[Kathryn Price]

Goodness I wasn’t expecting so many of you – though perhaps I should have.
There is such interest in my boy’s life story that any snippet is grasped at
So what do you want to know?
Oh – how did I feel about the exotic visitors from the East when he was born?  Hmm  I need to go back before that to explain it properly

I was just beginning to settle into motherhood – still early days of course, but Jesus was feeding well and we had created quite a comfortable space amongst the animals.  I wasn’t anxious to set off back quite yet.  The memory of the trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem was still very clear.  Yes I know I was heavily pregnant then, but you mothers will know that you don’t snap straight back to ‘normal’ right after giving birth
plus we had the newborn to care for en route
and i was enjoying that time of it just being ‘us’
there’d be plenty of family when we got home
it was good to meet some of Joseph’s distant family who popped in to see us and catch up with all the news and bits of gossip, but
some of the local shepherds brought their families  – they had amazed them with their stories of the night Jesus was born and wanted to see for themselves
so many were generous with practical gifts too

sorry, what was that?
oh yes of course he was named and circumcised and dedicated according to the law and I was cleansed at the right time too

we felt like just another ordinary family and were getting ready to go home
yes I knew someone would ask about angels
I had a sense that this baby – my baby – was someone special, but doesn’t every mother?
timing?  I’m not going into that now.  Joseph is Jesus’ father now and they look so comfortable together – that’s all I will say on the subject
what I”m trying to say is that we – I were a bit – well a lot – taken aback by what happened

so  – we knew something was occurring
there were voices, some in foreign languages-  and the sound of people rushing about and the clatter of hooves and excited children squealing, dogs barking – you get the picture
we became curious and it all got closer and closer and suddenly the door opened and the innkeeper led in the most fantastical group
they looked so out of place – such vibrant colours, rich fabrics, strange costumes, jewels, old men with serving boys carrying ornate boxes
there were only so many could get in – i’ve no idea how many had to stay outside
who were they?   no-one knew, only that they really didn’t belong in a place like this with people like us

How did I feel just then?
flustered – I’d just put Jesus down after his feed and was resting when they came in
I jumped up and looked around
what must they think?  I quickly pulled my shawl up over my head, checked for stains  – though what I would have done I don’t know – pushed Joseph forward to greet them
but they came towards me – well not me, but the baby lying there in the manger
and the look in their eyes – they had tears and they seemed as speechless as I felt
one of them knelt and held out his arms
so I picked Jesus up and handed him over and just watched as he stood up and showed my boy to the others and their reaction was the same – beaming smiles, tearful eyes and nods to each other
and somehow in that moment all social status and any idea of foreignness was stripped away and we were just people connected to each other in humanity through Jesus

then the moment passed as they seemed to relax and gave Jesus back to me and settled down and called their servants over and presented us with such fabulous gifts – gold (more money than I’d ever seen), frankincense (good enough for the temple itself) and myrrh (a healing ointment with a dark perfume)
Joseph had slipped out and asked the innkeeper to bring some refreshments and with the help of some basic interpretation and improvised sign language we learned more about our eminent visitors
they came from Persia and were followers of a different religion – I think it was something to do with a prophet caller Zoroaster.  They used the stars for their prophecy and had seen something they believed to point to a significant birth and had followed a star that led them to us.  There was something about a visit to Jerusalem and an encounter with Herod, which I didn’t quite get but they were most certainly glad to be with us and felt their journey had  been worth all the trouble and expense.
They tried to explain why they had chosen those gifts but in the end I simply accepted that they were generously given and thanked them most sincerely.
I was a little afraid of travelling with them in open country, but it turned out that that was to be the least of my worries.

they didn’t stay too long and were soon gathering themselves together to head back \
how did I feel then?  a little mystified
that was the most amazing thing to happen to me – well one of them – and the whole event was the talk of Bethlehem for ages afterwards
their reaction to my baby – misty-eyed, satisfied, thankful, reverent even – made me think
the old man in the temple and the prophetess had had similar responses to him
cousin Elizabeth  – who had just had John – also said strange things about the baby in my womb
and then there was that angel – if that’s who he was
such a lot for me to think about
I felt a little overwhelmed but decided to keep my thoughts to myself – like a little flame I could warm myself on when needed reassurance – both for myself and for my boy
i had a feeling that Joseph and Jesus and me were setting off on a very big adventure together

that evening I had no idea how big an adventure
you of course know about the terrible things that happened next in Bethlehem
when I heard what had happened I felt a little guilty that we had got out in time and set off down south looking for refuge
I prayed for all those mothers – and fathers – who would not get over such violence

i have often thought about them – Magi I believe they were called, though they seemed like royalty to us – and how their visit seemed to put all the pieces together and shine a light on Jesus that helped me to know him for what he was – chosen and blessed, as was I who gave birth to him

I wonder if you have had to offer hospitality to someone so different from you
how did you feel about it
did they make you see things differently
or was there something that bound you together in unexpected ways

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