- With three months, MARY'S pregnancy has already become visible. So, when SHE arrived at Nazareth, HER parents, relatives and friends exulted with the novelty. Although MARY was still "bride" , in that period called "Conduction", the pregnancy was considered legal.
However, Joseph did not understand what happened with his bride. Even though he had a perfect knowledge about MARY´S virtues as well as of her religious formation, he stayed confused about that occurrence. Of other way, same knowing to understand Joseph's drama, Mary has felt should not take the initiative in to explain the fact because it was in the domain of GOD and no one better than HE to find the opportune moment to justify the happening. So, SHE preferred to silence herself as well as to wait by the divine providence.
But Joseph does not understand what happened and he is not finding explanations for his bride's pregnancy,"Where upon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately". (Matthews 1.19) Nevertheless, while he was deciding about this, in dream an Angel of the LORD told him:
"But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the LORD appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee MARY thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the HOLY GHOST. And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name JESUS. For he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying".(Matthews 1.20-22)
So, everything went accomplished conform the LORD had said by the prophet: " Therefore the LORD himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel". (Isaiah 7.14)
When Joseph awoke up he acted as the Angel had ordered, he was calm and totally recovered the your emotional, removing of the mind the temptation of the devil that placed the malice into his thought.
MARY'S MARRIAGE
- Accomplished the last act for the perfect marriage, in agreement with the designs saints of GOD, with many parties has gone celebrated Joseph's Marriage and Mary.
In that time the Marriage was constituted of three parts: Betrothal (was the Engagement), Conduction (intermediate period) and the Wedding (the Marriage).
In the Betrothal was made the Contract of Marriage that could be written or oral. In both cases, in the presence of witness because in that moment they combined what the bride would receive from gift.
By the law, among the Betrothal (Engagement) and the Celebration of the Wedding or Nuptials could elapse an interval of team until of twelve month. This period was called Conduction. In this period, they live separated but they could use matrimony's rights, because the Marriage’s Contract guarantees them ownership in the strict sense of the word. If they had children in this period, the offspring was considered legitimate.
On the Celebration’s day of the Wedding, at afternoon, the bridegroom went into bride's house with gala clothes accompanied by friends and musicians. Then, the retinue was formed with great pomp and joy. At the same time, groups of virgins danced and sang verses, bringing in one hand a garland of flowers and in the other hand a lamp. Cymbals, drums, fifes and flutes roared enthusiastically to invite people to participate in the same happiness. The climax of all Marriage was the banquet. When a married couple surpassed the door to enter in their home, began the Matrimonial Banquet. Generally, the party continued per one week, and it was always motive of many congratulations among the participants. Certainly, Joseph's Marriage and MARY was of the same way.
JESUS'S BIRTH
- In that time Israel was occupied by Rome's military power. Caesar Augustus, the Roman Emperor, decreed an edict ordering the census in the occupied territories. In the earth of the Jews the census was accomplished by Públio Suplício Cyrinus, Governor Syria's. He has imposed people they must be registered in the military cantonment installed in the city where they were born.
Joseph who was born in Bethlehem he had to travel for there accomplishing a civic duty worthy which was imposed by the Roman power.
He traveled with his wife although SHE already was in the last stage of pregnancy. For that reason they could not travel in caravan with many people passing for main highway. The couple had to use shortcuts and secondary roads, following the trip of way calm and slow, using of meek donkeys and docile. They must have made several stops in solitary places and at night they sought a place in safety where they may to rest without danger. Thus, they surpassed the most dangerous route between Nazareth and Jerusalem with great patience and persistence, and then they followed to Bethlehem, where the distance was only eight kilometers.
There were not Hotels, the lodging was made in relatives’ house and of friends, in a fabric hut, or in grottos or still, in the “Khan” (Dog Palestinian). This was a shelter where travelers and caravans stayed protected from outlaws and thieves. Its construction was made with stones and cement in rectangular format, with very high walls and an only door. In the top of the walls there were two or three sentinels, where armed guards were and always alerts.
Inside the "Khan" Inside the Khan next to the walls there was a roof with canvas in middle covering where people stayed in. The animals and the loads were placed in the open air in the central part.
When Joseph and MARY arrived at Bethlehem there was a crowd of people because they were in the last days of the census. Therefore, they didn't find any satisfactory shelter, although they had looked for the relatives’ and friend’s houses. Certainly, if they would have looked for a place to stay in the "Khan" they would have found because in the "Khan" has always place for one more. However, it was not advisable. They would have to stay with people from all kinds of levels and habits under a canvas covering or in the open air in the middle of the animals. There, all together ones: they ate, they slept, they negotiated, they discussed, they fought, they were born and they died, under the curious glance of the presents.
MARY and Joseph did not go to allow at the BOY-GOD being born in that place, in the middle of such confusion, under the curious glances from the crowd. Then, they went for a grotto where at times was used as stable. In the grotto silence and in that isolation was still a place more worthy and respectful for to be born JESUS.
As soon as they have arrived there, Joseph started to work with his tools in order to prepare the place adequately for both. MARY after having rested made the cleaning from the place.
"And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn".(Luke 2.6-7)
So, came true more a prophecy about JESUS' birth, the CHRIST SAVIOUR. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we have seen HIS glory, the glory of the only SON of the ETERNAL FATHER.) , full of grace and truth". (John 1.14)
After the census has finished the Sacred Family has moved to a small house in Bethlehem.