The angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a
city of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin spoused to a
man whose name was Joseph .... and the virgin's name was
Mary
"And the angel said unto her: "Fear not, Mary, for thou
haste found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt
conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call
him Jesus."
"And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, in
fulfillment of that which was spoken by the prophets. He
(Jesus) shall be called a Nazarene." Nazarene means 'The
Anointed One' in Aramaic (anointed with olive oil).
Nazareth was the home of Mary and Joseph
before the birth of Jesus. This was the town that inspired
Jesus during the early years of his life. It is the town
where Jesus the carpenter of life worked in His childhood
with His own hands as a carpenter in the carpenter's shop
alongside Joseph until his ministry began.
By His own example He taught that it is our
duty to be industrious, that our work should be performed
with exactness and thoroughness, and that such labor is
honorable. The exercise that teaches the hands to be useful
and trains the young to bear their share of life's burdens
gives physical strength, and develops every faculty. All
should find something to do that will be beneficial to
themselves and helpful to others.
As Jesus worked in childhood and youth, mind
and body were developed. He did not use His physical powers
recklessly, but in such a way as to keep them in health,
that He might do the best work in every line. He was not
willing to be defective, even in the handling of tools. He
was perfect as a workman, as He was perfect in character.
God appointed work as a blessing, and only the diligent
worker finds the true glory and joy of life.
The olive tree was an intricate part of the life of Jesus.
He would have worked its wood as a carpenter, eaten of its fruit for
health and sustenance and experienced the scent of its anointing oil.
Look into the grain of its wood and see the olive tree as Jesus did.
In Our Father's act of creation He presented such beauty for us all to
enjoy.
