Virtues and human characteristics of Jesus Christ

Chapter title: Discourse at Guerguesa (Gerghesa) on sincerity in faith. The response on fasting to the disciples of John the Baptist.

Date of vision: Wednesday, May 9, 1945

Calendar: Monday, January 24, 28 (9 Scébat 3788).

Location (map): Guerguesa

Cycle: The female apostolate

Summary: Jesus speaks to Guerguesa. He sees the sincere thoughts of the inhabitants, but he also tells them that human thought is very changeable. After giving a speech based on the Book of Joshua, the Master affirms that he is the Cornerstone and invites souls to come to him. He gives a lesson on faith. Then John the Baptist's disciples ask him questions, particularly about his association with the Romans. They want to understand sincerely what motivates him to approach the Gentiles, and Jesus replies that he takes no advantage of them, but wishes to bring them to the Lord God. Finally, they ask him why his apostles don't fast, and Jesus replies that you don't put new wine into old wineskins.

Chapter contents: 159.1: Discourse: Human thought is changeable. 159.2: Hypocritical or mixed professions of faith. 159.3: I want the miracle of your sanctification. 159.4 : Dialogue on the association of Gentiles (pagans) with the disciples of John the Baptist. 159.5 : Answer on the appropriateness of fasting. 159.6 : No one puts new wine into old wineskins. 159.7 : Later you will come to Me.

Old edition: Tome 3, chapter 19.

Jesus is on the road from Naphtali to Giscala. His disciples tell him that Gamaliel is there, and Jesus decides to go and meet him, despite the fact that some of the apostles are unconvinced. The rabbi is surprised, but not hostile to the Lord, whom he greets very respectfully. He points out that the road is tiring, but Jesus says that if you receive him, if you listen to him, all tiredness disappears.

Gamaliel then offers to eat with him, and he chats with Christ. After talking about the Forerunner, he points out that Jesus is always wandering, and Jesus replies that this confuses those who hate him, but that the good come to him anyway. Gamaliel points out that he doesn't hate him, that his intelligence admires Jesus of Nazareth. However, his soul is weighed down by too many things, and the Savior encourages him not to wait for his last words before converting.

The two men make some progress together, coming to talk about Jesus' love for animals and the lessons he draws from Creation. Then they talk about Hillel, as they are going to pray at his tomb. Gamaliel is surprised that the Messiah should know the thoughts of this deceased rabbi, and Jesus asserts that his thoughts were not unknown to him, for he "knows nothing of the thoughts of men". He then states that he is the Word, and speaks very clearly of the Holy Trinity.

Jesus arrives in Capernaum with the disciples. They go to a fountain, and John gives the Master a drink. Simon Peter, who has gone to take some fish home, comes running and warns that the grandson of Elijah the Pharisee has been bitten by a snake: the boy is now dying. The grandfather is out of his mind and begs the Master to come and heal him. In fact, after asking Peter to take him home, he himself arrives to implore Jesus' kindness. Jesus comforts him and goes to save the child, sucking on the bite, as if to draw out the poison. The child is saved, but when he wakes up, he remembers the seprent and is frightened. Christ reassures him, and Elisha declares that he likes him, even though his grandfather told him to call him "cursed". Elijah reacts immediately and, of course, claims he never said that.

Jesus leaves, bidding farewell to the stricken family, and Judas reproaches him for not having performed a brilliant miracle. The Lord then replies that, had he done so, Elijah would have accused him of having been helped by Beelzebub, and he further affirms that the miracle "brings to both those who are already on this road". When you don't have humility, miracles drive people to blasphemy, so it was better to act simply. As for having helped his enemy, Jesus replies that he is Goodness itself, and none of his adversaries will be able to say that he was vindictive and provocative towards them.

Jesus is in Capernaum. Mary Salome and Mary of Alphaeus are there, preparing the kitchen. After greeting them, the mother of James and Jude tells him that Simon, another of her sons, has come. She's delighted, but she won't be truly happy until her whole family belongs to Jesus. The Lord assures her that this will happen, and then goes to find his Mother.

On the way, he meets Simon of Alphaeus, Alphaeus, son of Sarah, Joseph of Emmaus and the shepherd Isaac. The group chats for a while, and the Savior confides that he has three new disciples in Isaac. Then they go to eat, and it's during the meal that Elijah, the Pharisee from Capernaum, arrives.

The latter has many gifts for Christ, to thank him for the miracle for his grandson. Jesus accepts, and he also hears his cousin Simon announce that he is going to follow him. But once the Pharisee has left, he goes into seclusion, and Matthew joins him to keep him company. The future evangelist notices that his Lord doesn't look happy, and he reveals that Elijah's and Simon's conversions were only human, whereas the tax collector's was complete and sincere. After this morning, Elijah will become Elijah again, and Simon will always remain inhabited by his humanity.

The Master then invites his apostle to stay close to him, and when his disciple tells him that he doesn't know how to speak and that he fears he'll never be able to speak about the Messiah, Jesus comforts him and tells him that the publican is a "poor man who, thanks to his will, becomes the man, the just man dreamt of by God."He will therefore know how to guide souls, and the Savior asks him to lean on him, and to console him, for not being understood is one of his great bitternesses.

Jesus goes to Elijah, who has invited him to a banquet. Four other Pharisees are present: Uriah, Joachim, Simon and Samuel. On Christ's side, Judas accompanies him. The others did not come, and when Elijah notices, he worries that they may have been offended by his past behavior. But Jesus assures him that his disciples hold no grudges, nor are they proudly sensitive.

The Lord says a few words to Elisha, and then everyone settles down to eat. They start talking about the Roman vexations and the taxes imposed on the Pharisees. They take offense and ask Jesus for his opinion. He replies that as a Jew, he takes offense at the Roman incursions into the places of prayer, but as a man, he does not. He explains his thinking, pointing out that his interlocutors do business in the synagogues so that they can hide money from the tax authorities, safe from prying ears, and that this is why the Romans enter places of worship. He, on the other hand, is poor and doesn't have to worry about that, but he encourages his interlocutors to be honest, to tell the truth, about their wealth.

The conversation then turns to the restoration of the Kingdom of Israel, and Jesus quotes the Old Testament, when Saul offered the offering without Samuel, against the Lord's orders. Saul did not remain king. Likewise, God knows his time, and Jesus speaks very clearly of his Kingdom, which will be universal and will not be established by rebellion.

Finally, the Messiah encourages Elijah to come with him to give the obolus to the poor, but Elijah refuses, claiming that he is old and tired. He tells him to go with Judas, whom they know well, and once outside, the Iscariot leaps up in anger. Jesus calms him down and advises him to leave all judgment to God.

Jesus is in Capernaum and leaves the disciples. Mary of Alphaeus, Mary Salome and the Virgin return to Nazareth. Susanna returns to Cana. For his part, Christ and the Twelve go to the Arbel Gorge to pray. He leaves Isaac, Timon and Joseph of Emmaus, urging them to join them in prayer.

Without a word, the group obeys, but the climb is difficult and by the end, even the youngest lose their cheerfulness. They're really in the mountains, near rocky caverns, and Jesus says they'll stay there in prayer for a week, to prepare his apostles for something great. They're a long way from any village, and the weather is quite mild; besides, they have just enough food.

Jesus has been with the first disciples for about a year, and the Savior wants to train them all to be his ministers. To this end, he uses the great weapon of prayer, and gives a short lesson on it. Finally, he points out that they will meet in the morning, at noon and in the evening, to pray together and break bread, and that each one will return to his cave, remaining "before God and his soul". Thanks to this retreat, they will reach the age of spiritual reason, and "the rest will come later".