Though St. Joseph knew that the time of Our
Lady's delivery was drawing near, yet the Birth of
Jesus came upon him as a joyful surprise. He
anticipated the lot of his Foster-Son, who "came to
His own, and His own received Him not." The
reward of Joseph's purity, chastity, patience, submission, gentleness, and sorrow, was tlie visible
presence of the Son of God, the privilege of being
the first of all the sons of men to behold Him.
"Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see
God," was literally fulfilled for the first time in
the person of St. Joseph.
It was but fitting that the coming of Christ
Jesus into the world should be surrounded by
celestial wonders. A choir of angels sang angelic
melodies, and a brightness dazzling beyond the
brightness of the sun illumined the cave and
centered around the new-born Infant and His Virgin
Mother. St. Joseph saw the Holy Child, and the
sight was Heaven begun. What was all the
preceding sorrow compared with thee unspeakable
joy of that happy moment!
Joseph was recalled to earthly things by hearing
voices outside the cave, and seeing a group of
shepherds coming to adore new-born King. It
was not a dream, then, but a happy reality. God
was really come to dwell among men, and was
born in that humble cave. What mattered it, if it
was bare, and poor, and rough! How much happier
to be there sitting on the hard ground, poor
and despised of men, than to be lolling on perfumed
couches in the palace of Herod! Where
Jesus is there is happiness. What are outward
things if we enjoy His peace!