[In those times when the Church had grown rich in the goods of the world]

In those times when the Church had grown rich in the goods of the world. . . it happened that three men died on the same day, and were called before the House of God. The first was a rich mineowner. The second a Bishop, and the third a Socialist, his body stained with long imprisonment and his throat hoarse with preaching revolt. They waited for God to take the Judge’s seat; but instead He came and stood before them, dressed as He has been on earth in the ragged coat of a fisherman. The Bishop was the first to speak.

‘Lord,’ he said, ‘I have [led?] Your Church and fulfilled faithfully my officepage 15 as a priest. I have denied the Holy Mysteries to no man, rich or poor, and have taught men to look beyond the things of this world to the Kingdom you have promised them. Therefore, receive me.’

But the Lord was silent and, turning, looked toward the mineowner who justified himself, saying, ‘I have been a devout man, keeping the Sabbath, providing for my wife and children, and as far as I was able I have been fair in business, and just to those who worked where once I thanked You for the property You gave me. . . . Receive, therefore, me also.’

The Lord then turned to the Socialist who seemed to tremble: ‘I did not believe You existed,’ he said. ‘But I have been the champion of the oppressed, when they seem trampled underfoot. The Church has closed its eyes to the suffering of the world and the rich men have denied their followers bread and clothing, housing them in wretched slums. I tried to lead the workers in revolt, promising them that they would [not] be wanting of these things they made. I see that You too are dressed as a worker. You are of our kind and should accept me.’

Christ said to the Bishop. ‘Teaching worldliness, you yourself have been worldly, preaching temperance, you have been intemperate; you have set prudence above charity, and taught Me but not acted Me.’

And to the mineowner: ‘You have been proud and complacent, covetous.’ To the Socialist: ‘I was poor. There was great oppression in Palestine: extortion, police, poverty. Yet I did not lead the Jews against their oppressors. You have led them from the faith in search of a vanity. . . . Men are born and die sinful: I will judge them, not you. You have given them envy, despair, unbelief. Yet the oppressors are to be blessed for driving you to it. “Love one another,” is a bitter necessity.’

1946 (14)