A long time ago,
when Jesus was
telling people
about the Divine
Laws, which He
had come to
bring to the
world, He would
be followed
around because
people were
enchanted with
His words and
with His
presence.
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Surrounded by
the crowd, Jesus
spoke of simple
things that were
part of their
lives and of
which they
understood, like
a lost coin,
fishes, fishing,
nets, crops,
mustard seeds,
wheat grains and
many other
things, giving
them examples
which would stay
deep in their
hearts. And He
healed the sick,
lame, blind,
dumb and all who
came to Him.
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One day, among
the people,
young and
good-hearted
Joabel listened
to Him in awe.
The Master's
words moved him.
Joabel wanted to
follow Him, to
be His disciple
because He spoke
the words of
eternal life,
and with great
emotion, that
day Joabel had
seen Jesus heal
many people and
then walk away
accompanied by
His disciples. |
Joabel wanted to
go with Jesus
but he
remembered his
sick mother and
regretted not
being able to
follow the
Master. He
wished he could
bring her to
Jesus so He
could heal her.
However, as his
father had died,
he was the man
of the house and
responsible for
everyone. Thus
he could not
follow Jesus.
Thinking of his
sick mother,
Joabel
remembered he
needed to return
home. His mother
needed him,
although his
desire was to
continue
following Jesus.
In reaching his
humble house, he
saw that his
mother was worse
and asked:
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- Mom, what
happened?
- Nothing,
Joabel. I woke
up today feeling
a severe pain in
the chest and I
could not get
up. Therefore,
the food was not
prepared - she
replied with a
heaving chest.
- Do not worry,
Mom. I will take
care of
everything.
So Joabel went
to the kitchen
to prepare the
meal, always
worried about
his mother. He
picked
vegetables from
their small
garden, so-
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me left
over
grains
from the
previous
day and
some
bread.
He made
a soup
and soon
a good
smell
spread
through
the
house.
His
younger
siblings
ate and Joabel
took a plate to
his mother who
thanked him. |
The next day,
one of Joabel's
brothers fell
ill. Worried, he
took care of him
and his mother.
Thus, for a few
days he could
not go out
looking for
Jesus. Through
thought, he
prayed like the
Master taught
him, asking for
help for his
mother and
brother, both
sick. He missed
listening to
Jesus, but the
family situation
did not allow
him to leave
home.
When his mother
and brother felt
better and he
could go meet
Jesus, a
neighbour who
needed his care
knocked on the
door, and he
could not leave
again. So, it
was always the
same thing: it
was a sick
neighbour, or
child, or an old
man or someone
hungry. And
Joabel, who had
a good heart,
felt he could
not abandon
them.
Some time later,
Joabel heard the
news that the
Master had been
arrested in
Jerusalem,
condemned and
died crucified
between two
thieves. In
shock, he cried
a lot, now
feeling that he
would no longer
have the
opportunity to
see or hear
Jesus.
In his prayers,
Joabel mentally
talked to the
Master,
explaining that
he had not been
able to follow
Him because of
the need to take
care of his
family and sick
people who came
to him, and
regretting not
being able to be
near Him, as he
would have
liked. But
mentally, he
could hear Jesus
saying to him:
- Follow your
path, Joabel.
Your task is
helping the
needy. My Father
will bless you
for it. Stay in
peace!
Some time later,
he woke up with
a firm
determination to
do something for
other people, as
Jesus had said.
That day, his
younger brother
woke up feeling
great discomfort
and cried out in
pain. Joabel,
seeing that,
took him in his
arms and brought
him to a woman
who knew the art
of dealing with
plants and who
healed diseases.
Quickly he took
his brother to
the woman who
took care of
him, preparing a
tea that she
gave him sip by
sip. After a few
hours the pain
passed, and they
returned home.
Joabel was
pleased with his
brother's cure,
but felt he
could never
accomplish his
purpose to
follow Jesus by
helping the
needy. Elevating
his thoughts and
seeking Jesus,
he heard:
"Joabel, do not
worry. Indeed,
who is our
neighbour?"
- Lord, it is
anyone who is
close to us - he
said.
“You have said
it very well,
Joabel. So you
have done the
will of My
Father who is in
heaven."
Comforted now,
Joabel smiled
through his
tears, feeling
better and
understanding
Jesus’ lesson.
One day, years
later, a
weakened Joabel
was laying down
on his bed and
could not get
up. He wanted to
do his chores,
help the needy,
but his body did
not obey him.
Elevating his
thoughts to
Jesus, Joabel
pleaded:
- Master, help
me! I need to
work, do my
chores but I
cannot! There
are people who
depend on me and
I can’t answer
them! I do not
want to get
stuck to a bed
and not do
anything for my
neighbour,
Jesus!
And the Master
replied:
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- Rest assured,
Joabel, that you
have worked a
lot and now the
time has come to
reap the
blessings you
are entitled.
You have had a
fruitful life,
dedicated
yourself to the
poor, got tired
and worked hard
for others
without thinking
of yourself.
Now, come with
me! You will
receive the
laurels of your
dedication and
your love, as
you will
continue
to serve
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with me! |
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Joabel felt an
immense wellness
envelope and
fill him with
joy, then saw
the image of
Jesus, there
beside him,
smiling and
holding out His
hand.
Only then, in
that moment,
Joabel
understood that
all he had done
during in his
life was work
for the Master,
as he served his
neighbour.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
18.05.15.)
