fr-Chapter 65 - Parables, Comfort and Promise

XIV The Great Commission

Parable of the Unjust Stewards

1. In their longing for mercy, a crowd of the hungry, the sick, and the naked approached a house.

2. The stewards of the house busily prepared to entertain the travelers at their table.

3. The landowner, owner, and master of those lands arrived to preside over the feast.

4. Time passed, and the needy always found food and shelter in the house.

5. One day, that lord saw that the water on the table was cloudy, that the food was neither wholesome nor tasty, and that the tablecloths were stained.

6. So he called to himself those in charge of setting the table and said to them, "Have you seen the tablecloths, tasted the food, and drunk the water?"

7. "Yes, sir," they replied.

8. "Then, before you give food to these hungry people, let your children eat first, and if they find the food good, give some to these guests."

9. The children took some of the bread, the fruit, and whatever else was on the table; but the taste was repulsive, and there was discontent and uproar over it, and they complained vehemently.

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 delicious food."

11. But to the servants he said this: "Clean what is defiled; remove the bad taste from the lips of those whom you have disappointed. I take no pleasure in you, for I commanded you to welcome all who are hungry and thirsty, to offer them the finest food and pure water, and you did not obey. Your work is not pleasing to me."

12. The Lord of those lands now prepared the feast himself: the bread was substantial, the fruit healthy and ripe, the water fresh and refreshing. Then he invited those who were waiting—beggars, the sick, and lepers—and all were satisfied, 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 cultivate the fields, becoming farmhands, but they were weak and did not know how to follow that Lord's instructions. They mixed different kinds of seeds, and the harvest was ruined; the wheat was choked by weeds.

14. When harvest time came, the landowner came and said to them, "What are you doing here, when I have only entrusted you with the management of the house to receive the guests? The seeds you have sown are not good; others are meant to tend the fields. Go and clear the land of thistles and weeds, and then return to managing the house. The well has run dry, the bread gives no strength, and the fruit is bitter. Do for those passing through what I have done for you. When you have nourished and healed those who turn to you, when you have removed the pain of your neighbors, 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 travelers walked with slow steps through a vast desert; their feet ached from the hot sand. They were heading toward a distant city, and only the hope of reaching their destination sustained them on their arduous journey; for their bread and water were gradually running out. The younger of the two began to grow weary and asked his companion to continue the journey alone, for his strength was failing him.

16. The older traveler tried to instill new courage in the young man by telling him that they might soon come upon an oasis where they would regain their lost strength; but the young man found no new courage.

17. The older man had no intention of abandoning him in that desolate wilderness, and although he too was tired, he hoisted his exhausted companion onto his back and laboriously continued the journey.

18. After the young man had rested and considered the hardship he was causing the one who carried him on his shoulders, he slipped from his neck, took him by the hand, and so they continued on their way.

19. Immeasurable faith filled the heart of the aged traveler, giving him the strength to overcome his weariness.

20. Just as he had anticipated, an oasis appeared on the horizon, in whose shade the coolness of a spring awaited them. Finally, they reached it and drank of that refreshing water until they were fully satisfied.

21. They fell into a restful sleep, and upon waking, they felt that their fatigue had vanished; nor were they hungry or thirsty. They felt peace in their hearts and the strength to reach the city they were seeking.

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 set out again.

23. The elderly traveler, who had been the young man's support, said: "Let us use the water we carry with us only sparingly. It is possible that along the way we will meet some pilgrims who, overcome by exhaustion, are dying of thirst or are ill, and it will then be necessary to offer them what we carry with us."

24. The young man objected, saying that it would be unreasonable to give away what might not even be enough for themselves; that in such a case they could sell it for whatever price they wanted, since it had cost them such great effort to obtain that precious element.

25. The old man was not satisfied with this answer and replied that if they wanted peace of mind, they would have to share the water with those in need.

26. Disgruntled, the young man said that he would rather consume the water in his vessel alone than share it with anyone they might meet along the way.

27. Once again, the old man's premonition came true, for before them they saw a caravan of men, women, and children who, lost in the desert, were near death.

28. The good old man hurried toward those people and gave them water to drink. The weary felt immediately refreshed, the sick opened their eyes to thank the traveler, and the children stopped crying from thirst. The caravan rose and continued on its journey.

29. Peace was in the heart of the noble-minded traveler, while the other, seeing his vessel empty, said anxiously to his companion that they should turn back and seek out the spring to replace the water they had used.

30. "We must not go back," said the good traveler, "if we have faith, we will find new oases further ahead."

31. But the young man doubted, was afraid, and preferred to take his leave of his companion on the spot, in order to return in search of the spring. They, who had been companions in suffering, parted ways. While one continued on the path, inspired by faith in his destination, the other ran toward the spring, driven by the thought that he might perish in the desert, with the obsession of death in his heart.

32. Finally, he arrived, panting and exhausted. But content, he drank his fill, forgot the companion he had left to go alone, and likewise the city he had renounced, and resolved to live in the desert from then on.

33. It was not long before a caravan passed by nearby, consisting of exhausted and thirsty men and women. They eagerly approached to drink from the water of that spring.

34. But suddenly they saw a man appear who forbade them to drink or rest unless they paid him for those benefits. It was the young wanderer who had taken possession of the oasis and made himself lord of the desert.

35. Those people listened to him sadly, for they were poor and could not afford that precious treasure that would quench their thirst. Finally, they parted with the little they carried with them, bought a little water to ease their burning thirst, and continued on their way.

36. Soon that man went from being a lord to a king, for it was not always the poor who passed through there; there were also the powerful who could pay a fortune for a glass of water.

37. This man no longer remembered the city beyond the desert, and even less so the brotherly companion who had carried him on his shoulders and saved him from perishing in that wasteland.

38. One day he saw a caravan approaching, heading straight for the great city. But to his amazement, he observed that those men, women, and children were striding along full of strength and joy, singing a song of praise.

39. The man did not understand what he was seeing, and his surprise grew even greater when he saw that leading the caravan was the very man who had been his traveling companion.

40. The caravan stopped before the oasis, while the two men stood facing each other and looked at one another in astonishment. Finally, the oasis dweller asked the one who had been his companion: "Tell me, how is it possible that there are people who cross this desert without feeling thirst or fatigue?"

41. He did this because he was thinking to himself what would become of him from the day on when no one would come to him anymore to ask for water or shelter.

42. The good traveler said to his companion: "I reached the great city, but not alone. Along the way I met the sick, the thirsty, the lost, the exhausted, and to all of them I gave new courage through the faith that animates me, and so we made our way from oasis to oasis until one day we arrived at the gates of the great city.

43. There I was summoned before the Lord of that realm, who, seeing that I knew the desert and had compassion for the travelers, gave me the task of returning to to serve as a guide and counselor to the travelers during their agonizing crossing of the desert.

44. "And here you see me, just now leading another caravan that I must bring to the great city. — And you? What are you doing here?" he asked the one who had remained at the oasis. — The latter remained silent in shame.

45. Then the good traveler said to him: "I know that you have appropriated this oasis for yourself, that you sell water and charge money for shade. These goods do not belong to you; they were placed in the desert by a divine power so that whoever needed them might make use of them.

46. Do you see these crowds of people? They have no need of an oasis, for they neither feel thirst nor grow weary. It is enough that I convey to them the message that the Lord of the great city sends them through me, and already they set out and find new strength with every step thanks to the lofty goal they have: to reach that kingdom.

47. Leave the spring to those who are thirsty, so that they may find refreshment there, and that those who suffer the hardships of the desert may quench their thirst.

48. Your pride and selfishness have blinded you. But what good has it done you to be lord of this little oasis, when you live in this wasteland and have deprived yourself of the chance to get to know the great city toward which we were journeying together? Have you already forgotten that lofty goal we both had?"

49. When that man had listened in silence to the one who had been a faithful and selfless companion, he burst into tears, for he felt remorse for his transgressions. He tore the false robes of splendor from his body and sought out the starting point, which was where the desert began, to follow the path that would lead him to the great city. But now he went on his way illuminated by a new light, that of faith and love for his fellow human beings. End of the parable

50. I am the Lord of the Great City, and Elijah the Elder is the figure in my parable. He is "the voice of one crying in the wilderness"; he is the one who reveals himself anew among you in fulfillment of the revelation I gave you at the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. It is he who leads you in the "Third Era" 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 in your ideals; everything will be transformed.

52. Did you believe that your imperfect practice of religion would last forever? — No, My disciples. Tomorrow, when your spirit beholds the Great City on the horizon, it will say, like its Lord: "My kingdom is not of this world." (28:18–40)

Parable of a King's Magnanimity

53. Once upon a time, there was a king who, surrounded by his subjects, celebrated a victory he had won over a rebellious people who had become his vassals.

54. The king and his people sang a victory hymn. Then the king spoke thus to his people: "The strength of my arm has triumphed and has made my kingdom grow; yet I will love the vanquished as I love you; I will give them fields on my estates so that they may cultivate the vine, and it is my will that you love them just as I love them."

55. Time passed, and among that people, who had been won over by the love and justice of that king, a man arose who rebelled against his lord and attempted to kill him in his sleep, though he only wounded him.

56. In the face of his crime, that man fled in fear to hide in the darkest forests, while the king lamented the ingratitude and absence of his subject, for his heart loved him dearly.

57. That man was captured during his flight by a people hostile to the king, and when he was accused of being a subject of one whose rule they did not recognize, he cried out to them in terror at the top of his voice that he was a fugitive because he had just killed the king. But they did not believe him and sentenced him to die at the stake after he had first been tortured.

58. As he was already bleeding, and they were about to throw him into the fire, it happened that the king, accompanied by his servants who were searching for the rebel, passed by there, and when he saw what was happening, the ruler raised his arm and said to the henchmen: "What are you doing, you rebellious people?" And at the sound of the king's majestic and commanding voice, the rebels threw themselves down before him.

59. The ungrateful subject, who still lay in chains near the fire, waiting only for his sentence to be carried out, was astonished and dismayed when he saw that the king was not dead, and that he was approaching him step by step and untying him.

60. He led him away from the fire and tended to his wounds. Then he gave him wine to drink, clothed him in 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 say to you now: Come and follow me."

61. The people who witnessed these scenes of mercy cried out in wonder and inner transformation: "Hosanna, Hosanna!" They acknowledged themselves as obedient vassals of that King— —and received only blessings from their Lord; and the subject who had once rebelled—overwhelmed by so much love from his King—resolved to repay those proofs of boundless affection by loving and honoring his Lord forever, conquered by His perfectly righteous actions.

End of the parable

62. Behold, O people, how clear My Word is! Yet people fight against Me and lose their friendship with Me.

63. What harm have I done to people? What disadvantage do My teachings and My law bring them? 64. Know this: No matter how often you hurt Me, you will be forgiven every time. But then you are also obligated to forgive your enemies whenever they offend you.

65. I love you, and if you take a step away from Me, I will take the same step to draw near to you. If you close the gates of your temple to Me, I will knock upon them until you open them and I may enter. (100, 61-70)

Beatitudes and Blessings

66. Blessed is he who bears his suffering with patience, for it is precisely in his gentleness that he will find the strength to continue carrying 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 vindicate him. But woe to those who judge the actions of their fellow men, for they, in turn, will be judged!

68. Blessed is he who fulfills the first commandment of the Law and loves Me more than all created things.

69. Blessed is he who allows Me to judge his just or unjust cause. (44, 52–55)

70. Blessed are those who humble themselves on earth, for I will forgive them. Blessed are those who are slandered, for I will testify to their innocence. Blessed are those who bear witness to Me, for I will bless them. And those who are misunderstood because of their practice of My teaching, I will acknowledge them. (8, 30)

71. Blessed are those who fall and rise again, who weep and bless Me, who, wounded by their own brothers, trust in Me in the depths of their hearts. These little ones and the afflicted, the mocked, yet the meek and thereby strong in spirit, are truly My disciples. (22:30)

72. Blessed are those who bless the will of their Lord; blessed are those who bless their own suffering, for they know it will wash away their stains. For this one steadies his steps to climb the Spiritual Mountain. (308, 10)

73. All await 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 remedy that will restore to them health, strength, and joy of life.

74. Blessed are those who know how to wait until the very last moment, for what they have lost will be returned to them with interest. I bless this expectation, for it is proof of faith in Me. (286, 59-60)

75. Blessed are the faithful; blessings to those who remain steadfast until the end of their trials. Blessed are those who have not squandered the strength bestowed upon them by My instruction, for in the coming times of bitterness they will weather life's vicissitudes with strength and light. (311, 10)

76. Blessed are those who bless Me upon the altar of creation and who know how to humbly accept the consequences of their transgressions without attributing them to divine punishment.

77. Blessed are those who know how to obey My will and accept their trials with humility. They will all love Me. (325, 7-8)

Encouragements for Spiritual Growth

78. Blessed are those who ask Me with humility and faith for the ascent of their soul, for they will receive what they ask of their Father.

79. Blessed are those who know how to wait, for My merciful help will come into their hands at the appropriate moment.

80. Learn to ask and also to wait—knowing that nothing escapes My loving will. 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 the trivialities, vanities, and passions that bring no good to man and even less to his soul, and have regarded them with indifference.

83. Blessed are those who have done away with fanatical religious rituals that lead nowhere, and have abandoned old and erroneous beliefs in order to embrace the absolute, naked, and pure truth.

84. I bless those who reject the external in order to devote themselves instead to spiritual contemplation, love, and inner peace, because they increasingly realize that the world offers no peace, that you can find it within yourselves.

85. Blessed are those among you whom the truth has not frightened and who have not been outraged by it, for truly, I tell you, the light will cascade down upon your soul like a waterfall to quench your thirst for light forever. (263, 2-6)

86. Blessed is the one who hears my teachings, makes them his own, and follows them, for he will know how to live in this world, will know how to die to the world, and, when his hour comes, will rise to eternal life.

87. Blessed is he who delves into My Word, for he has learned to understand the reason for pain, the meaning of reparation and atonement, and instead of despairing or blaspheming—which would only increase his suffering—he rises up full of faith and hope to struggle so that the burden of his debts may grow lighter each day and his cup of suffering less bitter.

88. Joy and peace are the hallmarks of people of faith—those who are in harmony with the Father's will. (283, 45–47)

89. Your progress or your upward development will enable you to discover My truth and perceive My divine presence—both in the spiritual realm and in each of My works. Then I will say to you: "Blessed are those who are able to recognize Me everywhere, for they are the ones who truly love Me. Blessed are those who are able to feel Me with their soul and even with their body, for they are the ones who have imbued their entire being with sensitivity, who have truly become spiritual." (305, 61-62)

90. You know that from My "High Throne" I envelop the universe in My peace and My blessings.

91. Everything is blessed by Me at every hour, in every moment.

92. No curse or condemnation for My children comes from Me, nor will it ever come. Therefore, without distinguishing between the righteous and the sinners, I let My blessing, My kiss of love, and My peace descend upon all. (319, 49-50)

MY PEACE BE WITH YOU