Jonas, shepherd of Bethlehem and martyr of Esdrelon
This Judean is one of the twelve shepherds of the Nativity.
After the dispersion caused by the massacre of the innocents, he becomes steward of Doras, a harsh Pharisee from Galilee who martyres him. He falls into slavery, like many of his other servants, because of the subtle and dishonest tricks of this cruel man:"This is how Doras operates, and he is not the only one in Israel: when he finds a good servant, he leads him by a subtle trick to become a slave. He puts inaccurate amounts on his account that the poor fellow cannot pay, and when it reaches a certain sum, he says: 'Now you are my slave for [[Debts, Debtors|debts].' Jonas, as long as he had savings, could pay... then... One year it was hail, another drought. The wheat and the vine yielded little and Doras multiplied the loss by ten and then again by ten... Then Jonas got sick from overwork. And Doras lent him money for treatment, but demanded twelve for one and Jonas, having nothing to return, added it to the rest. In short: a few years later, he became a slave for debts. And he will never let him go... He will always find reasons and new debts." [1]Victim of systematic mistreatment: beaten because the crops are exceptionally good and others were not. Beaten at every theft committed by nearby Samaritans. He rapidly declines.
Jesus blesses Doras's lands to avoid heavy toil for the peasants.[2] The harvests then became abundant. Despite this, Doras knowingly deceives Jesus who comes to redeem old Jonas.[3] After several serious lies including one in the name of God (perjury), his lands are then cursed.
Jonas, redeemed at a high price and taken to Nazareth in Jesus's house, dies there a blessed man, in an angelic vision of the Nativity.[4]
Apostolic path
Witness of the Nativity.[5]
Despite this, Jonas had time to sow the good word among the peasants of Esdrelon (those of Giocana and those of Doras).[6] Like many shepherds, he had evangelized from the only beatific vision he had received at the Nativity.
His name
Jonas means "Dove". Historical reference: the prophet Jonas.
Where is it mentioned in the work?
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