23rd December Christmas refflection 6 Sharing safe space

 

Even in the early stages of her pregnancy I suspect she found the journey hard, it was a long way from her home town of Nazareth to the hill country of Judea. Thankfully as she travelled with some of my extended family, on route to trade in the north, at least she had company as she journeyed.

I had thought about the words the angel had said to Mary, telling her that she too was expecting a miracle child and so I was glad she wanted to come and pay me a visit. Two women of different generations, neither of whom had expected to be pregnant, both of us the recipients of God’s grace.

On the outskirts of the village I stood waiting to meet Mary. We embraced, joined not just by blood, but by the strange circumstances we found themselves in. Releasing herself from my grasp I placed my hand on her as yet not swollen belly. As I did so it felt as if the child inside me was suddenly doing somersaults.

She sat down by the side of the well. “What’s the matter?” she asked anxiously. “Oh my” I exclaimed taking her hand and placing it gently on my stomach. She looked at this old woman before her, a woman who glowed with a radiance that she too had experienced when the angel came to visit her. And suddenly I knew that I was joined to Mary with something words could not describe.

I looked up at her, my eyes full of the experience and wisdom she  could only dream of possessing. “You are favoured by God above all other women, and your child is destined for God’s mightiest praise.” I remarked. “What an honour this is, that the mother of my Lord should visit me!

When you came in and greeted me, the instant I heard your voice, my baby moved in me for joy! You believed that God would do what he said; that is why he has given you this wonderful blessing.”

And then we just sat, Mary and I, sat together in silence, sat together in the moment, sat together surrounded by and filled with love, both of us blessed by God.

 

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