« He replied with a smile which made us enjoy the delights of Paradise: “I want a great treasure from you… A treasure with seven names, which even the poorest may have… charity, faith, good will, right intention, continence, sincerity, spirit of sacrifice. ” »
– John repeating Jesus’ reply to being told that the fishermen had nothing to offer Him.
48. « Quick, quick. Let’s go and see Him. And you, (addressing the other fishermen) take everything to Zebedee and tell him to do as he thinks best. We will be back this evening in time to go fishing. »
They all get dressed and set out. But Peter, after a few yards stops and gets hold of John’s arm and asks him. « Did you say that He knows everything, and hears everything?… »
« Yes, I did. Just think that when we saw the moon high up in the sky, I said: “I wonder what Simon will be doing now”, and He said: “He is casting his net and he cannot set his mind at rest because he has to do it all by himself, since you did not go out with the twin boat in such a good evening for fishing… he does not know that before long he will be fishing with different nets and catching different fish.” »
« Holy Mercy! It’s true! Well, He will also have heard… also that I called Him little less than a liar… I can’t go to Him! »
« Oh! He is so good. He certainly knows what you thought. He already knew. Because when we left Him saying that we were coming to you, He said: “Go. But don’t let the first words of contempt discourage you. Who wants to come with Me must be able to make headway against the sneering words of the world and the prohibitions of relatives. Because I am above blood and society, and I triumph over them. And who is with Me will also triumph forever.” And He also said: “Don’t be afraid to speak. The man who hears will come, because he is a man of good will.” »
« Is that what He said? Well, I’ll come. Speak, speak of Him, while we are going. Where is He? »
« In a poor house; they must be His friends. »
« Is He poor? »
« A workman from Nazareth. So He said. »
« And how does He live now, if He does not work any longer? »
« We did not ask Him. Perhaps His relatives help Him. »
« It would have been better if we had brought some fish, some bread and fruit… something. We are going to consult a rabbi, because He is like… He is more than a rabbi, and we are going empty-handed! Our rabbis don’t like that… »
« But He does. We had but twenty pennies between us, James and I, and we offered Him them, as is customary with rabbis. He did not want them. But since we insisted so much, He said: “May God reward you with the blessings of the poor. Come with Me” and He gave them to some poor people: He knew where they lived. And when we asked Him: “Master, are You not keeping anything for Yourself?” He replied: “The joy of doing the will of God and serving His glory”. We also said: “You are calling us, Master. But we are all poor. What shall we bring You?”, He replied with a smile which made us enjoy the delights of Paradise: “I want a great treasure from you”, and we said: “But we have nothing.” And He answered: “A treasure with seven names, which even the poorest may have, while the rich may not possess it. You have it, and I want it. Listen to the names: charity, faith, good will, right intention, continence, sincerity, spirit of sacrifice. That is what I want from My followers, only that, and You have it. It is dormant, like a seed under a winter clod, but the spring sunshine will make it sprout into a sevenfold spike.” That is what He said. »
