When St. Joseph started from his cottage at
Nazareth, to repair to Bethlehem according to the
Emperor's command, he had every reason to expect
that he would be well received. His early youth
had been spent there, and he must have been
known to many of the inhabitants. But when he
arrived there, a sad surprise awaited him. No
room in the caravanserai or guest-house. No room
in any of the cottages where he applied for admission. Everywhere a refusal. No room for him; no
room for his spotless spouse. It is always painful
to meet with a cold reception among those who
we expect will welcome us.
It was not for his own sake that Joseph
grieved. He was accustomed to be treated ill. He
had learnt to welcome it for God's sake. But to
witness the distress caused to his holy spouse, ah,
this was hard! It is far more painful to witness
suffering in those we love than to feel it ourselves.
Could Joseph do nothing to find shelter for Mary
in her delicate and critical condition? Every resource
had failed him; he could only pray and
wait.
At last a thought occurred to him. He remembered
a cave where some animals were kept;
small, low, dirty, unfit for human habitation.
Here at least she would be safe from the pinching
cold, here they could remain in peace. How could
he propose it to her? Was this the sort of treatment to be accorded to the Mother of God? Yes, it must
be so, and Joseph submitted to the holy
will of God.