THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS - THE GOSPEL OF JAMES

THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS
THE GOSPEL OF JAMES

Biographical Gospel of the Lord

- Chapter 148 -

The Unveiling Of The Spiritual Life

HEN THE CAPTAIN heard this from Joseph he did not deliberate for long, but went over to Cyrenius and said,

2
'Imperial, consular highness! His eminence has surely heard what the wise Jew has advised this unworthy person to do.

3
For that reason I have promptly decided to follow his advice without delay.

4
Therefore I beg his eminence to sanction me this decision according to which I would like to take all of these poor into my care as if they were my own children.'

5
Cyrenius retorted, 'My very esteemed, dear captain! I am sorry that I cannot let this noble pleasure come your way.

6
You see, I have just taken them all into my own care.

7
But you must not be sad on that account, for you will still meet enough poor.

8
Carry out the advice of the wise Jew with them and you will harvest an equal reward.'

9
At this the captain bowed before Cyrenius, then went directly over to Joseph and asked,

10
'Now what can I do, when Cyrenius has already anticipated me? Where will I get the poor now? For here they are gathered from all of Ostracine.'

11
And Joseph smiled at the captain in a friendly manner and assured him,

12
'Oh my very kind friend, do not ever be concerned about that, for the earth has always had a greater lack of everything else than of the poor.

13
See, they do not have to be exactly blind, lame, crippled and afflicted with other ailments.

14
Go and inspect the families in the houses; convince yourself of their manifold need and you will immediately find plenty of opportunity to generously put your abundance to work.

15
See, this city as a whole is anyhow more of a ruin than an even to some extent stately, prospering city.

16
Just search through the half-decayed dwellings of many a citizen, and you will immediately see the foolishness of your concern over the lack of poor people.'

17
Here the captain admitted, 'Dear, wise friend, therein you are undoubtedly right!

18
But those poor people will be able to give me little enlightenment about the coming Messiah, since they as well as I are in a false faith compared to you.

19
Now these people have experienced many wonderful things and could by and by have disclosed many a thing to me.'

20
And Joseph answered the captain: 'Oho, my dear friend! Do you really think that the unveiling of the spiritual life can be had from the poor?

21
Oh, therein you are under a great illusion. See, the unveiling depends only on your own heart and spirit. When you practice love, then out of the flame of such love a light will be born to you, but not from the mouth of the poor!' With this explanation the captain was satisfied and henceforth asked no more what he should do.

	HEN THE CAPTAIN heard this from Joseph he did not deliberate for long, but went over to Cyrenius and said,
2	'Imperial, consular highness! His eminence has surely heard what the wise Jew has advised this unworthy person to do.
3	For that reason I have promptly decided to follow his advice without delay.
4	Therefore I beg his eminence to sanction me this decision according to which I would like to take all of these poor into my care as if they were my own children.'
5	Cyrenius retorted, 'My very esteemed, dear captain! I am sorry that I cannot let this noble pleasure come your way.
6	You see, I have just taken them all into my own care.
7	But you must not be sad on that account, for you will still meet enough poor.
8	Carry out the advice of the wise Jew with them and you will harvest an equal reward.'
9	At this the captain bowed before Cyrenius, then went directly over to Joseph and asked,
10	'Now what can I do, when Cyrenius has already anticipated me? Where will I get the poor now? For here they are gathered from all of Ostracine.'
11	And Joseph smiled at the captain in a friendly manner and assured him,
12	'Oh my very kind friend, do not ever be concerned about that, for the earth has always had a greater lack of everything else than of the poor.
13	See, they do not have to be exactly blind, lame, crippled and afflicted with other ailments.
14	Go and inspect the families in the houses; convince yourself of their manifold need and you will immediately find plenty of opportunity to generously put your abundance to work.
15	See, this city as a whole is anyhow more of a ruin than an even to some extent stately, prospering city.
16	Just search through the half-decayed dwellings of many a citizen, and you will immediately see the foolishness of your concern over the lack of poor people.'
17	Here the captain admitted, 'Dear, wise friend, therein you are undoubtedly right!
18	But those poor people will be able to give me little enlightenment about the coming Messiah, since they as well as I are in a false faith compared to you.
19	Now these people have experienced many wonderful things and could by and by have disclosed many a thing to me.'
20	And Joseph answered the captain: 'Oho, my dear friend! Do you really think that the unveiling of the spiritual life can be had from the poor?
21	Oh, therein you are under a great illusion. See, the unveiling depends only on your own heart and spirit. When you practice love, then out of the flame of such love a light will be born to you, but not from the mouth of the poor!' With this explanation the captain was satisfied and henceforth asked no more what he should do.