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

 384. At the Cross-Road near Solomon's Village. Parable of the Labour Agents. 16th February 1946. The little group comes out of the house; there is also the old man who admires himself in the tunic of one of the rather short apostles. «If you wish to remain here, father...» says Jesus. But the old man interrupts Him: «No, I will come, too. Oh! let me come. I had a meal yesterday! Last night I slept, and in a bed! And my heart is no longer grieved! I feel as strong as a youth...» «Come, then. You will stay with Me, with Bartholomew and My brother Judas. The rest will go around in twos as I said. We shall all be here again by the sixth hour. Go! and peace be with you.» They part, some go towards the river, some towards the country. Jesus lets them go away and He then sets out last. He crosses the village slowly and He is looked at by the fishermen coming back from the river or going there and by the industrious housewives, who have got up at dawn to do the washing, or water their kitchen gardens or bake bread. But none of them speak. Only a boy, who is leading seven sheep to the river, asks the old man: «Where are you going, Ananias? Are you leaving the village?» «I am going with the Rabbi. But I will come back with Him. I am His servant.» «No. You are My father. Every just old man is a father and a blessing for the place giving him hospitality and for those who assist him. Blessed are those who love and respect the old» says Jesus with solemn countenance. The boy looks at Him and seems to be frightened. He then whispers: «I always gave some of my bread to Ananias...» as if he wished to say: «Do not reproach me, for I do not deserve it.» «Yes. Michael was good to me. He was a friend of my grand children... and he is still a friend of their grandfather. His mother is also good and she would help. But she has eleven children and they make their living by fishing...» Some women approach them out of curiosity and listen. «God will always help those who do what they can for the poor. And there is always a way to help them. Very often it is a lie to say: “I cannot.” Because if one is willing, one will always find a superfluous mouthful, an old blanket, a garment that is no longer worn, and give it to someone who has none. And Heaven rewards for the gift. God will give you back, Michael, the mouthfuls you gave the old man.» Jesus caresses the boy and walks away. The women remain mortified where they were, they ask the boy questions and he tells them what he knows. And the stingy women are seized with fear, as they had closed their hearts to the needs of the old man... In the meantime Jesus has arrived at the last house and, He turns His steps towards a cross-road, which from the main road leads towards the little village. From there they can see caravans on the main road going back to the towns of 384.At the Cross-Road near Solomon's Village. Parable of the Labour Agents. 394 the Decapolis and Perea. «Let us go over there and preach. Do you want to preach, too, father?» «I am not capable. What can I say?» «You are capable. Your soul is aware of the wisdom in forgiving and being faithful to God and resigned also in the hours of grief. And you know that God assists those who hope in Him. Go and tell the pilgrims.» «Oh! I can do that!» «Judas, go with him. I will remain here at the cross-road with Bartholomew.» And when He is there He stops in the shade of a group of leafy plane-trees and waits patiently. The nearby fields have beautiful crops and orchards. They look fresh in the early morning and it is a pleasure to admire them. And the caravans pass along the road... Only few people look at the two leaning against the trunks of the planetrees. Perhaps they think that they are tired travellers. But some recognise Jesus and point Him out or they bow greeting Him. At last there is one who stops his little donkey and those of his relatives, dismounts and goes towards Jesus saying: «God be with You, Rabbi! I come from Arbela. I heard You in autumn. This is my wife, this is her sister, a widow, and this is my mother. This elderly man is her brother. And that young man is my wife's brother. And these are our children. Give us Your blessing, Master. I heard that You spoke at the ford. But I arrived there last night... Will you not say a word to us?» «The Word never refuses. But wait a few minutes, because other people are arriving...» In fact the people of the village are arriving at the cross-road and they look very dejected. Other people, who had passed by along the main road, going north, come back, while others stop out of curiosity dismounting from their horses or remaining on horseback. The little group of listeners is increasing more and more. Judas of Alphaeus also comes back with the old man; there are also two sick people with them and many more healthy ones. Jesus begins to speak. «Those who go along the roads of the Lord, the roads indicated by the Lord, and they do so with good will, end up by finding the Lord. You have found the Lord coming here after fulfilling your duty of faithful Israelites at holy Passover. And here is Wisdom speaking to you, as you wished, at this cross-road, where Divine Providence has made us meet. Man comes to many cross-roads on the way of his life. More supernatural cross-roads than material ones. Every day our conscience has to face the road-forks and cross-roads of Good and Evil. And one must choose carefully to avoid making mistakes. And if one does make a mistake, one must come back humbly, when one is called and warned. And even if the way of Evil, or also the way of tepidness, looks more beautiful, one must choose the rough but safe road of Good. Listen to a parable. A group of pilgrims, who had come from remote regions looking for work, arrived at the frontier of a nation. At the frontier there were agents sent by various masters to employ labour. Some were looking for men for mines, some for woods and forests, some for servants for a wicked rich man, and some for soldiers for a king who lived in a castle on the top of a mountain, which could be reached by a very steep road. The king needed soldiers, but he wanted them to be not so much men of violence as of wisdom, to send them to his various towns to sanctify his subjects. That is why he lived up there, in a kind of hermitage, to perfect his servants, preventing them from being corrupted by worldly distractions, which delay or annul the perfecting of their spirits. He did not promise high wages, or a comfortable life. But he assured them that they would obtain holiness and a reward at his service. That is what his agents said to those who arrived at the frontier. The agents of the owners of mines and fields instead said: “It will not be a comfortable life, but you will be free and you will earn enough to enjoy yourselves.” And those who were looking for servants for a wicked master promised rich meals, an idle life, enjoyment, wealth: “All you need do is to give consent to his exacting whims − oh! not at all painful! − and you will be able to enjoy yourselves like satraps.” The pilgrims consulted with one another. They did not want to part... They asked: “The fields and mines, the palace of the wealthy man and that of the king, are they close to one another?” “Oh! no!” replied the agents. “Come to that cross-roads and we will show you the different roads.” They went. 384.At the Cross-Road near Solomon's Village. Parable of the Labour Agents. 395 “Now! This wonderful, shady, flowery, smooth road, with cool fountains, leads to the palace of the wealthy man” said the agents looking for servants. “Now! This dusty one, through pleasant fields, leads to the fields. It is exposed to the sun, but you can see that it is beautiful, after all” said those of the fields. “Now! This one furrowed by heavy wheels and stained with dark spots, takes to the mines. It is neither beautiful nor ugly” said those of the mines. “Now! This steep path, cut in the rocks inflamed by the sun, spread with thornbushes and ravines, which delay people, but are excellent defence against attacks of enemies, leads eastwards, to the severe, we could almost say sacred castle, where spirits are perfected in Good” said those of the king. And the pilgrims looked and looked. They reckoned... They were tempted by many things, of which one only was entirely good. And they slowly parted. They were ten. Three went towards the fields... and two towards the mines. The remainders looked at one another and two of them said: “Come with us, to the king. We shall not make a profit and we shall not enjoy ourselves on the Earth, but we shall be saints forever.” “That path there? Do you think we are mad? No profit? No enjoyment? It was not worth leaving everything and coming into exile to have even less than what we had in our country. We want to earn much and enjoy ourselves... “But you will lose the eternal Good! Have you not heard that he is a wicked person?” “Nonsense! After a little while we will leave him, but we shall have had a good time and we shall be rich.” “You will never get rid of him. The first were wrong in complying with their greed for money. But you! You are led by your greed for pleasure. Oh! Do not exchange your eternal destiny for a fleeting hour!.” “You are fools and you believe in idealistic promises. We are after facts. Goodbye!... “ and they began to run along the beautiful, shady, flowery, smooth road, rich in water, at the end of which the magic palace of the wicked epicurean was shining in the sunshine. The two remainders took the steep path weeping and praying. And they almost lost heart after a few metres, as it was so hard. But they persevered. And their bodies seemed to become lighter and lighter the more they proceeded and their fatigue was comforted by a strange rejoicing. They were panting and scratched all over when they arrived at the top of the mountain and were admitted to the presence of the king, who told them what he expected from them in order to make them his brave men, and he concluded saying: “Think about it for eight days and then let me know.” And they thought it over and struggled fiercely with the Tempter, who wanted to frighten them with their bodies which said: “You are sacrificing us”, with the world, the remembrance of which was still alluring. But they won. They remained. They became heroes of Good. Death came, that is their glorification. From the height of Heaven they saw in the abyss those who had gone to the wicked master. They were in chains also after their lifetime and were groaning in the darkness of Hell. “And they wanted to be free and enjoy themselves!” said the two saints. And the three damned souls saw them and cursed them and everybody, God first of all, in a horrid manner, saying: “You have all deceived us!” “No. You cannot say that. You were warned of the danger, You wanted your own ruin” replied the blessed souls, who were serene even when seeing and hearing their obscene mockery and curses cast at them. And they saw those of the fields and of the mines in various regions of Purgatory, and those saw them and said: “We were neither good nor bad, and we are now expiating our tepidity. Pray for us!” “Oh! We will! But why did you not come with us?” “Because we were not demons, but men... We lacked generosity. We loved what is temporary, even if honest, more than what is Eternal and Holy. We are now learning to know and love with justice.” That is the end of the parable. Every man is at a cross-roads. At a perpetual cross-roads. Blessed are those who are firm and generous in following the ways of Good. May God be with them. And may God touch and convert those who are not so and lead them to become so. Go in peace.» «And what about the sick people?» «What is the matter with that woman?» «Malign fever, which distorts her bones. She has gone as far as the Great Sea. But without any relief.» 384.At the Cross-Road near Solomon's Village. Parable of the Labour Agents. 396 Jesus bends over the sick woman and asks her: «Who do you think that I am?» «He Whom I have been looking for. The Messiah of God. Have mercy on me, for I have looked for You so much!» «May your faith give health both to your limbs and to your heart. And what about you, man?» The man does not reply. The woman who accompanies him, replies on his behalf: «A tumor is eating his tongue. He cannot speak and he is dying of hunger.» The man in fact is a skeleton. «Have you faith that I can cure you?» The man nods assent. «Open your mouth» orders Jesus. And with His face close to the horrible mouth eaten away by the tumor, He breathes into it saying: «I want it!» After a moment two cries are heard: «My bones are sound again»; «Mary, I am cured! Look! Look at my mouth. Hosanna! Hosanna!» and he wants to stand up, but he staggers through weakness. «Give him something to eat» orders Jesus. And He is about to withdraw. «Don't go away! Other sick people will be coming! Others are coming back... Cure them, too!» shout the crowds. «Every morning I will be here from dawn until the sixth hour. Volunteers should gather the pilgrims together.» «I will, Lord!» several people say. «May God bless you for that.» And Jesus turns towards the village with His first companions and with the other disciples who have come, few at a time while He was speaking, and who have brought other people with them. «But where are Peter and Judas of Kerioth?» asks Jesus. «They have gone to the nearby town. They have a lot of money. They have gone shopping...» «Yes. Judas worked a miracle and he is jubilant» remarks Simon Zealot smiling. «Also Andrew, and he got a sheep, as a souvenir. He cured the broken leg of a shepherd, who rewarded him thus. We will give it to the old father. Milk is good for old people...» says John, caressing the old man who is happy. They go into the house and prepare some food... They are about to sit at the table, when the two missing apostles arrive, laden like donkeys and followed by a cart with a load of those mats used as beds by poor people in Palestine. «Forgive me, Master. But this was needed. We are all right now» says Peter. And Judas: «Look. We bought the bare necessities, clean and poor. As You like things» and they are busy unloading, dismissing the carter. «Twelve little beds and twelve mats. A few dishes. Here is the seed. And here are the doves. There is the money. And tomorrow there will be many people. Phew! How warm it is! But everything is all right now. And what have You done, Master?...» And while Jesus tells him, they sit happily at the table.

383. In Solomon's House. Old Ananias.

 383. In Solomon's House. Old Ananias. 15th February 1946. Solomon's little house, which I saw in the vision of the resurrection of Lazarus in 1944, without knowing its owner, is one of the last houses in the only road that takes one to the river, in this poor out-of-the-way village: one little village of boatmen, where the houses of the... “wealthier” people are situated along the little dusty road, and the others are spread at random among the trees of the embankments. They are not many. I do not think that they are fifty in all. And they are so small, that they could be all contained in one of those tenement houses in large modern towns. Springtime now makes them appear less miserable, because it adorns them with its freshness, while garlands of bindweed or festoons of vines, or cheery smiling yellow flowers of vegetable marrows adorn the coarse fences marking the boundaries of properties, the borders of roofs, the doors of houses. There is also an odd rose, which seems out of place in its beauty in the midst of baskets and nets, of yellow mustards in bloom and of the early pods of humble swinging beans. Also the road looks prettier, because the cane-brake at its end, has not only the hard berries of the dusty knots, but it is also decorated with plumes, and wild gladioli display their sword-shaped leaves and bright-coloured flower spikes, while light bindweeds with threadlike stems embrace canes and knots winding round them and at each twirl they put forth the very delicate chalice of their little lilac-pink flower. And myriads of birds make love among the reed-thickets, flirting on the canes, swinging on the bearbines, enlivening the green marshy embankments with their chirping and many-coloured feathers. Jesus pushes the little rustic gate admitting to a small kitchen garden or courtyard. If it was a kitchen garden, now it is certainly a wild entanglement of grass, if it was a courtyard it is still a disorder of weeds sown by the wind. Only some vegetable marrows have been wise by clinging to the only vine and figtree, climbing up to put forth the smiling mouths of their flowers close to the miniature bunches of grapes of the vine, or to the tiny tender fig leaves, which at their joints, in the cradles of the stalks, have the hard gems of the fig-flowers just formed. Stinging-nettles are tormenting the apostles' bare feet, so much so that Peter and Thomas pick up two worm-eaten oars and are busy beating the irritating plants to lessen their poisonous effect. In the meantime James and John are trying to turn the big rusty lock, and when they succeed, they open the rustic door, entering a kitchen room smelling mouldy and close. Dust and cobwebs decorate the walls. A rough table, some benches and seats and a shelf furnish it; there are two doors in one of the walls. Peter explores... «There is a little room with one bed only. It's good for Jesus... And there? Ah! I see! This is the store-room, the lumber-room, the barn and the rats' nest... Look how they run! They have gnawed away everything these months. But now I will see to you, don't you worry. Master... can we act as if we were at home here?» «That is what Solomon said.» «Very well! Listen, brother, and you, James. Come here and close all these holes. And you, Matthew stand here at the door with Judas, and make sure that not even one mouse gets out. Just imagine that you are still the kind tollcollector at Capernaum. No customer escaped you then, not even if he became as thin as a lizard after hibernating... And you go and get as much weed as you can in the kitchen garden and bring it here. And You, Master, go... wherever You like, while I will fix these filthy devils, which have ruined these good nets and have eaten the whole keel of a boat...» And while speaking he gathers together gnawed bits of wood, bits of nets reduced like tow, faggots... everything in the middle of the room, and when he gets the green grass, he places it on top of the rest and then sets fire to the lot and runs out when the first spirals of smoke rise from the pile. And he laughs saying: «Let all the Philistines die!» «But you are not going to set everything on fire?» asks Simon Zealot. «No, my dear. Because the damp green grass chokes the flames, and the flames exhale smoke from the grass and thus, as good allies, the dry and green elements 383. In Solomon's House. Old Ananias. 391 help each other in taking revenge. Can you smell how it stinks? And before long you will hear screams! Who told me that swans sing before dying? Ah! Syntyche did! The mice will be singing, too, shortly.» Judas Iscariot suddenly stops laughing and remarks: «We have not been able to find out anything about her. And we have heard nothing of John of Endor. I wonder where they have ended up.» «In the right place certainly» replies Peter. «Do you know where?» «I know that they are no longer here to be harassed by ill-will.» «Have you ever inquired about them? I have.» «I have not. I am not interested in knowing where they are. I am quite satisfied thinking and praying that they may persevere in holiness.» Thomas says: «Some rich Pharisees asked me about them. They are customers of my father. I replied that I do not know.» «And are you not anxious to know?» «I am not and that is the truth...» «Listen! Listen! The smoke is having effect. But let us go out, otherwise we shall be choking, too» says Peter. And the distraction puts an end to the discussion. Jesus is in the kitchen garden and is straightening the stems of legumes, creeping on the ground, which have come up from seed fallen there. «Are You working as a kitchen gardener?» asks Philip smiling. «Yes. It upsets Me to see a plant creep uselessly, whereas it is destined to rise towards the sun and bear fruit.» «A beautiful subject-matter for a sermon, Master» remarks Bartholomew. «Yes. Beautiful. But everything can be used as a subject, when one knows how to meditate.» «We will help You, too. Come on! Who will go down to the river to get some canes for the legumes?» The younger disciples go away laughing, and the elder ones get busy weeding carefully. «Oh! One can see that it is a kitchen garden like that. There is no salad. But there are leeks, garlic, vegetables, fine herbs and legumes. And vegetable marrows! How many of them! The vine needs pruning and the fig-tree wants to be cleared...» «But, Simon, we are not staying here!...» says Matthew. «But we shall come here often. He said so. And it will do us no harm to have a little order here. Look! There is also a jasmine, poor thing, under this cascade of marrows. If Porphirea saw this plant so dejected, she would weep over it, and she would talk to it as to a child. Of course, before she had Marjiam she used to talk to her flowers as if they were her children... Here you are! I have made room here. I removed the marrow because... Oh! Here are the boys with the canes and a... Master, there is work for You. He is blind!» In fact James, John, Andrew and Thomas come in, laden with canes, and Thomas is almost carrying a poor old man, covered with rags; his eyes are white with cataracts. «Master, he was trying to find chicory on the banks and almost fell into the water. He has been left alone for some months, because the son who kept him died, and his daughter-in-law went back to her house and he... lives as best he can. Is that right, father?» «Yes, it is. Where is the Lord?» he says turning round his veiled eyes. «He is here. Can you see that long whiteness? It's Him.» But Jesus comes forward and takes him by the hand. «Are you alone, poor father? And you cannot see?» «No, I cannot. When I could, I made baskets and eel-pots and I made also nets. But now... I can see more with my fingers than with my eyes, and looking for herbs, I make mistakes, and at times I have suffered from stomach disorder because of harmful herbs.» «But in the village...» «Oh! They are all poor and with many children, and I am old... If a donkey dies... one is sorry. But if an old man dies!... What is an old man? What am I? My daughter-in-law took everything away. If she had only taken me with her, like an old sheep, that I might be near my grandchildren... my son's children...» 383. In Solomon's House. Old Ananias. 392 he weeps resting his head on the chest of Jesus, Who holds him in His arms caressing him. «Have you got a house?» «She sold it.» «And how do you live?» «Like an animal. At first the people in the village helped me, Then they became tired...» «Solomon in that case is no longer of the same race, because he is generous» remarks Matthew. «With us, though. Why did he not give the house to the old man?» asks Philip. «Because the last time he came here, I had a house. Solomon is good. But for some time the people of the village have said that he is mad, and they no longer do what Solomon had taught them» says the old man. «Would you be willing to stay with Me?» «Oh! I would no longer regret my grandchildren!» «Even if you were to remain poor and blind, would you be happy just by serving Me?» «Yes!» A trembling yes, and yet so firm... «All right, father. Listen. You cannot travel about as I do. And I cannot remain here. But we can love each other and do each other a good turn.» «You can, yes, to me. But I... What can old Ananias do?» «You can take care of the house and of the kitchen garden so that I may find them in good order when I come back? Do you like the idea?» «Yes, I do! But I am blind... The house I will become accustomed to the walls. But the kitchen garden How can I take care of it, if I cannot tell one herb from another? Oh! How lovely it would be to serve You thus, Lord! And end my life thus...» The old man is pressing his hands against his heart, dreaming of what is impossible. Jesus bends smiling and kisses his dimmed eyes... «But I... I am beginning to see... I can see... Oh! Oh!...» He staggers in his joy and would fall if Jesus did not support him. «Eh! what joy does!...» says Peter in a deeply moved voice. «And hunger... He says that he has been living for days on chicory, without any oil or salt...» concludes Thomas. «Yes, that is why we brought him here. To feed him...» «Poor old soul!» they all exclaim sympathetically. The old man recovers his senses and weeps. The poor tears of old people so sad also when they are tears of joy, and he whispers: «Now... now I can serve You, Blessed One!» and he wants to bend to kiss Jesus' feet. «No, father. Now we shall go inside and we shall have something to eat. Then we will give you a tunic and you will be among sons, and we shall have a father who will welcome us every time we come back and will bless us every time we depart. We will go and find two doves, so that you may always have living creatures around you. We will get seed for the kitchen garden and you will sow them in the soil and you will sow faith in Me in the hearts of the people here.» «I will teach them charity, for they have none!» «Yes, also charity. But be kind...» «Oh! I will be. I did not say one harsh word to my daughter-in-law when she left me. I understood and I forgave.» «I read that in your heart. That is why I loved you. Come. Come with Me...» And Jesus goes into the house holding the old man by the hand. Peter looks at them, and with the back of his hand he wipes off a tear, before resuming his work. «Are you weeping, brother?» Peter does not reply. Andrew insists: «Why are you weeping, brother?» «Mind your own business, the weeds in this case. If I am weeping it's because... it's because I know why...» «Tell us, too, be good» say several apostles. 383. In Solomon's House. Old Ananias. 393 «It's because, these lessons... given so... they touch my heart more than when He thunders imposingly...» «But we see the King in Him then!» exclaims Judas. «And here we see the Saint. Peter is right» says Bartholomew. «But He must be powerful in order to reign.» «And He must be holy in order to redeem.» «I agree, with regard to souls. But with regard to Israel...» «Israel will never be Israel unless souls become holy.» The conflicting opinions bounce backwards and forwards. The old man comes out with a water-jug in his hand. He is going to the fountain. He is so happy that he is entirely different from the man he was previously. «Old father, listen. According to you, what does Israel need to become great?» Andrew asks him. «A king or a saint?» «It needs God. That God Who is praying and meditating in there. Ah! My sons! Be good, you who follow Him! Be good, very good! Ah! what a gift the Lord has given you! What a gift!» and he goes away raising his arms towards the sky whispering: «What a gift! What a gift!»...

382. At the Ford between Jericho and Bethabara.

 382. At the Ford between Jericho and Bethabara. 14th February 1946. The banks of the Jordan near the ford are exactly like a camp of nomads during these days, when caravans are returning to their home towns. Tents or just blankets, tied to two tree-trunks, or resting on branches planted in the ground, or tied to the high saddle of a camel, fixed, in short, somehow, to enable people to get under them, and be sheltered from the dew which must be just like rain in these places below sea level, are spread everywhere along the woods, which form a green frame round the river. When Jesus arrives with His disciples near the river banks, to the north of the ford, the camps are slowly awaking. Jesus must have left Nike's house at dawn, because the sun has not yet risen and the place is beautiful, cool and serene. The more earnest people, awakened by the neighing, braying, the strange cries of horses, donkeys and camels, by the quarrels or songs of hundreds of sparrows and other birds among the branches of willows, of reed-thickets, of the tall trees forming green tunnels above the flowery banks, begin to steal out of the gailycoloured tents and go down to the river to wash. One can hear some children weeping and the sweet voices of mothers speaking to their children. All the signs of life revive minute by minute. All kinds of vendors arrive from the nearby town of Jericho, with new pilgrims, guards and soldiers responsible for watching over and keeping order during these days, when tribes of every region meet and do not spare themselves insults and reproaches, and when there are frequent thefts by highwaymen, who mix with the crowds disguised as pilgrims in order to steal; and there is no shortage of prostitutes, who have come on “their” Passover pilgrimage, that is, to squeeze money and gifts out of the more wealthy and lustful passengers in payment for an hour's pleasure, which miserably neutralises all Passover purifications... The honest women, who among the pilgrims have husbands and grown up sons, shout like upset magpies calling their men, who stand enraptured, or at least mothers and wives think so, watching the prostitutes. And the shameless women laugh and give sharp answers to the titles addressed to them by the honest women. The men, and the soldiers in particular, laugh and willingly joke with the prostitutes. Some 382. At the Ford between Jericho and Bethabara. 387 Israelites, morally rigid, or only hypocritically rigid, go away indignantly, whilst others... make use of the deaf-and-dumb alphabet in advance, because they make themselves clearly understood with the prostitutes by gestures. Jesus does not follow the straight road that would take Him to the middle of the camp. He goes down to the gravel bed of the river, takes His sandals off and walks where the water washes against the grass. The apostles follow Him. The elder ones, who are more uncompromising, grumble: «And to think that the Baptist preached penance here!» «Yes! And this place is now worse than a porch in the Roman thermae!» «And those who call themselves saints do not disdain to amuse themselves there!» «Did you see them, too?» «Of course I did! I have eyes as well!...» The younger or less rigid apostles − such as Judas of Kerioth who laughs and watches very carefully what is happening in the camps and does not disdain contemplating the beautiful impudent women who have come looking for customers; and Thomas, who laughs watching the angry wives and the indignant Pharisees; and Matthew, who cannot speak severely against vices and corrupt people, as once he was a sinner himself, and is content with sighing and shaking his head; and James of Zebedee, who watches without interest and without criticising, indifferently − follow their little group, ahead of which there is Jesus with Andrew, John and James of Alphaeus. Jesus' face is uncommunicative, as if it were carved in marble. And it becomes more and more uncommunicative, as from the top of the embankment He hears words of admiration or shameless conversations between a not very honest man and a prostitute. He looks straight ahead all the time, fixedly. He does not want to see. And His attitude makes His intention very clear. But a young man, magnificently dressed, who is speaking to two prostitutes with other fellows like him, says in a loud voice to one of the women: «Go! We want to have a good laugh. Go and offer yourself! Comfort Him! He is sad because, poor as He is, he cannot buy women.» Jesus' ivory face blushes and then becomes pale once again. But He does not look round. His blushing is the only sign that He has heard. The impudent woman, with her necklaces tinkling loudly and her dress flapping lightly, utters an affected cry and jumps from the low embankment on to the gravel bed, and in doing so, she succeeds in showing much of her secret beauty. She falls just at Jesus' feet and with trilling laughter on her beautiful lips, inviting eyes and figure, she shouts: «Oh! handsome one among those born of woman! For a kiss of Your lips, I give all myself without payment!» John, Andrew and James of Alphaeus are paralysed with scandalised astonishment and cannot make a gesture. But Peter! He springs like a panther and from his group he falls heavily on the unfortunate woman, now on her knees and leaning backwards, he shakes her, lifts her, hurls her, with an awful epithet, against the embankment, then charges her to give her the rest. Jesus says: «Simon!» A cry which is more than a sermon. And Simon goes back to his Lord, red with anger. «Why do You not let me punish her?» «Simon, you do not punish a garment which has become dirty. You wash it. Her garment is her filthy body and her soul is polluted. Let us pray to cleanse her soul and her body.» He says so kindly, in a low voice, but loud enough to be heard by the woman, and setting out again, He now does cast a glance with His mild eyes at the wretched woman for one moment. One glance only! For one moment only! But all the power of His merciful love is in it! And the woman lowers her head, picks up her veil and covers herself with it... Jesus continues on His way. He is now at the ford. The shallow water allows adults to cross to the other side on foot. It is enough to lift one's clothes above one's knees and look for the large white stones submerged in the crystal-clear water forming a kind of pavement for the people wading across. Those on horseback cross over downstream. The apostles wallow happily in the water half way up their thighs and Peter cannot believe that it is true. And he promises the others and himself a refreshing bath when they stop in Solomon's house, as compensation for yesterday's roasting. They are now on the other side. Here also the crowds are becoming active after the night's rest, or people are drying themselves after wading. Jesus orders: «Spread around and inform people that the Rabbi is here. I am going near that fallen tree-trunk and I will wait for you there.» 382. At the Ford between Jericho and Bethabara. 388 Many people are soon informed and they flock to hear Him. Jesus begins to speak. A sad procession passes by following a litter, on which there is a young man who has been taken ill in Jerusalem, and as the doctors have condemned him, he is now being rushed home to die there. Everybody is speaking about him because he is rich and still young. And many say: «It must be very sad to die when one is so wealthy and so young!» And some say perhaps they are people who already believe in Jesus: «It serves him right! He will not believe. The disciples went to his relatives and said to them: “The Saviour is here. If you have faith and you ask Him, He will cure him.” But he was the first to refuse to come to the Rabbi.» Criticism follows pity. And Jesus refers to that to begin His speech. «Peace to everybody! Rich and young people certainly do not like to die, when they are rich only in money and young in age. But those, who are rich in virtue and young because of their pure habits, are not sorry to die. A truly wise person, from the age of discretion onwards, acts in such a way as to die peacefully. Life is preparation for death, just as death is preparation for a greater Life. The true wise man, when he understands the truth of living and dying, the truth of dying to rise again, strives in every possible way to divest himself of what is useless, and to become enriched with what is useful, that is, with virtues and good deeds, in order to have a supply of goods before Him Who summons him to judge him, to reward or punish him with perfect justice. The true wise man leads a life that makes him more adult in wisdom than an old man, and younger than a teenager, because by living virtuously and justly, he keeps such pure feelings in his heart that even youths at time do not possess. How sweet then it is to die! The wise man reclines his tired head on the bosom of the Father, he relaxes in His embrace, and in the midst of the mist of fleeing life he says: “I love You, I hope in You, I believe in You”, saying so for the last time on the Earth, to repeat then the jubilant “I love You!”, forever and ever in the brightness of Paradise. Is death a harsh thought? No. A just decree for all mortals, it is a grievous worry for those who do not believe and are full of sins. In vain man says, to explain the troubled anxiety of a man who is dying and who was not good during his lifetime: “It's because he would not like to die as yet, because he has not done any good, or only very little, and he would like to live to make amends.” In vain he says: “If he had lived longer, he could have had a greater reward, because he would have done more good.” A soul knows, at least vaguely, how much time it has been given. No time, as compared to eternity. And the soul spurs the whole ego to act. But, poor soul! How often it is overwhelmed, trodden upon, gagged, in order not to hear its words! That happens to those who lack good will. Whilst just men, from their very childhood, listen to their souls, obey their advice, and are continuously active; and saints die young in age but rich in merits, at times at the dawn of life; and not even by the addition of one hundred or one thousand years, would they become holier than they are, because the love for God and their neighbour, practised in every form and with utter generosity, makes them perfect. What matters in Heaven is not how long, but how one has lived. People mourn for corpses and weep over them. But corpses do not weep. People tremble at the thought that they must die. But they do not worry about living in such a way as not to tremble at the hour of their death. Why do people not mourn for and weep over living corpses, the real corpses, those who have in their bodies, as in graves, dead souls? And those who weep thinking that their bodies must die, why do they not weep over the corpses they have within themselves? How many corpses I see, and they laugh and joke, but they do not weep over themselves! How many fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, sons, friends, priests, teachers, I see who foolishly weep for a son, a wife, a husband, a brother, a parent, a friend, a believer, a disciple who died in clear friendship with God, after a life that was a crown of perfection and who do not weep over the corpses of the souls of a son, a husband, a wife, a brother, a father, a friend, a believer, a disciple, who is dead through vices and sins, and is dead and lost forever, unless he repents! Why not try to revive them? That is love, you know? It is the greatest love. Oh! foolish tears for dust, which has become dust! Idolatry of affections! Hypocrisy of affection! Weep, but over the dead souls of your dearest relatives. Try to bring them to Life. And I speak in particular to you, women, who can influence so much those whom you love. Let us now consider together what Wisdom indicates as the cause of death and shame. Do not insult God by misusing the life He gave you, soiling it with evil deeds which dishonour man. Do not insult your parents through behaviour that flings mud at their white hair and causes violent sorrow to their last days. Do not abuse those who assist you, so that you will not be cursed for the love you tread upon. 382. At the Ford between Jericho and Bethabara. 389 Do not abuse those who govern you, because it is not by rebelling against rulers that countries become great and free, but it is through the holy life of citizens that you obtain the assistance of the Lord, Who can touch the hearts of rulers or remove them from their places or even from life, as our history of Israel has shown several times, when they pass all bounds and especially when the people, sanctifying themselves, deserve the forgiveness of God, Who thus removes the oppressive yoke from the necks of the punished citizens. Do not abuse your wives by putting an affront of adulterous love upon them, and do not abuse the innocence of your children with the knowledge of unlawful love. Live holily in the eyes of those who, both because of their love and of their duty, consider you the person who is to be the example of their lives. You cannot sever your holiness in respect of your closest neighbour from your holiness towards God, because one germinates the other, as the two loves: of God and neighbour germinate each other. Be just with your friends. Friendship is a kinship of the soul. It is written: “How delightful it is for friends to proceed all together.” But it is delightful if they proceed on the path of virtue. Woe to those who pollute and betray friendship by turning it into selfishness, treason, vice or injustice. Too many are those who say: “I love you” to find out their friends' business and exploit the information to their own benefit'! Too many are those who usurp the rights of their friends! Be honest with judges. With all judges. From the most high judge, Who is God and cannot be defrauded or deceived through hypocritical practices, to the intimate judge, that is, your conscience, to the loving, suffering judges, watchful of their love, which are the eyes of your relatives, to the severe judges of the people. Do not lie invoking God to corroborate your lies. Be honest in selling and buying. When you are selling, and your greed says to you: “Steal to have a bigger profit”, whilst your conscience says to you: “Be honest because you would be sorry if you were robbed”, listen to the latter voice, remembering that we must not do to others what we would not like done to ourselves. The money given to you in exchange for goods is often wet with the perspiration and tears of the poor. It costs hard work. You do not know how much grief it costs, how much sorrow and pain there is behind that money, which you vendors think that it is always too little for what you give. Sick people, fatherless children, old people short of money... Oh! holy grief and holy dignity of the poor, which the rich do not understand, why are you not taken into consideration? Why are people honest when selling to the powerful and mighty ones, for fear of retaliation, whereas they take advantage of defenceless unknown brothers? That is rather a crime against love than against honesty itself. And God curses it, because the tears squeezed out of poor people, who have but tears as a reaction against abuse of power, cry to the Lord with the same voice as the blood drained from the veins of a man by a murderer, by a Cain of his fellow creature. Be honest in your looks, as you are in your words and deeds. A look, given to those who do not deserve it, or denied to those who do deserve it, is like a noose and a dagger. The look that meets the impudent eyes of a prostitute, and says to her: “You are beautiful!”, and replies to her inviting look with assent, is worse than the slip knot for a hanged man. The look denied to a poor relative or to a friend fallen into poverty, is like a dagger that pierces the hearts of those unhappy people. And likewise the glance of hatred or of contempt cast at one's enemy or at a beggar. Enemies are to be forgiven and loved at least with your souls, if your bodies refuse to love them. Forgiveness is love of the spirit. Not to take revenge is love of the spirit. A beggar is to be loved because nobody comforts him. It is not sufficient to throw a mite and pass by scornfully. The offering serves for the starving, naked, homeless body. But the pity that smiles in offering, that takes an interest in the tears of the unhappy fellow, is bread for his heart. Love, love, love. Be honest in tithes and customary practices, be honest in your homes, without exploiting servants beyond measure and without tempting the maidservant sleeping under your roof. Even if the world is unaware of the theft committed in the secrecy of your house against your unaware wife and against the maidservant you debauch, God is aware of your sin. Be honest in speaking. Be honest in bringing up your sons and daughters. It is written: “Keep a sharp look-out, that your daughter does not make you the laughing stock of the town.” I say: “Keep a sharp look-out that the soul of your daughter may not die.” And now go. I also will go away, after giving you provisions of wisdom. May the Lord be with those who strive to love Him.» 382. At the Ford between Jericho and Bethabara. 390 He blesses them with a gesture, He descends quickly from the fallen tree and takes a lane among the trees going upstream and soon disappears among the green vegetation. The crowds make comments animatedly with opposing opinions. The unfavourable comments, of course, are made by the few scribes and Pharisees who are among the crowds of humble people.

381. In Nike's House.

 381. In Nike's House. 12th February 1946. Although the road runs through a green country, with leafy trees along its sides, it is as hot as an oven in the midday sun. Heat and the aroma of bread being baked in an oven come from the fields, where the crops are maturing rapidly. The light is dazzling. Each ear of corn looks like a tiny gilded lamp among the golden glumes and the pointed awns, and the sunshine sparkling on the straw of 381. In Nike's House. 383 the cornstalks is as troublesome to the eye as the dazzling road. In vain the pilgrims seek relief in the leaves. If they look up at them, they expose their eyes even more to the glare of the oppressive sunshine, and they must lower them at once, to shun such violence, and close them, leaving a narrow gap between their dusty reddened irritated eyelashes. Perspiration trickling down their dusty cheeks leaves shiny streaks on them. They drag their tired feet raising more dust, which increases their torture. Jesus comforts His tired apostles. Although He is perspiring as well, He has covered His head with His mantle, to protect it from the sun, and advises the others to do likewise. They obey without speaking. They are too exhausted to waste their breath on one of their usual complaints. They are proceeding like drunk men... «Cheer up. There is a house over there in the fields...» says Jesus. «If it is like the others... there will be nothing but the distress of walking so much through fiery fields to no purpose» grumbles Peter within his mantle. The others confirm uttering a depressed «h'm!». «I will go. You stay here in this little shade.» «No. We will come with You. They will have at least a well, as there is no shortage of water here... and we will have a drink to quench the fire within us.» «It will do you harm to drink while you are so hot.» «We shall die... but it will be better than what we have now...» Jesus does not reply. He sighs and He goes ahead of them along a path through fields of corn. The fields do not stretch as far as the house, but they end at the border of a wonderful shady orchard, which forms a rich refreshing ring round the house, as both light and heat are mitigated in it. And the apostles thrust themselves into it, with an «ah!» of relief. But Jesus goes on, heedless of their entreaties to stop for a little while. The cooing of doves, the creaking of pulleys and the calm voices of women are heard from the house and spread in the dead silence of the country. Jesus arrives at a little esplanade, which surrounds the house like a wide clean pavement, over which a pergola of grapes spreads its entangled leafy branches and a protecting shade. There are two wells, one on the left and one on the right hand side of the house, shaded by the vine. There are some flowerbeds against the walls of the house. Light dark-striped curtains are fluttering at the open doors. Voices of women and noise of dishes come from a room. Jesus goes towards it and as He passes by, a dozen doves, which were pecking cereals spread on the ground, take flight with loud flapping of wings. The noise draws the attention of those in the room and it is contemporaneous with the drawing of the curtain, which Jesus moves to the right with His hand, while a servants pulls it to the left and remains astonished before the Unknown visitor. «Peace to this house! May I, as a pilgrim, have some refreshment?» asks Jesus standing on the threshold of the room, a large kitchen in which servants are washing the dishes used for the midday meal. «The landlady will not reject You. I will go and tell her.» «There are twelve more people with Me, and if I should get refreshment only for Myself, I would prefer to have none.» «We will tell the mistress and she certainly...» «Master and Lord! You here? In my house? What grace is this?» interrupts a voice, and a woman, Nike, rushes forward and kneels to kiss Jesus' feet. The maidservants are left like statues. The one who was washing the dishes is standing with a towel in her right hand and a dripping dish in her left one, reddened by the boiling water. Another one, who was polishing knives, crouching in a corner, gets up on her knees to see better, and the knives fall on the floor with a crash. A third one, intent on removing ashes from the cookers, raises her face covered with ashes and remains thus, emerging open mouthed from the level of the fireplace. «I am here. Many houses rejected us. We are tired and thirsty.» «Oh! Come! Not here. Let us go into the rooms facing north, which are cool and shady. And you, prepare water so that they can wash, and bring some aromatic drinks. And you, girl, go and awake the steward and ask him to let you have some snacks, while waiting for the meal...» «No, Nike! I am not a worldly guest. I am your persecuted Master. I ask for shelter and love, rather than for food. I ask for pity, more for My friends than for Myself...» 381. In Nike's House. 384 «Yes, Lord. But when did You have Your last meal?» «They... I do not know. I, yesterday at dawn, with them.» «So You can see... I will not commit excesses. But as a sister or a mother I will give everybody what is necessary, and as a servant and disciple, I will give You honour and assistance. Where are the brothers?» «In the orchard. But I think that they are coming. I can hear their voices.» Nike runs out, she sees them and calls them and then she leads them with Jesus into a cool entrance-hall, where there already are basins and towels, so that they can wash their faces, hands and feet and get rid of dust and perspiration. «I beg you, take off your dusty clothes and give them to the servants at once. You will feel much better with clean clothes and cool sandals on. Then come into that hall. I will wait for you there.» And Nike goes out closing the door... ... «Ah! It is lovely in this shade and so refreshing!» says Peter with a sigh entering the room where Nike is waiting for them kindly and respectfully. «My joy in giving you relief is certainly greater than your relief, o apostle of my Lord.» «H'm! Apostle... Of course... But, listen, Nike, let us do without ceremony. You: without attaching importance to the fact that you are rich and wise; I, without attaching importance to the fact that I am an apostle. So... like good brothers and sisters, who need each other's help for their souls and their bodies. The thought that I am an “apostle” frightens me too much.» «What are you afraid of?» asks the amazed woman smiling. «Of being... too big... with regard to the clay I am, and that I may collapse because of the weight... I am afraid of... becoming arrogant with pride... I am afraid that... the others, I mean the disciples and good souls, knowing that I am the apostle, may keep away from me and hold their tongues even if I make mistakes... And I do not want that because among the disciples, also among those who believe in a simple way, there are many who are better than I am, some with regard to this, some with regard to that, and I want to do as... as that bee over there, which has come in, and of the baskets of fruit that you ordered to be brought in for us, it sucked a little here and a little there, and now, to complete the task, is sucking those flowers and then it will go out and suck clover and cornflowers, camomiles and bindweeds. It takes a little of everything. And I must do likewise...» «But you suck the most beautiful flower! The Master.» «Yes, Nike. But from Him I learn to become a son of God. Men will teach me to become a man.» «You are.» «No, woman. I am little less than an animal. And really I do not know how the Master puts up with me...» «I put up with you because you know what you are, and I can work on you as easily as one can knead dough. But if you were stubborn and offered resistance, and above all if you were proud, I would drive you away as if you were a demon» says Jesus. Some maidservants come in with cups of cold milk, and porous amphoras, which keep liquids very cool. «Take some refreshment» says Nike. «Then you will be able to rest until evening. There are rooms and beds in the house. And if I did not have them, I would give you mine, to let you rest. Master, I will now withdraw to attend to household matters. You all know where to find me and the maidservants.» «Go and do not worry about us.» Nike goes out. The apostles do ample justice to the snack offered to them. And while eating with a good appetite, they speak and make comments. «Lovely fruit!» «And a good disciple.» «Beautiful house. Not magnificent, not poor.» «And it is controlled by a woman who is both kind and firm. There is order, neatness, respect, and tenderness at the same time.» «There are beautiful fields round it! A fortune!» «Yes. And a furnace!...» says Peter, who has not forgotten what he suffered. The others laugh. 381. In Nike's House. 385 «But it is very pleasant here. Did You know that Nike lived here?» asks Thomas. «Not any more than you did. I knew that she had recently bought some property near Jericho. But that was all. The dear angel of pilgrims led us here.» «Actually, he led You. We did not want to come.» «I was ready to throw myself on the ground and let the sun burn me, rather than take another step» says Matthew. «It is not possible to travel during the day. The sun is very strong this year. It seems to be going mad as well.» «Yes, we will travel during the first hours in the morning and in the evening. But we shall soon be up on the mountains. It is milder there.» «To my house?» asks the Iscariot. «Yes, Judas. And to Juttah and to Hebron.» «Not to Ashkelon, eh?» «No, Peter. We will go where we have never been. We shall still have to suffer from sunshine and heat. A little sacrifice for My sake and for the sake of souls. Rest now. I am going into the orchard to pray.» «But are You never tired? Would it not be better if You had a rest as well?» asks Judas of Alphaeus. «Perhaps the Master wishes to stop here...» remarks the Zealot. «No. We will leave at dawn to wade across the river in the cool hours.» «Where are we going beyond the Jordan?» «The crowds are going home after Passover. Too many looked in vain for Me in Jerusalem. I will preach and cure at the ford. Then we will go and tidy up Solomon's house. It will be invaluable to us...» «But are we not going back to Galilee?» «We will go there, too. But we will remain in these southern parts for a long time, and a shelter will be most useful to us. Sleep. I am going.» -------------------- Supper must be over. It is night. Dew drops fall from cornices and resound on the vine leaves. There is an unbelievable number of stars in the sky and eyes get lost contemplating them. Chirps of crickets and night birds. The silence of the country. The apostles have already withdrawn. But Nike is up and she is listening to the Master. He is sat stiffly on a stone seat against the house. The woman is standing before Him, in an attitude of respectful attention. Jesus must be concluding a speech already started. He says: «Yes. The remark is correct. But I was sure that the penitent, or rather the “reviving man” would not be left without the help of the Lord. While we were having supper and you were serving and asking questions, I was thinking that you are the help. You said: “I can only follow You for short periods of time, because I have to watch over the house and the new domestic staff.” And you regretted that and you said that if you had known you were going to find Me so soon, you would not have bought the property, which is now binding you. You can see that it has served to give hospitality to the evangelizers. So it is good. And it may be useful again... while waiting to serve your Lord perfectly. I now ask a service of you, for the sake of that soul, who is reviving and is full of good will, but is very weak. Excessive penance might distress him, and Satan might take advantage of such distress.» «What must I do, my Lord?» «Go to him. Go to him every month, as if it were a rite. It is a rite of brotherly love. You will go to the Cherith and climbing up the path among the bushes you will call: “Elijah! Elijah!”. He will look out in amazement and you will greet him thus: “Peace to you, brother, in the name of Jesus the Nazarene.” You will take him as many pieces of bread baked twice, as the days of a month. Nothing else in summer. From the Feast of the Tabernacles onwards, you will take him also four jars of oil each month, together with the bread. And at the Tabernacles take him a garment made of goatskin, a heavy one, water resistant, and a blanket. Nothing else.» «And no word?» «Only those strictly useful. He will ask after Me. Tell him what you know. He will confide his hesitations, his hopes and low spirits to you. You will tell him what your faith and piety inspire you. The sacrifice, in any case, will not last long... Not even twelve months... Will you be merciful to Me and to the penitent?» 381. In Nike's House. 386 «Yes, my Lord... But why are You so sad?» «And why are you weeping?» «Because in Your words I hear a foreboding of death... Will I be losing You so soon, Lord?» Nike weeps behind her veil. «Do not weep! There will be so much peace for Me, afterwards... No more hatred. No more ambushes. No more all this... horror of sin against Me and around Me... No more atrocious contacts... Oh! Do not weep, Nike! Your Saviour will be in peace. He will be victorious...» «But before... I always read the prophets with my husband And we shuddered with horror at the words of David and Isaiah. But will it really be like that for You?» «That and more...» «Oh!... Who will comfort You? Who will let You die still hopeful?» «The love of My disciples and particularly of My women disciples.» «Also mine, then. Because at no cost I will be far from my Saviour. Only... oh! Lord! Exact any kind of penance from me, any sacrifice, but give me manly courage for that hour. When you will be like “a dry potsherd”, “with Your tongue stuck to Your jaw” out of thirst, when You will look “like a leper who covers his face”, grant that I may recognise You as the King of kings and I may assist You, as a devoted servant. Do not conceal Your tortured face from me, o my God! But as You now allow me to delight in Your brightness, o Morning Star, let me look at You then and may Your face be impressed in my heart, because, oh! also my heart, like Yours, will melt like wax on that day, through grief... » Nike is now on her knees, almost prostrated and now and again she raises her weeping face to look at her Lord, Whose body is white in the white moonlight against the dark wall. «You will have all that. And I shall have your pity. And it will come with Me to the scaffold and from there it will rise to Heaven. Your crown forever. Angels and men will utter the most beautiful praise of you: “In the hour of calamity, of sin, of doubt, she was faithful, she did not sin and she assisted her Lord.” Stand up, woman. And may you be blessed as from now and forever.» He lays His hands on her head while she is getting up, and they then go into the silent house, for their night's rest.

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

 380. The Parable of the Unfaithful Steward. Essenes and Pharisees. 10th February 1946. Waiting for the Master many people are scattered over the lower slopes of a rather isolated mountain, which rises from intertwined valleys surrounding it; in certain places the slopes rise sheer from the valleys. To reach the top there is a path cut in the calcareous rock like a scratch winding up the slope. In some parts the borders of the path are the steep incline of the mountain on one side, and a deep precipice on the other. And the dark yellowish-red rugged path, looks like a ribbon thrown among the low dusty-green thorny bushes, full of aculei; I would say the aculei are the very leaves that cover the arid rocky slopes and adorn themselves with bright violet-red flowers, like tassels or flocks of silk torn from the garment of some unfortunate person who happened to pass along the thicket of thorn bushes. And this blue-green tormenting vegetation, full of sharp thorns, is as sad as if it were spread with impalpable ashes and extends in stripes also at the foot of the mountain and in the plain between the mountain and other mountains, both north-west and south-east, alternating with places where there are real bushes and real grass, which are neither tormenting nor useless. The crowds have camped on the green grass, patiently waiting the arrival of the Master. It must be the day after the speech to the apostles, because it is a cool morning and the dew has not yet evaporated from all the stems. It particularly decorates those thorns and leaves which are in the more shady spots, transforming the quaint flowers of the thorny bushes into tassels studded with diamonds. This is certainly the beauty hour for the sad mountain. Because during the other hours, in the scorching sun or in moonlit nights, it must look like a horrible place of hellish expiation. A large wealthy town can be seen to the east, in the very fertile plain. Nothing else is visible from this hillside, which is still low, where the pilgrims are, but from the top the eye must enjoy a wonderful sight of the nearby districts. Taking into account the height of the mountain I think that one's eyes would rove over the Dead Sea and the area to the east of it, as far as the mountain chains of Samaria and those that hide Jerusalem. But I have not been to the top, so... The apostles are moving about among the crowds, trying to keep them quiet and orderly and to put sick people in the best places. They are assisted by some disciples, perhaps those who are active in that locality and had led to the borders of Judaea the pilgrims anxious to hear the Master. Jesus appears all of a sudden. He is wearing a white linen tunic and a red mantle, to make the heat of the sunny days compatible with the coolness of the nights, as we are not yet in summer. He has not yet been seen and He looks at the crowds waiting for Him and smiles. He seems to be coming from behind the eastern side of the mountain, half-way up the hill, and He comes down quickly along the difficult path. It is a boy, who, either because he was looking at the flight of birds nestling among the bushes and which take off when a stone rolls down the mountain side and frightens them, or because his eyes were attracted by the sudden appearance, sees Jesus and bouncing to his feet shouts: «The Lord!» They all turn round and see Jesus, Who is now about two hundred metres away. They start running towards Him, but with a gesture of His arm and with His voice, which is heard clearly, perhaps because it is echoed by the mountain, He says: «Remain where you are.» And smiling all the time He comes down as far as those waiting for Him and stops at the highest spot of the tableland. He greets them from there: «Peace to everybody» and with a particular smile He repeats His salutation to the apostles and disciples who have gathered round Him. Jesus is beaming with beauty. With the sun in front of Him and the greenish hillside behind His back, He looks like the vision of a dream. The hours spent in solitude, something unknown to us, or perhaps an overflow on Him of fatherly caresses, I do not know what, accentuate His ever perfect beauty, they make it glorious, imposing, peaceful, serene, I would say joyful, as becomes a person who comes back from a tryst and whose countenance, smiles and eyes show all his happiness. The evidence of this divine encounter shines infinitely more brightly than can normally be seen after the meeting of poor human lovers, and the Christ appears dazzling with it. And He subdues all the people present who contemplate Him silently with admiration, as if they were intimidated by the intuition of a mysterious reunion of the Most High with His Word... It is a secret, a secret hour of love between the Father and the Son. No one will ever 380.The Parable of the Unfaithful Steward. Essenes and Pharisees. 378 know it. But the Son keeps its seal, as if, after being the Word of the Father, as He is in Heaven, He could hardly be once again the Son of man. Infinity, sublimity find it difficult to become «the Man» again. Divinity overflows, explodes, radiates from Humanity like sweet oil from a porous earthen jar or like the light of a furnace through the veil of ground glass. And Jesus lowers His beaming eyes, His blissful face, He conceals His wonderful smile, bending over the sick people, whom He caresses and cures while they are seized with astonishment looking at the bright loving face bent over their misery to make them happy. But at last He must stand up and show the crowds the Face of the Peaceful, Holy One, of the God Incarnate, still wrapped in the brightness of the ecstasy. He repeats: «Peace to you.» Even His voice is more melodious than usual, as it resounds with sweet triumphant notes... It spreads powerfully over the silent listeners, searching for their hearts, caressing them, shaking them and inviting them to love. Everybody is deeply moved, with the exception of that group of Pharisees, who are more arid, coarse, prickly and harsh than the mountain itself and are standing like statues full of incomprehension and hatred in a corner, and with the exception of the other group, all dressed in white and standing aloof, listening from a brow and whom Bartholomew and the Iscariot point out as «Essenes». And Peter grumbles: «And so there is another extra fowl-run of hawks!» «Oh! Never mind. The Word is for everybody!» says Jesus, smiling at Peter, referring to the Essenes. He then begins to speak. «It would be lovely if man were as perfect as the Father in Heaven wants him. Perfect in every thought, affection, deed. But man does not know how to be perfect and misuses the gifts of God, Who has given freedom of action to man, ordering, however, good things, advising perfect things, so that man might not say: “I did not know.” What use does man make of the freedom given to him by God? The greatest part of men use it as a child would; or as a fool; the rest use it as criminals. Then death comes and man is subject to the Judge Who asks severely: “How did you use or misuse what I gave you?” A dreadful question! How less worthy than motes will then look the goods of the Earth, for which man so often becomes a sinner! Poor in eternal misery, divested of a garment that nothing can replace, he will stand dejected and trembling before the Majesty of the Lord, and will find no word to justify himself. Because it is easy to justify oneself, deceiving poor men. But that cannot happen in Heaven. God cannot be deceived. Never. And God does not resort to any compromise. Never. Now, then. How can one be saved? How can man make everything be of use to his salvation, even what has originated from Corruption, which taught men to use metals and gems as instruments of wealth and fostered their eager desire for power and pleasure of the flesh? So will man, who, however poor he may be, can always sin by desiring gold, offices, women immoderately, − and at times he becomes the thief of such things to have what rich people have − so will man, rich or poor as he may be, never be able to save himself? Of course he will. How? By exploiting wealth on behalf of Good; exploiting misery on behalf of Good. The poor man who is not envious, who does not curse, who does not attempt to take what belongs to other people, but is happy with what he has, exploits his humble condition in order to achieve future holiness, and in actual fact, most poor people know how to do that. But the rich are not so capable, as wealth is a continuous trap, set by Satan, of the treble concupiscence. But listen to a parable and you will see that the rich also can save themselves although they are rich, or they can make amends for their past wrongs, by making good use of their riches, even if they were unjustly obtained. Because God, the Most Good God, always grants many means to His children so that they may save themselves. So there was a rich man who had a steward. Some enemies of the latter, who were envious of the good position he had, or because they were very friendly with the rich man and therefore mindful of his wealth, accused the steward saying to his master: “He squanders your wealth. He embezzles your goods. Or he does not make them yield any fruit. Be careful. Defend yourself!.” The rich man, after hearing such repeated accusations, summoned the steward. And he said to him: “I have been told so and so. Why have you done that? Give me an account of your stewardship, because I will not allow you to keep it any longer. I cannot trust you and I cannot make an example of injustice and servile tolerance, which would induce the other servants to act as you did. Go and come back tomorrow with your documents, that I may examine them and ascertain the situation of my property before handing it to another steward.” And he dismissed the steward, who went away and began to worry saying to himself: “And now? What shall I do now that the master is taking the stewardship from me? I have no savings, because, as I was sure that I would get away with it, I 380.The Parable of the Unfaithful Steward. Essenes and Pharisees. 379 spent in enjoyment everything I usurped. I do not feel like working as a peasant, subject to other people, because I am no longer used to digging, and I have grown heavier with orgies. And I dislike begging even more. It is too humiliating! But what shall I do?' He thought it over and over again and he found a way out from his painful situation. He said: “I have found it! As I secured a pleasant life for myself so far, in the same way I will make sure that my friends will offer me hospitality out of gratitude, when I am dismissed from my office. He who does good always has friends. Let us go, therefore, and help people, in order to be helped, and let us go at once, before the news spreads and it is too late.” And he went to the sundry debtors of his master and he said to the first one: “How much do you owe my master for the money he lent you three years ago in springtime?” And the debtor replied: “One hundred measures of oil for money and interest.” “Oh! Poor fellow! What, with such a large family and with your children afflicted by diseases, you have to give so much?! But did he not give you money to the value of thirty measures?!” “Yes, but I needed it urgently and he said to me: 'I will give it to you, but on condition that you will pay me back whatever the sum will yield to you in three years.' It yielded the equivalent of one hundred measures. And I must give them.” “But that is usury! Don't! He is rich, while you are not far from starving. He has a small family, you have a large one. Write here that it yielded to the value of fifty measures and forget about it. I will swear that it is the truth. And you will benefit by it.” “But will you not betray me? And if he finds out?” “Do you think it is possible? I am the steward and what I swear is sacred. Do as I tell you and do not worry.” The man signed the document, handed it to him and said: “May you be blessed! You are my friend and saviour. How can I compensate you?” “In no way! But if I should get into trouble and be dismissed because of this, you will welcome me out of gratitude.” “Of course! Certainly! You may rely on that!” The steward went to another debtor and talked to him more or less in the same way. This debtor was to give back one hundred measures of wheat, because the drought had destroyed his crops for three years, and he had to borrow what was necessary to feed his family. “Forget about doubling what he gave you! How can one deny wheat and exact twice as much when a fellow and his family are starving and one's wheat is eaten by worms in the barns, because there is superabundance of it! Write eighty measures.” “But if he remembers that he gave me twenty, then another twenty, and then ten?” “How can you expect him to remember? I gave them to you and I do not want to remember. Do as I say and it is all settled. There must be justice between rich and poor people! If I were the master, I would accept only the fifty measures, and perhaps I would remit them as well.” “You are good! I wish they were all like you! Remember that my house is open to you.” The steward called on other debtors, in the same way, stating that he was willing to get into trouble to put matters right according to justice. And offers of help and blessings rained upon him. When he was reassured about his future, he went to his master, who, in turn, had dogged his steps and discovered his trick. The master, however, praised him saying: “What you did is not right and I do not praise you for that. But I must praise you for your cunning. The children of this world are really more cunning than the children of Light.” And I repeat to you what the rich man said: “Fraud is not right, and I will never praise anyone for it. But I exhort you to be shrewd, at least like the children of this world, with the means of this world, to make them serve as money to enter the Kingdom of Light.” That is, make good use of earthly riches, which are means distributed unjustly and used to purchase a fleeting welfare, which is of no value in the eternal Kingdom, so that they may open its door to you. Assist the poor with the means you have, give back what you or any other member of your family took unjustly, break with the evil guilty love for riches. And all these things will be like friends who in the hour of your death will open the 380.The Parable of the Unfaithful Steward. Essenes and Pharisees. 380 eternal gates to you and will receive you in the blissful abode. How can you expect God to give His heavenly goods, if He sees that you cannot make good use even of earthly goods? As an impossible supposition, do you want Him to accept squanderers in the heavenly Jerusalem? No, never. Up there one will live with charity, generosity and justice. Everybody for One and everyone for everybody. The Communion of Saints is an active and honest society, it is a holy society. And no one who has proved to be unjust and unfaithful can enter it. Do not say: “But we shall be faithful up there, because we shall have everything up there without any fear.” No. He who is unfaithful in little, would be unfaithful even if he possessed Everything, and he who is unjust in little is unjust in much. God does not trust true wealth to those who in the earthly test prove that they do not know how to use earthly riches. How can God entrust you one day in Heaven with the mission of supporting spirits of your brothers on the Earth, when you have shown that extortions, frauds and greed are your prerogatives? He will, therefore, deny you your treasure, which He had kept for you, and He will give it to those who were shrewd on the Earth, by using also what is unjust and unwholesome in deeds which make them just and wholesome. No servant can serve two masters. Because he will belong to one or to the other, and he will hate one or the other. The two masters whom man can choose are God or Mammon. But if he wishes to belong to the former, he cannot wear the colours, or follow the voice, or use the means of the latter.» A voice rises from the group of the Essenes: «Man is not free to choose. He is forced to follow a fate. We do not state that it is distributed unwisely. On the contrary the perfect Mind has fixed, according to its own perfect plan, the number of those who will be worthy of Heaven. All the others strive in vain to become so. That is the situation. And it cannot be otherwise. As one coming out of a house may be killed by a stone falling from a cornice, whereas one in the thick of the battle may not suffer the slightest wound, likewise he who wants to save himself, but it is not written so, will only commit sin even unawares, because his damnation is fated.» «No, man. It is not so. And change your mind. By thinking so you do the Lord wrong.» «Why? Tell me and I will change my mind.» «Because, by saying so, you mentally confess that God is unjust with His creatures. He created them in the same way and with the same love. He is a Father. Perfect in His paternity, as He is in everything else. How can He, therefore, make distinctions and curse a man when he is being conceived and is an innocent embryo? When he is incapable of committing sin?» «To take His revenge for the offence received from man.» «No. God does not take His revenge thus! He would not be satisfied with a miserable sacrifice like that, with an unjust forced sacrifice. The offence made to God can be removed by the God made Man. He will be the Expiator. Neither this nor that man. Oh! I wish it had been possible for Me to have to remove only the original sin! I wish there had been no Cain on the Earth, no Lamech, no corrupt sodomite, no homicide, thief, fornicator, adulterer, blasphemer, no one without love for one's parents, no perjurer, and so forth! But of each of those sins, the sinner is guilty and the author, not God. God left His children free to choose between Good and Evil.» «And that was wrong» shouts a scribe. «He tempted us beyond measure. Although He knew that we were weak, ignorant, poisoned, He led us into temptation. That is either imprudence or wickedness. Since You are just, You must grant that what I say is the truth.» «You are telling lies to tempt Me. God had given Adam and Eve all the necessary advice, to what avail?» «He did the wrong thing even then. He should not have put the tree, the temptation, in the Garden.» «In that case, where is the merit of man?» «He would have done without it. He would have lived with no merit of his own, but only with the merit of God.» «They are tempting You, Master. Leave those serpents alone, and listen to us, who live in continence and meditation» shouts once again the Essene. «Yes, you live. But badly. Why do you not live holily?» The Essene does not reply to the questions, but he asks: «As You gave me a convincing answer on free will, and I will meditate on it with good will, hoping that I will be able to accept it, now tell me. Do You really believe in the resurrection of bodies and in the life of souls completed by it?» 380.The Parable of the Unfaithful Steward. Essenes and Pharisees. 381 «And do you want God to put an end to the life of man thus?» «But the soul... Since the soul is happy with its reward, why make matter rise again? Will it increase the happiness of the blessed souls?» «Nothing will increase the bliss of a saint when he possesses God. Or rather, one thing only will increase it on the Last Day: the knowledge that there is no longer sin. But do you not think that it is fair, that as during this day body and soul were united in the struggle to possess Heaven, they should be united also in the eternal Day to enjoy the reward? Are you not convinced? Why do you live in continence and meditation, then?» «To be... a more perfect man, the lord over the other animals that obey their instinct without control and to be better than most men who are soiled with animality even if they display phylacteries, fringes, tassels and wide garments and they call themselves “the separated ones.”» Anathema! The Pharisees, upon hearing the pungent remark, which is approved by the crowds with a murmur, become excited and shout like madmen. «He is insulting us, Master! You are aware of our holiness. Defend us» they shout gesticulating. Jesus replies: «He, too, is aware of your hypocrisy. Garments have nothing to do with holiness. When you deserve to be praised, I will be able to speak. But My answer to you, Essene, is that you sacrifice yourself for too little. Why? For whom? For how long? For human praise. For a mortal body. For as short a time as the flight of a falcon. Raise your sacrifice. Believe in the true God, in the blissful resurrection, in the free will of man. Lead an ascetic life, but for those supernatural reasons. And with your risen body you will enjoy eternal happiness.» «It is late! I am old! I have perhaps wasted my life in an erroneous sect... It's the end!...» «No. It is never the end for those who want good! Listen, sinners, and you, who are in error, or you, whatever your past may have been. Repent. Come to Mercy. It opens its arms to you. I show you the way. I am the pure vital fountain. Get rid of what has misled you so far. Undress and come to the fountain. Clothe yourselves with light. Revive. Have you stolen like highwaymen, or like gentlemen and craftily in business or in offices? Come. Have you had bad habits or lustful passions? Come. Have you oppressed your neighbour? Come. Repent. Come to love and to peace. Oh! Let the love of God flow upon you. Relieve that love, which is in anguish because of your resistance, your fear, your hesitation. I beg you in the name of My Father and yours. Come to Life and to the Truth, and you will have eternal life.» A man shouts from the crowd: «I am rich and a sinner. What shall I do to come?» «Give up everything for the sake of God and of your soul.» The Pharisees grumble and scoff at Jesus, calling Him «vendor of illusions and heresies», and «sinner feigning holiness», and they warn Him that heretics are always heretics and that such are the Essenes. They say that sudden conversions are nothing but passing enthusiasm and that an impure man will always be impure, a thief will always be a thief and a murderer a murderer. They conclude by saying that, as they live in perfect holiness, they are the only ones entitled to Heaven and to preaching. «This was a happy day. Seeds of holiness were falling into hearts. My love, nourished by the kiss of God, was giving life to the seed. The Son of man was happy in sanctifying... You have poisoned the day. But it does not matter. I say to you − and if I am not gentle, the fault is yours − I say to you that you are the ones who show themselves just, or try to do so, in the eyes of men, but you are not just. God knows your hearts. What is great in the eyes of men, is abominable before the immensity and perfection of God. You quote the old Law. Why, then, do you not live according to it? You alter the Law in your favour, aggravating it with burdens that give you a profit. Why, then, do you not allow Me to alter it to the benefit of these little ones, removing all the tassels and heavy useless burdens of the precepts made by you, which are so many and such that the essential Law disappears under them and is smothered? I feel sorry for these crowds, for these souls, who seek fresh air in Religion and find a slip-knot. They seek love and find terror... No. Come, little ones of Israel. The Law is love! God is love! This is what I say to those who are frightened among you. The severe Law and the threatening prophets who foretold Me, but notwithstanding the cries of their distressing prophecies they were not able to withhold sin, end with John. After John comes the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of love. I say to the humble: “Go in. It is for you.” And everyone with a good will strives to go in. But for those who will not lower their heads, beat their chests and say: “I have sinned”, there will be no Kingdom. It is written: “Circumcise your heart and be obstinate no longer.” This land saw the prodigy of Elisha, who made the foul 380.The Parable of the Unfaithful Steward. Essenes and Pharisees. 382 water wholesome, by throwing some salt into it. And do I not throw the salt of Wisdom into your hearts? Why are you then worse than water and you do not change your spirits? Mix My salt with your formulae and they will have a fresh taste, because they will give the Law its primitive strength. In you, first of all, as you are the most needy. Do you say that I change the Law? No. You tell lies. I give the Law its original form, which you distorted. Because it is the Law that will last as long as the Earth, and both sky and earth will disappear before one only of its elements or its advice. And if you alter it, because you like to do so, and if you draw fine distinctions looking for loop-holes for your faults, you had better know that it is of no avail. It is of no avail, Samuel! Of no avail, Isaiah. It is written: “You shall not commit adultery” and I complete it adding: “He who sends back his wife to marry another one, is adulterous, and he, who marries a woman repudiated by her husband, is adulterous, because what God joined, death only can separate.” But harsh words are for obdurate sinners. Those who have sinned, but grieve desolately for doing so, must know and believe that God is Goodness, and let them come to Him Who absolves, forgives and admits to Life. Go with this certainty. Spread it in people's hearts. Preach mercy, which gives you peace, blessing you in the name of the Lord.» The crowds disperse slowly, both because the path is narrow and because they are attracted by Jesus. But they disperse. The apostles remain with Jesus and while speaking they make their way. They seek the shade walking close to a thicket of ruffled tamarisks. But there is an Essene in it. The one who spoke to Jesus. He is taking off his white clothes. Peter, who is ahead of everybody, is dumbfounded seeing that the man is left with only his drawers on, and he runs back saying: «Master! A madman! The one who was speaking to You, the Essene. He is undressed and is weeping and sighing. We cannot go there.» But the man, who is lean, bearded, with no clothes on his body except his drawers and sandals, is already coming out of the thicket and he turns his steps towards Jesus weeping and beating his chest. He prostrates himself: «I am the one whose heart has been miraculously cured. You have cured my soul. I will obey Your word. I want to clothe myself with light, leaving every other thought, which might clothe me with errors. I will live apart to meditate on the true God, to obtain life and resurrection. Is that enough? Give me a new name and tell me a place where I can live of You and of Your words.» «He is mad! We could not lead such a life and we have heard so many of His words! And he... just after one sermon...» say the apostles to one another. But the man, who has heard them, says: «Are you going to put limitations to God? He has broken my heart to give me a free spirit. Lord!...» he implores, stretching his arms out towards Jesus. «Yes. Your name is Elijah and be fire. That mountain is full of caves. Go there, and when you hear the earth quake because of a dreadful earthquake, come out, and look for the servants of the Lord to join them. You will then be re-born and you will be a servant, too. Go!» The man kisses His feet, gets up and goes away. «But is he going nude like that?» ask the dumbfounded apostles. «Give him a mantle, a knife, tinder and flint, and some bread. He will walk today and tomorrow and then he will retire to pray where we stopped and the Father will see to His son.» Andrew and John run after him and they reach him when he is about to disappear round a bend. They come back saying: «He took everything. We also told him where we were. What an unexpected prey, Lord!» «God makes plants flower also on rocks. And in the deserts of hearts He makes spirits of good will rise to comfort Me. Now let us go towards Jericho. We will stop in some house in the country.»

379. After the Retreat upon Mount Cherith.

 379. After the Retreat upon Mount Cherith. 9th February 1946. It is occasionally possible to catch glimpses of parts of the Dead Sea, which lies to the south of the place where the apostles are with the Master, from a group of mountains, which seem intent on rising more and more. And, I would say, every phase of their effort is marked by a rough chain of rocky hills, with sheer sloping sides, severed by narrow valleys similar to gigantic slashes and crowned with wild peaks. It is not possible to see the Jordan and its peaceful fertile valley, or Jericho or other towns. One can see nothing but mountains rising towards Samaria, and the gloomy Dead Sea through the narrow gorge between two acuminated mountains. Down in the valley there is a stream flowing from west to east towards the Jordan. There is loud screeching of hawks and croaking of ravens in the bright blue sky. Many birds are chirping among the branches of the wild slopes. The winds whisper as mellow as flutes among the gorges, carrying remote scents and noises, or overwhelming those which are near, according to whether they are light or strong. An odd harness-bell is heard now and again from the road, which must be down in the valley. One can also hear the bleating of sheep grazing on the tablelands and the noise of water dripping from rocks or murmuring in torrents. But the season is good, dry and mild, the mountain sides are covered with bright flowers standing out against the emerald green of the grass, and bunches of flowers and festoons hang from tree trunks and branches and the sight of the place is most pleasant. The faces of the thirteen men gathered there are very happy, shining with a supernatural happiness. The world has been forgotten... It is remote... Their spirits have recovered from many shocks, they are once again in the halo of God, that is, in peace. And peace is visible on their countenances. But the rest is over, and Jesus tells them so. And Peter repeats his prayer of Mount Tabor: «Oh! Why do we not stop here? It is beautiful to be here with You!» «Because there is work awaiting us, Simon of Jonah. We cannot be only contemplative. The world is waiting for our teaching. The workers of the Lord cannot stop when there are fields to be sown.» «Then... since I become a little good only when I live apart as now, I will never be able to... The world is so great! How shall we be able to work it all and then concentrate on You before dying?» «You will certainly not work it all. It will take hundreds and hundreds of years. And when a part has been worked, Satan will go there to spoil what has been done. It will thus be a continuous work lasting until the end of the world.» «Well, then, how shall I be able to be ready to die?» Peter is really depressed. Jesus reassures him embracing him and says: «You will have time. It does not take long. An act of perfect concentration is sufficient to prepare you to appear before God. And you will have all the time you need. In any case you must realise that by fulfilling the will of God one is always preparing to die in holiness. If God wants you to be active and you obey, you are preparing better by obeying than you would by retiring among the most solitary rocks to pray and meditate. Are you convinced?» 379.After the Retreat upon Mount Cherith. 376 «Certainly! You say So! So what shall we do?» «Go along the roads in the valley. Gather together those who are waiting for Me and preach the Lord and Faith until I come.» «Are You remaining alone here?» «Of course. Be not afraid. You can see that at times evil is of some help to good. Elijah here was fed by crows. We can say that fierce vultures fed us.» «Do You think that it was a kind of beginning of conversion?» «No. But charity, although it was urged by the consideration that by treating us generously, they would put us in a situation not to betray them...» «But we would not have betrayed them!» exclaims Andrew. «No. But the wretched thieves do not know that. There is no spiritual feeling in them, laden as they are with crimes.» «Lord, You were saying that charity... What were You going to say?» asks John. «I wanted to say: the fact that they treated us charitably will be rewarded, at least among the better ones. The conversion, which did not take place now, may work slowly, but it can take place. That is why I said to you: “Do not refuse their offerings.” And I accepted them although I smelt the stench of sin in them.» «But You did not eat any...» «But I did not mortify the sinners by rejecting them. They had initial good feeling. Why destroy it? That torrent down there, does it not originate in the spring that trickles from that crag? Always remember that. It is a lesson for your future life, when I shall no longer be among you. If in your apostolic travels you should come across criminals, do not behave like Pharisees, who despise everybody, and they do not consider that they should despise themselves first, corrupt as they are. But approach them with great love. I would like to be able to say with “infinite love.” Nay, I say so. And that is possible, although man is “finite, limited” in his acts and actions. Do you know how man can possess infinite love? By being so united to God, as to be all one with God. Then, as the creature disappears in the Creator, it is the Creator Who really acts, and He is infinite. And My apostles must be like that, all one with their God through the power of love, which is so close to the Origin as to dissolve in it. It is not the way in which you speak, but the way is which you love, that will convert hearts. Will you find sinners? Love them. Will you suffer because of disciples who go astray? Try to save them through love. Remember the parable of the lost sheep. Oh! forever and ever it will be the sweet appeal made to sinners. But it will also be the definite order given to My priests. With every artifice, with every sacrifice, at the cost of losing your own lives in the attempt to save a soul, you must patiently go and look for those who are lost and bring them back to the Fold. Love will give you joy. It will say to you: “Be not afraid.” It will give you such a power to expand all over the world, as I did not possess Myself. No longer is the love of future just people to be set as a seal on the heart and on the arm, as the Song of Songs says. But it is to be set in the heart. It must be the spur urging souls to all actions. And each action must be superabundance of charity, which is no longer satisfied with loving God or one's neighbor only mentally, but it enters the lists against the enemies of God, to love God and neighbor concretely, also through material deeds, which lead to wider and more perfect actions aiming at the redemption and sanctification of brothers. Through contemplation one loves God, through action one loves one's neighbor, but the two loves are not separated, because there is one only love, and loving our neighbor we love God Who orders this love and gave us our neighbor as a brother. Neither you nor future priests will be able to say that you are My friends, if your charity and theirs is not entirely devoted to the salvation of souls, for whom I became incarnate and for whom I will suffer. I give you the example of how one must love. But you and those who will come after you, must do what I do. The new time has come. The time of love. I have come to cast this fire to hearts and it will grow greater after My Passion and Ascension, and it will inflame you when the Love of the Father and of the Son descends to consecrate you to your ministry. Most Divine Love! Why do You delay in consuming the Victim, in opening the eyes and ears, in loosening the tongues and limbs of this flock of Mine, so that they may go among wolves and teach that God is Charity, and that he who has no charity is a brute and a demon? “Oh! come, most sweet and strong Spirit, and inflame the other Christs to them, like Me, that is, anointed by love, active for love, holy and sanctifying through love.” Blessed are those who love, because they will be loved, and their souls will never stop singing to God together with the angels until they will sing the 379.After the Retreat upon Mount Cherith. 377 eternal glory in the light of Heaven. So be it for you, My friends. Now go and do with love what I told you.»

PRAYER OF AZARIAS

 1 Then Azarias stood up, and prayed on this manner; and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire said, 2 Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: thy name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore: 3 For thou art righteous in all the things that thou hast done to us: yea, true are all thy works, thy ways are right, and all thy judgments truth 4 In all the things that thou hast brought upon us, and upon the holy city of our fathers, even Jerusalem, thou hast executed true judgment: for according to truth and judgment didst thou bring all these things upon us because of our sins.5 For we have sinned and committed iniquity, departing from thee. 6 In all things have we trespassed, and not obeyed thy commandments, nor kept them, neither done as thou hast commanded us, that it might go well with us. 7 Wherefore all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment. 8 And thou didst deliver us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful forsakers of God, and to an unjust king, and the most wicked in all the world. 9 And now we cannot open our mouths, we are become a shame and reproach to thy servants; and to them that worship thee. 10 Yet deliver us not up wholly, for thy name's sake, neither disannul thou thy covenant: 11 And cause not thy mercy to depart from us, for thy beloved Abraham's sake, for thy servant Isaac's sake, and for thy holy Israel's sake; 12 To whom thou hast spoken and promised, that thou wouldest multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that lieth upon the seashore. 13 For we, O Lord, are become less than any nation, and be kept under this day in all the world because of our sins. 14 Neither is there at this time prince, or prophet, or leader, or burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place to sacrifice before thee, and to find mercy. 15 Nevertheless in a contrite heart and an humble spirit let us be accepted.

16 Like as in the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and like as in ten thousands of fat lambs: so let our sacrifice be in thy sight this day, and grant that we may wholly go after thee: for they shall not be confounded that put their trust in thee.
17 And now we follow thee with all our heart, we fear thee, and seek thy face.
18 Put us not to shame: but deal with us after thy lovingkindness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies.
19 Deliver us also according to thy marvellous works, and give glory to thy name, O Lord: and let all them that do thy servants hurt be ashamed;
20 And let them be confounded in all their power and might, and let their strength be broken;
21 And let them know that thou art God, the only God, and glorious over the whole world.
22 And the king's servants, that put them in, ceased not to make the oven hot with rosin, pitch, tow, and small wood;
23 So that the flame streamed forth above the furnace forty and nine cubits.
24 And it passed through, and burned those Chaldeans it found about the furnace.
25 But the angel of the Lord came down into the oven together with Azarias and his fellows, and smote the flame of the fire out of the oven;
26 And made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling wind, so that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor troubled them.
27 Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed, God in the furnace, saying,
28 Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.
29 And blessed is thy glorious and holy name: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.
30 Blessed art thou in the temple of thine holy glory: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever.
31 Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the cherubims: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.
32 Blessed art thou on the glorious throne of thy kingdom: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever.
33 Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and above all to be praised and glorified for ever.
34 O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever,
35 O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
36 O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
37 O all ye waters that be above the heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
38 O all ye powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
39 O ye sun and moon, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
40 O ye stars of heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
41 O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
42 O all ye winds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever,
43 O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
44 O ye winter and summer, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
45 O ye dews and storms of snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
46 O ye nights and days, bless ye the Lord: bless and exalt him above all for ever.
47 O ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
48 O ye ice and cold, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
49 O ye frost and snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
50 O ye lightnings and clouds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
51 O let the earth bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
52 O ye mountains and little hills, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
53 O all ye things that grow in the earth, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
54 O ye mountains, bless ye the Lord: Praise and exalt him above all for ever.
55 O ye seas and rivers, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
56 O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
57 O all ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
58 O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
59 O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
60 O Israel, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
61 O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
62 O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
63 O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
64 O ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
65 O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever: for he hath delivered us from hell, and saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the furnace and burning flame: even out of the midst of the fire hath he delivered us.
66 O give thanks unto the Lord, because he is gracious: for his mercy endureth for ever.
67 O all ye that worship the Lord, bless the God of gods, praise him, and give him thanks: for his mercy endureth for ever.