When St. Joseph found that dangers still
threatened the safety of Jesus in the south of
Palestine, he at once proceeded to Galilee. He
was fertile in resource, and when one plan failed,
another was soon with God's assistance destined
to take its place. Here too he teaches me a lesson.
If I meet with reverses I get discouraged and
am inclined to give up, instead of cheerfully
looking out for some fresh means of serving God and
accomplishing the work He has entrusted to me.
St. Joseph, under God's direction, journeys
on to the town of Nazareth, where he had formerly
lived, and there he re-enters the poor little cottage,
humble and lowly enough, where he and his sacred
spouse had formerly dwelt. There, a secret voice
tells him, is to be his future home. How joyfully
he takes possession of it! Now his wanderings
were over and he was to spend the rest of his days
in peace in the tranquil home that God had prepared
for him.
Yet how poor it was! The town of Nazareth
was so despised that men did not think it possible
that anything great or good could come from
thence. Was this to be the home of the Son of
God? Yes, and St. Joseph rejoiced in the low
esteem of Nazareth, because it seemed to him an
arrangement quite according to God's designs that
Jesus should dwell there, and that the name of
Nazarene should cling to Him as a name of
contempt. Why have I not more of his spirit? I am
too fond of show and display, and all that the
world thinks much of.