THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS - THE GOSPEL OF JAMES

THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS
THE GOSPEL OF JAMES

Biographical Gospel of the Lord

- Chapter 271 -

Joseph Exhorts The Nazarenes To True Penance

HEN JOSEPH CAME into the town, he saw the people running about in great fear and confusion,

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and all cried, 'The Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has visited us with great judgment!

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Rend your garments, strew ashes upon your heads, and repent, so the Lord may have mercy on us again!'

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Thus a few also pressed over to Joseph and hastily asked him whether he would not rend his garments also.

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But Joseph said, 'Oh brothers, if you really want to do penance, then do it rather in your hearts than in your garments!

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For the Lord looks neither at the color of the garment, nor whether it is whole or torn;

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but the Lord looks only upon the heart to see how matters stand with it!

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'For the heart can contain evil such as bad thoughts, greed, a base will;

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incontinence, prostitution, adultery and other base things.

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Put such out of your hearts if it is in them, and you will do better than if you rend your garments and strew ashes upon your head!'

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When the faint-hearted Nazarenes heard these words from Joseph they stepped back, and many of them said among themselves,

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'Just who is that man who uses such speech here as if he were a great prophet?'

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Here the little Child nudged Joseph and said smilingly,

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'Now you have spoken aright - that is what these blind ones needed!

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But now the ground shall rest again, so we can go on without any trouble.'

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Thereupon the family went to a friend of Joseph, who was a physician in Nazareth.

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When the latter beheld the aged Joseph, he hastened toward him with all of his family, fell about his neck and exclaimed,

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'Oh Joseph, Joseph, my very dear friend and brother! How is it that you now come along in this troubled hour?

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Just where were you throughout three long years?

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From whence do you come now? What angel of God has led you this way?'

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But Joseph answered, 'Brother, first lead us into the house and give us water to cleanse our feet,

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whereupon you shall find out everything as to where I was and from whence I now come.' - And the physician at once fulfilled Joseph's wish.

	HEN JOSEPH CAME into the town, he saw the people running about in great fear and confusion,
2	and all cried, 'The Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has visited us with great judgment!
3	Rend your garments, strew ashes upon your heads, and repent, so the Lord may have mercy on us again!'
4	Thus a few also pressed over to Joseph and hastily asked him whether he would not rend his garments also.
5	But Joseph said, 'Oh brothers, if you really want to do penance, then do it rather in your hearts than in your garments!
6	For the Lord looks neither at the color of the garment, nor whether it is whole or torn;
7	but the Lord looks only upon the heart to see how matters stand with it!
8	'For the heart can contain evil such as bad thoughts, greed, a base will;
9	incontinence, prostitution, adultery and other base things.
10	Put such out of your hearts if it is in them, and you will do better than if you rend your garments and strew ashes upon your head!'
11	When the faint-hearted Nazarenes heard these words from Joseph they stepped back, and many of them said among themselves,
12	'Just who is that man who uses such speech here as if he were a great prophet?'
13	Here the little Child nudged Joseph and said smilingly,
14	'Now you have spoken aright - that is what these blind ones needed!
15	But now the ground shall rest again, so we can go on without any trouble.'
16	Thereupon the family went to a friend of Joseph, who was a physician in Nazareth.
17	When the latter beheld the aged Joseph, he hastened toward him with all of his family, fell about his neck and exclaimed,
18	'Oh Joseph, Joseph, my very dear friend and brother! How is it that you now come along in this troubled hour?
19	Just where were you throughout three long years?
20	From whence do you come now? What angel of God has led you this way?'
21	But Joseph answered, 'Brother, first lead us into the house and give us water to cleanse our feet,
22	whereupon you shall find out everything as to where I was and from whence I now come.' - And the physician at once fulfilled Joseph's wish.