The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 271 -
Joseph Exhorts The Nazarenes To True Penance
WHEN JOSEPH CAME into the town, he saw the people running about in great fear and confusion,
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and all cried, 'The Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has visited us with great judgment!
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Rend your garments, strew ashes upon your heads, and repent, so the Lord may have mercy on us again!'
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Thus a few also pressed over to Joseph and hastily asked him whether he would not rend his garments also.
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But Joseph said, 'Oh brothers, if you really want to do penance, then do it rather in your hearts than in your garments!
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For the Lord looks neither at the color of the garment, nor whether it is whole or torn;
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but the Lord looks only upon the heart to see how matters stand with it!
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'For the heart can contain evil such as bad thoughts, greed, a base will;
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incontinence, prostitution, adultery and other base things.
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Put such out of your hearts if it is in them, and you will do better than if you rend your garments and strew ashes upon your head!'
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When the faint-hearted Nazarenes heard these words from Joseph they stepped back, and many of them said among themselves,
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'Just who is that man who uses such speech here as if he were a great prophet?'
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Here the little Child nudged Joseph and said smilingly,
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'Now you have spoken aright - that is what these blind ones needed!
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But now the ground shall rest again, so we can go on without any trouble.'
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Thereupon the family went to a friend of Joseph, who was a physician in Nazareth.
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When the latter beheld the aged Joseph, he hastened toward him with all of his family, fell about his neck and exclaimed,
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'Oh Joseph, Joseph, my very dear friend and brother! How is it that you now come along in this troubled hour?
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Just where were you throughout three long years?
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From whence do you come now? What angel of God has led you this way?'
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But Joseph answered, 'Brother, first lead us into the house and give us water to cleanse our feet,
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whereupon you shall find out everything as to where I was and from whence I now come.' - And the physician at once fulfilled Joseph's wish.