'The Adoration of the Shepherds' was painted in 1622 by the Dutch artist Gerrit van Honthorst and is the inspiration for the following imaginary story. It was written and kindly sent to us by Rodney Evan Jones from Altrincham. He tells us that he is 85 years of age and has been a subscriber for many years to BRF's notes (both New Daylight and Bible Reflections for older people).
'For some years' he writes, 'I have admired a painting by the Dutch artist Gerrit Van Honthorst The Adoration of the Shepherds, 1622. The remarkable thing about this painting is that the light illuminating those attending the birth is from the Babe in the crib and not from (say) a lamp in the stable.'
'This has inspired the short story I have written. I had not realised until recently that The Anna Chaplaincy is named after one of the characters in my story which is a retelling of the events in Luke's gospel* about the Visitation to the Temple.''
The Midwife’s Tale
Rachel lived in Bethlehem Judea, during the reign of Caesar Augustus. She was, to describe her occupation, a midwife. Not in the modern sense when midwives have to undergo extensive training before they are allowed anywhere near a human birth. But she was a highly respected member of the community as a woman who could support another woman undergoing the travails of labour. She had assisted in the delivery of countless babies over many years. Her calm and reassuring presence at the births had helped to build a reputation as a trustworthy assistant in this sphere of human endeavour fraught with risks even today but more so in Rachel’s time.
Rachel’s story began when she received a request from the man who kept a lodging house near the East Gate. It was during the census ordered by Caesar. The lodging house keeper could only find accommodation for a poor couple from Nazareth in his stable. However, the woman was heavily pregnant and it preyed on his conscience. He asked Rachel if she could attend the woman as the stable was a dark and smelly place and an extra pair of hands with experience of confinement in diverse places would help, without doubt.
Rachel packed her bag with the items needed for the forthcoming birth. These included balms and oils and also some cloths to wrap the baby securely after the birth. She made her way to the lodging house and was shown into the stable by the keeper. The husband was somewhat older than his wife who looked as if she was about seventeen years of age .They were quiet and trusting and very pleased to have Rachel’s support. She sat with the girl into the small hours, holding her hand and offering words of comfort.
When it happened the birth took place quite quickly, without too much pain for the mother. It was a boy. Rachel swaddled the baby with the cloths she had brought, and laid him in the manger which was previously filled with clean straw and more comfortable for the child than the pile of hay in the corner. Duty done, Rachel said goodbye to the family and returned to her own home.
Rachel spent the rest of the night pondering on the events in the stable. Of all the many births she had attended this one stood out. First of all there were the parents anticipating the birth of their first child. They were different. Usually, prospective parents were in a flat spin but these two were so trusting and accepted the events naturally as they occurred. But there was something else which was very different and Rachel could not come to terms with it. She needed to share her thoughts with a trusted friend and decided to travel to Jerusalem the next morning and visit the temple there. The journey to the city from Bethlehem would take less than three hours by foot now that the Romans had improved the road. Also, the weather was in her favour.
Rachel’s friend Anna was very old and had lived out the best part of her life in the temple. She was considered by many to be a holy lady noted for prophetic utterances; quite unusual for a woman as such things seemed to be in the male preserve. Rachel had known Anna for a long time and had a great respect for her. She sought her out and Anna suggested that they retired to a quiet corner of the temple to talk.
“Dear friend, I can see that you have something to tell me,” said Anna.
“It is about a birth I attended last evening in Bethlehem” said Rachel. “I was approached by the keeper of the lodging house near the East Gate of Bethlehem who told me that he had a young girl near her time in the stable. He had to accommodate her and her husband there as there was no room anywhere else. But he was worried for them. A nice couple; they were called Mary and Joseph from Nazareth.” Rachel paused for a moment and Anna who was all attentive, beckoned her to continue.
“As you know I have been present at many births in my time. Some have taken place at night as did this one. They have been in many places, usually in a house but on the odd occasion in a tent or even in the open air. At night the light can be a problem and the families do their best to find a lamp to illuminate the proceedings but failing that I have developed the ability to work blind successfully.”
“Yes, I have heard about that” observed Anna, “I think that that is why the lodging house keeper approached you.”
Rachel continued: “The stable was dark and gloomy and the poor couple had no means of illumination. But on this occasion I did not work blind. As soon as the baby was born I had all the light I needed as it just came. When I left the stable I looked back and could see the two parents looking down into the manger and bathed in the light. I just do not understand it but felt the need to share the experience with you.”
Anna’s eyes glowed in the realisation of the meaning of the news that had just been imparted to her.
“Dear friend, I believe that you have been present at a very special occasion.” she said. Anna laid a comforting hand on her friend’s shoulder and continued.
“I believe that you have played a part in a momentous event. My advice is not to remain bewildered by it but to trust in God and continue to go about things in your usual quiet way.”
Rachel was reassured by her friend and bade farewell. She returned to Bethlehem with a light heart and a spring in her step.
Meanwhile, Anna went to look for Simeon...
(See: John 1: 4-5 and *Luke 2: 21-38. Traditionally, Candlemas which commemorates The Presentation of the Baby Jesus in the Temple occurs on February 2 each year. )
Rodney Evan Jones
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