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 Chapter 17 – In the Temple

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

Between the efforts of their ‘innkeeper’ and Joseph’s own work, the young family soon found a better place to stay. They were able to get their own room with another family. Meanwhile, Joseph and Mary also completed their family land business and then registered for the census. 

Then they began to think about their original plans of visiting Mary’s family in Jerusalem and her aunt and uncle with their newborn in Ein Kerem. Joseph had some money he had saved to help keep them going but that wasn’t going to last long. Fortunately, he also managed to find a couple of odd jobs to earn some more. On the 6^thday after Jesus’ birth they then did make their way into Jerusalem to Mary’s Uncle Benjamin and Aunt Hannah’s there. They were enthusiastically welcomed and their hosts were happy to see that all had gone well in spite of the seemingly untimely birth. 

Then Mary’s relatives had an idea: since they were in Jerusalem, why not take Jesus to the temple for his presentation as a firstborn male, his circumcision, naming ceremony and Mary’s purification. If they had not been here it would have been done with family and elders in Nazareth, but that was far away. Mary and Joseph talked it over with them and thought that would be a good idea. Their hosts also then sent word out to Ein Kerem and made preparations for Zechariah, Elizabeth and little John to come to join them all in Jerusalem, “That way, you don’t have to travel so much,” Aunt Hannah said, “You’ve had your share of adventure for now.”

That evening when they were alone for the night, Mary said to Joseph, “I think it is most wonderful and appropriate for Jesus to be presented at the temple. If he is of God through his Spirit, he is not ours. We do need to show that we do give him to The Highest One for whatever His purposes are for him. If he is going to be our king and saviour, the Messiah, we should do the best we can for him in these matters. We should do what is right according to The Law.” Joseph was amazed again at Mary’s knowledge in these matters and her strong faith but had to concede that she had some good points there. This trip was indeed turning into something far beyond what they could have ever anticipated.

The next day little John and his parents arrived. What a joyful reunion that was. Mary could not help looking at the little boy before her and wonder what it had meant when the angel had told Zechariah that John was going to prepare the way of the Lord. How would their two sons’ paths be connected in the future? Only God knew at this time. When she had some time with Elizabeth alone she learned that she and Zechariah had the same questions. Like her and her family though, they tended to keep all this somewhat quiet. It was never a good idea to say too much about these matters aloud in the political climate of the day. King Herod was known to be terribly paranoid about any threats to the throne and the Romans – well, they did not tolerate any threats of what they would surely see as revolt against them.

On the eighth day, Joseph having purchased the required offering as a substitute for their firstborn and for purification, the young family went up to the temple, accompanied by their relatives (Luke 2:22-4). They approached the priests at the periphery of the temple and were assured their offering was acceptable. They left it with the priests and received the appropriate blessing for having offered this for their firstborn son. Then they were directed to a side chamber of the temple where Jesus was circumcised. Mary could not bear to look when she saw the priest take his sharp knife and begin to unwrap Jesus garments. A sharp cry told her it was over and she turned to gather Jesus into her comforting arms as the priest completed wrapping his newly shorn organ in a poultice and dressing. 

When the priest asked about the name of the child to be blessed, Mary repeated again, "Jesus." The priest did not seem perturbed by this and pronounced his blessing on them, laying his hands on Jesus' head, and then told them they had accomplished all that was required and were free to go. 

They were barely back within the courts of the temple when an elderly man appeared crying out with a could voice. He almost raced toward the bewildered family. Before they knew what was happening he had taken Jesus out of Mary’s arms and holding him up toward heaven cried, “Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: a light, for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel (Luke 2:27-32).”

Everyone was stunned (Luke 2:33). A small crowd was starting to gather and the family was beginning to feel a bit vulnerable. But the old man was not finished. After finishing his praise to God and blessing him for keeping his promises that he would not die before he had “seen the Lord’s Messiah (Luke 2:25-26),” he turned to bless the young couple and child. Then, placing little Jesus firmly back in Mary’s arms, He gripped her arms and almost piercing her soul with his gaze, declared, “Listen carefully: This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected. Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul as well (Luke 2:34-5)!” 

Then Simeon turned and strode back through the crowd, continuing to praise The Highest One as he went. Mary could not but help thinking how this was so like what had happened with the shepherds a few days earlier. What was in store for them she could not imagine. She held Jesus all the more tightly and leaned towards her relatives and asked, “Who was that?”

“Ah,” said Uncle Benjamin, “that is Simeon. He has been hanging around the temple for as long as anyone can remember. He is forever talking about “the restoration of Israel (Luke 2:25).”

“Indeed,” chimed in Uncle Zechariah, perhaps a little more graciously, “He is known to be a righteous and devout man. It would appear that he Spirit of the Lord has been speaking to him – especially about the coming of this child,” he said, nodding towards Jesus.

“Well,” replied Uncle Benjamin, “You have all been telling me about these strange and special visitations around the birth of these boys.  It seems to grow stranger all the time. Who can tell us what this all really means?

The words were barely out of his mouth when a wizened elderly woman whom they had hardly noticed join them leaned into Jesus’ face and then, turning her eyes to heaven, raised her arms, her face simply glowing, and began to “give thanks to God (Luke 2:38).” She kept on blessing the child and family and praising God before them all. With a final gesture of grasping Jesus’ face in her hands and planting a kiss on his forehead she turned back into the crowd. As she walked off, they heard her speak about the child, saying that they prayers of all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem were about to be answered (Luke 2:38).

By this time the family was getting a little anxious. Not wanting to attract any more attention, never knowing where that could lead, they quickly made their way to the outer courtyard. As they went, Mary asked her uncles, “And who was that lady?”

“That,” began Uncle Benjamin, “is Anna. She is known as a prophetess, and is a childless widow.”

“Yes,” added Uncle Zechariah again, “she practically never leaves the temple, but spends all her days here in worship with fasting and prayer, even at night (Luke 2:36-7).”  

The family walked most of the rest of the way back to Uncle Benjamin’s in silence. They were all feeling more than a little overcome by what had just transpired and needed time to collect their thoughts.