Walking with Mary in Lent...10

Bethany was about half an hour away from Jerusalem, so the women planned to celebrate their seder meal with Jhesus and his followers and return at night. Jair and Mariham didn´t leave Mary’s side. Though she seemed serene, everyone was fully aware of the dangers that lay ahead for all believers, in Jerusalem. Romans were prowling everywhere with bloodthirst.

They travelled by cart pulled by donkeys, until they got to Jerusalem where they entered on foot, through the south wall, entrance for commoners. Mary, Jair and Mariham chose to walk through the Garden of Olives to pick olives for dinner and as if God sent, Mary suddenly spotted Jhesus alone in prayer. They ran into each others’ arms and were locked in embrace for what seemed the end of time. Both were moved to tears. They needed each others’ strength and reassurance, knowing intuitively that it was time. Jair and Mariham left them alone, in deep respect for their intimate encounter. Not a word was said. Words seemed inappropriate and totally unnecessary, for no word could hold their amorous exchange. “Where will we hold seders?” Mary finally asked and Jhesus pointed towards the Temple whispering “in the upper room”.

Celebrating the Passover Seders required strict adherence to traditional Hebrew rituals which would be difficult to adhere to, after their travel. Mary knew that honoring the Jewish miracle of freedom from Egyptian slavery didn´t need strict following of the obliged fifteen-ritual-ceremony. ‘Just bringing the family and friends together and sharing seders with the boys in Jerusalem was a feast in itself. The greatest miracle to celebrate would be about life after death’, she thought to herself.

‘The recitation of the Haggadah, could not be replaced’ she thought as she planned ahead, since ‘it was an obligation to recount the story of the Exodus on the night of Passover; and of course, the mustn´t forget the wine for Kiddush prayers’.

Their Pesach seder meal was indeed a festive ceremonial. The women had brought enough food for Mary’s sons and their followers. Lazarus especially, was being hailed and celebrated, for he was notoriously better. Mary was being individually cherished by Peter, John and Andrew. Jair had to fight his way forcibly to her side, being her self-appointed, ever-present guardian. Mariham sat by Jhesus preparing to wash his feet. But he took her woven hair sponge softly, from her hand and insisted on personally washing her feet first and then those of his apostles. He said it was an important example he wished to set for all, to humbly do the same when tending to each others’ needs.

When all had eaten to their hearts content and prayed together, they bid each other rejoice in the love of God, and started packing for their travel back to Bethany. Only Jhesus and his disciples were left for holy benediction. Mary kissed Jhesus on the forehead and blessed him through tearful eyes.

On the cart, back to Lazarus’ home, Mary felt faint and lay to rest. She let no one know she was having trouble breathing with sharp pangs of pain in her chest. All she could do was pray, as she called silently for Joseph and clasped her hand in his.

Abba aboon,

Nethcadash shmokh (hallowed be thy name).

teethe malkoothokh, (thy Kingdom come),

nehwe sebyonokh, (thy will be done);

aykano Dbashmayo off bar’o. (on earth as it is in heaven.)

Hab lan lahmo dsoonconan yawmono, (Give us this day our daily bread).

washbook lan howbain wahtohain (and forgive us our trespasses)

aykano doff hnan shbakn il hayobain (as we forgive those who trespass against us)

lo thaalan il nessyoono (and lead us not into temptation)

elo fasson men beesho (but deliver us from evil)

metool ddeelokhee malkootho, (for thine is the kingdom)

ou haylo ou Teshbohto, (and the power, and the glory)

loalam olmen Amin. (for ever and ever. Amen.)

Walking with Mary in Lent..9

The whole of Bethany was hurrying to Jerusalem for Pesach celebration. There was much commotion with the rumor that the next king of the Jews would finally confront the oppressing Romans. Excitement was in the air. All wanted to hail him as he entered the Holy City.

Back at the house, Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Miriam were busy tending his fast recuperating health, while Mariham (Mary Magdalene) fixed a bed for Mary who was exhausted after her long journey, insisting Mary stay the night, knowing things would be rough in Jerusalem. She insisted too, on washing her feet before she lay to rest. As she did so, she took the same sponge, woven with her hair, the day before to wash Jhesus’ feet, and immersed his mother’s feet in warm oil. Mary had not resisted. She was much too tired. The long trip from Nazareth and her bottled up worries were taxing their toll. Mariham held her feet delicately and once she finished she kissed them tenderly. Mary felt her love and was comforted knowing that it came from the adoration she felt for her son.

Mariham, also known as Mary Magdalene was from Magdala, a rough city near Capernaum, on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Being a much-travelled route for the exchange of goods, it was a gathering spot for merchants and bandits. Most husbands, gone off as mercenary soldiers to fight for the Romans, left women alone, solely responsible for their children and the elderly town. Their only means of survival was prostitution. Mariham, however, was from a well-to-do family and though she had lost her mother at childbirth and her father to the Romans, being an only child, she had been brought up and educated in religion by her elderly grandparents as if she were a boy. When they died, she opened their family home to care for battered women and prostitutes fleeing from the violence they were exposed to. She met Jhesus one such time.

Mariham had thrown herself over a woman being stoned on the street for adultery, to protect her. Jhesus stopped the brutal stoning asking that only those free from guilt, do the judging. No one was left to punish. Jhesus then helped her up and picked the bleeding woman from the ground. She immediately fell in love with him. His kindness and congruence with his teachings had totally won her over.

She was unlike other women. Her goal was not to marry or have children. Being a deep believer, she wanted to help build a better nation and work for peace. She was free from prejudice, fighting for social justice. So, it wasn´t surprising that she should take up and follow Jhesus. He already had a couple disciples, though none, a woman. It hadn´t been easy, since although all of his followers were good men, they found it difficult to accept a woman, as disciple. Her feminine spirit and knowledgeable upbringing made her easily outstanding, cause for much envy. Jhesus’ mother didn´t have to know such detail. Their intuitive nature gave them shared understanding. Love for Jhesus locked them to his same destiny.

Rocked in Mariham´s embrace, Mary found peace and the repairing repose, she much needed. They didn´t have to go with the townspeople to hail their much-awaited king with palm leaves, into Jerusalem. They both knew what lay ahead. They would catch up, for the seder ceremony, tomorrow. Exhausted, she fell asleep.

That night, was crucial. Lazarus had seemed to come to Mary, as in a dream. “Mother of God”, he had called her, and went on.. “Remember… Jhesus was, before, Light; he is now, Light; and will go beyond, to be Light” ...and as if to confirm it, in the same dream, Joseph then appeared to her and taking her hand, said “I am always with you, ….and his loving face suddenly changed to that of Angel Gabriel’s, God’s messenger who had announced the coming of Jhesus…and slowly that same face was transformed into that of the Lord, always with her.

Mary woke up with a start and lay pondering on the meaning of such a dream. ‘Of course!’ It was clear, now …. ‘Joseph was always with her, because there is no death’, she reflected. Delving deeper into her vision, she was suddenly grasped by further understanding: Jhesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, as a message to prepare all his loved ones for what was about to come. ‘He too, would rise after death!’ Deeply moved and, finally at peace, she fell back to sleep.

Next morning, still struck by her dream, Mary felt her anguish stilled, by the newly-found meaning she had long been searching for. Ever since the presentation of Jhesus at the temple, on the 40^th day of his birth, Mary had borne a cross of foreboding. The godly man Simeon (God-receiver), sitting at the entrance of the Temple, had foretold the tragic fate that awaited Jhesus, a fortune predicted for him by the forefathers.

It suddenly all made sense. She had been asked to be vessel for the birth of Jhesus and was now, too, being asked to be vessel for his rebirth. The pain of this second birth would be much greater, but the birth would give life everlasting. She washed up as she reflected and felt refreshed and strangely at peace.

Lazarus was up, greeting the women and feeling much better. His eyes met Mary’s, knowingly. During breakfast, all felt much better; his sisters, Mary and Martha, now relieved from their prolonged agony were carrying laundry and offered Mary to wash her clothes, but Mary needed the distraction. So together, the women went to wash, sharing feelings which they too, wished to be cleansed from.

Mary was moved when Martha confided, how she had offended Jhesus upon his arrival to Bethany. “You weren’t here to save Lazarus! You were too busy saving others and let your own family suffer a death which you could have avoided!” she had yelled, raging in bitter tears at him, and now deeply ashamed. Mary could relate to Martha’s anger. She herself, had often felt left out of Jhesus’ life, and felt, unjustly too, that he cared little for her or her father. Together they all washed out their grief.

Back in the house all were now excitedly packing the seder meal for Jhesus, James and his followers. Together they rejoiced with the anticipation of celebrating Pesach together. Just as they were loading the animals’ backs with their goods, Jair hurried in to help. They all took a moment to have a drink together before departure, as he updated them with news from Jerusalem.  His emotional encounter with Jhesus, who had healed him through his owner’s faith, had turned into adoration after Lazarus’ resurrection. Everyone was moved to tears with his description. He told of the enormous crowd that had hovered around Jhesus, hailing him as king with waving palm branches, as he rode his donkey into Jerusalem. Mary couldn’t wait to see him. Mariham was sober with foreboding. ‘The Romans would not take well to the hailing of a new king’, she dreaded.



As I reflect on their sweet excitement mixed with bitter foreboding, I pray too, to be able to face my future fears with full trust in God’s forgiveness.

Walking with Mary in Lent - 8

Next morning, they were off again toward Jericho, an old city fortress on the mountainside, enveloped with picturesque images passed on, from generation to generation, reliving the fall of its towering walls by enemy trumpets, back in King David’s time. After hours of dusty, hot travel the caravan entered the city, to find repose and replenish groceries. When people from the market place heard they were coming from Galilee, immediate tales rippled through town, telling of how Jhesus, the healer from Nazareth, had made the blind see again, just a couple weeks back. He had become quite a gravitational reference point for believers, growingly setting apart Hebrews from Romans. They told how he could he too, could turn water into wine, make cripples walk, stop bleeding, heal lepers and those possessed. Mary tried to ignore the gossip, happy to walk among them unrecognized, both because Romans stood at every corner eavesdropping to see who sided with whom, and extremist zealots were eager to exploit dissidence to start confrontation, at the least provocation.

Suddenly, a tattered little girl ran to Mary from under the mob. She pulled on her tunic, responding instinctively to her sanctity. “Bubbe” she called Mary innocently… “My momma is sick”, she started and pointed at a wretch, corned on the side of the street. The woman crouched on the floor sat in a knot tightly holding her legs together, fending off abdominal pain. Filled with compassion Mary heaved a silent prayer which inexplicably touched the woman, turning immediately to Mary, from the distance. Then, the little girl’s mother broke out crying as in repentance, her pain, gone. The child ran back to her mother and cradled her in her arms, as she turned to Mary in silent gratitude. Mary smiled, deeply moved, and returned to her family busy buying goods in the market.

They were only a couple hours away from Bethany, so the caravan took off as soon as all had replenished their goods and bellies. It gave everyone on the cradling carts, time enough to take a nap. Not much later, just before sundown, the caravan edged its way into Bethany, home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. News of their coming had come in advance, so there was a quite a reception at the town’s entrance, all greeting them with shouts that rejoiced at their arrival. Everyone knew someone in Bethany.

Being so close to Jerusalem, it was home to religious families and merchants, full of hostels and lodgings and at much lower costs. As the travelling families descended from the caravan going by foot to their relative and friends’ homes, Mary, Sarah, Omar and the rest of the family were greeted excitedly by friends of Lazarus, all yelling at the same time. It took a while to make out what the excitement was all about. “Jhesus lifted Lazarus from death!” they kept repeating in a frenzy. Far from surprise or admiration, Mary was mad. ‘Couldn´t Jhesus be discreet about his miracles!’ she kept repeating to herself; her anger rising from worrisome  premonition.

They had missed Jhesus by one day. Some of the disciples were still at Lazarus’ home, ministering to his health. As they walked in, the women ran to Mary tending to her needs and taking the things she was carrying from her. They offered all, chairs and refreshing drinks; Jair continuing to carry packages and parcels. When they had settled, Martha excitedly described what had happened.

Jhesus and his followers had arrived at Bethany on their way to Pesach festivals in Jerusalem, just the day before. Naturally, Jhesus went to see Lazarus, whom he knew had been sick for a while. He was met at the door by his sisters crying in desperation. “Lazarus died! Lazarus died and you weren´t here to cure him!!!” they wailed with resentment. “We anointed him and you missed his burial” they admonished bitterly. Lazarus, dear dear friend of the family’s had passed away.

Martha continued, “Jhesus, visibly saddened, then asked to be taken to his burial site. We hurried him on, expecting him to pray over Lazarus and repentant, bless him on. But Jhesus pushed the stone aside from the grave site and walked in. He took Lazarus’ limp hand and ordered him to rise…and…” Martha broke down sobbing, and almost imperceptibly continued… “and Lazurus heaved a deep breath as if awaking from profound sleep”. Silent astonishment set a tone of awe and wonder at the miracle, just described. Deeply moved, Sarah went over to the sisters, now both crying from gratitude. Mary got up and walked over to Lazarus’ room. Mary Magdalene, the only woman following Jhesus and the boys, opened the door. They hugged for a long while, as they shared common innermost feelings of adoration, foreboding and deep pain for Jhesus. Mary longed for that exchange; somebody who knowingly recognized the hues of her heart. Lazarus opened his eyes and weekly called for Mary. She went over and kissed his forehead kindly. Their eyes met through tears, penetrating deep into each other’s soul. Mary stood, growingly soothed at his side. ‘Lazarus had gone through the shadow of death and returned, healed by the peace and love that lay ahead’ she thought in calm reassurance. It was surely a message that bore the strength she needed to face the death, she so feared, that lay ahead.

Jair continued carrying the luggage, and now, was carrying the palm sheaths… He interrupted, abruptly, unknowing that the miracle of resurrection had just been disclosed. He said the town people were gathering to go to Jerusalem, since Pesach was about to start, and upon seeing the palm leaves, had asked him if they could take them. They said they needed them to hail their king into the holy city. Sarah quickly took the decision of giving them away, to avoid further disruption.

Mary, walk with me with de reassurance that after the death that lies ahead, there is life.

Walking with Mary in Lent - 7

The sun was setting when they came to the riverside where they would camp during the night. ‘It was wonderful to get out of the cart and stretch’, thought Mary to herself as she unfolded her cramped legs. The children were already out and running to the water, screaming with delight. Everyone slowly gathered to wash up, fill their waterskins and quench their thirst. The animals, of course, were first!

That evening, after dinner, Mary sat a little further up from camp, where the rushing river was the only sound. As she did so, she prayed. She prayed for John, her cousin, Elizabeth’s only son. He had always been special. Ever since he has born, unbelievable stories riveted around him. He was rough and tough in his mMarthar and was often alone. He became a prophet and lived like a hermit, off locusts and honey.  And it was here, in the Jordan River where he baptized converts.

It was lovely. At this point, the water was shallow enough to stand in the water without any risk of drowning. It was fresh and because it was always flowing downward, it was clean. Her grandchildren spotted her and ran to their bubbe´s side.

“Tell us a story before we go to sleep”, they asked. She started, as she recalled how John’s birth had been announced by an angel. It had been a miracle since her cousin, Elizabeth, was way past the age of childbirth. Her husband, Zacharias, had laughed at the angel’s promise of having a child at his old age, and had been struck blind! ..only to have his sight returned, upon John´s birth. He was a little older than Jhesus, but much taller and stronger ‘and somehow, wilder’ she thought.

“Oh! Bubbe, Bubbe, Where is John now? We also want to be baptized! ” They all yelled at the same time. She grieved silently remembering his awful death. Mary didn´t really know how it had happened, because she had refused to hear it…something about a price being put on his head, by Herod, tetrarch of Galilee’s, stepdaughter. John had disapproved of Herod’s unlawful second wedding to his brother’s wife, Herodias. And, as he always did, was blunt and outspoken about it….She sighed…

“Come, children” she said, to avoid having to give any further information about John. “I’ll baptize you”. Mary knew that water’s purifying effect was symbolic of the inner cleansing from sin. It really required repentance and reparation. But her grandchildren were too young to understand. So she took her sandals off and rolled her tunic as they walked together, towards the river. She dipped her feet, bent down with cupped hands and poured water on each of her Grandchildren, praying as she did so: “Abba, Father, because of your great mercy; wipe away ours sins; wash away our evil and make us clean from my sin!”

Jair, always faithful, looked over them from afar. He too, thought of John. Having been manslave to a centurion, he knew firsthand how, on Herod’s birthday, Salome, his second wife´s daughter had danced for Herod and his guests, and pleased him so, that he promised under oath, to give her anything she wanted. “Give me the head of John the Baptist” she asked, to his horror.  Jair had heard the story from one of the soldiers who, between frolic, drinks and tears had told how he had been sent to the prison where John was held, to cut his head off. He and the other soldiers on duty, had taken it on a platter and handed it to the girl, who, in turn had offered it obediently to Herodias, her mother. It had been an atrocious demand, since John was much loved, even by the prison guards. Herod himself, who had previously been awe-struck by his magnificence, had locked himself in his quarters for days. John’s followers and Jhesus buried his body. Jair shuddered as he remembered.

As if sensing his silent involvement, Mary turned around and he instinctively fell to his knees in guilt, pleading to be baptized, too. She walked up to him and lifted him to meet her face to face, and speaking directly to his soul, she responded saying “Only if you, in turn, will baptize me”.

“Shlom lekh bthoolto Mariam (Hail, O Virgin  Mary)” answered Jair humbly, and continued “maliath taibootho (you are full of grace); moran a'amekh  (the Lord is with thee); mbarakhto at bneshey (blessed art thou among women); wambarakhoo feero dabkharsekh Yeshue (because blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus) and I am unfit to untie your sandals”…

Mary was not deterred. She told Jair that…“If my son Jhesus, son of the Almighty, asked his cousin John to baptize him, to honor tradition and exemplify our oneness, I too, ask you, to honor my quest on behalf of my grandchildren’s understanding that under God, we are all alike”. And resolved, Mary bowed low awaiting for Jair to cleanse her with the running waters of the Jordan. As she did so, he touched her forehead, ever so lightly. Inexplicably, she broke down crying. Tears mingled with the blessing of the water on her head. ‘His touch had been so like Joseph’s’, she thought. How she missed him. She needed his strength in this hour of need. Then, answering her prayer, she suddenly felt consoled; as if Joseph were with her, embracing her from a distance. In fact, it was Jair, deeply moved by her trouble.

As I reflect, contemplating Mary in the Jordan River, I too ask her too to please baptize me, cleanse my soul and renew me heartily in preparation for the coming days with Jhesus in Jerusalem.

Walking with Mary in Lent - 6

Back on the road and heartily protected Mary could relax. The road was wider and fully paved and being next to the Jordan River, cooler. Her unrest, settled. She travelled with the cart full of children, whom she sat teaching; her little bird always at her side.

Mary found she could teach children to pray easier, through images of her own life story.

“Yes” she had started, “Of course God exists. You are living proof of His love. God gives us life, if we accept it…but to live it is not enough to breathe. One must choose goodness. Evil kills the soul, even if you continue breathing. Righteousness is the Light that guides the soul to God. You must say -NO!- to wicked evildoers and -YES!- to goodness. You decide. Physical life is like a glove worn for all to see; but the hand within is like the soul, that actually moves the glove with life.”

She continued, exemplifying God´s presence in her own life. There was much excitement and awe as she started..

 “I was alone, about my chores, praying my psalms inwardly, as I often did, when suddenly, a bright flickering light appeared to project what I was sure, was an angel.”

She rarely described this very intimate recollection. It seemed so farfetched and difficult to believe…that now, as she retold it, she couldn´t remember if it was real, or just the way she had described it to herself so many times before.

‘Perhaps it was because she was a descendant of David on her father's side, or because she descended from Aaron on her mother's side….that God had sent her a messenger to reassure her saying…’

"You have found favor with God."

How could she, a lowly Nazarene, no more than fourteen, an orphan given unto Joseph, a poor carpenter, as a bride, be so highly regarded by God?

"Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you…"continued the angel.

Mary told the children that the apparition greatly troubled her, wondering what it portended.

"Do not be afraid, Mary”, the angel continued, as if aware of her fear. "Would you be of child and give birth to a son who would save people from their sins?” He asked of her. “He would not come to judge the world; nor come to blame but would only come to seek to save those who would be saved,” he said.

He went on "The child would be Son of the Most High."

‘Was the angel actually asking if she would bare God’s son? If she would have the long-awaited promise of redemption from sin?’…she thought to herself in disbelief.

Mary looked the apparition over. ‘Who was this messenger of God? Was he good or evil? Was he tempting her with such words of praise?’  ‘Could he really be asking her to accede to this almost unimaginable privilege?’

“Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule as king over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.”

Of course Mary knew of the promise God had made to David more than one thousand years earlier​, assuring that one of his descendants would rule forever. ‘Could it possibly be that she was being offered to bear the son who would be the Messiah, whom God’s people had been hoping for, for so long?

‘She, a lowly maid’….she continued in disbelief… till it struck her that her cousin Elizabeth had just herself, shared a similar experience. Her husband Zechariah, had also had an apparition saying “Do not be afraid; your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John”.

Remarkably Elizabeth had, in her old age, become pregnant! The angel must be the same messenger, Archangel Gabriel!

Again the angel promised, "You could be with child and give birth to a son whose name would be Jhesus".

Startled, and now exhilarated with excitement and humble acceptance Mary asked, "How could it be, since I am a virgin."

“It is your grace and purity that make you virgin, Mary, worthy to be called the Mother of God”.

“Why haven´t you asked Joseph, first, as you did, Zechariah?” She asked.

“It is the fruit of your womb that will undo the fruit of that forbidden tree” said the Angel.

And breaking down in total submission "I am a handmaid of the Lord - the lowliest of God's servants”, Mary replied, “Pray for me a sinner, since I am unworthy to bear such grace”.

Immediately falling on his knees the angel replied , “It is I who ask you to pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death”.

And looking up at the skies as if replying to God directly, Mary said, “Not my will, but Yours be done, My Lord” and looking down at the angel at her feet, replied “aye, aye” and started crying in total surrender.

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you" said the angel to Mary, and compassionately reassured her that she would not be alone, “For nothing is impossible to God."

Through her tears, Mary was able to reply, "May it be to me as you have said."

Jair, the faithful servant, now free, sat up front, driving the horses that pulled the cart along the moving caravan. He had been overhearing in silent adoration, the miracle story of Jhesus, his healer and savior. He sat beside himself in tears.

Mary thought to herself as the children marveled, that she had accepted the role, given, of mother of Jhesus. Yet she knew a cost would be involved, and since her joy had been unsurpassable, the cost would surely too, be unsurmountable.



“Love has a cost. The more we love, the more we suffer, unless we let the loving be done through us. Then it becomes eternal”, I thought as I walked with Mary, this Lent.