50.3 Then Jesus stands up, He walks round the terrace, looks at the lake, smiles at some children playing in the street and they smile back at Him, He looks along the street, towards the little square about one hundred yards away from Peter’s house. He goes downstairs. He looks into the kitchen: «Woman, I am going for a walk on the shore.»
He goes out and walks to the beach, near the children. He asks them: «What are you doing?»
«We wanted to play at war. But he does not want to, and we are playing at fishing.»
The boy who does not want to play at war, is a frail little fellow with a most bright face. Perhaps he is aware that, as frail as he is, he would get a beating in making «war» and so he pleads for peace.
But Jesus takes the opportunity to speak to the children: «He is right. War is a punishment of God to chastise men, and it is a sign that man is no longer a true son of God. When the Most High created the world, He made all things: the sun, the sea, the stars, the rivers, the plants, the animals, but He did not make arms. He created man and gave him eyes that he might cast loving glances, and a mouth to utter loving words, and ears to listen to such words, and hands to give help and to caress, and feet to run fast to assist our neighbours in need, and a heart capable of loving. He gave man intelligence, speech, affections and taste. But He did not give man hatred. Why? Because man, a creature of God, was to be love as God is Love. If man had remained a creature of God, he would have persevered in love, and the human family would have not known either war or death.»
«But he does not want to make war, because he always loses.» (I had guessed right.)
Jesus smiles and says: «We must not reject what is harmful to us simply because it is harmful to us. We must reject a thing when it is harmful to everybody. If a person says: “I do not want that because I would lose”, that person is selfish. Instead, the good child of God says: “Brothers, I know I would win, but I say to you: don’t let us do that because you would suffer a loss”. Oh! That fellow has understood the main precept! Who can tell Me which is the main precept?»
The eleven mouths say altogether: «“You shall love your God with all your strength, and your neighbour as yourself”.»
«Oh! You are clever children.
50.4 Do you all go to school?»
«Yes, we do.»
«Who is the most clever?»
«Him.» It is the frail little fellow who does not want war.
«What is your name?»
«Joel.»
«A great name! He says: “… let the weakling say: ‘I am strong’”. But strong in what? In the Law of the true God, to be amongst those whom in the Valley of Decision He will judge to be His saints. But the judgement is already near. Not in the Valley of Decision, but on the mountain of Redemption. There, the sun and the moon will grow dark with horror, the stars will tremble and shed tears of mercy, and the children of Light will be judged and separated from the children of Darkness. And the whole of Israel will know that its God has come. Happy are those who will have recognised Him. Honey, milk and fresh water will descend into their hearts and thorns will become eternal roses. Which of you wants to be amongst those who will be judged saints of God?»
«Me! Me! Me!»
«Will you love the Messiah, then?»
«Yes! Yes! You! You! It’s You we love. We know who You are! Simon and James have told us, and our mothers have told us. Take us with You!»
«Yes, I will take you if you are good. No more bad words, no more arrogance, quarrels, no answering back to your parents. Prayer, study, work, obedience. And I will love you and come with you.»
The children are all round Jesus. They look like a gaily-coloured corolla around a long, deep-blue pistil.