I am writing this last entry on Christmas Day having enjoyed again the wonderful book, "TWO FROM GALILEE" by Marjorie Holmes. I have truly loved savoring the words of Ms. Holmes who imagined the time of Jesus' birth and put color and richness into the truth of the Holy Word. Thank you, Marjorie Holmes...Now back to our story.
The night was dark and all was still. Yet, now and then a dog barked, a hoof stomped, a swallow fluttered across the ceiling of the cave. Yet Mary could not sleep. She got up quietly, careful to not disturb Joseph, and did some last-minute things for their journey the next day. She crept back and watched her slumbering child and bent her ear to check his breathing. She heard his lips make sucking sounds.
"Mary?" The word startled her. She turned and saw Joseph sitting up on his pallet, his eyes wide with alarm. "Is everything all right?" "Yes, I was looking after the baby," she answered. Joseph added, 'Well, I can't sleep, either. Actually, I didn't think I was asleep, but I must have been sleeping because I had a dream! It was very vivid! An angel stood beside me and gave me the same warning given by the wisemen!" He breathed hard. "They were right! We will have to flee! Nor can we come here after presenting Jesus at the temple. We must not go home to Nazareth. No, Mary, the dream was very clear. We must take the child and flee--to Egypt."
Mary stared at him. "Egypt? Joseph, are you sure?" Joseph was shaking. Who was sure of anything anymore? All, everything seemed like a dream, all a miracle. Where was home? The one I built in Nazareth? A crowded stable? A highway to Egypt? Everything seemed to be a mystery--where did it begin? where will it end? But he answered Mary, "Yes." There was only the truth as he knew it now, "Yes, we must do as we are told." Forces beyond themselves had brought them to this moment, and would surely guide--and guard--them in the hours that lay ahead.
Again the conflict of reason came upon Joseph which had troubled him earlier. King yet lowly. God yet man. Born of a virgin in human fear and suffering, as all men must be born. Why? Was it to demonstrate the eternal majesty of Jesus and yet the mystery of his being? It was a crude and wonderful thing to emerge from a woman and live in this world, whether king or god or slave. And god the author of it all whose image is created in all men, in his desperation to draw all men back to him is willing to be born and perhaps to die?
Aloud, Joseph said, "Somehow I can't think of our son as a king. At least not a king who will mount a throne some day and rule the world. No. But rather, I see him as a king who will change men's hearts."
Mary wept quietly, not just because of the disappointment of not returning to Nazareth or not getting to see her Aunt but from deep in her soul, she wept. "Oh, Joseph, our poor baby! I love him so. If only this child could simply be our child and not subject to...what both of us know must surely come." "Hush," he whispered. "Shh! Mary! All will be well."
But the tongue of the wagon brought a shadow across the baby's face. It was only a shadow, the shadow of a cross, but brought Mary to say, "No!" From her private place of agony, she said through tears. "The prophets have already spoken of this. He will bear the burden of guilt on his shoulders. He will be a man of sorrow whom the world will despise. He is the scapegoat for the world. He will bear a burden of man's guilt upon his shoulders to be led up a hill to be slaughtered. He will be slain, crucified on a cross because we fell apart from God. See, Joseph, the shadow of the cross is upon him now."
Joseph begged her to stop. But, he saw the cross, too, and he cried from deep within, while he lifted up and carried away the offensive wagon tongue. When he returned he was trembling in anger and anguish but knelt with Mary, crouched beside the manger. "Forgive me," she said. "I suffered such small pains in birthing him compared to the suffering he is likely to have!" "Mary, Mary, " Joseph said and lifted her up and held her like a child. He had her drink a cup of warm milk, as he had done on the night she birthed the babe. Whispering to her, "Hush, my love, my little wife. Doesn't every man who walks this earth carry a cross, one that is with him every day?"
He turned to look at their baby in the manger, still asleep. "This is our cross, Mary. Yours and mine-for you know how much I love him, too. Our cross is to know that our son's hour will come--and we can't stop it. Living with that certainty every day of our lives will be hard but it will also be our blessing, to know that in his living and dying he will be lifting a heavy yoke somewhat for all men. Life has burdens, but with him they will be more tolerable. He will bring hope! Not only for Israel's people but for all people.
"And, Mary, he will bring hope for the tormented in spirit. He will be a link to the god who really does care about us. Just think. We won't have to be estranged from God anymore. Being estranged from God is suffering, too. Somehow through this child, all this will come about.!"
"But he's so little--so young!" Mary interrupted. "Yes, just a baby, our baby. Totally unaware of this great plan." Joseph's voice broke and he waited a moment before carrying on. "Pray God that he will be a long time before knowing God's plan for him. And we must be ready...for that day so we do not struggle against him and what he must do. We must grow in courage so that we are not found wanting. Me, Mary, and you, his mother. Mary, my wife....."
It seemed to Joseph now that he knew why it had been his fate to love Mary. He loved her with a greater love than man has ever been asked to give a wife. For that love was akin to the love personified in the child--Sacrifice! God so loved the world that he would give up his own son. And that son...he, too, would love the people in the world so much that he would be willing to give his life.
To suffer that others might live. To deny oneself for those dearer to us than life. That is found only in a true union of those who love. And love--in the end--is what would bring man back to be united with his God.
"I love you, my Mary. Our love will help us make our home a home of love. Love will enable us to grow in courage and in strength, so we will be worthy of this great blessing that has come to us in a Bethlehem's stable."
Mary nodded, although her eyes were wet. She kissed Joseph's rough hands. Then she rose up and set about making the morning's meal. It was now daylight and they had a long, long journey ahead of them. (End of Story!)
Again a great big thank you to M. Holmes for her wonderful book TWO FROM GALILEE.
May your new acquaintance with Mary and Joseph, the parents of our beloved Christ Jesus bring you much joy as you celebrate all of your Christmases to come!
Love from me to you, to be shown from my daily journaling, continued in this blog. Keep watching!
Jo INMN
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