The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-10-05
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared especially for The Republi-
can by Rev. U. S. Wright, D. D.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8.

JED A1-i-uhC
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and
stature, and in favor with God and
mOn.-Luke 2:52.
THE PLANTING OF JOY.
Jesus is the worlds real joy-bring-
err. In Him heavens melody is joined
to earth's score to give the song of
the ages. Growing like a tender
plant in Gods garden His beauty has
gladdened the whole world. And It
was Gods planting. Born of His
compassion before He was born in
Judea the whole process of Christ's
redeeming work had its beginnings in
heaven and not among men. God
cared and out of His love came all
the stoop that brought Jesus into
human life What plot of ground
would be fine enough for the plant
ing? 1t is quite certain that if man
had been consulted the choice would
have been different. In that little
hill town of Nazareth was a girl
scarce passed beyond the gateway of
her teens who called herself a slave.
Down in the most unpromising condi-
tions God found just the spot for the
entrance Of heavens dearest joy into
earth's life 1t was the only chance
to universalize Gods gladness for if
there had been a lower level some
thing would have lifted as God rose
once more erect after His stoop to
earth. Startled and fearful over the
sudden call to offer her whole life for
His use in motherhood there was no
more hesitation than comes to the
call to our own girls of sixteen as in
some high hour they face Gods angel
of summoning promise. Did she have
a mother to whom she could not
carry the wonderful secret? Or was
it the cruel gossip of the village that
shamed her into flight to an under,
standing soul in Hebron? Certainly
either might be true but to that privi-
lege of confidential speech with Eli
zabeth belongs much of the fine cOur-
age and devotion of this girl eager
to do Gods will. In Bethlehem with
its memories of Ruth, David and
host of others Mary sought the shell
ter of the stable that has become the
cradle of the worlds best hope. There
she received as a Queen might the
workers of the field who had heard
the wind-born strains of heavenly
music and caught the message of the
Saviour's coming. Then came the
naming of the Child with heavens
own designation and after forty days
the presenting Him in the Temple
where again song came with His
presence. Aftarward the Wise Men
visited Mother and Child Gin the
house" and their gifts furnished sup
plies for the Egyptian flight in which
country they remained until Herod's
death made it possible for them to re-
turn and occupy again the cottage in
Nazareth where childish voices
brought music to Joseph's and Mary's
ears sweeter that the chorus of the
Angels. And it was in this little,
white cottage of the hills that Jesus
spent those early years while Joseph
provided for home and shop and those
later ones when He was probably the
stay of the household and the carer
for a widowed mother.
THE GROWING YEARS.
Jesus never got away from the in
fuence of that home life where love
and understanding held full sway.
Joseph. quiet man who has left no
word behind, was tenderly thought
full of Mary in these trying days of
bethroal when tongues wagged again
st her and this must have marked
all his relations in the home On in
to those wonderful teen days Joseph
and Jesus must have been comrades
of such intimacy that Christ never
lost the inspiration of them. His
father was His hero and ideal so that
when He wanted to put into earth
speech picture of God as He knew
Him there was no other term posi-
BILE than that dear word He has used
in the Nazareth cottage. And such
was its life that for Him Home
became a fit figure for the heaven
of earth's desire More than in the
direct training given the Boy was the
life of those who lived before TIE
watchful eyes of youth in such fash
ion that it has colored all thinking OF
the Christian world. Hints of what
went on under its roof may be found
in the homely pictures of leaver
mixed into meal caught from Mary's
hand, of the patched garment which
was probably His own in the day.
where children multiplied faster thar
the income from the modest shop
What wholesomeness there mus
have been in all its hours-the ioy
is that it may be duplicated in GU,
own home.
There were the lessons from mar
r4A NJ. i n