Magnificat

Magnificat - Wedding Feast

Eight days passed in a blur. Miryam knew Joseph would come for her soon. It would be a surprise, but usually one didn’t already know the day. She did. She couldn’t calm her jitters as she cleaned her room and helped with preparing food. Feeling a little sick in the mornings didn’t help either. Her mother felt her head as soon as she came into the kitchen.

“Do you feel alright?” She smiled, attempting to mask her concern.

“Yes. Just a little nervous, I think. And, in the mornings, I feel ill some days.”

“My dear, that is normal for your condition. It passes after a few months. Here, have some water and a little bread.” She kissed her daughter’s forehead before turning to knead the dough for challah bread, which was used on the Sabbath.

“You know I’m excited. My stomach is the one who is nervous!” She laughed, drinking the rest of her water.

A knock at the door halted the conversation. Miryam looked at Anna. Anna looked back at her. The sounds of the village men singing and chanting the traditional prayers in the street struck Miryam deeply. She raised her head to the sky, thanking Yahweh for his mercy.

“Behold the Bridegroom cometh! Behold the Bridegroom cometh.” Miryam heeded their announcement and put on her wedding garment in anticipation of Yosef’s arrival! Her friends rushed in as she finished putting her veil over her head.

“Miryam! He’s coming!” Her best friend Bityah came into her room. “OH! Miry! You’re so beautiful! Yosef will be pleased!”

“I hope so! Are you ready?” Bityah nodded and walked behind Miryam into the courtyard of her home. As soon as they reached it, a knock sounded on the door!

“MIRYAM!” He called from the front door.

Joachim showed him to the courtyard where the ladies would meet him. The maidens and their mothers, along with other women, made traditional rejoicing sounds and sang as he entered.

Miryam was surrounded by the ladies so as to be hidden from him for a moment. He didn’t take long to find her. As he gazed upon her form, his eyes were alight, and she walked out with her parents to meet him.

 “My love! Come!” Yosef, smiling broadly, reaching his hand out and waited for a response.

Miryam rose from her cushion and stood, still completely veiled, and took his hand.

Walking to the front door, the women followed the couple. The men led the procession through the streets of Nazareth, singing and shouting all the way to Yosef’s house.

* * * * * * * * * *

The feast would last for seven days. When they’d had the ceremony, they went into the house alone as husband and wife. Normally, the couple would consummate the marriage right then. Yosef, however, was a man of extraordinary grace.

They could hear the singing and laughter throughout the house as they went off to be alone.

 “My love, I want so much to be your husband. But, Yahweh as my witness, I will not take you as my wife intimately until after Yeshua is born to ensure the prophecy is fulfilled. Come sit with me and we will pray for our marriage, and for the miracles the Lord shall perform in our midst and before our eyes.”

“Yosef, you are a wonderful man. I praise the name of the Lord always for you. I pray for you to have grace to fulfill that which you have promised me here. No one hears but Yahweh what you have done. He will help us both. Too soon, we will have a babe in our arms.” She knew before long her pregnancy would be obvious to all who saw her, and she was thankful that they were married now.

“I must ask Yahweh’s forgiveness. No one else, but you and I, and your parents, must know about Mashiach just yet. So, I must tell a lie when we go out.”

“I understand. Yahweh will know the truth! It is more wonderful than I can even fathom. I don’t think anyone would believe the truth if we told them now.” She giggled. He took her hands and they prayed a prayer for their new life and all that would happen.

* * * * * * * * *

Twenty minutes later, they walked out. Yosef looked at Miryam and winked, letting her know he was about to say what he told her in the room.

“We are consummated! Let’s feast!”

He kissed her to prove to everyone that they were, and in their hearts they were fully married, and then they took their places at the table.

The traditional dances, songs, and celebratory toasts were made and the enjoyment lasted into the night.

Finally, Yosef looked at his new spouse. He realized she was very tired.

“Let’s retire. We shall have more to celebrate soon enough!” Miryam’s smile answered him and she once again took his hand and followed him into their new home.