SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021 STORIES FROM NAZARETH - PART I

 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021 STORIES FROM NAZARETH - PART I

I’m going to write some stories from Judeo-Christian “history” leading up to Christmas.  These are all fiction!!

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Today, Sarah - the best friend of Mary

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Hi Readers.  I told Karen I would relate my story.  She tried to describe to me what the 21st Century is like (I think she has been eating locoweed or was intoxicated).  Wagons, that fly in the air, wagons that don’t need horses or oxen to pull them?  Lights from something other than candles?  You can talk with somebody half-way around the world - LIVE? Cmon - I think she was making that up!!  

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I am Sarah, daughter of Nathan and Abigail.  I live in Nazareth in Israel.  My father is a vinedresser in the country a few miles (or a few kilograms) southeast of Nazareth.  

I am starting this in the year 3723 in the month of Sivan. 

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My best friend is a girl my age called Mary.  This Karen told me you would know about Mary - so I’ll skip her details.

Mary and I (and the rest of the girls of the area) received our basic education with Miram the wife of the synagogue leader.  Mary and I had our Bat Mitzvahs last year.  And shortly after that both Mary and I had our first periods and were now women in our community.  

I suppose we were like typical girls - we learned our lessons, we learned to sew, cook, and care for children.  My family was a little less than Mary’s family in terms of status.  Joachim was a leader in Nazarath.  He could trace his linage back to King David.  He was the master rabbi and carpenter.  My dad as a vinedresser was okay in society, but not quite as honored as Joachim.

We were best friends.  Mary could do no wrong. She was a little on the quiet side, but I was maybe too talkative.  

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So, my story really starts with last spring.  As far as I can understand, Mary was sent out to pick some leaves and herbs in the hills outside of Nazareth.  Some leaves were good for colors in dying cloth, and some leaves were used as a food seasoning.  Today she was looking for some of the common leaves and plants for yellows and reds for cloth.  If she picked extra her mother could trade with the other women in town for produce and fish.

Seemingly she was alone in the hills between Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee.  Something happened that day.  Mary was different when she returned.  I saw her as she came back into town, with her basket full of leaves, roots, herbs - and even plants that were extremely rare.  

But, what I noticed first (from half a block away) was that she shone.  Our traditions say that when Moses met God on Mount Sinai, he shone with the glory of God - 'shekinah glory' we cal it.  She didn’t even see me as she approached me - she was in a fog.  I thought that was a little rude - her best friend and all.  It was like she was walking on air with her head in the clouds.  Her face was joyous and yet, I thought I saw a little trepidation in her stride.

I said, “H Mary”.

She looked at me like she hadn’t seen me, and like she was the only person on earth.  Lost in thought.

“Oh hi, Sarah”, and started to walk on by.

“Are you headed home?” I asked.

“Home?” she answered like the world ‘home’ was unfamiliar to her.

“I’ll walk with you”, I replied.

Mary didn’t say anything.  As I stepped next to her, there was something different.  Yes, she was shining, her skin was glowing.  There was an aura about her.  I thought I smelled lilacs and roses.

“Were you picking leaves and stems for dying?” I asked.

No reply.

“You basket looks very full”, I said.

No reply.

So, I just walked next to her - happy to be her friend, and knowing that there was something special about her today.

Soon, we reached her house and she went in.  She didn’t say goodbye or acknowledge me.  That was odd for my best friend.

That was the last I saw of her for about six months or so.  

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It was like they left in the middle of the night.  

Actually, her leaving was strange too. 

I went by the next day and a strange man met me.  I introduced myself and asked if Mary was home.  He smiled and said “No, she’s going away for a while.  Her mother and father are with her as is an uncle.  I’m Joachim’s brother, Hezanial and I’ll be watching the place for a while.”

He was pleasant - for a stranger - and we said goodbye.

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Mary’s parents - Anne and Joachim - returned about a week later - but without Mary.  My mother (Rachel) and Anne are good friends.  She asked where Mary was and got the reply “She staying with an old relative near Jerusalem who is pregnant.” 

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My mother and other friends really wondered.  My Mom did try to get more information from Mary’s mother, but there just wasn’t more.  An old relative (I think her name was Elizabeth) was pregnant in her old age.  (It reminded me of my namesake - Sarai - who became Sarah - the wife of Abraham - who became pregnant at about 90 years old).  

Seemingly this old friend wasn’t of the tribe of Judah (like Mary and Joachim were), but of the Levi Clan.  How did they even know each other?  And this old friend was in the hill country of Ephraim.  I’m not sure that Joachim and Anne ever traveled that far - but they did travel to Jerusalem for Passover - so maybe they had met the Elizabeth there.

It was a mystery - maybe like the old stories - Sarah having Isaac; Hannah having Eli the Prophet.  God once upon a time did things like that - but that was long ago. 

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Like many of us girls, by the time our period started, we were considered eligible to marry. Seemingly Mary was going to be married to Joseph.  My parents were in a discussion with a man named Hosgin as a possible husband for me. (Karen was surprised that all marriages were arranged - with appropriate dowries arranged.

There were just a lot of questions around the girls of town while Mary was gone.  Some of the older girls were getting married.  It just was a long three months before Mary came back.

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This time, a couple from Elizabeth’s area accompanied Mary on her trip back to Nazareth.  No one would ever make that trip alone - and especially not a young woman.

I was at our house taking care of my little brother when somebody came by and said that Mary was home.  I went over to say “Welcome home”.

And - gasp - Mary looked pregnant (and … I learned … she WAS pregnant!!!)

I really didn’t quite get the story as if she went away with him and got married (and, that would be extremely unusual for a Jewish girl not to have a wedding - especially when her father was a master rabbi.

It was hard not to wonder if Mary had been raped or something.  Going away suddenly like that - what’s a person to think!!

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Continued on Monday