[...] which [...] purpose [... after ...] us [...] apostles [...]. We sailed [...] of the
body. Others were not anxious in their hearts. And in our hearts, we were united. We
agreed to fulfill the ministry to which the Lord appointed us. And we made a covenant with
each other.
We went down to the sea at an opportune moment, which came to us from the Lord. We
found a ship moored at the shore ready to embark, and we spoke with the sailors of the
ship about our coming aboard with them. They showed great kindliness toward us as was
ordained by the Lord. And after we had embarked, we sailed a day and a night. After that,
a wind came up behind the ship and brought us to a small city in the midst of the sea.
And I, Peter, inquired about the name of this city from residents who were standing on
the dock. A man among them answered, saying, "The name of this city is Habitation,
that is, Foundation [...] endurance." And the leader among them holding the palm
branch at the edge of the dock. And after we had gone ashore with the baggage, I went into
the city, to seek advice about lodging.
A man came out wearing a cloth bound around his waist, and a gold belt girded it. Also
a napkin was tied over his chest, extending over his shoulders and covering his head and
his hands.
I was staring at the man, because he was beautiful in his form and stature. There were
four parts of his body that I saw: the soles of his feet and a part of his chest and the
palms of his hands and his visage. These things I was able to see. A book cover like
(those of) my books was in his left hand. A staff of styrax wood was in his right hand.
His voice was resounding as he slowly spoke, crying out in the city, "Pearlsl
Pearlsl"
I, indeed, thought he was a man of that city. I said to him, "My brother and my
friend!" He answered me, then, saying, "Rightly did you say, 'My brother and my
friend.' What is it you seek from me?" I said to him, "I ask you about lodging
for me and the brothers also, because we are strangers here." He said to me,
"For this reason have I myself just said, 'My brother and my friend,' because I also
am a fellow stranger like you."
And having said these things, he cried out, "Pearls! Pearls!" The rich men of
that city heard his voice. They came out of their hidden storerooms. And some were looking
out from the storerooms of their houses. Others looked out from their upper windows. And
they did not see (that they could gain) anything from him, because there was no pouch on
his back nor bundle inside his cloth and napkin. And because of their disdain they did not
even acknowledge him. He, for his part, did not reveal himself to them. They returned to
their storerooms, saying, "This man is mocking us."
And the poor of that city heard his voice, and they came to the man who sells this
pearl. They said, "Please take the trouble to show us the pearl so that we may, then,
see it with our (own) eyes. For we are the poor. And we do not have this [...] price to
pay for it. But show us that we might say to our friends that we saw a pearl with our
(own) eyes." He answered, saying to them, "If it is possible, come to my city,
so that I may not only show it before your (very) eyes, but give it to you for
nothing."
And indeed they, the poor of that city, heard and said, "Since we are beggars, we
surely know that a man does not give a pearl to a beggar, but (it is) bread and money that
is usually received. Now then, the kindness which we want to receive from you (is) that
you show us the pearl before our eyes. And we will say to our friends proudly that we saw
a pearl with our (own) eyes" - because it is not found among the poor, especially
such beggars (as these). He answered (and) said to them, "If it is possible, you
yourselves come to my city, so that I may not only show you it, but give it to you for
nothing." The poor and the beggars rejoiced because of the man who gives for nothing.
The men asked Peter about the hardships. Peter answered and told those things that he
had heard about the hardships of the way. Because they are interpreters of the hardships
in their ministry.
He said to the man who sells this pearl, "I want to know your name and the
hardships of the way to your city because we are strangers and servants of God. It is
necessary for us to spread the word of God in every city harmoniously." He answered
and said, "If you seek my name, Lithargoel is my name, the interpretation of which
is, the light, gazelle-like stone.
"And also (concerning) the road to the city, which you asked me about, I will tell
you about it. No man is able to go on that road, except one who has forsaken everything
that he has and has fasted daily from stage to stage. For many are the robbers and wild
beasts on that road. The one who carries bread with him on the road, the black dogs kill
because of the bread. The one who carries a costly garment of the world with him, the
robbers kill because of the garment. The one who carries water with him, the wolves kill
because of the water, since they were thirsty for it. The one who is anxious about meat
and green vegetables, the lions eat because of the meat. If he evades the lions, the bulls
devour him because of the green vegetables."
When he had said these things to me, I sighed within myself, saying, "Great
hardships are on the road! If only Jesus would give us power to walk it!" He looked
at me since my face was sad, and I sighed. He said to me, "Why do you sigh, if you,
indeed, know this name "Jesus" and believe him? He is a great power for giving
strength. For I too believe in the Father who sent him."
I replied, asking him, "What is the name of the place to which you go, your
city?" He said to me, "This is the name of my city, 'Nine Gates.' Let us praise
God as we are mindful that the tenth is the head." After this I went away from him in
peace.
As I was about to go and call my friends, I saw waves and large high walls surrounding
the bounds of the city. I marveled at the great things I saw. I saw an old man sitting and
I asked him if the name of the city was really Habitation. He [...], "Habitation
[...]." He said to me, "You speak truly, for we inhabit here because we
endure."
I responded, saying, "Justly [...] have men named it [...], because (by) everyone
who endures his trials, cities are inhabited, and a precious kingdom comes from them,
because they endure in the midst of the apostasies and the difficulties of the storms. So
that in this way, the city of everyone who endures the burden of his yoke of faith will be
inhabited, and he will be included in the kingdom of heaven."
I hurried and went and called my friends so that we might go to the city that he,
Lithargoel, appointed for us. In a bond of faith we forsook everything as he had said (to
do). We evaded the robbers, because they did not find their garments with us. We evaded
the wolves, because they did not find the water with us for which they thirsted. We evaded
the lions, because they did not find the desire for meat with us. We evaded the bulls
[...] they did not find green vegetables.
A great joy came upon us and a peaceful carefreeness like that of our Lord. We rested
ourselves in front of the gate, and we talked with each other about that which is not a
distraction of this world. Rather we continued in contemplation of the faith.
As we discussed the robbers on the road, whom we evaded, behold Lithargoel, having
changed, came out to us. He had the appearance of a physician, since an unguent box was
under his arm, and a young disciple was following him carrying a pouch full of medicine.
We did not recognize him.
Peter responded and said to him, "We want you to do us a favor, because we are
strangers, and take us to the house of Lithargoel before evening comes." He said,
"In uprightness of heart I will show it to you. But I am amazed at how you knew this
good man. For he does not reveal himself to every man, because he himself is the son of a
great king. Rest yourselves a little so that I may go and heal this man and come
(back)." He hurried and came (back) quickly.
He said to Peter, "Peter!" And Peter was frightened, for how did he know that
his name was Peter? Peter responded to the Savior, "How do you know me, for you
called my name?" Lithargoel answered, "I want to ask you who gave the name Peter
to you?" He said to him, "It was Jesus Christ, the son of the living God. He
gave this name to me." He answered and said, "It is I! Recognize me,
Peter." He loosened the garment, which clothed him - the one into which he had
changed himself because of us - revealing to us in truth that it was he.
We prostrated ourselves on the ground and worshipped him. We comprised eleven
disciples. He stretched forth his hand and caused us to stand. We spoke with him humbly.
Our heads were bowed down in unworthiness as we said, "What you wish we will do. But
give us power to do what you wish at all times."
He gave them the unguent box and the pouch that was in the hand of the young disciple.
He commanded them like this, saying, "Go into the city from which you came, which is
called Habitation. Continue in endurance as you teach all those who have believed in my
name, because I have endured in hardships of the faith. I will give you your reward. To
the poor of that city give what they need in order to live until I give them what is
better, which I told you that I will give you for nothing."
Peter answered and said to him, "Lord, you have taught us to forsake the world and
everything in it. We have renounced them for your sake. What we are concerned about (now)
is the food for a single day. Where will we be able to find the needs that you ask us to
provide for the poor?"
The Lord answered and said, "O Peter, it was necessary that you understand the
parable that I told you! Do you not understand that my name, which you teach, surpasses
all riches, and the wisdom of God surpasses gold, and silver and precious stone(s)?"
He gave them the pouch of medicine and said, "Heal all the sick of the city who
believe in my name." Peter was afraid to reply to him for the second time. He
signaled to the one who was beside him, who was John: "You talk this time." John
answered and said, "Lord, before you we are afraid to say many words. But it is you
who asks us to practice this skill. We have not been taught to be physicians. How then
will we know how to heal bodies as you have told us?"
He answered them, "Rightly have you spoken, John, for I know that the physicians
of this world heal what belongs to the world. The physicians of souls, however, heal the
heart. Heal the bodies first, therefore, so that through the real powers of healing for
their bodies, without medicine of the world, they may believe in you, that you have power
to heal the illnesses of the heart also.
"The rich men of the city, however, those who did not see fit even to acknowledge
me, but who reveled in their wealth and pride - with such as these, therefore, do not dine
in their houses nor be friends with them, lest their partiality influence you. For many in
the churches have shown partiality to the rich, because they also are sinful, and they
give occasion for others to sin. But judge them with uprightness, so that your ministry
may be glorified, and that my name also, may be glorified in the churches." The
disciples answered and said, "Yes, truly this is what is fitting to do."
They prostrated themselves on the ground and worshipped him. He caused them to stand
and departed from them in peace. Amen.
Back to Contents