CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
All of Grandmother's fifteen children were born at home. Many of
the children who were born in the Quarry in those days came into
the world without the assistance of a doctor, nurse or midwife.
Most of the local women had assisted each other at the births of
a number of babies, and were very experienced and competent. But
Grandmother ensured that the midwife from the Health Board was
present to deliver each of her babies. The presence of a
qualified midwife at the time of the birth helped allay some of
the anxiety and nervousness experienced by many women. This was
particularly so concerning young first - time mothers.
I couldn't help but wonder how anxious or nervous the Blessed
Virgin may have been, there in the stable in Bethlehem, as the
time drew near for the birth of her first - born son. And I
wondered how she felt a short time later, as she held her new -
born baby in her arms, and pondered the implications of
motherhood. It was all new to her.
I reckoned she didn't have all the advantages mothers of today
have, as I thought of the availability of countless books
containing instructions and advice for young mothers. But as I
read the account of Mary's life in the Scriptures, I discovered
that she did, in fact, have access to written instructions for
mothers. Mary followed the instructions laid down in the Old
Testament. Luke highlights this in the following verses: "On
the eight day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named
Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been
conceived. When the time of their purification according to the
law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to
Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord ( As it is written in the
law of the Lord, `Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to
the Lord' ), and to offer sacrifices in keeping with what is said
in the Law of the Lord: `A pair of doves or two young
pigeons.'"1
Mary's obedience to God's Law is seen on the occasion of the
circumcision and naming of the child, and also at the
presentation of the child in the Temple. When Jesus was eight
days old, he was circumcised. Then, forty days after the birth of
her baby, Mary and Joseph brought Him to the Temple to present
Him to the Lord. According to the Law of Moses, a woman to whom a
son had been born could not return to the Sanctuary until forty
days after the birth. Upon her return she was required to bring
to the Sanctuary a lamb, for a Burnt Offering. This would be
offered in thanksgiving to God for bringing her safely through
the pregnancy and child - birth. A Sin Offering was also
required. This was offered to make atonement for sin. If the
woman was poor, and couldn't afford a lamb, a pair of turtle
doves or two pigeons would suffice.
Though Mary had given birth to God's Son, she did not see herself as being different from any other mother. She too, was subject to God and to His Law, and made the required sacrifices and offerings. Mary, like the other mothers, was required to make not only a Burnt Offering, but also a Sin Offering. She did not object to this, for she never claimed to be without sin. If Mary had been sinless, she would not have been required to make a Sin Offering.
This was the first of a number of visits Mary would make to
the Temple after giving birth to a child. She bore a number of
children for Joseph. Matthew tells us of Joseph's obedience to
the angel's instructions; "When Joseph woke up, he did what
the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his
wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son.
And he gave him the name Jesus."2 Joseph did not have any
sexual relationship with Mary until after the birth of Jesus.
Then their marriage was blessed with a number of children, as is
clear from Scripture itself; "Isn't this the carpenter?
Isn't this Mary's son, and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas (
not Iscariot ) and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?"3
; "While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother
and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him"4 ;
"Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but they
were not able to get near him because of the crowd"5 ;
"After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and
brothers and his disciples."6 In fact, two of the New
Testament books were written by Joseph and Mary's sons, James and
Jude.
When I was growing up, I had been taught that Mary always
remained a virgin. The Roman Catholic Church calls this teaching
'The Perpetual Virginity of Mary', and states that she and her
husband Joseph never had a sexual relationship. So I was really
surprised to read in the Scriptures that they did, in fact, have
a normal marriage relationship, and that God Blessed their union
with sons and daughters.
While Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus were in the Temple,
they met Simeon. He is described as being `just and devout', but
as `still waiting for the Consolation of Israel.' He was not
depending upon religious observances for his Salvation. He was a
man of faith. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would
not die until he had seen the 'Lord's Christ.' And now, the day
for which he had waited had at last arrived. Simeon took the baby
up in his arms and gave thanks to God, saying, " - My eyes
have seen your Salvation."7 He knew that Salvation was not
in a religious system, but in the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle
John puts it like this; "And this is the testimony: God has
given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son"8 How
glad Mary must have been to hear Simeon acknowledge that
Salvation was in Christ.
I couldn't help thinking that the desire of Mary's heart even
today must be to see people realise that being devout, religious,
and sincere, is not enough. How she must long to see them turn to
her Son, the Lord Jesus, and put their faith in Him,
acknowledging Him as Saviour.
Anna, the prophetess, a widow of eighty four years old, was also
present in the Temple that day. "She never left the temple
but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to
them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about
the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of
Jerusalem."9
I noticed that Anna did not speak of fasting and praying as
being the way of Salvation. But she spoke of the child. She did
not speak of the Blessed Virgin as being the Treasurer or
Dispenser of God's Graces. She spoke of Jesus, for all of God's
Graces come through Him; "But to each one of us grace has
been given as Christ apportioned it."10 ; " - Grace and
truth came through Jesus Christ."11 ; " - Who has saved
us, and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we
have done, but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace
was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of
time."12
It became so clear to me, as I read the Scriptures that,
"The Grace of God that brings salvation",13 is found in
Christ alone.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
One of the things Jack and Mary's young daughters looked forward
to each year was compiling the 'Christmas List.' Each of them had
their own suggestions concerning what should be included in what
they considered to be the most important list of groceries of the
whole year. Grandmother really appreciated the 'Christmas Box'
she got each year from her local grocer. Throughout the year she
got all her messages in his shop 'on the book'. So, when she
called on Dec. 23rd. with the long list of essentials needed for
Christmas, the grocer kindly supplied them, free of charge. This
was his way of thanking her for her custom.
Along with the groceries, a Christmas Candle was always on the
list. This red candle, which was about eighteen inches in length,
was lit on Christmas Eve. It was placed in the window and left
lighting all through the night. Some people kept the candle
lighting each night throughout the twelve days of Christmas. This
tradition of 'a light in the window' had been handed down from
generation to generation. It was a reminder of the light ( the
star ) which the Lord used to guide the wise men as they searched
for the Saviour. When I was a young boy, my parents had a large
star, made from reinforced, fireproof paper, which was fitted
over the light - bulb in the hallway of our home. This was
usually lit on December 20th., and kept lighting until 'Little
Christmas.' Again, this was a reminder of the star which the wise
men followed from their home country in the East, all the way to
where the child Jesus was.
Mary must have been surprised when a group of visitors arrived
unexpectedly. It would have been evident by their appearance that
they were not locals, and that they had travelled a long journey.
The young mother watched these visitors fall down before her Son
and worship Him.
1 found it quite remarkable that they did not worship Mary also.
But then I read in the Bible that God alone is to be worshipped.
Jesus said, " - For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your
God, and serve him only.'"1
In fact, in Matthew's account of the visit of the wise men,
the whole focus is on the Child, and not on His mother.
"Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?",
they asked....We saw HIS star in the east, and have come to
worship HIM....On coming to the house, they saw the child with
his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped HIM. Then
they opened their treasures and presented HIM with gifts of gold
and incense and myrrh."2
Shortly after the departure of these visitors, Mary, the
devoted mother, would have to flee with her child to a foreign
country, because of a threat to His life. "When they had
gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. `Get
up,' he said, `take the child and His mother and escape to Egypt.
Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the
child to kill Him.' So he got up, took the child and his mother
during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the
death of Herod."3
Mary had to suffer the trauma of having to leave her home in a
hurry, and of leaving family, friends, and neighbours behind, and
of seeking refuge in another country. The fear of being
apprehended, and of the Child being taken from her, must have
been constantly on her mind, especially when she heard of the
slaughter by Herod of the children in Bethlehem and its
districts. She knew that Herod specifically wanted to kill her
Child, and this must have been a cause of great concern for her
until the day the king died. Only then could they safely return
to Israel, where they set up home in Nazareth.
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