The Children of the Blue Nun
Chapter XXA: Everything in the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New
Sister María had already stopped breathing. She could no longer move, although she could still hear what was happening around her.
The auditory sense was the last one to shut down after death. Her fellow nuns were crying for her. The convent priest hastened to toll the bell so as to announce to the world that she had passed away. Sister María de Jesús was resting in peace while the stiffness of death took possession of her body.
The Virgin Mary spoke to her in the unheard voice used by two hearts that can communicate without speaking. “What art thou thinking right now, daughter?” she asked.
“I am waiting for the arrival of Saint Joseph to shatter my dream and lift me unto thee, Lady Mother,” Sister María replied. “I was remembering that in days gone by in the Old Testament, it so happened that a youth named Joseph, one of the 12 sons of Jacob, was sold by his jealous brothers to a caravan of Ishmaelites. They envied him greatly because their father had given him a magnificent coat of many colors.
“This apt young man was perishing alone in an Egyptian prison hoping that his destiny would change. As he was waiting there, he was able to interpret a dream for the pharaoh’s cupbearer positively. In the meantime, Joseph heard that a dream was troubling the sleep of the Egyptian pharaoh.
“In his dream, the pharaoh saw seven fat cows come out of the Nile. After them came seven skinny cows that ate up the seven fat ones. This dream had snatched away the pharaoh’s nightly rest. Soon his cupbearer suggested to the pharaoh that there was a youth in jail who could interpret dreams very well.
“The youthful Joseph was summoned into the pharaoh’s presence. When the pharaoh revealed his dream to him, Joseph was able to tell him the meaning of his nighttime symbols. He spoke to the pharaoh, telling him that the seven fat cows represented seven years of agricultural plenty wherein there would be much to eat. The seven skinny cows that devoured them stood for seven years of famine that would seize the land of Egypt.
“He advised the pharaoh to hoard abundant grain that could support his subjects during the seven years of famine. Immediately the pharaoh put Joseph in charge of this project.
“Centuries later, in the New Testament, Saint Joseph heard the voice of the angel of God who told him to take the holy family out of Bethlehem and hide them from King Herod in Egypt. Thus, the child Jesus was able to grow to adolescence, without fear of King Herod. It seems to me that the first Joseph had prepared the way for the second Joseph.”
“I’m happy that thou entertainest such thoughts as this moment, daughter,” answered the Virgin Mary. “All that is predicted in the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament. Jesus’ entire life is a summation of the Old Testament.”
“It must be that when Moses and Elijah encountered Jesus on top of Mount Tabor during the Transfiguration, it marked the exact point when the Old Testament met the New,” said Sister María. “Moses represents the law and Elijah represents the prophets of the Old Testament. Jesus represents the new law of both.”
“The coat of many colors that Jacob gave to Joseph is a symbol of the promise that God the father gives to those who do his will. His ability to interpret dreams is developed with Saint Joseph for whom the dream and reality are identical,” said the Virgin.