25 Days with St. Joseph: From Nazareth to Bethlehem-Day 5

“He [God] saw to it that Joseph be born of the royal family; He wanted him to be noble even with earthly nobility. The blood of David, of Solomon, and of all the kings of Judah flows in his veins.” — St. Peter Julian Eymard

Good morning Lord.

It’s been four days since Mary left, and I cannot stop thinking about her. “Is she alright?” I keep asking myself. 

They should be reaching Ein Kerem today, as long as they haven’t encountered any mishaps on the journey. This is what worries me the most. There are so many things that can happen on a journey through the desert: bandits or pirates of the desert, snakes, wild boars, sand storms… The group that she is traveling with was made up of just six persons. Mary was the seventh traveler. Hopefully, they met up with a larger group because seven persons, and four of them women, would not be enough to stop a band of robbers nor an attack from a wild boar.

I should have gone with her, God. Even though I have a lot of work, it could have waited. Mary is much more important than work, and if something happens to her, I will never be able to forgive myself.

I am also worried about her meager provisions. Did she take enough food to last her the entire trip? I know that her aunt packed a lot of bread for her, and she was taking water in wineskins. In these type of journeys, everyone shares what they bring, so hopefully between all of them, the food and water has been sufficient for the entire journey. And hopefully, the little donkey has been a good companion for Mary, carrying her few provisions, and carrying her when she’s been too tired to walk.

I have been offering a sacrifice as a prayer for Mary’s safety. I am having just dried bread for breakfast, bypassing lunch, and in the evening, just herbs with oil and bread. 

Last night, I sat outside the house. The night was cool, and I thought of Mary feeling cold and alone in the desert. I know that her aunt knit a heavy woolen cloak for her, but, is it enough when she’s sleeping outdoors with just the sky as her roof? I could smell the scent of olives in the air, and I wondered if Mary was already asleep.

I know God that You have sent angels to watch over Mary, and that I should not be worrying so much. My worry shows my lack of trust in You, but I’m only human. I can’t help myself. I wish that someone would come this way with some news. It’s so difficult to just wait, not knowing anything at all.

Lord, I must start my work day. Sitting here worrying is not helping Mary. I should have gone with her, but it’s too late now. All I can do is pray to You for her safety. Please, send your angels to protect her. 

Reflection:

We now live in a world where we can be in communication with anyone by the touch of a bottom. Even if someone is on the other side of the world, we can talk to them by phone, email, or WhatsApp. Joseph did not have that luxury. He had no way of knowing if Mary had made it safely to her destination. Even with our instant communication, many times we don’t take the time to reach out to those that may be lonely. This Advent, let’s take the time to reach out to someone that we have not heard from in a while. A phone call from us may be the best gift that we can give them.

Copyright © 2024 Christy Romero. All rights reserved.

Resources from the following books are being used on this journey:

1. 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
2. Consecration to St. Joseph by Fr. Donald H. Calloway
3. Las Palabras Calladas: Diario de Maria de Nazaret by Pedro Miguel Lamet 

1. All Bible references are from the New American Revised Edition Bible (NAREB) unless otherwise specified.