He exhorted us to want what is just » says a
Samaritan.
«Yes. And did you notice how upset were the Judaeans and the scribes who were present? »
«Yes. They did not even wait until the end to go away.»
«Poisonous vipers! But... He says what He wants to do. He is wrong. He may cause Himself trouble.
Those from Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim are really elated!...»
«I... I have never flattered myself. The Rabbi is the Rabbi. And that means everything. Is it possible
for the Rabbi to sin by not going up to the Temple in Jerusalem? »
«He will be put to death. You will see!... And that will be the end!...»
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«For whom? For Him? For us? Or... for the Judaeans? »
«For Him. If He dies! »
«You are foolish, man. I come from Ephraim. I know Him well. I have lived near Him for two full
months, even longer. He always spoke to us. It will be sorrowful... But not the end. Neither for Him,
nor for us. The Saint of all the saints cannot die, cannot end. Neither can that be the end for us. I...
am ignorant, but I feel that the Kingdom will come when the Judaeans think it is all over... And it
will be all over for them...»
«Do you think that the disciples will avenge the Master? A rebellion? A massacre? And the
Romans?...»
«Oh! There is no need of disciples, of revenge of men, of massacres. It will be the Most High Who
will defeat them. He has punished us, for ages, and for much less! Do you think that He will not
punish them for their sin of tormenting His Christ? »
«To see them beaten! Ah! »
«Your heart is not as the Master would like it. He prays for His enemies...»
«I... am going to follow Him tomorrow. I want to hear what He will say at Shechem.»
«I also.»
«And I, too...»
Many people of Lebonah are of the same mind and fraternising with those from Ephraim and
Shiloh they go to make preparations for their departure on the following morning.

569. Arrival at Shechem.

1st March 1947.

Here is Shechem, beautiful and ornate, crowded with people of Samaria going to the Samaritan
temple, and with pilgrims from all regions going to the Temple in Jerusalem. The town is all
flooded with sunshine, stretched as it is on the eastern slopes of Mount Gerizim, that dominates it
from its western side and is all green as the town is all white. To north-east Mount Ebal, the
appearance of which is even wilder, seems to protect it against northern winds. The fertility of the
land, rich in the waters that come down from the mountain watershed and form two charming little
rivers, nourished by many brooks, flow towards the Jordan, is wonderful and brims over the walls
of gardens and the hedges of kitchen gardens. Every house is decked with greenery, with flowers,
with branches on which tiny fruits are swelling. Looking around at the environs, which are clearly
visible owing to the configuration of the ground, one sees nothing but the green of olive-groves, of
vineyards, or orchards and the golden hue of fields in which every day the glaucous shade of the
unripe corn changes more and more into the delicate yellowness of straw, of ripe ears, that the sun
and winds bend and blow, making them look almost like white gold.
The corn is really «yellowing », as Jesus says, and is really golden, after being «white » when
springing up, then the green of a precious jewel, while it grew and formed ears. The sun is now
preparing it to die, after preparing it to live. And it is difficult to say when it should be blessed
more, whether now that is leads it to the sacrifice, or when it paternally warmed the earth to make it
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germinate and it painted its pale stem, which had just sprung up, with a beautiful green shade, full
of vigour and promises.
Jesus, Who has spoken of that while entering the town and pointing at the place where they met the
Samaritan woman and remembering that remote speech, says to His apostles, to all of them except
John, who is already near Mary to comfort Her, as She is so sorrowful: «And is what I said then not
being fulfilled now? We were unknown and lonely when we came in here. We sowed. Now, look!
That seed has given a rich crop. And it will grow greater and you will reap it. And others will reap
more than you...»
«And will you not, Lord? » asks Philip.
«I have reaped where My Precursor sowed. Then I sowed that you might reap and sow with the seed
I had given you. But as John did not reap what he sowed, so I shall not harvest this crop. We are...»
«What, Lord? » asks Judas of Alphaeus worriedly.
«The victims, My brother. The sweat of one's brow is required to fertilise fields. But sacrifice is
necessary to fertilise hearts. We rise, we work, we die. One, after us, replaces us, rises, works,
dies... And there is who reaps what we watered with our death.»
«Oh! no! Don't say that, my Lord! » exclaims James of Zebedee.
«Are you, the disciple of John before being Mine, saying that? Do you not remember the words of
your first master? "He must grow greater, I must grow smaller". He understood the beauty and
justice of dying to give justice to other people. I shall not be inferior to him.»
«But, Master, You are You: God! He was a man.»
«I am the Saviour. As God I must be more perfect than man. If John, a man, was able to grow
smaller to make the true Sun rise, I must not dim the light of My sun with clouds of cowardice. I
must leave you a clear memory of Me, so that you may be able to proceed, and the world may grow
in the Christian Idea. The Christ will go away, He will go back to the place whence He came, and
He will love you from there following you in your work, preparing the place that will be your
reward. But Christianity will remain. Christianity will grow through My going away... and through
that of all those who, without attachment to the world and earthly life, will be able to go away, as
John and Jesus, did... and die to make other people live.»
«So do You think that it is right that You should be put to death?...» asks the Iscariot almost
panting.
«I do not think that it is right that they should put Me to death. I think that it is just to die because
of what My sacrifice will yield. A homicide will always be a homicide with regard to him who
commits it, even if it has a different value and appearance for him who is murdered.»
«What do You mean? »
«I mean that if he who is a homicide, because he has been ordered or forced, such as a soldier in
battle or an executioner who must obey a magistrate, or he who defends himself against a
highwayman, has not a guilty conscience, or is relatively guilty of killing a fellow man, he who
without order or necessity kills an innocent or cooperates in his murder, will appear before God
with the dreadful face of Cain.»
«But could we not speak of something else? The Master suffers because of all this, your eyes are
like those of one who is tortured, we feel as if we were in agony, if His Mother hears, She will
weep. She is already shedding so many tears under Her veil! There is so much to talk about!... Oh!
Look! The notables are coming. That will make you keep quiet. Peace to you! Peace to you! » Peter,
who was a little ahead and had turned round to speak, bows greeting a large group of pompous
people from Shechem, who are coming towards Jesus.
«Peace to You, Master. The houses that gave You hospitality the last time are ready to receive You,
and there are many more for the women disciples and those who are with You. Those whom You
helped recently and the first time, will come to see You. One woman only will be missing because
she departed from here to lead a life of expiation. So she said, and I believe her, because when a
woman divests herself of everything she loved and rejects sin and gives all her property to the poor,
it means that she wants to follow a new life. But I could not tell You where she is. No one has seen
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her any more since she left Shechem. One of our people thought he had seen her dressed as a
servant in a village near the Phialè. Another one swears that he recognised her, although she was
dressed poorly, at Bersabea. But what they say is not certain. When she was called by her name she
did not answer and they heard her being called Johanna in the former place, and Agar in the latter.»
«It is not necessary to know more except that she has been redeemed. All other knowledge is vain
and every research is intrusive curiosity. Leave your fellow-citizen in her secret peace, and be
pleased that she no longer causes scandal. The angels of the Lord know where she is to give her the
only help she needs, the only one that cannot hurt her soul... Be so charitable as to take the women
to the houses, as they are tired. I will speak to you tomorrow. I will listen to everybody today and I
will receive your sick people.»
«Are You not staying with us for a long time? Are You not spending the Sabbath here? »
«No. I am spending the Sabbath elsewhere, in prayer.»
«We were hoping to have You for a long time...»
«I have just time to go back to Judaea for the feasts. I will leave the apostles and women with you,
if they want to remain, until the Sabbath evening. Do not look at one another thus. You know that I
must honour the Lord our God more than anybody else, because to be what I am does not exempt
Me from being faithful to the Law of the Most High.»
They go towards the houses into each of which go two women disciples and one apostle: Mary of
Alphaeus and Susanna with James of Alphaeus, Martha and Mary with the Zealot, Eliza and Nike
with Bartholomew, Salome and Johanna with James of Zebedee. Then Thomas, Philip, Judas of
Kerioth and Matthew go all together in a group into one house; Peter and Andrew into another one;
and Jesus with Judas of Alphaeus and John, and Mary, His Mother, goes into the house of the man
who has always spoken on behalf of the citizens. The followers and the people from Ephraim,
Shiloh and Lebonah and other pilgrims who were going to Jerusalem and broke their journey to
follow Jesus, scatter through the village looking for lodgings.

570. At Shechem. Third Parable on Advice.

2nd March 1947.

The main square in Shechem is incredibly crowded. I think that the whole town is there and that
also the people from the country and nearby villages have gathered, too. The inhabitants of
Shechem, in the afternoon of the first day, must have spread everywhere informing people and
everybody has come: healthy and sick people, sinners and innocents. As the square and
roof-terraces are filled up, many people have even perched on the trees shading the square.
In the first row, near the place kept clear for Jesus, facing a house built up on four steps, are the
three children whom Jesus saved from the highwaymen, and their relatives. How anxious are the
little ones to see their Saviour! Every shout makes them turn round looking for Him. And when the
door is opened and Jesus appears at it, the three children rush forward shouting: «Jesus! Jesus!
Jesus! » and they climb the steps without waiting till He comes down to embrace them. And Jesus
bends and embraces them and then lifts them up - a living bunch of innocent flowers - and He
kisses their little faces and is kissed by them.
A compassionate whisper runs through the crowd and some voices say: «He is the only one who
knows how to kiss our innocent children.» And other people say: «See how He loves them? He
saved them from the highwaymen, He gave them a home after feeding and clothing them, and He is

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now kissing them as if they were His own sons.»
Jesus, Who has put the children down, on the top step, close to Himself, replies to everybody by
answering the last anonymous words:
«Really they are more than My own children to Me. Because I am their father with regard to their
souls, which are Mine, not for the time that passes, but for the eternity that remains. I wish I could
say that of every man who from Me, the Life, did draw life to come out of death!
I invited you to do that the first time I came here, and you thought that you had plenty time to make
up your minds to do so. Only one woman was prompt to follow My call and go on the path of Life:
the biggest sinner among you. Perhaps just because she felt that she was dead and, she saw herself
dead, rotten in her sin, she was in a hurry to come out of death. You do not feel and see yourselves
dead, and you are not in that hurry. But which sick man waits to die before taking the medicines of
life? A dead body needs only a shroud, aromas and a sepulchre in which to lie to become dust after
being putrefaction. If the putridity of Lazarus, whom you look at with eyes opened wide by fear and
amazement, was restored to life by the Eternal Father for His wise purposes, that must not tempt
anyone to arrive at the death of the spirit saying: "The Most High will restore me to the life of the
soul". Do not put the Lord your God to the test. You are to come to the Life. There is no more time
to wait.
The grapes of the Vine are about to be gathered and pressed. Prepare your spirits for the Wine of
Grace that is about to be given to you. Do you not do that when you are to take part in a great
banquet? Do you not prepare your stomachs to receive the choice food and wines by wisely fasting
before the banquet, as that refines your taste and invigorates your stomachs making you enjoy and
relish food and drinks? And does the vine-dresser not do the same to taste the wine that has just
matured? He does not spoil his palate, the day that he wants to taste the new wine. He does not do
that, because he wants to taste the good qualities and faults accurately, to boast of the former and
correct the latter, and sell his goods at a good price. But if a person invited to a banquet can do that
to enjoy food and wines with greater pleasure, and if the vine-dresser does that to sell his wine at a
good price, or to make saleable what being faulty would be refused by buyers, should man not be
able to do so for his spirit, to enjoy Heaven, to gain the treasure to be able to enter Heaven?
Take My advice. Yes, take it. It is a good piece of advice. It is the just advice of the Just One Who
is ill-advised in vain, and wants to save you from the consequences of evil advice given to you. Be
as just as I am. And give the just value to the advice given to you. If you become just, you will give
it its just value.
Listen to a parable. It closes the cycle of those I said at Shiloh and Lebonah, and deals once again
with advice given and taken.
A king sent his beloved son to visit his kingdom. The kingdom of that king was divided into many
provinces, as it was a very large one. Those provinces had a different knowledge of their king.
Some knew him so well as to consider themselves the favourite ones and to be proud of it.
According to them, they were the only perfect ones and they alone knew the king and what the
monarch wanted. Some knew him but, without considering themselves wise because of that, they
did their best to know him better and better. Some knew the king, but they loved him their own
way, as they had adopted a special code of laws, which was not the true code of the kingdom. Of
the true code they had taken what they liked and as far as they liked it, then they had adulterated
also that little by means of other laws copied from other kingdoms, or which they had made
themselves, and were not good. No. They were not good. Some were even less acquainted with their
king, and some only knew that there was a king. Nothing else. And they thought that was only an
idle story.
The king's son came to visit his father's kingdom to give all the various regions an exact knowledge
of the monarch, correcting arrogance here, encouraging dejected people there, redressing wrong
ideas elsewhere, convincing people to remove the impure elements from the pure law in another
region, teaching other subjects how to fill gaps, instructing people of other regions in order to give
them the minimum knowledge and faith in the real king, as every man was his subject. But the
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king's son was of the opinion that the first lesson for everybody was the example of justice, in
conformity with the code of laws, both in grave matters and in minor ones. And he was perfect. So
much so that the people of good will were improving themselves by following both the deeds and
the words of the king's son, as his actions corresponded to his words without the least difference.
But the people of the provinces that considered themselves perfect only because they knew the code
word by word, but did not possess its spirit, realised that from the observance of what the king's son
did and what he exhorted to do, it appeared too clearly that they knew the letter of the code but did
not possess the spirit of the king's law, and thus their hypocrisy was unmasked. They then decided
to remove what made them appear what they really were. And to do that they chose two different
ways: one against the king's son, the other against his followers. For the former: evil advice and
persecutions. For the latter: evil advice and threat. Many things are evil advice. It is a bad piece of
advice to say: "Do not do that, as it may damage you", pretending to be favourably interested, and it
is a bad piece of advice to persecute in order to convince him, whom one wants to lead astray, to
fail in the fulfilment of his mission. It is a bad piece of advice to say to followers: "Defend at all
costs and by any means the just man who is persecuted", or to say to followers: "If you defend him,
you will provoke our anger". But I am not referring now to advice given to followers. I am referring
to the advice that people gave or had it given to the king's son, with false simple-heartedness, with
livid hatred, or through the words of innocent people used as instruments to do harm, while they
thought they were being used to do good.
The king's son listened to that advice. He had ears, eyes, intellect and a heart. Therefore he could
but hear them, see them, understand them and weigh them. But above all he had the upright spirit of
a true just man, so to each piece of advice, given to him consciously or unconsciously to make him
sin, setting a bad example to his father's subjects and causing infinite sorrow to his father himself,
he replied: "No. I will do what my father wants. I will follow his code of laws. The fact that I am
his son does not exempt me from being the most faithful of his subjects in the observance of the
Law. You, who hate me and want to frighten me, should bear in mind that nothing will make me
infringe the Law. You, who love me and wish to save me, should know that I bless you for your
thoughts, but bear also in mind that your love for me and my love for you, as you are more loyal to
me than those who say that they are 'wise', must not make me unfair in my duty towards the greatest
love, which is the love to be given to my father".
That is the parable, My children. And it is so clear that each of you can understand it. And righteous
spirits can only exclaim: "He is really just because no human advice can lead Him astray". Yes,
children of Shechem. Nothing can lead Me into error. Woe to Me if I should fall into error! Woe to
Me and to you. Instead of being your Saviour, I should be your traitor, and you would be right in
hating Me. But I will not do that.
I do not reproach you for accepting suggestions or for thinking of measures against justice. You are
not guilty since you did it out of a spirit of love. But I say to you what I said at the beginning and at
the end: you are dearer to Me than if you were My own children, because you are the children of
My spirit. I have led your spirits to the Life and I will do so even more. Bear in mind, in memory of
Me, bear in mind that I bless you for the thoughts you had in your hearts. But grow in justice, by
wanting only what gives honour to the true God for Whom you must have absolute love, such as is
given to no other creature. Come to this perfect justice that I am setting as an example to you, the
justice that tramples on the selfishness of one's own welfare, on the fear of enemies and of death, on
everything, to do the will of God. Prepare your spirits. The dawn of Grace is rising. The banquet of
Grace is being prepared. Your souls, the souls of those who want to come to the Truth, are at the
eve of their wedding, of their liberation, of their redemption. Prepare yourselves in justice for the
feast of Justice.»
Jesus beckons to the children's relatives, who are near them, to go into the house with Him, and He
withdraws after taking the three children in His arms as He did at the beginning.
Comments are exchanged in the square. And they differ considerably.
The best people say: «He is right. We were betrayed by those false messengers.»
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Those who are not so good say: «Then He should not have flattered us. He makes us more hateful.
He mocked at us. He is a true Judaean.»
«You cannot say that. Our poor people are aware of His assistance, and our sick people of His
power. Our orphans experienced His goodness. We cannot expect Him to commit sin to please us.»
«He has already sinned, because He hated us by making us hated...»
«By whom? »
«By everybody. And He mocked at us. Yes, He mocked at us.»
The square is full of the different opinions, which, however, do not upset the house in which Jesus
is with the notables, the children and their relatives. Once again the prophetic word is confirmed:
«He will be a stone of contradiction.»

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571. Leaving for Enon.
3rd March 1947.

Jesus is meditating, sitting all alone under a gigantic holm-oak, which has grown on a slope of the
mountain dominating Shechem. The city, of a rosy-white shade in the early sunshine, is below,
spread out on the lower slopes of the mountain. From above it looks like a handful of huge white
cubes thrown by a big boy on a green sloping meadow. The two water courses near which it rises
form a silvery blue semicircle round the city; then one of them enters it gurgling and glittering
among the white houses, it then comes out and flows through the greenery towards the river Jordan,
appearing and disappearing under olive-groves and luxuriant orchards. The other river, smaller in
size, remains outside the walls, almost lapping on them, and irrigates fertile vegetable gardens; it
then flows away watering flocks of white sheep grazing on meadows reddened by the capitula of
clover flowers.
The view in front of Jesus is a wide one. After lower and lower undulating hills one can see the
green Jordan valley foreshortened, and beyond it, the mountains of the region beyond the Jordan,
ending to north-east in the typical summits of Hauran. The sun rising behind them has lit up three
strange clouds resembling three light gauze ribbons placed horizontally on the turquoise veil of the
firmament, and the light gauze of the three long narrow clouds has become the orange-pink hue of
certain precious corals. The sky seems to be barred by this airy railing and is beautiful. Jesus stares
at it, that is, He looks in that direction engrossed in thought. I wonder whether He even sees it. With
His elbow pressed on His knee, His hand supporting His chin resting in the hollow of the palm of
His hand, He looks, thinks, meditates. Above Him birds are making a hullabaloo chirping and
flying around joyfully.
Jesus lowers His eyes looking at Shechem that is awakening more and more in the morning
sunshine. The shepherds and flocks, so far the only ones animating the view, are now joined by
groups of pilgrims, and the jingling of herd-bells mingles with the tinkling of the harness bells of
donkeys and with the noise of voices, the shuffling of feet and the babble of words. The noise of the
awakening city and of the people ending their night's rest is carried in waves as far as Jesus.
Jesus stands up. With a sigh He leaves His quiet place and goes down quickly towards the town,
along a short cut. He goes in among caravans of market-gardeners and pilgrims, while the former
are hurrying to unload their goods, and the latter to buy them before setting off.
Waiting in a group in a corner of the square there are already the apostles and the women disciples,
and around them there are the people from Ephraim, Shilo, Lebonah and many from Shechem.
Jesus goes towards them and greets them. He then says to those of Samaria: «And now let us part.
Go back to your homes. Remember My words. Grow in justice.» He then says to Judas of Kerioth:
«Have you given alms for the poor of every place, as I told you? »
«Yes, I have. With the exception of those of Ephraim, as they have already had them.»
«Go, then. Ensure that every poor person may be comforted.»
«We bless You on their behalf.»
«Bless the women disciples. They gave Me the money. Go. Peace be with you.»
They go away unwillingly, sorrowfully. But they obey.
Jesus stays with the apostles and the women disciples. He says to them: «I am going to Enon. I want
to visit the place of the Baptist. I shall then go down to the road in the valley. It is more comfortable
for the women.»
«Would it not be better to take the road through Samaria? » asks the Iscariot.
«There is no reason why we should be afraid of highwaymen, even if our road is close to their dens.
Who wants to come with Me can do so. Who does not feel like coming as far as Enon, can remain
here until the day after the Sabbath. On that day I shall go to Tirzah, and whoever remains here can
join Me there.»
«Actually I... should prefer to stay here. I am not very well... I am tired...» says the Iscariot.
«One can see that. You look like one who is not well. You look gloomy indeed, also with regard to

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your humour and complexion. I have been watching you for some time...» says Peter.
«But no one asks me whether I am unwell, however...»
«Would that have pleased you? I never know what you like. But if it pleases you, I shall ask you
now, and I am willing to stay with you to look after you...» Peter replies to him patiently.
«No, no! I am only tired. You may go. I shall stay where I am.»
«I shall stay as well. I am old. I shall rest assisting you as a mother » says Eliza all of a sudden.
«Are you staying? You had said...» interrupts Salome.
«f everybody went, I would have come as well, in order not to be left here all alone. But since Judas
is going to stay...»
«Then I will come, too. I do not wish to sacrifice you, woman. You will certainly go willingly to see
the refuge of the Baptist...»
«I come from Bethzur and I never felt the need to go to Bethlehem to see the grotto where the
Master was born. That is something I shall do when I shall no longer have the Master. So you can
imagine whether I am aflame with the desire to see where was John... I prefer to practice charity,
as I am sure that it has more value than a pilgrimage.»
«You are reproaching the Master. Do you not realise that? »
«I am speaking for myself. He is going there and is doing the right thing. He is the Master. I am an
old woman in whom grief has removed all curiosity and the love for the Christ has removed all
desires except that of serving Him.»
«So, according to you, it is a service to spy upon me.»
«Are you doing anything blameworthy? Only those who do harmful things are watched. But I have
never spied upon anybody, man. I do not belong to the snake family. Neither do I betray.»
«Neither do I.»
«God grant it for your own good. But I fail to understand why you are so against my staying here to
rest...»
Jesus, Who so far has been listening in silence, in the middle of the others, amazed at the petty
quarrel, raises His head that was somewhat lowered, and says: «That is enough. A woman, who is
older than you, can with more reason have the same desire as you have. You will stay here until the
dawn of the day after the Sabbath. You will then join Me. In the meantime, Judas, go and buy what
we will need during the next days. Go and be quick.»
Judas goes away against his will to buy foodstuff.
Andrew is about to follow him, but Jesus holds him back by the arm saying: «Stay here. He can
manage by himself.» Jesus is very severe.
Eliza looks at Him and then approaches Him saying: «Forgive me, Master, if I displeased You.»
«I have nothing to forgive you, woman. You, rather, should forgive that man, as if he were your
son.»
«I will stay with him with that feeling... even if he thinks the very opposite... You understand me...»
«Yes, and I bless you. And I tell you that you were right in saying that pilgrimages to My places will
be a necessity when I am no longer amongst you... a necessity to comfort your spirits. For the time
being they only serve the desires of your Jesus. And you have understood one of My wishes,
because you are sacrificing yourself to protect an imprudent spirit...»
The apostles look at one another... and also the women disciples do likewise. Mary only is
completely covered with Her veil and does not raise Her head to look at anybody. And Mary of
Magdala, standing upright like a queen who is judging, has never lost sight of Judas, who is going
round the vendors, and her eyes blaze with anger while her closed lips express contempt. Her
countenance says more than words...
Judas comes back. He gives his companions what he bought. He tidies up his mantle that he had
used to carry the goods he purchased, and makes the gesture of handing the purse to Jesus.
Jesus rejects it with His hand: «It is not necessary. Mary is still with us for alms. You are to do the
necessary to be charitable here. There are many beggars who come down from all places these days
and go towards Jerusalem. Give them alms without prejudice, with charity, bearing in mind that,
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with regard to God, we are all beggars of His mercy and of His bread... Goodbye. Goodbye, Eliza.
Peace be with you.» And He turns round quickly and begins to walk fast along the road that was
near Him without giving Judas time to say goodbye to Him...
They all follow Him in silence. They come out of the town turning their steps north-eastwards
through the beautiful country...

572. At Enon. The Young Shepherd Benjamin.

4th March 1947.

Enon, a handful of houses, is farther to the north. The place where the Baptist stayed is here: a
grotto among the luxuriant vegetation. Not far away some spring-waters gurgle forming a stream
rich in waters that flow towards the Jordan. Jesus is sitting outside the grotto, where He was when
He said goodbye to His cousin. He is alone. Dawn is tinging the east with a rosy hue and the woods
are reawakening again with the twittering of birds. Bleatings are heard coming from the folds in
Enon. A bray rends the quiet air.
Then the trampling of feet is heard on the path and a herd of goats passes by led by an adolescent
who stops for a moment, doubtfully, to look at Jesus. He then goes away. But shortly afterwards he
comes back because a kid has stopped there, to look at the Man Whom she was not used to seeing
there and Who stretches out His long hand to offer her a stalk of marjoram and caresses her
intelligent head. The young shepherd remains disconcerted. He is undecided whether he should take
the animal away or let Jesus caress her smiling, as if He were pleased that she came fearlessly to
squat at His feet, resting her head on His knees. The other goats also come back grazing the grass
spread with little flowers.
The young shepherd asks: «Do You want some milk? I have not yet milked two reluctant goats
which butt whoever presses their udders if they are not satiated. Just like their owner who beats us
if he is not sated with profit.»
«Are you a servant shepherd? »
«I am an orphan. I am alone. And I am a servant. He is a relative of mine because he is the husband
of my grandmother's sister. And while Rachel was alive... But she died many months ago... And I
am very unhappy... Take me with You! I am accustomed to living on nothing... I will serve You... a
little bread is sufficient pay for me. Even here I do not get anything... If he paid me, I would go
away. But he says: "Is this your money? But I am keeping it because I clothe and feed you". He
clothes me!... See? He feeds me!... Look at me... And these are blows... This is the bread I got
yesterday...» And he shows bruises on his very thin arms and shoulders.
«What had you done? »
«Nothing. Your companions, I mean the disciples, were speaking of the Kingdom of Heaven, and I
was listening to them... It was the Sabbath. Even if I was not working, I was not idle because it was
the Sabbath... He gave me a good thrashing, so much so... that I do not want to stay with him any
longer. Take me. Or I will run away... I came here on purpose this morning. I was afraid to speak.
But You are good and I am speaking.»
«And what about the herd? You are certainly not going to run away with it...»
«...I will take it back to the fold... Before long that man will be going to the forest to cut wood... I
will take the herd back and then I will run away. Oh! take me! »
«But do you know who I am? »
«You are the Christ! The King of the Kingdom of Heaven. He who follows You will be blessed in
the other life. I have never had any joy here... but, do not reject me... that I may have it there...» he
says weeping at Jesus' feet near the kid.
«How come you know Me so well? Have you ever heard Me speak? »
«No. As from yesterday I know that You are here, where the Baptist was. But Your disciples used

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to pass here now and again coming from Enon. I heard them. Their names are Matthias, John,
Simeon, and they were often here because the Baptist was their master before You. And then
Isaac... In Isaac I found my father and mother. Isaac wanted to take me away from my master and
he gave him some money. But he!... He took the money, but did not let me go and he sneered at
Your disciple.»
«You know many things. But do you know where I am going? »
«To Jerusalem. But it is not written on my face that I come from Enon.»
«I am going farther away. I shall soon be going. I cannot take you with Me.»
«Take me for the little time You can.»
«And then? »
«And then... I shall weep, but I will go with John's disciples who were the first to tell a poor boy
that the joy that men do not give on the Earth, God gives it in Heaven to those who had good will. I,
in order to have it, have received so many blows and suffered so much hunger asking God to give
me that peace. You can see that I have had good will... But if You reject me now... I shall not be
able to hope any longer...» He weeps silently imploring Jesus more with the tears of his eyes than
with his lips.
«I have no money for your ransom. Neither do I know whether your master would agree to it.»
«But my ransom has already been paid. I have witnesses. Eli, Levi and Jonah saw and reproached
the man. And they are the most important people in Enon, You know? »
«If that is the case... Let us go. Stand up and come with Me.»
«Where? »
«To your master.»
«I am afraid! You go, by Yourself. He is up there, on that mountain among the trees that he is
cutting. I shall wait here.»
«Be not afraid. Look, My disciples are coming here. We shall be so many against him. He will do
you no harm. Stand up. We shall go to Enon to look for the three witnesses and then we shall go to
your master. Give Me your hand. Afterwards I will hand you over to the disciples you know. What
is your name? »
«Benjamin.»
«I have two more little friends with that name. You will be the third one.»
«Friend? Too much! I am a servant.»
«Of the Most High Lord. Of Jesus of Nazareth, you are a friend. Come. Gather the herd and let us
go.»
Jesus stands up and, while the young shepherd gathers and urges the reluctant goats on the way
back, Jesus beckons to the apostles, who are coming forward on the path looking towards Him, to
come at once. They quicken their paces. But the herd by now is on its way, and Jesus holding the
young shepherd by the hand goes towards them...
«Lord! Have You become the shepherd of kids? Samaria can really be called the goat... But You...»
«But I am the Good Shepherd and I change also kids into lambs. And boys are all lambs, and this
fellow is little more than a boy.»
«Is he not by any chance the boy that that man took away yesterday in such a coarse manner? » asks
Matthew looking at him.
«I think that it's him. Are you? »
«Yes, I am.»
«Oh! poor boy! Your father is certainly not fond of you! » says Peter.
«My master. I have no other father but God.»
«Yes. John's disciples taught him some doctrine and consoled his heart, and at the right moment the
Father of all men made us meet. We are going to Enon to take three witnesses with us, then we are
going to his master...» says Jesus.
«To ransom the boy? And where is the money? Mary has handed out the last she had...» remarks
Peter.
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«There is no need of money. He is not a slave and money has already been given to take him away
from his master. Isaac gave it as he felt sorry for the boy.»
«And why did he not get him? »
«Because many are the mockers of God and of their neighbour. There is My Mother with the
women. Go and tell them not to come any farther.»
James of Zebedee and Andrew run away as fast as gazelles. Jesus hastens towards His Mother and
the women disciples, and He reaches them when they have already been informed and are watching
the youth pitifully.
They go back quickly towards Enon and enter the village. Led by the boy they go to the house of
Eli, who is an old man with eyes dimmed by age but still strong. When young he must have been as
robust as an oak-tree of this place.
«Eli, the Rabbi of Nazareth will take me if...»
«Will take you? There is nothing better He could do. You would end up by becoming wicked if you
stayed here. A heart hardens when injustice is too hard. And it is too hard. Did you find Him? So
the Most High has seen your tears, even if they are of a Samaritan boy. You are happy then, as,
because of your age, you are free from all chains and you can follow the Truth, without anything
preventing you from doing so, not even the will of a father or a mother. So what for many years
seemed to be a punishment now appears to be providential. God is good. But what do you want of
me now that you have come here? My blessing? I give it to you as the Elder of the place.»
«I want your blessing, because you are good. Then I came also because you with Levi and Jonah
should go, with the Rabbi, to my master, so that he may not ask for more money.»
«But where is the Rabbi? I am old and I can hardly see, and I can recognise only those I know very
well. But I do not know the Rabbi.»
«He is here. In front of you.»
«Here? Eternal power! » The old man stands up and bows to Jesus saying: «Forgive the old man
whose sight is darkened. I greet You because only One is just in Israel. And You are that One. Let
us go. Levi is in his kitchen garden working at a tub, and Jonah is attending to his cheese.» The old
man stands up once again - he is as tall as Jesus although bent with age - and he sets out, walking
along the wall, avoiding the obstacles on the road with the help of his stick.
Jesus, Who has greeted him with His peace, helps him when three coarse steps make it dangerous
for a half blind man to proceed. Before setting off Jesus had told the women disciples to wait for
Him at that place. Benjamin in the meantime goes to his fold.
The old man says: «You are good. But Alexander is a beast. He is a wolf. I do not know whether...
But I am rich enough to give You money for Benjamin, should Alexander want more. My sons do
not need my money. I am almost one hundred years old and money does not serve for the other life.
A kind action of humanity, yes, is of value...»
«Why did you not do it before? »
«Do not reproach me, Rabbi. I satisfied the boy's hunger and I consoled him, so that he might not
become an evil-doer. Alexander is such that he could make a little dove become wild. But I could
not take the boy from him, and nobody else could do it, You... You will be going far away. But
we... we remain here and we are afraid of his revenge. One day a man of Enon intervened, because
being drunk he was beating the boy to death, and I do not know how he did it, he succeeded in
poisoning the man's flock.»
«Is that not just an evil suspicion? »
«No. He waited for months, until winter, when the sheep are in the fold, and he poisoned the water
in the vat. They drank it. They swelled. They died. All of them. We are all shepherds here, and we
understood... To be certain, they made a dog eat some of that meat and the dog died. And there is
someone who saw Alexander steal into the fold... Oh! he is an evil-doer! We are afraid of him... He
is cruel, always drunk in the evening. He was merciless towards all his relatives. Now that they are
all dead, he tortures the boy.»
«Then do not come, if...»
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«Oh! no. I am coming. The truth is to be told. Here we are. I can hear the hammer. That's Levi.»
And he calls in a loud voice near a hedge: «Levi! Levi! »
An old man comes out, but not so old as Eli, with his tunic tucked up, with a mallet in his hand. He
greets Eli and asks him: «What do you want, my friend? »
«The Rabbi of Galilee is beside me. He has come to take Benjamin. Come, because Alexander is in
the wood, to witness that he has already had the money for the boy from that disciple.»
«I am coming. They always told me that the Rabbi was good. Now I believe it. Peace to You! » He
puts the mallet down, he shouts to I do not whom to wait for him, and he goes away with Eli and
Jesus.
They soon arrive at Jonah's fold. They call him and explain...
«I am coming. You » he says to an apprentice «carry on with the work.» He dries his hands with a
piece of cloth that he then throws on a peg, and follows Jesus, after greeting Him, with Levi and
Eli.
In the meantime Jesus speaks to the old man and says to him: «You are a just man. God will give
you peace.»
«I hope so. Just is the Lord! It is not my fault if I was born in Samaria...»
«It is not your fault. In the other life there are no boundaries for the just. Sin only lays a barrier
between Heaven and the Abyss.»
«That is true. How I would love to see You. Your voice is gentle, and soft is Your hand in leading
an old blind man. Soft and strong. It feels like that of my beloved son: Eli, like me, the son of my
son Joseph. If Your aspect is like Your hand, blessed are those who can see You.»
«It is better to hear Me than see Me. It makes the spirit holier.»
«That is true. I listen to those who speak of You. But they pass through only seldom... But is that
not the noise of an axe striking trunks? »
«Yes, it is.»
«Then... Alexander is close at hand... Call him.»
«Yes. You stay here. If I can manage by Myself, I will not call you. Do not show yourselves, unless
I call you.» He goes on and calls in a loud voice.
«Who wants me? Who are you? » says a very strong elderly man, with a very hard profile and the
thorax and limbs of a wrestler. A blow from those hands must be like a stroke of a club: brutal.
«It is I. An unknown Person Who knows you. I have come to take what is Mine.»
«Yours? Ha! Ha! What is Yours in this wood of mine? »
«Nothing in the wood. In your house Benjamin is Mine.»
«Your are mad! Benjamin is my servant.»
«And your relative. And you are his galley-sergeant. And one of My messengers gave you the
money you asked for, to have the boy. And you took the money and refused to give the boy. My
messenger, a peaceful man, did not react. But I have come in the name of justice.»
«Your messenger must have drunk the money. I did not get any. And I am keeping Benjamin. I am
fond of him.»
«No. You hate him. You are fond of the pay that you do not give him. Do not lie. God punishes
liars.»
«I did not receive any money. If You have spoken to my servant, You had better know that he is an
astute liar. And I will give him a good thrashing for slandering me. Goodbye! » and he turns his
back on Jesus and is about to go away.
«Be careful, Alexander, because God is present. Do not defy His goodness.»
«God! Has God to defend my interests? I only have to defend them and I do so.»
«Mind you! »
«But Who are You, You miserable Galilean? How dare You reproach me? I don't know You.»
«You do know Me. I am the Rabbi of Galilee and...»
«Ah! yes! And You think You can frighten me? I fear neither God nor Beelzebub. And You expect
me to be afraid of You? Of a madman? Go, away You go! Let me work. Go, I say. Don't look at me.
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Do You think that Your eyes can frighten me? What is it that You want to see? »
«Not your crimes, because I know them all. All of them. Also those that no one knows. But I want to
see whether you do not even understand that this is the last hour of mercy that God grants you to
repent. I want to see whether remorse does not rise to split your stone heart, whether...»
The man, who has an axe in his hands, hurls it towards Jesus, Who bends quickly. The axe flies
over His head and strikes a young holm-oak that is cut clean and falls with a loud rustling noise of
branches and whirr of frightened birds.
The three men, who were hiding not far away, jump out shouting, fearing that Jesus might have
been hit, and the one who cannot see cries: «Oh! to see! If I could only see whether He has been
wounded! O Eternal God, my eyesight just for that! » And turning a deaf ear to the assurances of the
others he moves forward groping, because he has lost his stick and he wants to touch Jesus to feel
whether any part of His body is bleeding, and he moans: «A beam of bright light, and then darkness.
But to see, to see without this veil that hardly allows me to guess where obstacles are...»
«I am all right, father, touch Me » says Jesus touching him and having Himself touched.
In the meantime the other two utter harsh words against the violent man and they throw sins and
lies in his face, while he, deprived of his axe, pulls out a knife and hurls himself at them to strike
them, cursing God, scoffing at the blind man, threatening the others, just like a raging wild beast.
But he staggers, he stops, he drops the knife, he rubs his eyes, opens them, closes them, then utters
a frightful cry: «I can't see any more! Help! My eyes... Darkness... Who will save me? »
Also the others shout, out of amazement. And they deride him saying: «God has listened to you.» In
fact among other curses he also said: «May God blind me if I am lying and if I have sinned. And
may I blind myself rather than worship a mad Nazarene! And with regard to you I will revenge
myself and I will break Benjamin in two like that tree...» And they laugh at him saying also: «You
can now revenge yourself...»
«Do not be like him. Do not hate » advises Jesus and He caresses the very old man who is worried
only about the safety of Jesus, Who to reassure him says: «Raise your face! Look! »
And the miracle is accomplished. As over there, for the brutal man, darkness; so here, for the just
man, light. And a different cry, a blissful one rises under the robust trees: «I can see! My eyes! The
light! May You be blessed! » And the old man stares at Jesus with his eyes bright with a new life
and he then prostrates himself to kiss His feet.
«We two will go together. You will take that wretched man back to Enon. And be merciful because
God has already punished him. And God is enough. Let man be kind with every misfortune.»
«Take the boy, the sheep, the wood, the house, the money. But give me back my eyesight. I cannot
remain like this.»
«I cannot. I leave you every thing through which you became a sinner. I am taking the innocent boy
because he has already suffered his martyrdom. In the darkness may your soul open to the Light.»
Jesus says goodbye to Levi and Jonah and goes down quickly with the old man who seems
rejuvenated and who shouts his joy as soon as he arrives at the first houses... The whole of Enon is
stirred up.
Jesus makes his way through the crowd, He goes to the young shepherd who is with the apostles
and says: «Come! Let us go, because they are waiting for us at Tirzah.»
«Free? Free? With You? Oh! I could not believe it! I will say goodbye to Eli. And the others? » The
boy is excited...
Eli kisses and blesses him and says to him: «And forgive the poor wretch.»
«Why? I will forgive him, yes. But why poor wretch? »
«Because he cursed the Lord and light died out in his eyes. None of us will have to fear him any
more. He is blind and ill. How dreadful the power of God!...» The old man seems an inspired
prophet, with his arms raised, looking at the sky, meditating on what he has seen.
Jesus says goodbye to him and elbows His way through the excited little crowd; He goes away
followed by the apostles and women disciples; and Benjamin goes away greeted by the women who
want to give tokens to the favourite of the Lord: a fruit, a bag, some bread, a garment, what they can
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find there and then. And happy as he is, he greets them, thanks them and says: «You are always
good to me! I will remember you. I will pray for you. Send your children to the Lord. It is lovely to
be with Him. He is the Life. Goodbye! Goodbye!...»
Enon is left behind. They go down towards the Jordan, towards the plain in the Jordan valley,
towards new events still unknown...
But the youth does not turn round to look back. He makes no comment. He does not think. He does
not sigh. He smiles. He looks at Jesus, there, ahead of them all, the true Shepherd followed by His
flock, of which he also, the poor boy, is part... and all of a sudden he begins to sing, in a loud
voice...
The apostles smile saying: «The boy is happy.»
The women smile saying: «The imprisoned bird has found freedom and a nest once again.»
Jesus smiles, turning round to look at him, and His smile, as usual, seems to brighten everything
and He calls the boy saying: «Come here, little lamb of God. I want to teach you a beautiful song. »
And He intones, followed by the others, the psalm: «The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall lack nothing.
He placed me where there are abundant pastures » and so forth. Jesus' beautiful voice spreads
through the fertile country, it excels all the others, even the best ones, so powerful it is in His joy.
«Your Son is happy, Mary » says Mary of Alphaeus.
«Yes, He is happy. He still has something joyful...»
«No journey is without its fruit. He passes spreading graces and there is always someone who really
meets the Saviour. Do you remember that evening at Bethlehem of Galilee? » asks Mary of
Magdala.
«Yes, but I would not like to remember those lepers and this blind man...»
«You would always forgive. You are so good! But justice also is necessary » remarks Mary Salome.
«It is necessary. But luckily for us mercy is greater » says Mary Magdalene once again.
«You can say that. But Mary...» replies Johanna.
«Mary wants nothing but forgiveness, even if She is in no need of forgiveness. Is that right, Mary? »
asks Susanna.
«I should like nothing but forgiveness. Yes. Only that. To be bad must be a dreadful suffering by
itself...» She sighs in saying so.
«Would You forgive everybody, really everybody? But would it be fair to do so? There are people
who are obstinate in wickedness and spoil all forgiveness by deriding it as weakness » says Martha.
«I should forgive. As far as I am concerned I should forgive. Not out of stupidity. But because I see
every soul as a more or less good baby. As a son... A mother always forgives... even if she says:
"Justice exacts a just punishment". Oh! if a mother could die to generate a new good heart for her
wicked son, do you think that she would not do that? But it is not possible. There are hearts that
reject all help... And I think that pity has to forgive them as well. Because the burden on their hearts
is already a very heavy one: their sins, God's severity... Oh! let us forgive guilty people... And would
to God that our absolute forgiveness could be accepted to diminish their debit...»
«But why do You always weep, Mary? Even now that Your Son had an hour of joy! » says Mary of
Alphaeus moaning.
«His joy was not complete because the culprit did not repent. Jesus is completely happy when He
can redeem...»
I wonder why Nike, who has never spoken, suddenly says: «We shall be with Judas of Kerioth once
again before long.»
The women look at one another as if the simple sentence meant something exceptional, as if the
words concealed I do not know what important matter. But no one replies.
Jesus has stopped in a beautiful olive-grove. They all stop. Jesus blesses the food, divides it and
hands it out.
Benjamin looks and puts in order what they gave him: garments too long or too wide, sandals not
fitting his feet, almonds still in the husks, the last walnuts, some cheese, an odd wrinkled apple, a
little knife, He is happy with his treasures. He wants to offer the victuals. He folds the garments
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saying: «I will put on the most beautiful one at Passover.»
Mary of Alphaeus promises: «At Bethany I will sort them all for you. In the meantime leave this
one out. At Tirzah there will be water to wash it and farther away there will be thread to mend it.
With regard to the sandals... I do not know what to do.»
«We shall give these to the first poor person we meet and whose foot will be the right size, and we
will buy a new pair at Tirzah » says Mary of Magdala calmly.
«With what money, sister? » Martha asks her.
«Ah! that is true! We have not a farthing left... But Judas has some money... Benjamin cannot go far
like that. And then, poor boy! His soul has had a great joy, but also his human nature must have a
smile... certain things make people happy.»
Susanna, who is young and merry, laughs saying: «You are speaking as if you knew from
experience that a new pair of sandals are the joy of those who never possessed such a pair! »
«That is true. But it is because I know how pleasant is a dry garment when you are wet, and a fresh
one when you have but one. I remember...» And she bends her head on the Blessed Virgin's
shoulder saying: «Do You remember, Mother? » and kisses Her fondly.
Jesus gives the order to set off, to be at Tirzah before night: «Those two, who are not aware of the
events, will be worrying...»
«Shall we go ahead to tell them that You are about to arrive? » asks James of Alphaeus.
«Yes. All of you, except John and James and My brother Judas. Tirzah is not far now... So you may
go. Look for Judas and Eliza and prepare lodgings for us in the meantime, because it is better to
stop for the night since we are so late and we have the women with us... We will follow you. Wait
for us at the first houses...»
The eight apostles go away quickly, and Jesus follows them slowly.

573. Jesus Is Rejected by the Samaritans. With Judas of Kerioth.

5th March 1947.

Tirzah is so surrounded by luxuriant olive-groves, that it is necessary to be very close to the town to
realise that it is there. A belt of wonderful fertile vegetable gardens is the last screen of the houses.
In the kitchen gardens chicory, salads, legumes, young plants of gourds, fruit-trees and bowers,
blend and interlace their different green shades and their blossoms promising fruit or the little fruits
promising delights. Vines and early olive-trees, blown by a rather strong breeze, shed their little
blossoms spraying the ground with greenish-white snow.
From behind the screen of reeds and willows, which have grown near a dry canal, the bottom of
which, however is still damp, appear the eight apostles who had been sent ahead, upon hearing the
shuffling of the new-comers. They are openly upset and grieved and they beckon to the arrivals to
stop. At the same time they rush forward. When they are sufficiently close to be heard without
having to shout, they say: «Come away! Away! Let's go back, into the country. It is not possible to
enter the town. They almost stoned us. Come away, to that thicket, and we shall speak...» And
anxious as they are to go away without being seen, they push back Jesus, the three apostles, the boy
and the women along the dry canal and they say: «We do not want to be seen here. Let's go! Let's
go! »
In vain Jesus, Judas and Zebedee's two sons try to find out what has happened. In vain they ask:
«But what about Judas of Simon? What about Eliza?» The eight do not listen to them. Walking in
the tangle of stalks and water-plants, their feet cut by bog grass, their faces hurt by willows and
reeds, slipping on the mud in the bottom, getting hold of weeds, seeking support on the edges and
getting bespattered with mud, they move away, pressed from behind by the eight who proceed with
their heads almost turned round to see whether anyone from Tirzah is following them. But there is
no one on the road but the sun, which is beginning to set, and a lean stray dog.

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At long last they are near a large clump of bushes that delimit a property. Behind the shrubs there is
a field of flax the long stems of which, undulating in the wind, are beginning to show their skyblue
flowers.
«Here, in here. If we sit down, no one will see us and when it gets dark we shall go away...» says
Peter wiping his perspiration...
«Where? » asks Judas of Alphaeus. «The women are with us.»
«We shall go somewhere. In any case the meadows are full on hay cut recently. It will do as a bed.
We will make tents with our mantles for the women and we will keep watch.»
«Yes. It is sufficient not to be seen and then to go down to the Jordan at dawn. You were right,
Master, in not wanting to take the road through Samaria. For poor people like us, highwaymen are
better than Samaritans...» says Bartholomew, who is still panting.
«But what happened, in a word? Has Judas done some...» says Thaddeus.
Thomas interrupts him saying: «Judas has certainly been beaten. I am sorry for Eliza...»
«Have you seen Judas? »
«I have not. But it is easy to prophesy right. If he said that he is Your apostle, he certainly got a
thrashing. Master, they do not want You. »
«Yes. They have all revolted against You.»
«They are true Samaritans.»
They are all speaking at the same time.
Jesus imposes silence and says: «Let one only speak. You, Simon Zealot, as you are the calmest.»
«Lord, it is soon said. We entered the town and no one troubled us until they learned who we are, as
long as they thought that we were pilgrims passing by. But when we asked - and we had to ask! -
whether a young, tall, swarthy man, wearing a red mantel and a talith with white and red stripes,
and an elderly thin woman, with almost white hair and dark grey clothes had entered the town and
had looked for the Galilean Master and His companions, then they got angry at once... Perhaps we
should not have spoken of You. We certainly made a mistake... But in the other places we had been
received so well that... We do not understand what has happened!... Those who only three days ago
were so respectful to You, are now like vipers!...»
Thaddeus interrupts him: «The work of Judaeans...»
«I do not think so. I do not think so because of what they said when they reproached and threatened
us. I think... Nay, I am, we are sure that the fact that Jesus refused their offer of protection is the
cause of the Samaritan fury. They were shouting: "Away! Go away, you and your Master! He wants
to go and worship on the Moria. Well, let Him go and may He and all His followers die. There is no
room among us for those who do not consider us as friends, but only as servants. We do not want
further trouble unless there is profit as compensation. Stones, not bread for the Galilean. Our dogs
should attack Him, instead of our homes receiving Him". That, and even more than that, they were
saying. And as we insisted on learning at least what had happened to Judas, they picked up stones to
hit us and they really set their dogs on us. And they were shouting to one another: "Let us station
ourselves at all the entrances. If He comes we will avenge ourselves". We ran away. A woman -
there is always a good soul among wicked people - pushed us into her kitchen garden and then she
led us along a path through vegetable gardens to the canal, in which there was no water as they had
irrigated before the Sabbath. And she hid us there. Then she promised to let us have news of Judas.
But she has not come any more. But we are to wait for her here, because she said that if she does
not find us in the canal, she will come here.»
There are many comments. Some continue to accuse the Judaeans. Some reproach Jesus lightly, a
reproach concealed in their remarks: «You spoke too clearly at Shechem and then You went away.
During the last three days they decided that there is no sense in deceiving oneself and causing
damage to oneself for one who does not satisfy them... and they drive You away...»
Jesus replies: «I do not regret speaking the truth and doing My duty. They do not understand at
present. They will shortly understand My justice and will worship Me more than if I had had no
justice or if it had been greater than My love for them.»
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«There! There is the woman on the road. She is so bold as to show herself...» says Andrew.
«She will not betray us, will she? » says Bartholomew suspiciously.
«She is alone! »
«But she may be followed by people hiding in the canal...»
But the woman, who is coming forward carrying a basket on her head, goes on passing the fields of
flax where Jesus and the apostles are waiting, then she takes a narrow path and disappears...
reappearing suddenly behind those who were waiting and who turn round almost frightened when
they hear the rustling of the vegetation.
The woman speaks to the eight men she knows: «Here I am! Forgive me for keeping you waiting so
long... I did not want anybody to follow me. I said that I was going to my mother's... I know... And I
brought some food for you. The Master... Which is the Master? I would like to venerable Him.»
«That is the Master.»
The woman, who has laid down her basket, prostrates herself saying: «Forgive the sin of my
fellow-citizens. If no one had instigated them... But many have taken advantage of Your refusal...»
«I have no grudge, woman. Stand up and speak. Have you any news of My apostle and of the
woman who was with him? »
«Yes, I have. Driven out like dogs, they are out of town, on the other side, waiting for night-time.
They wanted to go back, towards Enon, looking for You. They wanted to come here, as they knew
that their companions were here. I told them not to do that, and to remain quiet as I will take you to
them. And I will do so as soon as it gets dark. Fortunately my husband is away, so I am free to leave
the house. I will take you to one of my sisters who is married down in the plain. You will sleep
there, without saying who you are, not because of Merod, but because of the men who are with her.
They are not Samaritans, they come from the Decapolis and are settled here. But it is always
wise...»
«May God reward you. Have the two disciples been injured? »
«The man, a little. The woman, nothing. And the Most High certainly protected her because she is
bold and she protected her son with her own body when the citizens began to pick up stones. Oh!
what a strong woman! She shouted: "Is that how you strike a man who has not offended you? And
will you not respect me, who am defending him and am a mother? Have you no mothers, since you
do not respect a mother? Were you born of wolves or are you made of mud and manure?" and she
looked at the assailers holding her mantle wide open to defend the man, and at the same time she
was withdrawing pushing him out of town... And even now she comforts him saying: "May the
Most High grant, o my Judas, that the blood you have shed for the Master may become the balm for
your heart". But it is a small wound. Perhaps the man is more frightened than hurt. But take some
food now. Here is some fresh milk, for the women, and bread, cheese and fruit. I could not cook
any meat. I should have been too late. And here is some wine for the men. Eat while it is getting
dark. Then along safe roads we shall go to the two disciples and then to Merod's house.»
«May God reward you again » says Jesus, and He offers and divides the food, putting some aside
for the two who are not present.
«No. I have seen to them, as I took them eggs and bread, which I concealed under my clothes, and
some wine and oil for the wounds. This is for you. Eat now, as I will watch the road...»
They eat, but the men are devoured by indignation and the women feel listless through depression.
All of them, with the exception of Mary of Magdala, as what for the others is fear or dejection
affects her like a liqueur that stimulates nerves and courage. Her eyes flash with anger as she looks
at the hostile town. Only the presence of Jesus, Who has already said that He has no grudge, keeps
her from uttering violent words. And as she cannot speak or act, she gives vent to her anger by
snapping at her innocent piece of bread in such a meaningful way that the Zealot cannot help saying
to her smiling: «Luckily for those of Tirzah they cannot fall into your hands! You look like a wild
beast in chains, Mary! »
«I am. You are right. And in the eyes of God, this restraining myself from going in there, as they
deserve, has more value than what I have done so far to expiate.»
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«Be good, Mary! God has forgiven you sins graver than theirs.»
«That is true. They have offended You once, my God, and through the instigation of other people. I
many times... and by my own will... and I cannot be intolerant and proud...» She lowers her eyes on
her bread and two tears fall on it.
Martha lays her hand on her sister's lap saying to her in a low voice: «God has forgiven you. Don't
lose heart any more... Remember what you have had: our Lazarus...»
«It is not dejection. It is gratitude. It is emotion... And it is also the ascertainment that I am still
devoid of that mercy which I received so plentifully... Forgive me, Rabboni! » she says raising her
wonderful eyes to which humility has restored kindness.
«Forgiveness is never denied to humble-hearted people, Mary.»
Night is falling tinging the air with a delicate fading violet hue. Also things not far away become
confused. The stalks of flax, previously visible in their beauty, have blended into a uniform dark
mass. The birds among leafy branches become silent. The first star begins to shine. The first cricket
chirps in the grass. It is night-time.
«We can go. Here, in the fields, we shall not be seen. Come without being afraid. I am not betraying
you. And I am not doing this for retribution. I only ask Heaven to have mercy on me, for we are all
in need of mercy » says the woman with a sigh.
They stand up and set out after her. They pass round Tirzah at a distance, through fields and
half-dark vegetable gardens, but not so far as not to be able to see men around fires at the entrances
of roads...
«They are lying in wait for us...» says Matthew.
«Cursed! » whistles Philip between his teeth.
Peter does not speak but he shakes his arms towards the sky in a silent invocation or protest.
But James and John of Zebedee, who have been speaking to each other animatedly, a little ahead of
the others, come back and say: «Master, if You do not want to have recourse to punishment because
of Your perfect love, shall we have it? Shall we say to the fire of heaven to descend on these sinners
and devour them? You told us that we can do everything that we ask with faith and...»
Jesus, Who was walking with His head bowed, as if He were tired, suddenly straightens Himself
and casts withering glances at them as His eyes flash in the moonlight. The two withdraw and
become silent, frightened as they are by His glances. Jesus, His eyes fixed on them all the time,
says: «You do not know what spirits are within you. The Son of man has not come to lose souls, but
to save them. Do you not remember what I told you? In the parable of the wheat and the darnel I
said: "For the time being let the wheat and the darnel grow together. Because if you tried to separate
them now you might pull up also the wheat with the darnel. So leave them till the harvest. At
harvest time I shall say to the reapers: collect the darnel now and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then
gather the good wheat into my barn".»
Jesus has already moderated His anger towards the two who, out of wrath excited by their love for
Him, were asking to punish those from Tirzah and who are now standing with their heads lowered
in front of Him. He takes them by their elbows, one on His right, the other on His left side and He
resumes walking, leading them thus and speaking to everybody, as they have all gathered round
Him when He stopped. «I solemnly tell you that harvest time is close at hand. My first harvest. And
for many there will not be a second one. But - and let us praise the Most High for this - some people
who were not able to become ears of good wheat in My time, after the purification of the Passover
Sacrifice, will be born again with new souls. Until that day I shall not be pitiless towards anybody...
Afterwards there will be justice...»
«After Passover? » asks Peter.
«No. After the time. I am not speaking of these men of the present. I am looking at future ages. Man
is renewed continuously like crops in fields. And harvests follow one another. And I will leave what
is necessary for future generations to become good wheat. If they do not want to do that, at the end
of the world My angels will separate the darnel from the good wheat. Then it will be the eternal
Day of God alone. At present in the world it is the day of God and of Satan. The Former sows
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Goodness, the latter throws his damned darnel, his scandals, his wickedness, his seeds that stir up
wickedness and scandals, among the seeds of God. Because there will always be those who rouse
people against God, as here, with these people, who are really less guilty than those who incite
them to do wrong.»
«Master, every year we purify ourselves at the Passover of the Unleavened Bread, but we always
remain what we were. Will it be different this year? » asks Matthew.
«Very different.»
«Why? Explain it to us.»
«Tomorrow... Tomorrow, or when we are on the way, and Judas of Simon is with us, I shall tell
you.»
«Oh! yes. You will tell us and we shall become better... In the meantime forgive us, Jesus » says
John.
«I really called you with the right name. But thunder does no harm. A thunderbolt, yes, can kill. But
thunder often is a forewarning of thunderbolts. The same happens to those who do not remove from
their spirits every disorder that is against love. Today they ask to be allowed to punish. Tomorrow
they punish without asking. The day after tomorrow they punish even without any reason. It is easy
to descend... That is why I tell you to divest yourselves of all harshness against your neighbour. Do
as I do and you will be certain of never doing wrong. Have you ever seen Me revenge Myself on
those who grieve Me? »
«No, Master. You...»
«Master! Master! We are here. Eliza and I. Oh! Master, how worried we were about You! And how
afraid I was of dying...» says Judas of Kerioth coming out from behind rows of vines and running
towards Jesus. His forehead is bandaged. Eliza follows him more calmly.
«Have you suffered? Were you afraid to die? Is life so dear to you? » asks Jesus freeing Himself
from Judas who embraces Him weeping.
«Not life. I was afraid of God, to die without being forgiven by You... I always offend You. I offend
everybody. Also this woman... And she reacted acting as a mother to me. I felt I was guilty and I
was afraid of death...»
«Oh! a beneficial fear, if it can make a saint of you! But I always forgive you, you know that,
provided you are willing to repent. And what about you, Eliza? Have you forgiven him? »
«He is a big unruly boy. And I can be indulgent.»
«You have been brave, Eliza. I know.»
«If she had not been there, I do not know whether I would have seen You again, Master! »
«So you can see that she remained with you out of love, not out of hatred... Have you been injured,
Eliza? »
«No, Master. The stones fell around me without hurting me. But my heart was in agony thinking of
You...»
«It is all over now. Let us follow the woman who wants to take us to a safe house.»
They set forth again along a lane that is white in the moonlight and takes them eastwards.
Jesus has taken the Iscariot by the arm and has gone ahead with him. He speaks to him kindly. He
tries to work upon his heart upset by his recent fear of God's judgements: «You can see, Judas, how
easily one can die. Death is always on the look-out around us. You can see how what seems
negligible when we are full of life becomes important, fearfully important when death skims us. But
why should one wish to have such frights, why should one create them to have them present at the
moment of death, when with a holy life one can ignore the terror of the impending divine
judgement? Do you not think that it is worth living a just life in order to have a peaceful death?
Judas, My friend. The divine paternal mercy has allowed that to happen, so that it might be an
appeal to your heart. You are still in time, Judas... Why do you not want to give your Master, Who
is about to die, the great, the very great joy of knowing that you have come back to Good? »
«But can You still forgive me, Jesus? »
«And would I speak to you like this if I could not? How little you still know Me! I know you. I
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know that you are like one who is seized by a giant octopus. But if you wanted, you could still free
yourself. Oh! you would certainly suffer. It would be painful to tear off those chains that torture
and poison you. But later, how much joy, Judas! Are you afraid that you may not have enough
strength to react against those who influence you? I can absolve you in advance of the sin of
infringing the Passover rite... You are ill. Passover is not compulsory for sick people. No one is
more sick than you are. You are like a leper. Lepers do not go up to Jerusalem, while they are such.
You must realise, Judas, that to appear before the Lord with an unclean spirit, such as you have,
does not honour Him, but it offends Him. First it is necessary...»
«Why do You not purify and cure me, then? » asks Judas, and he already sounds hard and indocile.
«I will not cure you! When a man is ill he seeks cure by himself, unless it is a child or a fool who
are devoid of will-power...»
«Treat me as such. Treat me as a fool and see to it, without my being aware of it.»
«It would not be just because you can use your will- power. You know what is good and what is evil
for you. And My curing you would be of no avail without your will to remain cured.»
«Give me such will as well.»
«Give you it? So should I impose a good will on you? And your free will? What would it become?
What would your ego of a man, of a free creature be? Dominated? »
«As I am dominated by Satan, I may also be dominated by God! »
«How you hurt Me, Judas! You pierce My heart! But I forgive you what you do to Me... Dominated
by Satan, you said. I did not mean such a dreadful thing...»
«But You were thinking of it because You know that it is true, and because You are aware of it, if it
is true that You can read the hearts of men. If it is so, You know that I am no longer free to do what
I like... He has seized me and...»
«No. He approached you, tempting you, testing you, and you received him. There is no possession
if at the beginning there is no assent to some satanic temptation. The snake introduces his head
between the bars closely placed to defend hearts, but he would not be able to enter if man did not
widen a passage to admire his alluring aspect and listen to and follow him... Only then man
becomes dominated, possessed, because he wants it. God also darts the very kind lights of His
paternal love from the heavens, and His lights penetrate us. Or rather: God, to Whom everything is
possible, descends into the hearts of men. It is His right. Since man knows how to become a slave
dominated by the Dreadful one, why does he not know how to become a servant of God, nay a son
of God, and he drives away his Most Holy Father? Are you not replying to Me? Are you not telling
Me why you wanted Satan and preferred him to God? And yet, you would still be in time to save
yourself! You know that I am going to die. No one knows as well as you do... I do not refuse to
die... I am going. I am going towards death because My death will be the Life for so many. Why do
you not want to be one of them? Only for you, My friend, My poor sick friend, shall I die in vain? »
«Your death will be of no use for so many, do not delude Yourself. You had better run away and
live far from here, enjoying life and teaching Your doctrine, because it is a good one, but without
sacrificing Yourself.»
«Teach My doctrine! What truth could I teach, if I did the opposite of what I teach? What Master
should I be if I preached obedience to the will of God and I did not obey it, and love for men and I
did not love them, to renounce flesh and the world and I loved both flesh and the honours of the
world, not to give rise to scandals and I scandalised not only men, but also the angels, and so forth?
Satan is speaking through you just now. As he spoke at Ephraim. As he spoke and acted many times
through you, to upset Me. I have recognised all such actions of Satan, accomplished through you,
and I did not hate you, I did not get tired of you, but I only felt sorry, infinitely sorry. Like a mother
who watches the progress of an illness that will be the cause of her son's death, I have watched the
progress of evil in you. Like a father who does not regret anything provided he can find the
medicines for his sick son, I regretted nothing in order to save you, I overcame disgust, anger,
bitterness, dejection... Like a desolate father and mother, disappointed in all earthly power, turn to
Heaven to obtain the life of their son, so I have moaned and I still moan imploring a miracle that
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may save you, may save you, may save you on the brink of the abyss that is already collapsing
under your feet. Judas, look at Me! Before long My Blood will be shed for the sins of men. Not one
drop will be left in My veins. The clods of earth, the grass, the garments of My persecutors and
Mine... the wood, the iron, the ropes, the thorns of the nabacà... and the spirits awaiting salvation
will drink of it... You alone do not want to drink it? 1 would give all this Blood of Mine for you
only. You are My friend. How willingly one dies for one's friend! To save him! One says: "I shall
die. But I shall continue to live in the friend to whom I gave life". Like a father, like a mother, who
continue to live in their offspring after they have passed away. Judas, I implore you! I am not asking
for anything else in this eve of My death. A convict is granted a last grace by his judges and also by
his enemies, and his last wish is satisfied. I ask you not to be damned. I do not ask so much Heaven
as I ask you and your will... Think of your mother, Judas. What will your mother be afterwards?
And the name of your family? I appeal to your pride, which is as bold as ever, to defend you from
dishonour. Do not disgrace yourself, Judas. Consider: years and ages will go by, kingdoms and
empires will fall, the stars will lose their brightness, the configuration of the Earth will change, and
you will always be Judas, as Cain is always Cain, if you persist in your sin. Time will come to an
end, and only Paradise and Hell will remain. And in Paradise and in Hell, for the men raised from
the dead and received for ever with their souls and bodies where it is right for them to be, you will
always be Judas, the cursed greatest culprit, if you do not mend your ways. I will descend to free the
spirits from Limbo, I will lead multitudes of them out of Purgatory, and you... I shall not be able to
take you where I am... Judas, I am going to die, I am going happily, because the hour I have been
awaiting for millennia has come: the hour to reconcile men to their Father. I shall not reconcile
many of them. But the number of those saved, whom I shall contemplate when dying, will console
Me for the torture of dying in vain for so many. But, I tell you, it will be dreadful to see you, My
apostle and friend, among the latter. Do not give Me such a cruel pain!... I want to save you, Judas.
Look. We are going down to the river. Tomorrow at dawn, when everybody is still sleeping, we will
cross it, the two of us, and you will go to Bozrah, to Arbela, to Aera, wherever you wish. You know
the houses of the disciples. At Bozrah look for Joachim and Mary, the woman I cured of leprosy. I
will give you a note for them. I will say that a quiet rest in different air is necessary for your health.
It is the truth, unfortunately, because your spirit is diseased and the air of Jerusalem would be lethal
to you. But they will think that your body is ill. You will remain there until I come to take you
away. I will see to your companions... But do not come to Jerusalem. See? I did not want the
women to come, except the strongest ones among them, and those who being mothers are entitled
to be near their sons.»
«Also mine? »
«No. Mary will not be in Jerusalem...»
«She is the mother of an apostle as well, and she has always honoured You.»
«Yes. And she would be entitled like the others to be near Me, Whom she loves with perfect justice.
But just because of that she will not be there. Because I told her not to come, and she knows how to
obey.»
«Why is she not to be there? In what is she different from the mother of Your brothers and from the
mother of Zebedee's sons? »
«You. And you know why I am saying this. But if you listen to Me, if you go to Bozrah, I will send
word to your mother and will have her brought to you, as being so good, she may help you to
recover. Believe Me, we are the only ones to love you thus, without limit. There are three who love
you in Heaven: the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, Who have contemplated You and Who are
awaiting your decision to make you the jewel of Redemption, the greatest prey snatched from the
Abyss; and three on the Earth: your mother, My Mother and I. Make us happy, Judas! Both us in
Heaven and us on the Earth, who love you with true love.»
«You have said it: only three love me; the others do not...»
«Not as we do. But they love you so much. Eliza defended you. The others were worried about you.
When you are away from us, you are in everybody's heart and your name is on everybody's lips. You
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are not aware of all the love that surrounds you. Your oppressor conceals it from you. Believe My
word.»
«I believe You. And I will try to please You. But I want to do it by myself. I went wrong by myself,
by myself I must recover from evil.»
«God only can do by Himself. Your thought is a thought of pride. In pride there is still Satan. Be
humble, Judas. Grasp this hand that is offered to you in a friendly way. Take shelter in this heart
that opens to protect you. Here, with Me, Satan could do you no harm.»
«I have tried to be with You... I have descended lower and lower... It is useless! »
«Do not say that! Do not say that! React against discouragement. God can do everything. Cling to
God. Judas! Judas! »
«Be quiet! Lest the others should hear...»
«And you are worried about the others, but not about your spirit? Poor Judas!...»
Jesus speaks no more. But He remains beside the apostle until the woman, who was a few metres
ahead of them, goes into a house that appears in a thick olive-grove. Jesus then says to His disciple:
«I will not sleep tonight. I will pray and wait for you... May God speak to your heart. Listen to
Him... I will remain here, where I am now, to pray. Until dawn... Remember that.»
Judas does not reply to Him. The other apostles and the women have arrived and they all stop
together waiting for the Samaritan woman to come back. She comes back soon. She is with another
woman, who is like her, and who greets them saying: «I have not got many rooms because the
pruners are already here working at the olive-trees. But I have a large barn with plenty straw in it. I
have room for the women. Come.»
«Go! I am staying here to pray. Peace to all of you » says Jesus. And while the others go away, He
holds back His Mother saying to Her: «I am staying to pray for Judas, Mother. Will You help Me,
too? »
«Yes, I will, Son. Is his good will reviving? »
«No, Mother. But we must act as if... Heaven can do everything, Mother! »
«Yes. And I can still delude Myself. But You cannot, Son. You know. My Holy Son! But I will
always imitate You. Go peacefully, My darling! Even when You are no longer able to speak to him,
because he shuns You, I will try to bring him back to You. And if the Most Holy Father will only
listen to My grief... Will You let me stay with You, Jesus? We will pray together... and I shall have
You for Me alone all those hours...»
«Yes, stay with Me, Mother. I will wait for You here.»
Mary goes away quickly, and She is soon back. They sit on their sacks, under the olive-trees. In the
blank silence one can hear the gurgling of the river not far away and the chirping of crickets sounds
louder in the silence of the night. Then nightingales begin to sing. An owl hoots and a homed owl
screeches. And the stars move slowly in the firmament, as bright as queens, now that the moon has
set and no longer outshines them. Then a cock breaks the calm air with its sharp crowing. Much
farther away a cock replies, hardly audible. Then the silence is broken again by the arpeggio of dew
drops falling from the tiles of the next-door neighbour's house on the pavement surrounding it. Then
a fresh rustling of leafy branches shaking off the dampness of the night, and the isolated cry of a
bird that awakes, and at the same time a change in the sky and the awakening of light. It is dawn.
But Judas has not come...
Jesus looks at His Mother, as white as a lily against the dark olive-tree and He says to Her: «We
have prayed, Mother. God will make use of our prayer...»
«Yes, Son. You are as white as death. Your vitality has exhaled completely during the night,
pressing the gates of Heaven and the decrees of God! »
«You are pale, too, Mother. Great is Your fatigue.»
«Great is My sorrow because of Your sorrow.»
The door of the house is opened cautiously... Jesus startles. But it is the woman who led them there,
who comes out noiselessly. Jesus says with a sigh: «I was hoping I might have been wrong! »
The woman comes forward with her empty basket. She sees Jesus. She greets Him and is about to
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go on. But He calls her. He says to her: «May the Lord reward you for everything. I should like to
reward you as well, but I have nothing with Me.»
«I do not want anything, Rabbi. I do not want any reward, but although I do not want money, there
is one thing I should like. And You can give me it! »
«What, woman? »
«That the heart of my husband should change. And You can do that, because You really are the
Holy Man of God.»
«Go in peace. It will be done to you as you wish. Goodbye.»
The woman goes away quickly towards her house that must really be a sad one.
Mary remarks: «Another unhappy woman. That is why she is good!...»
Peter's ruffled head appears from the granary, followed by John's bright one, and then by the severe
profile of Thaddeus, the brownish face of the Zealot, and the thin one of young Benjamin... They
are all awake. Mary of Magdala is the first woman to come out of the house, and is followed by
Nike and then by the others.
When they are all together and the woman who gave them hospitality has brought a pail of milk
still frothy, the Iscariot appears. His head is no longer bandaged, but the bruise of the blow tinges
half of his forehead and his eye looks even more gloomy in the violaceous ring. Jesus looks at him.
Judas looks at Jesus, then he turns his head round looking elsewhere.
Jesus says to him: «Buy of the woman whatever she can give us. We are going ahead. Join us.»
And Jesus, after greeting the woman, sets out. They all follow Him.

574. The Rich Young Man.

7th March 1947.

It is another beautiful April morning. The earth and the sky display all their springtime beauties.
One breathes light, songs, scents, so sated is the air with brilliance, with voices of joy and love,
with fragrance. Rain must have drizzled during the night as the roads are dark and without dust, but
they are not muddy, and the stems and leaves washed by the rain are now quivering, all bright and
clean, in a mild breeze blowing down from the mountains towards this fertile plain that foreshows
Jericho.
People are coming up continuously from the banks of the Jordan; they have ferried from the other
bank or they have followed the road that runs along the river, and have come on this one that heads
straight for Jericho and Doco, as indicated on road signs. And with the many Jews who from all
over are going to Jerusalem for the rite, there are mingled merchants from other places and
shepherds with bleating lambs, destined for sacrifices, but unaware of their fate.
Many recognise Jesus and greet Him. They are Jews from Perea and the Decapolis and even from
places farther away. There is a group from Caesarea Paneas. They are shepherds, who leading a
rather nomadic life with their flocks, have knowledge of the Master, having met Him or heard of
Him from disciples.
A shepherd prostrates himself and says to Him: «May I offer You a lamb? »
«Do not deprive yourself of it, man. It is your earnings.»
«Oh! it is my gratitude. You do not remember me, but I remember You. I am one who was cured by
You when You cured so many. You cured the bone of my thigh that no one knew how to cure and
made an invalid of me. I will give You a lamb willingly. The best one. This one. For the banquet of
joy. I know that for the sacrifice You are to buy one. But for the joy! You gave me so much of it.
Take it, Master.»
«Yes, take it. It is money that we shall save. Or rather, it will enable us to have a meal because with
all our lavishness I have no money left » says the Iscariot.
«Lavishness? Since we left Shechem we have not spent a farthing! » says Matthew.

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«Well, I have no more money. I gave the last to Merod.»
«Listen, man » says Jesus to the shepherd to put an end to the Iscariot's words. «I am not going to
Jerusalem just now and I cannot take the lamb with Me. Otherwise I would accept it to show you
that I welcome your gift.»
«But later You will go to the city. You will stop there for the feasts. You will certainly have a place
in which to stay. Tell me where it is, and I shall hand it over to Your friends...»
«I have nothing of the kind... But I have a poor old friend at Nob. Listen to Me carefully: on the day
after the Passover Sabbath you will go to Nob at dawn and you will say to John, the Elder of Nob
(anyone will tell you where he lives): "Jesus of Nazareth, your friend, sends you this lamb, so that
you may celebrate this day with a banquet of joy, because for the true friends of the Christ there is
not a greater joy than today's". Will you do that? »
«If that is what You want, I will do it.»
«And you will make Me happy. Not before the day after the Sabbath. Make sure you remember
that. And remember the words I told you. Go, now, and peace be with you. And keep your heart
firm in that peace in future days. Remember that as well, and go on believing in My Truth.
Goodbye.»
Some people have approached them to listen to their conversation and they disperse only when the
shepherd, proceeding with his flock, compels them to scatter. Jesus follows the herd taking
advantage of the open space left by it.
The people whisper: «So is He really going to Jerusalem? Does He not know that He is banned? »
«Hey! No one can prohibit a son of the Law from presenting himself to the Lord at Passover. Is He
guilty of a public crime? No, He is not. Because if He were, the Proconsul would have had Him
arrested, as he did with Barabbas.»
And others say: «Have you heard? He has nowhere to go nor friends in Jerusalem. Have they all
abandoned Him? Even the man He raised from the dead? How grateful of him! »
«Be quiet. Those two women over there are Lazarus' sisters. I come from the countryside of
Magdala and I know them well. If the sisters are with Him it means that Lazarus' family is loyal to
Him.»
«Perhaps He dare not enter the town.»
«He is right.»
«God will forgive Him if He remains outside.»
«It is not His fault if He cannot go up to the Temple.»
«He is wisely prudent. If He were caught it would all come to an end before His time.»
«He is certainly not yet ready to be proclaimed our king, and He does not want to be caught.»
«They say that when it was known that He was at Ephraim, He went everywhere, even to nomadic
tribes, to prepare followers and soldiers and to seek protection.»
«Who told you? »
«The usual lies. He is the holy King and not the king of soldiers.»
«Perhaps He will celebrate the supplementary Passover, when it is easier not to be noticed. The
Sanhedrin breaks up after the feasts and all the members go home for harvest time. They do not
meet again until Pentecost.»
«And once the members of the Sanhedrin have gone away, who do you think will do Him any
harm? They are the jackals! »
«H'm! Is it possible for Him to be so prudent? That is too human! He is more than a man and He
will not be cowardly prudent.»
«Coward? Why? No one can say that he who spares himself for his mission is a coward.»
«He would always be cowardly, because every mission is inferior to God. So the cult for God must
have priority over everything else.»
Those are the words going from mouth to mouth. Jesus pretends He does not hear them.
Judas of Alphaeus stops to wait for the women and when they arrive - they were with the boy, about
thirty steps behind - he says to Eliza: «You have given out a lot of money at Shechem after we left!
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»
«Why? »
«Because Judas has not a farthing left. Your sandals, Benjamin, are not likely to come. It was
destined to be so. It was not possible to enter Tirzah, and even if we had been able to go in, as we
had no money, we could not have bought anything... You will have to enter Jerusalem as you are...»
«There is Bethany before Jerusalem » says Martha with a smile.
«And before, there is Jericho and my house » says Nike, also with a smile.
«And I am before everything. I promised and I will do it. We have had interesting experiences
during this journey! I have experienced what it means not to have a drachma. And now I will
experience what one feels like when one has to sell something at need » says Mary of Magdala.
«And what do you want to sell, if you do not wear jewels any longer? » Martha asks her sister.
«My big silver hairpins. I have so many of them. But to keep this useless weight tidy, iron ones will
be sufficient. I will sell them. Jericho is full of people who buy such things. And this is market-day
as well as tomorrow, and every day because of the festivities.»
«But, sister! »
«What? Are you scandalised at the thought that I may be considered so poor as to have to sell my
silver hairpins? Oh! I wish I had always given rise to such scandals in you! It was much worse
when, without being in need, I sold myself to the vice of other people and mine.»
«Be quiet! There is the boy, who does not know! »
«He does not know as yet. Perhaps he does not know that I was the sinner. Tomorrow he would be
told by someone who hates me because I am no longer such, and with details not pertaining to my
sin, which, however, was so grave. So he had better be told by me, so that he may realise what the
Lord, Who accepted him, can do: turn a sinner into a repentant soul; turn a dead person into a
resurrected one; of me, dead in my spirit, of Lazarus, dead in his body, He made two living beings.
Because that is what the Rabbi has done to us, Benjamin. Always bear that in mind and love Him
with all your heart, because He really is the Son of God.»
An obstacle along the road has stopped Jesus and the apostles, and the women join them. Jesus says
to the women: «Go ahead, towards Jericho, and enter the town, if you wish so. I am going to Doco
with the apostles. At sunset I shall be with you.»
«Oh! Why are You sending us away? We are not tired » say all the women protesting.
«Because I should like you, or at least some of you, to inform the disciples that I shall be at Nike's
tomorrow.»
«If that is the case, Lord, we shall go. Come Eliza, and you Johanna, and you Susanna and Martha.
We shall prepare everything » says Nike.
«And the boy and I. We shall do our shopping. Bless us, Master. And come soon. Are You staying,
Mother? »
«Yes, with My Son.»
They part. Only the three Maries remain with Jesus: His Mother, Her sister-in-law Mary Clopas,
and Mary Salome. And Jesus leaves the Jericho road and takes a secondary one that goes to Doco.
And He has not been long on it when from a caravan coming from I do not know where - a rich
caravan that certainly comes from afar, because the women are mounted on camels, closed in
swaying palanquins fastened to the humped backs, and the men are riding fiery horses or other
camels - a young man departs and, making his camel kneel down, he slides from his saddle and
goes towards Jesus. A servant, who has approached him, holds the animal by the reins.
The young man prostrates himself before Jesus, and after his deep salutation, he says to Him: «I am
Philip of Canata, the son of true Israelites who have remained such. I was a disciple of Gamaliel
until my father's death put me at the head of his business. I have heard You speak more than once. I
am aware of Your deeds. I aspire to a better life to have the eternal one that You assure will be
possessed by those who create Your Kingdom in themselves. So tell me, good Master, what shall I
have to do to have eternal life? »
«Why do you call Me good? God alone is good.»
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«You are the Son of God, as good as Your Father. Oh! tell me what I must do.»
«To enter eternal life observe the commandments.»
«Which, my Lord? The ancient ones or Yours? »
«The ancient ones already contain Mine, Mine do not alter the ancient ones. They are always the
same: worship the Only true God and respect the laws of cult, do not kill, do not steal, do not
commit adultery, do not bring false witness, honour your father and mother, do not injure your
neighbour but love him as you love yourself. By doing so you will have eternal life.»
«Master, I have observed all those commandments since my childhood.»
Jesus casts a loving glance at him and kindly asks: «And do you think they are not yet sufficient? »
«No, Master. The Kingdom of God is a great thing in us and in the other life. God Who gives
Himself to us is an infinite gift. I feel that what is our duty is very little compared with the All
Infinite Perfect Being Who gives Himself to us, and I think that we should obtain Him by means of
things that are greater than those commanded, in order not to be damned and be agreeable to Him.»
«You are right. To be perfect you still lack one thing. If you want to be as perfect as our Father in
Heaven wants, go, sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and in Heaven you will have a
treasure that will make you loved by the Father Who has given His Treasure to the poor of the
Earth. Then come and follow Me.»
The young man becomes sad and pensive. He then stands up and says: «I will remember Your
advice...» and he goes away sadly.
Judas smiles ironically and whispers: «I am not the only one who loves money! »
Jesus turns round and looks at him... then He looks at the other eleven faces around Him and says
with a sigh: «How difficult it. is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, the gate of which
is narrow, and the way is steep, and those who are laden with the bulky weights of riches cannot go
along it and enter! To enter up there only the immaterial treasures of virtue are required and one
must be able to part with everything that is attachment to the things of the world and to vanity.»
Jesus is very sad...
The apostles look stealthily at one another...
Jesus, looking at the caravan of the young rich man move away, says: «I solemnly tell you that it is
easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of
God.»
«Who can be saved, then? Poverty often makes one sin, through envy and lack of respect for other
people's property, and through lack of confidence in Providence... Riches are an obstacle to
perfection… So? Who can be saved? »
Jesus looks at them and says: «What is impossible for men, is possible for God, because everything
is possible for God. It is sufficient for man to help his Lord with his good will. And it is good will to
take the advice given and strive to achieve freedom from riches. To achieve complete freedom, in
order to follow God. Because this is the true freedom of man: to follow the voices that God
whispers to his heart, and His commandments, not to be the slave of himself, or of the world, or of
respect of public opinion, and consequently not to be the slave of Satan. To make use of the
wonderful free will that God gave man to wish Good only and freely, and thus attain the very
bright, free and blissful eternal life. Man must not be slave even of his own life, if to gratify it he
must resist God. I said to you: "He who loses his life for My sake and to serve God will save it for
ever".»
«Well! We have left everything to follow You, even what was lawful. So what about us? Shall we
enter Your Kingdom? » asks Peter.
«I tell you solemnly that those who have followed Me thus and those who follow Me - because
there is always time to make amends for laziness and sins committed so far, there is always time
while man is on the Earth and has days in front of him during which he can redress wrongs done -
those will be with Me in My Kingdom. I tell you solemnly that you, who have followed Me in the
regeneration, will sit on thrones to judge the tribes of the Earth with the Son of man Who will be
sitting on the throne of His glory. And once again I tell you solemnly that there is no one who in My
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Name has left house, fields, father, mother, brothers, wife, sons and sisters to propagate the Gospel
and continue My work, who will not receive one hundredfold in this present time and eternal life in
the world to come.»
«But if we lose everything how can we centuplicate what we have? » asks Judas of Kerioth.
«I repeat: what is impossible for men is possible for God. And God will give one hundredfold of
spiritual joy to those who from men of the world became sons of God, that is spiritual men. They
will enjoy real happiness, both here and beyond the Earth. And I also say to you that not all those
who seem to be the first, and ought to be the first having received more than everybody, will be
such. And not all those who seem to be the last, and even less than the last, as they do not appear to
be My disciples or to belong to the chosen People, will be the last. Truly, many who were first will
become last, and many who were last, least, will become first... But there is Doco over there. Go
ahead all of you, except Judas of Kerioth and Simon Zealot. Go and announce Me to those who
may need Me.»
And Jesus with the two apostles He held back waits for the three Maries, who are following them at
a few metres' distance.

575. The Third Prophecy of the Passion. The Request of Zebedee's sons.
8th March 1947.

Day is hardly breaking at dawn and it is still difficult to travel when Jesus departs from Doco, still
asleep. The shuffling of feet is certainly not heard by anybody because they walk cautiously and
because people are still sleeping in their houses. No one speaks until they are out of town, in the
country that is awaking slowly in the dim light and is pleasantly fresh after the dew.
The Iscariot then says: «A useless journey with no rest. It was better not to have come so far.»
«The few people we met did not use us badly! They lost their night's sleep to listen to us and to
bring us their sick people from the country. On the contrary, it has really been a good thing that we
came here. Because those who, either through illness or for some other reason, could not hope to
see the Lord in Jerusalem, have seen Him here and have been comforted recovering their health or
with other graces. We know that the rest have already gone to Jerusalem... When possible, it is our
custom to go there a few days before the festivity » says James of Alphaeus kindly, because he is
always gentle, the very opposite of Judas of Kerioth who, even in his good moments, is always
violent and overbearing.
«Just because we are going to Jerusalem as well, it was useless to come here. They would have
heard and seen us there...»
«But not the women and the sick people » replies Bartholomew supporting James of Alphaeus.
Judas pretends he does not hear them and resuming the thread of his discourse he says: «At least I
think that we are going to Jerusalem, although I am no longer certain after the conversation with
that shepherd...»
«And where do you expect us to go if we do not go there? » asks Peter.
«Who knows! I don't. Everything we have been doing these last months is so unreal, so
unforeseeable, so contrary to common sense and also to justice, that...»
«Hey! I saw you drink milk at Doco, and yet you are speaking like a drunken man! Where do you
see things contrary to justice? » asks James of Zebedee with eyes promising trouble. And to make
himself clearly understood he adds: «Enough of reproaches to the Just One! Have you understood
that that is enough? You are not entitled to reproach Him. No one is entitled to do so, because He is
perfect, and we... None of us are entitled, and you are less entitled than anybody.»
«Yes! If you are not well, take care of yourself, but do not annoy us with your complaints. If you are

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moody, the Master is over there. Ask Him to cure you and stop it! » says Thomas who has lost his
patience.
Jesus is in fact behind, with Judas of Alphaeus and John, and they are helping the women, who not
being accustomed to walking in half-light, are proceeding with difficulty along a rough path, which
is even darker than the fields, as it runs through a thick olive-grove. And Jesus is speaking
animatedly to the women, estranged from what is happening ahead of Him and can also be heard by
those who are with Him, because if the words arrive confusedly, their tone gives to understand that
they are not kind ones, but they sound rather quarrelsome.
The two apostles, Thaddeus and John, look at each other... but they do not say anything. They look
at Jesus and Mary. But Mary is so enveloped in Her mantle that Her face can hardly be seen, and
Jesus does not appear to have heard. But when He finishes talking - they were speaking of
Benjamin and his future, and they are speaking of Sarah, the widow of Aphek, who has settled at
Capernaum and is a loving mother not only to the child of Giscala but also to the children of the
woman from Capernaum who, after she married for the second time, no longer loved the children
of her first marriage, and then she came to «such a bad end that people considered her death a
divine punishment » says Salome - Jesus goes ahead with Judas Thaddeus to join the apostles and
when leaving the group He says: «You may stay, John, if you wish so. I am going to reply to the
restless one and bring about peace.»
But John, after walking a few steps with the women, seeing that the path is now wider and clearer,
runs and joins Jesus Who is saying: «So, be reassured, Judas. We will do nothing, as we have done
nothing, unreal. Even now we are not doing anything unforeseeable. This is the time when it is
foreseeable that every true Israelite, who is not prevented by diseases or very grave reasons, will go
up to the Temple. And we are going up to the Temple.»
«But not all of us. I heard that Marjiam will not be there. Is he perhaps ill? Why is he not coming?
Do You think You can replace him with the Samaritan? » Judas' tone is unbearable...
Peter whispers: «O Prudence, hold my tongue fast, for I am a man! » and he presses his lips together
firmly in order not to say anything else. His eyes, which are rather deep set, are deeply touching, so
clear is the effort of the man to repress his indignation and distress hearing Judas speak thus.
Jesus' presence holds all tongues. He is the only one who speaks and with a really divine calm He
says:
«Come ahead a little, so that the women may not hear us. For a few days I have had something to
tell you. Something I promised you in the country of Tirzah. But I wanted all of you to be present to
hear Me. But not the women. Let us leave them in their humble peace... What I am going to tell you
will explain why Marjiam will not be with us, and the same applies to your mother, Judas of
Kerioth, and to your daughters, Philip, and to the women disciples of Bethlehem in Galilee with the
girl. It is not for everybody to bear certain things. I, the Master, know what is good for My disciples
and what they can or cannot stand. Not even you are strong enough to endure the trial. And it would
be a grace for you to be excluded. But you will have to continue Me, and you must be aware of how
weak you are, so that in future you may be merciful towards the weak. So you cannot be excluded
from this dreadful test that will give you the measure of what you are, of what you have remained
after being with Me for three years, and of what you have become after the three years you have
been with Me. You are twelve. You have all come to Me almost at the same time. It is not the few
days between My meeting with James, John and Andrew and the day on which you were received
among us, Judas of Kerioth, or the day on which you, My brother James and you, Matthew, came to
Me, that can justify so much difference in your perfecting. You were, all of you, even you, My
learned Bartholomew, and you, My brothers, very imperfect, absolutely imperfect with regard to
what is perfection in My doctrine. Nay, your education, better than that of others among you in the
doctrine of old Israel, was an obstacle to your perfecting in Me. And yet none of you have made so
much progress as would have been sufficient to bring you all to the same point. One has reached it,
others are close to it, others are farther away, others much farther behind, others... yes, I must say
also this, instead of coming forwards, have gone backwards. Do not look at one another! Do not try
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to find out which of you is the first and which the last. He who, perhaps, thinks he is the first and is
considered to be the first, has still to undergo probation. He who thinks he is the last, is about to
shine in his perfection like a star in the sky. So, once again I say to you: do not judge. Facts will
judge with their evidence. For the time being you cannot understand. But soon, very soon, you will
remember these words of Mine and you will understand them.»
«When? You have promised to tell us, to explain to us why the Passover purification will be
different this year, but You never do tell us » says Andrew complaining.
«It is just about that that I wanted to speak to you. Because both those words and these are the
same, as they are rooted in one only principle. We are now going up to Jerusalem for Passover. And
all the things foretold by the prophets concerning the Son of man will be fulfilled there. Truly, as
the prophets foresaw, as it was already stated in the order given to the Hebrews in Egypt, as Moses
was ordered in the desert, the Lamb of God is about to be sacrificed and His Blood is about to mark
the doorposts of hearts, and the angel of the Lord will pass without striking those who have upon
themselves, and with love, the Blood of the sacrificed Lamb, that is about to be raised on the cross
bar, like the precious metal snake, to be the sign for those wounded by the infernal snake, to be
salvation for those who look at it with love. The Son of man, your Master Jesus, is about to be
handed over to the chief priests, to the scribes and the elders, who will sentence Him to death and
will deliver Him to the Gentiles to be sneered at. And He will be smacked, beaten, spat at, dragged
along the streets like a dirty rag, and then the Gentiles, after scourging Him and crowning Him with
thorns, will condemn Him to die on the cross reserved for criminals, as the Jewish people, gathered
in Jerusalem wanted His death in place of that of a robber, and He will be put to death thus. But, as
it is mentioned in the signs of the prophecies, after three days He will rise again. That is the trial
awaiting you. The one that will show you your spiritual advancement. I solemnly tell you, who
think that you are so perfect as to despise those who do not belong to Israel, and to despise even
many of our own people, I tell you solemnly that you, the chosen part of My flock, once the
Shepherd has been captured, will be seized with fright and you will disperse fleeing as if the
wolves, which will fang Me all over, were set on you. But, I tell you, be not afraid. You will not be
hurt in the least. I shall suffice to glut the wild wolves...»
The apostles, while Jesus is speaking, look like people under a shower of stones. They even bend
more and more as Jesus goes on speaking. And when He ends saying: «And what I am telling you is
impending. It is not like the other times, when there was time before the hour. The hour has now
come. I am going, to be handed over to My enemies and sacrificed for the salvation of everybody.
And the bud of this flower will have not yet lost its petals, after flowering, when I shall be already
dead », some hide their faces in their hands and some moan as if they had been wounded. The
Iscariot is livid, absolutely livid...
The first to collect himself is Thomas who proclaims: «That will not happen to You because we
will defend you or we will die with You, and we will thus show that we had reached You in Your
perfection and that we were perfect in loving You.»
Jesus looks at him without speaking.
Bartholomew after a long pensive silence says: «You said that You will be handed over... But who
can hand You over to Your enemies? That is not mentioned in the prophecies. No, it is not
mentioned. It would be too dreadful if one of Your friends, one of Your disciples, one of Your
followers, even the last one, should hand You over to those who hate You. No! No one who has
heard You with love, even if only once, can commit that crime. They are men, not wild beasts, not
demons... No, my Lord. And not even those who hate You will be able... They are afraid of the
people, and all the people will be around You! »
Jesus looks also at Nathanael but does not say anything.
Peter and the Zealot are talking animatedly to each other. James of Zebedee reproaches his brother
because he sees that he is not upset and John replies: «It's because I have known all that these last
three months » and two tears stream down his face. The sons of Alphaeus speak to Matthew who
shakes his head down-heartedly.
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Andrew says to the Iscariot: «Since you have so many friends in the Temple...»
«John knows Annas himself » replies Judas and he concludes: «What can we do? What can the
word of a man do if that is destined? »
«Do you really think so? » ask Thomas and Andrew together.
«No. I don't think anything. They are useless apprehensions. Bartholomew is right. All the people
will be around Jesus. You can already see that by the behaviour of those we meet. And it will be a
triumph. You will see that that is what will happen » says Judas of Kerioth.
«In that case why does He...» says Andrew pointing at Jesus Who has stopped waiting for the
women.
«Why does He say that? Because He is impressed... and because He wants to test us. But nothing
will happen. In any case I will go...»
«Oh! yes. Go and find out! » says Andrew imploring.
They become silent because Jesus is following them once again, walking between His Mother and
Mary of Alphaeus.
Mary smiles lightly because Her sister-in-law shows Her some seeds, got I do not know where, and
says to Her that she wants to sow them at Nazareth, after Passover, just at the little grotto so dear to
Mary: «When You were a little girl, I always remember You with these flowers in Your little hands.
You called them the flowers of Your coming. In fact when You were born Your garden was full of
them, and that evening when the whole of Nazareth came to see Joachim's daughter, the clusters of
these little stars looked like diamonds because of the water from the sky and of the last ray of the
sun that lit them up while setting, and since Your name was "Star", everybody said looking at those
tiny shining stars: "The flowers have adorned themselves to give a hearty welcome to Joachim's
flower, and the stars have left the sky to come to the Star", and they all smiled, happy with the
omen and with Your father's joy. And Joseph, my husband's brother, said: "Stars and drops. She is
really Mary!". Who could have told him then that You were to become his star? When he came
back from Jerusalem, after being chosen as Your spouse? The whole of Nazareth wanted to
celebrate the event with him, because great was the honour that had come to him from Heaven and
because of his nuptials with You, the daughter of Joachim and Anne, and everybody wanted to feast
with him. He kindly but firmly refused all celebrations, amazing everybody. Because which man,
destined to such an honourable wedding and by such a decree of the Most High, would not
celebrate the happiness of his soul, flesh and blood? But he used to say: "A severe preparation is
required for a great appointment ". And with sparing use of words and food, because he had always
practised all other continence, he spent that time working and praying, because I believe that every
hammer-stroke, every chisel-mark became a prayer, if it is possible to pray working. His face was
enraptured. I used to go to tidy up the house, to bleach sheets and all other things left by Your
mother and which had yellowed with age, and I used to watch him working in the kitchen garden
and in the house, making them as beautiful as if they had never been neglected, and I used to speak
to him, too... but he was engrossed in thought. He used to smile. Not at me or at anybody else, but
at a thought of his, that was not the thought of every man about to get married. That is a smile of
mischievous sensual pleasure... He... seemed to smile at the invisible angels of God, and to speak to
them and to consult with them... Oh! I am sure they told him how to treat You! Because later - and
this amazed everybody in Nazareth and almost irritated my Alphaeus - he put off the wedding as
long as possible, and we never understood why he suddenly made up his mind before the fixed
time. And also when we heard You were a mother, how surprised was Nazareth at his contained
joy!... Also my James is somewhat like that. And he is becoming so more and more. Now that I
watch him carefully - I don't know why, but since we came from Ephraim he seems to have
changed completely - I see him thus... just like Joseph. Look at him even now, Mary, now that he
turns round again to look at us. Does he not have the pensive attitude so habitual to Your spouse
Joseph? He smiles, but I do not know whether his smile is a sad or vague one. He looks, but he
seems to be looking far away, beyond us, as Joseph did so often. Do You remember how Alphaeus
used to tease him? He used to say: "Brother, are you still looking at the pyramids?". He would shake
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his head without speaking, patient and engrossed in thought. He was never talkative. But when you
came back from Hebron! He did not even come to the fountain by himself any longer, as he used to
do and as everybody does. He was either with You or at his work. And with the exception of the
Sabbaths, when he went to the synagogue, or when he went somewhere on business, no one can say
that they saw Joseph loitering about during those months. Then you went away... How distressing it
was to have no news of you after the slaughter! Alphaeus went as far as Bethlehem... "They went
away" they said. But how could we believe them, if they had a mortal hatred of you in town, where
the innocent blood was still red and the ruins were still smoking and they blamed you for the blood
that had been shed? He went to Hebron and then to the Temple, because it was Zacharias' turn.
Elizabeth gave him nothing but her tears, Zacharias only words of comfort. They were both worried
about John and fearing fresh cruelties, they had hidden him and trembled for him. They had no
news of you and Zacharias said to Alphaeus: "If they are dead, their blood is on me, because I
convinced them to remain in Bethlehem". My Mary! My Jesus so beautiful at the Passover after His
birth! And to have no news of You for such a long time! But why never any news?...»
«Because it was better to be silent. Where we were, there were many Maries and Josephs, and it
was wise to be considered as a normal married couple » Mary replies quietly, then with a sigh She
says: «And even in their sadness they were happy days. Evil was still so far away! If as human
beings we lacked so many things, our spirits were sated with the joy of having You, My Son! »
«You have Your Son even now, Mary. Joseph is no longer with You, that is true! But Jesus is here
and with His full love of an adult » remarks Mary of Alphaeus.
Mary raises Her head to look at Jesus. Although Her lips smile faintly, Her eyes reveal Her torture.
But She does not utter another word.
The apostles have stopped waiting for them and they all gather together, including James and John
who were behind with their mother. And while they rest after their long walk and some eat a little
bread, the mother of James and John approaches Jesus Who has not sat down, anxious as He is to
set out again, and she prostrates herself before Him.
As her desire to ask for something is obvious, Jesus asks her: «What do you want, woman? Tell
Me.»
«Grant me a grace before You go away, as You say.»
«Which? »
«Arrange for these two sons of mine, who have left everything for Your sake, to sit one at Your
right hand and the other at Your left, when You will be sitting in Your glory, in Your Kingdom.»
Jesus looks at the woman and then at the two apostles and He says: «You have suggested this
request to your mother, misinterpreting the promises I made yesterday. You will not receive in a
kingdom on the Earth the one hundredfold of what you have left. So are you becoming greedy and
foolish, too? But it is not your fault. The mephitic twilight of darkness is already advancing and the
polluted air of Jerusalem is approaching and is corrupting and blinding you... I tell you that you do
not know what you are asking! Can you drink of the cup that I am going to drink? »
«We can, Lord.»
«How can you say so if you have not understood the bitterness of My cup? It will not be only the
bitterness that I described to you yesterday, the bitterness of the Man of all sorrows. There will be
tortures that you would not be in a position to understand even if I should describe them to you...
And yet, yes, although you are still like two boys who do not know the value of what they ask, as
you are two just spirits who love Me, you will certainly drink of My cup. But it is not for Me to
grant you to sit at My right or at My left. It is granted to those for whom it was prepared by My
Father.»
The other apostles, while Jesus is still speaking, are very sharp in criticising the request of the sons
of Zebedee and of their mother.
Peter says to John: «How could you?! I no longer recognise you for what you were! »
And the Iscariot with his demoniac smile says: «Truly the first are the last! Surprises and
discoveries nowadays...» and he laughs on the wrong side of his mouth.
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«Have we perhaps followed our Master to be honoured? » asks Philip reproachingly.
Instead of replying to the two apostles, Thomas addresses Salome saying: «Why did you have your
sons mortified? You should have pondered on the matter and prevented all that, if they did not.»
«That is true. Our mother would not have done that » says Thaddeus.
Bartholomew does not speak, but his countenance evidences his disapproval.
In order to calm everybody's indignation, Simon Zealot says: «We can all make mistakes...»
Matthew, Andrew and James of Alphaeus do not say anything, but they are clearly suffering
because of the incident that injures John's beautiful perfection.
Jesus makes a gesture to impose silence and says: «What? Is one error going to bring about many?
You, who are reproaching with indignation, do you not realise that you are committing a sin as
well? Leave these brothers of yours alone. My rebuke is sufficient. Their humiliation is evident, and
their repentance is humble and sincere. You must love one another, supporting one another.
Because none of you are yet perfect. You must not imitate the world and the men of the world. In
the world, as you are aware, princes lord over their nations and their great men exert their power in
the names of the princes. But that must not happen among you. You must not be eager to lord over
men and your companions. On the contrary, anyone who wants to be great among you, must be your
servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you, must be everybody's servant. Exactly as your
Master did. Did I come to lord over people and oppress them? Or to be served? Certainly not. I
came to serve. Thus, as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life as a
ransom for many, you must do likewise, if you want to be as I am and where I am. Go now. And be
at peace with one another as I am at peace with you.»
-------------------------------
«Jesus says to me:
«Make the following sentence very clear: "...you will certainly drink of My chalice". In translations
you read: "My chalice". I said: "of My chalice", not "My chalice". No man could have drunk My
chalice. I alone, the Redeemer, had to drink all My chalice. My disciples, My imitators and lovers,
are certainly allowed to drink of that chalice from which I drank, with regard to that drop, sip or
sips, that God's predilection grants them to drink. But no one will ever drink all the chalice as I did.
So it is right to say "of My chalice" and not "My chalice".»

576. Meeting with the Disciples Led by Manaen and Arrival at Jericho.
11th March 1947.

The white walls of the houses of Jericho and its palm-trees are already standing out against the
ceramic or enamel deep blue of the sky, when, near a thicket of ruffled tamarisks, of sensitive
mimosas, of hawthorn with very long thorns, of other plants mostly thorny, which seem to have
been thrown there from the rough mountain behind Jericho, Jesus meets with a large group of
disciples led by Manaen. They seem to be waiting. They are, in fact, and they say so after greeting
the Master, stating that some more have gone along other routes to get information, as the delay of
a whole night in arriving at Jericho had worried them.
«I came here with these. And I will not leave You any more until I see You safe with Lazarus » says
Manaen.
«Why? Is there any danger?...» asks Judas Thaddeus.
«You are in Judaea... You are aware of the decree. And of their hatred. So we must fear everything
» replies Manaen and turning towards Jesus he says: «I brought the strongest men with me because,
if they had not caught You, we presumed that You would come this way. And taking into account
our worth as disciples and men, we confide in impressing the wicked and having You respected.»
In fact there are with him the ex-disciples of Gamaliel, John the priest, Nicolaus of Antioch, John
of Ephesus, and other strong men in the prime of life, more gentlemanly looking than common

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people, whom I do not know. Manaen introduces some of them quickly, while he does not
introduce others. They are men from all the regions in Palestine, and among them there are two
from the court of Herod Philip. Thus the names of the most ancient families in Israel resound on the
road near the ruffled thicket, where the leaves of mimosas quiver in the wind and the hawthorns
bend their new shoots.
«Let us go. Is there no one with the women, at Nike's? » asks Jesus.
«The shepherds. All of them, except Jonathan who is waiting for Johanna in the mansion in
Jerusalem. But Your disciples have grown exceedingly. They were about five hundred waiting for
You yesterday at Jericho. So much so that Herod's servants became upset and informed him. And
he did not know whether he should tremble or be pitiless. But he is haunted by the memory of John
and he dare no longer lift his hand against any prophet...»
«Good! That will do You no harm! » exclaims Peter and he rubs his hands gladly.
«But he is the one who is worth less. He is an idol that anyone can move as one likes, and those
who have him in their hands know how to move him.»
«And who has him in his hands? Pilate perhaps? » asks Bartholomew.
«Pilate does not need Herod to take action. Herod is a servant. The mighty ones do not apply to
servants » replies Manaen.
«Who, then? » asks Bartholomew.
«The Temple » replies resolutely one who is with Manaen.
«But Herod is anathema to the Temple. His sin...»
«Notwithstanding your learning and your age, you are very naive, Bartholomew! So do you not
know that the Temple can overcome many, too many things to attain its objects? That is why it does
not deserve to exist any longer » says Manaen with a gesture of utter contempt.
«You are an Israelite. You must not speak thus. The Temple is always the Temple for us » says
Bartholomew in an admonishing tone.
«No. It is the corpse of what it was. And a corpse turns into an unclean carrion when it has been
dead for a long time. That is why God sent the living Temple. That we may prostrate ourselves
before the Lord without performing an unclean pantomime.»
«Be quiet! » whispers to Manaen another man who is with him, as he speaks too clearly. He is one
of those who were not introduced and he is completely enveloped in his mantle.
«Why should I be silent, if my heart speaks thus? Do you think that my words may harm the
Master? If so, I will be quiet. But for no other reason. Even if they should condemn me I will say:
"That is what I think and punish no one but me".»
«Manaen is right. Enough of being silent for fear. It is time for every man to declare his opinion for
or against the Master and to reveal what he has in his heart. I am of your opinion, brother in Jesus.
And if that should bring about our death, we shall die together still professing the truth.» says
Stephen with transport.
«Be wise! Be very wise! » says Bartholomew admonishing them. «The Temple is always the
Temple. It may make mistakes, it is certainly not perfect, but it is... it is... But after God there is no
greater person, no greater power than the High Priest and the Sanhedrin... They represent God; and
we must see what they represent, not what they are. Am I wrong, Master? »
«You are not wrong. In every establishment one must see its origin, in this case the Eternal Father,
Who constituted the Temple and the hierarchies, the rites and the authority of the men appointed to
represent it. We must refer judgement to the Father. He knows when and how to intervene, and
what action to take so that corruption, by spreading, may not contaminate all men and make them
doubt God... And Manaen is right with regard to that, as he has seen the reason for My coming at
the present hour. It is also necessary for you, Bartholomew, to moderate your ultra-conservatism by
means of the innovating spirit of Manaen, so that the measure may be just and feelings perfect.
Every excess is always harmful: to him who accomplices it, to him who suffers it, or to him who
notices it being scandalised and, if he is not an honest soul, making use of it to inform against his
brothers. But that is an action of Cain, and will not be accomplished by the children of the Light, as
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it is the work of Darkness.»
The man who is all so covered, that only his dark very lively eyes can be seen and who warned
Manaen not to speak too much, kneels down and takes Jesus' hand saying: «You are good, Master. I
have become acquainted with You too late, o Word of God! But still in time to love You as You
deserve, if not to serve You as long as I would have liked, as I would like now.»
«It is never too late for the hour of God. It comes at the right moment. And it grants as much time to
serve the Truth as one's will desires.»
«But who is he? » whisper the apostles to one another, and they ask the disciples, but in vain. No
one knows who he is or, if they do, they do not wish to tell.
«Who is he, Master? » asks Peter when he succeeds in approaching Jesus Who is walking in the
middle of the group, with the women behind Him, the disciples ahead of Him, His cousins beside
Him and the apostles around Him.
«A soul, Simon. Nothing more than that.»
«But... can You trust him, if You do not know who he is? »
«I know who he is. And I know his heart.»
«Ah! I see! Just like the Veiled woman at the Clear Water... I will not ask further questions...» and
Peter is happy because Jesus, moving away from James, draws him close to Himself.
They are now at Jericho. A crowd of people singing hosannas rush out of the gate and Jesus can
proceed with difficulty to cross the town going to Nike's house, which is out of Jericho on the other
side. People implore Him to speak. Children are lifted up as if to form a living impassable barrier,
relying on Jesus' love for little ones. People shout: «You can speak. He has already fled to
Jerusalem » and with those words gestures are made towards Herod's beautiful palace, which is now
closed.
Manaen confirms: «It is true. He went away during the night, noiselessly. He is afraid.»
But nothing stops Jesus. He proceeds saying: «Peace! Peace! Let those who are suffering or grieved
come to Nike's house. Let those who wish to hear Me come to Jerusalem. I am the Pilgrim here.
Just like all of you. I will speak in the house of the Father. Peace! Peace and blessings! Peace! »
It is already a little triumph, a prelude to the entrance into Jerusalem, now so close at hand.
I am astonished at Zacchaeus' absence until I see him standing at the entrance of Nike's property
among his friends with the shepherds and the women disciples. They all run towards Jesus and
prostrate themselves, then they escort Him while He, blessing them, proceeds through the orchard
towards the hospitable house.

577. With Some Unknown Disciples.

15th March 1947.

A large number of people have crowded on Nike's meadows, where the hay is drying in the sun.
And two heavy tilted wagons are waiting near the meadows. And I realise why they are waiting
when I see all the women disciples being led towards them and get on them after the Master has
blessed and dismissed them. Also the Blessed Virgin goes away with the other women disciples,
and also the young man from Enon joins them, while many disciples place themselves at the sides
of the wagons and, when the latter move off at the slow pace of the oxen, also the disciples set out.
The apostles, Zacchaeus and his friends remain on the meadows with a small group of personages,
all enveloped in their mantles, as if they did not want to be recognised.
Jesus slowly retraces His steps towards the middle of the meadow and sits on a heap of half-dry
hay, which will soon be taken to the hay-loft. He is engrossed in thought, and everybody respects
His concentration, remaining in three different groups, a little aside from Him and from one
another.
The meditation is prolonged and so is the wait. The sun becomes stronger and stronger and blazes

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down on the meadow that smells strongly of drying stems. Those who are waiting take shelter at the
edges of the meadow, where the last trees of the orchard cast a refreshing shade.
Jesus remains alone. Alone in the sun that is already strong, all white in His linen tunic and in the
headgear of light byssus that blows lightly in the breeze. Perhaps it is the one woven by Syntyche.
The slow plaintive bellowing of cows can be heard from a nearby stable, and the chirruping of
nestlings from the branches of the trees in the orchard and from the threshing-floors: the chirping of
fledglings and the peeping of cheeky chicks. The life that continues being renewed at each
springtime. Doves are wheeling high above, before going back to their nest with steadfast flights. I
do not know whether in Nike's nearby house, or in some field, a woman is singing a lullaby, and the
thin voice of the child, at first shrill and trembling, like the bleating of a lamb, grows faint and then
is silent...
Jesus is pensive. He is still meditating. Always. Insensible to the sun. I have often noted the
exceptional resistance of our blessed Jesus to the rigours of the seasons. I have never understood
whether He felt heat and cold severely and endured them without complaining, out of spirit of
mortification, or whether, as He dominated unchecked elements, He also dominated excessive heat
and cold. I do not know. I know that, although I have seen Him wet to the skin in downpours and
wet with perspiration in dog-days, I have never noticed any gesture of discomfort in Him owing to
heat or cold, neither have I seen Him take those precautionary measures that men usually take
against the excesses of sun or frost.
It was pointed out to me one day that in Palestine it is not customary to go about bare-headed and
that consequently I am wrong in saying that Jesus' bare fair-haired head shines in the sunshine. It
may be very true that in Palestine it is not possible to go about bare-headed. I have never been there
and I do not know. What I know is that Jesus usually does not wear any headgear. And if at the
beginning of a journey He has any on, He soon takes it off, as if He were impatient of
encumbrances, and He carries it in His hand, using it, more than anything else, to wipe the dust and
perspiration from His face. When it rains, He covers His head with the edge of His mantle. In strong
sunshine, particularly when He is on the way to some place, He looks for the shade of rows of trees,
even if they are not close to one another, to protect Himself from sunbeams. But He hardly ever
wears a light veil on His head as He is doing today. This comment may seem useless to some
people, but it is also part of what I see and I mention it while Jesus is thinking...
«It will hurt Him to stay there so long! » exclaims one who belongs to a group that is neither the
apostolic one nor Zacchaeus'.
«Let us go and tell His disciples... Further... I would like... I would not like to be delayed too long »
replies another man.
«Eh! Yes. The Adummim mountains are not very safe by night...»
They go towards the apostles and speak to them.
«All right. I will go and tell them that you want to go away » says the Iscariot.
«No. Not thus. We would like to be at least at En-Shemesh before dark.»
Judas goes away smiling ironically. He bends over the Master and says to Him: «They say that it is
because the sun may hurt You - but the truth is that they may be hurt by beeing noticed too much -
but the Jews want to be dismissed.»
«I am coming... I was thinking... They are right » and Jesus stands up.
«Everybody, except me...» grumbles the Iscariot.
Jesus looks at him and is silent. They go together towards those men whom Judas has called Jews.
«I had already dismissed all of you. I told you yesterday. I will speak only in Jerusalem...»
«That is true. But the fact is that we should like to speak to You, we who... We can speak to you
privately.»
«Satisfy them. They are afraid of us, or, more exactly, of me » says Judas of Kerioth again, with his
venomous smile.
«We are not afraid of anybody. If we wanted we knew how to protect our tranquillity. But they are
not all cowards yet in Palestine. We are descendants of David's valiant men, and if you are not yet
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despised and a slave, you must pay homage to our stock, the first by the holy king's side, the first by
the Maccabees' side. And the first even now, when honour and advice are to be given to the Son of
David. Because He is great. But every creature, no matter how great one may be, may need a friend
in the crucial hours of life » replies passionately one who is all clothed with linen garments,
including his mantle and headgear, which covers almost all his severe face.
«He has us as friends. We have been such for three years, since you...»
«We did not know Him. Too often we were deceived by false Messiahs to believe every assertion
readily. But the latest events have enlightened us. His deeds are the deeds of God, and we say that
He is the Son of God.»
«And do you think that He is in need of you? »
«As the Son of God, no. But as the Man, yes. He has come to be the Man. And the Man always
needs men, His brothers. In any case, why are you afraid? Why do you not want us to speak? Tell
us.»
«Me? Speak! You may speak! People listen more to sinners than to just men.»
«Judas! I thought that such words should feel like fire on your lips! How dare you judge when your
Master does not judge? It is written: "If your sins were like scarlet, they shall become as white as
snow, and if they were as red as crimson, they shall be as white as wool".»
«But You are not aware that among these...»
«Be silent! Let them speak.»
«Lord, we know. The charge against You is ready. They accuse You of violating the Law and the
Sabbaths, of loving the people of Samaria more than us, of defending publicans and prostitutes, of
having recourse to Beelzebub and to other evil powers, of black magic, of hating the Temple and
wanting to destroy it, of...»
«That is enough. Anybody can make charges, but it is more difficult to prove the charge.»
«But among them there are those who support it. Do You think that they are just in there? »
«I shall reply to you with the words of Job, who is a figure of the Patient Man who I am: "Far from
me the thought of considering all of you just. But I will maintain my innocence until the end, I will
not give up my justification which I have begun, because my conscience does not reproach me for
anything in all my life". Now, all Israel can testify, because I will not justify Myself with words that
also a liar can speak, all Israel can testify that I have always taught people to respect the Law, nay,
even more: that I perfected obedience to the Law, and the Sabbaths have not been profaned by Me...
What do you want to say? Speak up! You made a gesture and then you stopped. Speak up! »
One of the... mysterious little group says: «Lord, at the last session of the Sanhedrin they read a
denunciation against You. It came from Samaria, from Ephraim, where You were, and it stated that
it had been proved that You had violated the Sabbath several times and...»
«And I reply to you once again with Job: "And what is the hope of the hypocrite if he steals out of
avarice, and God does not free his soul?". This wretch, who shows one face and has a different
heart and wants to commit the great robbery out of envy of My welfare, is already on the road to
Hell, and it will be of no use for him to have money, and hope for honours, and dream to ascend
where I did not want to go, in order not to betray the holy Decree. Shall we busy ourselves with
him, but to pray for him? »
«But the Sanhedrin has derided You saying: "Here is the Samaritans' love for Him! They accuse
Him to ingratiate themselves with us".»
«Are you sure that it was a Samaritan hand that wrote those words? »
«No. But Samaria was severe with You during the past days...»
«Because the messengers of the Sanhedrin subverted and roused the people with false advice,
exciting foolish hopes that I had to demolish. In any case it is said of Ephraim and of Judah, and it
can be said of every place, because inconstant is the heart of man who forgets favours and yields to
threats: "Your goodness is like morning mist, like dew that disappears in the morning". But that
does not prove that they, the Samaritans, are the accusers of the Innocent. A wrong love made them
furious against Me, but it is love that is delirious. Which other proof proves the charge of
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preference for the Samaritans? »
«You are accused of loving them so much that You always say: "Listen, Israel", instead of saying:
"Listen, Judah". And that You cannot reproach Judah...»
«Really? Is it there that the wisdom of the rabbis gets lost? Am I not the Branch of justice sprouted
from David and through which, as Jeremiah says, Judah will be saved? The Prophet foresees that
Judah, above all Judah, will then need salvation. And this Branch, says the Prophet again, will be
called the Lord, our Just One "because, says the Lord, David shall never lack a male descendant to
sit on the throne of the house of Israel". So what? Has the Prophet made a mistake? Was he drunk?
With what? Certainly with penance and nothing else. Because no one can maintain that Jeremiah
was a guzzler, in order to accuse Me. And yet he says that the Branch of David will save Judah and
sit on the throne of Israel. So one should say that the enlightened Prophet sees that Israel rather than
Judah will be elected, that the King will go to Israel, and that it will be a grace if Judah receives
only salvation. So will it be called the Kingdom of Israel? No. It will be called the Kingdom of
Christ. Of Him Who joins the scattered parts and rebuilds in the Lord, after having, according to the
other Prophet, in a month - what am I saying in a month? - in less than one day, judged and
condemned the three false shepherds and closed My soul to them because their souls remained
closed to Me, and although they desired Me in figure they did not love Me in Nature. Now He Who
sent Me and gave Me the two staves will break both, so that Grace may be lost for cruel people, and
the Scourge may come from the world, not from Heaven. And nothing is more painful than the
scourges that men use for men. It will be so. Oh! so! I shall be struck and two thirds of the sheep
will be scattered. Only one third, always one third only, will be saved and will persevere until the
end. And this third part will pass through the fire through which I shall be the first to pass, and it
will be purified and tested like silver and gold, and it will be said to it: "You are My people" and it
will say to Me: "You are my Lord". And there will be who weighs the thirty shekels, the price of the
dreadful deed, the foul wages. And they will no longer be able to go back in from where they came
out, because also the stones would cry with horror seeing those shekels, stained with the blood of
the Innocent and with the perspiration of Him Who will be persecuted by the most violent
desperation, and they will serve, as it was said, to buy the field for foreigners from the slaves of
Babylon. Oh! the field for foreigners! Do you know who they are? Those of Judah and Israel, those
who soon, for ages, will have no fatherland any more. Not even the earth of their ancient soil will
receive them. It will vomit them out even when they are dead, because they wanted to repel the
Life. How horrible!...»
Jesus becomes silent, as if He were oppressed, with His head lowered. He then raises it, looks
round, He sees those who are present: the apostles, the secret disciples, Zacchaeus and his friends.
He sighs like one who awakes from a nightmare. He says: «What else were you saying? Ah! that I
am accused of loving publicans and prostitutes. That is true. They are sick, they are dying. I, the
Life, give Myself to them as life. Come, My redeemed flock » He says to Zacchaeus and his friends.
«Come and listen to My order. To many, who were whiter than you are, I said: "Do not come to
Jerusalem". To you I say: "Come". This may seem to be unfair...»
«It is in fact » says the Iscariot interrupting Him.
Jesus feigns He has not heard him. He continues to speak to Zacchaeus and his companions saying
to those enveloped in their mantles: «But I say to you: come, because you are plants that need dew
more than others, so that your good will may be assisted by the Mighty Father and you may now
grow freely in Grace. With regard to other matters... Heaven itself will reply by means of
unmistakable signs. The living Temple may really be destroyed, and rebuilt in three days, and for
ever. But the dead Temple, which will only be shaken and will think that it has won, will perish
never to rise again. Go! And be not afraid. Wait for My day, doing penance, and its dawn will bring
you to the Light definitely.» He then says to Zacchaeus: «You may all go as well. But not now. Be
in Jerusalem at the dawn of the day after the Sabbath. Beside the just I want those who have been
raised again, because in the Kingdom of the Christ there are innumerable seats. As many as the men
of good will.» And He sets out towards Nike's house through a thick shady orchard.
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A little path is like a yellowish ribbon on the green ground and a clucking hen crosses it with her
golden-hued chickens and the timorous mother, in the presence of so many strangers, crouches and
spreads out her wings to defend them clucking louder, fearing danger for her little ones. And they
rush and hide under the maternal feathers peeping until they feel safe, and do not seem to exist any
more...
Jesus stops to contemplate her... and tears stream from His eyes.
«He is weeping! Why is He weeping? He is weeping! » they all whisper: the apostles, disciples and
redeemed sinners. And Peter says to John: «Ask Him why He is weeping...» And John, in his usual
attitude, lightly bent out of respect, looking up at Him, asks: «Why are You weeping, my Lord?
Perhaps because of what You were told and what You said previously? »
Jesus rouses Himself, He smiles sadly and pointing at the hen, which is still protecting her offspring
with love, He says: «I also, One with My Father, saw Jerusalem, as Ezekiel said, naked and
shameful. I saw her and passed close to her, and when the time came, the time of My love, I spread
My mantle on her and I covered her nakedness. I wanted to make her queen after being her father,
and to protect her, as that hen is protecting her little ones... But, whilst the brood are grateful for the
attention of their mother and take shelter under her wings, Jerusalem refuses My mantle... But I will
persevere in My plan of love... I... My Father, later, will act according to His will.» And Jesus goes
on to the grass in order not to disturb the brooding-hen and He passes by, and tears stream down His
pale sorrowful face once again.
They all imitate Him, following His steps and whispering until they arrive at the threshold of Nike's
house. Only Jesus goes in with the apostles and the others proceed to their destinations...

523. Prophecy on Israel. Miracles Worked During the Journey from

Jericho to Bethany.
17th March 1947.

It is daybreak and its whiteness is shading into the early pink hue of dawn. The fresh silence of the
country is broken more and more and is adorned with the trills of the awakened birds.
Jesus is the first to come out of Nike's house, He silently sets the door ajar and turns His steps
towards the green orchard resounding with the limpid notes of blackcaps and the flute-like song of
blackbirds.
But before He arrives there four people come from it towards Him. Four of those who were in the
unknown group yesterday and who had never uncovered their faces. They prostrate themselves to
the ground, and at Jesus' order and at the question He asks them, after greeting them with His
salutation of peace: «Stand up! What do you want of Me? » they stand up, throw their mantles
behind their backs and push back their linen headgears, with which they had hidden their faces, as
do Bedouins.
I recognise the thin pale face of Joel of Abijah, the scribe seen in the vision of Sabea. I do not know
the others until they mention their names: «I, Judas of Beth-Horon, the last of the true Hasidaeans,
the friends of Mattathias the Asmonaean »; «I, Eliel, and my brother Elkanah from Bethlehem in
Judah, the brothers of Johanna, Your disciple, and we have no greater title than that. We were
absent when You were strong, we are present now that You are persecuted»; «I, Joel of Abijah,
whose eyes have been blind for so long, but are now open to the Light.»
«I had already dismissed you. What do you want of Me? »
«To tell You that... if we are covered up, it is not because of You, but...» says Eliel.
«Come on! Speak up! »
«But ... Joel, you had better speak, because you are the most informed...»
«Lord... What I know is so... horrible... I would not like even the clods of earth to hear, to know
what I am about to say...»

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«The clods will really be startled, but I shall not. Because I know what you want to say. But speak
just the same...»
«If You know... do not let my lips tremble saying such a dreadful thing. It is not the case that I think
that You are lying saying that You know and that You want me to speak to inform You, but just
because...»
«Yes. Because it is a thing that cries to the Lord. But I will mention it to persuade everybody that I
know the hearts of men. You, a member of the Sanhedrin and won over to the Truth, have found
out something that you cannot bear by yourself, because it is too great. And you went to these true
Judaeans whose spirits are only good, to consult with them. You did the right thing, although it will
be to no avail. The last of the Hasidaeans would be ready to repeat the gesture of his ancestors in
order to serve the true Liberator. And he is not the only one. Also his relative Barzillai would do so
and many more with him. And Johanna's brothers for My sake and for the sake of their sister, and
also of their Fatherland, would join him. But I shall not triumph by means of lances and swords.
Enter the Truth completely. My triumph will be a celestial one. You - and this makes you even
more pale and emaciated than usual - you know who presented the witnesses for the persecution
against Me, the witnesses who, while they are false in their spirits, are truthful with regard to the
material meaning of their words, because I did infringe the Sabbath when I had to flee, as My hour
had not yet come, and when I saved two innocents from the highwaymen, and I could say that
necessity justified the actions as necessity justified David for eating the consecrated bread. It is true
that I took shelter in Samaria, although, when My hour came and the Samaritans suggested that I
should remain with them as their Pontiff, I refused honours and safety to remain faithful to the Law,
even if that means handing Myself to My enemies. It is true that I love sinners and prostitutes to the
extent of tearing them away from sin. It is true that I preach the ruin of the Temple, even if these
words of Mine are nothing but the Messiah's confirmation of the words of His prophets. He who
makes these and other charges and turns also miracles into indictments, and has made use of
everything on the Earth to try to induce Me to sin and be able to add further charges to the previous
ones, is one of My friends. That also was said by the king prophet, from whom I descend through
My Mother: "He who shared my bread raised his heel against me". I know. I would die twice if I
could, not to prevent him from committing the crime - by now... his will has surrendered to Death,
and God does not do violence to man's freedom - but if at least... oh! if at least the torture of the
horrible deed accomplished would make him repent at God's feet... That is why you, Judas of
Beth-Horon, yesterday admonished Manaen to be quiet. Because the snake was present and he
might have damaged the disciple, besides the Master, No. Only the Master will be struck. Be not
afraid. It will not be because of Me that you will have sufferings and misfortunes, but because of
the crime of a whole population you will all have what the prophets said. Oh! My miserable
Fatherland! Miserable land that will experience the punishment of God! Miserable inhabitants and
children whom I now bless and I would like to be saved, and who, although innocent, when adults,
will suffer the torture of the greatest misfortune. Look at this land of yours: flourishing, beautiful,
green and flowery like a wonderful carpet, as fertile as Eden... Impress its beauty on your hearts,
and then... when I shall have gone back whence I came... run away. Run away while you can, before
the desolation of ruin, like a hellish fury, spreads here demolishing and destroying, making
everything sterile and burning more than happened at Gomorrah, more than happened at Sodom...
Yes, more than there, where it was nothing but quick death. Here... Joel, do you remember Sabea?
For the last time she prophesied the future of God's people who did not want the Son of God.»
The four men are dumbfounded. The fear of the future makes them dumb. Eliel at last says: «What
do You advise us to do?...»
«Yes. Go. There will be nothing left here worthy of detaining the children of Abraham's people. On
the other hand, you notables of the people in particular, would not be left here... The mighty ones
made prisoners embellish the triumph of the victor. The new and immortal Temple will fill the
Earth with itself and every man seeking Me will have Me, because I shall be wherever a heart loves
Me. Go. Take your women, sons and the old ones away... You are offering Me salvation and help. I
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advise you to save yourselves, and I help you by means of this advice... Do not disregard it.»
«But now... what greater harm can Rome do us? We are dominated. And if her law is a hard one, it
is also true that Rome has rebuilt houses and towns and...»
«Really, you had better know that not one stone will be left intact in Jerusalem. Fire,
battering-rams, catapults, spears will knock down, demolish, destroy every house and the holy City
will become a cavern, and will not be the only one... Our Fatherland will become a cavern. The
grazing ground of onagers and jackals, as the prophets say. And not for one or more years, or for
ages, but for ever. The desert, aridity, sterility... That is the destiny of this land! The field of
contentions, the place of torture, the dream of reconstruction always destroyed by an inflexible
sentence, attempts at resurrection stifled at birth. The destiny of the Land that rejected the Saviour
and wanted a dew that is fire on culprits.»
«So... will there never again be a Kingdom of Israel? Shall we never again be what we dreamed? »
ask the three Jewish notables in panting voices. Joel, the scribe, is weeping...
«Have you ever watched an old tree whose medulla has been destroyed by disease? For years it
vegetates with difficulty, with so much difficulty that it neither blossoms nor yields fruit. Only rare
leaves on the worn out branches reveal that there is still a little lymph rising... Then in April it
blossoms miraculously, it becomes covered with dense foliage and the owner, who for many years
took care of it without receiving any fruit, rejoices thinking that it has recovered and has become
luxuriant after so much decay... Oh! deception! Sudden death follows such an exuberant outburst of
life. The blossoms, leaves and little fruit fall off, while they seemed to have already set on the
branches promising a rich harvest, and with a sudden crash the tree, rotten at its base, falls to the
ground. That is what Israel will do. After ages of sterile scattered vegetation, it will gather on its old
trunk and will have an appearance of reconstruction. The dispersed People gathered together at last.
Gathered and forgiven. Yes. God will wait for that hour to end the course of ages. Then time will
not longer exist, but only eternity. Blessed are those who, being forgiven, will form the fleeting
blossoming of the last Israel that, after so many ages, will have become of the Christ, and will die
redeemed, with all the peoples of the Earth, blessed with those who, among them, have not only
become acquainted with My existence, but have embraced My Law as the law of salvation and life.
I can hear the voices of My disciples. Go before they come...»
«It is not out of cowardice, Lord, that we are trying to remain unknown, but to serve You, to be able
to serve You. If they knew that we, I in particular, have come to You, we should be excluded from
future resolutions...» says Joel.
«I understand. But bear in mind that the snake is wily. You in particular, Joel, be cautious...»
«Oh! let them kill me! I would prefer my death to Yours! So that I should not see the days You
mentioned! Bless me, Lord to fortify me...»
«I bless you all in the name of God One and Trine and in the name of the Word Incarnate to be
salvation for the men of good will.» He blesses them collectively with a wide gesture and then He
lays His hand on each of the four heads bent at His feet.
They then stand up, they cover their faces again and they disappear among the trees of the orchard
and the hedges of blackberries, that separate pear-trees from apple-trees and the latter from other
trees. Just in time, because the twelve apostles come out of the house in a group looking for the
Master, in order to set forth.
And Peter says: «In front of the house, towards the town, there is a large crowd of people, whom we
held back with difficulty, to let You pray. They want to follow You. None of those You dismissed
have left. On the contrary, many have come back and many have just arrived. We reproached
them...»
«Why? Let them follow Me! I wish everybody did so! Let us go! » And Jesus, after putting on the
mantle that John hands Him, places Himself at the head of His apostles, He arrives at the house, He
passes by it, He takes the Bethany road and intones a psalm in a loud voice.
The people, a real crowd, the men first, then the women and children, follow Him, singing with
Him... The town is left behind in its enclosure of greenery.
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The road is busy with pilgrims. And on the roadside many beggars raise their plaintive voices to
move the crowd to pity and thus receive abundant alms. Cripples, maimed and blind people... The
usual miserable people who, in every age and in every region, are in the habit of gathering wherever
a festivity assembles crowds. And if the blind people cannot see those who are passing by, the
others can see them and as they know how kind the Master is to the poor, they utter their cries
louder than usually, to draw Jesus' attention. But they do not ask for miracles. They only ask for
alms, and Judas gives them alms.
A well-to-do looking woman stops the donkey, which she is riding, near a robust tree that shades a
crossroad and she waits for Jesus. When He is close at hand, she slides down from her mount and
prostrates herself, with some difficulty, because she is holding in her arms a little child, who is
completely inert. She lifts it without saying a word. Her eyes and distressed face are praying. But
Jesus is surrounded by people forming a hedge and He cannot see the poor mother kneeling on the
roadside.
A man and a woman, who appear to be with the sorrowful mother, are speaking to her and the man
shaking his head says: «There is nothing for us.» And the woman says: «Mistress, He has not seen
you. Call Him with faith and He will hear your prayer.»
The mother listens to her and she shouts, in a loud voice, to overcome the noise of songs and steps:
«Lord! Have mercy on me! »
Jesus, Who is a few metres ahead, stops and turns round looking for the person who has shouted,
and the servant says: «Mistress, He is looking for you. So, stand up and go to Him and Fabia will be
cured » and she helps her to stand up and leads her towards the Lord Who says: «Who invoked Me,
should come to Me. It is the time of mercy for those who can hope in mercy.»
The two women elbow their way through the crowd, the servant in front preparing the way for the
mother who follows her, and they are about to arrive near Jesus, when a voice shouts: «My dead
arm! Look! Blessed be the Son of David. Our always mighty and holy true Messiah! »
There is some excitement because many people turn round and bustle about confusedly, moving
like opposite waves around Jesus. Everybody wants to know, to see... They question an old man
who is waving his right arm as if it were a flag and who replies: «He stopped. I succeeded in getting
hold of the hem of His mantle and in covering myself with it, and something like fire and life ran
along my arm, and here it is: my right arm is like my left one, only because it was touched by His
garment.»
In the meantime Jesus asks the woman: «What do you want? »
The woman raises her child and says: «She also is entitled to life. She is innocent. She did not ask
to be of one place or of another one, of one blood or of a different one. I am guilty. I am to be
punished. Not her.»
«Do you hope that God's mercy is greater than men's? »
«I do, Lord. I believe. On my behalf and on my child's to whom I hope You will give lucidity of
mind and motion. You are said to be the Life...» and she weeps.
«I am the Life and those who believe in Me will have the life of the spirit and of their bodies. I want
it! »
Jesus has shouted those words in a loud voice, and He now lays His hand on the inert child who
thrills, smiles and says one word: «Mummy! »
«She moves! She smiles! She has spoken! Fabius! Mistress! » The two women have followed the
phases of the miracle and have proclaimed them loud. And they have called the father who pushes
through the crowd and arrives near the women when they are already at Jesus' feet weeping, and
when the servant says: «I told you that He has mercy on everybody! », and the mother says: «And
now forgive me also my sin.»
«Does Heaven not show you, through the grace granted to you, that your error has been forgiven?
Rise and walk. On the new way, with your daughter and the man you have chosen. Go. Peace be
with you. And with you, little girl. And with you, faithful Israelite. Great peace to you, for your
loyalty to God and to the daughter of the family you served and you kept close to the Law with your
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heart. And peace also to you, man, who have been more respectful to the Son of man, than many in
Israel.»
He takes His leave of them while the crowd, after leaving the old man, takes an interest in the new
miracle for the paralysed dull-witted girl, perhaps the consequence of meningitis, and who is now
skipping happily, saying the only words she knows, probably the ones she knew when she was
taken ill and which now she finds intact again in her revived mind: «Father, mummy, Eliza. The
beautiful sun! The flowers!...»
Jesus is about to go away, but from the cross-road that has now been overtaken, two more plaintive
cries are heard in the typical Jewish accent, coming from the place where the donkeys have been
left by the people who received the miracle: «Jesus, Lord! Son of David, have mercy on me! » And
once again, in a louder voice, to overcome the shouts of the crowd who say: «Be quiet. Let the
Master go on. The way is a long one, and the sun is becoming stronger and stronger. Let Him reach
the hills before it gets hot », they shout: «Jesus, Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me. »
Jesus stops again saying: «Go and get those who are shouting and bring them here to Me.»
Some volunteers go. They reach the two blind men and say: «Come. He has mercy on you. Stand up
because He wants to satisfy you. He sent us to call you in His name » and they try to guide the two
blind men through the crowd.
But if one lets them guide him, the other, who is younger and probably has more faith, precedes the
intentions of the volunteers and moves forward by himself, with his stick pointed forward and the
typical smile and attitude of blind people in raising their faces seeking light... and he proceeds so
fast and sure of himself that he seems to be led by his angel. If his eyes were not white, he would
not seem to be blind.
He is the first to arrive before Jesus Who stops him asking: «What do you want Me to do for you? »
«That I may see, Master. O Lord, let my eyes and those of my companion open.» The other blind
man has arrived and they make him kneel near his companion.
Jesus lays His hands on their raised faces and says: «Let it be done as you wish. Go! Your faith has
saved you! »
He removes His hands and two cries come from their lips: «I can see, Uriel!»; «I can see,
Bartimaeus! » and then together: «Blessed He Who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed He
Who sent Him! Glory be to God! Hosanna to the Son of David » and prostrating themselves with
their faces on the ground they kiss Jesus' feet. They then stand up and the one named Uriel says:
«Lord, I am going to let my relatives see me, then I will come back and follow You.» Bartimaeus
instead says: «I am not going to leave You. I will send word to them. It will always be a great joy.
But I am not going to part from You. You have given me my eyesight. I consecrate my life to You.
Have pity on the wish of the least of Your servants.»
«Come and follow Me. Good will makes all statuses equal, and he only is great who knows how to
serve the Lord in a better way. » And Jesus takes to the road again amid the hosannas of the crowd,
and Bartimaeus mingles with the people and while going he sings hosannas saying: «I came for a
piece of bread and I found the Lord. I was poor, now I am a minister of the holy King. Glory to the
Lord and to His Messiah »...

579. Arrival at Bethany.

18th March 1947.
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They must have stopped half-way between Jericho and Bethany because, when they arrive at the
first houses in Bethany, the last drops of dew are evaporating on leaves and stems in meadows and
the sun is still rising in the vault of heaven.
The farmers of the area drop their tools and rush round Jesus, Who is passing blessing men and
plants, as insistently requested by the peasants. And some women and children come towards Him
with the first almonds still enveloped in the light silver-green plush of the husks, and with the last
blossoms of the late fruit-trees. I notice, however, that here, in the area of Jerusalem, probably
because of the altitude, or because of the winds blowing from the highest mountain tops in Judaea,
or I do not know for which other reason, perhaps also because the trees are different, there are many
trees still blossoming and they look like light white-rosy clouds hanging over the green meadows.
The tender vine leaves quiver under the high tree-trunks like large butterflies of a precious emerald
hue, tied to the rough vine-shoots.
While Jesus stops at the fountain, which is situated where the country ends and the village begins,
and He is respectfully greeted by almost the whole population of Bethany, Lazarus arrives with his
sisters and they prostrate themselves before their Lord. Although little more than two days have
gone by since Mary left her Master, she seems not to have seen Him for ages, so untiring she is in
kissing His dusty feet in His sandals.
«Come, my Lord. Our home is awaiting You to rejoice at Your presence » says Lazarus standing
beside Jesus, while they proceed slowly, as the crowds allow them to do. The people in fact throng
round Him and the children cling to Jesus' garments and walk in front of Him, with their heads
raised looking at Him, so that they stumble and make Him stumble, so much so that Jesus first and
then Lazarus and the apostles pick up the smaller ones in their arms, to be able to walk faster.
At a junction with a lane leading to Simon Zealot's house, there is Mary with Her sister-in-law,
Salome and Susanna. Jesus stops to greet His Mother, and then He goes on as far as the large wide
open gate where Maximinus, Sarah and Marcella are, and behind them all the many servants of the
house, beginning with those employed in the house and ending with those working in the fields.
They are all in order, very happy and excited in their joy that bursts into hosannas, while they wave
their headgears and veils and they throw flowers and leaves of myrtle and laurel, of roses and
jasmins, which shine in the sun with their splendid corollas or spread like white stars on the dark
ground. The scent of plucked flowers and trodden aromatic leaves rises from the ground warmed by
the sun. Jesus passes on the sweet-smelling carpet.
Mary of Magdala, who follows Him looking at the ground, stoops, step by step, looking like a
gleaner who follows the man tying the sheaves, to pick up the leaves and corollas and also the
plucked petals that have been pressed by Jesus' feet.
Maximinus, in order to be able to close the gate and give peace to the guests, orders the servants to
give cakes, that have already been prepared, to the children. A practical way to distract the
children's attention from the Lord and thus send them away without rousing a chorus of complaints.
And the servants carry out the order taking out into the street baskets full of small cakes decorated
with white-brown almonds.
And while the little ones crowd there, other servants push back the adults, among whom there is
still Zacchaeus and his four friends - Joel, Judas, Eliel and Elkanah - and others whom I do not
know, because they are all covered with veils, to protect themselves from the dust raised by a rather
heavy wind and from the sun, which is already strong.
But Jesus, Who is already far ahead, turns round and says: «Wait! I have something to tell some of
you.»
And He goes towards Johanna's brothers and He takes them aside saying: «Please go to Johanna and
tell her to come to Me with all the women who are with her and with Annaleah, the disciple from
Ophel. Tell her to come tomorrow, because the Sabbath begins at sunset, tomorrow and I want to
spend it with My friends of Bethany. In peace.»
«We will tell her, Lord. And she will come.»

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Jesus dismisses them and He goes to Joel: «You will tell Joseph and Nicodemus that I have come
and that on the day after the Sabbath I will enter the town.»
«Oh! Be careful, Lord! » says the good scribe anxiously.
«Go. And be strong. He who follows justice and believes in My truth must not be afraid. But he
must rejoice because the accomplishment of the ancient Promise is about to take place.»
«Ah! I will run away from Jerusalem, Lord. I am a man of a delicate constitution, as You can see
and You know, and I am laughed at because of that. I could not stand any...»
«Your angel will guide you. Go in peace.»
«Shall I... see You again, Lord? »
«Of course you will see Me again. But until you see Me again consider that your love has given Me
so much joy in the hours of sorrow.»
Joel takes the hand that Jesus had laid on his shoulder and presses it against his lips; through the
thin veil of his headgear kisses and tears descend upon Jesus' hand.
He then goes away and Jesus goes to Zacchaeus: «Where are your friends? »
«They remained at the fountain, Lord. I told them to stay there.»
«Join them and go with them to Bethphage where My earliest and most faithful disciples are. Tell
Isaac, their chief, to spread through the town and inform all the groups of disciples that the morning
after the Sabbath, about the third hour, I will pass through Bethphage and enter Jerusalem and I will
go up to the Temple in a solemn way. Tell Isaac that this information is for the disciples only. He
will understand what I mean.»
«I understand as well, Master. You want to surprise the Judaeans so that they may not be able to
hinder Your entrance.»
«Exactly. So do as I told you. Remember that I am entrusting you with a confidential task. I am
making use of you and not of Lazarus.»
«And that tells me how Your kindness to me is incommensurable. I thank You, Lord.» He kisses the
Master's hand and goes away.
Jesus is about to go back to His hosts. But from the gate from which the last people are coming out,
pushed by the servants, a young man departs and runs towards Jesus, throwing himself at His feet
and shouting: «A blessing, Master! Do You recognise me? » raising his head, which is not veiled.
«Yes. You are Joseph named Barnabas, the disciple of Gamaliel, and you came to meet Me near
Giscala.»
«And I have been following You for many days. I was at Shiloh, on my way from Giscala where I
had gone with the rabbi while You were absent, and where I remained studying the rolls until the
month of Nisan. I was at Shiloh when You spoke, and I followed You to Lebonah and to Shechem,
and I waited for You at Jericho, because I had heard that You...» He suddenly stops as if he realised
that he was about to say what he was not to mention.
Jesus smiles kindly and says: «The truth bursts out impetuously from sincere lips, and it
often flows over the dams that prudence places before people's mouths. But I will complete your
thought... "because you had heard from Judas of Kerioth, who remained at Shechem, that I was
going to Jericho to join My disciples and give them My instructions". And you went there to wait
for Me without worrying about being seen, about wasting your time and being away from your
master Gamaliel.»
«He will not reproach me when he learns that I delayed in order to follow You. I will take him Your
words as a gift...»
«Oh! Rabbi Gamaliel does not need words. He is the wise rabbi of Israel! »
«Yes. No other rabbi can teach him anything of what is ancient, nothing, because he knows
everything that is ancient. But You can. You have new words, full of the fresh life of what is new.
Your word is like the sap of springtime. That is what rabbi Gamaliel says, and he adds that the
wisdom by now covered with the dust of ages, and thus dry and dull, becomes lively and bright
when Your word explains it. Oh! I will take him Your words.»
«And My greetings. Tell him to open his heart, his intellect, his sight, his hearing; and his more
411
than twenty-year-old question will be answered. Go. God be with you.»
The youth stoops again to kiss the Master's feet and goes away.
The servants can at last close the gate and Jesus can join His friends.
«I took the liberty of inviting the women disciples here for tomorrow » says Jesus standing beside
Lazarus on whose shoulder He lays His arm.
«You did the right thing, Lord. My house is Yours, as You know. Your Mother preferred to stay in
Simon's house. And I respected Her desire. But I hope that You will stay under my roof.»
«Yes, I will. Although... also the other house is your roof. One of your first generous actions on My
friends' behalf and Mine. How many of them you have done, My dear friend! »
«And I hope I shall be able to go on doing them for a long time. Although that is the wrong word,
wise Master. I am not being generous to You. You are being generous to me. I am the debtor. And if
before the treasures You have given me, I lay a farthing for You, what is my miserable gift as
compared with Your treasures? "Give and it will be given to you" You said. "A shaken and pressed
measure will be poured on your lap and you will receive one hundredfold of what you have given"
You say. I received one hundredfold of a hundredfold even when I had not given You anything. Oh!
I remember our first meeting! You, the Lord and God, Whom seraphim are not worthy to approach,
came to me, when I was all alone and distressed... closed in here, in my sadness, You came to
Lazarus, the man shunned by everybody, except Joseph and Nicodemus and my faithful friend
Simon, who from his sepulchre of a living being did not cease to love me... You did not want my
joy in seeing You to be perturbed by the corrosive splashes of the world's contempt... Our first
meeting! I could repeat all the words You spoke then... What had I given You then, if I had ever
seen You, that I should receive from You, at once, one hundredfold of one hundredfold? »
«Your prayers to our Most High Father. Ours, Lazarus. Mine. Yours. Mine as the Word and as Man.
Yours as man. When you prayed then with so much faith, were you not already giving Me your
whole self? So you can see that, as it is fair, I gave you one hundredfold of what you were giving
Me.»
«Your goodness is infinite, Master and Lord. You reward in advance, and with divine generosity,
those whom Your thought acknowledges as Your servants even before they realise to be such.»
«My friends, not My servants. Because, really, those who do the will of My Father and follow the
Truth that He has sent, are My friends, not My servants. Even more: My brothers, as I am the first to
do the will of the Father. So whoever does what I do is My friend, because only a friend does
spontaneously what his friend does.»
«May it be so for ever between You and me, Lord. When are You going to town? »
«The morning after the Sabbath.»
«I will come as well.»
«No. You will not come with Me. I will tell you why. I have other things to ask of you...»
«As You wish, Master. I have to speak to You as well...»
«We shall speak.»
«Do You prefer to spend the Sabbath among ourselves, or can I invite our mutual friends? »
«Please do not invite anybody. I am anxious to spend these hours in prudent peaceful friendship
with you alone, without any constraint of thought or formality, in the kind freedom of one who is
among such dear friends as to feel at home.»
«As You wish, Lord. In actual fact... that is what I wanted. But I thought I was being selfish towards
my friends. They are all inferior in friendship to You, my only Friend, but still so dear. But if that is
what You wish... Perhaps You are tired, Lord. Or pensive...» Lazarus questions his Friend and
Master more with his eyes than with his words, and Jesus replies to him only with His rather sad
and somewhat absorbed eyes and with a faint smile of His lips.
They are now alone near the fountain, whose jet of water sounds like a song... All the others have
gone into the house and one can hear voices and the noise of kitchenware...
Mary of Magdala twice or three times puts her fair-haired head out of the door protected by a heavy
curtain waving lightly in the wind that is getting stronger, while the sky is overcast with clouds that
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are becoming more and more ruffled and dark.
Lazarus raises his head scanning the sky. «I think we are going to have a storm » he says. And he
adds: «It will help the obstinate buds to open, as they have much difficulty in doing so this year...
Perhaps the late severity of the weather has delayed the shoots. Also my almond-trees have suffered
and much fruit has been lost. Joseph was telling me that one of his kitchen gardens outside the
Judicial Gate appears to be completely unfruitful this year. The trees are restraining the buds, as if
they had been laid under a spell. So much so that he is undecided whether he should leave them or
sell them as firewood. Nothing. Not one blossom. They are now exactly as they were in the month
of Tebeth. Tiny heads of buds, so hard and closed that never swell. It is true that the northern wind
is very strong there and it blew continuously during winter. Also the fruits of my kitchen garden
beyond the Kidron were damaged. But what is happening in Joseph's kitchen garden is so strange
that many people go to see that place that refuses to awake in springtime.»
Jesus smiles...
«Are You smiling? Why? »
«Because of the childishness of men, the eternal children. They are charmed by everything that
appears to be strange... But the orchard will blossom. At the right time.»
«The right time is already past, Lord. When have many trees in one place not blossomed in the
month of Nisan? How long has that place still to wait for the right moment? »
«When it is time to give glory to God with their blossoming.»
«Ah! I see! You will go there to bless that place, for Joseph's sake, and it will blossom giving new
glory to God and to His Messiah by means of a new miracle! It is so! You are going there. Can I tell
Joseph if I see him? »
«If you think that you should tell him... Yes. I shall be going there...»
«When, Lord? I should like to be there as well.»
«Are you an eternal child, too? » Jesus smiles more heartily shaking His head good-naturedly at the
curiosity of His friend who exclaims: «Oh! I am happy that I have cheered You up, Lord. I once
again see Your face bright with a smile, as I had not seen for a long time! So... shall I come? »
«No, Lazarus. I shall need you here on Preparation Day.»
«Oh! But on Preparation Day we attend only to Passover! You... Master, why do You want to do
something for which You will be rebuked? Go there some other day...»
«I shall be compelled to go in there just on Preparation Day. But I shall not be the only one to do
something which is not in preparation for the old Passover. Also the most severe people in Israel,
such as Helkai, Doras, Simon, Sadoc, Ishmael and even Caiaphas and Annas will do entirely new
things...»
«So is Israel going mad?! »
«You have said it.»
«But You... Oh! here is the rain. Let us go into the house, Master... I... am worried... Will You not
explain to me...»
«Yes. Before leaving you I will tell you... There is your sister coming with a heavy cloth, as she is
afraid we might get wet... Oh! Martha! You are always provident and active. But it is not a heavy
rain.»
«My dear sister! Nay, my sisters. They are now both like two tender girls unaware of malice, both
Mary and this one. And when Mary came from Jericho the day before yesterday, she really looked
like a young girl, with her plaits hanging down her body, as she had sold her hairpins to buy sandals
for a boy, and the thin iron hairpins were not strong enough to support her hair. She laughed and
coming off the wagon she said to me: "My dear brother, I have experienced what it means having to
sell in order to buy, and I have learned how even the most simple things are difficult for the poor,
such as having to keep your hair tidy by means of hairpins, twenty of which are worth a didrachma.
I shall remember that to be even more merciful to poor people in future". How much You have
changed her, Lord! »
The woman of whom they are speaking while setting foot in the house is already there with
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amphorae and basins to serve her Lord. She will not surrender the honour of serving Him to
anybody, and she is not satisfied until she has restored the limbs and appetite of her Master and she
sees Him go, wearing fresh sandals, towards the room allotted to Him and where His Mother is
waiting for Him with a fresh linen garment still smelling of sunshine...

77. The Friday before the Entry into Jerusalem. Judas of Kerioth
Impenitent.
19th March 1947.

«If you wish so, you may go, wherever you like. I am staying here today with Judas and James. The
women disciples are to come » says Jesus to the apostles who are gathered around Him under the
porch of the house. And He adds: «But make sure that you are all back here before sunset. And be
prudent. Try to be unnoticed to avoid retaliations against you.»
«Oh! I am going to stay here. What have I to do in Jerusalem? » says Peter.
«Instead I will go. My father is certainly expecting me. He wants to offer the wine. And old
promise, but always kept, because my father is an honest man. What a wonderful wine you will
taste at the Passover banquet! My father's vineyards at Ramah! They are famous in the area » says
Thomas.
«Also these wines of Lazarus are very good. I will never forget the banquet for the feast of the
Dedication...» says Matthew, in an unintentional tone of gluttony.
«In that case your memory will be refreshed more than ever, because I think that Lazarus is giving a
great banquet tomorrow. I have seen such preparations...» says James of Zebedee.
«Is that so? Are other people coming? » asks Andrew.
«No. I asked Maximinus. He said no.»
«Ah! Otherwise I would have put on the new tunic that my wife sent me » says Philip.
«That is what I am going to do. I wanted to put it on at Passover. But I will wear it tomorrow. We
are going to have more peace here tomorrow, than in a few days' time...» says Bartholomew and he
stops pensively.
«I am going to adorn myself with new clothes to go to town. And what about You, Master? » asks
John.
«So am I. I will put on purple robes.»
«You will look like a king! » exclaims the favourite apostle full of admiration, as he already
imagines Him in the splendid robes...
«But if I had not seen to it! I have had that purple for years...» says the Iscariot boastfully.
«Really? Oh! no one had thought about it... The Master is always so humble...»
«Too humble. The time has now come when He must be King. We have waited long enough! If He
is not a king on a throne, at least, to safeguard His dignity, He must have clothes suiting His rank. I
see to everything.»
«You are right, Judas. You are aware of the ways of the world. We... are poor fishermen...» say
humbly the men who have come from the lake... And as it always happens in the light of the world -
in the false twilight of the world - Judas' base metal alloy seems nobler than the unrefined, but
pure, sincere, honest gold of the Galilean hearts...
Jesus, Who was speaking to the Zealot and to Alphaeus' sons, turns round and looks at the Iscariot
and at those honest men, so humble and mortified at being so... deficient as compared with Judas...
and He shakes His head without saying anything. But when He sees the Iscariot tie the laces of his
sandals and sort his mantle as if he were on the point of setting off, He asks him: «Where are you
going? »
«To town.»
«I told you that I am keeping you here with James...»

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«Ah! I thought that You were referring to Your brother Judas... So... I... am like a prisoner... Ah!
Ah! » He sneers.
«I don't think that Bethany has chains or bars. It has only the desire of your Master. And I would
love to be the prisoner of it » remarks the Zealot.
«Oh! of course! I was joking... The fact is... I would like to have news of my mother. Pilgrims from
Kerioth have certainly arrived in Jerusalem and...»
«No. In two days' time we shall all be in Jerusalem. You are staying here now» says Jesus
authoritatively.
Judas does not insist. He takes off his mantle saying: «So? Who is going to town? We ought to
know what the humours are... What the disciples are doing... I wanted to go to hear also from
friends... I had promised Peter...»
«It does not matter. You are staying. Nothing of what you said is necessary. It is not strictly
necessary...»
«But if Thomas is going…»
«Master, I should like to go as well. I also promised it. I have friends in Annas' house and...»
«And would you go there, son? And if they catch you? » asks Salome who has approached them.
«If they catch me? What wrong have I done? None. So I must not fear the Lord. And even if they
catch me, I will not tremble.»
«Oh! the bold young lion! Will you not tremble? Are you not aware of how much they hate us? It's
death, you know, if they catch us » says the Iscariot to frighten him.
«Then why do you want to go? Are you perhaps privileged with immunity? What have you done to
be so? Tell me, and I will do it.»
Judas suddenly looks as if he were frightened and angry, but John's face is so clear that the traitor is
reassured. He realises that there is no snare, no suspicion in those words, and he says: «I have not
done anything. But I have some good friends near the Proconsul, so...»
«Well! Who wants to come, let him come, as it is not raining any longer. We are wasting time here
and by midday it may rain again. Whoever wants to come should hurry up » says Thomas urging
them.
«Shall I go, Master? » asks John.
«Yes, go.»
«There you are! It is always the same! He can, the others can. I cannot. It's always "no" for me! »
«I will try to find out about your mother » says John to calm him.
«And I will try as well. I am coming with you and Thomas » says the Zealot and he adds: «My old
age will check the young ones, Master. And I know those of Kerioth very well. If I see any, I will
approach them. I will bring you news of your mother, Judas. Be good! Be quiet! It is Passover,
Judas. We all feel the peace of this festivity, the joy of this solemnity. Why do you alone want to be
so upset, so sullen, so discontented, enjoying no peace? Passover is the passage of God... Passover,
for us Hebrews, is the feast of our liberation from a hard yoke. The Most High God delivered us.
Now, as the ancient event cannot be repeated, its symbol remains, individual... Passover: liberation
of hearts, purification, baptism, if you wish, with the blood of the lamb, so that enemy powers may
no longer injure those who are marked with it. It is so beautiful to begin the new year with this feast
of purification, of liberation, of adoration of God our Saviour... Oh! excuse me, Master! I have
spoken when I should have kept quiet, because You are here to correct our hearts...»
«Just what I was thinking, too, Simon. The very same thing: that I have two masters now instead of
one, and they seemed too many » says the Iscariot angrily.
Peter... oh! Peter this time cannot control himself and he flies into a rage saying: «And if you don't
stop this at once you will have a third one and that will be me. And I swear to you that my argu-
ments will be more persuasive than words.»
«Would you beat a companion? After so many efforts to keep the old Galilean to the bottom, your
true nature is surfacing again, is that so? »
«It is not surfacing. It has always been on the surface, and very clearly I use no duplicity. The
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trouble is that with wild jackasses such as you are, there is only one argument to break them in: a
good flogging. You ought to be ashamed of trespassing on His kindness and our patience! Come,
Simon! Come, John! Come, Thomas! Goodbye, Master. I am going away as well, because if I stay...
no, thank God, I will no longer be able to check myself » and Peter grasps his mantle, that was on a
seat, and puts it on in a hurry, and he is so angry that he does not realise he has put it on
upside-down, so that John has to tell him of his mistake and help him to put it on right. And he goes
away headlong, stamping his feet on the ground, to discharge some of his wrath thus. He looks like
a furious young bull.
The others... oh! the others are like open books in which one can read what is written. Bartholomew
raises his thin face of an old man towards the sky still cloudy, and he seems to be studying the
winds, in order not to have to study faces: Jesus' is in fact too sorrowful, the Iscariot's too
perfidious. Matthew and Philip look at Thaddeus whose eyes, so similar to Jesus', are flashing with
wrath, and both have the same thought: they take him between them and push him away, towards
the inner lane leading to Simon's house, saying: «Your mother wanted us to do that job. You had
better come, too, James of Zebedee » and they drag away also Salome's son. Andrew looks at James
of Alphaeus and James looks at him: two faces reflecting the same contained sufferings, and as they
do not know what to say, they take each other's hand like two boys and move away sadly. Salome is
the only woman disciple there and she dare not move or speak, neither can she make up her mind to
go away, as if she wished to check other words of the worthless apostle with her presence.
Fortunately none of Lazarus' family are present. The Blessed Virgin is also absent.
Judas sees that he is alone with Jesus and Salome. As he does not want to be with them, he turns his
back on them and goes away towards the jasmin bower.
Jesus looks at him go away. He watches him. He notices that, after pretending to sit down in the
bower, Judas slips away on the quiet from the rear side and disappears among the hedges of roses,
laurels and boxes, that separate the true garden from the beds of spices, where the beehives are. It is
possible to go out there through one of the secondary gates open in the walls of the large garden, a
real park, two sides of which border on very tall hedges, as wide as an avenue, with openings facing
gates here and there to give access to the meadows, fields, orchards and olive-groves, as well as
Simon's house, that link the garden to the farms, uniting and separating them at the same time,
while on the other two sides there are powerful massive walls opening on to two roads, a secondary
one and a main one, that form a crossroad and the former, cutting through Bethany, runs towards
Bethlehem.
Jesus straightens Himself up as much as possible and changes position as much as is necessary, to
see what the Iscariot is doing, and His eyes are blazing.
Mary Salome sees them and she understands, although she cannot see, not being very tall, she
realises what is happening towards the end of the park and she whispers: «Lord, have mercy on us!
»
Jesus hears her whisper and He turns round for a moment to look at His good simple disciple. She
may have had a thought of motherly pride when she asked for a place of honour for her sons, but at
least she was in a position to do so as they are good apostles and she humbly accepted the reproof
of the Master and she did not feel offended by it, neither did she go away from Him, on the contrary
she became more humble and more obliging towards the Master, Whom she follows like His
shadow, whenever she can, and Whose least expressions she studies in order to be able, whenever
possible, to forestall His wishes and give Him joy. And even now the good and humble Salome tries
to comfort the Master and to appease the suspicion that makes Him suffer, saying: «See? He is not
going far. He left his mantle there and he has not picked it up. He may go for a walk in the
meadows to give vent to his humour... Judas would never go to town unless he were properly
dressed...»
«He would go there even if he were naked, if he wanted. In fact... Look! Come here! »
«Oh!! He is trying to open the gate! But it is locked! He is calling one of the servants of the
beehives! »
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Jesus shouts in a loud voice: «Judas! Wait for Me! I must speak to you » and He is about to set out.
«For pity's sake, Lord!! I am going to call Lazarus... Your Mother... Don't go by Yourself! »
Although Jesus is walking fast, He turns round a little and says: «I order you not to do so. On the
contrary, be quiet. With everybody. If they ask you about Me: I have gone out with Judas for a short
walk. If the women disciples come, let them wait. I shall soon be back.»
Salome does not react, neither does the Iscariot. The former near the house, the latter near the wall,
they both remain where Jesus has stopped them and they look at Him: Salome sees Him move
away, Judas sees Him come towards him.
«Open the door, Jonah. I am going out for a moment with My disciple. And if you are going to stay
here, you need not close it behind us. I shall soon be back » He kindly says to the peasant servant
who had remained dumbfounded with the big key in his hand.
The heavy iron door squeaks in being opened, as the key screeches in working the lock.
«A door that is seldom opened » says the servant smiling. «Eh! You have got rusty! When one is
idle one gets spoiled... Rust, dust... urchins... The same happens to us... if we do not always work on
our souls! »
«Well said, Jonah! Your thought is a wise one. Many rabbis would envy you it.»
«Oh! it's my bees that suggest them to me... and Your words. It is really Your words. Then the bees
also make me understand them. Because everything has a voice, if one can understand it. And I say:
if the bees obey the order of Him Who created them, and they are little insects which I do not know
where they may have brains and hearts, and I, who have heart, brains and soul, and I hear the
Master, shall I not be able to do what they do, working all the time to do what the Master says we
must do, and thus make my soul beautiful and bright, without any rust, dust, mud and straw, and
stones and other snares placed in the device by hellish enemies? »
«You are quite right. Imitate your bees, and your soul will become a rich beehive full of precious
virtues, and God will come to enjoy it. Goodbye, Jonah. Peace be with you.»
He lays His hand on the grey-haired head of the servant, who has stooped in front of Him, and He
goes out on the road towards meadows of red clover as beautiful as thick deep-red and crimson
carpets. Bees are flying on them from flower to flower sparkling and humming.
When they are far enough from the wall so that no one in Lazarus' garden might hear them, Jesus
says: «Did you hear that servant? He is a peasant. It is already a great thing if he can read a few
words... And yet... His words could have been uttered by My lips and My speech would not have
seemed to be foolish. He feels that one must watch to ensure that the enemies of the spirit do not
spoil the spirit... I... am keeping you near Me because of such enemies, and that is why you hate
Me! I want to defend you from yourself and from them, and you hate Me. I am handing you the
means to save yourself, and you can still do it, and you hate Me. I will tell you once again: go away,
Judas. Go far away. Do not go to Jerusalem. You are not well. It is not a lie to say that you are so ill
that you cannot take part in the celebration of Passover. You will keep the supplementary one. The
Law allows people to keep the supplementary Passover, when diseases or other grave reasons
prevent them from keeping the solemn one. I will ask Lazarus - he is a prudent friend and will not
ask any questions - to take you beyond the Jordan today.»
«No. I told You many times to reject me. You did not want to. Now I do not want it.»
«You do not want? You do not want to be saved? You take no pity on yourself? On your mother? »
«You should say to me: "Have you no mercy on Me?". You would be more sincere.»
«Judas, My unhappy friend, I am not begging you on My behalf. I am begging you for your own
sake. Look! We are alone. You and I alone. You know who I am, I know who you are. It is the last
moment of grace still granted to us to prevent your ruin... Oh! do not sneer so satanically, My
friend. Do not laugh at Me as if I were mad because I say: "your ruin" and not Mine. Mine is not a
ruin. Yours is... We are alone, you and I, and above us there is God... God Who does not hate you
yet, God Who is witness to this supreme struggle between Good and Evil competing for your soul.
Above us there is the Empyrean watching us. The Empyrean that will soon be filled with saints.
They are already exulting, in their place of expectation, because they feel that joy is coming...
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Judas, your father is among them...»
«He was a sinner. He is not there.»
«He was a sinner, but not a damned soul. So joy is approaching him as well. Why do you want to
grieve him in his joy? »
«He is past grief. He is dead.»
«No. He is not past the grief of seeing you guilty, you... oh! do not make Me say that word!...»
«Yes, say it! I have been saying it to myself for months! I am damned. I know. Nothing can be
changed.»
«Everything! Judas, I am weeping. The last tears of the Man... do you want to have them shed?...
Judas, I beg you. Consider, My friend: Heaven is assenting to My prayers, and you, and you... Will
you let Me pray in vain? Consider who is praying in front of you: the Messiah of Israel, the Son of
the Father... Judas, listen to Me... Stop, while you can!...»
«No! »
Jesus covers His face with His hands and drops to the ground at the border of the meadow. He
weeps noiselessly, but bitterly. His shoulders are shaken by His deep sobbing...
Judas looks at Him, there, at his feet, heart-broken, weeping, and out of the desire to save him... and
he is moved for a moment. Laying aside the hard tone of a real demon he had previously, he says: «I
cannot go away... I have given my word...»
Jesus raises His distressed face and interrupts him saying: «To whom? To whom? To some poor
men! And you are worried about them, about being considered dishonourable by them? And had
you not given yourself to Me for three years? And you are concerned about the comments of a
handful of evil-doers and not about God's judgement? Oh! But what must I do, Father, to revive in
him the will not to sin? » And He lowers His head again, oppressed with sorrow, distressed... He
already looks like the Jesus suffering in the agony of Gethsemane.
Judas feels sorry for Him and says: «I will stay. Do not suffer thus! I will stay... Help me to stay!
Defend me! »
«Always! Always, if you only wish so. Come. There is no sin that I do not excuse and forgive. Say:
"I want". And I shall have redeemed you...» Jesus, standing up, has taken him in His arms.
But if the tears of Jesus-God fall on Judas' head, Judas' lips remain closed. He does not say the
requested word. He does not even say «forgive me » when Jesus whispers through his hair: «You
can perceive whether I love you! I should have reproached you! I kiss you. I should be entitled to
say to you: "Ask your God to forgive you" and I only ask you to have the will to be forgiven. You
are so ill! You cannot ask much of a person who is very ill. Of all the sinners who came to Me I
asked absolute repentance in order to be able to forgive them. I am asking you, My friend, only the
will to repent and then... I will act.»
Judas is silent...
Jesus lets him go saying: «Stay here at least until the day after the Sabbath.»
«I will stay... Let us go back to the house. They will notice our absence. The women are perhaps
waiting for You. They are better than I am and You must not neglect them because of me.»
Do you not remember the parable of the lost sheep? You are the lost sheep... They, the women
disciples, are the good sheep closed in the fold. They are in no danger, even if I should have to
search all day for your soul to take it back to the fold...»
«Of course! Of course! All right! I will go back to the fold! I will shut myself up in Lazarus library
and read there. I don't want to be disturbed. I don't want to see anybody or hear anything. So... You
will not suspect me all the time. And if the Sanhedrin is informed of anything that takes place, You
will have to look for the snakes among Your favourite ones. Goodbye! I am going in through the
main gate. Don't be afraid. I will not run away. You can come and check whenever You wish » and
turning his back on Him he strides away.
Jesus, a tall white figure in His linen tunic at the edge of the green-red meadow, lifts up His arms
towards the clear sky and raises His very sad face and soul to His Father moaning: «Oh! Father!
Will You accuse Me of omitting anything that may save him? You know that I am struggling to
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prevent his crime for the sake of his soul, not for My life... Father! Oh! Father! I beg You! Hasten
the hour of darkness, the hour of the Sacrifice, because it is too cruel for Me to live near the friend
who does not want to be redeemed... The greatest grief! » and Jesus sits down on the thick, tall,
beautiful clover. He bends His head on His raised knees clasped in His arms and He weeps...
Oh! I cannot look at those tears! In distress, in solitude, in... the conviction that Heaven will do
nothing to comfort Him, and that He must suffer that grief, they are already too similar to those of
Gethsemane. And that grieves me too much...
Jesus weeps for a long time in the solitary silent place. Witnesses of His tears the golden-hued bees,
the scented clover that waves slowly in a stormy wind, and the clouds that early in the morning
were like a thin net in the blue sky and are now thick, dark, piled up threatening more rain.
Jesus stops weeping. He raises His head listening... The noise of wheels and harness-bells comes
from the main road. Then the noise of the wheels stops, whilst that of the harness-bells continues.
Jesus says: «Let us go! The women disciples... They are faithful... Father, let it be done as You
wish! I offer You the sacrifice of this desire of Mine as Saviour and Friend. It is written! He wanted
it. That is true. However, Father, let Me continue My work on his behalf until it is all over. And
even from this moment I say to You: Father, when I pray for sinners, a victim having no power to
take direct action, Father, take My sufferings and force Judas' soul with them. I am aware that I am
asking what Justice cannot grant. But Mercy and Love have come from You, and You love what
comes from You and is One Thing only with You, God One and Trine, Holy and Blessed. I will
give Myself to My beloved ones as food and drink. So, Father, are My Blood and My Flesh to
become condemnation for one of them? Father, help Me! A germ of repentance in that heart!...
Father, why are You going away? Are You already moving away from Your Word Who is praying?
Father, the hour has come. I know. May Your blessed will be done! But leave Your Son, Your
Christ, in Whom, by Your inscrutable decree the certain clairvoyance of the future is diminishing in
this hour - and I do not say to You that this is cruelty, but it is Your compassion for Me - leave Me
the hope that I may still save him. Oh! Father! I know. I have known since I am. I have known
since, not only as Word, but as Man, I came here to the Earth. I have known since I met the man in
the Temple... I have always been aware of it... But now... Oh! it seems to Me - through Your great
pity, Most Holy Father! - it seems to Me but a dreadful dream, brought about by his behaviour, but
not something ineluctable... and that I may still hope, always, because infinite is My suffering and
infinite will be the Sacrifice, and may it be of some benefit also for him... Ah! I am raving! It is the
Man Who wants to hope so! The God Who is in the Man, the God made Man cannot delude
Himself! The mist that for a moment was concealing the abyss from Me is dissipating... the abyss
already open to swallow the man who preferred Darkness to the Light... It was Your pity that
concealed it! It is Your pity that shows Me it now that You have recomforted Me. Yes, Father, also
that! Everything! And I will be Mercy until the end, because such is My Essence.»
He is still praying, silently, His arms stretched out crosswise, and His distressed face calms down
more and more assuming the appearance of solemn peace. It becomes almost bright with the light
of interior joy, although there is no smile on His closed lips. It is the joy of His spirit, in communion
with His Father, a joy that leaks out from the veils of the flesh and cancels the marks that grief had
impressed and painted on the Master's face, which had become the more emaciated and
spiritualised, the more He advanced towards sorrow and sacrifice. In these last mortal days the face
of Christ is no longer a face of the Earth, and no artist will ever be able to give us that face of Man
God carved into supernatural beauty by perfect total love and sorrow, even if the Redeemer should
show Himself to the artist.
Jesus is once again at the gate of the enclosure, He locks it and proceeds towards the house. The
servant met previously sees Him and runs to take the big key that Jesus is holding in His hand.
He goes on. He meets Lazarus who says: «Master, the women have come. I took them into the white
hall because in the library there is Judas, who is reading and is not well.»
«I know. Thank you for the women. Are there many? »
«Johanna, Nike, Eliza and Valeria with Plautina and another friend or freedwoman, I do not know,
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whose name is Marcella, and an old woman who says she knows You: Anne of Meron, then
Annaleah and there is another young girl with her, named Sarah. They are with the women
disciples, Your Mother and my sisters.»
«And these voices of children? »
«Anne has brought her grandchildren, Johanna has her children and Valeria her daughter. I took
them into the inner court-yard...»

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