(...)One of the crowd comes forward and says: « I am not a disciple. But I do admire You. Answer this question of mine: "Is it lawful to keep the money of another person?" »
Jesus: « No, man. It is larceny, like robbing the purse of a passer-by. »
« Even if it is family money? »
« Of course. It is not right that one should take possession of the money belonging to all the others. »
« Then come to Abelmaim, Master, on the road to Damascus, and order my brother to share with me the inheritance of our father who died without leaving a written will. He took everything for himself. And remember that we are twins, born at the first and only birth. So I have the same rights as he has. »
Jesus looks at him and says: « It is a painful situation and your brother is certainly not behaving righteously. But all I can do is to pray for you and for him, that he may change, and I can come to your village and evangelize and thus touch his heart. The road is no burden to Me if I can bring about peace between you. »
The man becomes furious and bursts out: « What's the use of Your words? It takes much more than that in this case! »
« Did you not tell Me to order your brother to... »
« To order is not to evangelize. An order is always joined to a threat. Threaten to strike his person, if he does not give me what is due to me. You can do that. As You give health You can give a disease. »
« Man, I came to convert, not to strike. But if you have faith in My words, you will have peace. »
« Which words? »
« I told you that I will pray for you and for your brother, that you may be comforted and he may be converted. »
« Nonsense! I am not such a fool as to believe that. Come and order. »
Jesus, Who has been meek and patient, becomes impressive and severe. He straightens up - before He was bending over the little stout angry man - and He says: « Man, who appointed Me judge or arbitrator between you? Nobody. But to avoid a rupture between two brothers I was willing to come and practise My mission of conciliator and redeemer, and if you had believed My words, on going back to Abelmaim you would have found your brother already changed. But you will not believe. And you will have no miracle. If you had been able to get hold of the treasure before your brother, you would have kept it, depriving your brother of it, because as it is true that you were born twins, it is also true that you have twin passions and both you and your brother have but one love: gold, and one faith: gold. Be therefore with your faith. Goodbye. »
The man goes away cursing Jesus while all the people present are scandalised and would like to punish him.
But Jesus objects saying: « Let him go. Why dirty your hands striking a brute? I forgive him because he is possessed and led astray by the demon of gold. Forgive him as well. Let us rather pray for the unhappy man so that he may become humane again with a beautiful free soul. »
« That is true. Even his countenance was dreadful because of his greed. Did you notice it? » the disciples and those who were close to the miser ask one another.
« It is true, indeed! He did not look the same person as before. »
« Yes. And when he rejected the Master, he almost struck Him while cursing Him, and his countenance was demoniac. »
« A tempting demon. He wanted to lead the Master to wickedness... »
« Listen » says Jesus. « It is true that the alterations of the spirit are reflected on one's face. It is as if the demon appeared on the surface of his possession. Only few people who are demons, either in deeds or appearance, do not disclose what they are. And those few are perfect in evil and perfectly possessed. The countenance of a just man, instead, is always beautiful, even if his face is materially disfigured, because of a supernatural beauty, which from the interior exudes exteriorly. And it is not just a saying, but a real fact, that we notice a bodily freshness as well in those who are free from vices. The soul within us envelops our whole being. The stench of a corrupt soul affects also the body, whereas the scent of a pure soul preserves it. A corrupt soul drives the flesh to obscene sins, which age and disfigure the body. A pure soul incites the body to a pure life, which grants a fresh complexion and imparts majesty.
Maria Valtorta