NOTE: THESE CHAPTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A MUCH IMPROVED, EXPANDED BOOK, "A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL" from FriesenPress
But Mary did sleep, most restfully. Before he knew it, she was waking up and the sun was streaming in through the small window high on the wall of her room. ‘Oh,’ She thought, ‘It’s getting late.’ She started to stretch and then sat bolt upright! Last night! What had happened last night?
She tried to organize her thoughts as she quickly washed her face and ran her fingers through her hair as she ran and looked for her mother. Anna was keeping some breakfast warm for her when Mary came into the room.
“Mother,” she cried, “Do you remember last night?”
“I certainly do,” Anna responded, “How could I forget it?”
‘Oh, good, thought Mary, ‘I wasn’t dreaming after all.’
“Mary, have some breakfast,” her mother said firmly, “And then we need to talk.”
Mary nodded obediently and sat on the floor beside her mother to eat what had been prepared.
Anna did not wait for her to finish. “So,” she said, “The angel Gabriel visited you and said you were going to be pregnant and have a son named Jesus. You know Jesus means ‘Saviour,’ right?”
Mary nodded. “And,” her mother went on, “This son is supposed to become the King of Israel.” This was something neither of the two women could grasp. How would that ever come about? They were as good as nobodies in their world when it came to that sort of thing.
“Well,” Anna broke into their thoughts, “If this is what The Most High wants, he can bring it to pass. And you will need His protection because you know what the consequences for being pregnant in your circumstances can be.”
Mary almost choked. She looked wide-eyed at her mother. She had not thought of that. She had heard what could happen to women who became pregnant out of turn. The thought made her shudder.
“And not only that,” her mother was continuing, “What will this mean for your engagement? I can’t imagine how Joseph is going to react to the news of your being pregnant. But we will have to tell him and his family.”
Suddenly Mary felt like she was going to have a headache. This was getting to be too much. Were her short-lived dreams to be so quickly shattered? But she knew her mother was right. It was the only thing to do.
“Your father and I talked,” Anna went on. “We will invite Joseph to dinner tonight and break the news. There’s no sense putting it off. Better get it over with sooner than later,” she finished, looking at Mary as if expecting an answer
Sometime Mary wished her mother wasn’t so practical. Mary nodded meekly. What else could she do. Arrangements had been made.
On one hand the day seemed to drag on forever. On the other, dinner couldn’t come soon enough. Being busy helping her mother prepare helped pass the time.
Eventually Mary heard the voices at the door that told her Joseph and her father had arrived. She approached the door and bowed as she greeted the men. Then their servant appeared to wash Joseph and her father’s feet before they all sat down for dinner.
Mary guessed from the subdued nature of everyone’s behaviour and the lack of conversation that her father had said something to Joseph but she could only imagine what. She looked tentatively at the dark, curly haired young man across form her, wondering what was on his mind. She just wished she could take his hand and tell him everything was all right, was going to be alright. But could she? Was it going to be alright?
After eating in near silence her father finally leaned back, wiped his mouth and said, “Mary, I told Joseph you had some very important news for him, but I have not said anything more. I thought it best it came from you.”
Mary was taken aback. What? Her father wanted her to break the news to Joseph? What could she say?
Sensing her fear, her father reached across and took her hand, “Mary, just tell him exactly what you told us last night. It will be alright.”
Mary knew her father was trying to reassure her but she was still panicking inside. She looked at her mother, whose only response was a subtle nod of agreement with her husband.
Mary gulped; this was all happening much too fast, but it seemed there was no alternative. She breathed a quick prayer to Jehovah for the right words to say, took a deep breath, and began.
Joseph’s eyes grew wider and wider as he listened. Sweat began to break out on his forehead and upper lip. Were his ears deceiving him? Beautiful, lovely Mary, pregnant? What would happen to them? To her? He didn’t want to think about it. He couldn’t imagine his fiancee being stoned by those who adhered strictly to their law if they found out. And how could they not? But that was the punishment for being pregnant outside of marriage.
It was all too much. Joseph jumped up and blurted out, “I don’t know what to do? I have to go. I have to tell my parents. I have to think about this.” He headed for the door, then quickly turned, “Joachim, Anna, thank you for dinner; thank you for everything.” Tears swelled up in his eyes as he looked at Mary and whispered, “Mary, I love you. I don’t want it to end this way.” And he was gone.
Joachim raced after him. Mary, rendered speechless by this, began to weep. Was this the end of her dreams? Anna took her in her arms and buried her face in Mary’s hair. “Oh, my daughter, what will become of this? What is going on?”
They were both still sobbing when Joachim came back in. Seeing what was happening, he got down beside them and wrapped his strong arms around them both. It was all he could do to choke back his sobs, but he was able to say hoarsely, “I told Joseph not to be hasty, to think about this, to pray about it. He agreed he would, and let us know his decision about the future son enough.”
Mary nodded and began to dry her eyes. But how her heart ached.
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