Mary’s Journey
The Angel Gabriel came to visit
He brought a message so exquisite
That I will bear a Holy seed
To fill the promise and the need
That God had promised he will send
A Saviour for our sins to mend
To burn the tares he did not sow
To take the armour from the foe
But me! I said, how can this be
For a man I’ve yet to see
Then he said, the Lord has willed
The seed is one that he has tilled
Blessed will I be forever
I pondered faith, I pondered whether
Have I the strength for this accord
To bear the child of my Lord
He said a message had been sent
To Elizabeth, and so I went
And came to know my kin will share
The joy, and burden she will bear
But in my heart there still was doubt
I wondered what this was about
The child I am called to carry
Even though I’ve yet to marry
That I may know the things to be
I beg you Lord to let me see
Your humble maid a sign I pray
That faith will fill me from this day
Then deep within my womb I knew
A quiver, told me it was true
In my soul great joy I felt
Such joy I thought my heart would melt
And then I thought of Galilee
For strength was waiting there for me
And suddenly I knew no shame
The babe would carry Joseph’s name
By him, the Angel too was heard
He’d face the test and share the word
As David’s songs so well describe
So Judah too, was Joseph’s tribe
Like Moses’ faith came with a rod
We too have known the will of God
And of the flesh, false things we hear
We’ll walk with God and have no fear
For people knew when I conceived
That Joseph’s hand I’d not received
He was a fool, the rabble said
For even though he knew, he wed
But with his strength my fear is gone
I may not else have carried on
Even though the truth we knew
The ones who stood by us were few
And then the Heralds came to say
That Herod’s tax we were to pay
Our post was far away, and so
To David’s city we must go
There’s no escape the Roman’s grip
But could I make this gruelling trip
For I was heavy with the child
And oh my weary thoughts ran wild
We knew, before the journey’s end
A little babe we’d have to tend
I pondered what the Angel told
That he would reign, and of his fold
The house of Jacob and the throne
Of David, would be called his own
All the nations, to him will bend
And of his Kingdom, will never end
Again I thought, if this is true
Where are the kings, or if they knew
Were any of the scribes aware
A King will be, of which I bear
And then my heart was growing sad
I thought perhaps I’m going mad
From Bethlehem, no one has came
Surely they would know my fame
A chariot may be coming soon
I listened so to hear the tune
Of Cherubim, and Angel’s song
I watched the sky and waited long
Alas, no trumpet, no song, no choir
I waited and my soul grew tired
In Bethlehem they’d surely wait
With candles lighting up the gate
The marching sound, the drums will beat
All nations bowing at our feet
Even Herod will be there
His retinue, the Joy to share
I am blessed for God has told,
The kings will come on mounts of gold
And whisk us up the palace lane
To celebrate the One to reign
And when we finally reach the town
The Priests and Kings will bed us down
In feathers soft and garments fine
And meats and spice and savoured wine
And so we journeyed with our mules
Perhaps the rabble thought us fools
But soon we’d see the sparkling lights
The Temple, and the Holy sites
And now the city was in view
We’re not quite sure what we should do
We see an inn, and think it best
To stop awhile and have a rest
To wash our feet, and take some bread
And find some room to lay our head
For we are tired and we are cold
But no room is there, it’s what they told
We see another and inquire
If they have room, and have a fire
But like the last place we had been
There was no room at the inn
We asked a Levite, and he said
That nowhere will we find a bed
But yonder stable that we saw
Where we could make a bed of straw
And bring the mules in from the cold
It’s all there is, that’s what he told
Anxious, tired, and distressed
At least we had a place to rest
But what cruel fate had brought us here
A babe that even kings revere
A throne of gold, and finest table
Could he be born in this old stable
My faith was hanging by a string
I only dreamed what night would bring
But Joseph, stronger than the sword
We’ll tarry here to meet our Lord
A midwife was his then concern
And when they came he was to learn
I was in pain, the time was nigh
So Joseph went, some clothes to buy
We wrapped the babe in swaddling cloth
Then Joseph brought a cup of broth
I supped the soup, and then the light
For in the stable was so bright
I saw the babe and knew for sure
It was God’s child that I bore
So radiant that my heart stood still
I thanked the Lord, and praised his will
I thought of all my disbelief
I felt ashamed, quite like a thief
For all the palaces of gold
Could never touch this child I hold
Forgive me Lord, I was distraught
And for a while my faith was naught
The child asleep here on the hay
Has filled our hearts and filled our day
Then Shepherds came and brought their Love
A star has hovered up above
The Magi’s came with gifts of gold
To worship Jesus, they were told
A King was born to us this day
Make haste and leave, they were to say
Or harm will come, a jealous king
With all the sorrow blessings bring
We hastened and prepared to start
I pondered these things in my heart
Off to Egypt we must go
To find escape from zealous foe
Oh Egypt, Joseph lived and died
He brought his family there with pride
Where Jacob’s offspring came and grew
She sheltered them, she’ll help us too
My God, who can know your plan
Your way so great, unknown to man
And with this Child, be all aware
His Love is here for all to share.
Author
E F Mac Intosh
Published by Tarmac Enterprises Ltd
Copyright, 2007