🤔 **主教的奢华与贫困** 故事中的第一个主教住在金碧辉煌的宫殿里，享受着奢华的生活。他辩解说，他并没有偷窃教会的资源，而是借用了皇子的宫殿。然而，先知指出，主教的奢华生活已经损害了人们对他的信任，因为人们会认为他被财富所诱惑。 故事中的第二个主教则住在简陋的茅屋里，过着清贫的生活。他辩解说，他只是在遵循上帝的旨意，过着简朴的生活。然而，先知指出，主教的贫困生活也损害了人们对他的信任，因为人们会认为他缺乏智慧和能力。 这两个主教都试图通过不同的方式来满足人们对主教的期望，然而，他们都失败了。因为，人们对主教的期望是复杂的，无法通过简单的物质条件来满足。

🤨 **先知对主教的指责** 先知指出，主教的职责不仅仅是管理教会的资源，更重要的是赢得人民的信任。人们希望主教能够代表上帝，引导他们走向光明。然而，主教的奢华和贫困都无法满足人们对他们的期望。 主教的奢华生活让人们认为他被财富所诱惑，而主教的贫困生活则让人们认为他缺乏智慧和能力。无论是奢华还是贫困，都无法让主教赢得人们的信任。

🙏 **主教应该如何做？** 故事没有明确告诉主教应该如何做，但它暗示了主教应该找到一种平衡的方式，既能满足人们对物质生活的需求，又能满足人们对精神生活的追求。主教应该像凯撒的妻子一样，不仅要纯洁，还要让人们相信她是纯洁的。主教应该用自己的言行来证明自己是一个值得信赖的领袖，而不是依靠物质条件来获得人们的信任。

https://astralcodexten.substack.com/p/the-prophet-and-caesars-wife

I.

The Prophet in his wanderings came to Cragmacnois, and found the Bishop living in a golden palace and drinking fine wines, when all around him was bitter poverty. The Bishop spent so long feasting each day that he had grown almost too fat for his fine silk robes.

“Woe unto you!” said the Prophet, “The people of Cragmacnois are poor and hard-working, and they loathe the rich and the corrupt. Rightly do they hate you for spending the Church’s money on your own lavish lifestyle.”

“Actually,” said the Bishop, “my brother the Prince lets me use this spare palace of his and its well-stocked wine cellar. If I refused, he would just give it to someone else, or leave it empty. I’m not stealing church resources, and there’s no way to divert the resources to help the poor. And I am secure in my faith, and won’t be turned to hedonism by a glass of wine here and there. So what’s wrong with me enjoying myself a little?”

“It is said,” said the Prophet, “that Caesar’s wife must be not only pure, but above suspicion of impurity. A good reputation is worth more than any treasure. Fat as you are, nobody will believe you are untainted by the temptations of wealth. Give the golden palace back to your brother, and live in a hovel in the woods. Only then will you earn the people’s trust.”

II.

The Prophet in his wanderings came to Belazzia, and found the Bishop living in a hovel and wearing a hair shirt. He spent so long in prayer each day that he barely ate, and seemed so dangerously thin that he might fall over at any moment.

“Woe unto you!” said the Prophet. “For the people of Belazzia are rich and sophisticated, and they mock you for your poverty and uncleanliness. Does the Church not give you enough funds to build a golden palace and wear silk robes? If you were the most resplendent citizen of this nation of splendor, would they not take you more seriously?”