Story behind The Story.

When they finished everything required by God in the Law, they returned to Galilee and their own town, Nazareth. There the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace of God was on him."

Luke 2:39 - 40

This little gap, between verses 38 and 39, speaks volumes. Between Bethlehem and Nazareth were several years... it is said that they remained in Bethlehem long enough for the wise men to visit them before they fled to Egypt in front of Herod's murdering soldiers.

Such obedience from Mary and Joseph: fulfilling the law: the circumcision, and naming, affirming again the separation, the setting apart, of the Jews from the Gentiles: and yet this boy was to bring unity to all the world under God;
the giving of the first-born to God, acknowledging that Jesus belonged to God, who gave him life: and how very true this was for THIS boy;
the cleansing of Mary, making her fit once again to worship God in the temple: but of course she worshipped Him in her heart, wherever she was - as she and Joseph would have to do in Egypt.

And once in Nazareth.... Nazareth was home.
There they could settle, surrounded by family
who would help them in bringing up their son.

So he grew, physically strong and spiritually wise.
Emotionally gracious.
Perfect.
Jesus.

Journeying

Elizabeth with child!  Pregnant! Expecting a baby!

If Mary had thought her own news challenging to believe, so was Elizabeth's. This elderly lady, gone far beyond expectation of conceiving, now awaited a child.
Wonderful.
Mary just HAD to see her.
(Or was it also to escape the prying eyes, the village gossip
of unwed maiden suddenly expecting? Who would believe
crazy stories of angels from a mere girl?)

Luke 1:39 - 40
A few days later Mary hurried to the highlands of Judea to the town where Zacharias lived, to visit Elizabeth.
What a journey.

We are told it would have taken

three to five days

depending on whether she travelled with a caravan

or alone.

in any case

a girl, a young girl, barely pregnant.

Perhaps fourteen years old? Scarcely older

than her son would be

when he chose to stay in His Father's House

after the Passover festival.

Was she used to travel?

Did she, too, journey with her family to Jerusalem

for holy celebration?

Or was this her first time?

Her first, holy, journey?

What about us? Where will we journey to?

Far-off places?

Other homes?

Reconnect with relatives?

Find friends, old and new?

Travel inwards, 

hurrying to revelation, to

reach the inner places of our souls?

Advent. The coming. Where are we going?