A Girl Named Mary: A Synopsis

   Imagine growing up in 20 BC. Herod the great has been in power for over 10 years. He has brought peace to Judea and the Roman outpost of Galilee, or has he? From day to day Galilee seems peaceful enough, but there is a seething Jewish resistance and Joachim is a leader of the local cell in Nazareth. Joachim, a carpenter and builder, makes wheels and carts, selling some of them to King Herod. His close associates, also members of the local Jewish resistance, are a wine maker and a sheep herder. They make periodic trips to Herod’s palaces to deliver their products.

Joachim and his wife, Anne, are in their late 40s. Anne’s menopause has begun, but she still wants a child. Anne has tried all of the suggested herbal medicines to achieve pregnancy, but nothing is working. She urges Joachim and husbands of friends to seek help from God at the temple. Joachim has suffered some ostracism because he does not have any children and he doesn’t think asking God or involving friends is the solution. After turning to prayer, Anne finally finds that she is pregnant.

Her pregnancy is difficult. She makes a deal with God to save the child, promising to dedicate the child to Him. The birth of the child is difficult and Anne is left in poor health, often in pain. They name their daughter, Mary, meaning “wished for child.” The ridicule that Joachim and Anne suffer because they do not have a child now shifts to the child, Mary, who is carefully taught to be good.

Being good is difficult and Mary finds that her homelife is restrictive in ways one can barely imagine. When Mary approaches 10 years of age, her parents begin to consider a husband for her, someone they know and trust who will be good to her and has a good livelihood. They decide to make an offer to Joseph, a widower and fellow carpenter and builder. Joseph and his wife were friends with Joachim and Anne. Two years earlier, Joseph’s wife died in childbirth. He has two sons.

Mary’s dowry is modest but Joseph’s friendship with the family makes him willing to consider the proposal. He needs a mother for his two sons and someone to cook and sew would also be helpful. So it is arranged. At 14, Mary is not overly pleased with her parents’ selection of a husband for her. She is infatuated with a young handsome visitor to her father. But, the culture of her time and her conditioning to be respectful and ever obedient make the arrangement fulfilled without chaos.

Though neither Mary nor Joseph expect a child so soon, Mary finds she is pregnant and begins to plan for the arrival of the child. She visits friends and family in neighboring towns to spread the news. At last, the child is born in Bethlehem of Galilee, not Bethlehem of Judea. Bethlehem of Galilee is near Nazareth and is the home of Joseph’s brother who is dying. With the help of Joseph’s sister-in-law, a midwife, Mary’s child is born. The child is born with a veil. He is named Jesus amid great speculation as to his future. Some say he destined to greatness, perhaps replacing Herod!