The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 259 -
Cornelius Discovers The Little Caravan
NOW WHERE did Joseph live-in Nazareth? Where did he dismount and where did he enter?
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It was told in the early chapters which dealt with Joseph's departure from Bethlehem for Egypt that Joseph had asked the wealthy Salome in Bethlehem to lease his little farmstead by Nazareth for him.
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Did Salome do this? - Yes. she not only did what Joseph asked, but also bought the little farmstead for herself with this double intent:
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In the event Joseph or a child of his should ever return, to give them full possession of the property:
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but otherwise to keep this so highly venerated place for herself in memory of the exalted family.
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She considered this place to be such a shrine that she did not feel free to live in it herself; and still less did she take renters into it.
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But so she could live close to this property, she bought a neighboring acre in addition and there built a quite attractive little house wherein she dwelt with her servants and was occasionally visited there by Cornelius.
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And it just so happened this day that Cornelius, while on his way back from official duties, paid a visit to Salome at the time Joseph returned to Nazareth.
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It was a glorious evening, the moon was full, and not a cloud dimmed the least little star in the sky.
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This beautiful evening drew Salome and Cornelius to the roof of her attractive little house which sat fairly close to the main road and directly faced Joseph's little farmstead toward the east at a distance of about seventy fathoms.
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Both often looked toward the erstwhile dwelling place of the holy family, and Cornelius, as he had done several times before, said to Salome,
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'I still see the occasion in Bethlehem before me vividly as if in a very beautiful and exalted dream, and this farmstead constantly reminds me of it.
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But more than that, the occasion in Bethlehem was of such wondrous grandeur that it constantly becomes more enigmatical to me the more I think about it.'
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And Salome said, 'Yes, friend Cornelius! I too cannot grasp how I was able to stay alive at the greatness of that occurrence.
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But that is the difference between me and you that I now, as you know, cannot help myself and must always worship the Child in my heart,
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while you look upon the whole matter more as sublime history.
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Therefore I have pictured it in my spirit a number of times as follows: if this family should ever come here again, I could not live for happiness.
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If they lived over there on the little farm - oh God, what a feeling that would give me!
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Truly, the highest heavens would then be together on this roof!'
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Cornelius agreed, 'Yes, you are right, that would also be a most exalting experience for me.
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But what would we do now, if - I make the supposition - this truly exalted, divine family came along, and we recognized them from a distance?'
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At this Salome declared, 'Oh friend! Do not speak of that - that would kill me for joy!'
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While the two were thus conversing on the roof in a manner pleasing to God and it had already become quite late,
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Cornelius noticed a procession like a little caravan at a distance of about two hundred fathoms, and said to Salome,
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'Just look over there, a migration still late at night! Do you suppose they are Greeks or Jews?
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Salome, what would you do now if that were none other than the most exalted family?'
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Salome was altogether frightened at this and objected, 'Now I beg you, do not always talk about it and do not always renew wishes in me which cannot be fulfilled!
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What then would you do on such a most joyful occasion?'
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Here Cornelius replied, 'Truly, I too would fare badly! But look, the caravan comes to a stop, and I see one of its members hurry directly toward us. Come, let us see who he is!'
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And they went to meet the man. Now the man was a son of Joseph who went with a jug to get water from the house.
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But neither of them recognized him, for thus the Lord wanted it for the sake of their well-being.