“Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.” Luke 2:1
Good evening God.
Even though I should be sleeping because in a few hours we will be on the road again, I just can’t fall sleep. It is now midnight, and I am wide awake sharing my most intimate thoughts with You.
I’ll start with the simple things. I had been crafting a wooden cradle for Jesus, the name that You have given the Child. It took me a while because of my other responsibilities, but I was finally able to finish it last week. I brought it home to Mary, and she was overwhelmed with joy.
We placed the cradle in her room, next to her bed. Right away, she dressed the cradle with the blanket that she has sewn with so much care. She also put in there the swaddling clothes and coverlets that she had already finished.
Unfortunately, I had to return to Sepphoris the following day. I was not getting many new orders from Nazareth, so I had to go to the capital where it is urgent that I finish the big assignment that has been commissioned to me. Even though I do not like to leave Mary alone, I didn’t have a choice. While I was gone, Mary kept herself busy finishing up the swaddling bands for the baby, and taking care of the household chores.
This morning, I returned from my trip to Sepphoris. I was exhausted, and on edge. Mary must have noticed the worry in my face because she asked me: “What’s wrong, Joseph?”
“I didn’t want to tell you, Mary, because I did not want you to worry,” I answered. “But as I was returning from Sepphoris, a group of Roman soldiers in horses made their way into Nazareth. They gathered at the square, and the centurion read the following decree: ‘By order of Caesar Augustus, General Quirinius, governor of Syria, all inhabitants of the earth must register for the census, each in his own city, and within the month.’ When the soldiers left, the rabbi read the decree. As you can imagine, everyone is very upset. The object of this census is to make all the inhabitants acknowledge themselves as vassals of the emperor, and to pay a certain tax to their temporal lord.”
“What are we going to do, Joseph?” Mary asked me. “The baby is due to arrive in just a few weeks.”
I tried to calm her down, but I was very concerned too. I am from Bethlehem, a five day trip in Mary’s condition. We conferred with each other about the course of action to be pursued, and we decided that the best thing would be to leave right away. Hopefully, we would have enough time to go, register, and return before the baby is born.
“Mary, we will leave tomorrow,” I told her.
In the afternoon, we went to visit our families to let them know that we would be departing to Bethlehem the following day. Unfortunately, Mary has no choice but to go with me because the decree also stated that both the head of the family and the spouse had to be present for the registration. Otherwise, I would have left her with her aunt and uncle.
We are not the only ones in this situation. A lot of people in Nazareth have to go to other cities to fulfill the requirements of the decree, and register for the census in their birth places. There is a lot of commotion in the entire town, as people are getting ready to depart.
I am very nervous, Lord, I cannot deny it. For Mary to have to travel, in the advanced stage of her pregnancy, is a huge risk. She was also counting on the help of her aunt, my sisters, and other ladies from our town to be by her side when she gives birth. She found peace knowing that her son, Your Son, would be born in our home, surrounded by people that we know and love. I also imagined him safe in the cradle that I built for him, with my own hands and with so much love. Now, we have to pack just the bare necessities, and travel for five days not knowing what we will encounter on the way nor once we get there.
This decree has turned our world upside down, Lord. I guess that when we both gave you our “yes,” it was a prolonged “yes,” and it covers anything that You ask of us. You have a plan, and whether we like it or not, we have to accept it. If You want us to go to Bethlehem, You must have your reasons, and who am I to question them? But I cannot help but worry.
We are packed and ready to go with our faithful donkey. The plan is to go to Bethlehem, and as soon as we register, depending on how Mary feels, return to Nazareth or go to Ein Kerem which is much closer. At least, I am relieved that if we have to stay in Bethlehem, we should be able to find shelter with some of the family that I still have over there.
Tonight, I find refuge in the knowledge that you, God, will not abandon us. I will try to sleep, even if just for a few hours.
Reflection:
Separation, grief, loneliness, and depression are no strangers to this season of Advent. Hope may be in short supply during this time. I need Joseph’s inspiring example of courage and trust in the face of uncertainty more than ever. How can I use Joseph’s remarkable and inspiring example of courage in the face of adversity, patience in the face of uncertainty, and hope beyond hope to believe that the impossible is indeed possible?
Copyright © 2024 Christy Romero. All rights reserved.
Resources from the following books are being used on this journey:
- The Mystical City of God: A Popular Abridgement of the Divine History and Live of the Virgin Mother of God by Venerable Mary of Agreda
- Consecration to St. Joseph by Fr. Donald H. Calloway
- Las Palabras Calladas: Diario de Maria de Nazaret by Pedro Miguel Lamet
All Bible references are from the New American Revised Edition Bible (NAREB) unless otherwise specified.
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