(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.
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