What is it with that family and Angels?

Reflection by a family member or close friend of Elizabeth/Mary

Here we are, nearly at the end of another year.  

I don’t remember when so much happened in so short a time.

You’ve heard about Mary and Joseph’s baby - such a cutie…

But that wasn’t the beginning. 

Truth be told, the story began long before then…

Us Jew’s have been longing for someone to come and free us from this oppressive Roman regime. 

They restrict what laws we pass, 

appoint corrupt tax collectors to hold us to ransom, 

which makes it harder to spare money to pay for the running of the temple. 

I mean, is this any way for God’s people to live? 

Is it really giving glory to God, when we are subject to foreign military might and control? 

Our ancestors should be turning on their graves. 

It is like Babylon all over again, but without the travel. 

We ARE God’s chosen people, but He is strangely silent.

Our theological scholars like to keep track of these things 

and the rumblings in the temple say that is it 400 years since God last spoke. Anyone would think that we had done something wrong? 

Well if we have, I wish he would send someone to tell us. 

We’d listen…well, I think we would…

Thinking about it things started to change with that funny business with Zechariah when it was his turn to go into the Holy of Holies. 

He came out unable to say a word and had to write everything down. 

Elizabeth was so impatient, wanting to know what had happened.  

When he explained she quite understood why he didn’t believe the angel. 

I mean a baby in your 50’s a miracle, and they were much older than that.

If he hadn’t been struck dumb, we would have all thought that he fell asleep in there and dreamt it all.

So Zech’s lips were zipped. 

To everyone’s surprise a baby did follow soon after.

Zechariah Junior? 

Nope, according to the angel, God said he was to be called John.

An angel…

Then Elizabeth’s cousin, young sweet innocent Mary, 

who is no more than a child, 

announces that she too is in the family way.

Talk about the talk of the town

No-one believed it at first. 

She was the LAST person you would expect to pre-empt her betrothal vows.

The gossips believed it, said they could see it in her face

Mary and Joe came up with some story about angels - what is it with that family and angels? 

They claimed that the baby was the Son of God, 

conceived by the Holy Spirit, no less.

Then the Romans decided to do a census, 

which took everyone’s mind off everyone else’s business for a while, 

while they sorted out their own…

Joe’s family hail from Bethlehem, so off Mary and Joseph went went off 

to the city of David to be counted by the interfering invaders. 

Not exactly the best of timing as Mary was almost due by then…or was it?

When Mary and Joseph returned, their baby had been born and they were glowing - like they had undergone some amazing experience. 

I know we were delighted when our children were born, 

but this was something else. 

The baby looks fit and healthy and is positively thriving. 

However folks haven’t forgotten the mystery of how he came into being 

and I reckon that will follow him all his life..

Jesus, they called him, apparently he was given his name by an angel -

what is it with that family and angels?

Well, baby Jesus has the most amazing eyes. 

Most babies are either sleeping, or fractious, demanding to be fed. 

This one looks at you with these deep brown eyes, 

like he has seen it all before. 

It is as if he can see into the very depths of your soul. 

Mind you, I am not the only one who has noticed him. 

You should have seen the reception he got when they took him to the temple to be dedicated. 

Proud parents, Mary and Joseph walked in with such confidence. 

It was not the furtive, tentative arrival of a couple unsure of their welcome. Instead, it was as if the child they carried had every right to be there, as if he belonged.

Mary’s eyes were alert, as if she wanted to be able to remember every small detail that day.

As for Simeon and Anna, it was as if this was they day they had been waiting for. They were so full of joy, it was almost as if they worshipped that child.