I
was eight years old when I first learned of the "anawim", the name given to
the humblest and most underprivileged of the Israelites at the time of the
Exodus from Egypt. These were also the forgotten ones of the Kingdom of Israel
when the Lord made David king. They stood faithful to God's ways and his anointed
one, David when everyone else sold out and rebelled against the Lord. Because
of their humility and faithfulness they always held a special place in the
Lord's heart and the scriptures make continuous reference to them. I was absolutely
fascinated with the anawim and I grew to look at them as a model of how I
was to live my own Christian life.
Then
as years passed, St Joseph and Our Lady entered the picture. How their great
love captivated me! Their silence and hiddeness always led me to Jesus. Their
whole life, in fact their whole being pointed to Jesus and resonated with
Jesus. Every blow of Joseph's hammer, every floor our Lady swept was not only
consecrated to Jesus but was a witness to God's love incarnate and was a fruit
of God's own love present in their hearts. I soon came to realize that that
lifestyle was the only lifestyle that spoke to my heart. Yet I did not know
how it could be lived out until I met St. Francis. Poverty, fraternity, minority,
fidelity, obedience are the keys to the Holy House of Nazareth where one can
make their home with Jesus, follow the lead of Our Lady and be an apprentice
to St Joseph.
order
to be recreated in God's image. God is good! Now I am an apprentice at the
Holy 