The Story of Mary: Catholic Version: II Another Special Birth - Ch. 9 On the Road again

The Story of Mary: Catholic Version: II Another Special Birth - Ch. 9 On the Road again

(Based on Luke 2 and the Gospel of James 17-20 )

When Joseph stepped out to go to back to work again one morning some months later, he saw some Roman soldiers posting a notice at the market. He wondered what it was about but did not want to approach the site while the soldiers were there. Instead, he waited around until they were gone and then asked others who went forward to read it what it said. They told him that it was an order form the Governor Quirinius in Syria, saying that the Roman Emperor Augustus wanted everyone to be enrolled. Galilee was ruled from Damascus at this time.

Just when he thought things had been sorted out, here came another dilemma. ‘I shall enroll my sons,’ Joseph thought, but what shall I do with this maiden? With Mary? How shall I enrol her? As my wife? I am ashamed to do that when she is pregnant but not by me. As my daughter then? But all the sons of  Israel know that she is not my daughter.’ After mulling this over in his mind for some time, Joseph concluded with resignation, ‘The Lord shall itself bring it to pass as the Lord will. He has his hand in all of this. I just need to obey.’

So, Joseph informed Mary and his sons of this change in plans. They made arrangements to go south of Jerusalem to the village of Bethlehem, as Joseph knew both he and Mary were descended from David, and that Bethlehem was regarded as the city of origin of their clan. Because Mary was pregnant he obtained the services of a donkey for her to ride. Joseph then arranged for the care of his younger children and, having stocked up with some provisions for the journey, as well as making sure he had some money for food and lodging, they set out.

In doing this, Joseph was honouring family rights that went back to King David’s time. Most of his descendants, like so many of their people, had been wiped out over the years, what with the invasions of the Assyrians, then the Babylonians and in more recent times, the Greeks and now Romans. So, there was only a small lineage left that was still privileged to have land claims there. ‘Although,’ thought Joseph, ‘ it’s not much of a privilege when you consider we have to interrupt our lives just to go there at the census time to verify our claims there.’

So it was that arrangements were completed and a few days later found Joseph, Mary James and Joseph Jr. retracing the steps Mary and James had taken only some 8 months before. The plan was to complete the business in Bethlehem, then stop off at Mary’s relatives in Jerusalem to give their greetings before returning home.

The sun was low in the West a few days later as the weary travellers saw the towers of Jerusalem in the distance as they turned south to Bethlehem. They trudged wearily across the low valley and up the eastern slope of the hill on which Bethlehem lay. They were trying to get there as fast as they could because Mary had begun to complain of backache, which, as they approached the town, seemed to begin to come and go in waves. Mary did not want to alarm Joseph so had not told him of this latest change in her pain. He just believed she was tired from being pregnant and walking that distance, and wanted to get them a place for her to rest. 

When they had come within three miles of their destination, Joseph turned and saw Marry sorrowful; and he said to himself: ‘Likely that which is in her distresses her.’ And again, Joseph turned and saw her laughing. Then he said to her: “Mary, how is it that I see in your face at one time laughter, at another sorrow?”

Mary said to Joseph: “Because I see two peoples with my eyes; the one weeping and lamenting, and the other rejoicing and exulting.” Joseph was not one to ask many questions but that answer had not really been satisfying. Giving it some thought as they trudged doggedly on, he wondered whether it had to do with the messages Mary had been given about how the birth of this baby would affect their people and left it at that. Sometimes Mary, with her deep thoughts, was hard to figure out.

They had not gone much farther along in silence when Mary said to Joseph: Please take me down from off the ass, for that which is in me presses to come forth. And he took her down from off the ass.

“Ah, that feels a bit better,” Mary said as she stood leaning against the donkey. 

But then Joseph said to her: “Where shall I take you, and cover your disgrace? For the place is like a desert and night is coming.” Joseph spoke of childbirth as a disgrace, because, again, according to their customs, the opening of the body with childbirth and the messy loss of all those fluids and blood was seen as making a person unclean according to their law. 

Joseph took hold of the rope and led the donkey on, with Mary and his sons following, on foot. There had been others on the road with them, also coming to Jerusalem and Bethlehem because of the census. Joseph had his own little worry – that there would be no place for them to stay. They finally did come to a place where they could see some other travellers about the premises so Joseph concluded this could be a place that was making space available for travellers. 

They turned aside and Joseph inquired as to whether they had room for two more. The owner of the house was at first dismissive and said they had no room, but apologized when he saw Mary and said they were already full and really could do no more. In response to Joseph’s query as to whether there were other places to stay, he really could not say. Joseph was considering going on to look for himself when a sudden cry came from Mary and he turned in dismay as he saw her crumple to the ground. The owner’s wife came out at that point and seeing Mary in her condition ran to help her and turned and said sternly to her husband, “Ephraim, they can stay in the loft above the animals. At least they can rest there and it will even be a little warmer. At least it will be shelter.” Turing back to Mary she said, “Poor child, having to come all this way in your condition.” With her help, Joseph pulled Mary to her feet and placed his arm inside hers to support her more firmly as they were led to the dark area at the side of the house where the lady helped Mary up some steps and quickly pushed together some heaps of straw for the weary travellers to lie down on. As they looked around in the gathering gloom of evening and became accustomed to the dark, they realized that they were really in something of a cave, together with some of the owner’s animals. But at least it was some place to rest. Joseph’s concern for Mary mounted though. He sensed she was going to give birth. How was he to handle this, away from anyone he knew, here with his sons too? There seemed to be only one choice. Leaving Mary in charge of the friendly woman of the house, Joseph and his sons set out to look for a midwife. The woman had told them who to look for and where they might find her.