(Synopsis continues of M. Holmes' TWO FROM GALILEE) Mary led the donkey to her house up the hill. "Mary's come home! Here comes Mary, Mother," the children called to Hannah on the rooftop. Hannah set down her work and ran to meet her, with children close behind. Begging for presents she most certainly would have brought, they waited breathlessly until Mary brought out a parcel and gave it to them.
Just then, Hannah arrived. "Mother, Mother, I'm home!" Mary choked out the cry. They clung together awkwardly as the burden Mary carried almost stopped Hannah entirely. Hannah then called to the children, "Go fetch your Father," yet still gazed almost jealously at her first born. Yet, while trying to re-gather herself from swooning with joy, part of her felt separated altogether from Mary for she remembered the whispering in town and she knew Joachim's words of Mary in Jerusalem had merit, yet, she had not known the truth until now. Mary was carrying someone's baby!
Yet, Hannah could not believe all that was true, so she hurt Mary with these words, "I should think you would have been counting the hours until you could get back to your betrothed who might be willing to hide your shame." And Mary's answer to that remark was, "Must you speak to me so, Mother? I am so weary... and so glad to be home!"
"Well, I speak out of my concern," Hannah said, and my own weariness." Turning on her heel, she added, "Come in and rest. Let me bathe your feet and help you out of the fine clothes. I suppose you got them from Elizabeth!" Mary answered slowly, "yes, my aunt was very kind and generous." "Well, she can afford to be, "Hannah remarked. And Mary responded after a short pause, "She sends her love, Mother, her dearest love to you and all the family. There are gifts for all in my knapsack. She is very soon to deliver. Even now, perhaps, she is holding her baby in her arms. She has prayed for a long time for this little one."
Hannah dipped a gourd into a stone jug of water and began to sponge Mary's swollen feet. "Jacob, Joseph's father died, did you know?" "Joseph told me only a little while ago," Mary answered. "And he's coming for me, Mother. He'll be here to get me within the hour."
"No!...Oh, no!" Hannah cried out, and she knew something within her had been torn away! "Wait, come inside. Let's say no more of this until your father appears." And she called out shrilly for him, "Joachim!"
Knowing her call must have something to do with Mary, Joachim dropped the broken plow handle he was trying to fix and started up the path. Upon arriving, he was dismayed at Mary's news. "Now?" This night?" He, too was shocked. But he immediately recognized with remorse that he needed to keep Joseph's good will, still, he reacted with, "You can't go, Mary!! you've been away so long and only just now come home."
"I must go to be with my husband, Father. Surely you see how it is with me. Even the children noticed." And she knelt by her dowry chest and began to sort the things she would need the soonest: sheets, napkins, and pillows... linens she and her mother had worked on when they thought her marriage would be consummated not in haste, but in celebration. "Surely you will agree that the sooner I go to live with my husband the better."
Hannah's eyes betrayed her feelings. "Then you know what people are saying?" "Yes," Mary answered. "And I know how much it must have hurt you. All the more reason to go to Joseph's. Joseph has sent the mourners' home. He's washing himself even now, and changing to other clothes. He's bade his mother and sisters to prepare the evening meal and--if you are willing--if you and my father will come to share it," she added hopefully, "it would add to our happiness."
Hannah went also to Mary's dowry chest, and sounding quite piteous, said, "No wedding. No happy procession, no torches, no music, no feast--after all our plans--our daughter to be led off with a bowed head into a small cave that is yet to become a house!" Then, Joachim spoke up, rather forcefully, "Let's not moan about no wedding! Rather, let's be thankful that Joseph's willing to take our girl as his wife!"
Mary, too, spoke. "Father's right. What if I had been betrothed to someone else? Is it likely another man would accept my story and have me as I am?" But Hannah, accusing, answered, "He's always loved you, beyond all reason. He's simply unwilling to give you up!" But Mary insisted, "Surely you don't think it would be better if Joseph abandoned me! Joseph believes!!" The wonder of it made Mary's face glow with love. "He believes. He is not taking me out of kindness to spare me, or even because he loves me. But only-at last- because-- he too, believes!" Her whole being was alive with the truth, and she added, "He knows now that this is not shame that has befallen me, but honor--that I am honored above all women!"
"Now, Joseph's house is almost finished. We'll sleep there this night. And we'll go into his house proudly--not with bowed heads--knowing how great a thing has befallen us. Both of us. For no matter what people are saying, they are wrong. This child that I carry is the child of no man, but as I told you both in the beginning, the child of Him who created us all. The child is destined to be our deliverer." And she followed with, "Oh! Mother! I beg you to try to believe for your own soul's peace!"
(End of today's story.)
And may peace be with you, also, my dear reader!
Jo INMN
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