September 1, 2009
Maria Valtorta The Poem of the Man-God
Volume 1 Chapter #59, pp. 314 to319
-
The Demoniac of Capernaum Cured in the Synagogue.
2nd November 1944.
I see the synagogue of Capernaum. It is already crowded with people waiting. People near the door cast glances at the square, which is still sunny, though it is almost evening. At last there is a shout: «The Rabbi is coming.» They all turn towards the door, the smaller people stand on their toes or endeavour to push their way to the front. Some start discussing and shoving, notwithstanding the reproaches of those employed in the synagogue and of the elders of the town.
«May peace be with all those seeking the Truth.» Jesus is at the entrance and He greets them, blessing with His arms stretched forward. His tall figure stands out against the very bright light in the sunny square. He has taken off His white mantle and is wearing the usual deep blue one. He makes His way through the crowd, which opens out and then throngs around Him, like the waves round a ship.
«I am ill, cure me!» moans a young man who appears to be consumptive, and pulls Jesus by His mantle.
Jesus lays His hands on his head and says: «Have faith. God will listen to you. Let Me speak to the people now, then I will come to you.»
The young man lets Him go and calms down.
«What did He say to you?» asks a woman holding a child in her arms.
«He said that after He has spoken to the people, He will come to me.»
«Is He going to cure you then?»
«I don't know. He said to me: "Have faith". I can only hope.»
«What did He say? What did He say?»
The people want to know. Jesus' answer is repeated through the crowd.
«In that case, I am going to get my child.»
«And I am bringing my old father here.»
«Oh! If Aggaeus would only come! I'll try... but he will not come.»
Jesus has reached His place. He greets the head of the synagogue who reciprocates the greeting. He is a small, stout, rather elderly man. When speaking to him, Jesus bends down. It is like a palm bending over a shrub which is wider than it is taller.
«What shall I give You?» asks the little man.
«Whatever you wish, or anything at random. The Spirit will be our guide.»
«But... will You be prepared?»
«I am. Give me a roll at random. I tell you: the Spirit of the Lord will guide the choice for the sake of this people.»
The head of the synagogue stretches his hand out to the pile of rolls, he picks one and unrolls it, he stops at a certain point. «Here» he says.
Jesus takes the roll and starts reading at the shown point: «Joshua: "Rise and sanctify the people and say to them: 'Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because the Lord of Israel declares: the ban is now among you, Israel; you can never stand up to your enemies until you take from among you him who is contaminated by such crime' ".» He stops, He rolls the parchment and hands it back.
The crowd is most heedful. Only one whispers: «We shall hear some very nice words against our enemies!». «It is the King of Israel, the Promised One, Who gathers His people together!»
Jesus stretches out His arms in His usual oratorial attitude. Silence is now perfect.
«Who came to sanctify you, has risen. He has come out from the secrecy of His house, where He prepared Himself for this mission. He purified Himself to give you an example of purification. He established His position with the mighty ones in the Temple and with the people of God, and is now amongst you. It is I. Not as some of you think and hope, with clouded minds and unrest in their hearts. The Kingdom of which I am the future King and to which I call you, is more notable and greater.
I am calling you, Israel, before any other people, because in the fathers of your fathers you received the promise of this hour and of the alliance with the Most High Lord. But His Kingdom will not be established with armed multitudes or wild blood shedding and neither the violent, nor the overbearing, the proud, the wrathful, the envious, the lustful, the avaricious will enter it but only the good, the meek, the continent, the merciful, the humble, the patient and those who love God and their neighbours will be admitted.
Israel! You are not asked to fight against external enemies, but against internal ones. Against those who are in all your hearts. In the hearts of thousands and thousands of your children. Remove the barrier of sin from all your hearts, if you want God to gather you together tomorrow and say to you: "My people, yours is the Kingdom that will never be defeated, or invaded, or undermined by enemies".
Tomorrow. Which tomorrow? In a year's or a month's time? Oh! Do not be inquisitive! Do not allow an unhealthy thirst to inquire into the future by means which taste of guilty witchcraft. Leave the Python spirit to the heathens. Leave to Eternal God the secrecy of time. As from tomorrow, the morrow that will rise after this evening, and the morrow that will come after tonight and will rise at cock-crow, come and be purified by sincere penance.
Repent of your sins to be forgiven and to be ready for the Kingdom. Remove from yourselves the barrier of sin. Each of you has his own. Each has the one against the ten commandments of eternal salvation. Examine your consciences with sincerity and you will find your errors. Repent with sincere humility. You must repent. Not just with your mouths. You cannot laugh at or deceive God. But repent with a firm will, that will make you change your ways of living and return to the Law of the Lord. The Kingdom of Heaven is waiting for you. Tomorrow.
Tomorrow? you may ask. Oh! the hour of God is always an early morrow, even when it comes at the end of a life as long as the Patriarchs'. Eternity does not use as a measure of time the slow flowing of a sand glass. And the measures of time which you call days, months, years, centuries are but heartbeats of the Eternal Spirit that keeps you alive. But your souls are eternal and you must adopt for your souls the same measure of time as your Creator does. You must, therefore, say: "Tomorrow will be the day of my death". No, not death for the faithful. But rest of expectation, waiting for the Messiah to open the gates of Heaven.
And I solemnly tell you that only twenty-seven of you here present will die and have to wait. The rest will be judged before their death, and their death will be a transition to God or Mammon without any delay because the Messiah has come, He is amongst you and calls you to give you the Gospel, to teach you the Truth and save you in Heaven.
Do penance! The "morrow" of the Kingdom of Heaven is impending. May it find you pure so that you may possess the eternal day.
Peace be with you.»
A bearded sumptuously dressed Israelite stands up to contradict Him. He says: «Master, what You have stated appears to be in contrast with what is said in the sacred book of Maccabees, glory of Israel. It is said there: "Indeed when evil-doers are not left for long to their own devices but incur swift retribution, it is a sign of great benevolence. In the case of the other nations, the Lord waits patiently for them to obtain the full measure of their sins, before He punishes them". According to what You said, instead, the Most High would appear to be very slow in punishing us, waiting, as for the other nations, the time of Judgement, when the measure of sins is full. Events, indeed, give You the lie. Israel is punished as stated by the historian of the Maccabees. But if what You say is correct, is there no conflict between Your doctrine and the sentence I have quoted?»
«I do not know who you are, but I will give you My answer, whoever you are. There is no conflict in the doctrine, but only in the interpretation of the words. You interpret them in a human sense, I, instead, in a spiritual one. You see everything as referred to the present time and transient things, and you represent the majority of people who think likewise. I represent God and I explain and apply everything to eternal and supernatural matters. It is true, Yahweh did strike you at present because of your pride and because you considered yourselves a "nation" according to the world. But how much He loved you and how patient He is with you, more than with anyone else, granting you the Saviour, His Messiah, that you may listen to Him and be saved before the hour of the wrath of God! He does not want you to be sinners any longer. But if He struck you in the fleeting worldly things, seeing that the injury does not cure your souls, nay it makes them duller and duller, He does not inflict a further punishment, but He grants you salvation. He sends you Him Who cures and saves you! I, Who am speaking to you.»
«Do You not consider Yourself bold in avowing Yourself a representative of God? None of the Prophets dared so much and You... Who are You, Who are speaking? And by whose order do You speak?»
«The Prophets could not say of themselves what I state of Myself. Who am I? The Expected One, The Promised One, the Saviour. You have already heard His Precursor say: "Prepare the way for the Lord... Here the Lord God is coming... Like a shepherd He will feed His flock, although He is the Lamb of the true Passover". Many amongst you heard these words from the Precursor and they saw the heavens brighten with a light that descended in the shape of a dove and they heard a voice speak and say who I am. By whose order do I speak? By the order of Him Who is and Who sends Me.»
«You say that, but You may be a liar or a dreamer. Your words are holy, but Satan sometimes uses deceitful words painted with holiness, to deceive people. We do not know You.»
«I am Jesus of Joseph of the House of David, I was born at Bethlehem Ephrathah, as was promised, named Nazarene, because I live at Nazareth. And that according to the world. According to God I am His Messenger. My disciples know.»
«Oh! They! They can say what they like or what You tell them to say.»
«Another will speak, who does not love Me, and will say Who I am. Wait till I call one of the people present here.»
Jesus looks at the crowd, who are astonished and annoyed at the dispute, and divided between the two opposite doctrines. He looks for someone with His sapphire eyes, and then in a loud voice He calls: «Aggaeus! Come here. It is an order.»
There is great excitement in the crowd. They open out to let a man pass, who is violently shaking all over his body and is supported by a woman.
«Do you know this man?»
«Yes, he is Aggaeus, of Malachi, of Capernaum. He is possessed by an evil spirit which tortures him with sudden fury-fits.»
«Does everybody know him?»
The crowd shout: «Yes, we do.»
«Can any of you say that he has spoken to Me, even for a few minutes?»
The crowd shout: «No, no, he is half-witted, he never leaves his house, and nobody has seen You in it.»
«Woman, bring him here in front of Me.»
The woman pushes and drags him, while the poor man trembles more than ever.
The head of the synagogue warns Jesus: «Be careful! The devil is about to torture him... and then he rushes at people, scratches and bites them.»
The crowd moves away thronging against the walls.
Jesus and the man are now facing each other. There is a moment's struggle. The man, usually mute, seems to have difficulty in speaking, he moans, then his voice turns into words: «What is there between us and You, Jesus of Nazareth? Why have You come to torture us? Why do You want to destroy us, You, the Lord of Heaven and Earth? I know who You are: the Holy of God. No one, in human flesh, was ever greater than You, because in Your flesh of man is enclosed the Spirit of the Eternal Winner. You have already beaten me in...»
«Be quiet! I order you to come out of this man.»
The man has a fit of strange convulsions. He is tossed about by jerks and thrusts, as if someone pulled and pushed him, violently ill-treating him, he shouts in a wild voice, foams at his mouth, and is then thrown down onto the ground. He gets up, astonished and cured.
«Have you heard? What do you say now?» Jesus asks His opponent.
The bearded sumptuous man shrugs his shoulders and, obviously beaten, goes out without replying. The crowd scoff at him and applaud Jesus.
«Silence! This place is sacred!» says Jesus and He orders: «Bring Me the man to whom I promised help from God.»
The sick man comes forward. Jesus caresses him: «You believed Me! Be cured. Go in peace and be just.»
The young man lets out a yell. I wonder what he feels. He kneels down before Jesus, kisses His feet thanking Him: «Thanks from me and from my mother!»
Other sick people come: a little boy with paralysed legs. Jesus takes him in His arms, caresses him and puts him down... and leaves him. The child does not fall, but runs to his mother, who clasps him to her heart, weeping, and in a loud voice blesses «the Holy One of Israel». A little old blind man comes, led by his daughter. He also is cured with a caress on his diseased eyes.
There is a roar of blessing from the crowd.
Jesus makes His way through the crowd smiling, and although He is tall, He would not succeed in pushing through, if Peter, James, Andrew and John did not work generously with their elbows, to make their way and reach Jesus, and then escort Him to the exit onto the square, which is now dark.
The vision ends thus.
September 2, 2009
Maria Valtorta The Poem of the Man-God
Volume 1 Chapter #60, pp. 319 to324
Cure of Simon Peter's Mother-in-law.
3rd November 1944.
Peter is speaking to Jesus. He says: «Master, I would like to ask You to come to my house. I did not dare to ask You last Sabbath. But... I would like You to come.»
«To Bethsaida?»
«No, here... to my wife's house. I mean her home.»
«Why do you want that, Peter?»
«Well, for many reasons... also because today I was told that my mother-in-law is ill. If You would cure her, perhaps she... »
«Tell Me, Simon.»
«What I wanted to say is... if You go to her, she would stop... yes, well, You know, it is not the same thing to hear people speak of someone and to see and listen to someone, and if the person in question cures... well...»
«You mean also the ill-feeling would come to an end?»
«No, not exactly ill-feeling. But, You know... there are many opinions in the village, and she... does not know whom she should listen to. Come, Jesus.»
«I will come. Let us go. You will tell those who are waiting for Me that I will speak to them from your house.»
They go as far as a low house, even lower than Peter's house at Bethsaida, and it is also closer to the lake. It is separated from the lake by the pebbly shore and I think that when there is a storm, the waves break against the walls of the house, which, while being low, are very wide, as if several people lived in it.
In the kitchen garden in front of the house, facing the lake, there is only an old gnarled vine, supported by a rustic pergola, and an old fig-tree which the winds, blowing from the lake, have bent towards the house. The ruffled foliage of the tree brushes the walls of the house and beats against the shutters of the little windows, which are now closed as a protection against the bright sunshine. There is nothing but the vine and the fig-tree and a greenish little wall of a low well.
«Come in, Master.»
There are some women in the kitchen, some are busy mending the nets, some are preparing the food. They greet Peter and they bow embarrassed to Jesus, peering up at Him curiously.
«Peace be to this house. How is the patient?»
«Tell Him, you who are the oldest daughter-in-law» three of the women say to another one, who is drying her hands on the edge of her dress.
«Her temperature is very high. The doctor has seen her and he said she is too old to get better and that when the disease goes from the bones to the heart, and gives a temperature, one dies, particularly at an old age. She will not eat any more... I try and prepare something good, even now, see, Simon, I was preparing the soup she used to like so much. I chose the best fish that I got from my brothers-in-law. But I do not think she will be able to eat it. And... she is so restless! She complains, and shouts, and cries, and curses... »
«Be patient, as if she were your mother and God will grant you merit for it. Take Me to her.»
«Rabbi... Rabbi... I don't know if she will be pleased to see You. She does not want to see anybody. I dare not say to her: "I am now bringing the Rabbi in to see you".»
Jesus smiles calmly. He addresses Peter: «It is your turn, Simon. You are a man and the oldest son-in-law, you told Me. Go.»
Peter makes a significant grimace and obeys. He walks across the kitchen, and goes into another room and through the door which he closes, I can hear him talking to a woman. He looks out and says: «Come, Master, quick.» And he whispers in a very low, just audible voice: «Before she changes her mind.»
Jesus walks across the kitchen and opens the door wide. Standing on the threshold, He pronounces His sweet, solemn greeting: «Peace be with you.» He goes in, although He gets no reply. He goes near a low bed on which there is lying a little old woman, grey-haired, thin, panting because of the high temperature which causes her wasted face to flush.
Jesus bends over the little bed, smiles at the old woman: «Are you in pain?»
«I am dying!»
«No. You will not die. Do you believe that I can cure you?»
«Why would You want to do that? You do not know me.»
«For Simon, who asked Me... and for you, to give your soul time to see and love the Light.»
«Simon? It would be better if he... How come Simon thought of me?»
«Because he is better than you think. I know him and I am sure. I know him, and I am happy to satisfy him.»
«Would You cure me, then? I will not die, then?»
«No, woman. You will not die as yet. Can you believe in Me?»
«I believe, I believe. It is enough for me not to die!»
Jesus smiles once again. He takes her hand. Her hand, wrinkled and with swollen veins, disappears in the younger hand of Jesus, Who stands straight up, and takes the attitude He normally assumes when working a miracle. He shouts: «Be cured! I want it! Get up!» and He lets her hand go. And her hand falls down without any complaint, whereas before, notwithstanding Jesus had taken it very gently, she groaned when it was moved.
There is silence for a few moments. Then the old woman cries out: «Oh! God of our fathers! But there is nothing wrong with me! I am cured! Come! Come!» Her daughters-in-law rush in. «Look!» says the old woman: «I can move and I feel no pain! And I am no longer feverish! Feel how cool I am. And my heart no longer feels like the blacksmith's hammer. Ah! I am not dying any longer!» Not one word for the Lord!
But Jesus does not mind. He says to the oldest daughter-in-law: «Dress her that she may get up. She is fit to be up.» And He makes for the door.
Simon, mortified, says to his mother-in-law: «The Master has cured you. Have you nothing to say to Him?»
«Certainly. I wasn't thinking of that. Thank You. What can I do to thank You?»
«Be good, very good. Because the Eternal Father has been good to you. And if it is not too much trouble for you, allow Me to rest in your home today. I have been to all the nearby villages the past week, and I arrived here at dawn this morning. I am tired.»
«Certainly! Certainly! You may stay if You wish.» But there is not much enthusiasm in her words.
Jesus, Peter, Andrew, James and John go and sit down in the kitchen garden.
«Master! ... »
«Yes, Peter?»
«I feel humiliated.»
Jesus makes a gesture, which meant: «Never mind.» He then goes on: «She is not the first, and will not be the last who do not feel immediate gratitude. But I do not seek gratitude. All I want is to give souls the chance to save themselves. I do My duty. Let them do theirs.»
«Ah! There have been other cases like this one? Where?»
«Curious Simon! But I will please you, although I do not like useless curiosity. At Nazareth. Do you remember Sarah's mother? She was very ill when we arrived in Nazareth and we were told that the little girl cried. Since she is good and gentle, and I did not want her to become an orphan and a stepdaughter in future, I went to see the woman... I wanted to cure her... But I had not yet set foot in the house, when her husband and a brother drove Me away, saying: "Away! Go away! We do not want to get into trouble with the synagogue". For them, for too many, I am already a rebel... I cured her just the same... for the sake of her children. And I said to Sarah in the kitchen garden, caressing her: "I will cure your mother. Go home. Do not cry any more". And the woman was cured the same moment and the little girl told her, and she told also her father and her uncle... and she was punished for speaking to Me. I know, because the child ran after Me when I was leaving the village... But it does not matter.»
«I would have made her become ill again.»
«Peter!» Jesus is severe. «Is that what I teach you and the others? What have you heard Me say from the very first time you heard Me? Of what have I always spoken as being the first condition to be My true disciples?»
«It is true, Master. I am a real beast. Forgive me. But... I cannot bear the fact that they do not love You!»
«Oh! Peter! You will see much greater indifference! You will have many surprises, Peter! People that the so called "holy" world scorns as being money-changers, who instead will set an example in the world, an example which will not be followed by those who despise them. Heathens who will be My most faithful ones. Prostitutes who will become pure by strong will power and penance. Sinners who amend their way of living...»
«Listen: that a sinner amends his way... it may well be. But a prostitute and a money-changer!... »
«You do not believe it?»
«I do not.»
«You are mistaken, Simon. But here is your mother-in-law coming towards us.»
«Master, I beg You to come and sit at my table.»
«Thank you, woman. May God reward you.»
They go into the kitchen and sit at the table. The old woman serves them with plenty fish, both as soup and roasted. «I have nothing else but this» she apologises. And, to keep up the habit, she says to Peter: «Your brothers-in-law are doing even too much, all alone as they are, since you went to Bethsaida! If it had only helped to make my daughter richer... But I hear that you are very often absent and you do not go fishing.»
«I follow the Master. I have been to Jerusalem with Him and I am with Him on Sabbaths. I do not spend my time in revelries.»
«But you don't earn any money. Since you want to be the Prophet's servant, you had better come back here again. At least that poor daughter of mine will be fed by her relatives while you are acting the saint.»
«But are you not ashamed of speaking like that in front of Him Who cured you?»
«I am not criticising Him. He is doing His job. I am criticising you, you are a sluggard. In any case, you will never be a prophet or a priest. You are an ignorant sinner, a good for nothing.»
«You are lucky that He is here, otherwise... »
«Simon, your mother-in-law gave you very good advice. You can go fishing even here. I am told that you used to go fishing also at Capernaum. You can come back again.»
«And live here again? But Master, You do not...»
«Be good, Peter. If you are here, you will be either on the lake or with Me. So what difference is it for you if you are or you are not in this house?» Jesus has laid His hand on Peter's shoulder and His calmness seems to pass into the fiery apostle.
«You are right. You are always right. I will do that. But... what about these?» and he points to his partners John and James.
«Can they not come, too?»
«Oh! Our father and above all our mother will be happier if they know we are with You, rather than with them. They will not object.»
«Perhaps Zebedee will come, too» says Peter.
«Quite likely. And others with him. We will come, Master. We will certainly come.»
«Is Jesus of Nazareth here?» asks a little boy appearing at the door.
«He is here, come in.»
A boy comes in, whom I recognise as one of the boys I saw in the first visions of Capernaum, and exactly the one who tumbled down near Jesus' feet, and promised he would be good, so he would get the honey of Paradise.
«My little friend, come here» says Jesus.
The little fellow, somewhat embarrassed because so many are looking at him, takes heart and runs to Jesus, Who embraces him and sits him on His knees, and gives him a bit of His fish on a slice of bread.
«Here, Jesus. This is for You. Also today that person said: «It is the Sabbath. Take this to the Rabbi of Nazareth and tell your friend to pray for me.» He knows that You are my friend!... » The child smiles happily, and eats his bread and fish.
«Well done, little James! You will tell that person that My prayers rise to the Father for him.»
«Is it for the poor?» asks Peter.
«Yes, it is.»
«Is it always the same offering? Let us look.»
Jesus hands over the purse. Peter empties it and counts the coins. «Still the same large sum! But who is this person? Say, boy, who is it?»
«I have not to say, and I will not say!»
«You little rascal! Be good, and I will give you some fruit.»
«I will not speak, whether you insult me or caress me.»
«What a tongue he has! Just listen!»
«Little James is right, Peter. He is keeping his word: leave him alone.»
«Master, do You know who the person is?»
Jesus does not reply. He is busy with the child, to whom He gives another bit of roasted fish, after removing all the bones. But Peter insists, and Jesus is obliged to answer.
«I know everything, Simon.»
«And we are not to know?»
«And will you never be cured of your fault?» Jesus reproaches him, but smiles at the same time. And He adds: «You will soon know. Because if evil wants to be hidden, and cannot always be such, good, even if it wants to be hidden, to be meritorious, will be made known one day, for the glory of God, Whose nature shines in one of His sons. The nature of God: love. And this person understands all that, because he loves his neighbours. Go, James. Take My blessing to that person.»
The vision ends thus.
September 3, 2009
Maria Valtorta The Poem of the Man-God
Volume 1 Chapter #65, pp. 341 to343
65. The Miraculous Draught of Fishes.
10th November 1944.
The vision begins once again when Jesus starts speaking.
«When all the trees bloom in spring, the happy farmer says: "I will have a good crop" and that hope causes his heart to rejoice. But from springtime to autumn, from the month of flowers to the month of fruit, how many days, winds, rains, sunshine and storms must pass, and sometimes wars or the cruelty of the mighty ones and diseases of plants, and at times diseases of the men of the fields, so that the plants, no longer hoed up, no longer watered, pruned, supported or cleaned, although they promised copious fruit, wilt and die or bear no fruit!
You follow Me. You love Me. Like plants in springtime you adorn yourselves with purposes and love. Israel, indeed, at the dawn of My mission is like our sweet countryside in the bright month of Nisan. But listen. Like the excessive heat in dry weather, Satan, who is envious of Me, will come to scorch you with his wrath. The world will come with its icy winds to freeze your blooms. And passions will come like storms. And tedium will come like a persistant rain. All My enemies and yours will come to sterilise what should be the fruit of your inclination to bloom in God.
I am warning you, because I know. Will everything then be lost, when I, like a sick farmer, even more than sick: dead, will no longer be able to speak to you and work miracles for you? No. I will sow and cultivate as long as I have time. Then everything will grow and ripen for you, if you keep a good watch.
Look at the fig-tree near the house of Simon of Jonas. Who planted it did not find the right and most favourable spot. Planted as it was near the damp northern wall, it would have withered, if by itself it had not found protection to survive. And it sought sunshine and light. There it is: all bent, but strong and proud, drawing the rays of the sun from early dawn and converting them into nutrition for its hundreds and hundreds of sweet fruits. It defended itself by itself. It said: "The Creator wanted me, that I may give joy and food to man. And I want to join my will to His". A fig-tree! A speechless tree! A soulless tree! And will you, children of God, the children of man, will you be inferior to a wooden plant?
Keep a good watch to bear fruits of eternal life. I will cultivate you, and at the end I will give you such a potent juice, that you will never find a more powerful one. Do not allow Satan to laugh at the destruction of My work, of My sacrifice and of your souls. Seek light. Seek sunshine. Seek strength. Seek life. I am the Life, Strength, Sunshine and Light of those who love Me. I have come to take you whence I came. I am speaking to you here, to call you all and point out to you the ten commandments that give eternal life. And with loving advice I say to you: "Love God and your neighbour". It is the first condition to fulfil everything else well. It is the most holy of the holy commandments. Love. Those who love God, in God and for the Lord God, will have peace both on the earth and in Heaven, for their abode and their crown.»
People go away with difficulty after Jesus' blessing. There are neither sick nor poor people.
Jesus says to Simon: «Call the other two. Let us go on to the lake and cast the net.»
«Master, my arms ache with fatigue: all night I cast and hauled the net, and all in vain. The fish are down at the bottom. I wonder where.»
«Do as I tell you, Peter. Always listen to those who love you.»
«I will do as You say, out of respect for Your word.» And he shouts to the assistants and also to James and John: «Let us go out fishing. The Master wants to go.» And while they are moving away, he says to Jesus: «However, Master, I assure You that it is not the right time. Goodness knows where the fish will be resting just now!...»
Jesus, sitting at the prow, smiles and is silent.
They form a semicircle on the lake and then cast the net. After a few minutes' waiting, the boat is shaken in a strange way, because the lake is as smooth as a glass pane under the midday sun.
«But that is fish, Master!» says Peter, with his eyes wide open.
Jesus smiles and is silent.
«Heave ho! Heave ho!» Peter orders his assistants. But the boat lists to one side, where the net is: «Hey there! James! John! Quick! Come Quick! With the oars! Quick!»
They rush and the joint efforts of the two crews succeed in hauling in the net without damaging the catch.
The two boats draw closer. They are now united. One, two, five, ten baskets. They are all full of wonderful fish, and there are still so many wriggling in the net: live silver and bronze, struggling to escape death. There is only one thing to be done: to empty the net into the bottom of the boats. They do that and the bottoms become a turmoil of agonizing lives. And the crew are up to their ankles in such abundance that the boats sink below the water-line because of the excessive weight.
«To the shore! Steer! Quick! The sails! Watch the depth line! Have the poles ready to prevent a clash. We have too much weight!»
As long as the manoeuvre lasts, Peter thinks of nothing else. But when he gets ashore, he begins to realise. He understands. He is frightened. «Master! My Lord! Go away from me! I am a sinner! I am not worthy of being near You!» He is on his knees on the damp shore.
Jesus looks at him and smiles: «Get up! Follow Me! I will not leave you any more! From now on, you will be a fisher of men, and your companions with you. Be afraid of nothing. I am calling you. Come!»
«At once, Lord. You look after the boats. Take everything to Zebedee and to my brother-in-law. Let us go. We are all for You, Jesus! Blessed be the Eternal Father for this choice.»
And the vision ends.
