At
some point in Elizabeth’s third trimester, her relative Mary, in her own first
trimester, comes to stay. She will remain with Elizabeth until around the birth
of John, and then return home.
The
two women laugh; wonder at the unexpected way their lives have turned out; sing
revolutionary songs about the overthrowing of the Roman Empire (which itself
had not so long ago overthrown the Roman Republic; which in its time had taken
control of the Levant, establishing client rulers in Judea [Judea and Idumea]
and the Decapolis [Galilee and Samaria] under Syria under Rome).
They
probably also orchestrated practical arrangements within Elizabeth and
Zechariah’s home. But they undertook no public facing duties. Someone else
would have to fetch water from the well. Someone else would have to say their
prayers at the synagogue: they would pray in the temple of the home, and commune
with God in the Holy of Holies of their wombs, in which the salvation plan of
the sovereign Lord was being fleshed out.
Sometimes
what the world needs from you is your unavailability.
This
Christmas, how might you be more Mary and Elizabeth?
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