Maria Valtorta
(Conclusion)
414.
The Beggar on the Road to
Jericho.
17th May 1944.
I
see Jesus on a very dusty and sunny main road. There is not the smallest patch
of shade, there is not a blade of grass. There is dust on the road, there is
dust on the waste country bordering on it. There are certainly none of the
pleasant hills of Galilee nor of the woody mountains of Judaea, so rich in
waters and pastures. The land here is not a desert by its nature, but only
because man has made it so by leaving it uncultivated. It is a flat country and
I cannot see one hill, not even in the distance. As I am not familiar with
Palestine, I cannot say which region it is. It is certainly one which I have
never seen in previous visions. On one side of the road there are heaps of
crushed stones, perhaps to repair the road, which is in a very bad state. At
present one sinks into the dust: when it rains it must become a torrent of mud.
I can see no houses, neither near the road nor far away.
Jesus,
as usual, is walking a few metres ahead of the apostles, who, hot and tired,
follow Him in a group. To protect themselves from the sun, they have pulled
their mantles over their heads and they look like a confraternity dressed in
many‑coloured robes. Jesus, instead, is bare‑headed. The sun does not seem to
annoy Him. He is wearing a white linen short‑sleeved tunic. It is very wide and
loose. He is not even wearing His usual cord belt. His clothes are most suitable
for this torrid place. His mantle also must be of sky‑blue linen because it is
very light and falls loosely over His body, which is thus less enveloped than
usual. His shoulders are covered, but His arms are free. I do not know how He
has fastened it to keep it thus.
A
man is sitting, nay, he is half‑lying on one of the heaps of crushed stones. He
must be a poor beggar. His garment (so to speak) is a dirty tattered short
tunic, which perhaps once was white, but now is the colour of mud. He is wearing
two shabby worn‑out sandals: two soles with holes, held together with pieces of
string. In his hands he has a stick made from the branch of a tree. He has a
dirty bandage on his forehead and another dirty rag, stained with blood, on his
left leg, between his knee and hip. The poor fellow is emaciated, a heap of
bones, dejected, dirty, hairy, uncombed.
Before
he invokes Jesus, Jesus goes to him. He approaches the poor wretch and asks him:
«Who are you? »
«A
poor man begging for bread.»
«Along
this road? »
«I
am going to Jericho.»
«The
road is a long one and the country is depopulated.»
«I
know, but the Gentiles who pass here are more likely to give me a piece of bread
and a coin, than the Jews from whom I have come.»
«Have
you come from Judaea? »
«Yes,
from Jerusalem. But I had to go a long way round to see some good people in the
country, as they always give me something. Townsfolk don't give anything. There
is no mercy there.»
«You
are right. There is no mercy.»
«But
You have mercy. Are You Judaean? »
«No.
I come from Nazareth.»
«Once
the Nazarenes had a poor reputation. But now we must say that they are better
than the people in Judaea. Even in Jerusalem, only the followers of that
Nazarene, Who they say is a Prophet, are good. Do You know Him?
»
«And
do you know Him? »
«No.
I went there because, see, my leg is numb and contracted, and I drag myself
along with difficulty. I am not fit to work and I am dying of starvation and
blows. I was hoping to meet Him, because I was told that He cures whoever He
touches. It is true that I do not belong to the chosen people... but they say
that He is good to everybody. I was told that He was in Jerusalem for the Feast
of Weeks. But I walk slowly... and I was beaten and I was left suffering on the
road... When I arrived in Jerusalem, He had left, because they told me that the
Jews had ill‑treated Him as well.»
«And
did they maltreat you? »
«They
always do. Only the Roman soldiers give me a piece of
bread.»
«And
what do the people in Jerusalem say of that Nazarene? »
«That
He is the Son of God, a great Prophet, a Saint, a Just
man.»
«And
what do you think He is? »
«I...
I am an idolater. But I think He is the Son of God.»
«How
can you believe that, if you do not even know Him? »
«I
know His works. Only God can be as good and speak words as He
does.»
«Who
told you of those words? »
«Other
poor people, people who were cured, children who bring me some bread... Children
are good and they know nothing of believers and
idolaters.»
«But
where do you come from? »
«...»
«Tell
Me. I am like children. Be not afraid. But be sincere.»
«I
am... a Samaritan. Don't beat me...»
«I
never beat anybody. I never despise anyone. I feel sorry for
everybody.»
«Then...
Then You are the Rabbi of Galilee! »
The
beggar prostrates himself, from the heap of stones he falls on the dust like a
dead body, in front of Jesus.
«Stand
up. It is I. Be not afraid. Stand up and look at Me.»
The
beggar looks up, still on his knees: he is all contracted because of his
deformity.
«Give
this man some bread and something to drink » says Jesus to the apostles who have
just arrived.
It
is John who gives bread and water.
«Make
him sit down, so that he may eat comfortably. Eat,
brother.»
The
poor man weeps. He does not eat. He looks at Jesus with the eyes of a stray dog,
which is caressed and fed, for the first time, by a compassionate
person.
«Eat
up! » orders Jesus smiling.
The
poor fellow eats between one sob and another and tears moisten his bread. But
there is also a smile among his tears. He slowly regains
confidence.
«Who
wounded you here? » asks Jesus touching with His fingers the dirty bandage on
the man's forehead.
«A
rich Pharisee deliberately ran me over with his cart... I was standing at a
cross‑roads begging for bread. He drove his horses against me so quickly, that I
was not able to move aside. I was on the point of death because of it. I still
have a hole in my head, from which putrid matter comes out.
»
«And
who struck you there? »
«I
had approached the house of a Sadducee, where there was a banquet, asking for
some of the remains, after the dogs had chosen the best ones. He saw me and set
the dogs on me. One of them tore my thigh to pieces.»
«And
what about this large scar that maims your hand? »
«A
scribe gave me a blow with a club three years ago. He found out that I was a
Samaritan and he struck me breaking my fingers. That is why I cannot work. With
my right hand maimed, my leg numbed, how can I earn my living?
»
«But
why are you leaving Samaria? »
«It's
bad to be in need, Master. We are very unhappy and there is not enough bread for
everybody. If You helped me...»
«What
do you want Me to do for you? »
«To
cure me so that I may work.»
«
Do you think I can? »
«Yes,
I do believe it, because You are the Son of God.»
«Do
you believe that? »
«I
do.»
«You,
a Samaritan, believe that? Why? »
«I
do not know why. I know that I believe in You and in Him Who sent You. Now that
You have come, there is no difference in worshipping. It is enough to worship
You in order to worship Your Father, the eternal Lord. Where You are, there is
the Father.»
«Have
you heard, My friends? (Jesus addresses His disciples). This man is speaking
through the Spirit Who enlightens the truth for him. And I solemnly tell you
that he is superior to scribes and Pharisees, to cruel Sadducees, to all those
idolaters who falsely call themselves the children of the Law. The Law
prescribes to love our neighbour, after God. And they give blows to the
neighbour asking for bread, they drive horses and dogs on suppliants, on the
neighbour who lowers himself below the dogs of a rich man, they set the very
dogs on him, to make him even more unhappy than his diseases do. Disdainful,
cruel, hypocrites, they do not want
God to be known and loved. If they
did want that, they would make Him known through their deeds, as this man
said. It is deeds, not practices, which
make people see the living God in the hearts of men and lead men to God. And
you, Judas, since you reproach Me for being imprudent, tell Me, shall I not
reprimand them? To be silent, to feign that I approve of them, would mean
approving of their behaviour. No. For the glory of God, Whose Son I am, I cannot
allow humble, unhappy, good people to believe that I approve of their sins. I
have come to make the Gentiles sons of God. But I cannot do that if they see
that the children of the Law ‑ they call themselves so, but they are
illegitimate children ‑ practise a paganism more guilty than theirs, because
these Jews have been acquainted with the Law of God, and now, just like unclean
animals, they spit the regurgitations of their satisfied passions on it. Am I to
believe, Judas, that you are like them? You, who reproach Me for the truth I
speak? Or must I think that you are worried about your own life? He who follows Me must not be concerned with
human worries. I told you, Judas,
you are still in time to choose between My way and the way of the Judaeans, whom
you approve of. But consider that My way goes to God; the other to God's Enemy.
Consider that and make up your mind. But be sincere. And you, My friend, rise
and walk. Remove those bandages. Go back home. You are cured because of your
faith.»
The
beggar looks at Him dumbfounded. He dare not stretch out his hand... but he
tries. It is uninjured, exactly as his left one. He drops his stick, and pushing
his hands on the heap of stones, he rises. He can stand. The paralysis
contracting his leg is cured. He moves his leg, bends it... takes one step, two,
three. He walks... He looks at Jesus with a cry and tears of joy. He rips off
the bandage from his forehead. He touches the back of his head, where the
infected hole was. There is nothing. It is all cured. He tears the blood-stained
rag off his leg: the skin is intact.
«Master,
Master and my God! » he shouts, lifting his arms, and then falling on his knees
to kiss Jesus' feet.
«Go
home now, and always believe in the Lord.»
«And
where shall I go, Master and God, but after You, Who are good and holy? Do not
reject me, Master...»
«Go
to Samaria. And speak of Jesus of Nazareth. The hour of Redemption is close at
hand. Be My disciple with your brothers. Go in peace.»
Jesus
blesses him and they then part. The cured man walks fast northwards, turning
round now and again to look.
Jesus,
with His apostles, leaves the road and they proceed eastwards through
uncultivated fields, taking a little path which cuts across the main road and
which widens out only much farther on. It is perhaps the road to Jericho. I do
not know.
415. The Conversion of
Zacchaeus.
17th July
1944.
I
see a large square, which looks like a market and is shaded by palms and other
lower leafy trees. The palm‑trees grow here and there, without any order and
their top leaves rustle in the warm upper breeze, which raises a reddish dust,
as if it came from a desert or from uncultivated places of reddish earth. The
other trees, instead, form shady porches along the sides of the square, and
vendors and buyers have taken shelter under them, in a restless shouting
din.
In
a corner of the square, exactly where the main road leads into it, there is a
primitive excise office. There are scales and measures, and a bench at which is
sat a little man who oversees, watches and deals in cash and to whom everybody
speaks, as if he were very well known. I know that he is Zacchaeus, the
exciseman, as many people address him, some to ask about the events of the town,
and they are mainly strangers, some to pay their taxes. Many are surprised at
seeing him worried. He seems in fact absent‑minded and engrossed in thought. He
replies in monosyllables and at times with gestures, which amazes many, who know
that Zacchaeus is usually talkative. Some ask him whether he is not feeling well
or if any of his relatives is ill. But he says no.
Only
twice he shows keen interest. The first time when he questions two people who
have come from Jerusalem and are speaking of the Nazarene, of His miracles and
teaching. Zacchaeus then asks many questions: «Is He really as good as they say?
And do His words correspond to facts? Does He really make use of the mercy which
He preaches? On behalf of everybody, also of publicans? Is it true that He does
not reject anybody? » And he listens, thinks and sighs. The second time when
someone points out to him a bearded man, who is, passing by with a little donkey
laden with household goods. «See, Zacchaeus? That is Zacharias, the leper. He
lived in a sepulchre for ten years. Now that he is cured, he has bought the
furnishings for his house, which was
emptied according to the Law, when he and his relatives were declared
lepers.»
«Call
him.»
Zacharias
comes.
«Were
you a leper? »
«I
was and so were my wife and my two children. My wife was the first to be
infected and we did not notice it at once. The children became infected sleeping
with their mother, and I, when I approached my wife. We were all lepers! When it
was found out, they sent us away from the village... They could have left us in
our house, as it was the last one... at the end of the street. We would not have
caused any trouble... I had already grown a very high hedge, so that we might
not even be seen. It was already a sepulchre... but it was our home... They sent
us away. Away! Away! No town wanted us. And quite rightly! Not even our own town
had wanted us. We stayed near Jerusalem, in an empty sepulchre. Many poor
wretches are there. But the children died, in the cold of the cave. The disease,
cold and starvation soon killed them... They were two boys... they were
beautiful before the disease. They were strong and beautiful, dark brown like
two blackberries in August, curly and lively. They had become two skeletons
covered with sores... They had no hair left, their eyes were sealed with scabs,
their feet and hands were falling off in white scales. I watched the bodies of
my children waste away!... They no longer looked like human beings the morning
they died... one after the other within a few hours... I buried them under a
little earth and many stones, like the carrion of animals, while their mother
screamed... A few months later their mother died... and I was left alone... I
was waiting to die and no one would dig a hole to bury
me...
I
was almost blind when one day the Nazarene passed by. From my sepulchre I
shouted: "Jesus! Son of David, have mercy on me!" A beggar, who was not afraid
to bring me his bread, had told me that he had been cured of his blindness, by
shouting that invocation. And he said: "He did not only give me the sight of my
eyes, but also of my soul. I saw that He is the Son of God and I see everyone
through Him. That is why, brother, I do not shun you, but I bring you bread and
faith. Go to the Christ. So that one more soul may bless Him". I could not go.
My feet, ulcerated to the bone, would not let me walk... in any case... I would
have been stoned, if they saw me. I waited carefully for Him to pass. He often
passed by coming to Jerusalem. One day I saw, as far as I could see, a cloud of
dust on the road and many people and I heard shouts. I dragged myself to the
brow of the hill, where the sepulchral caves were, and when I thought I could
see a bare fair‑haired head shine among other covered ones, I shouted aloud, at
the top of my voice. I shouted three times, until my voice reached
Him.
He
turned round. He stopped. Then He came towards me: all alone. He came right
under the spot where I was and He looked at me. He was handsome, kind, with a
voice, a smile!... He asked: "What do you want Me to do for
you?".
"I
want to be cleansed".
"Do
you believe that I can? Why?" He asked me.
"Because
You are the Son of God".
"Do
you believe that?".
"I
believe it" I replied. "I see the Most High flash in His glory above Your head.
Son of God, have mercy on me!".
He
then stretched out a hand and His face was ablaze. His eyes seemed two blue
suns, and he said: "I want it. Be cleansed" and He blessed me with a smile!...
Ah! What a smile! I perceived a strength enter me. Like a sword of fire which
ran searching for my heart, it ran through my veins. My heart, which was so
diseased, became as it was when I was twenty years old, and the ice‑cold blood
became warm and fast‑flowing in my veins. No more pains, no more weakness, and a
joy, what a joy!... He was looking at me; with His smile He made me blissful. He
then said: "Go, show yourself to the priests. Your faith has saved
you".
I
then realised that I had been cured and I looked at my hands and legs. There
were no more sores. There was fresh rosy flesh where previously the bone was
uncovered. I ran to a little stream and I looked at myself. My face also was
clean. I was clean! Clean after being loathsome for ten years!... Oh! Why did He
not pass by before? When my wife and children were alive? He would have cured
us. Now, see? I am buying things for my house... But I am all
alone!...»
«Have
you not seen Him any more? »
«No,
but I know that He is in this area and that is why I have come. I would like to
bless Him once again and be blessed by Him to have strength in my
solitude.»
Zacchaeus
lowers his head and is silent. The group breaks up.
Some
time passes. It gets warmer. The market place empties. The exciseman with his
head resting on one hand is pensive, sitting at his desk.
«Here
is the Nazarene! » shout some children, pointing at the main
road.
Women,
men, sick people, beggars rush towards Him. The square is empty. Only some
donkeys and camels, tied to the palm-trees, remain where they were, and
Zacchaeus remains at his desk.
He
then stands up and climbs on his desk. But he cannot see anything because many
people have pulled off branches and are waving them joyfully and Jesus is
bending over sick people. Zacchaeus then takes off his garment and having on
only his short tunic he climbs one of the trees. He goes up the large smooth
trunk with difficulty as his short arms and legs make climbing difficult. But he
succeeds and sits astride two branches as on a perch. His legs hang from that
kind of railing and from his waist upwards he leans out as if he were at a
window and he watches.
The crowds arrive in the square. Jesus looks up and smiles at the solitary spectator perched on the branches. «Zacchaeus, come down at once. I am staying at your house today » He orders.
And
Zacchaeus, after a moment of astonishment, his face purple with excitement, lets
himself slide down on the ground like a sack. He is so excited that he is hardly
able to put on his clothes. He closes his books and cash‑desk with gestures
which he would like to be very fast, but instead are very slow. But Jesus is
patient: He caresses some children while waiting.
Zacchaeus
is ready at last. He approaches the Master and leads Him to a beautiful house
with a large garden around it, in the centre of the town. A beautiful town. Not
much inferior to Jerusalem with regard to its buildings, if not to its
size.
Jesus
goes in and while waiting for the meal to be made ready, he takes care of sick
and healthy people. With such patience... as He only is
capable.
Zacchaeus
comes and goes, busying himself. He is beside himself with joy. He would like to
speak to Jesus. But Jesus is always surrounded by a crowd of
people.
At
last Jesus dismisses everybody saying: «Come back at sunset. Go to your homes
now. Peace be with you.»
The
garden empties and the meal is served in a beautiful cool hall facing the
garden. Zacchaeus has done things in great style. I do not see any other
relatives, so I think that Zacchaeus is single and lives only with many
servants.
At
the end of the meal, when the disciples scatter in the shade of bushes to rest,
Zacchaeus remains with Jesus in the cool hall. In actual fact Jesus remains
alone for a little while, because Zacchaeus withdraws to let Him rest. But he
comes back and looks through a slit in the curtains. He sees that Jesus is not
sleeping, but is pensive. He then approaches Him. He is carrying a heavy coffer,
which he lays on the table near Jesus and says: «Master... they have spoken to
me about You. For some time. One day on a mountain side You said so many
truthful things, that our doctors cannot excel them. They remained in my
heart... and since then I have been thinking of You... Then I was told that You
are good and that You do not reject sinners. I am a sinner, Master. They told me
that You cure sick people. My heart is diseased, because I defrauded, I
practised usury, I have been a depraved fellow, a thief, hard on the poor. But
now, I have been cured, because You spoke to me. You approached me and the demon
of sensuality and riches fled. And as from today, I belong to You, if You do not
reject me, and to prove to You that I am reborn in You, I divest myself of the
ill‑acquired riches and I give You half of my wealth for the poor and I will use
the other half to give back, multiplied by four, what I got by fraud. I know
whom I cheated. Then, after handing back to each of them what belongs to them, I
will follow You, Master, if You allow me...»
«I
do want that. Come. I have come to save and call people to the Light. Today
Light and Salvation have come to the house of your heart. Those who over there,
beyond the gate, are grumbling because I have redeemed you sitting at your
banquet, are forgetting that you are a son of Abraham as they are, and that I
have come to save who was lost and to give Life to those whose spirits were
dead. Come, Zacchaeus. You have understood My word better than many people who
follow Me only to be able to accuse Me. Therefore you will be with Me as from
now on.»
The
vision ends here.
----------------------------
18th
July 1944.
Jesus
says:
«There
is yeast and yeast. There is the yeast of Good and the yeast of Evil. The yeast
of Evil, a Satanic poison, ferments more easily than the yeast of Good, because
it finds matter more suitable for fermentation in the heart of man, in the
thought of man, in the flesh of man, seduced all three by a selfish will,
contrary therefore to the universal Will, which is the Will of
God.
The
will of God is universal because it is never confined to a personal thought, but
it takes into consideration the welfare of the whole universe. Nothing can
increase the perfection of God in any way, as He has always possessed everything
in a perfect manner. Thus there can be no thought in Him of personal gain
inciting any of His actions. When we say: "This is done to the greater glory of
God, in the interest of God", we do not mean that divine glory is in Itself
susceptible to improvement, but that everything which in Creation bears the mark
of good and any person doing good, and thus deserving to possess it, is adorned
with the sign of divine Glory and thus gives glory to Glory itself, Which has
created all things gloriously. It is, in short, the testimony which people and
things bear to God, giving evidence, with their deeds, of the perfect Origin
from Which they come.
Thus, when God orders or advises you to do an action or inspires you with one, He does not aim at any selfish interest, but at your welfare, with altruistic charitable mind. That is, therefore, the reason why the Will of God is never selfish, on the contrary it is a Will which aims entirely at altruism and universality. It is the only and true Strength in the universe which considers universal welfare.
On
the contrary, the yeast of Good, spiritual embryo coming from God, grows through
difficulties and hardships, as it has against itself the reactions propitious to
the other one: the flesh, the heart, the thought of man, pervaded with
selfishness, the antithesis of Good, which by its origin can be but Love. Most
men lack the will of Good and consequently Good becomes sterile and dies, or
lives so poorly that it does not leaven: it remains as it was. There is no grave
fault. But there is not even the effort to do the greatest good. The spirit thus
lies inert: not dead, but unfruitful.
Bear
in mind that not to do evil serves only
to avoid Hell. To enjoy at once
beautiful Paradise one must do good. It is essential. As much good as one can
do, struggling against oneself and other people. Because I said that I had come
not to bring peace but war, also between father and children, brothers and
sisters, when such war was to defend the Will of God and His Law against the
abuse of human wills aiming at what is contrary to what God
wants.
In
Zacchaeus the tiny quantity of yeast of good had leavened a huge mass. Only an
original small particle had fallen into his heart: they had related My Sermon on
the Mount to him. And they had done it so badly, mutilating it of many parts, as
happens with reported speeches.
Zacchaeus
was a publican and a sinner, but not through bad will. He was like one who sees
things badly because the veil of cataract covers his eye‑lenses. But he knows
that once the veil is removed, he can see properly once again. And that sick
person wants the veil to be removed. Zacchaeus was like that. He was neither
convinced nor happy. He was not convinced of Pharisaic practices, which had
already replaced the true Law. And he was not happy with his way of
living.
He
was instinctively seeking Light. The true Light. He saw a flash of it in that
fragment of My speech and he hid it in his heart like a treasure. Because he
loved it ‑ bear this in mind, Mary - because he loved it, the flash became more
and more lively, vast and vehement, and caused him to see Good and Evil clearly
and to choose rightly, generously cutting off all the tentacles which
previously, from things to his heart and from his heart to things, had enveloped
him in a net of malicious slavery.
"Because
he loved it". That is the secret of success or failure. One succeeds when one
loves. One has little success when one loves niggardly. One has no success at
all when one does not love. In
anything. All the more in the things of
God, where, as God is invisible to corporal senses, I dare say, one must love
perfectly, as far as a creature can reach perfection, in order to succeed in an
enterprise. In holiness, in this case.
Zacchaeus,
disgusted with the world and the flesh, as he was disgusted with the meanness of
Pharisaic practices, so captious and severe for other people, so indulgent for
them, loved the little treasure of a word of Mine, which reached him by chance,
speaking from a human point of view. He loved it as the most beautiful thing
that his forty‑year‑old life had ever possessed, and from that moment he
concentrated his heart and thought on that point.
It is not only in evil that man's heart is where his treasure is. But also in good. Did saints perhaps during their lifetime not have their hearts where their treasure was: in God? Yes, they did. And that is why, looking only at God, they passed on the Earth, without contaminating their souls with the mud of the Earth.
That
morning, even if I had not appeared there, I would have conquered a proselyte.
Because the speech of the leper had completed Zacchaeus' metamorphosis. At the
bench of the excise-house there was no longer a cheating vicious publican, but a
man repenting his past and decided to change life. If I had not gone to Jericho,
he would have closed his office, he would have taken his money and come looking
for Me, because he could no longer live without the water of Truth, without the
bread of Love, without the kiss of Forgiveness.
The
usual harsh critics who always watched Me to reproach Me, did not see that and
they could understand it even less. And that is why they were amazed at My
having a meal with a sinner. Oh! I wish you never judged, leaving that task to
God, you poor blind people, who cannot even judge yourselves! I never went with
sinners to approve of their sin. I went to remove them from sin, because they
often had only the exterior aspect of sin: their contrite souls had already
changed into new souls, living to expiate. So was I with a sinner? No, I was
with a redeemed soul, in need only of a guide to stand up in its weakness of a
soul risen from death.
How
much Zacchaeus' episode can teach you! The power of upright intention that excites
desire. Upright desire that urges one to seek deeper and deeper knowledge of
Good and to long for God continuously until one reaches Him, true repentance
that gives the courage of abnegation. Zacchaeus had the upright intention of
listening to words of true Doctrine.
When he heard some, his upright desire urged him to greater desire and thus to
uninterrupted research for that Doctrine; the research for God, hidden in the
true Doctrine, detached him from the mean gods of richness and sensuality and
made him a hero of renunciation.
"If
you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and follow Me" I said to the rich
young man, but he did not do that. But Zacchaeus, although more hardened in
avarice and sensuality, was able to do it. Because, through the few Words
related to him, like the blind beggar and the leper cured by Me, he saw God. Can
a soul that has seen God, find any more attraction in the little things of the
Earth? Is that ever possible, My little bride? »
------------------------------
19th
July 1944.
Jesus
says:
«In
My several bedtitudes I enunciated the requisites necessary to achieve them and
the rewards that will be given to the blessed ones. But while the categories
mentioned are different, the reward is the same, if you consider the situation
carefully: to enjoy the same things that God enjoys.
Different
categories. I have already explained that God with His thought creates souls of
different tendency, so that the Earth may enjoy a just balance in all its
inferior and superior necessities. If the rebellion of man upsets that balance,
as he always wants. to go against the divine Will, Which guides him lovingly
along the just way, it is not God's fault. Men, perpetually dissatisfied with
their situation, invade or upset other people's estates, either by means of true
and proper abuse of power, or by attempts at such abuse. What are world wars,
family feuds, professional warfare, but such active abuse? What are social
revolutions, what are the doctrines that clothe themselves with the name
"social", but in actual fact are nothing but arrogance and the very opposite of
charity, because they neither want nor practise the justice they preach, on the
contrary they overflow with outbreaks of violence, which do not relieve
oppressed people, but increase their numbers to the advantage of a few arrogant
fellows?
But
where I, God, reign, such alterations do not take place. Nothing upsets order in
My Kingdom and in the spirits which are really Mine. Thus the several aspects of
the multiform holiness of God are lived and rewarded, because God is just, pure,
peaceful, merciful, free from the greed of fleeting riches, joyful in the
happiness of His love. Some souls tend to one form, some to another. They tend
in an eminent manner, because all
virtues are present in saints. But one predominates, and on account of it, that
saint is particularly celebrated among men. But I bless and reward him on
account of all of them, because the
reward is "to enjoy God" both for the peaceful and the merciful, for those who
love justice and for those who are persecuted by injustice, for the pure and the
distressed, for the meek and for the pure in spirit.
The
pure in spirit! How badly is this definition always understood, even by those
who perceive its right meaning! According to human superficiality and to foolish
human irony, and according to ignorance, which considers itself wise, pure in
spirit means "stupid".
The
better class of people think that the spirit is intelligence, thought; those who
are more material consider it artfulness and malice. No. The spirit is by far superior to
intelligence. It is the king of everything in you. All physical and moral
qualities are subjects and servants of that king. That is the situation where a creature
devoted to God in a filial manner knows how to keep things in the right place.
Where instead a creature is not devoted in a filial manner, idolatries take
place, and the maidservants become queens and depose the spirit king. Anarchy
which causes disaster like all anarchies.
Poverty
in spirit consists in having the sovereign freedom from everything that is the
delight of man, and for which man goes to the extent of committing material
crime or the unpunished moral crime that too often escapes human law, but does
not make fewer victims, on the contrary it makes more and with consequences
which are not limited to taking the life of the victim, but often deprive both
the victims and their relatives of their good reputation and
livelihood.
The
man poor in spirit is no longer enslaved by riches. Even if he does not go so
far as to repudiate them materially, depriving himself of them and of every
comfort by joining a monastic order, he knows how to use them sparingly for
himself, which is a double sacrifice, in order to be prodigal of gifts to the
poor of the world. He has understood My sentence: "Make friends by means of
unjust riches". Of his money, which might be the enemy of his spirit, leading it
to lust, greed and anticharity, he makes a servant that levels the way to Heaven
for him ‑ the rich: poor in spirit ‑ a way completely spread with his
mortifications and his charitable deeds for the miseries of his
fellow‑creatures. How many injustices the man poor in spirit mends and cures!
His own injustices of the time when, like Zacchaeus, he was but a greedy
hard‑hearted man. Injustices of his neighbours, whether alive or dead. Social
injustices.
You
erect monuments to people who were great only because they were overbearing. Why
do you not erect monuments to the secret benefactors of destitute mankind, to
the poor and working classes, to those who use their wealth not to make their
own lives a perpetual feast, but to make life brighter, better and more elevated
for those who are poor, for those who suffer, for those whose functional
faculties are impaired, for those left in ignorance by overbearing people,
because ignorance serves their hateful aims better? How many there are, also
among those who are not rich, nay, who are little less than poor, and yet they
can sacrifice the "two farthings" they possess, in order to relieve a misery,
which, being without the Light which they have ‑ and their behaviour makes one
understand that they do have it ‑ is greater than their
own!
Those
are poor in spirit who, losing their possessions, whether large or small, know
how to keep their peace and hope, without cursing or hating anyone, either God
or men.
The wide category of the "poor in spirit", which I mentioned as the first one ‑ because I could say that without such freedom of the spirit from all the delights of life, it is not Possible to have the .other virtues which give beatitude ‑ is divided and subdivided into many forms.
Humility
of thought which does not swell with pride and does not proclaim itself
super‑thought, but makes use of the gift of God acknowledging its Origin, for
Good. Only for that.
Generosity
in affections, whereby one can deprive oneself also of them, in order to follow
God, also of life, the most real wealth and the most loved instinctively by the
animal creature. All My martyrs were generous in that way, because their spirits
had become poor, in order to become "rich" in the only eternal riches:
God.
Justice
in loving our personal things. It is our duty to love them, because they are
testimony of Providence in our
favour. I have already spoken about that in previous dictations. But we
must not love them more than we love God or His Will; you must not love them to
the extent of cursing God, if man snatches them from you.
And
finally, I would repeat it, freedom from the slavery of
money.
Those
are the different forms of that spiritual poverty that I said will possess
Heaven out of justice. Put under your feet all the fleeting riches of human life
to possess the eternal riches. Consider the Earth and its deceitful fruit, which
is sweet outside and bitter inside, as the last thing, and live working to
conquer Heaven. Oh! there is no fruit there with a false flavour. There is the
ineffable fruit of the enjoyment of God.
Zacchaeus
had understood that. That sentence was the arrow that opened his heart to Light
and Charity. It opened it to Me as I approached him to say to him: "Come". And
when I came up to him to call him, he was already "poor in spirit". He was
therefore capable of possessing Heaven. »
416. At Solomon's
Village.
'Jesus
says:
«You
will put here the vision of Jesus and the beggar on the road to Jericho, which
you had on 17th May 1944, and
immediately after it, the vision of the conversion of Zacchaeus, of 17th July
1944.»
------------------------
13th
April 1946.
Jesus
arrives there at dead of night. The position of the moon makes me think that it
is about two o'clock a.m. A beautiful moon, just beginning to wane is beaming in
the middle of the clear sky spreading peace on the earth. Peace and abundant
dew, the heavy dew of warm countries, beneficial to plants after the parching
heat of the sun during the day.
The
pilgrims must have followed the gravel bed of the river, which is dry near the
banks, as the river is more restricted in its bed because of the summer drought.
And from the cane‑brake they ,climb up to the wood limiting the banks and
supporting them with the network of the roots of the trees growing near the
water.
«Let
us stop here and await morning » says Jesus.
«Master...
I am aching all over...» says Matthew.
«And
I am afraid I have a temperature. A river is not a healthy place in summer... as
You know » adds Philip.
«But
it would have been worse if from the river we had gone up to the Judaean
mountains. That is also well known » says the Zealot, who feels sorry for Jesus,
to Whom they all tell their fears and complaints, but Whose mood no one
understands.
«Never
mind, Simon. They are right. But we shall have a rest shortly... Please, only
another short distance... And a short rest here. You can see how the moon is
going down westwards. Why wake the old man and Joseph, who is perhaps still ill,
when it will soon be daybreak?...»
«The
trouble is that everything is wet with dew here. One does not know where to
sit...» grumbles the Iscariot.
«Are
you afraid of spoiling your garment? Never mind, after these forced marches
among dust and dew, there is no strutting about in it! In any case... kind
Helkai would prefer it as it is. Your Greek frets... ha! ha! those at the hem
and round the sleeves are hanging in ribbons on the thorny bushes of the Judaean
desert, and the one round your neck has been ruined by your perspiration... You
are now a perfect Judaean...» says
Thomas, who is always merry.
«I
am perfect a wretch, dirty as I am, and disgusted with it » retorts Judas
angrily.
«It
is enough for you to have a clean heart, Judas » says Jesus calmly. «That is
important...».
«Important!
Important! We are exhausted with fatigue, with starvation... We are ruining our
health, and that only is important » replies rudely Judas.
«I
am not compelling you to stay... It is you who want to
stay.»
«After
all this time!... I had better do so. I am...»
«You
may as well say the word that makes your lips rankle: "You are compromised in
the eyes of the Sanhedrin". But you can always make amends... and regain their
confidence...»
«I
do not want to make amends... because I love You and I want to stay with
You.»
«In
actual fact you say so in such a manner that rather than love it sounds like
hatred...» grumbles between his teeth Judas of Alphaeus.
«Well...
every man has his own way of expressing his love.»
«Of
course! There is also who loves his wife but kills her with blows... I would not
like that kind of love » says James of Zebedee endeavouring to put an end to the
incident with a jest. But no one laughs. But no one, thanks be to God,
replies.
Jesus advises: «Let us go and sit down on the threshold of the house. The eaves are wide and will protect us from the dew, and there is a footing at the base of the little house...»
They
obey without speaking and when they arrive at the house they sit in a row along
the wall.
But
Thomas' simple remark: «I am hungry. These night marches make one hungry »
revives the argument.
«Marches
don't come into it! The fact is that for days we have been living on nothing! »
replies the Iscariot.
«Actually
at Nike's and at Zacchaeus' we had good meals, and Nike gave us so much food
that we had to give it to the poor, otherwise it would have gone bad. We have
never been short of bread. The caravan guide also gave us bread and butter...»
remarks Andrew.
Judas,
who cannot contradict, is silent.
A
cock crows in the distance greeting the first sign of
daylight.
«Oh!
good! It will soon be down! » says Peter stretching himself, as he had almost
fallen asleep.
They
wait for daybreak in silence.
A
bleating in a sheep‑fold... Then a harness‑bell in the distance on the main
road, poles apart from them... The nearby cooing of Ananias' doves. The hoarse
voice of a man in the cane‑brake... It is a fisherman coming back with his night
catch and he is cursing because it is scanty. He sees Jesus and stops. He
hesitates, then says: «If I give it to You, will You promise me plenty in
future? »
«For
profit or for your needs? »
«For
my needs. I have seven children, my wife and her mother.»
«You
are right. Be charitable and I promise you that you will not lack what is
necessary.»
«Here,
then. In there, there is also the injured man who is not recovering despite
treatment...»
«May
God reward you and give you peace » says Jesus.
The
man says goodbye and goes away, leaving his fish strung through the mouth with a
willow twig.
Silence
falls on them again, just broken by the rustling of the canes, by the trills of
some birds... Then a creaking is heard nearby. The rustic little gate, which
Ananias made, creaks when opened and the little old man appears on the road
scanning the sky. A sheep follows him bleating...
«Peace
to you, Ananias! »
«Master!
But... how long have You been there? Why did You not call, so that I could open
the door for You?! »
«Not
long. I did not want to disturb anyone... How is Joseph? »
«You know?... He is not well. Pus runs out
of his ear and he suffers from headaches. I think he will die. That is, I
thought. You are here now and I think that he will recover. I was going out to
get some herbs to make a poultice...»
«Are
Joseph's companions here? »
«Two
of them. The others have gone ahead. Solomon and Elias are
here.»
«Did
the Pharisees annoy you? »
«Immediately
after You left. Not afterwards. They wanted to know where You had gone. I said:
"To my daughter‑in‑law, at Masada". Did I do the wrong thing?
»
«No,
you did not.»
«And...
have You really been there? » The little old man is
anxious.
«Yes,
I was there. She is well.»
«But...
did she not listen to You?...»
«No,
she did not. We must pray very much for her.»
«And
for the little ones... That she may bring them up for the Lord...» says the old
man and two large tears stream down his face to say what he does not speak. He
concludes: «Did You see them? »
«I
can say that I saw one... I got a glimpse of the others. They are all
well.»
«I
offer my renunciation and forgiveness to God... But... it is so grievous having
to say: "I will never see them again"...»
«You
will soon see your son and you will be in peace with him in
Heaven.»
«Thank
You, Lord. Come in...»
«Yes.
Let us go at once to the injured man, Where is he? »
«In
the best bed.»
They
go into the well‑kept kitchen garden, and from it into the kitchen and from the
kitchen into the little room. Jesus bends over the sick man who moans in his
sleep. He bends... and breathes into the ear enveloped in lints already
impregnated with pus. He stands up and withdraws
noiselessly.
«Are
You not waking him? » asks the old man in a low voice.
«No.
Let him sleep. He is no longer suffering. He will rest. Let us go to the
others.»
Jesus
sets the door ajar without making any noise and goes into the large room where
are the little beds purchased the last time. The two disciples, being tired, are
still sleeping.
«They
keep vigil until morning. I keep watch over him from morning till evening. So
they are tired. They are so good.»
The
two must be sleeping with their ears cocked, because they awake at once:
«Master! Our Master! You came just in time! Joseph is...»
«Cured.
I have already seen to him, He is sleeping and does not know. There is nothing
wrong with him now. All he has to do is to purge himself of the pus and he will
be as healthy as previously.»
«Oh!
In that case purge us as well, because we have sinned.»
«How?
»
«In
order to assist Joseph we did not go to the Temple...»
«Charity
makes every place a temple. And in the Temple of charity there is God. If we all
loved one another, the whole Earth would be a Temple. Do not worry. The day will
come when Pentecost means "Love". A manifestation of love. You have celebrated,
anticipating times, the future Pentecost, because you have loved your
brother.»
From
the other room Joseph's voice is heard calling: «Ananias! Elias! Solomon! But I
am cured! » and the man, thin and still pale, but no longer suffering, appears
covered only with his short tunic. He sees Jesus and says: «Ah! It was You, my
Master! » and he runs to kiss His feet.
«May
God grant you peace, Joseph, and forgive Me if you suffered because of
Me.»
«I
glory in having shed my blood for You, as my father did. I bless You for making
me worthy of that! » Joseph's simple plain face shines with joy uttering these
words and looks noble, with the handsomeness which originates from an interior
light.
Jesus
caresses him and says to Solomon: «Your house serves to do much
good.»
«Oh!
because it is Yours, now. Previously it served only for the sound sleep of the
ferryman. But I am glad that it has been useful to You and to this just man. We
shall now have some good days here with You.»
«No,
My friend. You will leave at once. We are no longer granted any rest. This
period of time will be a real test and only those with a strong will will remain
faithful. We shall now break the bread together and then you will leave at once,
going along the river, preceding Me by half a day.»
«Yes,
Master. Joseph also? »
«Yes.
Unless he is afraid of new injury...»
«Oh!
Master! Would to God that I had to precede You in death shedding my blood for
You! »
They
go out into the dewy kitchen garden shining in the early sun. And Ananias does
the honours of the house by picking some early figs from the branches better
exposed, and he apologises for being unable to offer a young pigeon because the
two broods were used for the sick man. But there is the fish and they get busy
preparing the food.
Jesus
is walking between Elias and Joseph who tell Him of the recent adventure and of
the strength of Solomon, who carried the injured man on his back for miles and
miles, which they covered a little at a time, by night...
«But
you, Joseph, have forgiven those who injured you, have you not?
»
«I
never had a grudge against those unhappy people. I offered forgiveness and my
sufferings for their redemption.»
«That
is what one must do, My good disciple! And what about Ogla?
»
«Ogla
has gone with Timoneus. I do not know whether he will go on with him or whether
he will stop at Mount Hermon. He always said that he wanted to go to
Lebanon.»
«Well.
May God inspire him to do what is best.»
Many
birds now chirp in chorus among the branches, while bleatings, the voices of
children and women, braying donkeys, squeaking pulleys of wells, tell that the
village is awake.
In
the kitchen garden the bread is broken, the fish handed round and they have
their meal. Immediately afterwards, the three disciples, blessed by Jesus, leave
the house and walk fast along the road, as far as the river, and vanish into the
cool shady canebrakes... They can no longer be seen...
«And
now let us rest until evening and then we will follow them » orders
Jesus.
And
some lie down on the little beds, some on the piles of nets, which Ananias made,
saying that thus he is not idle and he earns his daily bread, and they all seek
a refreshing sleep.
In
the meantime Ananias, after picking up the garments wet with perspiration, goes
out noiselessly, closes the door and the gate and goes down to the river to wash
them, so that they may be fresh and dry by evening...
------------------------------
Jesus
says:
«And
here you will put the vision: "Jesus in a little village of the Decapolis" of
2nd October 1944, and then the other one: "The Demoniac of the Decapolis" of
29th September 1944.»
417. In a Little Village of the Decapolis.
Parable of the Sculptor.
2nd October 1944.
This
is what I see. A little river in a village consisting of few modest houses. It
must be the one from which Jesus came when, in a boat, He crossed the Jordan in
flood, because I see the boatman and his relatives come to meet Jesus, Who had
sent the Iscariot and Thomas ahead, to prepare the way for
Him.
The
boatman, when he sees Jesus coming from afar, quickens his step and when he is
before Him, he bows most reverently saying: «You are welcomed, Master, by our
sick people. They are waiting for You. I told them much about You. The entire
village greets You through my lips saying: "Blessed be the Messiah of the Most
High God!"»
«Peace
to you and to this village. I am here for you. You will not be disappointed in
your hopes. Those who believe will find Heaven merciful. Let us go.» And Jesus
proceeds towards the centre of the village, walking beside the boatman.
Men,
women and children appear at the doors and then follow the little procession, as
it advances. At every step the people grow in numbers as many more join those
already there. Some greet, some bless, some invoke.
«Master
» shouts a mother «my son is ill. Come, Blessed One! »
And
Jesus deviates towards a poor house, He lays one hand on the shoulder of the
mother in tears and asks: «Where is your son? »
«Here,
Master, come.»
The
mother, Jesus, the boatman, Peter, John, Thaddeus and some local people go in.
The others crowd at the door and look in craning their necks to
see.
In
a corner of the poor dark kitchen there is a little bed near the glimmering
fireplace. On the bed there is the little corpse of a child about seven years
old. I say a little corpse because he is so emaciated, yellowish, motionless.
One is aware only of the heavy panting of the little chest, affected, I would
say, by tubercolosis.
«Look,
Master. I have spent all my resources to save at least this one. I am a widow,
the other two sons died at the same age as this one is at present. I took him as
far as Caesarea on the Sea to have him visited by a Roman doctor. But all he
could say to me was: "Resign yourself. Caries is corroding him".
Look…»
And
the mother uncovers the poor little thing, pushing the blankets back. Where
there are no bandages, there are little bones protruding from a parched
yellowish skin. But only a tiny part of the body is uncovered. The rest is
covered with bandages and linens and when the mother removes them, they show the
characteristic dripping holes of osseus caries. A pitiful sight. The sick boy is
so prostrate that he makes no gesture. He does not even seem to be involved. He
just opens his hollow dull eyes, he casts an indifferent, I would say annoyed,
glance at the people and then closes them again.
Jesus
caresses him. He lays His long hand on the little abandoned head, and the child
opens his eyes again, looking with more interest at the unknown man, who is
touching him with so much tenderness and is smiling with so much
sympathy.
«Do
you want to be cured? » Jesus says to him in a low voice, bending over his wan
face. He had previously covered the little body saying to the mother, who wanted
to put some more bandages: «It is not necessary, woman. Leave him
thus.»
The
little patient nods without speaking.
«Why?
»
«For
my mother » he says in a very faint voice. His mother weeps more
grievously.
«Will
you always be good if you are cured? A good son? A good citizen? A good
believer? » He asks the questions separating them clearly, to give the child
time to answer each one. «Will you always remember what you are now promising?
»
The
feeble, yet so deep in desire, «yes », is uttered repeatedly, like a succession
of sighs from his soul.
«Give
me your hand, My little one.» The little patient wants to give his healthy one,
the left one. But Jesus says: «Give Me the other one. I will not hurt
you.»
«Lord
» says the mother «it's one big sore. Let me bandage it. For
You...»
«It
does not matter, woman. I am disgusted
only at the impurities of hearts. Give Me your hand and say with Me: "I want
to be always good as a son, as a man, as a believer in the true
God".»
The
boy repeats stressing his voice. Oh! His whole soul is in his voice, and his
hope as well... and certainly also his mother's.
A solemn silence has fallen in the room
and in the street. Jesus, Who is holding the boy's right hand with His left one,
lifts His right one, with the gesture as when He announces a truth, or when He
imposes His will on diseases and elements, and standing solemnly upright, He
says in a powerful voice: «And I want you to be cured. Rise, child, and praise
the Lord » and He releases the little hand which is now completely healed, thin,
but without the least excoriation, and He says to the mother: «Uncover your
child.»
The
woman, who looks as if she were between a death sentence and one of mercy,
removes the blankets hesitantly... and she utters a cry and throws herself on
the very lean but wholesome body, kissing and embracing it... mad with joy. So
much so that she does not see Jesus going away from the bed towards the
door.
But
the boy sees and says: «Bless me, Lord, and allow me to bless You. Mother... are
you not thanking? »
«Oh!
forgive me...» The woman, with the child in her arms, throws herself at Jesus'
feet.
«I
understand, woman. Go in peace and be happy. Goodbye, boy, Be good. Goodbye,
everybody.» And He goes out.
Many
women lift up their children so that Jesus' blessing may preserve them from evil
in future. Little ones creep through adults to be caressed. And Jesus blesses,
caresses, listens, He stops to cure also three people with diseased eyes and a
man trembling as if he were affected by St. Vitus' dance. He is now in the
centre of the village.
«There
is a relative of mine here, deaf‑and‑dumb from birth. He is quick‑witted, but he
cannot do anything. Cure him, Jesus » says the boatman.
«Take
Me to him.»