The Decalogue

My children, the Feast of Purification is now at hand, and I, the Light of the world, am sending you with the first light of the feast from which you will light all the others: the Decalogue. There is no sin that God will not forgive if the sinner is really repentant because only the Most Good One can forgive what man does not forgive. Go. Peace be with you. It is the first year that I do not see them being lit in my house, or light them myself. You are a big baby. We will light the lamps, too. So you will not be in a sulk any longer. And you will be the very one to light them. Me? Not I, Lord. You are the Head of our family. It's for You to light them. I am a lamp which is always lit, Peter. Do you know that I was born on the twenty- fifth of Chislev? I wonder how many lamps...? It was impossible to count them... All the stars in the sky... No! Did they not celebrate Your birthday at Nazareth? I was not born in Nazareth, but in a stable in Bethlehem. I see that John knows how to be quiet. John is very obedient. Will You tell Your poor Simon all about it? Otherwise how can I speak about You? ... The others are clever; Your brothers and Simon, Bartholomew and Judas of Simon, also Thomas and Matthew ... poor Simon of Jonas! What did the fish teach you? And the lake? Two things: the fish to be silent and persevering. The lake to be brave and vigilant. And the boat? To slog away without sparing any of my muscles, to stand up even when the lake was rough. To watch the pole-star, to hold the rudder with a firm hand, to be strong, brave, constant, careful, that is what my poor life taught me... Do you not think that is a lot, Simon Peter? You have what is necessary to be My "stone." Nothing to be added, nothing to be taken away. You will be the eternal navigator, Simon. And you will say to who comes after you: "Watch the pole- star, that is, Jesus. A firm hand on the rudder, strength, courage, firmness, carefulness, hard work without sparing oneself, an eye on everything, capable of standing up also on rough seas..." With regard to being silent... well... the fish did not teach you that! With regard to what I should be able to say, I am more mute than fish. Also magpies can chatter as well as I do... But tell me, my Master? Will You give a son also to me? We are old... But You said that the Baptist's mother was old... Now you said: "And you will say to him who comes after you..." Who comes after a man but his son? No, Peter. And do not be upset about it. You look just like your lake when the sun is hidden by a cloud. From bright it becomes dull. No, My dear Peter. You will not have one, but a thousand, ten thousand sons, and in every country... Do you not remember what I said to you: "You will be a fisher of men"? Oh!... Yes... but... A child who called me "father" would be so kind! You will have so many that you will not be able to count them. And you will give them eternal life. And you will find them in Heaven and will bring them to Me saying: "Here are the children of Your Peter and I want them to be where I am," and I will say to you: "Yes, Peter. It will be done as you wish. Because you have done everything for Me and I will do everything for you." Oh! Lord! But to give eternal life it is necessary to persuade souls to be good. And we are back to the same point: I am not good at speaking. When the time comes, you will be able to speak better than Gamaliel.