BD.6402
November 15, 1955

THE BUILDING OF CHURCHES

It is not in accordance with My will if ostentatious and splendid buildings are erected for Me at a time when it is particularly important that men's eyes are directed inward and not towards things that are still of the world and do not induce striving for My Kingdom with its splendor and magnificence. Everything that captivates your eyes or appeals to your senses prevents you from introspection, from the contemplation of your inner self, which is so essential for you because the end is not far.

I have to keep repeating to you that My Kingdom is not of this world. Why do you think that you have to honor Me by magnificent buildings? Why do you always aim at outward things instead of working on your souls with much more zeal? You men still do not understand that I am not to be found where you want to put Me.

You all can experience My presence within you. You have in yourselves the place where I want to be. To every one of you I am as near as he wants Me to be, and he has the power to draw Me towards him if he only fulfills My sole demand to transform his heart to love. For 'who abides in love, abides in Me and I in him!' Love alone secures My presence for you, and I can never be where you seek Me if your heart is not alight with love.

Therefore, it is foolish to want to build houses for Me which serve no other purpose than to assemble at certain times people who live in false ideas. For those who want to communicate with Me can do that in their hearts anywhere. They need no assembly halls that impress the eye and make meditation impossible. I am everywhere where My Word is conveyed to you, where you can hear a sermon that appeals to your heart; there I am and there I speak through the proclaimer of My Word to those who want to hear Me. To hear My Word is the most important thing for you who are so close to the end but still so far from Me. Only that which is able to awaken the soul from its slumber has My approval and My blessing.

How can your soul awaken to life through outward performances, through worldly pomp and splendor, through constant delights of the ear and the eye, through all that affects the external senses, but cannot give life to the soul? Only love can awaken and heal the soul and, therefore, love should take precedence over all other things. Love must be preached and lived, for which there is plenty of opportunity. A soul that receives love, which inspires mutual love, has much more chance of finding its way to God.

Do well to your fellow man, ease his burden, seek to help in every possible way. You shall look after your fellow man spiritually and materially and give him what he needs, but not erect dead structures which cannot be in accordance with My will because, while the material need on earth is so great, I would find it much more pleasing if you relieved that.

What good do you think you are doing Me? All the riches in the world are My property which must be saved from the fetters of My adversary, but you exile it even more firmly. You want to erect structures that shall last forever; do you think you honor Me thereby? If My love did not have mercy upon all this unredeemed spiritual entities, their suffering would be inconceivably prolonged by the will of man, who does not as yet comprehend the meaning of life, but assumes the right to be a spiritual leader to his fellow men.

You are close to the end and therefore let My Words admonish you most forcibly. You who suggest and promote this, contribute to it so that many souls continue their sleep of the dead, from which they can only be awakened by My living Word which teaches love. Love must be preached and lived, and every one of you will know where an act of love is needed. All around you there is need and distress, which must be relieved before I can bless your actions.

AMEN