Spiritual reflection: "Nazareth, a model"
From an address by Venerable Paul VI, pope (Nazareth, January 5, 1964)
Nazareth is a kind of school where we may begin to discover what Christ’s life was like and even to understand his Gospel… First, we learn from its silence. If only we could once again appreciate its great value… The silence of Nazareth should teach us how… to reflect on the deeply spiritual, and to be open to the voice of God’s inner wisdom... Nazareth can teach us the value of study and preparation, of meditation, of a well-ordered personal spiritual life, and of silent prayer that is known only to God.
Second, we learn about family life. May Nazareth serve as a model of what the family should be. May it show us the family’s holy and enduring character and exemplify its basic function in society: a community of love and sharing, beautiful for the problems it poses and the rewards it brings, in sum, the perfect setting for rearing children—and for this there is no substitute.
Finally, in Nazareth, the home of a craftsman’s son, we learn about work and the discipline it entails… I would remind everyone that work…is not an end in itself. Its value and free character…derive not only from its place in the economic system, as they say, but rather from the purpose it serves. In closing, may I express my deep regard for people everywhere who work for a living. To them I would point out their great model, Christ their brother, our Lord, who is their prophet in every cause that promotes their well-being.