No 88 The Holy Family☆
One day, the word of the Lord came unto Mary in Bethlehem saying: “Mary, what are you looking at?”
And Mary bowed and answered the Lord: “I am looking at the almond blossoms.”
Then the Lord said to Mary: “You have well looked, for My words have come true, therefore, were you watching Me, who was bound by a strong bond?
I have sent a Savior through you unto the earth indeed. But I have taken away the joy of your betrothal age instead.
You could not receive the necklace, ring, or beautiful ornaments a woman delights in from your betrothed Joseph, because you carried Jesus in your womb.
Moreover, you endured the long journey from Nazareth. And even now, you endure the life of a sojourner in a strange land.
Therefore, I will make you as beautiful as an almond blossom, stay with Me for a long time.
So I may give you the joy of the betrothal age again. But do not stumble over it."
After that, the word of the Lord came unto Joseph, “Joseph, what are you looking at?”
Joseph was startled and bowed to answer the Lord, “I am looking at the young olive tree.”
The Lord replied, “Plant that tree in the garden of Jerusalem, so that Mary's courage will be shown to Jesus, and so that when Jesus grows up, He will have a place of peace in Jerusalem.
However, you will never be able to see it.”
So Joseph took Mary and Jesus to the garden, and with the manager’s permission, they planted the young olive tree.
Thirty years later, the sapling had grown into a magnificent tree, so, it became a place for Jesus to pray in Jerusalem.
Also, on the evening of the day Jesus was born, they spoke to me in the valley of Bethlehem.
Joseph frowned and said, “When I was building the temple in Jerusalem, I was made to peel logs all day, saying it was urgent work.
Then I was made to make many square-chamfered stakes. At first, I didn't know what they were for, but I understood when I overheard the Roman soldiers talking.
They were the crossbeams used to hang prisoners on the cross. I think I made nearly 100 of them.
The thought of my countrymen being hung on these trees and suffering for days on end was unbearable.
As long as the Romans are here, they will need crosses. But that's not why I'm a carpenter. Besides, the work on the temple will be finished soon.
There's no more work for carpenters here. I miss Galilee, Mary's home.”
The conversation then turned to what they would do with the sacrifice they were to offer at the temple.
Joseph said, “We must also go to the temple when the day of her purification according to the law of Moses was completed, consecrate this child, and offer a sacrifice to God for that purpose.
The smoke from the burnt offerings rising from the temple courtyard makes me feel sick.
Plus, the screams of the sheep being sacrificed, the smell of blood, the smell of offal.
The sheep the shepherds brought this morning are also poor sheep that will eventually be sacrificed in the temple.
I wonder why a merciful God would let such needless blood be shed.”
Mary, holding Jesus, said in agreement, "I was thinking the same thing when I heard that. God likes mercy, but I don't think He likes sacrifices.
I wonder if the sacrificial lamb is necessary." Joseph answered as if talking to himself, “We poor people have one mountain dove or two young pigeons, so let's do that.”
Mary also replied as if she had agreed. “That's right. I don't want to see the lambs that have come to bless this child being killed.”
This painting represents a certain scene of Joseph’s family in Bethlehem that was given to me by the Holy Spirit.
December 2024 Oil 910mm×1167mm
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