| 1 |
BY THIS TIME the morning meal was ready and the tables were nicely set,
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| 2 |
and the servants came and made this known to Cyrenius.
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Cyrenius now inspected everything, found it to be in the best order and invited the company to the table in the great side-hall.
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| 4 |
When Joseph went inside he was greatly astonished, for it seemed to him that here in this hall he was in a miniature temple of Solomon in Jerusalem.
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Now this arrangement was the work of Maronius Pilla who as former prefect of Jerusalem naturally knew quite well how the temple looked inside and out.
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Joseph was filled with joy and said, 'Truly, my brother Cyrenius Quirinus, you could not have put a better thought into effect.
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I am now at the Feast of Preparation as in Jerusalem. Only the Holy of Holies is missing - if This were here also, the temple would be complete.
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The curtain is indeed here, but behind it the Ark of the Covenant is missing!'
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Cyrenius responded, 'Brother, I thought that you would bring along the Holy of Holies alive anyhow - why then should It be here artificially?'
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| 10 |
Only now did Joseph recover from his unexpected illusion and thought of the Baby and of Mary.
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| 11 |
The Baby now called Cyrenius over and said to him (at this the angels fell down on their faces):
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'Cyrenius, you have done much to provide a pleasure for the most righteous man on the earth, but one thing you almost forgot!
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See, today you are giving a great and glorious feast.
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| 14 |
Whatever three continents bring forth that is best and precious is assembled here today.
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And therein you do well - for truly, throughout all eternity and infinity no greater honor has befallen a house in any world than now befalls yours!
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For you now have Him before you before whom all the powers of heaven cover up their faces.
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| 17 |
Joseph has indicated to you that the Holy of Holies in this temple is empty.
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So it is - but so it shall not be.
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Send out your servants and they shall bring here all manner of poor, blind, lame, crippled and afflicted people.
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| 20 |
Have a table set up for these in the imitated Holy of Holies and have them festively served, and My servants will wait on them.
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| 21 |
And behold, then the Holy of Holies will be alive and will represent the Most Holy One better than the now empty Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem.
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At the same time provide three billy goats and throw them to the lions so they will also be fed.'
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| 23 |
Cyrenius thereupon kissed the Baby and at once followed His advice.
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| 24 |
And in one hour the prototype of the Holy of Holies was filled with the poor, and the lions received their fare.
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