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Chapter 13MedVC.1.13

De reditu Domini ex Aegypto

The Angel Sends Them Home

An angel sends Joseph back to Israel in a dream, yet the Lord’s guidance comes gradually and in parts, not all at once.

When the seven years were complete, during which God had sojourned in Egypt, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in dreams, saying: "Take the boy and his mother, and go into the land of Israel."✦ Those who were seeking the child's life had died.✦ He took the boy and his mother and returned to the land of Israel.✦ And when he arrived there, hearing that Archelaus, the son of Herod, was reigning in that place, he was afraid to go there.✦ And having been warned again by an angel, he went into Galilee, to the city of Nazareth.✦ His return took place around the feast of the Epiphany, namely on the second day, just as it is read in the martyrology. You see here as well — just as was touched on in the previous treatise — how the Lord gives consolations and revelations in parts, and not as fully as desire might demand. You can weigh this from two aspects in this account: first, because it was in dreams, not openly, as I told you; and also because it was not said to him all at once in a single instance, but across two occasions — he was told to which place he ought to go.

Return to the Child Jesus in Egypt

The devout soul is invited to seek the boy Jesus in Egypt, greet him with reverence, and rejoice in returning with him.

And the Gloss says that the Lord did this because through frequent visiting one is made more certain. So whatever they're like, they ought to seem great to us; and let us be grateful for them, because on his part he always does what he knows to be more useful for us.1 Now then, let us press on toward the Lord's return — attend to it carefully, because this meditation is a deeply pious one. Return, then, to Egypt for the sake of visiting the boy Jesus. When you find him outside among the boys — as you may by chance — he himself, seeing you, will come to meet you, because he is kind, and affable, and gracious. You, then, kneeling, will kiss his feet, and afterward receive him into your arms, and rest a little while with him.2 At last he will perhaps say to you: 'We have been given permission to return to our land, and tomorrow we must depart from here.' You have come at a good hour, because you will return with us. Respond to him eagerly: that you rejoice greatly at this, and that you long to follow him wherever he goes; and that you delight in these conversations with him.

Honoring the Holy Family’s Departure

The child Jesus leads the meditator to Mary and Joseph, and the Holy Family withdraws from Egypt in an orderly, humble way, accompanied by neighbors.

I've already told you that meditations of this kind — the things that seem like child's play — are very powerful, and afterward they carry you on to greater things. Afterward, the child will lead you to his mother, and will honor her with great care. So kneel down, show reverence to him and to holy old Joseph, and rest with them. The next morning you'll see some good women of the city, and also men, coming to accompany them all the way outside the city gate, drawn by their pleasing and holy way of life. For they had announced their departure through the neighborhood for several days beforehand — first, because it wouldn't be fitting for them to withdraw suddenly, as if sneaking away. But it was different when they came into Egypt, because they feared the death of the child.✦ So they begin to withdraw, and Joseph goes ahead with the men, while the Lady follows at a distance with the women. Now you take the child by the hand and walk out in front of his mother — for she won't let him go on ahead of her. But once they're outside the gate, Joseph no longer allows himself to be accompanied further.

The Poverty of the Holy Family

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph accept gifts with shamefaced gratitude, showing radiant poverty, and then take up their journey as a tender child.

Then a wealthy man — one of those who felt for their poverty — called the boy over to give him some money for their expenses. The boy was ashamed to accept it; yet out of love for poverty he readied his hand, took the money with embarrassment, and gave thanks — and many others did the same. He was also called over by the matrons, and they did the same. Nor was the mother here any less ashamed than the son; nevertheless she gave thanks humbly. You can truly sympathize with them, since he to whom the earth and its fullness belong chose such narrow poverty for himself, his mother, and his foster father, and lived in such great want. Their most holy poverty shines out among them, and they hold it up to us as something lovable and worth imitating. At last, having given thanks to them, they said farewell to everyone and set out on their journey. But how will the boy Jesus return, still just a small child?

The Tender Labor of the Return

The return is harder than the going out, as Jesus is now too large to carry yet too small to walk unaided, beginning his labors for us from youth.

The return journey seems to me more difficult than the going out. For when he came into Egypt he was so small that he could be carried; but now he is so large that he cannot be carried, and yet so small that he cannot walk on his own. But perhaps some good man among them gave or provided a small donkey, on which he could ride.3 O excellent and delicate boy, King of heaven and earth, how much you have labored for us, and how quickly you began!4 Well did the Prophet speak in your person: 'I am poor, and in labors from my youth.'✦56 Great privations, arduous labors, and bodily afflictions you most steadfastly took upon yourselves, holding yourselves as though in hatred for love of us.7 Surely this one labor alone, of which we now treat, ought to have sufficed for full redemption.8 Take the boy Jesus, then, and place him on the little donkey, and lead him faithfully, and when he wishes to dismount—9

Through the Wilderness with Them

The meditator walks with the Holy Family through the desert, sharing their weariness and watching the child’s slow, steady progress.

811 3. He lived. Of John the Baptist, you… … … joyfully you may receive him in your arms, and hold him for a while, at least until his mother comes, because he walks a little more slowly or more steadily. Then the child will go to her, and his mother will find great rest in receiving her son. So they go and cross through the wilderness, the same one they came through, and along that journey you will often be able to share in their suffering, having little rest. And look at them, worn out and overcome by toil, as by day as by night.

Meeting John in the Desert

Near the desert’s end they find John the Baptist, who does penance without sin, and after spiritual refreshment they visit Elizabeth in a joyful gathering.

When they were near the end of the desert, they found John the Baptist, who had already begun to do penance there, even though he had no sin. It is said that the place on the Jordan where John baptized is the one where the children of Israel crossed over when they came from Egypt through that desert, and that near that same place in the desert John did penance. So it's possible that the boy Jesus, crossing through there on his return journey, found him in that same place. Consider, then, how eagerly he received them; and staying there a little while, they ate those raw foods with him. At last, after immense refreshment of spirit, they said goodbye to him.✦ But you — at his coming and at his departure, kneel before John, kissing his feet. Seek his blessing, and commend yourself to him — for this boy is excellent and truly wonderful from the cradle. For he was the first hermit, and the beginning and the way of living a religious life for those who desire it. He was, then, the most pure; he was the greatest of preachers; he was more than a prophet; he was also a glorious martyr.✦ Afterward, crossing the Jordan, they came to the house of Elizabeth, where a great and joyful feast was held among them.✦

Settling Poorly in Nazareth

Warned in a dream, Joseph brings the family to Nazareth, where they live in poverty and hidden obedience, with Jesus quietly serving his mother.

And there, when Joseph heard that Archelaus, the son of Herod, was reigning in Judea, he was afraid, and having been warned in a dream by an angel, they went into Galilee, to the city of Nazareth.✦ Look, we have brought the boy Jesus back from Egypt, and now that he has returned, the sisters of the Lady come running, along with other relatives and friends, to visit them.10 And they settle in Nazareth, living a poor life. From that time until the twelfth year of the boy Jesus' age, nothing is recorded about him.11 It is said, however, and it is likely, that there is still a spring there from which the boy Jesus used to carry water to his mother. For the Lord used to perform services of this kind for his humble mother — he had no one to wait on him.12 You can also meditate here on the fact that John the Evangelist used to come with his own mother — who was a sister of the Lady — and he was then five years old.13 For it is recorded of him that he died in the sixtieth year after the passion of the Lord.14

The Child Jesus and the Future Beloved Disciple

The chapter ends by noting the ages of Jesus and John, inviting the reader to gaze devoutly on them together, foreshadowing John’s future as the beloved disciple.

15. In the ninety-eighth year of her life — and so at the time of the Lord's Passion she was thirty-one years old, when the Lord was thirty-three, or a little more. Since the Lord was seven years old at this return, John was five. Look at them standing together and talking, as the Lord will give you grace to see. For this was afterwards that disciple whom Jesus especially cherished.

Read the original Latin

Completis septem annis, quibus Deus peregrinatus est in ^gypto S angelus Domini apparuit Joseph in somnis dicens: Tolle puerum, et matrem ejus, et vade in terram Israel. Defuncti enim sunt, qui qucerebant animam pueri. Qui accepit puerum et matrem ejus, et rediit in terram Israel. Et cum pervenit ibi, audiens quod Archelaus, filius Eerodis, regnaret ibi, timuit illo ire. Et iterum admonitus ab angelo, ivit in Galilceam in civitatem Nazareth. Fuit autem reditus ejus circa festum Epiphaniae, scilicet secunda die, prout in martyrologio legitur. Yides etiam hic, sicut fuit tactum in superiori tractatu^ quomodo Dominus dat consolationes et revelationes per partes, et non ita plenas, ut appetitus exposceret. Quod ex duobus in hoc facto perpendere potes, tum quia in somnis, non palam, ut tibi dixi; tum etiam quia non una vice simul, sed per duas vices, ei dixit ad quem locum ire deberet.

Et dicit Glossa, quod hoc fecit Dominus, quia ex frequenti visitatione quis certior redditur. Unde qualescumque sunt, nobis debent videri magnse: et inde simus grati, quia semper ex parte sua facit, quod nobis utilius esse cognoscit. Nunc autem circa Domini reditum insistamus: circa quem diligenter attende, quia pia est haec meditatio valde. Redeas ergo in iEgyptum gratia visitandi puerum Jesum, quem cum extra inter pueros forte inveneris, ipse te videns occurret tibi, quia benignus, et affabilis, et curialis est. Tu vero genuflectens, osculeris pedes ejus, et post inter brachia ipsum suscipias, et ahquantulum cum eo quiescas. Tandem forte dicet tibi: Data est nobis licentia redeundi in terram nostram, et cras hinc recedere debemus. Bona hora venisti, quia redibis nobiscum. Cui alacriter respondeas, te ex hoc multum gaudere, et quod eum optas sequi quocumque ierit; et in his collocutionibus delecteris cum eo.

Dixi jam tibi, quod hujusmodi, quse pueriha videntur, meditari multum valent, et postea ad majora transmittunt. Postea ducet te ad matrem, et curiahter honorabit. Tu vero genuflectens, fac ei reverentiam, et sancto seni Joseph, et requiescas cum eis. Mane seqaenti die videbis ahquas bonas matronas de civitate, et etiam homines venientes ad sectandum eos usque extra portam civitatis, propter placabilem et sanctam conversationem ipsorum. Praedixerant enim discessum suum per viciniam per plures dies: primum quia non est conveniens, quod subito quasi furtim inde recederent; secus tamen fuit, quando venerunt in iEgyptum, quia timuerunt mortem pueri. Incipiunt enim recedere, et Joseph cum hominibus preecedit, et Domina sequitur a longe cum matronis. Tu vero accipiens puerum per manum, vade in medio ante matrem, nam ipsum post se non dimittet. Cum autem sunt extra portam, Joseph non se patitur amphus sociari.

Tunc vero ahquis ex ilhs dives compatiens paupertati eorum, puerum vocat ut ahquos ei denarios tribuat pro expensis. Verecundatur puer accipere; tamen paupertatis amore manum parat, pecuniam accipit verecunde, et gratias agit: sic et plures fecerunt. Vocatur etiam a matronis, et simihter faciunt. Nec minus hic mater verecundatur quam fihus; verumtamen humihter gratiaseis egit. Verehic eis compati potes, cum ille cujus est terra et plenitudo ejus, pro se et matre et nutritio suo sic paupertatem arctam elcgerit, et in tanta penuria vixerit. Multum in eis relucet paupertas sanctissima, et nobis amabilem et imitabilem ostendunt. Tandem gratias agentes eis, valefaciunt omnibus, et suum arripiunt iter. Sed quomodo redibit puer Jesus, adhuc tener infantuhxs?

Difficihor enim mihi videtur reditus, quam accessus. Nam quando venit in ^Egyptum, ita parvulus erat, quod portari poterat; nunc autem sic magnus est quod portari non praevalet, et sic parvus quod per se ire non potest. Sed forte ahquis ex iUis bonis viris dedit vel accommodavit ahquem aselhim, super quem ire posset. 0 puer egregie ac dehcate, rex coeh et terrae, quantum laborasti pro nobis, et quam cito coepisti! Bene Propheta in vestra prsedixit persona ^: Pauper sum ego, et in laboribus a juventute mea. Penurias magnas, labores arduos, et afflictiones corporis constantissime assumpsistis, habuistis vos ipsos quasi odio pro amore nostro. Certe solus hic labor^ de quo nunc tractamus, ad plenam redemptionem sulTicere debuisset. Accipe ergo puerum Jesum, et pone super asellum, ac fidehter ducas eum, et, cum descendere voluerit.

811 3. vixit. Joannis Bsptistae Uos. Ooidfecerit aodecilomanam. loetanter eum in brachiis suscipias, et aliquantulum teneas, saltem quousque veniat mater ejus, quffi aliquantulum tardius sive planius ambulat. Tunc puer ibit ad eam, eritque matri requies magna receptio filii. Vadunt ergo et transeunt per desertum, per quod venerunt, et in ipso itinere soepe poteris eis compati, habentes parum quietis. Et respice eos fatigatos, et ex labore devictos, tam de die quam de nocte.

Cum autem fuerunt prope finem deserti, invenerunt Joannem Baplistam, qui jam ibi pcenitentiam agere coeperat, cum tamen nuUum haberet peccatum. Dicitur, quod locus Jordanis, in quo Joannes baptizavit, est ille unde Iransierunt fihi Israel, quando venerunt de ^Egypto per dictum desertum, et quod prope illum locum in ipso deserto Joannes poenitentiam fecit. Unde possibile est, quod puer Jesus inde fransiens, in reditu suo iuvenit eum ibidem, Mediteris ergo, quomodo suscepit eos alacriter; et ibi aliquantulum subsistentes, comederunt cum eo illa cruda cibaria; tandem immensa recreatione spiritus habita, vale fecerunt ei. Tu autem et in adventu et in recessu genu flecte Joanni, deosculans pedes eju? , benedictionem petens, et ei te recommendans; excellens enim et valde mirabilis a cunabulis est puer iste. Ipse enim fuit primus eremita, et principium et via religiose vivere volentium. Fuit ergo purissimus, fuit praedicator permaximus, fuit plus quam propheta, fuit etiam martyr gloriosus. Postea transeuntes Jordanem, appulerunt ad domum EUsabeth, ubi magnum et jucundum festum factum fuit inter eos.

Et ibidem audiens Joseph, quod Archelaus filius Herodis regnabat in Judaea, timuit, et admonitus in somnis ab Angelo, iverunt in Gahlaeam in civitatem Nazareth. Ecce reduximus puerum Jesum de ^Egypto, et eo reverso concurrunt sorores Dominae, et aUi consanguinei et amici ad visitandos eos. Ipsi autem in Nazareth quiescunt, et pauperem vitam ducunt. Exinde autem usque ad duodecimum aetatis annumpueriJesu,aUquid non legitur de ipso. Dicitur tamen et verisimile est, quod adhuc ibi est fons, de quo puer Jesus deferebat aquam matri. Faciebat enim hujusmodi servitia matri humiUs Dominus: non enim habebat aUum servientem. Potes eUam hic meditari, quod cum matre propria, scilicet sorore Dominae, veniebat Joannes EvangeUsta, qui tunc erat annorum quinque. Nam legitur de ipso, quod obiit anno a passione Domini sexaTOM.

XU. gesimosepUmo, aetatis vero suae anno nonagesimooctavo: et sic tempore passionis Domini habebat triginta et unum annos, cum Dominus haberet triginta tres, vel parum plus. Cum ergo in hoc reditu Dominus esset septem annorum, Joannes erat quinque. Intuere itaquc ipsos stantes simul et conversantes, sicut Dominus dabit tibi. Hic enim fuit postea ille discipulus, quem famiUarius diUgebat Jesus

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Matt.2.20 — saying, 'Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life have died.'
  2. ↩Matt.2.20 — saying, 'Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life have died.'
  3. ↩Matt.2.21 — And he got up, took the child and his mother, and went into the land of Israel.
  4. ↩Matt.2.22 — But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee.
  5. ↩Matt.2.22-Matt.2.23 — But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee. Matt.2.23 — And he came and settled in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
  6. ↩Matt.2.13-Matt.2.15 — Now after they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to seek the child to destroy him." Matt.2.14 — So when Joseph got up, he took the child and his mother by night and withdrew to Egypt, Matt.2.15 — And he remained there until the death of Herod, in order that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, 'Out of Egypt I called my son.'
  7. ↩Ps.70.6 — But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!
  8. ↩Matt.3.4 — Now John himself had his clothing made of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
  9. ↩Matt.11.9 — But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
  10. ↩Luke.1.39-Luke.1.56 — In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah. Luke.1.40 — and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth Luke.1.41 — And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke.1.42 — And she cried out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." Luke.1.43 — And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Luke.1.44 — For behold, as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy. Luke.1.45 — And blessed is she who believed that there will be a fulfillment of the things spoken to her from the Lord. Luke.1.46 — And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, Luke.1.47 — and my spirit rejoiced in God my Savior Luke.1.48 — For he has looked upon the lowliness of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed. Luke.1.49 — for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Luke.1.50 — And his mercy is for generations and generations upon those who fear him. Luke.1.51 — He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. Luke.1.52 — He has brought down rulers from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. Luke.1.53 — He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. Luke.1.54 — He has helped his servant Israel, remembering mercy Luke.1.55 — just as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever. Luke.1.56 — And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.
  11. ↩Matt.2.19-Matt.2.23 — But when Herod had died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream in Egypt, Matt.2.20 — saying, 'Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life have died.' Matt.2.21 — And he got up, took the child and his mother, and went into the land of Israel. Matt.2.22 — But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee. Matt.2.23 — And he came and settled in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩magnse is a scribal variant of magnae; translated as intended.
  2. 2 ↩ahquantulum is a scribal variant of aliquantulum; translated as intended.
  3. 3 ↩The forms 'ahquis,' 'iUis,' 'ahquem,' and 'aselhim' are scribal variants; normalized to aliquis, illis, aliquem, and asellum for translation purposes.
  4. 4 ↩The forms 'dehcate' and 'coeh' are scribal variants; normalized to delicatus and caeli for translation.
  5. 5 ↩The form 'prsedixit' is a scribal variant of praedixit.
  6. 6 ↩The quoted words 'Pauper sum ego, et in laboribus a juventute mea' echo Psalm 69:6 (Vulgate) / Psalm 70:5 (Hebrew). Final resolution deferred to Moses stage.
  7. 7 ↩The phrase 'quasi odio pro amore nostro' is rendered 'as though in hatred for love of us' — the sense is that Christ embraced suffering and self-denial with the severity of one who treats his own flesh as an enemy, out of love for humanity.
  8. 8 ↩The form 'sulTicere' is a scribal variant of sufficere.
  9. 9 ↩The form 'fidehter' is a scribal variant of fideliter.
  10. 10 ↩The reading 'aUi' (token 13) is uncertain — possibly 'alii' (others). Translated as 'other' on that assumption.
  11. 11 ↩The source text 'annumpueriJesu' appears to conflate 'annum' and 'pueri Jesu'. Normalized to 'the twelfth year of the boy Jesus' age.' Similarly 'aUquid' is read as 'aliquid' (anything).
  12. 12 ↩The reading 'humiUs' (token 5) is uncertain, possibly 'humblem/humilem'. Rendered as 'humble.' Similarly 'aUum' (token 10) is uncertain, possibly 'aliquem' (anyone). The sense is that Jesus had no servant.
  13. 13 ↩The reading 'eUam' (token 1) is uncertain. It appears to function as an intensifier ('also/indeed') and is rendered as 'also.' The reading 'EvangeUsta' is taken as 'evangelista.'
  14. 14 ↩The reading 'sexaTOM' (token 10) is uncertain, most likely 'sexagesimo' (sixtieth). Rendered accordingly.

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