She gently answered:  “I am quite alone now in the house.”

“Where are our relations?”

“They wished to fetch you home, and have been away for weeks in search of you.”

Jesus pointed with a motion of His hand to His sleeping disciples: 
“They did not seek Me for weeks, they found Me the first day.”

As if she wished to prevent Him complaining again that His kinsmen did not understand Him, His mother said:  “People have long been annoyed that work was no longer done in our workshop, and so they go to a new one which has been set up in our street.”

“Where is Aaron, the apprentice?”

She replied:  “It is not surprising that no one will stay if the children of the house depart.”

He spoke excitedly:  “I tell you, woman, spare Me your reproaches and domestic cares.  I have something else to do.”

Then she turned to the rocky wall to hide her sobs.  After a while she said softly:  “How can you be so cruel to your mother!  It’s not for myself I complain; you may well believe.  All is over for me in this world.  But you!  You bring misfortune on the whole family, and will yourself destroy everything.  By your departed father, by your unhappy mother, I implore you to let the faith of your fathers alone.  I know you mean well, but others do not understand that, and nothing you do will avail.  Let people be happy in their own way.  If formerly they went to Abraham, they will continue to find their way to him without your help.  Don’t interfere with the Rabbis; that never pays.  Think of John the Baptist!  Every one is saying that they are lying in wait for you.  Oh, my beloved child, they will disgrace you, and kill you!” She clutched the rock convulsively with her fingers, and could say no more for bitter weeping.

Jesus turned His head to her, and looked at her.  And when her whole body shook with sobs, He rose and went to her.  He took her head in both His hands and drew it towards Him.

“Mother! mother!—­mother!” His voice was dull and broken:  “You think I do not love you.  I am sometimes obliged to be thus harsh, for everything is against Me, even My own kith and kin.  But I must fulfil the will of the Heavenly Father.  Dry your tears; see, I love you, more than any human heart can understand.  Because the mother suffers double what the child suffers, so is your pain greater than that of Him who must sacrifice Himself for many.  Mother!  Sit down on this stone so that I may once again lay My head in your lap.  It is My last rest.”

So He laid His head on her knees, and she stroked His long hair tenderly.  She was so happy, in the midst of her grief, so absolutely happy, that He should lie on her breast as He did when a child.