But the resemblance or analogy between our Lord's life and Joseph's may be seen in particular parts, as well as in the general outline. The resemblance or analogy may be traced from Joseph's birth. Joseph, as formerly mentioned, was the son of Rachel. You are well aware that in the Divine Word the church is often represented and described figuratively as a woman, as when the church is called the daughter of Zion and of Jerusalem; the church is also called the Lord's wife, and the members of the church are called her children—her sons and daughters. This arose from the circumstance that all who are regenerated, which means "born again," are born of God as a father and of the church as a mother; and so the divine commandment which requires us to honour our father and mother, while it enjoins love to our parents, spiritually teaches us to love the Lord and His church. The church, as a mother, is spoken of as nursing her children at her sides and dangling them on her knees, and the members of the church are spoken of as her children, sucking and being satisfied with the breasts of her consolation.
