291. At Bozrah.
1st October
1945.
Bozrah looks very dull in the morning mist, both because of the season and because the town is closed in its narrow streets. It looks dull and dirty. The apostles, who have come back from their shopping at the market, are talking about it. Hotel practice in those days and in such places is so utterly antiquated, that one has to see to one's victuals. Innkeepers obviously do not want to lose any money. So they only cook what customers bring them, and let us hope that they do not steal any of that. Or at most they buy food for customers or sell them what they have in stock, working as butchers, if necessary, preparing poor lambs to be roasted.
Peter
does not like buying from the innkeeper and is now squabbling with him. The man,
with a rather roguish face, goes to the point of insulting the apostle, calling
him «Galilean », while Peter answers back, pointing to a little pig, which the
host has just slaughtered for some guests: «I am a Galilean, and you are a pig,
you pagan. I would not stay in your stinking inn for one hour, if it depended on
me. You thief and... (and he adds here a very clear epithet... which I leave in
my pen).» I realise that between the people of Bozrah and the Galileans there is
one of the many regional or religious incompatibilities, of which Israel, or
rather Palestine was full.
The
host shouts louder: «If you were not with the Nazarene, and I were not better
than your filthy Pharisees who hate Him without any good reason, I would wash
your face with the blood of the pig, so you would have to get out of here and
rush to purify yourself. But I respect Him, Whose power is known. And I tell
you, that notwithstanding all your fuss, you are sinners. We are better than you
are. We do not lay snares neither do we betray. You, faugh! You are a lot of
unfair traitors and rascals and you do not even respect the few holy people
among you.»
«Who
are you calling traitors? Us? Ah! In God's truth I...» Peter is furious and is
about to break upon the man, when his brother and James hold him back, and Simon
Zealot intervenes with Matthew.
But
Peter's wrath is abated not so much by their intervention as by the voice of
Jesus Who appears at one of the doors and says: «You now, Simon, will be quiet.
And you, too, man.»
«Lord,
this man was the first to insinuate and threaten.»
«Nazarene,
I was offended first.»
I,
he. He and I. The two culprits cast blame on each other.
Jesus
comes forward seriously and calmly. «You are both wrong. And you, Simon, more
than he is. Because you know the doctrine of love, of forgiveness, of meekness,
of patience and brotherhood. In order not to be ill‑treated as a Galilean, you
must make yourself respected as a saint. And you, man, bless the Lord if you
feel that you are better than others and endeavour to be worthy of becoming
better and better. And above all, do not foul your soul with false charges. My
disciples neither betray nor lay snares.»
«Are
You sure, Nazarene? Well, then, why did those four come and ask me whether You
had come, with whom You were and so many more questions? »
«What?
Who are they? Where are they? » The apostles gather round him, forgetting that
they are drawing close to a person still wet with the blood of a pig, which
struck them with horror shortly before and kept them away.
«Go
and mind your own business. You may stay, Misace.»
The
apostles go into the room from which Jesus came out, and only Jesus and the
innkeeper are left in the yard, one facing the other. The merchant is a few
steps from Jesus and is watching the scene spellbound.
«Tell Me the truth, man. And forgive if blood made one of My disciples furious. Who are those four and what did they say? »
«I
do not know exactly who they are. They are certainly scribes and Pharisees from
the other side. I do not know who brought them here. I have never seen them. But
they are well informed of You. They know from where You have come, where You are
going, with whom You are. But they wanted confirmation from me. No. I may be a
rascal. But I know my business. I know nobody and I see nothing. I know nothing.
With regard to others, of course. As far as I am concerned, I know everything.
But why should I tell others, particularly those hypocrites, what I know? Am I a
rascal? Yes. If necessary I side also with robbers. In any case, You know... But
I could not steal or try to steal Your freedom, honour and life. And those ‑ I
am no longer Phara of Ptolemy if what I say is not true and those are lying in
wait for You, to do You harm. And who sent them? Perhaps someone from Perea or
the Decapolis? Or someone from Trachonitis or Gaulanitis or Hauran? No. We
either do not know You, or if we have heard of You, we respect You as a just
man, if we do not believe in You as a saint. So, who sent them? Someone on Your side and perhaps one of Your
friends, because they know too many things...»
«It
is easy to be informed of my caravan...» says Misace.
«No, merchant. Not of you, but of the others who are with Jesus. I do not know and I do not want to know. I do not see and I do not want to see. But I say to You: if You are guilty, make amends, if You know that You have been betrayed, take the necessary action.»
«I
am neither guilty, man, nor betrayed. The only trouble is that Israel does not
understand Me. But how do you know about Me? »
«Through
a boy. A mischievous boy who had a bad reputation at Bozrah and Arbela. Here,
because he came here to commit his sins, there because he dishonoured his
family. Then he became converted and more honest than a just man. And he passed
by with Your disciples, a disciple himself, and is waiting for You at Arbela, to
honour You with his father and mother. And he tells everybody that You changed
his heart through his mother's prayers. If this region ever becomes a holy one,
Philip of James will have the merit of having sanctified it. And if there is
anyone who believes in You in Bozrah, it is due to him.»
«Where
are the scribes now, who came here? »
«I
don't know. They went away because I told them that I had no rooms for them. I
had them, but I did not want to give hospitality to snakes and thus have them
close to the dove. They are certainly in this area. Be
careful.»
«Thank
you, man, What is your name? »
«Phara.
I did my duty. Remember me.»
«Yes.
And you must remember God. And forgive My Simon. The great love he has for Me at
times blinds him.»
«No
harm. I offended him as well... But it hurts to be insulted. You do not
insult...»
Jesus
sighs... He then says: «Will you help the Nazarene? »
«If
I can...»
«I
would be glad to speak from this yard...»
«And
I will let You speak. When? »
«Between
the sixth and ninth hour.»
«Go
wherever You want and do not worry. Bozrah will know that You are going to
speak. I will see to it.»
«May
God reward you for it » and Jesus smiles at him, a smile which is already a
reward. He then goes to the room where He was before.
Alexander
Misace says: «Master, will You smile at me as well, like that?... I am also
going to tell the citizens to come and listen to the Bounty Which is speaking. I
know many. Goodbye.»
«May
God reward you, too » and Jesus smiles at him.
He
enters the room. The women are around Mary, Whose face is sorrowful and She gets
up at once and goes towards Her Son. She does not speak. Her whole attitude is
uncertainty. Jesus smiles at Her and He replies to Her saying to everybody: «Be
free by the sixth hour. I will speak here to many people. In the meantime go,
everybody, with the exception of Simon Peter, John and Ermasteus. Go and
announce Me and give plentiful alms.»
The
apostles go away.
Peter
slowly approaches Jesus Who is near the women and asks: «Why did You not send me
as well? »
«When
one is too impulsive, one stays at home. Simon, Simon! When will you learn to be
charitable to your neighbour? For the time being it is a burning flame, but only
for Me, it is a straight and stiff blade, but only for Me. Be mild, Simon of
Jonah.»
«You
are right, Master. Your Mother has already reproached me, as She knows how to,
but without hurting. But it penetrated right into me. But... reproach me as
well, but do not look at me so sadly.»
«Be
good... Syntyche, I would like to speak to you privately. Come up to the
terrace. Will you come, as well, Mother...»
And
on the rustic terrace, which covers one wing of the building, in the sunshine
which warms the air, walking slowly between Mary and the Greek woman, Jesus
says: «Tornorrow we will part for a little while. When near Arbela, you women
with John of Endor, will go towards the Sea of Galilee and will continue together as far as
Nazareth. But as I do not want to send you by yourselves with an almost disabled
man, I will get My brothers and Simon Peter to accompany you. I can foresee that
there will be some reluctance to separate. But obedience is the virtue of the
just. When you go through the country over which Chuza watches in Herod's name,
Johanna can find some more people to escort you on the rest of the way. You will
then send back Alphaeus' sons and Simon Peter. But the reason why I asked you to
come up here is as follows. I want to tell you, Syntyche, that I have decided
for you to stay for some time in My Mother's house. She already knows. John of
Endor and Marjiam will be staying with you. Stay there willingly, perfecting
yourself more and more in Wisdom. I want you to take great care of poor John. I
am not saying this to My Mother because She does not need any advice. You can
understand John and sympathise with him, and he can do you much good because he
is an experienced master. I will come later. Oh! Quite soon! And we will often
meet. I hope to find you wiser and wiser in the Truth. I bless you particularly,
Syntyche. This is My farewell from you, for this time. You will find love and
hatred in Nazareth as anywhere else. But in My house you will find peace.
Always.»
«Nazareth
will ignore me and I will ignore Nazareth. I will live nourishing myself with
the Truth and the world will be nothing to me, Lord.»
«Very
well. You may go, Syntyche. And do not mention it to anybody, for the time
being. Mother, You know... I trust these dearest pearls of Mine to You. While we
are in peace, among ourselves, Mother, let Your Jesus refresh Himself in Your
caresses...»
«How
much hatred, Son! »
«How
much love! »
«How
much bitterness, My dear Jesus! »
«How
much sweetness! »
«How
much incomprehension, My Son! »
«How
much comprehension, Mother! »
«Oh!
My darling, My Dear Son! »
«Mother!
Joy of God and Mine! Mother! »
They
kiss each other and remain together, on the stone bench against the low terrace
wall: Jesus embracing His Mother, a loving protector, Mary reclining Her head on
Her Son's shoulder, Her hands in His: happy... The world is so distant... buried
in the waves of love and faithfulness...
292. The Sermon and Miracles at
Bozrah.
2nd October
1945.
...And
the world is so close with its waves of hatred, betrayal, sorrow, need,
curiosity. And the waves come, like those of the sea in a harbour, to die here,
in the yard of the inn at Bozrah, which the respectful host, whose heart is
better than his face makes one suppose, has cleaned of excrement and dirt. There
is a large crowd of people, both local and strangers, but of the same region.
And there are people whose conversation gives me to understand that they come
from very far, from the lake area or beyond the lake. I catch the names of
villages, and parts of sorrowful stories in the conversation of the people
awaiting Jesus. Gadara, Hippo, Gerghesa, Gamala, Aphek, Nain, Endor, Jezreel,
Magdala and Korazim, are mentioned by many people together with the stories of
the reasons why they have come from so far.
«When
I heard that He had come through Trans‑Jordan, I was discouraged. But some
disciples came when I was about to go back to Jezreel and they said to us, who
were waiting at Capernaum: "He is certainly beyond Gerasa by now. Waste no time,
go to Bozrah or Arbela" and I came with these people...»
«I
instead, saw some Pharisees pass through Gadara. They were asking where was
Jesus of Nazareth, Whom they knew to be in the area. My wife is ill. I joined
them. Then yesterday at Arbela I heard that He was coming to Bozrah first, so I
came here.»
«I
have come from Gadara for this boy. He was gored by a furious cow. He has been
left in that state...» and he shows his son who is utterly shrivelled and unable
to move his arms.
«I
could not bring mine. I come from Megiddo. What do you think? Will He cure him
from here also? » moans a woman whose face is red with
weeping.
«No,
the sick person must be present.»
«No
It is enough to have faith.»
«No.
Unless He imposes His hands, one is not cured. His disciples also do
that.»
«You
have come a long way for nothing, woman.»
The
woman begins to weep saying: «Poor me! I left him when he was almost dying,
hoping... He will not cure him, and I will not comfort him in his
death...»
Another
woman consoles her: «Don't believe that, woman. I have come to thank Him because
He worked a great miracle for me, without leaving the mountain on which He was
speaking.»
«What
was the matter with your son? »
«It
was not my son. It was my husband who had become mad...» and the two women
continue speaking in low voices.
«It
is true. Also a mother at Arbela had her son redeemed without the Master seeing
him » says a man from Arbela and he goes on speaking to some people near
him...
«Make way, for pity's sake! Make way! » shout some bearers of a litter which is completely covered.
The
crowds open out and the litter goes by with its sorrowful load, and stops at the
end of the yard, almost behind a rick of straw. Is it a man or a woman lying on
the litter? Who knows!
Two
Pharisees come in: they are vainglorious and well preserved and more proud than
ever. They assault the poor host as if they were mad, shouting: «You cursed
liar! Why did you tell us that He was not here? Are you His accomplice? How dare
you despise us, the holy ones in Israel, to favour... Whom, after all? How do
you know who He is? What is He to you? »
«What
is He? What you are not. But I did not lie. He came a few hours after you had
left. He did not hide Himself, neither do I hide Him. But as I am the boss here,
I tell you at once: "Get out of my house!". You do not insult the Nazarene here.
Do you understand? And if you do not understand my words, I can speak to you in
a more factual way, you jackals! »
The
robust innkeeper seems so decided to come to blows that the two Pharisees change
tone and become like creeping pups menaced by lash. «But we are looking for Him
to revere Him! What are you thinking of? The thought that we might not see Him
through your fault made us furious. We know Who He is. The holy and blessed
Messiah, to Whom we are not worthy to raise our eyes. We are dust, He is the
glory of Israel. Take us to Him. Our souls are yearning to hear His
words.»
The
host imitates their voices and gestures in a wonderful way: «Oh! Of course! And
how could I ever suspect it was not so, since I am so well aware of the fame of
Pharisees' justice?! Of course! You have come to worship Him! You are yearning
for that! I will go and tell Him! I am going... No, by Satan! You shall not
follow me! Neither will you, or I will strike you so much, you poisonous
mummies, that I will make one knock into the other. Stay here. You stay here,
where I am putting you. And you here. And I am sorry I cannot knock you into the
ground up to your necks and use you as pegs to tie the pigs to be slaughtered»
and he passes from words to deeds by seizing the leaner Pharisee by his armpits,
lifting him up and dropping him so violently on the ground, that if it were not
very hard the poor fellow would have sunk into it up to his ankles. But the
ground is hard and the Pharisee remains standing like a puppet, after being
tossed about so much. Then the host gets hold of the other man, and although he
is rather fat, the innkeeper raises and drops him with the same fury, and as the
Pharisee reacts wriggling, he knocks him down and makes him sit: a bundle of
flesh and cloth... He then goes away uttering a nasty word which is lost among
the moans of the two and the laughter of many more.
He
goes through a corridor into a small yard, he climbs a little staircase, reaches
a porched gallery and enters a large room in which Jesus and His group are about
to finish their meal with the merchant.
«Two of the four Pharisees have come. You had better see what You must do. For the time being I have seen to them. They wanted to come with me. But I did not want them. They are now down in the yard with many sick people and many others.»
«I
will come at once. Thank you, Phara, You may go.»
They
all get up. Jesus orders His disciples and the women to stay where they are,
with the exception of His Mother, Mary Clopas, Susanna and Salome. But seeing
the sad countenance of those who have been excluded, He says: «Go up to the
terrace. You will hear Me just the same.»
He
goes out with the apostles and the four women. He goes back the same way as the
host came and enters the large yard. The crowds crane their necks to see, and
those who are sly climb up on to straw stacks, on carts standing on one side, or
on the edge of reservoirs...
The
two Pharisees go and meet Him ceremoniously. Jesus greets them with His usual
salutation as if they were His most faithful friends. But He does not stop to
reply to their unctuous questions: «Are you so few? And without disciples? So
they have left You? »
Jesus
continuing to walk replies gravely: «No one left Me. You have come from Arbela
where you met those who precede Me, and in Judaea you met Judas of Simon,
Thomas, Nathanael and Philip.»
The
stout Pharisee no longer dare follow Him and he stops all of a sudden blushing.
The other, who is more barefaced, insists: «That is true. But as we knew that
You were with faithful disciples and with some women, we were surprised at
seeing You with so few people. We wanted to see Your new conquests and
congratulate You » and he gives a false smile.
«My
new conquests? There they are! » and Jesus makes a wide semicircular gesture,
pointing at the crowds, which are mainly from the region beyond the Jordan, that
is from this region where Bozrah is. And without giving the Pharisee time to
retort, He begins to speak.
«Those
who previously did not inquire about Me, have been looking for Me. And those who
previously did not look for Me have found Me. And I said: "Here I am" to a
nation which did not invoke My Name. Glory be to the Lord Who speaks the truth
through the lips of the prophets! Looking at this crowd which has gathered round
Me I really rejoice in the Lord because I see that the promises, which the
Eternal Father made to Me when He sent Me to the world, have been fulfilled.
Those promises which I Myself, with the Father and the Paraclete, put in the
thoughts, on the lips and in the hearts of the prophets, the promises of which
I was aware before becoming Flesh and
which encouraged Me to be made flesh. And they encourage Me. Yes, they encourage
Me against hatred, malice, mistrust and falsehood. Those who previously did not
inquire about Me, have been looking for Me. And those who did not look for Me,
have found Me. How come, if I was instead rejected by those to whom I had
stretched out My hands saying: "Here I am"? And yet they knew Me, whereas these
people here did not know Me. So?
Here is the key to the mystery. It is not a fault to ignore, but it is a fault to deny. And too many of those who know Me and to whom I stretched My hands, have denied Me as if I were illegitimate or a thief, a corrupting demon, because their pride has extinguished their faith and they have gone astray along bad, twisted sinful ways, leaving the way which My voice points out to them. Sin is in the heart, on the table, in the beds, in the hearts, in the minds of this people which rejects Me and which, seeing its own filth reflected everywhere, sees it on Me also, and its bitterness piles it up more and more, and it says to Me: "Go away, because You are unclean".
So
what will He say, Who is coming with His robe dyed red, handsome in His garment,
and is walking in the power of His strength? Will He accomplish already what
Isaiah says, and will He not be quiet, but will He pour on their laps what they
deserve? No, He will not. First He has to tread the winepress alone, abandoned
by everybody, to make the wine of Redemption. The wine that exhilarates the just
and makes them blessed, the wine that exhilarates the guilty of the great sin,
to crush their sacrilegious power into crumbs. Yes, My wine, which is maturing
hour by hour in the sun of Eternal Love, will be the ruin and salvation of many,
as it is stated in a prophecy not yet written, but deposited in the unsplit rock
from which the Vine giving the Wine of eternal Life sprang
up.
Do you understand? No, you doctors of Israel do not understand. But it does not matter whether you understand. The darkness of which Isaiah speaks is descending upon you: "They have eyes and do not see. They have ears and do not hear". You shield the Light with your hatred, so that one can say that the Light was repelled by darkness and the world refused to know it.
But
exult, you who were in the dark and believed in the Light which was announced to
you, and you desired it, sought it and found it. Exult, o faithful people who
have come to Salvation crossing mountains, valleys and lakes without considering
the burden of the long journey. The same applies to the other spiritual journey
which will take you, o people of Bozrah, from the darkness of ignorance to the
light of Wisdom.
Exult,
o people of Hauran! Exult in the joy of knowledge. Truly it refers also to you
and to your neighbouring peoples, when the Prophet sings that your camels and
dromedaries will crowd the streets of Naphtali and Zebulun to worship the true
God, and to be His servants in the holy mild law, which does not impose anything
in order to give divine paternity and eternal happiness but compliance with the
ten commandments of the Lord: to love the true God with one's whole being, to
love one's neighbour as oneself, to keep the Sabbath without desecrating it, to
honour one's parents, not to kill, not to steal, not to commit adultery, not to
bear false witness, not to covet the wife or property of other people. Oh! you
are blessed. if coming from farther away you will go beyond those who belonged
to the house of the Lord and went out of it, urged by the ten commandments of
Satan: dislike of God, love of oneself, corruption of cult, harshness towards
parents, murderous desire, attempt to steal other people's holiness, fornication
with Satan, false witness, envy of the nature and mission of the Word, and the
horrible sin which ferments and matures in the depth of hearts, of too many
hearts.
Exult, you who are thirsty! Exult, you who are hungry! Exult, you who are afflicted! Were you rejected? Were you proscribed? Were you despised? Were you strangers? Come! Exult! It is no longer so. I give you homes, wealth, paternity and fatherland. I give you Heaven. Follow Me, because I am the Saviour! Follow Me, because I am the Redeemer! Follow Me, because I am the Life! Follow Me, because I am He to Whom the Father refuses no grace! Exult in My love! Exult! And that you may realise that I love you, you who have sought Me in your sorrows, you who have believed in Me even before knowing Me, that this may be a day of true exultation, I pray thus: "Father, Holy Father! On all the wounds, diseases, sores of bodies, on the grief, tortures, remorse of hearts, on all the faithful who are springing up, on those who are vacillating, on those who are strengthening, let health, grace, peace descend! Peace in My Name! Grace in Your Name! Health through Our reciprocal love! Bless them, o Most Holy Father! Gather and form one fold with these lost children of Yours and Mine! Let them be where I will be, one with You, Holy Father, with You, with Me and with the Most Divine Spirit".»
Jesus,
with His arms stretched out crosswise, His palms upwards towards the sky, His
face raised, His voice blaring like a silver tuba, is overwhelming in His
speech... He remains thus, silent, for some moments. Then His sapphire eyes stop
looking at the sky to look at the large yard crowded with people who are sighing
deeply moved or are quivering with hope; He joins His hands moving them forward
and with a smile which transfigures Him, He utters a final cry: «Exult, you who
believe and hope! People of sufferers, rise and love the Lord your
God!»
The
healing of the diseased is simultaneous and general. Trilling voices and roaring
shouts praise the Saviour. A woman squeezes through the crowd, from the far end
of the yard, dragging the sheet that had covered her and collapses at the feet
of the Lord. This time the terrified crowds utter a different shout: «Mary, the
leprous wife of Joachim! » and they run in all directions.
«Be not afraid! She is cured. Contact with her can do you no harm » says Jesus reassuring them. And He says to the prostrated female: «Stand up, woman. You have been rewarded for your great hope and you are forgiven for neglecting prudence towards your brothers. Go back home after the salutary ablutions.»
The
woman, who is young and quite beautiful, stands up weeping. Jesus shows her to
the crowds who have come back and admire the miracle shouting out of
astonishment.
«Her
husband, who adored her, had built a shelter for her at the end of his fields
and went to its border every evening and gave her some food
weeping...»
«She
became infected through her pity, taking care of a beggar who did not say that
he was a leper.»
«But
how did Mary, the good woman, come here? »
«On
that litter. How did we not notice Joachim's two servants?
»
«They
ran the risk of being stoned for that.»
«Their
mistress! They love her, she is so kind that they love her more than
themselves...»
Jesus
makes a gesture and they all become silent: «You can see that love and goodness
bring miracles and joy. So, be good. Go, woman. No one will do you any harm.
Peace be with you and with your household.»
The
woman, followed by the servants who have burnt the litter in the middle of the
yard, goes out and many people follow her.
Jesus
dismisses the crowd after listening to some people and He retires to the house
followed by those who were with Him.
«What
words, Master! »
«How
transfigured You were! »
«What
a voice! »
«And
what miracles! »
«Did
you see the Pharisees flee? »
«They
went away like two creeping lizards immediately after the first
words.»
«The
people of Bozrah and of all the villages here have a wonderful recollection of
You...»
«Mother,
what do You say? »
«I
bless You, Son, on their behalf and Mine.»
«Well,
Your blessing will follow Me until we meet again.»
«Why
do You say that, Lord? Are the women leaving us? »
«Yes,
Simon, Tomorrow at daybreak Alexander is leaving for Aera. We will go with him
as far as the road to Arbela and we will then leave him. And with regret,
believe Me, Alexander, because you have been a kind guide for the Pilgrim. I
will always remember you, Alexander.»
The
old man is moved. He is standing with his arms folded on his chest, in the deep
eastern salutation, bending a little in front of Jesus. But when he hears His
words, he says: «Above all, remember me when You are in Your
Kingdom.»
«Do
you wish that, Misace? »
«Yes,
my Lord.»
«I
also wish something of you.»
«Which,
Lord? If I can I will give it to You, even if it were the most precious thing I
possess.»
It
is the most precious. I want your soul. Come to Me. I told you, at the beginning
of our journey, that I hoped to give you a gift at the end of it. My gift is
Faith. Do you believe in Me, Misace? »
«I
do believe, Lord.»
«Then
sanctify your soul so that faith may not be for you not only an inert but also a
harmful gift.»
«My
soul is old. But I will endeavour to make it new. Lord, I am an old sinner.
Absolve me and bless me, because as from this moment I am beginning a new life.
I will take Your blessing with me as the best escort in my journey towards Your
Kingdom... Shall we ever meet again, Lord? »
«Not
on this earth. But you will hear of Me and you will believe even more because I
will not leave you without evangelization. Goodbye, Misace. We shall not have
much time tomorrow to say goodbye to each other. Let us do so now, before taking
our food together for the last time.» He embraces and kisses
him.
The
apostles and disciples also do so. The women greet him all
together.
But
Misace kneels down almost in front of Mary saying: «May Your light of a pure
morning star shine in my mind until my death.»
«Until
Life, Alexander. Love My Son and you will love Me, and I will love
you.»
Simon
Peter asks: «But shall we be going from Arbela to Aera? I am afraid we may be
caught in bad weather. There is so much fog... We have had it for three days at
dawn and sunset...»
«That
is because we have been coming down here. Do you not think that we have come
down a good deal? It is so. Tomorrow you will be climbing towards the mountains
of the Decapolis and there will be no more fog there » explains
Misace.
«Come
down? When? It was a flat road...»
«Yes,
but in continuous descent. Oh! so slowly that one does not notice it. But in
many miles...»
«How
long shall we be staying at Arbela? »
«You,
James and Judas, not even one hour » replies Jesus
resolutely.
«James
and Judas... I... not even one hour? And where am I going if I am not staying
with you all? »
«You
are going away. As far as the land in the guardianship of Chuza. You will take
My Mother and the women there, with the others. They will then proceed by
themselves with Johanna's servants and you will come back and join Me at
Aera.»
«Oh!
Lord! You are angry with me and You are punishing me... How much You grieve me,
Lord! »
«Simon,
he feels that he is punished who knows
that he is guilty. Being guilty must grieve you, not the punishment in itself.
But I do not think that it is a punishment to accompany My Mother and the
women disciples on their way back home.»
«But
would it not be better if You came with us? Never mind Aera and these places and
come with us.»
«I
promised to go and I will go.»
«Then
I will come, too.»
«You
will obey without complaining, as My brothers do.»
«And
if You meet some Pharisees? »
«You
are certainly not the most suitable to convert them. It is just because I will
meet some that I want you, James and Judas to go away with the women and with
John of Endor and Marjiam before Arbela.»
«Ah!...
I see! All right.»
Jesus
turns round to the women and blesses them one by one, giving each of them
suitable advice.
The
Magdalene on bending to kiss the feet of her Saviour asks: «Shall I see You
again before I go back to Bethany? »
«Most
certainly, Mary. In the month of Ethanim I will be on the
lake.»
293. Farewell to the Women
Disciples.
3rd October
1945.
The
reverential respect of Misace is shown the following morning, when he makes the
pilgrims go the first miles on the camels after adjusting their loads, turning
them into comfortable cradles for the inexperienced riders. And it is quite
funny to see dark or fair‑haired heads emerging from bundles and cases, with
long hair reaching down to the men's ears, or tresses showing through the
women's veils. As the camels are moving very fast, the wind now and again blows
back the veils and the bright golden hair of Mary Magdalene or the milder fair
hair of the Blessed Virgin shines in the sunshine, while the dark or
brown‑haired heads of Johanna, Syntyche, Martha, Marcella, Susanna and Sarah
show indigo or dark bronze reflections, and the grey‑haired heads of Eliza,
Salome and Mary Clopas seem to be sprayed with silver dust in the clear warm
sun. The men are proceeding bravely on the new means of transport and Marjiam is
laughing happily.
They realise that the merchant's statement is true, when, turning round, they see Bozrah down in the valley, with its towers and high houses in the labyrinth of the narrow streets. Low hills appear to the north‑west. The road to Aera runs at their feet; the caravan stops to let the pilgrims dismount and part. The camels kneel down with remarkable pitching which makes more than one woman scream. I now see that wisely the women had been fastened to the saddles with belts. The women are somewhat stunned with so much rolling, but they are well rested.
Misace
dismounts as well; he had taken Marjiam up on his saddle, and while the
cameleers resettle the loads in the usual way, he approaches Jesus to bid Him
goodbye once again.
«Thank
you, Misace. You have saved us a lot of fatigue and time.»
«Yes.
We have covered twenty miles in a short time. The camels have long legs, even if
they do not amble smoothly. I do hope that the women have not suffered too much
because of that.»
All
the women reassure him that they are well rested and have not
suffered.
«You
are now six miles from Arbela. May Heaven accompany you and make your journey
smooth. Goodbye, my Lord. Allow me to kiss Your holy feet. I am happy to have
met You, Lord. Remember me.» Misace kisses Jesus' feet, he mounts again and his
cry makes the camels rise... And the caravan leaves at a gallop on the flat
road, in a cloud of dust.
«A
good man! I am all bruised, but in compensation, my feet have had a rest. But
how much knocking! A north wind storm on the lake is nothing in comparison! Are
you laughing? But I did not have the cushions the women had. Long live my boat!
It is still the cleanest and safest thing. And now let us pick up our bags and
move on.»
They
compete with one another in loading themselves. The winners are those who will
be staying with Jesus, that is, Matthew, the Zealot, James and John, Ermasteus
and Timoneus, who take everything to spare the three who will be going with the
women, or rather the four, because there is also John of Endor, whose help must
be very relative, owing to the poorly state he is in.
They
walk fast for a few miles. When they reach the top of a low hill which acted as
a screen to the west, a fertile plain appears, surrounded by a ring of hills,
which are higher than the one they met previously, and in the middle of the
plain there is a long isolated hill. There is a town in the plain: Arbela. They
descend and are soon in the plain.
They
proceed for a little while, then Jesus stops saying: «This is where we part. Let
us take our food together and then we shall part. This is the cross‑road to
Gadara. You will take that road. It is the shortest one and before evening you
will be in the territory watched over by Chuza.»
There
is not much enthusiasm... But they obey.
While
taking their food Marjiam says: «Well, it is also the moment to give You this
pouch. The merchant gave it to me when I was in the saddle with him. He said to
me: "You will give it to Jesus before parting from Him and you will tell Him to
love me as He loves you". Here it is. It was heavy here, in my tunic. It seems
to be full of stones.»
«Let
us see! Money is heavy! » They are all curious.
Jesus
undoes the thin twisted leather strips which fasten the pouch made with gazelle
leather, I think, because it looks like chamois leather, and empties its
contents on His lap. Some coins roll out. But they are the least. Many small
bags of very fine byssus roll out as well: little bundles tied with a thread.
Beautiful hues shine through the very light linen tissue and the sun seems to
light a tiny fire in each little bundle, as if they were embers under a thin
veil of ash.
«What
is it? Undo them, Master.»
They
are all bending over Jesus Who calmly unties the knot of a little bundle shining
with golden reflections: topazes of various sizes, still unrefined, sparkle
freely in the sun. Another little bundle: rubies, drops of coagulated blood.
Another one: a precious delightful display of green emerald chips. Another one:
bits of sky in pure sapphires. Another one: languid amethysts. Another: violet
indigo of beryls. Another: wonderful black onyxes... And so on for twelve little
bundles. In the last one, the heaviest, a golden sparkling of chrysolites, there
is a small parchment: «For Your Rational (1)
of true Pontiff and King ».
Jesus'
lap is a little meadow strewn with bright stripped petals... The apostles plunge
their hands into that light which has become many‑coloured matter. They are
bewildered...
Peter
whispers: «If Judas of Kerioth were here!...»
«Be
quiet! It is better that he is not » says Thaddeus
resolutely.
Jesus
asks for a piece of cloth to make one parcel only of the stones and He is
pensive while the others continue commenting.
The
apostles say: «That man was rich indeed! » and Peter makes everybody laugh
exclaiming: «We have been trotting on a throne of gems. I did not think I was
sitting an such splendour. I wish it had been softer! What will You do with it
now? »
«I
will sell it for the poor.» He looks up at the women
smiling.
«And
where will You find a jeweller here, who can buy those things?
»
«Where?
Here. Johanna, Martha, Mary, will you buy My treasure? »
The
three women, without even consulting with one another, say: «Yes » impulsively.
But Martha adds: «We have little money here.»
«You
will let Me have it at Magdala at the new moon.»
«How
much do You want, Lord? »
«For
Myself, nothing. For My poor, very much.»
«Give
me it. You will have very much » says the Magdalene, and she takes the purse and
conceals it in her breast.
(1) The Rational
was the precious pectoral of judgement worn by the High Priest when he went into
the presence of Yahweh (See Exodus 28, 15‑30).
Jesus
keeps only the money. He stands up. He kisses His Mother, His aunt His cousins
and then he kisses Peter, John of Endor and Marjiam. He blesses the women and
dismisses them. And they go away, looking back now and again, until they
disappear round a bend.
Jesus
goes with the rest towards Arbela. It is only a small group now, only eight
people in all. They walk fast without speaking towards the town which is
becoming closer and closer.
294. At Arbela.
4th October
1945.
The
very first person they approach when inquiring about Philip of Jacob makes them
realise how much work the young disciple has done. The person they asked is a
little old wrinkled woman, who is carrying with difficulty a jug full of water.
Gazing with her little deep‑set eyes at the handsome face of John who asked her
the question, after greeting her «Peace be with you » so gently as to enrapture
her, she says: «Are you the Messiah? »
«No.
But I am His disciple. He is coming, He is over there.»
The
old woman puts her jug on the ground and hobbles in the direction pointed out to
her and kneels down in front of Jesus.
John,
who has remained with Simon near the pitcher which has turned over spilling half
of its contents, says to his companion smiling: «We had better pick up this jug
and join the old woman.» He does so while his companion adds: «We can use it to
drink. We are all thirsty.»
When
they reach the old woman ‑ who not knowing what to say exactly continues to
repeat: «Lovely, holy Son of the most holy Mother » still on her knees and
drinking in with her eyes the figure of Jesus, Who smiles at her repeating in
His turn: «Stand up, mother » ‑ when they reach her, John says to her: «We have taken your jug. But it turned
over and there is little water left in it. If you give it to us, we will drink
this water and then we will fill the jug for you.».
«Yes,
my sons, of course. And I am sorry
that I have but water for you. I wish I had milk in my breast as when I fed my
Judas, in order to give you the sweetest thing there is on the earth: the milk
of a mother. I would like to have wine, choice wine, to strengthen you. But
Marianne of Elisha is old and poor...»
«Your
water is wine and milk to Me, mother, because it is given with love » replies
Jesus and He is the first to drink out of the jug handed to Him by John. Then
the others drink.
The
old woman, who has at last stood up, looks at them as if she were looking at
Paradise and when, after they have all drunk, she sees that they are about to
throw away the water left in the jug, to fill it at the fountain gurgling at the
end of the street, she rushes forward, defending her jug and saying: «No, don't.
This water is more holy than lustral water, as He drank out of it. I will keep
it carefully so that I may be cleansed with it when I die.» And she seizes her
jug saying: «I will take it home. I have some more and I will fill them. But
come first, o Holy One, that I may show You Philip's house » and she trots along
swiftly, all bent, with a smile on her wrinkled face and her little eyes shining
with joy. She trots along holding the hem of Jesus' mantle in her hand, as if
she were afraid He might run away from her, and she defends her jug from the
insistent apostles, who do not want her to carry that weight. She trots along
blissfully, looking at the street and the houses in Arbela, the former deserted,
the latter already closed as it is getting dark, and she looks like a conquerer,
happy in her victory.
Finally,
they pass from the side street into a more central one, where there are people
hastening home ‑ and the people watch her spellbound, pointing at her and
questioning her ‑ and, after waiting to have a circle of people around her, she
shouts: «I have here Philip's Messiah. Run and tell everybody and first of all
Jacob's household. So that they may be ready to honour the Saint.» She shouts at
the top of her voice. She can make herself obeyed. It is the moment of authority
of a poor, lonely, unknown little old woman of the people. And she sees the
whole town deeply moved by her command.
Jesus,
so much taller than she is, smiles at her when she looks at Him now and again
and He lays His hand on her venerable head, in a filial caress which overwhelms
her with happiness.
Jacob's
house is in a central street. It is open and lit up and through the door one can
see a long hall in which there are people holding lights, and they rush out
joyfully as soon as Jesus appears in the street: the young disciple Philip, his
father and mother, relatives, servants and friends.
Jesus stops and replies gravely to Jacob's deep bow, He then bends over Philip's mother who has knelt down to revere Him, and He makes her stand up blessing her and saying: «Be always happy because of your faith.» He then greets the disciple who has come with the other man who was with him, and whom Jesus greets as well.
Old Marianne, however, does not leave the hem of the mantle or her place beside Jesus until they are about to enter the entrance hall. She then whispers: «Bless me that I may be happy! You will now stay here... I am going to my poor house and... and this beautiful thing is all over! » How much regret there is in her ageing voice!
Jacob,
to whom his wife has spoken in a low voice, says: «No, Marianne of Elisha. Stay
in my house as if you were a disciple. Stay as long as the Master will be with
us and be thus happy.»
«May
God bless you, man. You know what charity is.»
«Master...
she brought You to my house. You have brought me grace and love. I am only
giving back, and in a poor way, what I have received from You and from her so
abundantly. Come in, and let my house welcome You.»
The crowds outside in the street see them go in and shout: «And what about us? We want to hear His word.»
Jesus
turns round: «It is night and you are tired. Prepare your souls through a holy
rest and tomorrow you will hear the Voice of God. For the time being, peace and
blessings be with you.» And the front door closes on the happiness of this
house.
James
of Zebedee watches the Lord during the purification after the journey: «Perhaps
it was better to speak at once and depart at dawn. There are some Pharisees in
town. Philip told me. They will vex You.»
«Those
who might have been vexed by them are far away. The trouble they may cause Me is
of no importance. There is love that will cancel it...»
The
following morning... Jesus goes out among the joyful relatives of Philip and the
apostles. The old woman follows them. He meets the people of Arbela who are
patiently waiting for Him. He goes to the main square where He begins to
speak.
«We
read in the eighth chapter of the second book of Ezra, what I will now repeat to
you: "When the seventh month came..." (Jesus says to me: "Do not write anything
else. I will repeat the words of the book in full").
When
does a people return to its country? When it goes back to the land of its
ancestors. I have come to take you back to the land of your Father, to the
Kingdom of the Father. And I can do that because I was sent for that. So I have
come to take You to the Kingdom of God and it is therefore fair to compare you
to those who repatriated with Zorobabel to Jerusalem, the city of the Lord, and
it is fair to do with you what Ezra the scribe did with the people gathered once
again within the sacred walls. Because it is incomparable foolishness to rebuild
a town dedicating it to the Lord, without restoring souls, which are like as
many little towns of God.
How
can these little spiritual towns, dilapidated by so many events, be restored?
Which materials should be used to make them solid, beautiful, lasting? The
materials are in the precepts of the Lord: the ten commandments, of which you
are aware, because Philip, a son of your town and My disciple, has reminded you
of them. The two most holy of the holy precepts are: "Love God with your whole
being. Love your neighbour as yourself". They sum up the Law. And I preach them
because through them you are certain to conquer the Kingdom of God. In love you
find the strength of persevering in holiness or becoming holy, the strength of
forgiveness, the strength of heroism in virtue. Everything can be found in love.
Fear does not save: the fear of the judgement of God, the fear of human
sanctions, the fear of diseases. Fear is never constructive. It shakes,
shatters, throws into disorder, it crushes. Fear leads to despair, it leads only
to crafty concealment of evil‑doing, it makes one fear when fear is useless,
because evil is already within us.
Who
thinks of behaving wisely, for the sake of his body, when one is healthy? No
one. But as soon as the first shiver of fever runs through our veins or a stain
makes us think of unclean diseases, then fear becomes an added torture to the
disease and it becomes a disintegrating strength in a body already broken down
by illness. Love instead is constructive. It builds, solidifies, unites and
preserves. Love brings hope in God. Love removes from evil-doing. Love makes man
deal wisely with his own person, which is not the centre of the universe, as
egotists believe and make it, the false lovers of themselves, because they love
one part only: the less noble one, to the detriment of the immortal and holy
part; but which it is our duty to preserve healthy, as long as God so wishes, in
order to be useful to ourselves, to our relatives, to our town and to the whole
country.
Diseases
inevitably come. It is not true that every disease is the consequence of vice or
punishment. There are holy diseases sent by the Lord to His just people, so that
in the world, which considers itself the end and the means of pleasure, there
may be holy people who are like war‑hostages for the safety of others, and they
pay personally expiating through their suffering, the portion of guilt which the
world daily accumulates and which would end by crashing on Mankind, burying it
under its malediction.
Do
you remember old Moses praying while Joshua was fighting in the name of the
Lord? You must consider that those who suffer holily, give the greatest battle
to the fiercest warrior there is in the world, concealed under the appearances
of men and peoples, to Satan, the Torturer, the Origin of all evils, and they
fight on behalf of all men. But how
much difference there is between such holy diseases sent by God, and those
caused by vice through a sinful love of senses! The former are a proof of God's
merciful will; the latter are a proof of diabolical corruption. It is therefore
necessary to love, in order to be holy, because love creates, preserves and
sanctifies.
Like Nehemiah and Ezra, I also, announcing this truth, say to you: "This day is sacred to the Lord our God. Do not be mournful, do not weep". Because all mourning ends, when one lives the day of the Lord. The harshness of death comes to an end, because the loss of a son, of a husband, a father, mother or brother becomes a temporary and limited separation. Temporary because it ends with our death. Limited because it is confined to the body and sense. Our soul does not lose anything when a relative of ours dies. Its freedom is limited in one party only, in us, as survivors with our souls still enclosed in the flesh, while the other party, the one who has passed to second life, enjoys the liberty and power to watch over us and obtain for us much more than when it loved us from the prison of its body.
Like
Nehemiah and Ezra I say to you: "Go, eat the fat meat, drink the sweet wine and
send a portion to the man who has none, for this day is sacred to the Lord, and
therefore nobody must suffer during it. Do not be sad, because the joy of the
Lord Who is among you, is the stronghold of those who receive the grace of the
Most High Lord within their walls and in their hearts".
You
can no longer erect Tabernacles. Their time is over. But erect spiritual ones in
your hearts. Climb the mountain, that is, rise towards Perfection. Gather
branches of olive, myrtle, palm, oak, hyssop and of every beautiful tree.
Branches of the virtues of peace, purity, heroism, mortification, strength,
hope, justice, of all virtues. Adorn your souls celebrating the feast of the
Lord. His Tabernacles are awaiting
you. His. And they are beautiful,
holy, eternal, open to all those who live in the Lord. And together with Me,
decide today to do penance for the past and to begin a new
life.
Do
not be afraid of the Lord. He calls you because He loves you. Be not afraid. You
are His children like everybody in Israel. Also for you He created the Universe
and Heaven, He sent Abraham and Moses, He opened the sea, He created the guiding
cloud, He descended from Heaven to give the Law, and He opened the clouds that
they might rain manna, and He made the rocks fruitful that they might give
water. And now for you also He is sending the living Bread of Heaven to satisfy
your hunger and the true Vine and the Fountain of eternal Life to quench your
thirst. And through My lips He says to you: "Enter and possess the Land over
which I have raised My hand to give it to you". My spiritual Land: the Kingdom
of Heaven.»
The
crowds exchange enthusiastic words... Then it is the turn of sick people. There
are so many. Jesus has them lined up in two rows, and while this is being done,
He asks Philip of Arbela: «Why did you not cure them? »
«That
they might have what I had: to be cured by You.»
Jesus
passes blessing the sick people one by one and the usual prodigy is repeated:
the blind see, the deaf hear, the dumb speak, cripples stand straight, fever and
weakness cease.
The
healing is over. At the end, after the last sick person, there are the two
Pharisees who went to Bozrah together with two more. «Peace to You, Master. Are
You not saying anything to us? »
«I
spoke to everybody.»
«But
we do not need those words. We are the saints of Israel.»
«To
you, who are masters, I say: comment upon the subsequent chapter, the ninth of
the second book of Ezra, remembering how many times so far God has had mercy on
you, and repeat the end of the chapter, as if it were a prayer, beating your
chests.»
«Quite
right, Master, quite right. And do Your disciples do it? »
«They
do. It is the first thing I exact of them.»
«All
of them? Also the murderers who are in Your group? »
«Does
blood smell bad to you? »
«It
is a voice crying to Heaven.»
«Then
do not imitate those who shed it.»
«We
are not assassins! »
Jesus
gazes at them piercing them with His eyes. They dare not add one word for some
time. But they follow the group which goes back to the house of Philip, who
feels bound to invite them to enter and join in the
banquet.
«With
great pleasure! We will stay longer with the Master » they say bowing very
low.
But
once in the house they behave like bloodhounds... They watch, they peek, they
ask the servants astute questions, and they approach even the old woman, who
seems to be attracted by Jesus as iron is by a magnet. But she replies promptly:
«Yesterday I saw these only. You must be dreaming. I brought them here, and
there was only one John: that fair‑haired boy who is as good as an
angel.»
They
fulminate against the old woman and turn elsewhere. But a servant, without
replying to them directly, bends over Jesus, Who is sitting speaking to the
landlord, and asks Him: «Where is John of Endor? This gentleman is looking for
him.»
The
Pharisee casts a withering glance at the servant and stigmatises him as a «fool
». But Jesus is now aware of their intentions and it is necessary to remedy in
the best possible manner. The Pharisee says: «It was to congratulate You,
Master, on this wonder of Your doctrine and honour You through the
convert.»
«John
is far away for good and he will be farther and farther
away.»
«Has
he relapsed into sin? »
«No.
He is ascending towards Heaven. Imitate him, and you will find him in the next
life.»
The four do not know what to say and they
wisely change the subject. The servants announce that the meal is ready and they
all go into the dining‑room.
295. Going to Aera.
6th October
1945.
Arbela
also is now far away. In the group there are also Philip of Arbela and the other
disciple, whose name I hear is Mark.
The
road is muddy because of the heavy rain. The sky is overcast. A little river,
but quite worthy of this name, crosses the road to Aera. Swollen with the rain
which has stormed in this area it is certainly not sky‑blue; it is reddish
yellow as if the water had been flowing through ferrous
ground.
«The
weather is now bad. You did the right thing in sending the women away. It is no
longer the season for them to be on the roads » states James
sententiously.
And
Simon the Zealot, who is always calm in his devotion to the Master, proclaims:
«Everything He does, the Master does well. He is not dull like us. He sees and
arranges everything for the best, and more to our behalf than to His
own.»
John,
who is happy to be beside Him, looks up at Him with a smiling face and exclaims:
«You are the dearest and best Master the earth ever had, has or will have,
besides being the most holy.»
«Those
Pharisees... What a disappointment! Also the bad weather has helped to convince
them that John of Endor was not there. But why are they so hostile to him? »
asks Ermasteus, who is very fond of John of Endor.
Jesus
replies: «Their hatred is not against him or because of him. He is an implement
which they manoeuvre against Me.»
Philip
of Arbela says: «Well the rain has more than convinced them that it was useless
to wait for and suspect John of Endor. Long live the rain! It served also to
keep You in my house for five days.»
«I
wonder how worried those at Aera are! It is surprising that my brother has not
come to meet us » says Andrew.
«Meet
us? He will be following us » remarks Matthew.
«No.
He was taking the road along the lake. Because he was going from Gadara to the
lake and by boat to Bethsaida to see his
wife and tell her that the boy is at Nazareth and that he will be soon going
back. From Bethsaida through Merom he will take the road to Damascus for a
little while, and then the road to Aera. He is certainly at
Aera.»
There
is silence. Then John says smiling: «But that little old woman, Lord!
»
«I
thought that You were going to grant her the joy of dying on Your chest, as You
did with Saul of Kerioth » remarks Simon Zealot.
«I
have loved her even more. Because I will wait to call her to Me, when the Christ is about to open the
gates of Heaven. The little mother will not have to wait long for Me. She now
lives with her remembrance, and with the assistance of your father, Philip, her
life will not be so sad. I bless you and your relatives once again.»
John's
joy is darkened by a cloud thicker than the ones in the sky. Jesus notices it
and asks: «Are you not glad that the old woman will soon be coming to Paradise?
»
«Yes...
but I am not as it means that You will be going... Why die, Lord?
»
«Those
who are born of woman, die.»
«Will
You have her only? »
«Oh!
no! How joyfully will those proceed, whom I save as God, and whom I loved as
man...»
They
cross two more little rivers, one close to the other. It is beginning to rain on
the flat region which stretches in front of the pilgrims after they have climbed
the hills at the junction with the road, which follows a valley and runs
northwards. A mighty mountain chain appears to the north, or rather to the
north‑west, but more north than west, with many clouds piling on the mountain
tops, forming almost unreal new tops on the real ones, covered with woods on the sides and with snow
on the peaks. But the chain is very far away.
«There is water down here, and snow up there. That is the chain of the Hermon. It has covered its summit with a large white blanket. If there is sunshine at Aera, you will see how beautiful it looks when the sun tinges the high peak with pink » says Timoneus, who is urged by the love for his fatherland to praise the beauty of the country.
«But
it is raining now. Is Aera still far? » asks Matthew.
«Yes,
very. We shall not be there until this evening.»
«In
that case, may God save us from aches and pains » concludes Matthew, who is not
very keen on walking in such weather.
They
are all wrapped up in their mantles, under which they hold their travelling
sacks to protect them from dampness, so that they may change their clothes on
arrival, as the ones they are wearing are dripping wet and the bottom parts are
heavy with mud.
Jesus is ahead of them, engrossed in thought. The others are nibbling at their pieces of bread and John says jokingly: «There is no need to look for fountains to quench our thirst. It is enough to hold sore heads back and open our mouths and the angels will give us water.»
Ermasteus,
who being young is like Philip of Arbela and John so lucky as to take everything
humorously, says: «Simon of Jonah was complaining of the camels. But I would
rather be on one of those towers shaken by an earthquake than in this mud. What
do you think? »
And
John: «I say that I am comfortable everywhere, providing Jesus is
there...»
The
three young men go on talking incessantly. The four older ones quicken their
steps and reach Jesus. The remaining couple, that is, Timoneus and Mark follow
the rest speaking...
«Master,
Judas of Simon will be at Aera...» says Andrew.
«Of
course. And Thomas, Nathanael and Philip will be with
him.»
«Master...
I will regret these peaceful days » says James with a
sigh.
«You
must not say that, James.»
«I
know... But I cannot help it...» and he draws another deep
sigh.
«There
will be also Simon Peter with My brothers. Does that not make you happy?
»
«It
does, very much! Master, why is Judas of Simon so different from us?
»