Chapter 65 - Parables, Comfort and Promise
Parable of the bad caretakers
1 In a
desire for mercy, a crowd of hungry, sick, and naked people approached a house.
2 The
stewards of the house were continually equipping it to serve those passing
through at their tables.
3 The
landlord, owner and master of those lands came to preside over the banquet.
4 Time
passed, and the needy always found food and shelter in the house.
5 One day
that master saw that the water on the table was cloudy, that the food was not
healthy and tasty, and that the tablecloths were stained.
6 Then he
called to him those charged with the preparation of the table, and said to
them, "Have you seen the sheets, and tasted the food, and drunk of the
water?
7
"Yes, Lord," they answered.
8
"Then before you give food to these hungry, let your children eat of it
first, and if they like the food, give it to these guests.
9 The
children took of the bread, the fruits, and what was on the table; but the
taste was disgusting, and there was discontent and uproar against it, and they
complained violently.
10 Then the
landowner said to those who were still waiting, "Come under a tree, for I
will offer you the fruits of my garden and tasty food.
11 But to
the servants he said this: "Cleanse the defiled, remove the bad taste from
the lips of those whom you have disappointed. I have no favor in you, for I
commanded you to receive all the hungry and thirsty, to offer them the best
food and pure water, and you have not obeyed. Your work is not pleasing to
me."
12 The Lord
of those lands now prepared the banquet himself: the bread was full, the fruit
healthy and ripe, the water fresh and refreshing. Then he invited those who
were waiting for it - beggars, sick and lepers - and all sated themselves, and
their joy was great. Soon they were healthy and free from suffering, and they
decided to stay on the estate.
13 They
began to till the fields, becoming fieldworkers, but they were weak and did not
know how to follow the instructions of that Lord. They mixed different kinds of
seeds, and the crop degenerated, the wheat was choked by weeds.
14 When the
time of the harvest came, the lord of the manor came and said to them,
"What are you doing there, when I have given you only the administration
of the house to receive the guests? The seed which you have sown is not good;
others are appointed to till the fields. Go and cleanse the land of thistles
and weeds, and then manage the house again. The well is dried up, the bread is
not strong, and the fruit is bitter. Do to the passer-by what I have done to
you. When you have nourished and healed those who turn to you, when you have
removed the pain of your neighbor, then I will let you rest in my house".
(196, 47 - 49)
Parable of the crossing of the desert to the
Great City
15 Two
wanderers walked with slow steps through a vast desert, their feet aching from
the hot sand. They walked towards a distant city, and only the hope of reaching
their destination enlivened them on their difficult journey; for the bread and
water were gradually running out. The younger of the two began to tire and
asked his companion to continue the journey alone, because his strength was
failing him.
16 The
elderly wanderer tried to instill new courage in the young man, telling him
that they might soon come across an oasis where they would regain the lost
strength; but he did not take new courage.
17 The
elder did not intend to abandon him in that wilderness, and though he too was
tired, he loaded the weary companion onto his back and continued the journey
with difficulty.
18 When the
young man was rested, and he had considered the trouble which he had caused to
him that carried him on his shoulders, he took him off his neck, and took him
by the hand, and so they continued their way.
19 Immense
faith inspired the heart of the aged wayfarer, which gave him strength to
overcome his weariness.
20 As he
had foreseen, an oasis appeared on the horizon, under whose shadow the coolness
of a spring awaited them. Finally they reached it and drank of that refreshing
water until they had drunk their fill.
21 They
fell into a restful sleep, and when they awoke, they felt that the tiredness
had disappeared, neither were they hungry nor thirsty. They felt peace in their
hearts and the strength to reach the city they sought.
22 They did
not really want to leave that place, but the journey had to continue. They
filled their vessels with that crystal clear and pure water and resumed their
journey.
23 The
elderly wanderer, who had been the young man's support, said, "We want to
use the water we carry with us only in moderation. It is possible that we may
meet some pilgrims along the way who, overcome by exhaustion, are dying of
thirst or sick, and it will then be necessary to offer them what we carry with
us".
24 The
young man disagreed, saying that it would be unreasonable to give of what might
not even be enough for themselves; that in such a case they could sell it at
the price they wanted, since it had cost them so much effort to obtain that
precious element.
25 The old
man was not satisfied with this answer, and replied that if they wanted peace
in their Spirit, they would have to share the water with those in need.
26
Disgruntled, the young man said that he preferred to consume the water of his
vessel alone before sharing it with someone whom one would meet along the way.
27 Again,
the old man's presentiment came true, for they saw before them a caravan of
men, women, and children, lost in the desert, near to destruction.
28
Hurriedly the good old man approached those people and gave them something to
drink. The weary felt immediately strengthened, the sick opened their eyes to
thank that traveler, and the children stopped crying from thirst. The caravan
rose and continued its journey.
29 Peace
was in the heart of the noble traveler, while the other, seeing his vessel
empty, said anxiously to his companion that they should turn back and go to the
spring to replace the water they had used.
30 "We
must not go back," said the good wanderer, "if we have faith, we will
find new oases further ahead.
31 But the
young man doubted, was afraid, and preferred to say farewell to his companion
on the spot, in order to go back to the spring in his desire. They, who had
been companions in suffering, separated. While the one continued on the path,
inspired by the faith in his destination, the other ran towards the source with
the obsession of death in his heart, thinking that he might perish in the
desert.
32 Finally
he arrived, gasping and exhausted. But satisfied, he drank his fill, forgot his
companion, whom he let go alone, and also the city, which he had renounced, and
decided to live in the desert from then on.
33 It was
not long before a caravan of exhausted and thirsty men and women passed by
nearby. They came eagerly nearer to drink from the water of that spring.
34 But
suddenly they saw a man appearing, who forbade them to drink and rest if they
did not pay him those benefits. It was the young wanderer who had taken possession
of the oasis and made himself master of the desert.
35 Those
men gave him a sad hearing, because they were poor and could not buy that
precious treasure which would quench their thirst. Finally they separated
themselves from the little they carried with them, bought a little water to
quench their burning thirst, and continued on their way.
36 Soon
that man changed from lord to king, for it was not always the poor who went
through there; there were also mighty men who could give a fortune for a glass of
water.
37 This man
no longer remembered the city on the other side of the desert, and still less
the brotherly companion who had carried him on his shoulders and saved him from
perishing in that wilderness.
38 One day
he saw a caravan coming, which was purposefully heading for the great city. But
with astonishment he observed that those men, women, and children stepped out
full of strength and joy, singing a song of praise.
39 The man
did not understand what he saw, and his surprise became even greater when he
saw that at the head of the caravan the one who had been his traveling
companion went ahead.
40 The
caravan stopped in front of the oasis, while the two men were facing each
other, looking at each other in astonishment. Finally, the oasis resident asked
the one who had been his companion: "Tell me, how is it possible that
there are people who cross this desert without feeling thirsty or tired?
41 He did
this because he thought in his heart of what would become of him from the day
when no one would come to ask him for water or shelter.
42 The good
wayfarer said to his companion, "I came to the great city, but not alone.
Along the way I met the sick, the thirsty, the stray, the exhausted, and I gave
them all new courage through the faith that animates me, and so one day, from
oasis to oasis, we arrived at the gates of the Great City.
43 There I
was called before the Lord of that kingdom, who, when he saw that I knew the
desert and had compassion on the travelers, gave me the order to return, to be
the guide and adviser of the travelers in the torturous crossing of the desert.
44 And here
you see me leading another caravan that I have to take to the Great City. - And
you? What are you doing here?" he asked the one who had remained in the
oasis. - This one was ashamed to remain silent.
45 Then the
good traveler said to him, "I know that you have appropriated this oasis,
that you sell water and demand money for the shade. These goods do not belong
to you; they were put into the desert by a divine power, so that he who needed
them might make use of them.
46 Do you
see these multitudes of men? They have no need of an oasis, because they
neither feel thirst nor grow weary. It is enough that I pass on to them the
message which the Lord of the Great City sends them through my mediation, and
they already set out and find new strength at every step thanks to the high
goal which they have: to reach that kingdom.
47 Leave
the spring to those who are thirsty, so that they may find refreshment in it
and those who suffer the hardships of the desert may quench their thirst.
48 Your
pride and selfishness has blinded you. But what good was it for you to be
master of this small oasis, when you lived in this wasteland and robbed
yourself of the opportunity to get to know the great city that we were going to
meet together? Have you already forgotten that high goal that we both had?
49 When
that man had listened in silence to the one who had been a faithful and
unselfish companion, he burst into tears, feeling remorse for his transgressions.
He tore off his false garments and went to the starting point, which was where
the desert began, to follow the path that would lead him to the Great City. But
now he walked his way illuminated by a new light, that of faith and love for
his fellow men.
- End of
the parable -
50 I am the
Lord of the great city, and Elijah the aged of my parable. He is "the
voice of him who cries out in the wilderness"; he is he who makes himself
known anew among you in fulfilment of the revelation which I gave you at the
transfiguration on Mount Tabor. It is he who leads you in the "third
time" to the Great City where I await you to give you the eternal reward
of my love.
51 Follow
Elijah, O beloved people, and everything will change in your life, in your
worship of God and your ideals; everything will be changed.
52 Have you
believed that your imperfect practice of religion would last forever? - No, my
disciples. Tomorrow, when your Spirit sees the Great City on the horizon, he
will say like his Lord, "My kingdom is not of this world" (28:18-40)
Parable of the magnanimity of a king
53 Once
upon a time there was a king who, surrounded by his subjects, celebrated a
victory which he had achieved over a rebellious people who had become vassals.
54 The king
and his subjects sang a victory hymn. Then the king said to his people in this
way: "The strength of my arm has triumphed and has made my kingdom grow;
but the defeated I will love as I love you, I will give them fields on my
estates to plant the vine, and it is my will that you love them as I love them.
55 As time
passed, and among that people, which had been won by the love and righteousness
of that king, there appeared a man who rebelled against his lord, and tried to
kill him in his sleep, but only wounded him.
56 Faced
with his crime, that man fled in fear to hide in the darkest woods, while the
king lamented the ingratitude and absence of his subordinate, for his heart
loved him greatly.
57 That man
was taken prisoner on his flight by a people hostile to the king, and when he
was accused of being a subject of him whose rule they did not recognize, the
king, frightened, cried out at the top of his voice to them that he was a
fugitive because he had just killed the king. But they did not believe him and
condemned him to die at the stake after he had been martyred.
58 When he
was already bleeding, and they were about to throw him into the fire, it
happened that the king passed by there with his servants who were looking for
the rebel, and when he saw what was happening here, that ruler raised his arm
and said to the servants, "What are you doing there, rebellious people?
And at the sound of the king's majestic and commanding voice the rebels bowed
down before him.
59 The
ungrateful subject, who was still lying in fetters near the fire, waiting only
for the execution of his judgment, was amazed and dismayed when he saw that the
king was not dead, and that he approached him step by step and untied him.
60 He led
him away from the fire and treated his wounds. Then he gave him wine to drink,
clothed him with a new white robe, and after kissing him on the forehead, he
said to him, "My subject, why did you flee from me? Why did you hurt me?
Do not answer me with words, I only want you to know that I love you, and I
tell you now: come and follow me."
61 That
people who witnessed these scenes of mercy cried out in wonder and inwardly
changed: "Hosiannah, Hosiannah! They confessed themselves as obedient
vassals of that king and received only benefits from their master, and the subject
who once rebelled, overwhelmed by so much love of his king, made the resolution
to repay those proofs of boundless affection by loving and worshipping his
master forever, overcome by his so perfect action.
- End of
the parable -
62 Behold,
people, how clear is my word! But men fight against me and lose their
friendship with me.
63 What
harm have I done to men? What harm does my teaching and my law bring them?
64 Know
that no matter how many times you hurt me, every time you will be forgiven. But
then you are also obliged to forgive your enemies whenever they offend you.
65 I love
you, and if you take a step away from Me, I take the same step to draw near to
you. When you close the gates of your temple to Me, I will knock on them until
you open and I can enter it. (100,61-70)
Beatitudes and blessings
66 Blessed
is he who bears his suffering with patience, for it is precisely in his
meekness that he will find the strength to continue to bear his cross on his
path of development.
67 Blessed
is he who endures humiliation with humility and is able to forgive those who
have offended him, for I will justify him. But woe to those who judge the
actions of their fellow men, for they will be judged in their turn!
68 Blessed
is he who fulfills the first commandment of the law and loves me more than
anything created.
69 Blessed
is he who lets me judge his just or unjust cause. (44, 52 - 55)
70 Blessed
is he who humbles himself on earth, for I will forgive him. Blessed is he who
is slandered, for I will bear witness to his innocence. Blessed is he who bears
witness to me, for I will bless him. And him who is misjudged because of the
practice of my teaching, him will I acknowledge. (8,30)
71 Blessed
are those who fall and rise again, those who weep and bless Me, those who,
wounded by their own brothers, trust Me in the depths of their heart These
small and afflicted, mocked but meek and therefore strong in Spirit are in
truth my disciples. (22,30)
72 Blessed
is he who blesses the will of his Lord, blessed is he who blesses his own
suffering, because he knows that it will wash away his stains. For he gives his
steps a foothold to climb the spiritual mountain. (308, 10)
73 All
expect the light of a new day, the dawn of peace, which is to be the beginning
of a better age. The oppressed await the day of their liberation, the sick hope
for a cure that will give them back health, strength and joy of life.
74 Blessed
are those who know how to wait until the last moment, for what they have lost
will be returned to them with interest. I bless this expectation because it is
proof of faith in me. (286, 59 -60)
75 Bless
the faithful, bless those who stand firm until the end of their trials. Blessed
are those who have not wasted the strength that my teaching has given them, for
they will survive the vicissitudes of life powerfully and lightfully in the
coming times of bitterness. (311, 10)
76 Blessed
are those who bless Me on the altar of creation and humbly accept the
consequences of their transgressions without attributing them to divine
punishments.
77 Blessed
are those who know how to obey my will and humbly accept their trials. They
will all love me. (325, 7 - 8)
Encouragement for upward development
78 Blessed
are those who ask me with humility and faith for the ascent of their Spirit,
because they will receive what they ask from their Father.
79 Blessed
are those who know how to wait, for my merciful help will come into their hands
at the right moment.
80 Learn to
ask and also to wait - knowing that nothing escapes my will to love. Trust that
my will is manifested in each of your needs and in each of your trials. (35, 1
-3)
81 Blessed
are those who dream of a paradise of peace and harmony
82 Blessed
are those who have despised and regarded with indifference the trivialities,
the vanities and passions which do not bring anything good to man, and even
less to his Spirit.
83 Blessed
are those who have eliminated the fanatical rituals that lead nowhere, and have
abandoned old and erroneous beliefs to embrace absolute, naked and pure truth.
84 I bless
those who reject the outward appearance to devote themselves instead to
spiritual contemplation, love and inner peace, because they realize more and
more that the world does not give peace, that you can find it in yourselves.
85 Blessed
are those of you who have not been frightened by the Truth and have not been
outraged by it; for truly, I tell you, the Light will fall like a waterfall on
your Spirit to satisfy forever your desire for Light (263, 2 – 6)
86 Blessed
is he who hears my teachings, makes them his own and follows them, for he will
know how to live in the world, will know how to die to the world, and when his
hour has come, will resurrect in eternity
87 Blessed
is the one who immerses himself in my word, for he has learned to understand
the reason for the pain, the meaning of reparation and atonement, and instead
of despairing or blaspheming, with which he would increase his torment, he
rises up full of faith and hope to fight, so that the burden of his debts may
become lighter daily and his cup of suffering less bitter.
88
Cheerfulness and peace are inherent in the men of faith - those who agree with
the Father's will. (283, 45 - 47)
89 Your
progress or upward development will enable you to discover my truth and to
perceive my divine presence, both in the spiritual and in each of my works.
Then I will say to you: "Blessed are those who are able to recognize me
everywhere, for it is they who really love me. Blessed are they who are able to
feel Me with the Spirit and even with the body, for it is they who have given
sensitivity to their whole being, who have truly spiritualized
themselves". (305, 61 - 62)
90 You know
that from my "high throne" I envelop the universe in my peace and
blessings.
91
Everything is blessed by me at every hour, in every moment.
92 From Me
is not, nor will ever come any curse or condemnation for my children.
Therefore, without seeing righteous or sinners, I let my blessings, my kiss of
love and my peace come down on all. (319,49 - 50)
MY PEACE BE
WITH YOU.
Call to the people of this time:
"Men,
men, rise up, time is pressing, and if you do not do it on this
"day," you will no longer awaken in this life on earth. Do you want
to continue to sleep in spite of my message? Do you want the death of the flesh
to wake you up - with the consuming fire of repentance of your Spirit without
matter? Be sincere, enable yourselves to be in spiritual life, in the face of
truth, where nothing can excuse your materialism, where you really see
yourselves in rags - stained, dirty and torn - which your Spirit will wear as
clothing. Verily, I tell you, there, at the sight of your misery and in the
feeling of so great shame, you will feel the immeasurable desire to wash
yourselves clean in the water of deepest repentance because you know that you
can only go pure to the feast of the Spirit. See yourselves beyond human egoism
with all its infirmities, which are currently your pride, your satisfaction,
and tell me whether you have felt the pain of men, whether the sobs of women or
the cries of children echo in your hearts. So tell Me: what have you been to
men? Have you been life for them? (228,62 - 63)
Call to the intellectuals:
"Come
to Me, you intellectuals who are weary of death and disappointed in your
hearts. Come to Me, you who are confused and have hated instead of loving. I
will give you rest and make you understand that the Spirit who is obedient to
my commandments never tires. I will introduce you to a science that never
confuses the intelligence. (282, 54)
Call to the toilsome and laden:
"Come
to me, you afflicted, lonely and sick people. You who drag chains of sin with
you, you humbled, hungry and thirsty for righteousness, be with Me; in My
presence many of your evils will disappear and you will feel your burden become
lighter. If you want to possess the goods of the Spirit, I will grant them to
you; if you ask Me for earthly goods to make good use of them, I will give them
to you likewise, because your request is noble and just. Then you will become
good trustees, and I will grant you the increase of those goods so that you let
your fellow men share in them. (144, 80 - 81)
Call to the spiritual Israel
"Israel,
become the leader of mankind, give her this bread of eternal life, show her
this spiritual work, so that the different religions may spiritualize
themselves in my teaching and in this way the Kingdom of God may come to all
people. (249,66)
"Hear
Me, beloved Israel! Open your spiritual eyes and behold the glory of your
Father. Hear my voice through your conscience, hear with your spiritual ears
the heavenly melodies, so that your heart and spirit may rejoice, so that you
may feel peace; for I am peace and invite you to live in it. I reveal to you
the love that I have felt for mankind at all times - the reason why Jesus shed
His most precious Blood in the "Second Time" to redeem you from sin,
to teach you love and imprint true teaching on your mind and heart". (283,
71)
"Set
your eyes on Me when you have lost the way; be with Me today. Lift up your
thoughts to Me and speak to Me as a child speaks to his father, as one speaks
confidently to a friend. (280, 31)
"Walk
under my teaching, feel like new people, exercise my virtues, then it will
become ever more light in your Spirit, and Christ will manifest Himself in your
way. (228, 60)
"People,
go to the people, speak to them as Christ spoke to you - with the same
compassion, determination and hope. Let them know that there are ways of upward
development that give greater satisfactions than those that grant material
goods. Let them know that there is a faith that allows faith and hope beyond
what is visible and tangible. Tell them that their Spirit will live eternally
and that they must therefore prepare themselves to be able to participate in
that eternal bliss. (359, 94 - 95)
T H E E N D
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