Meditation On The Nativity Of Our Savior Christ: Of The Journey Of Our Blessed Lady The Virgin From Nazareth To Bethlehem POINT II
ZENALE, Bernardo
Nativity
Of the Nativity of our Savior Christ
THE XVI. MEDITATION. Of the Journey of our blessed lady the Virgin from Nazareth to Bethlehem
THE II. POINT.
Secondly, I will consider the occasion that our Savior Christ took to make this journey, and to issue with his intent: for, In those days there came forth an edict from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled. And all went to be enrolled every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Jewry, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, for because he was of the house, and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary his despoued wife, that was with child.
1. In this action, I will ponder how different are the thoughts of almighty God, from those of men, those of the king of heaven, from those of the king of earth. For this edict was founded upon pride, ambition, arrogance, and avarice, commanding more then he might do; that is that the whole world should be enrolled, as if all the world had been his: and desiring that all should profess themselves to be his vassals, and should pay him tribute, were they never so poor, and needy. But contrarily the king of heaven Christ JESUS, had all his cogitations placed in humility, poverty, and subjections, and in treading down pomps, riches, and vanities. He cometh not to command, nor to be served, but to obey, and serve the whole world. And in confirmation hereof, he wilted that his mother, and he himself in her, should be enrolled, and profess themselves to be the Vassals of Augustus Caesar, and pay him tribute; to confound by this his example the pride, and covetousness of the world. For if the king of kings, and monarch of all that is created, enter into the world humbling himself, and protesting vassalage to an earthly, and evil king: what is it for me to humble myself, and to be subject to every human creature for his love? And what a pride will it be, not to humble me to God himself, acknowledging myself for his vassal, and paying him with obedience the tribute that I owe him?
Colloquy
O king of heaven, permit not in me such pride, seeing thou to remedy it didst so much humble thyself.
2. Secondly, I will ponder, that albeit this edict was founded upon pride, and avarice, yet almighty God wileth that his should obey it: for he is pleased that we should obey our superiors in all that lawfully they shall command us, albeit they command it for their own interests, & damned ends, acknowledging God in them whose lieutenants they are. And this obedience our Savior Christ himself raised to the height, making this journey to accomplish the will of the eternal Father, who had ordained that his Son should be born in Bethlehem of Juda: albeit his providence took this edict of the Emperor Augustus, as a means to compass his intent. And as our Lord Christ came into the world not to do his will, but the will of him that sent him, he would be born in that place which his Father had ordained, and be born obeying, as he died obeying, that all of us might learn to obey.
O my beloved, seeing my life consisteth in doing thy will, let my entering in, and going out, and all whatsoever I shall do, be conformable to thy will for ever, and ever, Amen.
Luis de la Puente
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