NEUOFFENBARUNG← The Childhood and Youth of Jesus · Part 1 · Contents
Joseph's sacrificial vow. The objection of the Infant Jesus and His advice on the sacrifice most pleasing to God. Joseph's objection and his weakening by the Infant. 9 December 1843
01] Then Joseph and his entire family went straight to the bedroom and praised and honoured God loudly for almost an hour;
02] and he also made a vow, by which he committed himself to bring a sacrifice to the Lord upon his next visit to Jerusalem.
03] But the Infant said to Joseph: "Listen to Me! – Do you really think that this will please the Lord?
04] For you are greatly mistaken, – see, God takes pleasure neither in burnt offerings nor in the blood of animals or in flour, oils and grains,
05] but only in a repentant, remorseful and humble soul that loves Him above all else!
06] But should you have something to spare, then give to those who are naked, hungry and thirsty, and in this way you will bring a real sacrifice to the Lord!
07] Therefore I release you from your vow and your duty to the temple, because this in My full power!
08] But I Myself will one day keep your vow in Jerusalem in such a way that the whole earth will be satiated for eternity!" – – –
09] Joseph took the Infant in his arms, kissed Him and then said to Him:
10] "My dearest little Jesus, Your Joseph thanks You for this from the bottom of his heart and recognizes the entire sacred truth of Your marvellous utterance;
11] but see, God, Your and all our Father, has still ordained such through Moses and the prophets and holds us, his children, to it!
12] O tell me: do You, my little Son, although of divine, holy and miraculous birth, really have the right to revoke the laws of the great Father who lives eternally in His heavens?"
13] And the Infant replied: "Joseph, even if I would tell you who I am, you would still not believe Me, for you only see a human being in Me!
14] But I tell you nevertheless: wherever I am, there is also the Father; but wherever I am not, the Father is not.
15] But now I am here and not in the temple; so how is the Father supposed to be in the temple? – !
16] Do you understand this? – See, wherever the love of the Father is, there is also His heart; and the love of the Father is within Me and therewith also His heart!
17] But nobody carries his heart outside himself, and neither does the Father; wherever His heart is, there He is as well! – Do you understand such things?"
18] These words filled Joseph and Mary as well as their five sons with a profound, sacred sense of foreboding; and they went outside and praised the Father who was so close to them in their hearts. And Mary started with the preparation for the morning meal.