Moses

    From Wiki Maria Valtorta
    Moses and the Ten Commandments, James Tissot (1836-1902), Jewish Museum, New York

    Moses appears only once in the Gospel as in the work of Maria Valtorta: during the Transfiguration. However, he is often cited. He is the first character to be named "man of God" in the Bible[1]. A central figure of the Old Testament, Moses is, according to the Catholic Church[2], the prefiguration of Christ as liberator, lawgiver, and mediator of the Covenant.

    Moses in the Gospel

    The Gospels present Moses as a central figure of the Old Testament, prefiguring Christ as liberator, lawgiver, and mediator of the Covenant.

    The Law given by Moses is fulfilled and surpassed in Jesus (John 1:17). It is in this context that Moses sometimes appears in symbolic parallels, sometimes in explicit references. Moses is seen alive only once, in conversation with Jesus, confirming his messianic mission[3].

    Jesus refers to Moses to authenticate his own authority that fulfills the law: "For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ[4]."

    Jesus does not abolish:

    • "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. So all that they tell you, do and observe[5]."
    • "They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them![6]"

    He fulfills:

    • "Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me also, for he wrote about me[7]."
    • "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish but to fulfill[8]." - "You have heard ... But I say to you ...[9]"
    • "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven[10]."
    • "Just as Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life[11]."

    The Gospels reserve for Moses the role of great liberator and lawgiver of Israel, whose Law and deeds announce and prepare Christ, who is the true fulfilled Moses[12]. This vision is upheld by the Catholic tradition[13].

    In Maria Valtorta

    Moses is mentioned 24 times:

    1. "The serpent that Moses raised on a cross[14]." This citation, referring to Numbers 21:8-9, will frequently appear throughout the work.
    2. "To Moses, [Our mighty Lord] granted the miracle, to Aaron his first priest, He did not grant it[15]."
    3. "Remember Moses. He raised a serpent in the desert to heal those who were sick in Israel[16]."
    4. "It is said in the Book that the Lord appeared on Sinai in all his terrible power also to say through [the Law]: 'I am God. Here is my will'[17]."
    5. "Truly, truly I say to you that Moses angrily broke the Tablets of the Law before the idolater people and then he returned to the mountain, prayed, worshiped, obtained grace[18]."
    6. "Do it because it is the teaching of the Law that God gave to Moses who is our lawgiver for, in an enemy and idolatrous land, he found for his childhood weakness a heart full of pity that leaned over him to save him from death by saving him from the waters, sheltering him from persecutions, for God had destined him to be one day the liberator of Israel. An act of pity gave Israel its leader[19]."
    7. "Do you remember Moses grown old and praying while Joshua fought in the name of the Lord?[20]?"
    8. Peter pronounces the Mosaic blessing over Syntica and John of En-Dor leaving into exile[21].
    9. "Remember that even the Red Sea did not stop the Israelites on the path God had set for them. Everything flattened and became a road for God who was passing [...] Remember what was sung at the well of the water given by God[22]."
    10. Moses, Elijah and the voice of the Father during the Transfiguration[23].
    11. "You are mistaken. It is not Moses, but the Lord who could do this. And in Exodus it reads: 'Here: I will make the bread rain from heaven. Let the people go out and gather what is sufficient for each day; thus I will know whether the people walk according to my Law [...] [Moses] had seen the glory of God and heard the voice of the Most High, he was the guardian of the precepts and of the Law of life and wisdom[24]."
    12. "The Bread that came down from heaven in the time of Moses was placed in the golden ark, covered by the mercy seat, watched over by the cherubim, behind the veils of the Tabernacle[25]."
    13. The revolt of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who claimed to be equal to Moses and Aaron[26].
    14. "Like Moses, you will die without knowing this day [of Jesus' triumph][27]."
    15. [What pleases you, little girl?] "And Moses, no?" - "He scares me... too tall...[28]"
    16. The waters of Meribah (the rock struck by the staff), the refusal of Edom, the death of Aaron[29].
    17. "My friends, I repeat the words of Moses to Joshua, son of Nun, who was lamenting that Eldad and Medad prophesied in the camps[30]."
    18. A Pharisee: "You speak unreasonable words. Who has seen what God is? Even Moses did not see God [...] To Moses, who only heard Him speak, a radiance remained on his face[31]."
    19. "Moses parted the waters and opened the rock, Joshua stopped the sun, Elijah raised the child and made rain fall, but God was with them[32]."
    20. Imprecations of the Sanhedrin against the possible perjury of Judas: "May the Lord strike you with all the Mosaic curses and scatter you among the nations[33]."
    21. A Pharisee: "Moses said: ‘If a man dies without children, his brother must marry the widow to give offspring to the brother.’ Now, there were among us seven brothers...[34]"
    22. "Remember the mighty pharaohs who oppressed the Hebrews at the time of Moses[35]."
    23. "When the Most High prescribed to Moses the ark and the altar of incense, did He not want them pierced with rings to be lifted and carried wherever the Lord wished?[36]"
    24. About the "confirmation: "Royal sacrament, just slightly below the Priesthood, may it have the solemnity of the Mosaic consecrations by the imposition of hands and anointing with the perfumed oil, formerly used to consecrate Priests[37]."

    Notes and references

    1. ↑ The expression "man of God" (Hebrew 'îš hāʾĕlōhîm, meaning a prophet or divine intermediary) is applied to Moses in four main passages, highlighting his holiness, prophetic authority, and unique mission: Deuteronomy 33:1 | Joshua 14:6 | Psalm 89 (90) | 1 Chronicles 23:14.
    2. ↑ CEC § 128-130.
    3. ↑ Transfiguration: Matthew 17:1-8 | Mark 9:2-8 | Luke 9:28-36.
    4. ↑ John 1:17.
    5. ↑ Matthew 23:2-3.
    6. ↑ Luke 16:29.
    7. ↑ John 5:45-46 referring to Deuteronomy 18:15-18.
    8. ↑ Matthew 5:17.
    9. ↑ Matthew 5:21-22.
    10. ↑ John 6:32 | Exodus 16.
    11. ↑ John 3:14-15 | Numbers 21:4-9.
    12. ↑ Hebrews 3:1-6.
    13. ↑ CEC § 128-130: The unity of the Old and New Testament.
    14. ↑ EMV 22.3
    15. ↑ EMV 114.6.
    16. ↑ EMV 116.9.
    17. ↑ EMV 119.4.
    18. ↑ EMV 212.5.
    19. ↑ EMV 229.3.
    20. ↑ EMV 295.5.
    21. ↑ EMV 324.10.
    22. ↑ EMV 340.9.
    23. ↑ EMV 349.7.
    24. ↑ EMV 354.9.
    25. ↑ EMV 354.12.
    26. ↑ EMV 402.6.
    27. ↑ EMV 411.6.
    28. ↑ EMV 436.2.
    29. ↑ EMV 457.2.
    30. ↑ EMV 483.9.
    31. ↑ EMV 506.3.
    32. ↑ EMV 549.8.
    33. ↑ EMV 588.6.
    34. ↑ EMV 594.6.
    35. ↑ EMV 625.6.
    36. ↑ EMV 630.5.
    37. ↑ EMV 635.7.
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