86. THE LORD BACK IN CANA OF GALILEE.
SATANS TRICK.
46. So Jesus came again into Cana, of Galilee, where He made
the water wine.
AFTER these Words the journey continues and we reach
the little city of Cana without trouble. Arriving there, we
at once move over to the house where I had worked the
first public miracle. An hour hardly passes when nearly all of the
place knows that I and all who journeyed with Me arrived happily
and in good shape; and all rush over to see, greet and welcome the
arrivals. And seeing me they cannot find sufficient words of praise
and glorying at the decisive way I cleansed the Temple at
Jerusalem. Because many had come to the feast from Cana and had
seen what I had affected in Jerusalem, and had also heard how I
had healed many sick there, praising Me tremendously.
[2] I asked them if there were no sick here. But they said that
strangely enough there was not one sick at this place.
[3] Then I said that they were indeed healthy as far as their body
was concerned, but not in their soul: For whoever practices
harlotry and fornication is very sick in his soul. Through this sin a
persons heart hardens from day to day, becomes ever more
unfeeling and merciless towards its fellowmen and in the end loves
nothing but itself and the object of its lust, not for the sake of the
object though, but only for the sake of satisfying its lust. Such a
heart then flees Gods Word which admonishes it against its evil
desire and in the end even becomes hostile to those who carry the
Word of God in their heart and live accordingly. Many of you
suffer from this sickness and that is why I returned to you to heal
you from this very bad and fatal disease. Those of you who know
that they suffer from this deadly disease should entrust themselves
to Me and I shall heal them.
[4] At this My announcement many promptly leave the house, for
the offenders fear that I may divulge their secret and so they take to
their heels. Among them were some adulterers, some guilty of
incest and many of both sexes who defile themselves, and they
were relieved to be out of My sight.
[5] Not that there were not many who would have liked to be
healed of this vice, but it was the disgrace. Because they counted
as honorable, well-regarded people, and it would have been
embarrassing to have their neighbors find out about their infirmity
of flesh. Yet they did not consider that they gave themselves away
by taking to their heels in response to My offer.
[6] Many who remained behind said: No, I could never have
thought that about this or that one. Others however could not
resist laughing, saying: Quite smart of You. These would have
given no answer even if asked for ten years straight, yet You only
offered most kindly to heal them of this affair, and look how they
all shot through. They probably thought that He who could convert
water into wine could also call them by their name, You there
sinned this way and so many times, and you there this way and this
often. And this they could not bear of course and thus made off.
But they did not consider that this way they gave themselves away
most of all. We don’t wish to judge them, since we know our own
weaknesses, and know it is better to first sweep before your own
house, but it is funny how they thought that by running off they
would not be recognized the way you described the sins. No, these
are sillier than Persian rhinos.
[7] I said: Let them go, the blind fools. Before men they feel
ashamed, but before God who at all times sees and tries the hearts
and kidneys of men they are not ashamed. I tell all of you: This
worldly sense of shame is idle. How long will it last in this world
anyway? Soon the body will be taken from them whose flesh gave
them so many sweet hours. Then they will arrive naked in the other
world where everything they did ever so secretly in this world will
be revealed in all detail. Only there a true and lasting shame will
be theirs of which they will not be able to rid themselves as easily
as here.
[8] In truth, I tell all of you: Those who are lascivious, unchaste
and fornicators shall not enter the Kingdom of God unless they
have drastically changed their most wicked way of life. For see, all
other sins man commits outside his body and can, therefore, rid
himself of them more easily, for what takes place externally does
not cause as much damage to a person as that which takes place
within him. Fornication takes place within man, damages his soul
and spirit and is thus the most dangerous of all evils. Therefore,
shun it above all and flee it like the plague, for the appetite for
sensual pleasure is Satans trick. Woe betide him who has allowed
Satan thus to take hold of him. He will find it extremely difficult to
free himself from Satans claws. Unspeakable suffering and pains
will be his share. Do heed all this, or else the time and the days
will come which you will not like at all. But now let us retire.
[9] Several who had travelled with Me moved over to their
dwellings. My disciples however and mother Mary and My
brethren, i.e. Joseph’s five sons, remained with Me.
