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February 5th, 2002
Received by H.R.
Cuenca, Ecuador.
My dear brother H___,
Yesterday we ended our story with Jesus’ return to the lake,
after his baptism. I have said that this event was very important,
because as a consequence the first disciples would follow the Master.
It is true, although Nathanael was impressed and thoughtful about
what Jesus had explained to him, he stayed at home, and Jesus went
away alone. But now, things were about to change.
Jesus did not return alone from his meeting with his cousin. As
I have said, there were a few pupils who were willing to assume
the same rigorous life as John had imposed on himself. And so there
was a constant movement, a flow of pilgrims coming and going.
I could say that the person who was closest to Jesus during the
walk back to Kpar Nahum was a short, stout man, with beard and baldness,
but you already know that he was Andrew. He had listened to what
John had said, that Jesus was the Messiah, and naturally, a conversation
started soon after with the Master. Andrew was not a loquacious
type, but as you say: Who has a full heart, his mouth flows over.
Andrew, in his direct way, asked Jesus, if he was really the Messiah
longed for by the Jews, and the Master affirmed it. And then, Andrew
told him that he had many friends, sympathizers of the zealots,
anxious to expel to the hateful Romans, and keen to establish the
Kingdom of Israel once again, a theocracy where the Messiah would
govern with justice and wisdom, and where the power of Israel would
extend over the entire face of earth.
Jesus tried to explain to him that this conception of the Messiah
was not really the correct one, but it was in vain. Oh, this Andrew!
I remember that sometimes weeks passed without him opening his mouth,
but once he started to speak, it was impossible to stop him. And
it seems that the opening up of the mouth covered the ears, because
he didn't care what Jesus told him, Andrew went on and on, without
paying the least attention. Therefore, if I said that Andrew started
a discussion, I did not express myself accurately. He launched a
monologue lasting many kilometers, from John the Baptist's camp
right up to their arrival at Kpar Nahum. Mentally he was getting
ready for the "holy war."
Andrew was impressed. It was not the way that Jesus explained things
to him, as I already said, he didn't pay the least attention, but
it was rather Jesus' personality. You know very well that at times
you meet people who have "something special" that attracts
you, and Jesus had charisma, my God, he had very much of that.
When they had reached the village, Andrew led Jesus toward Peter's
boat, beached near the house, where the brothers lived with their
families. It was the first encounter of the future head of the Christian
movement with the Master. However, of that, we will speak next time.
Today you read in a book ["The Pilgrimage” by Paulo Coelho]
of the three forms of love, which the Greeks called "eros",
"philos" and "agape." I also saw that the author's
explanation did not satisfy you, especially what he wrote on the
relationship of "enthusiasm" with love.
There is some truth in his words, but there are also some mistakes.
Soon I will dedicate a message to this subject, the forms of love,
their bad translation in many versions of the Bible, and the transformation
of love. Nevertheless, with all its deficiencies, it is worthwhile
continuing reading that book.
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"When we renounce our dreams and find
peace, we go through a period of tranquility. But the dead
dreams begin to rot within us and to infect our entire surroundings.
We become cruel to those around us, and then we begin to direct
this cruelty against ourselves. That's when illness and psychoses
arise. What we sought to avoid in combat - disappointment
and defeat – becomes the only legacy of our cowardice.
And one beautiful day, the dead, spoiled dreams make the air
difficult to breathe, and we actually seek death, death that
shall free us from our certainties, from our work, and from
that terrible peace of our Sunday afternoons."
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This is what the Padgett messages call "to rest in the assurance
that beliefs provide." The author has understood that, and
therefore he encourages his readers to dream, to fight, and to question,
in short, that they be themselves and not what others expect them
to be.
It is a profound truth. We have to say to each and everyone: Follow
your way, listen to your inner voice, be faithful to yourself, and
do whatever you deem correct, without fear. If you do all this in
love, you definitely have found your safe route.
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“Fight the good fight of faith, lay
hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and
hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
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So the Bible expresses it.
God bless you,
Judas
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