The Little Book of the Most Holy Child Jesus/Meditation IX
MEDITATION IX.
THE HOLY HOUSE AT NAZARETH.
Grace to ask for: Holy obedience.
Would you find heaven on earth?
Look within that holy abode at Nazareth.
Joseph works at the trade of a carpenter.
Mary plies her spindle and her distaff, while ever and anon her eye rests wistfully upon the Holy Child Jesus.
Never idle, always ready to receive his word, He waits upon and helps His Foster-father.
He bears the wood upon His shoulder, or the nails in His hand, as He may be bidden; always ready, ever shining in that workshop with a smile like the gleaming of a sunny day.
No hurry, no indolence, no weariness of heart is known in that abode.
No sadness, no boisterous mirth, which there would sound out of harmony.
Few words are spoken; each knows the other's heart too well to need many words.
From the fresh dawn until the red sun sinks beyond the green western hills there is a peaceful round of labour and of loving offices to God and man.
Labour lightened by calm peace and love.
And so on through the days and years Joseph and Mary have heaven on earth.
For He who is the Light and Joy of their hearth is the Brightness of eternity, the Light of the new Jerusalem.
In the future, growing nearer every day, and ever present in that Child's Heart, there is that dark Cross on Calvary—the wood of the awful Sacrifice and the cruel nails by which the Victim will be bound obedient to the Father's will, bonds all powerless but for the stronger cords of love.
Jesus, most obedient, I too will obey.
The path of obedience is the path of safety, the path which was trodden by Thee and which leads to Thee.
In obeying Thy Church, and those whom Thou hast set over me, I am obeying Thee.
Dear Jesus, by Thy wonderful obedience to Joseph and to Mary make me obedient.
By Thy obedience to Thy Father, even unto death, make me obedient to the end.
Mary, dear Mother, pray for me.
Joseph, Foster-father of the Holy Child Jesus and Patron of the whole Church, pray for me.
Most Holy Child Jesus, save Thy children.