Slaves, oppressed, prisoners
In the work of Maria Valtorta, Jesus encounters several characters in a situation of slavery. He does not incite them to Revolt but to offer to God the sufferings related to their condition. Jesus makes Himself supernaturally particularly close to the oppressed, prisoners, and slaves.
In "The Gospel as It Was Revealed to Me"
- The most unfortunate in Israel are these oppressed workers without light. You have heard it. Even at Passover they are not allowed to pray in peace.[1]
- The salvation of the "damned of the earth": the peasants from the fields of Yokhanan (Johanan (Jochanan) Ben Zaccai).[2]
- The reprobates: Discourse to the galley slaves at Caesarea on the Sea: Slaves as a result of a painful event, that is, slaves once only. Slaves for life. But every tear that falls on their chains, every blow that marks a pain on their flesh loosens the shackles, adorns what does not die, finally opens the Peace of God who is the friend of His poor unhappy children and who will give them so much joy in exchange for all that here has been pain."[3]
- There will come a day when there will be no more slaves; but before, my Disciples will have descended among the galley slaves and slaves to call them brothers.[4]
- Jesus the avenger supernatural of the oppressed: "Avenger of the oppressed! Indeed, I am, but supernaturally. None see rightly those who see me with the scepter and the axe in hand, as king and justice ruler of the spirit of the earth. But certainly I came to free from oppressions: from sin, the gravest of diseases, desolations, ignorance, and Saltfishness. Many will learn that it is not right to oppress because fate has placed them in a high position, but that on the contrary one must use that position to relieve those who are below."[5]
- The 12 works of mercy of the body and the spirit: Visiting prisoners.[6]
- I (Syntyche) did not revolt against despotic slavery except when they wanted to exercise it over my Soul. And should I now revolt against this gentle slavery of love which does not hurt but elevates our Soul and confers on us the title and reality of being His servants?[7]
- The slave, the man whom War or misfortunes have made a slave, can also fall into the hands of a good master, but his good situation is always precarious.[8]
- Jesus obtains a break for the convicts of Gamala and has good food distributed to them. Then He speaks in their hearing: "You, by my will, look today with pity on these men whom until yesterday you regarded as machines forced to labor by you. Today, because I have placed them, brothers among brothers, poor among you who are rich and happy, you see them today for what they are: men. Contempt and indifference have fallen from many hearts and pity has entered there. But go deeper, beyond the weighed-down flesh. Inside, within them, there is a soul, a thought, feelings, as in you. Once they were like you: healthy, free, happy."[9]
- Then to these same convicts of Gamala: "Do not cry, you to whom I speak particularly. I have come to console, to gather those who are rejected, to bring light into their Darkness, Peace to their souls, to promise a dwelling of joy to him who repents as to him who is not guilty. And there is no past that prevents this present that awaits in Heaven those who know how to serve the Lord in the situation they find themselves."[10]
- Then to all who listen to Him at Gamala: "All of you, act with justice and lift your eyes to the Father's House, to the Kingdom of Heaven. When its doors will be wide open by Him who came to open them, He will not refuse to take in anyone who has attained justice.
Mutilated in your flesh, crippled, eunuchs; or mutilated in your mind, crippled, eunuchs in your spiritual powers, excluded in Israel, do not fear that you will have no place in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The mutilations, deformities, infirmities of the flesh cease with the flesh. What affects the morale, like prison and slavery, also cease one day; what affects the spirit, the fruit of past faults, is repaired by good will. Material mutilations do not count in God's eyes, spiritual ones are nullified in His eyes when they are covered by a loving repentance."[11]