Magnificat

Magnificat - Mashiach

Late that night, after the city was quiet and the moon was up, Miryam felt a heavier pressure than before. “Yosef!” He startled awake. “Go get the goodwife that brought us to the stable. The babe... he’s coming ... soon.”

“I don’t want to leave you. Not right now when you are so close.”

“Hurry or you will miss it!” Miryam said in a breathy tone. A prayer of help and thanksgiving inaudibly passed her lips.

“Oh, my dear, you are very close. Let me help.” The goodwife said, entering the stone barn.

Miryam remembered the things she packed for the baby. “I have cloth for the babe’s birth in our bag. Yosef, can you get it?” He kissed her forehead before fulfilling the request.

“You are going to have to push down very hard, and after doing that a few times, you will be holding your babe.” The goodwife coached Miryam.

“Can I do that now?” Miryam asked, sending a giggle from the goodwife and Yosef.

“When you feel like you need to.” Miryam did as she had been told.

“Good girl. Husband, you need to go outside... this is a woman’s work.” The goodwife instructed kindly, not wishing to hurt the obviously gentle man’s feelings.

“I won’t be leaving her. What is your name, goodwife?”

“Leah, of the house of Baruch; I have birthed twelve of my own babes, though not all lived, and have helped bring more babes than I can count into this world. I never have seen a husband stay through this. You are a blessed woman, dear.”

Miryam nodded and pushed again.

The barn was suddenly so still. The cows stopped lowing, the goats stopped bleating, and no birds chirped. The wind outside seemed to cease.

“One more time.” Leah whispered, not wanting to break the quiet peace that suddenly surrounded her like a cloud.

Miryam took a deep breath, and held it.

Yosef held her hand and her back, not wanting to miss a moment. He was in awe at how women brought their children forth.

The quiet was suddenly shattered by a newborn’s first breath and first cry.

When he cried for the first time, the animals started making noise so much so that the sound was almost unbearably loud. Yosef thought they were stampeding for a moment; until he looked at Miryam.

“They welcome him.” She said through tears. “They know what man does not: Emmanuel is here.”

Leah was busy cleaning and swaddling the babe and didn’t hear Miryam’s words to Yosef. He blessed the name of the Lord and through tears, took the babe from Leah and handed him to Miryam.

“Your son is beautiful! I’ve never seen the animals make such a ruckus, though; odd, huh?” Leah pondered aloud. Yosef and Miryam shared a smile and a knowing glance. “Very well. Let me go fetch some water to clean up and then I will leave you to your new family.”

“I will come back to check on you in a few hours. Try to rest, and if he starts to stir, feed him like this.” She showed Miryam how to nurse him, and a short time later, she was on her way.

Miryam rested her head on Yosef’s chest while holding her newborn babe. She was in awe at what the Lord had done for her. He’d chosen her and now His Son was here in her arms. Tears stung her eyes.

* * * * * * * * * *

As the sun peaked over the furthest hill, a shepherd drew a deep breath, and knocked on the lintel of the stable where a family was peacefully resting.

Yosef looked up.

“We didn’t want to disturb you. We came to see him: the baby.” The shepherd pointed towards the manger.

The expression on Yosef’s face explained his lack of understanding at why the shepherds would want to come here now.

“Let me explain. My friends and I were tending the flock on the hills last night. The campfire’s embers were dimming. Suddenly, the sky was so bright, I thought it was midday. An angel said, ‘be not afraid, for I bring glad tidings of great joy. The Savior has been born unto you this day. You will find him sleeping in a manger.’ Then there was a host of angels praising YHWH and saying: ‘Glory in the Highest and peace to those on earth.’ Then it was dark again. We came as fast as we could. Mashiach has been born, and we are the first to worship him.”

The shepherds knelt at the manger where Miryam had placed him after feeding him. They seemed to be crying and were praising the name of the Lord for his work and for fulfilling the promises He made to Abraham.

And then they left.

Miryam prayed and stared at the miracle sleeping in the manger. She wondered if he knew just how important he was.