The Childhood and Youth of Jesus · Part 1 · Chapter 92

The disclosure of the blindness and folly of the three priests. About building temples in one's heart and the true service to God. 13 December 1843

01] The three priests however became very embarrassed and did not know what they should do; for in the presence of the Child they did not dare to reveal their concerns to Joseph.

02] The Infant looked at them and said to them with a very firm voice:

03] "Would you not like to make an idol out of Me as well?

04] You would like to construct a temple on that hill over there, install a carving after Me on a golden altar and then make a sacrifice to this carving according to your tradition.

05] Just try to do something like this, and in truth I tell you, the first one who makes a step towards it and stretches out a finger for it, will be a dead man!

06] If you want to construct a temple to Me, then build a living temple in your hearts;

07] for I am alive and not dead, and thus I want living temples rather than dead ones!

08] And as you already believe that the fullness of the Deity lives in Me in the flesh, am I Myself not enough of a living temple for you? – Why should there be a carving and a stone temple of Me as well?

09] What is more significant, Me – or such a nondescript temple and a carving of Me?

10] So if the living one is with you and among you, what good will a dead one do then?

11] O you blind fools! – If you love Me, doesn't this then mean more than the construction of a thousand stone temples for Me, where for a thousand years you would move your lips in front of carved pictures of Me while dressed in decorated coats?!

12] And if a poor man would come to you, naked and hungry and thirsty,

13] and you would say: 'See, this is a half God, for thus do these high beings appear;

14] let us make an image of him and then put it in a temple so that we can worship it!' –

15] Tell Me, if you were to do this, would the poor man be helped by this, even if you were to make his picture out of pure gold?!

16] Would it not help the poor man more, if you would clothe him with love and then provide him with food and drink?

17] Is God not more alive than any man on earth, in that everything receives life from Him?

18] Should God, who created the sun and gave you your eyes to see with, be slightly blind?!

19] Or should He who made you your ear be deaf, and He who gave you your senses be numb?

20] See, how foolish it would be to think and speak like that!

21] God is the most perfect life Himself and thus the most perfect love; how then do you want to worship and honour Him as a dead entity? –

22] Think of this, so that your blindness may be healed."

23] This speech knocked the three priests to the ground; they recognized the divine truth and did not speak anymore for the rest of the day.