Joke

The Lord and St Peter are in heaven observing the action down on earth on a television monitor. They are amazed by what they see: people are forever rushing about, ceaselessly digging and constructing, building large cities, everywhere busy, busy, busy, from early morning throughout the night.

The Lord turns to St Peter and asks incredulously, "What are they all doing, busy from morning till night, never resting, forever striving, battling, competing? What's the point of it?" St Peter replies, "Well, Lord, these people are your followers, they believe in you and obey you. And you told them to eat their bread in the sweat of their brows." And the Lord says to St Peter, "But I was only kidding."

St Peter switches channels and they see a massive banquet hall in the Vatican with huge tables filled with expensive delicacies. There are caviar and truffles and the finest wines and so on. Hundreds of big men in purple robes are seated around these tables, feasting and laughing, drinking cognac and smoking cigars. They are cardinals and bishops, having a feast.

"But what about these people?" The Lord asks St Peter, "They don't seem to be eating their bread in the sweat of their brows. If you ask me, they seem to be having a jolly good time." St Peter says, "Well, Lord, these are the ones who knew you were only kidding."

(Krishnamurti)