The Story of Mary: Catholic Version: II Another Special Birth - Ch. 6 – Getting Away from Galilee

 (Based on Luke chapter 1 and James’ Gospel section 12)

Mary did sleep that night, surprisingly, and most restfully. Before she 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 remembered all that had happened the day before. As the memories flooded her mind, she suddenly recalled that the angel had said her aunt Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah the chief priest she had met several times,  was also pregnant. 

That gave her an idea. She should go and visit Elizabeth. It would be only proper for her, a young relative, to help Elizabeth out in her pregnancy, especially considering her advanced age. It would also give her a chance to visit her parents in Jerusalem. Mary resolved to do this. It would also give her a chance to get away from these gossipy Galileans.

But she needed to get Joseph’s approval. And he was away. However, she was not to be deterred. She found out where Joseph was and sent him word. She said she needed to go and help her aunt and would he approve? Mary was relieved when a positive response was received. After all, Joseph reasoned, we managed without her all these years; we can still do so. It will be good for her to get away for awhile too. He knew his children and the neighbours were not always the kindest to Mary. 

Joseph also sent word for his eldest, James, to accompany Mary to Judea.  James was already in his mid-teens and becoming quite mature, so Mary could accept that. She knew that Joseph was concerned for her safety too. One could certainly not travel alone as a young woman like herself. They made the necessary preparations for the trip and also for the family in their absence.  Then the two of them set out.

Mary could not help but feel her spirits lift as they traveled south.  They had brought some bread, dried figs and raisins to satisfy their hunger on the first leg of their journey. It was a beautiful day and Mary enjoyed seeing the green hills, the flowers and the singing birds as they began their trek to the southeast. Following the customs of their people, they did not take the most direct route from Nazareth to Judea. The Jews of the time considered the peoples living south of Galilee, the Samaritans, unclean, as they were not pure Jews and did not believe, worship or live according to The Law in the same way the Jews did. So, they added a couple of days to their journey to Jerusalem rather than risk difficulties going through Samaria, as the citizens of that area were not always friendly to them either, knowing how they were viewed.  Thus, it was getting late in the day as they arrived at their first night stop, Beth Shan, the ancient city – town really – the Greeks and Romans called Scythopolis. This was a major crossroads between the east-west route from the eastern cities of the Decapolis to Palestine and the Mediterranean. There were many travellers stopping for the night but their sight was not that unfamiliar. Nazareth was itself not that far from this route so many of these traders and pilgrims would pass that way too.

After stopping to rest and have a little evening meal, they found a sheltered place to sleep for the night. They wrapped themselves in their cloaks against the cool night air. In the morning, after eating a bit more of their carried food, they turned south to the Jordan Valley.  They walked past fields of corn and grain, groves of olive trees and figs. To the left lay the blue hills of the Transjordan. On their right were the dry and grassy hills of their own land. 

Three days later, getting dusty and tired by this time, they reached Jericho. Here James found them a citizen willing to let them share the family’s upper room for the night. He took care of the transactions required to make it possible. They rested easier that night, knowing their destination was near. 

Next morning, having eaten the last of their provisions and having refilled their canteens with water, they set out on the last leg of their journey together. James accompanied Mary to Jerusalem where she would stay with her family. 

The 20 miles or so from Jericho to Jerusalem were noted for the rough terrain in between. To begin with it was bleak, hilly and dry. It was also a steep climb from the Jordan Valley to the mountains on which Jerusalem was built. The winding road past rocky ledges and caves was also notorious as a hiding place for thieves who sometimes attacked travellers violently. For that reason, James had made arrangement for the three of them to travel with others going up to Jerusalem. If this had been a feast time the road would have been filled with pilgrims making their joyous way westward together but that was not the case now. Still, there was always the belief that there was some increased measure of safety in numbers. 

Before the day had ended they did arrive safely at Mary’s relative’s home in Jerusalem. They were welcomed enthusiastically and refreshed after their long and wearying journey. In the morning, Mary’s father, Joachim, convinced James that they would see her safely the rest of the way and so he was free to return home. Mary thanked him for accompanying her. Her uncle and aunt gave him provisions for the return journey and blessed him as he left. After a couple of days or rest, visiting her parents, they accompanied her to the village of Ein Kerem where Elizabeth and Zechariah lived. 

Mary and her parents knocked on their relatives’ door. When Elizabeth heard them, the baby leaped in her womb. She ran to the door  and filled with the Holy Spirit, exclaimed with a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child in your womb! Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me? The instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled (Luke 1:41-5).”

Mary was taken aback by his unusual greeting. Her parents knew nothing. She had tried to suppress the events that had begun at the well and ended in her home, but now it was out in the open. In a last ditch effort to appear surprised by this, she gazed up towards heaven, and said: “Who am I, O Lord, that all the generations of the earth should bless me? But before she had time to say anything more, she suddenly felt as though her tongue was not under her control and she heard herself uttering something entirely different and at the same time most beautiful words:

“My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior, because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed, because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name; from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.

“He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts. He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.

“He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever (Luke 1:46-55).” 

Just as suddenly, the oration was over. Mary was amazed. Where had that come from?

As if reading her mind, Elizabeth said, “Child, that was nothing less than the Spirit of Jehovah speaking through you! You are indeed most blessed to have The Highest One come upon you like this. How can we ever thank our Lord for these favours to us, among the least of his people?”

Mary had no answer to that. Understanding the full meaning of what was happening to them all was still far away. Needless to say, her parents wondered what this was all about. Mary was still determined to try to keep this all under wraps so, in response to her parents’ questions, she simply tried to say that this was just one more of those mysteries from the divine that had begun before her own birth and which she could not explain. Then she tried to change the subject and wanted to know all about Elizabeth’s and Zechariah’s experiences. 

To her surprise, she learned that an angel had also come and told them that, yes, Elizabeth was going to become pregnant. The angel had told Zechariah this when he was serving in the temple (Luke 1:5-25). Understandably, Zechariah had doubted this, with their being so advanced in years. As a result, God had struck him speechless until such a time as their son – it was going to be a boy, whom they were to name John – would be born. Now Mary knew why her uncle had been so silent on their arrival, leaving all the talking to Elizabeth.  The angel had also told Zechariah that this boy would be great in the sight of the Lord. He was never to drink wine or strong drink, and he was going to be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. The angel had said he would “turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. He would go as a forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him (Luke 1:16-7).” 

This was too much like Mary’s own memories, the ones she had tried so hard to hide. She began to think that maybe her aunt could help her begin to make sense of what had happened to her if she told her the whole story. Right now, she was just happy to be with family and after some visiting, Mary’s parents left to return to their home in the city.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home. But during those three months, they shared a lot of talks. Mary was blessed by the wisdom of her aunt. She was happy in return to help her aunt with housework. It was troubling though to see her dear uncle struggle with his being mute. However, she also loved him dearly and they managed to get along alright. It was also during these months that she too felt her own abdomen begin to swell. She could no longer deny the truth of what she had been told. She was pregnant too! This was really confirmed when she felt the babe move in her womb. This experience only deepened her wonder. Something great and also greatly beyond her was happening in and with her own body. But it also brought with it an element of fear and apprehension. Everyone who knew her, knew her as a special virgin. What would happen to her now? What would Joseph think, and his children, his family, and the other villagers back in Nazareth. She knew she had to return home but she began to dread it. However, Elizabeth knew the whole story and she, with the maturity and wisdom of her years, began to help Mary make more sense of it all. She also helped fortify her for her return to Nazareth and the inevitable need to be prepared to those who would question, confront and challenge her. 

The Story of Mary: Roman Catholic Version: II Another Special Birth – Ch. 5 - Visited by an Angel

(Based on The First Gospel of James sections 11 and Luke 1: 26-38)

Mary went back to fitting into her expanding role as a woman, a new wife, in Joseph’s household. However, Nazareth being the small village it was, Joseph was often gone for long periods of time to find work elsewhere as a builder.  Mary had two stepsons, if you could call them that, James and Joseph Jr., as well as two stepsisters, to keep her company. However, especially when Joseph was gone, these ‘children’ of hers tended to treat her rather poorly. They made her do as much of the housework as possible. They were not going to let her get away with any favoured status, just because she had been raised in the temple and had some kind of elevated station as a virgin before their God. There was gardening to do, food to prepare and laundry to be washed, but Mary did it without complaint. She sometimes wondered why these members of her household treated her this way, what she had done to deserve it. All she could conclude was that they were jealous.

One day she went, as was her custom, to the village well to get water. She was drawing up her pitcher of water when she was startled by the sound of a voice saying: “Hail, you who have received grace; the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 

Mary looked round, on the right hand and on the left, to see where this voice came. Nothing more happened; no one was to be seen. She hurried, trembling, to her house, and put down the pitcher, and sat down on her seat to collect herself. But the voice came again, and this time she saw where it was coming from.  What was happening? She found herself shaking in fear, for there was a strange figure standing at the foot of her mat!

“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the figure said reassuringly, “I come to bring you greetings,” the being, who seemed to her to resemble a most handsome young man said, “I am Jehovah’s servant Gabriel and I have come to tell you that you are most favoured by the Most High. The Lord is with you (Luke 1:28).” 

Mary was still trembling as she tried to focus on what he was saying. ‘What is this,’ she thought, ‘How have I earned this favour, and what does it mean?’

Then the apparition, and by now she was guessing it was an angel, said to her, “What is more, you have found grace before the Lord of all. You will conceive in your womb according to His word and bear a son, whom you will name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the son of The Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:30-33).”

Somehow, the angel’s admonition not to be afraid and his confident manner of speaking had stopped Mary’s shaking. She could think more clearly again and what she heard did not make sense. She thought to herself, ‘Shall I conceive by the Lord, the living God? And shall I bring forth as every woman brings forth?’ So she asked the figure: “How can this be,” Mary asked, “Since I am a virgin (Luke 1:34)?”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God. And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age – although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! For nothing will be impossible with God (Luke 1:35-37).” 

The angel fell silent, gazing warmly at her. Mary felt she needed to respond. She pulled herself together and spoke a calmly as she could, the only words she could seem to pull together that seemed appropriate, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word (Luke 1:37).” No sooner had she said this than the figure disappeared. Then she knew for certain it was an angel. 

Mary did not know what to do with this news. On one hand, she was filled with a strange peace, even a sense of joy. On the other, she knew that if she told Joseph’s children, his family, or anyone else around for that matter, they would probably just think her special status as a virgin had gone to her head. She might be treated even more poorly by Joseph’s children. Mary resolved to keep things to herself. But then an even more awful thought reared up in her mind – what would this mean to her status as a virgin? What could she tell Joseph? What would he, his children and the other villagers think if they saw that she, a married woman too be sure, but one who was to have been kept as a virgin, was pregnant? She had learned that there were some people in Nazareth who took Moses’ law very seriously. And the penalty for being pregnant outside of marriage could be death by stoning if you were found to have committed a sin in getting pregnant. being pregnant was supposed to an occasion for rejoicing, and even more so if it was announced by God, Mary thought. But she was still perplexed. She shuddered to think of the  potential real consequences of being found pregnant and tried even harder to block all this from her mind.

Mary’s Story: Catholic Version: I Origins – Ch. 4 Engagement

(Based on the First Gospel of James sections 8-10)

Thus it was that Mary continued to live in the company of the priests and Levites in the temple complex in Jerusalem. Her parents would come and see her from time to time, particularly at the feast days. Her mother, Anna, would bring her some treats and sometimes new clothes as she grew.

Then her twelfth birthday arrived. The priests, her guardians, held a council to decide what to do with this young girl who was coming of age as a woman soon, which meant she would begin to menstruate. Menstruation was considered unclean according to Jewish law. They said, “Look. Behold, Mary has reached the age of twelve years in the temple of the Lord. What shall we do with her, in case she defiles the sanctuary of the Lord? The next thing is that she is coming of age to be given in marriage. But she has been promised to the Lord. Can she be given in marriage?” They said to the high priest: “You stand by the altar of the Lord; go in, and prayconcerning her; and whatever the Lord shows you, that is what we will do.”

The high priest went into the inner sanctuary, wearing the robe with the twelve bells into the holyof holies. This was all according to the Law of Moses. The bells were actually a safety feature. If something happened to the priest, unusual clanging of the bells might indicate a fall; their silence a sign something had struck the priest and rendered him immobile. One could never tell what the Spirit of the Lord would do. 

The priest prayed concerning her. Then, something unusual did indeed happen. Suddenly, a figure he knew at once to be a messenger of God, an angel of the Lord, stood by him. The angel said, “Zacharias, Zacharias, go out and assemble the widowers of the people, and let them bring each his rod; and to whomsoever the Lord shall show a sign, Mary shall be his wife.”

Then the angel was gone, before Zachariah had a chance to speak. He forgot his prayers and rushed out to tell his colleagues what he had seen and been told. They were all overjoyed. The Highest One had given them a plan. They decided to send heralds out through the land. As they did so, in every village and town to which they went, they sounded the trumpet of the Lord, and the citizens came on the run to see what was going on.

When they came to Nazareth, there was a widower named Joseph who answered the call. He was a local carpenter, who had a couple of sons and also daughters. He gave them his rod as requested and they added it to the collection they were carrying back to Jerusalem. The priests had decided they would place the rods before the Lord to see whose rod would be chosen. 

When the heralds got back to Jerusalem and the temple and when they had assembled with the priests, they gave the rods to the to the high priest. The eligible widowers had also made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem so Joseph was there to ses it all unfold. The chief priest took the rods of all, entered the temple, and prayed. Having ended his prayer, he took the rods and came out, and gave them to his fellow priests, but there was no sign in them. They were accustomed to seeing one of the rods bloom as a sign, as Moses and Aaron’s had done so many years before. 

Joseph had really been reluctant to take part in this whole exercise, so he held back, receiving his rod back last. As soon as he grasped it, a dove came out of the rod, and flew up on Joseph's head. The high priest said to Joseph, “You have been chosen by lot to take Mary into your keeping as your wife, but she is to remain a virgin of the Lord.”

Joseph really did not want this. He refused, saying: “I have children, and I am an old man, and she is a young girl. I am afraid I will become a laughing-stock to the sons of Israel. They will all think I just want a young beautiful wife for my own selfish purposes.” 

The high priest said to Joseph: “You must fear the Lord your God,. Remember what the Lord did to Dathan, and Abiram, and Korah; how the earth opened, and they were swallowed up on account of their defiance of the commands of the Lord. Joseph, you don’t want the same things happen in your house”

At that Joseph was afraid, and felt he had no choice. He took her into his keeping and took her back to Nazareth with him. He told his children and his family all that had transpired and told them he really wanted to keep this quiet. He also gave them strict instructions to welcome her as one of the family though and to look after her well because of who she was before the Lord. He also told them that they needed to teach Mary what the responsibilities of a female member of the household would be and help her learn to carry out that role. He also confided  especially in the sister he trusted most, that he wanted her to help mentor Mary as a young wife, and keep an eye on her for him. Other than that, he tried to keep things as hushed up as she could. He did not want people to have the wrong idea about what an older man such as himself he was doing with such a young and lovely woman in his home.

The news of what had happened to Joseph in Jerusalem followed Joseph home though. So, there was no keeping anything a secret. Joseph would have to go through with a betrothal and then marriage, according to their customs. Joseph, reluctantly, but being a devoted Hebrew, went through with all that was expected.  

When all of this was done and they were finally able to enjoy the privacy of their simple village home, he said to Mary: “Look, I have received you from the temple of the Lord; and now I must leave you in my house, and go away to build my buildings. I will come to see you from time to time, to make sure you are well. You are chosen of the Lord, so he will protect you.” 

Joseph need not have worried. Mary turned out to be the cheeriest and most pleasant member of the family. Indeed, her sunny disposition, her innocent charm, even impressed his relatives and all the neighbours who came to know her. She never seemed to say or do anything contrary, no matter how trying the circumstances. They all came to learn of her story over time, as her parents came to visit her here too, having learned of what happened to her.  In fact, the Nazarenes marveled that this young woman should have been chosen to grace their village. They all agreed that Joseph was blessed to have her and that she was a wonderful asset to the village as a whole.

Some time later there was a council of the priests, those who had been responsible for Mary’s care prior to her having been given to Joseph. They decided they needed make a new veil for the temple of the Lord. The one to separate the Holy of Holies from the outer chambers was showing signs of aging. They were afraid it might just fall from its rod, it was getting so old. 

Since this was such a sacred item, the priests said: “Call all the undefiled virgins of the family of David.” Their officers went away, and after some searching, found seven virgins. Then the chief priest remembered the child Mary, that she was of the family of David, and undefiled before God. The officers went back and brought her from Nazareth. They brought the eight virgins into the temple of the Lord. The priest said: “Choose for me by lot the one who shall spin the gold, and the white, and the fine linen, and the silk, and the blue, and the scarlet, and the true purple. The lot to spin the true purple and the scarlet fell to Mary. She was entrusted with the precious materials and took them, and went back to her home in Nazareth. This was during the time that the priest Zacharias was dumb because of his unbelief when the angel announced to him that his barren wife would have a son. 

Mary took the purple and scarlet, and spun it into the finest of weavings. When she was done, she took it back to the temple in Jerusalem. When she presented it to the chief priest, he blessed her, and said: “Mary, the Lord God has magnified your name, and you shall be blessed in all the generations of the earth.” Mary, young girl that she was, did not really keep this in mind as actually meaning anything particular for her. Little did she know what prophetic words the priest was uttering and what part this veil would some day play in the life of one very near to her.

Mary’s Story: Roman Catholic Version I – Ch. 3 – Origins: A Child is Born

(This chapter is based on the First Gospel of James, sections 5-7)

Tired but relieved, feeling like a heavy load had finally been lifted from his shoulders, Joachim returned home, leaving his generous offerings at the temple in the hands of the priests. That night he and Anna made love with a passion they had not shared for many years. 

It was not long before it was evident Anna was indeed pregnant. The months seemed to fly by and suddenly Anna was in labour. Joachim sent for the midwife and she came quickly. Anna cold have been anxious with a firstborn at her age but, having waited for so long for this day, and knowing of the divine intervention that had brought her to this place, she was more excited than fearful. The midwife, knowing the story – as indeed, did all of Anna’s neighbours by now – was doubly encouraging.

When the baby was born, Anna asked, “What is it?”

“A girl,” was the midwife’s reply, “A perfectly normal, beautiful baby girl.”

Anna was ecstatic! She cried out, ‘This day my soul has grown before the Lord. I am now truly a whole woman.”

After the allotted number of days, Anna performed her purification rites and Joachim and Anna gave their new daughter the name Mary. 

Understandably, Anna was very protective of this precious child. She was even afraid to let her walk too young, lest she come to harm. After all, she had made that vow to give this child to the Lord for his service, so she needed to care for her well, to fulfil the vow. Anna was also then very fastidious about following Jewish dietary rules when she was nursing and then began to feed Mary. She made sure she got nothing considered ‘unclean’ according to The Laws of Moses as written in The Torah.

When Mary was a year old, Joachim made a great feast, and invited the priests, scribes, elders, and all the people of Israel. Joachim brought their daughter to the priests; and they blessed her, saying: “O God of our fathers, bless this child, and give her an everlasting name to be named in all generations.” 

And all the people said: “So be it, so be it, amen.” When the great supper was ended, all the guests left rejoicing, and glorifying the Godof Israelfor blessing Joachim and Anna with this miracle child.

Then Joachim brought her to the chief priests; and they blessed her, saying: “O God most high, look upon this child, and bless her with the utmost blessing, which shall be forever.”

Anna then composed a song of praise to the Lord God, saying: “I will sing a song to the Lord my God, for He has looked upon me, and has taken away the reproach of my enemies; the Lord has given the fruit of His righteousness, singular in its kind, and richly endowed before Him.” 

When Mary was two years old, Joachim said: “Let us take her up to the temple of the Lord, that we may pay the vow that we have vowed. We don’t want to put it off too long and run the risk of our offering not being received.”

Anna sighed; she had grown so attached to this wonderful little daughter of hers, “Can we wait for the third year, when Mary will be at an age where she will be less likely to miss her father or mother?” she asked. 

Joachim thought it over. He had grown fond of his little daughter too. He remembered the story of Elkanah and Hannah bringing their son to the temple to fulfil their vows. They had waited till Samuel had been weaned, which would have made him about three years old, according to their customs (I Samuel 1).  This gave him the courage to respond, “Sure, let us wait.”

When Mary was three years old then, her mother prepared the best suite of clothing she could for her child, along with other things she thought she might need to start life in the temple. Now she knew how Hannah had felt when she had brought her son Samuel to the temple when he was three. 

They went up into the temple of the Lord after they had made their preparations and presented Mary to the priests. The leading priestreceived her, lifted her high in his arms, then kissed her, and blessed her, saying: “The Lord has magnified your name in all generations. In you, in the last days, the Lord will show His redemption to the sons of Israel.”

With that he set her down upon the third step of the altar in front of which she was standing. Joachim had arranged for a number of young virgins to be there with lamps to sing for them, hoping that would help attract Mary to the temple. When they began to sing, it seemed the Spirit of the Lord God sent graceupon her, for she jumped up, face shining, and began to dance. All those worshipping in the temple at the time saw this and praised God, and all the house of Israelloved her.

It was understandably difficult for Joachim and especially Anna to leave their young daughter behind. It was easier than they had thought though because Mary, indeed, made no fuss. They went home marveling at that, and praising the Lord God, because Mary had not turned back. 

Mary’s Story: Roman Catholic Version I – Ch. 2 – Origins: Joachim’s Visitation

Mary’s Story: Catholic Version I – Ch. 1 – Origins: Joachim’s Visitation

(This chapter is based on sections 1, 4 & 5 of the First Gospel according to James)

The great day of the Lord was coming and Joachim, being a wealthy Judean man, had determined to give double the required offering to obtain forgiveness from his God. However, before he had even begun to carry out his plan in anticipation of the coming religious event, a neighbour admonished him, saying, “It is not appropriate for you to bring your offerings, because you have no descendants in Israel.”

Joachim was quite put out by this. He felt humiliated but he was determined to establish whether his lot was really that serious.  He obtained some help to look into the registers of the twelve tribes of Israel, saying: ‘I shall see the registers of the twelve tribes of Israel, as to whether I alone have not been successful in having offspring in Israel.’ The search seemed to show that all the righteous had in Israelhad been blessed with offspring. However, he remembered that even the patriarch Abraham, the Father of the Jews had initially been childless. But in the last days of his life, God gave him a son Isaac. This still did not entirely reassure nor comfort Joachim.

Joachim determined that he was simply not worthy. He felt he had failed his wife. In his grief over his lot, he decided to leave his wife, Anna. He instructed his servants on the care of his animals and land and turned his face to the desert. Where else should he go?  He pitched his tent there, alone, and began a fast of forty days and forty nights, saying in himself: ‘I hereby make a vow not to partake of either food or for drink until the Lord my God shall look upon me. Prayershall be my food and drink.’

Joachim’s fast was drawing to a close and still he had not heard from the Lord. He was beginning to be concerned about what his next step should be when suddenly, one evening, there was a great rush of wind and he was confronted by a strange being, radiating light and clothed in a shining white robe. He fell on his knees, sure that judgment had come to him, but the figure quickly reassured him, “Don’t be afraid, I have come to bring you good news. Joachim, the Lord God has heard your prayer. Go home to your wife and resume normal relations. Your wife Anna will conceive.”

Joachim was overjoyed. His prayers were going to be answered! He was practically singing as he packed up his tent and headed homewards. He first found his shepherds and gave them some orders: “Bring me ten ewes without spot or blemish, and they shall be for the Lord my God; and bring me twelve tender calves, and they shall be for sacrifices for the priestsand the elders; and a hundred goats to sacrifice for all the people.”

Then he continued joyfully homewards, leading these animals to be taken for sacrifice offerings. When he came in sight of his gate, he saw Anna waiting for him. As soon as she saw him she rushed towards him, threw her arms around his neck and said, “Now I know that the Lord God has blessed me richly; for the widow will no longer be a widow, for I the childless shall conceive.”

Thereupon Joachim broke his fast and took great pleasure in enjoying a meal his wife prepared for him that evening. That night he rested from his fast and in preparation for his self-imposed task of the day to follow. He was up early the next morning and gathered his servants to help him take all the animals selected to be offered before his God at the temple. He watched attentively as the priests went through the rituals of slaughter and sacrifice on the altar, burning incense all the while. Everything went as well as good be expected and he knew from the signal he received from the priest in charge that his offerings had been well received; his sins were forgiven.

Tired but relieved, feeling like a heavy load had finally been lifted from his shoulders, Joachim returned home. That night he and Anna made love with a passion they had not shared for many years. 

Mary’s Story: Roman Catholic Version I – Ch. 1 – Origins: Anna's Visitation

Mary’s Story: Roman Catholic Version I – Ch. 1 – Origins

Introduction

Some of you who have been reading my "Story of Mary" no doubt know that many think Joseph, unlike in the story you have been reading, was an older man who already had children. There is good reason to believe this might be the true story, as Joseph disappears early from the biblical narrative. Also, if Jesus was Mary's only son, it is fitting that, at his death, he entrusts her care to his beloved disciple John. His step-siblings doubtless had their own families to attend to by that time. Not being Mary's children, they would not have shared the bond Mary and Jesus did, especially under the circumstances of the story. So, I am going to now rewrite my Story of Mary to fit this narrative.

This version, I am taking the liberty of calling the Roman Catholic because it fits better with their doctrines as developed in the last millennium. They first decreed that Mary was a virgin when Jesus was conceived, which most of us Christians accept. But then they went on to say she never had any more children and so remained a Perpetual Virgin. With all due respect to my fellow Christians of that persuasion, how you can have had a child and still be called a virgin escapes me, but I'm not Roman Catholic.

As with the first version of my story, I am continuing to draw on extra-canonical texts. Whether what they say is truthful, even in part, or all myth and legend, is not my primary concern. They contain elements that make the story more full if one wants to write historical fiction. Also, one has to acknowledge that their content certainly reflects the thinking of writers at the time besides those of the Gospels and Acts. Ultimately, we can learn from myth and legend too.

(This chapter is based on paragraphs 2-3 of The Protoevangelium[the First Gospel] of James)

Anna took a deep breath, then another. Finally, she could restrain herself no longer and she let out such a wail that her neighbours came running, “Oh, woe is me,” she cried, “Why has our God made me childless? What have I done to receive this judgment? And now my husband is gone and I am a widow. What shall I do? What can I do? I am alone!”

Anna’s neighbours tried to console her but it was her maidservant Judith who stopped her wailing, “How long do you humiliate your soul?” she asked, “You have been mourning for days. Where is it getting you? Look, an important feast day of the Lord is coming, and you can’t mourn then. Bathe yourself, put off your garments of mourning and dress for the feast. Perhaps your God will answer your prayers then.”

When some of her neighbours agreed that this was good advice, that Anna had nothing to lose with it, she went along with Judith’s suggestion. In fact, thinking that if God’s Spirit might see fit to indeed visit her at this time, she put on her best, her wedding garments. The final touch was a beautiful headband Judith offered her. Anna had initially protested the proposition, knowing how Judith valued it, as it had been a handmade gift. Indeed, with its attached jewels, it looked more like a tiara than a headband. Judith countered by saying that it wasn’t proper that she should wear it herself, because she was a maid-servant, and it had such a regal appearance. Anna acquiesced and Judith helped her adjust it over her head covering.

Then Anna went down to her garden and found a seat under the laurel tree. With the support she had, feeling clean after her bath, and dressed as she was, she could not help feeling better and, if she had admitted it, even a little hopeful. She raised her hands to heaven in the warm afternoon sun and prayed, “O God of our fathers, bless me and hear my prayer, as You blessed the womb of Sarah, and gave her a son Isaac.”

Noticing a sparrow’s nest up in the tree as she looked up brought her back to her plight with a rush of negative thoughts again: “Alas! Who gave me birth? And what womb produced me? Because I have become a curse in the presence of the sons of Israel, and I have been reproached, and they have even driven me in derision out of the temple of the Lord. Alas! To what have I been likened? I am not like the fowls of the heaven, because even the fowls of the heaven like this sparrow here are productive before You, O Lord. Even the beasts of the earth are productive before You, O Lord. I am neither like these waters in this garden, because even these waters are productive before You, nor like this earth, because even the earth brings forth its fruits in season, and blesses You, O Lord.”

Suddenly Anna was interrupted in her lament by the sound and feel of rushing wind. A radiant figure with a cloak of shining white was before her! ‘Oh, an angel,’ Anna thought, but before she could go further the being said: “Anna, Anna, the Lord has heard your prayer, and you shall conceive, and shall bring forth; and your seed shall be spoken of in all the world.”

Anna fell prostate in fear before the angel and cried, “As the Lord my God lives, I make this vow if this comes to pass. If I have either a male or female child, I will bring it as a gift to the Lord my God; and it shall minister to Him in holy things all the days of its life.”

With that, the being vanished into the air in another rush of wind and Anna was once again alone in the quiet of her garden.

The Story of Mary III - Chapter 29 – Wakened in the Passover Night

NOTE: THESE CHAPTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A MUCH IMPROVED, EXPANDED BOOK, "A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL" from FriesenPress

Mary awoke with a start. Someone was pounding on the door of Uncle Benjamin’s house and calling for her! Mary listened to see if Uncle Benjamin would respond, for she as a woman should not go to the door of her host first, especially at night. Then she heard him moving towards the door. Understandably, she could hear a little annoyance in his voice as he asked what all the fuss was about in the middle of the night. She could not hear everything that was said but then she heard him approach where she was sleeping and call out tersely, “Mary, this man at the door says Jesus has been captured by the temple police and taken for trial before the Sanhedrin! They took him to Governor Pilate who has sent him to King Herod! He says his name is John. He thinks you will want to join him and his friends, that you will want to be there.”

Mary felt as if she was going to faint. Her head spun and she clutched at her clothes. First John, her cousin, and now her son! “Oh, Jahweh,” she cried in her spirit, “help your maidservant! Protect your son! Oh, what can I do?” 

It seemed as if her prayers were heard. She was able to pull herself together and try to get up. Benjamin saw her unsteadiness and helped her to her feet and supported her as she walked out to meet John. Yes, he was the kind young man she had taken a liking to ever since meeting him those years ago in Cana. 

John bowed slightly as Mary approached, “Mother, he began,” addressing her politely. “We had to let you know what has happened to your beloved son. I volunteered to come and tell you. Do you want to come with us?”

What else would she do? “Of course,” Mary said. 

“But Mary,” Benjamin interjected, “Will it be safe? Let me come with you.”

“No, Uncle Benjamin,” she said, looking lovingly at her aging uncle, “It will be too much for you.” She knew how much he cared for his nephew and thought of how this must also be affecting him. “Stay here with Aunt Hannah. I will let you know what happens.” 

Mary turned to go with John and then impulsively turned back and embraced her uncle and kissed him, “You can pray for us, please?” 

“Of course,” Benjamin said and then Mary was gone with the young man. 

John took Mary’s hand to make sure she was OK. Mary clutched her cloak tightly around her as she hurried through the chill of the dark night with John, praying earnestly in her heart for her beloved son’s welfare. Then John began to fill her in on what had happened.

“We had gone with Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives after we finished seder,thinking we would continue on to Bethany for the night. Jesus seemed unusually troubled and went off by himself to pray, which you know is not that unusual for him. He did ask us to pray with him – more than once. We were so tired we kept falling asleep. I feel so bad now that we did not do that, or what happened next might have been avoided (Mathew 26:36-46). We had fallen asleep again when suddenly this crowd of noisy men with torches and clubs came storming across the valley and into the garden. And Judas was leading them! He took them right to Jesus (Matthew 26:37-50).”

‘Judas,’ Mary thought, ‘I never really had liked that one-’

John was continuing, “Jesus said something to Judas about betraying him and the next thing we knew Jesus was in the hands of these men and being led away, back towards the city.  Then what had happened at sedermade more sense. Jesus was talking about one of us betraying him but the idea seemed so preposterous. We all asked him if he meant one of us. He said it was the one to whom he would give a piece of bread after he had dipped it, and gave it to Judas. When Judas asked him whether he meant him, Jesus had said, “You said so (Matt. 26:20-25, John 13:21-26).” Then he told Judas to do quickly what he was going to do and Judas left us. We thought he had sent Judas to take care of some bill or something (John 13:27-30).”

“Where are we going?” Mary interrupted John.

“To King Herod’s palace, as that is where they took Jesus after taking him to the council and then the governor (Luke 23:1-12). Mary shuddered. She did not want to imagine what would happen in front of Herod. She had never forgotten what this king’s father had done all those years ago to all those innocent babies in the Bethlehem area when he could not find her own son (Matthew 2:16-18). And then there had been the beheading of John. Poor John. And now? Now? Would it be Jesus’ turn? Mary’s heart felt a sharp pang of pain and she remembered another happening from the past, the words of Simeon in the temple when they had dedicated Jesus: “as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul as well (Luke 2:25-35)!” How often those words had troubled her. What did they mean? Now, she realized, she was going to find out.

When they neared the palace, all seemed quiet there but they could hear a growing roar of voices from the governor’s quarters beyond that.  When they got nearer, all Mary could hear was “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 

‘Oh no, Mary thought, ‘What is wrong with these people? What has happened? What has Jesus done wrong?’

When they arrived at the edge of the crowd, Mary instinctively covered her face. She did not want to be recognized and get into trouble. But John saw some of his friends, Jesus’ followers, and steered Mary in their direction. Mary saw that some of the women she was just getting to know were there too. There were Joanna, Clopas’ wife, Susanna, Salome and Mary from Magdala (Mark 15:40, Luke 8:15). There was another woman Mary was to learn later was Veronica, the one Jesus had healed of a bleeding problem that had plagued her for 12 years (Mark 5:25-34). 

They were all weeping but they all hugged Mary when they recognized her with John and expressed their distress at what they were seeing through their tears. Then they all turned to see what was unfolding before them when they saw their beloved Jesus at the entrance to the governor’s quarters. There was something that looked like branches wrapped around his head and blood dripping down his face. Beside him was a man with a white toga they all knew instinctively must be the hated governor, Pilate. A number of Roman soldiers flanked the two men. Mary knew this was not good. Part of her wished she had not come to this place to see this.

The Story of Mary III - Chapter 28 – Mary Meets the Other Women in Jesus’ Life

NOTE: THESE CHAPTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A MUCH IMPROVED, EXPANDED BOOK, "A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL" from FriesenPress

Months passed and Mary saw little of her son. Neighbours, friends and sometimes visiting relatives would share snippets of information. It seems one of Jesus’ followers, the young fisherman John Mary remembered from the wedding at Cana, had family in Jerusalem and that’s where Jesus and his friends would stay when he went there. At least he has somewhere to go when he’s in Jerusalem, thought Mary. 

Then Mary heard some news that made her take notice. Apparently, Jesus now also had some women who followed along with him. This was something new. Traveling teachers usually only had male students. Indeed, many were now referring to Jesus as ‘rabbi,’ ‘Teacher.’ Mary tried to learn who these women followers were and what had brought that about. 

It turned out that there were actually quite a few of these female devotees. Some, Mary discovered, were women who had been healed of evil spirits and disabilities. One name in particular figured prominently in this group: another Mary. However, this Mary had quite a different background. She was from Magdala on the west shore of the Sea of Galilee, south of Capernaum. Evidently Jesus had cast out seven demons from her. There were also rumours she had been a prostitute. No wonder she has become a follower of my son, Mary thought – to be freed from all that. Perhaps just as surprising was that another woman named Joanna, the wife of Cuza, King Herod’s household manager, was in this group. Some of these women, such as Joanna and another named Susanna were women of means. It seems they provided for Jesus and his followers out of their own resources. Again, Mary was pleased to learn that, in some way, her son was being looked after and having his material needs met.

A couple of years passed by. Mary continued to hear of Jesus’ teaching and his miracle working. Jesus had on a couple of occasions actually miraculously fed the crowds that gathered around him. I guess I need not worry about his getting enough to eat, thought Mary wryly. She had also heard that on a couple of occasions Jesu was supposed to have raised people from the dead. That was something to ponder. Who but God had such power? Some of these had just died when Jesus intervened but then she heard an even more amazing story. She had heard of Jesus friends in bethany, where pilgrims often stayed when they went to the feasts in Jerusalem. The man of the household had died. Jesus had not arrived until 4 days later, and he had called the man, Lazarus was his name, from the tomb. He had come out walking! Mary could not help but wonder where this was all headed. What was Jesus ultimate goal?

But Mary also continued to hear tales of Jesus’ confrontations with the areligious leaders. She was beginning to pick up that some were so disturbed by Jesus’ claims that they wanted to kill him. When she heard that Mary was determined to find Jesus and see for herself that he was alright. She needed to get some answers too. How far was Jesus taking this?

Mary knew Jesus and his followers had gone to Passover so she decided to go to Jerusalem and find them. She went to her Uncle Benjamin‘s place and was warmly received. It was some time since they had seen her. Unele Benjamin told her that when Jesus was in Jerusalem he spent time at the temple preaching and sometimes doing miracles. Here, he often also got caught up in debates with the religious leaders, the lawyers of the Torah, the scribes and even the Pharisees. Just like when he was twelve, Mary thought. Apparently, he had been quite hard on the Pharisees in one of his speeches. Mary wondered if he was being fair. People generally looked up to the Pharisees as models of law-abiding behaviour, the Law of Moses, that is. Mary determined to go to the temple to find Jesus.

It was not hard to find Jesus. Mary just had to go where the crowds were thickest. She wanted more than ever to run forward and talk to her son but she held back. She saw his young followers with him, hanging on every word. She gathered that the women with them were the ones he had heard about who helped provide his support for the group. 

Jesus was busy teaching and Mary felt she could not disturb him. However, she did edge closer until she was next to some of the women. They were clustered more around the fringe of the crowd that was thronging Jesus. She greeted some of them and began to make their acquaintance. They seemed like sincere and caring persons. 

Eventually Mary mustered up enough courage to tell the women who se really was. She added how long it was since she had seen him and immediately wished she had not said that. “Oh,” they said, “We have to tell Jesus you’re her so you can talk with him.” 

“That would be wonderful,” Mary replied, “but, really, I will be happy just to join you for a while. Let Jesus do what he needs to do.”

“You are a wonderful mother, the other Mary told her. No wonder Jesu is such a loving person.”

“We really think He is our long-awaited Messiah.” At that Mary’s ears perked up. Did that not sound like what the angel and the prophets had told her years ago. Now others were coming to that conclusion. This was truly astonishing.

“Yes, one of the women chimed in, ‘Last first day of the week we really saw what it would be like if he were our king, as the Messiah will be.”

“What do you mean,” asked Mary.

“Oh, have you not heard?” they asked. “Jesus got hold of a donkey colt. Some of us put blankets on it and Jesus mounted it to go back into Jerusalem. Seeing Jesus like that really drove the crowds wild. They began to tear palm and other branches from the roadside and wave them before him as he rode. They even threw their cloaks down in front of him. Just like people do for a king! All the while, they were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the King of Israel. Some of the religious leaders were not impressed. They tried to tell Jesu to use his influence to tell the crowds to stop but it was to no avail. We know that some of them really want to catch him and put him on trial for blasphemy and treason. “

“Blasphemy?” Mary said incredulously. She had never herd Jesus say a bad word in his life. 

“Yes, Jesu talks about God as if Yahweh is his father and sometimes also makes it sound as if he is equal with god. No person can really make that claim but then, we have never seen or heard of anyone like Jesu either.”

Mary’s heart skipped a beat when she heard about the intention of the authorities. If only Jesus had listened to her a long time ago. But he always seemed to know what he was doing, what he believed he need to do, and she had learned a long time ago that there was no stopping him.

Mary was glad she had made the acquaintance of these women. She could feel their support for Jesus, even for her. The women asked if she and her family had a place to stay. She thanked them for their concern, their hospitality, and reassured them she was looked after. She told them where she was staying; at relatives. Then she bade her new friends good evening, Happy Passover, and went to join her family at her Uncle Bejanmin and Aunt Hannah’s home. 

Then came the day to celebrate the Passover feast. Mary was told that Jesus had instructed his young men on preparing a place for them and everything had fallen into place just as he had predicted. Yes, Mary thought, ‘he always seems to know what’s going to happen.’