I haven’t mused much on Mary and her role in the Christmas story this year, so I want to take this opportunity to do so now. Many of the images of Mary show her gazing lovingly on the newborn Jesus surrounded by shepherds, magi and animals. Indeed, we have a couple of nativity scenes in our home. One is very old, dates back to when our children were small, sadly missing a shepherd or two, much enjoyed and even played with. The other only a few years old, carved from olive wood, handmade in Bethlehem. Both come out each year as a reminder of the story around which we shape our lives.
So, as I ponder on Mary and the birth, I want to think about the back story. The story of a young girl giving birth in a stable. It all sounds very romantic in the sanitised form we usually read it but I suspect the reality was one of pain, hardship, sweat, tears and not a little fear.
I imagine most people reading this will have some experience of what childbirth entails — either by having given birth themselves, worked in a birthing unit, been present and supporting as a family member or friend gave birth or even simply watched “Call the Midwife.” Childbirth is a miraculous, wonderful event. Also it can be lengthy, painful, accompanied by blood and water and really hard work. It is not called “labour” by accident!
So, as I want to think deeply about all that Mary endured — it wasn’t really a quick visit from an angel then a chapter later miraculously in a stable with a newborn baby. It involved much more than that, Mary was nine months pregnant when she journeyed to Bethlehem. A journey that it is hard to imagine, involving walking or even riding on a donkey while nine months pregnant, and not even restrooms along the way!
I wonder if labour started en route or after they arrive? Then not even getting a bedroom but giving birth in a stable, not a very sterile environment. Obviously not mentioned in the scriptures but presumably a midwife and/or other women would have assisted and supported her through the birth — a process that takes on average 12-36 hours for a first baby. The women most likely cared for her after the birth too. Men would not be present at a birth or even immediately afterwards— that only started to become possible from the 1970s onwards except in unusual circumstances.
Another consideration when the Christmas story is mused upon is that Mary would be ritually unclean:
‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. 3 On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. 4 Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. 5 If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding.
6 “‘When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering.[a] 7 The priest shall offer them before God to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood. (Leviticus 12)
Mary would be subject to the usual purification regulations. These lasted for forty days during which Mary would need to remain fairly isolated and untouched, even if people visited and touched her bed, clothing or person they would become unclean for a period and have to perform ritual washings. It makes one wonder about the shepherds visiting before Mary’s purification in temple, quite a commitment for them to go knowingly into the presence of an unclean woman.
I have spent time pondering on this, and will continue to do so, as I think it is a neglected part of the Christmas story. It is important that the miracle of childbirth and all that entails is not diminished. It is important that what is normally considered women’s experience is not hidden behind a closed stable door. In the New Way of Living one of the Christmas meditations is from Anne Thurston. I’ll repeat it here:
“Even when we come to reflect on the birth of Jesus we discover that it has been interpreted as to remove it utterly from the realms of human experience. Yet, the profundity of the phrase “the word was made flesh” lies in the last word “flesh” — become like us.”
Much to ponder this week as the depths of the experience of giving birth is revisited as it is once again brought to the forefront of our minds as we continue to welcome the Christ child.
Oh, and as it is New Year’s Day, I wish everyone a happy and fulfilling 2023
The Blessing of the New Year
God, bless to me the new day
Never vouchsafed to me before
It is to bless your own presence
You have given me this time, O God
Bless you to me my eye,
May my eye bless all it sees;
I will bless my neighbour
May my neighbour bless me,
God give me a clean heart
Let me not from sight of your eye;
Bless to me my family
And bless to me my means and my animals.
(Garmina Gadelica, 79 amended)
