[G] During our last conversation you told of the trip from home down to Ain Karim. Shall we proceed?
[M] Yes. With my father as companion, this was a most rewarding experience.
Jewish daughters often do not have such opportunity, just the two of us speaking of my betrothal, the visit of the angel and of my new concerns. How blessed I was for such a father. Grateful too was I for his guidance and love. Gabe, over and over again, on trail, in camp, and at prayer father Joachim thanked the Most Holy One for me and for my new role in life.
Shortly after greeting Elizabeth and Zechariah, father took leave, returning to our home. I learned that father had made arrangements with Zechariah that, at the time of my choosing, safe escort would be provided for my own sojourn back to Nazareth. I should also mention that Zechariah had been a Temple priest of the order of Abijah.
I was struck by the silence of Zechariah making not a sound, and no person knew of the reason until later.
Well, such excitement as dear Elizabeth and I spoke of her soon to be delivery, as well as much detail shared of my own news. Though the women of her village were kind and most helpful, she really appreciated kin. All the years we had talked so often of family, friends and future. Now, here we were together, her most favored Galilean and my choicest Judaean; such joy. And dear Zechariah, he was so attentive, really to the both of us. Often, he caused me to feel that my place was to be served. And oh, how much fun we three enjoyed.
The birth of their son came in the month of Cheshvan, in our year of 3755. As all was well with the new child and the proud parents, by their encouragement, I took my leave.
I was most welcomed to join with three families, all Judaeans. They were to be traveling north to Sepphoris. That path would take them so close to my village, a secure circumstance for me. Gabe, so often I speak of Ahavat Yisroel, that love and caring of one Jew for another Jew. So that I would become comfortable with these strangers, Zechariah chose to join us through the first day and camp. At my bidding, the next morning he returned to Ain Karim. How fortunate are we, blessed by The Most Holy One, forever attentive to the needs of his people.
Oh Gabe, there is something about which I just had recall. A long time after the birth of Elizabeth’s child, she shared the story of Berith Milah. Tradition required that a child be called of the same name as his father or some ancestor.
Learning that my cousin was with child was the occasion that first Zechariah came to be without speech. When they took the newborn to Temple, he wrote on a tablet, “The name is to be John.” Immediately, the voice of Zechariah returned to the previous strength. He then directed the priest of Kohanim to proceed with the presentation of their child to The Most Holy One.
Now back to the sojourn. Perhaps it might be misleading were I to say my eagerness to return was simply result of missing Yosef and my parents. With certainty, I still had to discuss with Yosef the event with the angel. What feelings would he have? What of our future?
The Judaeans and I took leave just a short distance from my village. With quickness of step, I moved.
Then again, Adonai caused a most unusual occurrence. I saw my Yosef running towards me. We embraced briefly. His face showed some worry, some deep uncertainty. My first thought was how could he have anticipated my presence at this moment, as there had, of course, been no contact for perhaps three very long months? Yosef said that he had been hard at work in his shed when he was impelled to come to this place with great haste.
Gabe, I feel somewhat in stress to discuss in any great detail of the intimate happenings immediately following.
[G] Perhaps then it would be better should that we merely go on with another story, or take rest.
[M] Is it not strange that, just by speaking those few words and hearing your kindly response I sense calm? Let us then continue.
Yosef had only until now heard of my circumstance from my father Joachim. I was surprised that his first thought was of concern for me. He wondered if a shameful act by some soldier or other villain had taken place which forced me to make up the story about the angel’s announcement. For an instant, my reaction was most filled with the greatest distress. Was this man, my betrothed, in doubt of my words? What kind of question? But just as quickly, by looking on his face I saw of his concern not for himself, but for me only. Well, he too looked upon me, and I am most assured, sensed my shock. One does not always need words to understand such things. At times like that, it is best that an abundance of talk does not take place.
Yosef took my hand and we walked to my home. He said only, but in the most reassuring way, that we must meet very early in the morning up on our hill.
I was greeted with love and attention by my parents. So tired was I that after washing away the dust and grime of the sojourn and taking but little food I sought the comfort, at last, of my own pallet to rest, to pray and to dream.
Before the first light, I was up on our hill awaiting Yosef. He came rushing as thus I have always observed him. That man was never one to walk at slow pace.
Yosef embraced me, not a spoken word, yet I knew all would forever be holy and true between us. Firstly, he told me that he had prayed, took of some uneasy rest, and awakened to full understanding of the events of that announcement. Yosef spoke of how, during the night, he had experienced such recall, such awareness that it was as though both of us had been together at that time. Blessed were I and my beloved Yosef, then and always, by the grace of the Most Holy One.
And Gabe is it not forever true that ancient trust, “Never forsaken by the Lord of those who seek him.”
It is curious that just nine people held knowledge of the circumstances of my being with child. They were my beloved Yosef, his parents Rachel and Jacob, my dear mother and father, Elizabeth, Zechariah and my friend, Rivka. Let me see, that counts of only eight. Oh yes, myself, of course. That is number nine. And now, you too dear Gabe are aware; certainly, not previously.
I know it to be most exact that in days to come all peoples of this earth will learn of this circumstance of the beginnings and marvels of my firstborn son, Yeshua, Moshiach.