"I was raised in love,.." "..a love I received without asking, without waiting,.." "..starting from my mother's milk." "A child began living within me, through me." "I didn't wonder about it." "It was extraordinary, certain, but natural and simple." "I know it's impossible to believe,.." "..and that's why we kept the secret." "Mary's not lying to you, Joseph." "We could move the marriage up,.." "..if you still intend to wed." "I believe her, but my family will think..." "How could it have happened ?" "It's against nature." "I promised Mary to you because you have a good heart.." "..and I know you'll respect her, Joseph." "Many things happen that we can't explain,.." "..yet we accept them without question." "I understand how you feel, you've had many misfortunes." "You've been looking for a new wife to raise your children." "No one will ever know what happened,.." "..either here or in Nazareth,.." "..not even the child that's coming." "What child will it be ?" "What could it be but a woman's child ?" "My mother's words convinced Joseph." "He moved the marriage up and honored the promise binding us." "The groom's coming, go to greet him !" "I went to live in Nazareth, in a new family." "Joseph's elder brothers were waiting for me.." "..and above all, his children." "welcome Mary,.." "..peace and blessings be upon you, in this day of joy and feasting." "I, Mordechai son of Mordechai,.." "..take you into my family,.." "..with my brothers and their wives,.." "..as a daughter and a sister." "This is my wife rachel.." "..and my daughters." "Come, Esther, bring the cloth." "I wonder if we hit it right, or will I be raising another girl ?" "Ruth, what are you doing ?" "Even on such a day ?" "Eat something at Ieast !" "Don't always make fusses !" "Quiet down !" "Stop it, quiet down." "Leave !" "Go outside !" "I said to be quiet !" "Come here, there's a time for playing and one for being groomed !" "Let go of me !" "Let me go !" "Let go of me !" "Let me go !" "Let go of me !" "Let me go !" "I'll do it, it's up to me." "She's always been a pest." "Poor little thing, her mother died too early.." "..and her father has no backbone, as Mordechai always says." "Don't let her win or she'll never obey you." "Ruth, Iet Mary comb your hair, mind me." "I won't !" "I'll do all I can for your children." "We have to protect them." "Look !" "GallIeans !" "See what happens to rebels against our king and the Roman eagle !" "Stay away from our homes, you stinking animal !" "Get out !" " Who's that ?" " Poor wretch, it's HllIeI." "Why do they treat him like that ?" "He's possessed, he can't stay amongst us." "What perfect flour !" "Too bad it's for the priests for the offering." " Quiet, want them to hear you ?" " Who ?" "The priests in jerusalem ?" "I want to do it too !" "Don't touch it, it's for the temple." "If you want to knead, you must do abIutions." "It's the Law, not me !" "Belleve me, Mary,.." "..women are like ripe grapes:.." "..the more praised, the more pressed." "Pray the almighty to have boys." "All these girls are gifts from God." ""God couldn't be everywhere, so he made mothers"." "Then I'd say He's very busy." "That pest infected the offer !" "We have to start all over again !" "Let that be a lesson." "For a little flour !" "rachel, come pick these up." "What flour ?" "Must I explain these things to you, woman ?" "Joseph, teach your wife her place." "calm down, Mary wanted..." "I don't care, brother, she must learn her place." "Mary meant no disrespect." "Anna, your daughter can't stand up to the head of a family." "She knows tradition." "Then she knows a submissive woman is a gift from God." "Then accuse me:" "she's learned from me." "She ground the flour,.." "..she'll do it over, since it's women's work." "What a waste of oil !" "It doesn't hurt that way." ""Better a man's spite than a woman's kindness"." "We've all been through it." " uncle Elljah !" " Hello." "Hello." " How are you all ?" " Fine." "What dealings bring you this way ?" "A wedding gift for my favorite nephew's bride !" "It's unlike you Elljah, all this way from bethlehem to give a gift.." "..and get nothing in return ?" " Foollsh woman !" " Thank you." "This sweet bride's smile is the best deal I can make." "I went to Ain Karim to buy some cloth." "Your cousin Elizabeth is forlorn, she prays every day to see you." "My poor cousin, who knows how they've scared her." "You can tell it's her first child !" "First or last, what changes ?" "I leave these things to you women." "But now that you've settled your last daughter,.." "..you should go to Ellzabeth, it might do her good." "I'll shoe the mules,.." "..and then return to get the bread for the temple offering." "Mary !" "Mary !" "Come, we need help." "rachel, on the next contraction, I have to cut you." "Mary, don't just stand there, get more water." ""Hear, O israel:" "the Lord is our God,.." "..the Lord is one"." "Don't be so restless, rachel,.." "..you had a bad time, in a few days you'll be better." "I want to come, I waited so long for a son !" "Don't move, you have to heal." "I don't care." "The "moheI" is here, give me the boy." "The cloth is untainted, rachel didn't touch it." "I'll stay with rachel, she needs help." "I know someone must be with her, but you have to come." "I'll stay." "Remember what you see." ""God said to Abraham:.." "..now as for you, you shall keep My covenant,.." "..you and your descendants, throughout their generations." "This is My covenant which you shall keep.." "..between Me and you and your descendants:.." "..every male among you shall be circumcised." "And every male who is eight days old.." "..shall be circumcised throughout your generations"." "May the almighty be praised who fulfilled my prayer." "As is the tradition, he will bear my name:.." "..Mordechai, son of Mordechai." ""But a male who is uncircumcised in the flesh of his foreskin,.." "..shall be cut off from his people." "He has broken My covenant"." "Mary, what's the matter now ?" "I don't care why she did it !" "She mustn't do so in my house !" "Our father was too good to you, I always told him that !" "What wife have you taken ?" "You must straighten her out !" "She could be your daughter !" "I have no idea why she did it." "If you don't, who does ?" "How will she educate your children ?" "I'd like to go and help Ellzabeth,.." "..at Ieast until her delivery, it will comfort her." "Stay in Nazareth while I'm away." "I'd best leave for a while, until things settle down." "You're right." "I'll look after Joseph's children." "And with me, Mordechai will mind his place." "Your husband has a good heart." "He'll act for the best and will understand, you'll see." "Let me sleep." "Let's go, we're leaving !" " Goodbye !" " Goodbye." "Say hello to Zacharias." "Let's go." "You ?" "Mary !" "Mary !" "feel him kick ?" "You see, Mary ?" "The Lord took pity on me." "Who'd ever have said an offspring at my age !" "Let's go inside." "Zacharias is in jerusalem, he's officiating at the temple." "Heaven willing, this week will soon be over !" "I'm cleaner than an offering vessel." "It took you to make me smile again, it's been months !" "How foolish to come, without even letting us know." "Stay put, I can do it !" "I'll get you something to eat." "Tell me about your husband." "How's Anna ?" "Ellzabeth, Sapphira is here to examine you." "Fine." "Just fine, you're still closed." "I brought you the herbs to prepare your intestines." "Take them with the new moon, the baby might come early." "Cheer up Ellzabeth, another few weeks and it's over." "I'll find a wet nurse for the first days." "And if you don't ?" "I'll prepare a juice,.." "..you mustn't nurse him immediately,.." "..that liquid is the devil's milk, it gives worms." "The herbs..." "I'll be back tomorrow." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." "My poor cousin, so many orders !" "I'm exhausted, Mary,.." "..every night it returns to scare me,.." "..it's a terrible nightmare." "I feel the baby being born.." "..and something stands before me.." "..as if wanting to take him away." "Are you afraid something will happen to the baby ?" "That's all I can think of !" "They all say to be careful, that I might lose him,.." "..as if I had a disease !" "Maybe I do, Mary." "Zacharias says the Lord wants to punish him,.." "..because he thought He'd never give us children." "It's a sign from Heaven, I know it !" "Take it away." "The last time, you were still a child and now..." "look at you !" "Just like your mother." "I can imagine Ellzabeth when she saw you !" "welcome back." "The Lord be praised,.." "..your being here has worked wonders for her." "Stay as long as you can, I beg you." ""I brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God." "I am the Lord your God"." "The Lord heard you, Zacharias." "Your wife's color has returned !" "One woman wasn't enough to bring a smile back to this house,.." "..it took two." "May the almighty bless us with a boy." "I'm sure, the Lord will give you a son to bear your name." "Ellzabeth, are you alright ?" "That nightmare again ?" "We'll call the doctor tomorrow, get some rest now." "As if you didn't know what's best." "I don't want to make my child suffer,.." "..or let anyone else make him suffer !" "Why do they have to separate us ?" "What could be harmful in my milk ?" "What could be wrong in one of God's creatures ?" "You'd like to do things differently." "I couId never do it, no one would understand, not even Zacharias." "Zacharias is a righteous man, the Lord will help him understand." "He's a priest, he lives in respect of the Law,.." "..if it's a boy, we must have him circumcised." "The Lord has ordained it." "What would happen to us if..." "The Lord desires mercy, not sacrifice." "I'll go get some wood." "She's back !" "Mary's back !" "welcome back." "Your mother is very ill,.." "..a snake bit her in the fields." "The Lord has heard me." "Sister !" "Don't speak." "Whlle you were gone,.." "..Joseph learned to command respect." "The children too..." "Don't be agitated." "The children haven't suffered too much either." "See ?" ""Hear, O israel:" "the Lord is our God,.." "..the Lord is one." "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart... with all your soul and with all your might"." "Keep moving !" "Who knows what those two are buzzing about." "It's a census." "In Capernaum the edict's already been read." "Within two months,.." "..all family heads must register in their native towns." "To the Romans, we're just cattle to count, damn them !" "Quiet !" "You're learning the ways of the family." "I'm pleased, for my brother and for your children." "Your mother too would be content." "Harmony among relatives is the most precious of gifts." "Hurry, the rebels are assailing the storeroom !" "Come on, help us fight Herod !" "Stay here." " What are you looking for ?" " Stay back !" "There are only families here." "Go back to your hole !" "Where are the rebels ?" "Bring them out !" "Are you ready to join the rebels ?" "Watch him, we've whipped younger ones than him." "Want us to get the Romans ?" "All we needed was a census !" "Herod will have to answer to this too." "It's a census, you just have to come to bethlehem." "I'll miss a week's work." "Mary, Elljah's here to see you !" " Hello." " Hello." "Mordechai's right, we've lost another job." "The rebels are coming down from the mountains,.." "..people are afraid." "Who builds in times like these ?" "Joseph, how long till the birth ?" "A few weeks, right ?" "After the baby comes, bring the whole family to Judea." "Register yourself and your brothers and stay with us for a while." "I need a hand here, I can't do it all myself." "I went by Ain Karim, they had a boy." "Praise the Heavens !" "Ellzabeth wants to call him John." "Since when does a woman decide a firstborn's name ?" "They must have called him Zacharias like his father." "How are they ?" "Ellzabeth and the baby are fine, but Zacharias..." "He seems anguished, almost never talks." "He's not himself." "The midwife will be here tomorrow to examine you." "Don't worry, I'll be here too, you'll never be alone." "They caught them, hurry !" "They caught them, come and see !" "Young and foolish, I knew it." "Why don't they go to jerusalem ?" "Herod's there, don't they know that ?" "Lower your eyes !" "I'll come back soon, HllIeI, I won't be gone long." "I'll find someone to bring you what you need." "How they've made you suffer, poor HllIeI !" "They have such a need to take it out on someone." "Joseph, Ruth, take these." "What's the matter ?" "Did your waters break ?" "Mordechai doesn't want to go to bethlehem for the census,.." "..you'll have to go instead." "Yes, after the birth." "We could take Elljah's advice and all go with you." "I'll think about it, after the birth." "The revolt's at our door." "Your son's a tender branch in a fire,.." "..he needs to be shielded." "I've been thinking about it since uncle spoke to us." "It might be a good thing to move to bethlehem." "But... we can't leave right away,.." "..in your condition, it's unwise." "The unwise thing is to stay here, and you know it too." " Let's go, come on !" " We're leaving." "Don't look at me !" "Don't look at me !" "Want an early death ?" "Or will you ask your God to save you ?" "There are no vacant rooms, I told you." "No, you can't put a tent there." "Go away, there are no more rooms !" "What do we do ?" "It's two hours more to bethlehem." "Let's go." "I'm afraid night will come." "Go ask for a torch." " Can you make it ?" " We'd better stop there." "It's not far, Iet's not stop now." "We'll go to bethlehem tomorrow,.." "..it's late by now, my legs hurt." "We shouldn't have left, I knew it." "I'll get help." "Stay with the children, there's no need." "Mary, for Heaven's sake, what are you saying ?" "You need help !" "There's no need, I know what to do." "This is what you wanted,.." "..to be alone !" "It's a boy, we'll call him Jesus." "That's for the father to decide !" "My girl, it's obvious you did everything alone." "It's a mess here." "Why did you start nursing ?" "He mustn't suck that harmful liquid." " Hello." " Hello." " Hello." "We saw the light and came, this is our grotto." "Thank you." " congratulations." " Praise the Heavens." "would you like some water ?" "What are you doing ?" "You can't give her that water." "Don't you know the Law ?" "They're nomads, unclean people." "He looks like a little grub !" "As soon as you feel up to it, we'll leave for BethIehem." "My aunt will be overjoyed !" "Finally someone will give you a hand." "There's you, the children, that's all I need." "There's a home waiting for you, why stay here ?" "It's certainly no palace." "I'll tell you when I'm up to leaving." "Why stay here a minute longer ?" " We don't even have water." " There's the shepherds' well." "But you'll be unclean for forty days !" "There are rules to respect, Mary." "Now I have other rules to respect." "Does it hurt when he sucks ?" "Ruth, tend the fire." "Joseph, come with me." "Let's go for water !" "only three days left." "That's why you wanted to stay here." "Tomorrow we'll go to bethlehem, we'll circumcise him, it's the Law." "This time you want to do things your way." "The right way, we can't violate the Law." "I've followed you so far, but this is too much." "It was done to you, now you want to do it to him." "It will be done !" "I don't know what you see wrong in it." "You're exaggerating and you know it." "You can't give him to me, you're still unclean." "Zacharias also thought the Law can't be violated." ""Hear, O israel:" "the Lord is our God,.." "..the Lord is one." "These words.." "..which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart"." "What hurting ?" "They forget it right away !" " The heart doesn't, Zacharias." " Quiet !" "You're a righteous man,.." "..you stop the hand from wounding a brother,.." "..and allow one to raise over a defenseless child ?" "I don't believe it,.." "..Zacharias is a priest, he can't have these doubts." "Listen to me, Mary,.." "..change your mind, for your own good and your family's." "Can't you see you risk being stoned ?" "Don't make me speak out !" "What does your heart say ?" "I'm sure he didn't do it." "Zacharias ?" "I'm Joseph, husband to Mary, Ellzabeth's cousin." "I've come to say hello." "No one here, they've gone." "Don't be afraid, we don't respect all the precepts either." " Why did they leave ?" " Zacharias is a priest." "He couldn't stay here, no one wanted him anymore." " He didn't let..." " The Lord's wrath comes to all." "Even David had to bow his head, even him !" "But we live in the desert, you'll soon return home." "What you've done will be a scandal to everyone." "I want to do only what the Lord asks me." "You're right,.." "..the Lord wants only his well-being,.." "..but men's hearts are hard." "Aren't you worried about his future ?" "Come change your money for the temple offering." ""The Lord said:.." "..sanctify to Me every firstborn.." "..of every womb among the sons of israel,.." "..both of man and beast;" "it belongs to me." "Every firstborn a month old or older shall be redeemed.." "..at the price of five shekels of silver..."" "We can't afford a lamb." ""'When a woman gives birth and bears a male child,.." "..she shall be unclean for forty days." "When the days of her purification are over.." "..she shall bring a lamb to the priest,.." "..or two fowl, for an atonement offering." "Such is the Law for a woman"." "Jesus, be careful !" "Jesus, be careful !" "You'll hurt yourself !" "I told him to be careful,.." "..he'd hurt himself." "Don't tell him, you'll see it won't happen." "His Highness Herod." "Hello." "Tell your chiefs,.." "..this water belongs to those who live and work here." "Growing these plants is hard work." "Don't worry,.." "..they know our laws, they won't touch this water." "We'll take care of it." "Then why have they come ?" "For a few drops of water ?" "They're scholars, decent people, they want to know our people.." "..and they intend to pay, for water and everything." "Tell the truth, they're here for Micah's prophecy ?" "They're sure our Prince has just been born,.." "..they know our history, our waiting." "And they'll find him ?" "They know all the sciences, we can't comprehend." "They just want to see your children." "What are you doing ?" "Stand up !" "What will they do if they find him ?" "Don't you know the Scriptures ?" "He'll have more glory and wealth than SoIomon !" "The Messiah will trample those like you !" "A prodigious child,.." "..a future King, in bethlehem." "That miserable clump of shepherds' huts !" "I've heard every sort of hostile prophecy,.." "..but my scepter is stronger than ever." "I'll refer their every breath, Highness." "Joseph, they're looking for you !" "Hello." "We know you have a baby, we've come to see him." " please come in." " please come in." "Bathsheba, bring the rug." "Thank you." "They want to see Jesus." "He talks a little, walks, nurses, what else should he do ?" "Mary !" "All we needed was these outsiders !" "What do they want ?" "Why do they keep watching Jesus ?" "They're looking at all the children, don't let it bother you." "Does it seem normal to you ?" "You're always so serene, but I see lots of strange things." "Even when I didn't understand you,.." "..I let things go, I gave you free rein,.." "..but sometimes I think.." "..man's been in command since time began." "It's always been like that, always worked that way." "With you, though..." "I don't know anymore... what else I can expect." "You've done great things." "What are they talking about ?" "He has no special gifts, nothing that could interest them." "You mustn't be afraid." "We want to raise the boy in the best way, better for his future,.." "..better for your future." "We're simple people, we don't need anything." "Why are you asking me these things ?" "His mother's never afraid !" "The other mothers don't let their children near blades,.." "..or let them walk on the brink of a well." "If the mother didn't know he had wondrous talents,.." "..she wouldn't act like that." "This would be the marvel ?" "That he doesn't fall ?" "Doesn't end up in the well ?" "She's brought him here since he was born, she lets him do it." "She says her mother did the same with her." "I've never seen her worried so I stopped worrying too." "At first he didn't get too close to the well,.." "..then he felt confident, like a baby animal." "But things he doesn't know can scare him." "But she's really never afraid for him ?" "Many things !" "Snakes, scorpions, wicked people." "I heard them myself,.." "..they said their calculations were wrong, Highness." "They were scowling when they told us to pull up stakes." "You know what to do." "What's happening ?" "They slaughtered him like a lamb !" "Those hooded animals surprised us in sleep." "If only my husband had been home !" "It was those outsiders, I said not to trust them !" "No, they're Herod's cut-throats." "That fiend had his own children butchered !" "We'll find out when we catch them." "Go, they'll be sorry they didn't kill us too." "Go home for knives, pitchforks, scythes." "Elljah !" "Mary !" "Bathsheba !" "Mary !" "Joseph, take the road to the garden." "Hurry !" "It's me." "Omnipotent Lord, have mercy... if I let her do too much." "Don't punish me for my weakness,.." "..don't punish this child for our errors, Lord." "please..." "please..." ""Incllne your ear and hear the words of the wise.." "..and apply your mind to my knowledge." "Foollshness is bound up in the heart of a child,.." "..but the rod of discipline will remove it far from him..." "You shall not take vengeance nor bear any grudge.." "..against the sons of your people,.." "..rather, love your neighbor as yourself." "I am the Lord"." "Go !" ""They found a man gathering wood on the Sabbath." "Those who found him, brought him to Moses,.." "..Aaron and all the community." "Then the Lord said to Moses:.." "..all the community shall stone him outside the camp." "This man must be put to death." "The entire community brought him outside the camp and stoned him." "The entire community brought him outside the camp and stoned him." "I am the Lord"." "Good Mordechai, but I'll win next time." "No way, he cheated !" "I saw him." "Gad's right, I saw him too." "You're the usual cry-baby !" "Forget it, Zeev, it's just a game." "Shut up Jesus, you're always defending your cousin !" "I don't need to be defended." "Let's go." "Sooner or later someone will teach him a lesson." "No, HllIeI, it's not like that." "Listen, boy... repentance isn't enough to find the way which was lost." "I've dug too deep a ditch:.." "..I haven't followed any ritual for years." "The last time I went to the temple.." "..I was about your age." "Isaiah says the Lord is like a mother who comforts her children." "It doesn't matter how much you've abandoned Him,.." "..He'll comfort you." "Sure, but not everyone.." "..had a mother like yours." "Bunch of hard-heads !" "I'm wasting my time with them !" "It's only twelve years we've been wasting our time." "Well, Mordechai, who's the cry-baby ?" "Forget it, they're expecting us at home." "You're a girlie, I always said so." "What did you expect ?" "His family fled when time came to fight the Romans." "Stop fighting !" "I'll bust your face, you'll be sorry !" " Just try !" " Where are you going, chicken ?" "What are you doing, you scoundrels ?" "!" "What a disaster you are for me, you'll be my ruin !" "You want my death !" " Why do you do that ?" " But he..." "Shut up !" "I want to see what your mother says this time !" "Shut up and get inside." "Ruth, is the bread ready for the offering ?" "rachel should be here any minute." "Auntie won't have to wait." "Get inside, you scoundrel !" "Know where these rascals were ?" "Sllnging it out in the dust with their friends, know that ?" "Like two brats !" "The bread's ready." "You're not going to scold him ?" "What has to happen before you teach him a lesson ?" "What could I say that he doesn't already know ?" "He'll tell me about it, if he wants." "Move it !" "Mother, can the Scriptures be wrong ?" "You wonder why we don't always do what they say." "Those rules were written by men,.." "..some things are right, some aren't." "Like separating chaff from grain." "How can we correct what's wrong ?" "A woman can do a Iot, but outside the home.." "..it's unlikely anyone will listen." "Jesus, come here, we have to finish that work." ""...to declare that the Lord is upright:.." "..He is my rock,.." "..there is no unrighteousness in Him"." "Before reading this Saturday's passage,.." "..I would llke to bless the boys who, this year,.." "..during Passover,.." "..will have the honor of entering the temple.." "..in the men's Courtyard." "Mordechai, son of Mordechai." "Jacob, son of daniel." "samuel, son of samuel." "Get out, you can't stay here !" "Go away, you filthy wretch !" "This unclean person cannot enter the synagogue." "He's possessed, the son of sinners !" "What ?" "HllIeI has come to make peace with the Lord and we kick him out ?" "Sllence, boy, don't you know obedience is everything ?" "Quiet, samuel, my son knows what he's saying." "Let's hear Baruch, his wisdom will guide us." "HllIeI, my heart rejoices.." "..to see you again among us." "Tell me, how far is your hut from the village ?" "More than six stades ?" "The Law forbids us from going this distance on Saturdays." "Return to your dwelling." "If you want to pray today, do so from your home." ""To you I offer a sacrifice of thanks.." "..and call upon the name of the Lord." "I shall pay my vows to the Lord.." "..in the presence of all His people,.." "..in the courts of the Lord's house,.." "..in the midst of you, O JerusaIem"." ""This is the bread of affliction.." "..which our forefathers ate in the land of Egypt." "Let all who are hungry come and eat,.." "..let all in need come and join us in our Passover." "This year we celebrate here,.." "..next year in the land of israel." "This year we are slaves,.." "..next year may we all be free"." "Are you ready ?" "Let's go." "And Jesus ?" "He was with joel." "He's not back there." "No one's seen him." "Come on, Iet's go." "They were the Iast ones for today, he's disappeared." "Why didn't he say anything, not even to you ?" " To you !" "Understand ?" " He must have his reasons." "If something's happened to him ?" "He'd never get into trouble, you know that." "Then where did he end up ?" "He didn't end up anywhere." "If we understand why he did this, we'll find him." "If he doesn't come this evening,.." "..we're going back to jerusalem tomorrow to look for him." "It's outrageous, we've already lost a day's journey." "Tomorrow we'll go to jerusalem and see what's happening." "Certain things happen only to him, since forever !" "Mother, can the Scriptures be wrong ?" "How can we correct what's wrong ?" "Have you seen Jesus ?" "If SoIomon and Jacob are righteous,.." "..why do they teach us to hit children ?" "Can a time ever come when we'll bless women.." "..who haven't had children or nursed ?" " Have you seen Jesus ?" " No." "Why can't you women eat with men ?" "Joseph !" "What kind of child is this !" "Why is it allowed to kill pagans.." "..when the Iaw of Moses commands us not to kill ?" "Mother, why must we seek revenge ?" "It just brings more victims." "Mother... what's the purpose of all that blood in the temple ?" "Why are all those sacrifices done there ?" "It can't be the Lord asking us." "He's at the temple." "Can't a man who's lost the Lord,.." "..find Him on Saturday,.." "..even if he has to walk more than six stades to do so ?" "Isn't the Lord's mercy wakefuI on Saturdays ?" "I saw him, he's at the temple discussing with the elders !" "He was there asking questions." "Pull the tents down." "Joseph and I will get him, wait here." "Joseph, grab your bag." "I really want to hear how they make him toe the line." "How many boys stop to talk with the elders ?" "There's nothing wrong in that." "Other parents know where their children are." "Mordechai, has Jesus ever been disrespectful to us ?" "If he'd asked, would we have put off our departure.." "..for a boy's request ?" "He did it behind our backs,.." "..he was ashamed of what he wanted to ask." "Those who don't fear, don't respect." "Jesus doesn't know the virtue of obedience." "I've been warning you for years on how you're raising him.." "..and if his errors regard you, it's your affair,.." "..but if he's disrespectful in the temple or synagogue,.." "..if he dares discuss the Law, it's everyone's affair !" "Fear doesn't bring respect, Mordechai." "If you give him free rein, how will his character be formed ?" "Yours are just words, woman." "Our children aren't crooked branches to straighten." "If your son knew obedience, he'd be here now !" "We owe obedience only to the Lord." "There's the source of his foolishness !" "It is written:.." ".."The one who is disciplined is on the path of life,.." "..the one who ignores correction will lose the way"." "I'd like to see how he ends up, if he keeps on like this." "Let's go, we've wasted enough time already." "That day I began to realize what his path would be." "We returned home and continued our lives, that's all." "Then what happened ?" "What did he do before we met him ?" "The fruit had simply to ripen." "Mary, many won't understand what you've told me." "Some might find new reasons to oppress us." "You'll know how to make these facts known, they should be preserved." "But no one gives such importance to a man's childhood." "Aren't his teachings and his martyrdom enough ?" "One cannot exist without the other." "To understand a life we must know its beginnings."