[irishtenor]

Whenever I hear THAT argument, I have to ask myself... When Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem, how come I never see any mention about the REST of the family traveling with them? I am assuming that Joseph raised the kids, of course, since the mother died... Just wondering.

[Gamecock]

Good point.

Won’t get a good answer, but it is a good point nonetheless.

[RobbyS]

The authors of the Scripture are NOT writing a biography, so they commonly include just those details that serve their purposes. Notice That Matthew makes no mention of the journey from Nazareth at all. All the synoptics record only one pilgrimage to the Temple while John reports several. Throughout the New Testament, the writers allude toevents or even name people about who we knew little or nothing. Acts ends with Paul still alive, as if “Luke” had just laid down his pen and never did give us “the rest of the story.” It is an incomplete chronicle, and what we “know”about what happened afterwards is truth or legend or surmise.

[redgolum]

There are many Orthodox Icons showing St James and an infant Jesus. One famous one has the Holy Family running to Egypt with James holding the gifts of the Magi.

http://hilltopshepherd.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/saint-joseph-the-role-model-of-all-men/

Sorry, I am not good enough at HTML to post the icon, but it is half way down the article. And I don’t really know what the article was about.