The Childhood and Youth of Jesus · Part 2 · Chapter 175

Mary and the Infant Jesus in a heartfelt and jesting conversation on the hill. Joseph and Jonathan during their 'moon meal'. The sudden lunar eclipse. 27 March 1844

01] As Mary, together with Eudokia, had completed her household chores, she also went to the hill, preceded by Eudokia.

02] And the Infant ran towards her and joyfully jumped around His lovely mother.

03] Mary took the rather heavy Infant in her somewhat tired arms and caressed Him and jokingly said:

04] "Well, you are heavy today! You must have surely nibbled a lot and eaten too much honey, butter and bread?"

05] And the Infant spoke: "It was certainly a big deal! First a little jar, which can be concealed in James' hand!

06] Then a piece of bread that may not even be exposed to the wind, to prevent it from instantly soaring into the air like a dry leaf!

07] Surely one cannot become very heavy from this!

08] I must tell you that I am actually quite hungry and already look forward to the evening meal.

09] See, Joseph and Jonathan have earlier feasted on the entire moon and are still hungry, although they grown;

10] so how could I, who has to still to grow, have had enough to eat!"

11] And Mary spoke to the Child: "My little Son, you are really difficult again today!

12] See, if Joseph and Jonathan had feasted on the moon, then it would not shine down so beautifully from the sky!"

13] And the Infant said: "Woman and mother! I am not naughty; it is only that you have misunderstood Me!

14] Just go to those two, and they will immediately give you a part of the moon to taste also!"

15] Here Mary smiled, went over to Joseph and greeted him, and asked him what he was thinking about so deeply,

16] and why he and Jonathan gazed so diligently at the full moon.

17] And Joseph hardly observed Mary and said: "Do not disturb me in my contemplation;

18] for I want to decipher something with Jonathan now! Jesus gave us hints, which must be worked out, so be silent now, and do not disturb us!"

19] Here Mary looked at the Infant, who secretly smiled, and the Infant spoke:

20] "Do you see, how Joseph and Jonathan even now feed on the moon? But just wait here patiently, and fetch Me a piece of bread and a bitter orange through James!

21] For Joseph's and Jonathan's feeding off the moon has made Me even hungrier than I already am."

22] And Mary instantly sent James to fetch what the Infant wanted.

23] Then she asked the Infant how long the two of them needed to complete the deciphering of the moon.

24] And the Infant spoke: "Just watch; today, right away, there will be an eclipse of the moon that will last about three hours!

25] However, the two of them do not know why this happens; that is why they, and particularly Jonathan, will seriously believe that they have consumed the moon!

26] And this phenomenon will bring this contemplation to an end.

27] I will thereafter instruct them again, as I usually do, whenever it is needed.

28] But first the two of them have to come up against it and have their calculations come to naught!"

29] The Infant had hardly finished speaking these words, when the moon acquired a dark brown impression.

30] Jonathan noticed this first and showed it to Joseph.

31] Joseph naturally noticed the same and still more, as the eclipse grew with every moment.

32] This frightened both of them, and Joseph immediately asked the Child: "What has happened to the moon?"

33] And the Infant spoke: "You can see that I am eating, why do you disturb Me? – Wait until I have finished eating the bitter orange, just as you have finished with the moon, then I will speak further!"

34] Hereupon Joseph fell silent, and as the moon went into a total eclipse, both he and Jonathan became frightened. All had to return home now, and Jonathan seriously thought that he had consumed the moon.