Maria Valtorta
539. The Judaeans in Lazarus'
House.
18th December
1946.
A
large imposing group of Judaeans enter Bethany on magnificent mounts. They are
scribes and Pharisees, some Sadducees and Herodians, whom I have seen
previously, if I am not mistaken, at the banquet in Chuza's house to induce
Jesus to proclaim Himself king. They are followed by servants on
foot.
The
riding‑party go slowly through the little town, and the hoofs resounding on the
hard ground, the jingling of the trappings and the voices of the men draw out of
their houses the inhabitants, who look and with evident astonishment bow humbly,
then they rise again and gather in groups whispering.
«Have
you seen that? »
«All
the members of the Sanhedrin from Jerusalem.»
«No.
Joseph the Elder, Nicodemus and others were not there.»
«Nor
the most famous Pharisees.»
«Nor
the scribes.»
«And
who was the one on horseback? »
«They
are certainly going to Lazarus' house.»
«He
must be on the point of dying.»
«I
don't understand why the Rabbi is not here.»
«How
can you expect Him to be here, if those in Jerusalem want to kill
Him?»
«You
are right. Nay, I am sure that those snakes who have just gone by, have come to
see whether the Rabbi is here.»
«Praised
be the Lord that He isn't! »
«Do
you know what they said to my husband, at the market in Jerusalem? To be ready,
because He will soon proclaim Himself king, and we shall all have to help Him
to... What did they say? Well! A word that meant something like... if I said
that I will send everybody away from the house, and make myself the
landlady.»
«A
plot?... A conspiracy?... A rebellion?...» they ask, making suggestions at the
same time.
A
man says: «Yes. They told me as well. But I don't believe
it.»
«But
those who say that, are disciples of the Rabbi!...»
«H'm!
I am not prepared to believe that the Rabbi will make use of violence and remove
the Tetrarchs, usurping a throne that, rightly or wrongly, belongs to the
Herodians. You ought to tell Joachim not to believe all the
rumours...»
«But
do you know that those who help Him will be rewarded on the Earth and in Heaven?
I would be very happy if my husband were one of them. I have a large family and
life is difficult. If he could have a job among the servants of the King of
Israel! »
«Listen,
Rachel, I think it is better for me
to look after my kitchen garden and my dates. Oh! if He should tell me, then I
would leave everything to follow Him. But if other people tell
me!...»
«But
they are His disciples.»
«I
have never seen them with Him and then... No. They pretend to be lambs, but
their scoundrelly faces do not convince me.»
«That
is true. Strange things have happened for some time and they always say that the
Rabbi's disciples are the cause of them. The day before the Sabbath, some of
them manhandled a woman who was taking eggs to the market, and they said: "We
want them in the name of the Galilean Rabbi".»
«Do
you think it can be Him Who wants such things, as He always gives and never
takes? And just Him Who could live among rich people and prefers to be with the
poor, and He gave away His mantle, as that leprous woman, who was cured and whom
Jacob met, told everybody? »
Another
man who approached the group and has been listening says: «You are right. And
what about the other thing they say? That the Rabbi will bring about great
trouble, because the Romans will punish us all owing to His urging the crowds?
Do you believe it? I say ‑ and I don't think I am wrong because I am old and
wise ‑ I say that those who tell us poor people that the Rabbi wants to usurp
the throne and drive away the Romans ‑ I wish He did! if it were possible to do
so! ‑ and those who do violence in His name, and those who incite us to rebel
promising future profit, and those who would like us to hate the Rabbi as a
dangerous person who will lead us into trouble, are all enemies of the Rabbi and
they are anxious to ruin Him so that they may triumph. Don't believe them! Don't
believe the false friends of the poor people! Did you notice how arrogantly they
passed by? They almost gave me a blow with a cudgel, because I had difficulty in
moving the sheep aside and I was preventing them from proceeding... And you say
they are our friends? Never. They are our vampires, and, God forbid it, they are
also His vampires.»
«As
you live near Lazarus' fields, do you know whether he is dead?
»
«No.
He is not dead. He is between life and death... I asked Sarah who was picking
aromatic leaves to wash him.»
«Well,
why did they come? »
«Who
knows! They went right round the house, then round the leper's house, then they
went away towards Bethlehem.»
«I
told you! They came to see whether the Rabbi is here! To do Him wrong. Do you
realise what it meant to them to be able to harm Him? And just in Lazarus'
house? Tell me, Nathan. That Herodian... was he not the lover of Mary of
Teophilus some time ago? »
«He
was. Perhaps that is how he wanted to revenge himself on
Mary...»
A
little boy runs towards them. He shouts: «How many people there are in Lazarus'
house! I was coming from the stream with Levi, Marcus and Isaiah, and we saw
them. The servants opened the gate and took the mounts. And Maximinus ran to
meet the Judaeans and other servants came making low bows. And Martha and Mary
came out of the house to greet them with their maidservants. We wanted to go on
watching, but they closed the gate and they all went into the house.» The boy is
very excited because of the news he has brought and of what he has
seen...
The
adults are commenting.
540. The Judaeans with Martha and
Mary.
19th December
1946.
Martha,
although broken‑hearted and exhausted, is always a lady who knows how to welcome
guests, honouring them with the perfect urbanity of a true‑born lady. Thus,
after leading the group into one of the halls, she gives instructions to bring
the refreshments that are customary, so that the guests may have what can
restore them.
The
servants move around pouring hot drinks or vintage wines and offering beautiful
fruit, dates as fair as topazes, raisins, something like our sweet grapes, in
bunches fantastically perfect, liquid honey, all served from precious amphorae,
cups, plates and trays. And Martha watches carefully that no one is neglected,
nay, she instructs her domestics to serve the guests according to their ages and
to each individual, whose tempers are well known to her. She stops a servant,
who is going towards Helkai with an amphora full of wine and a chalice and she
says to him: «Tobias, don't offer him wine, but honied water and the juice of
dates.» And she says to another one: «I am sure John will prefer wine. Offer him
some of our white raisin wine.» And she personally offers old Hananiah, the
scribe, warm milk, which she sweetens with plenty golden honey, saying: «It will
do your cough good. You sacrificed yourself by coming here, particularly as you
are poorly, and it is a cold day. It affects me to see you all so
thoughtful.»
«It
is our duty, Martha. Eucheria belonged to our race. A true Jewess who honoured
us all.»
«The
homage paid to the venerated memory of my mother touches my heart. I will repeat
your words to Lazarus.»
«But
we want to greet him. He is such a good friend! » says Helkai with his habitual
falseness, approaching her.
«Gtreet
him? It is not possible. He is too exhausted.»
«Oh!
We shall not disturb him. Shall we, my friends? It is enough for us to say
goodbye to him, from the threshold of his room » says
Felix.
«I
cannot, I really cannot. Nicomedes has forbidden fatigue and
emotions.»
«A glance at our dying friend will not kill him, Martha » says Callascebona. «It would grieve us too much not having greeted him! »
Martha
is upset and hesitant. She looks towards the door, perhaps to see whether Mary
is coming to help her. But Mary is absent.
The
Judaeans notice her excitement, and Sadoc, the scribe, points it out to Martha:
«It looks as if our visit is upsetting you, woman.»
«No.
Not at all. Have sympathy for my grief. I have been living for months near my
dying brother and... I am no longer able... and I no longer know how to behave
at parties, as I did in the past...»
«Oh!
it is not a party! We did not even expect you to honour us thus! Perhaps...
Perhaps you want to hide something from us and that is why you are not letting
us see Lazarus and you forbid us to go to his room. Eh! It is obvious! But be
not afraid! The room of a sick person is a sanctuary for everybody, believe
me...» says Helkai.
«There
is nothing to be concealed in our brother's room. There is nothing hidden in it.
There is only a dying man, who for pity's sake ought to be spared all painful
memories. And you, Helkai, and you all, are painful memories for Lazarus» says
Mary in her beautiful harmonious voice, appearing at the door and holding the
curtain to one side with her hand.
«Mary!
» says Martha moaning imploringly, to check her.
«Nothing,
sister. Let me speak...» She then addresses the others: «And to remove every
possible doubt of yours, one of you ‑ it will thus be only one memory of the
past renewing grief ‑ may come with me, if the sight of a dying man does not
disgust him and the stench of a dying body does not make him
sick.»
«And
are you not a grieving memory? » asks ironically the Herodian, whom I have
already seen, but I do not remember where, coming away from his corner and
standing in front of Mary.
Martha
utters a groan, Mary looks like an angry eagle. Her eyes are flashing. She draws
herself up proudly, forgetting the fatigue and grief that bent her body, and
with the countenance of an offended queen she says: «Yes. I am a memory as well.
But not of sorrow, as you say. I am the memory of God's Mercy. And Lazarus is
dying in peace seeing me, because he knows that he is giving up his spirit into
the hands of Infinite Mercy.»
«Ha!
Ha! Those are not the words of days gone by! Your virtue! You may display it to
those who do not know you...»
«But
not to you, is that right? But I am going to place it right under your eyes, to
tell you that birds of a feather, flock together. In those days, unfortunately, I was near
you, and I was like you. Now I am near the Holy One, and I am becoming
honest.»
«What
has been destroyed cannot be rebuilt, Mary.»
«In
fact, you, all of you, can no longer rebuild your past. You cannot rebuild what
you have destroyed. You cannot, personally, as you horrify me. And none of the
rest can, who offended my brother, when he was grieved, and now you pretend to
be his friends, for a wicked purpose.»
«Oh!
You are bold, woman. The Rabbi may have driven many demons out of you, but He
did not make you become mild! » says one who is about forty years
old.
«No,
Jonathan ben Annas. He did not make me weak. He made me stronger with the
boldness of one who is honest, of one who wants to become honest once again and
has broken all ties with the past to start a new life. Come on! Who is coming to
see Lazarus? » She is as authoritative as a queen. She dominates them all with
her frankness, with no mercy even towards herself. Martha, instead, is dejected,
with tears in her eyes looking imploringly at Mary that she may keep
quiet.
«I
will come! » says Helkai, sighing like a victim, and he is as false as a
serpent. They go out together.
The
others address Martha: «Your sister!... Still the same character. But she should
not behave like that. She has so much to be forgiven for » says Uriel, the rabbi
seen at Giscala, the one who struck Jesus with stones.
Under
the lash of such words, Martha recovers her strength and she says: «God has
forgiven her. No other forgiveness is thus required. And her present life is an
example for the world.» But her daring soon abates and turns into tears. She
moans weeping: «You are cruel! Towards her... and towards me... You have no pity
for our past or our present sorrow. Why did you come? To offend and grieve us?
»
«No,
woman. No. Only to greet the great Judaean who is dying. For no other reason!
You must not take our good intentions amiss. We heard from Joseph and Nicodemus
that he was growing worse, and we came... as they did, the two great friends of the Rabbi and of
Lazarus. Why do you want to treat us differently, since we love the Rabbi and
Lazarus, as they do? You are not fair. Can you deny that they have come with
John, Eleazar, Philip, Joshua and Joachim, to hear how Lazarus was, and that
also Manaen has come?...»
«I
am not denying anything. But I am surprised that you are so well informed. I did
not think that also the interior of houses is pried into by you. I did not know
that there is a new precept in addition to the sixhundred and thirteen: that is,
to inquire into and spy upon the intimate affairs of families... Oh! Excuse me!
I am offending you! Sorrow is depriving me of my senses and you are aggravating
it.»
«Oh!
we understand you, woman! And because we thought you would be both deprived of
your senses, we have come to give you some good advice. Send for the Master.
Also yesterday seven lepers have come to praise the Lord because the Rabbi had
cured them. Send for Him also on behalf of Lazarus.»
«My
brother is not a leper » shouts Martha convulsively. «Is that why you wanted to
see him? Is that why you have come? No, he is not a leper! Look at my hands. I
have cured him for years and there is no leprosy on me. My hands are reddened by
spices, but I am not a leper. I have no...»
«Peace!
Peace, woman. And who said that Lazarus is a leper? And who suspects such a dreadful sin in you, as that of
hiding a leper? And do you think that, for all your power, we would not have
struck you, if you had sinned? In order to have the precepts obeyed we are quite
prepared to pass over our fathers and mothers, our wives and children. I,
Jonathan of Uziel, am telling you.»
«Certainly!
That's right! And now we tell you, out of the love we have for you and we had
for your mother and for Lazarus' sake, send for the Master. Are you shaking your
head? Do you mean that it is too late by now? What? You, Martha, the faithful
disciple, have no faith in Him? That's bad! Are you beginning to doubt as well?
» says Archelaus.
«You
are blaspheming, scribe. I believe in the Master as I believe in the true
God.»
«Why
do you not want to try, then? He has raised the dead... At least so they say...
Perhaps you do not know where He is? If you wish, we will look for Him, we will
help you » says Felix in an insinuating way.
«No!
In Lazarus' house they certainly know
where the Rabbi is. Tell us frankly, woman, and we will depart and look for
Him and we will bring Him to you, and we shall be present at the miracle to
rejoice with you, with all of you » says Sadoc tempting
her.
Martha
is hesitant, she is almost tempted to yield. The others insist while she says:
«I do not know where He is... I really do not know... He went away some days ago
and He said goodbye to us like one who goes away for a long time... I would be
relieved if I knew where He is... If at least I knew... But I do not know, that
is the truth...»
«Poor
woman! But we will help you... We will bring Him to you » says
Cornelius.
«No!
It is not necessary. The Master... You are speaking of Him, are you not? The
Master said that we must hope beyond hope, and in God only. And we will do that
» says Mary in a thundering voice, as she comes back with Helkai, who departs
from her at once and goes towards three Pharisees bending down to speak to
them.
«But
he is dying, according to what I hear! » says Doras, who is one of the
three.
«So
what? Let him die! I will not obstruct God's decree and I will not disobey the
Rabbi.»
«And
what do you expect after his death,
foolish woman? » says the Herodian mockingly.
«What?
Life! » Her voice is a cry of absolute faith.
«Life?
Ha! Ha! Be sincere. You know that He has no power against real death, and in your foolish love for
Him you do not want that to become known.»
«Go
out, all of you! It would be for Martha to tell you. But she is afraid of you. I
am only afraid of offending God, Who has forgiven me. And I am telling you in
Martha's stead. Go out, all of you. There is no room in this house for those who
hate Jesus Christ. Out! Go to your gloomy dens! All out! Or I will get the
servants to drive you out like a herd of unclean beggars.»
She
is imposing in her wrath. The Judaeans slink away in the most cowardly way, in
front of the woman. It is true that that woman looks like an enraged
archangel...
As
they leave the hall and cross the threshold passing in front of Mary, she glares
at them, creating for each an immaterial Caudine Fork under which the pride of
the defeated Judaeans is compelled to stoop. The hall is at last cleared
out.
Martha
collapses on the carpet bursting into tears.
«Why
are you weeping, sister? I do not see why you should...»
«Oh!
you offended them... and they offended you, they offended us... and now they
will avenge themselves... and...»
«Be
silent, silly woman! On whom do you expect them to avenge themselves? On
Lazarus? They must decide first, and before they do that... No one revenges
oneself on a man who is done for! On us? Are we in need of their bread to live?
They will not touch our property. The shadow of Rome is cast over it. On what
then? And even if they were able to do that, are we not both young and strong?
Shall we not be able to work? Is Jesus not poor? Was our Jesus not a workman?
Shall we not be more like Him, if we are poor and workers? You ought to be proud
in becoming so! Hope for it! Ask God to grant it! »
«But
what they said to you...»
«Ah!
What they said to me! It's the truth.
And I repeat it to myself. I was unclean. I am now the ewe‑lamb of the
Shepherd! And the past is dead. Come on, come to see
Lazarus.»
