Mary and Joseph part 2

 Mary and Joseph, part 2

 The night passed quietly. The animals made soft noises from time to time. Zechariah snored loudly from time to time. When Joseph mentioned it to Mary the next morning, she just smiled. She did not say anything about it. Joseph wondered what that meant. After a meager breakfast, as their provisions were starting to run slim, Joseph packed up their blankets and helped Mary onto the donkey. Soon they were on the move again.

 “It won’t be long till we see Jerusalem,” Joseph told Mary. “And then we will be only a short distance from Bethlehem. We will be there by nightfall.” He smiled at his betrothed, hoping she would be all right for this one more day of travel. The excitement of reaching Jerusalem seemed to perk Mary up. She smiled at him, but he felt like she was not telling him something, though what it might be, he did not know.

As they topped one hill, Mary asked, “Joseph, where are we going to stay in Bethlehem?” Joseph had been thinking about that very question. He wondered that himself. But he had an answer ready for Mary, “We will try to stay with Malachi bar Isaiah. He is a cousin of my family and should have plenty of room. If that doesn’t work, then we will stay with Joshua bar Micah. He always said that if I was to come down to Bethlehem to see him, he would have room. If he didn’t, his father Micah would make room for us. One of them will help us out.” Joseph tried to sound confident as he talked to Mary about the family in Bethlehem. He had not seen then for a few years, but he was sure they would have room. This Monday seemed to be the perfect time for them to arrive in Bethlehem. They could find housing, and Mary could be comfortable. She looked like she was in pain.

 They came up to the top of the next hill, and there it was! Jerusalem, the holy city! And there, at the highest point of the city was the temple, gleaming in the sunshine. Joseph turned to Mary with a huge grin on his face. “There is it!” he said, his voice filled with awe. What a magnificent sight the city itself was for them to behold. Every year that Joseph would come to Passover or to Feast of the First fruits, he would be in awe of the city. What a special city. This was where King David had lived, where King Solomon had built the first Temple. True, it has all been rebuilt since the time of the Babylonians, but it was still magnificent. Joseph’s heart swelled with pride as he looked at the Temple. Oh, to be able to go to the Temple to offer a sacrifice. Joseph would do that after his child was born. Mary would have to go through the rite of purification. So, they would be able to go to the Temple then.

As they joined the people on the road leading down into the valley outside of Jerusalem, Joseph brought up something that had been on his mind for a while. “When are we going to head back to Nazareth?” he asked Mary. She had been looking at the people around them as they moved along the road. She turned to him with a questioning look, “I am not sure. Why do you ask?” “Well, if we wait until your purification, we will need somewhere a little more permanent to stay. I will need to let whoever we are staying with know that it will be more than a few nights. We do not even know when the child will be coming,” Joseph said. Mary smiled weakly at him, “I do not think it will be long,” she said. It took Joseph a moment to realize what she meant. “Do you think our child might come soon?”

What could she say? “I do not know. But I feel the pressure that Elizabeth spoke of when I was  staying with her as she delivered John. Perhaps that is what she meant. If so, then we will be parents sooner than we think. I am unsure of all this, having never gone through it before.”  Joseph seemed to increase his pace with those words. Soon they were starting up to Jerusalem. The city rose before them. The mighty walls protecting those inside. Traveling up the hill to the city, one realized how mighty the city truly was. Those walls rose to great heights above the pilgrims as they approached the city gates. Someone began to sing one of the Psalms of Ascent. Joseph lifted his voice and joined with them. Every time he approached the city, he felt like singing. This was King David’s city. This was the place of YHWH’s house. It was a special place.

 Mary and Joseph entered through the Sheep Gate. Joseph was like an excited child as he saw the Temple, the crowds, the markets, the city. He would have gone right to the Temple, but he could not. He would have to purify himself to go to the Temple. And he had Mary who was wearing out from the journey. So, he kept moving, slowing down the streets of the city, winding their way towards the south side of the city, for there they would exit and head to Bethlehem. They stopped long enough to purchase something for lunch. It was a good meal. Better than they had on the journey here. But it cost them much more than they would have paid in Nazareth. Even here in this holy city, people took advantage of others. It should be so. But it was true.

Soon they passed through the Essene Gate on the southwest corner of the city and began to make their way towards Bethlehem. The sun was starting to grow low on the horizon as the evening was coming. Joseph had the hopes that they would make it to Bethlehem before dark. For that to happen, they would need to keep moving. It took longer than he expected getting through Jerusalem. Maybe it was the crowds or maybe it was because Joseph wanting to drink in as much of the city as he could. Whatever the reason, they were moving again.

 As they plodded along, Joseph looked out on the fields and could see the tufts of white on the hills. He could hear the song of the shepherds as they sang to their flocks. Joseph spoke quietly to Mary, not wanting to destroy the moment, “Shepherds, keeping watch over their flocks. Listen to their lovely songs.” It was beautiful to listen to the shepherds singing. They had some amazing voices, Unfortunately, very few people were privileged to hear their songs. Too many people felt that the shepherds were beneath them. They lived out in the fields for weeks at a time. So, they were forgotten by many. Yet, when it came time to for the Passover, the sheep that were raised by these lowly shepherds were desired by all. Joseph thought about that while listening to their song. It made the trip from Jerusalem to Bethlehem much easier. Joseph quietly thanked the Lord for the moments that they were having that day. The trip through Jerusalem, the view of the Temple, the sights and sounds of the city and the song of the shepherds.

 The sun was beginning to sink on the horizon. The lights of Bethlehem were starting to show before them. The quiet winking of the lamps filled with oil. Families would light a lamp and set it on a table in the middle of the house so it would give light to all around. Yes, it was comforting to see. Soon they would be in one of those houses. The air was cooling quickly.

 Mary moaned as they plodded along. “Are you all right, Mary?” Joseph asked. “It will only be a short time and we will be at Malachi’s house.” “The time is close, Joseph,” Mary said, a pained look on her face. “Very close.” Joseph suddenly felt worried. Would they make it to Malachi’s house? He breathed a sigh of relief as they entered the village. There, on the left, was where Malachi lived. He walked up to the door and knocked. He knocked again. The door swung open and there stood Malachi. A smile broke out on both men’s faces. They embraced. “Shalom,” they greeted each other. Joseph asked if they might stay with Malachi that night. Unfortunately, Malachi told him, the house was already filled with guests. They had been arriving over the past couple days and there was no more room. Perhaps the inn would have room. What about Joshua bar Micah? Would he have room for them? Malachi did not think so, but Joseph could try. “Shalom,” they shared as Joseph walked away and the door closed. Joseph has not counted on so many other people making the journey. He had not thought about that.

 They received the same reception at Joshua’s house. “Shalom,” but the house was full. Family had been arriving and they were already filled to overflowing. Perhaps the inn would have something. It was worth the try. Joseph looked at Mary and smiled weakly. “They will have room at the inn,” he told her. There is always room. As he knocked on the door, his heart was heavy. He could hear the loud voices from inside, meaning that there were many there already. The innkeeper’s wife would be busy feeding all the guests. The door opened, and the innkeeper looked at Joseph and said, “Shalom, my friend, I hope you are not looking for a room. I have none. I have turned away several already tonight.”

 Joseph looked at him with sadness in his eyes. “Please sir, my wife is near time for the child to come, and we need somewhere to stay tonight. Do you have anyplace where we might stay if only for one night.” The innkeeper picked up his lamp and walked out to see Mary. “You are right, she does need somewhere to rest. But I have no place. The inn is overflowing. Martha told me not another person could come in. She would have my hide if I brought you in. Yet, she would also be upset with me if I turned away a woman great with child. I tell you what I can give you, I have my stable out back. It is nothing much more than a small cave, but it will keep you warm and out of the weather. There are a few animals there, but that might help with warmth. You can stay there if you wish. I will let you stay for no charge. Tomorrow morning, come inside and we will feed you.” The innkeeper led the couple to the stable, and left his lamp with them, “for light, should you need it,” he said.

 Mary thanked him. Joseph helped her down off the donkey. He made a bed for her in the straw, pushing the animals out of the way. Their donkey seemed pleased to have a place with straw, and a trough with water.

 Mary lay down on the straw, looked at Joseph and asked, “How you ever delivered a child?” He looked at her, his eyes big as saucers. “No,” he said, “but I have helped Enoch the shepherd in Bethlehem deliver his lambs. It might not be that different.” He smiled, hoping that his answer would suffice.

 “It is enough,” Mary said. With a loud groan, she said, “It is time!”