A lost letter from Joseph Ben Jacob

We were about the same age, playing games together as children do. Sometimes we would just sit and listen to Mary’s dad Joachim’s stories of the old days of how the long awaited Messiah was meant to be coming soon. I remember Mary’s eyes ablaze with the wonder, and hope of it all. She loved these stories. She seemed to have a deep, pure, focused faith in God. I preferred my own hopes and dreams of a Roman army free Palestine.

As the years passed, I remember one night, I was restless and not able to fall asleep. I crept to my window and gazed up at the brightness of the stars. I looked over at Mary’s house. It seemed to be aglow from the inside. Strangely enough, I wasn’t so much frightened as curious and in awe.

The next day I asked Mary about the glow but she did not want to talk about it. She seemed different after that night. Mary has always been a special, generous, caring, wonderful, and holy person. A fine catch you might say – a real dream I say! Now she seemed more serious, more mature, and at home with God.

Soon after this, I myself, had a mystical dream in which I was told to marry Mary because she needed my loving support and protection – Mary  was pregnant, but I still married her- I trusted my vision. 

She/we had her child and we named him ‘Jesus’ as my dream angel predicted. The name seemed a strange name, one not previously used in either of our families. The name means ‘Emanuel or ‘God with us.’  I keep wondering how he will turn out, doesn’t every parent worry about that? I wonder too if he will be anything like me!

…..Reflections by Joseph, husband of Mary
inspired by an article by Tom Cox, Intercom,
Come Lord Jesus