Our Christmas season started the week of Thanksgiving with the birth of granddaughter Isabelle Faith Reis. She reminded us of the precious gift of life the baby Jesus brought. We know all the stories: the stable birth, the shepherds, the angels, the Wise men, but what about the Wise women? Three women bring their gifts to the story of the coming of a Savior.
First is Elizabeth, wife of a priest named Zechariah. She had no children and, now past child-bearing age, her sadness might have become bitterness whenever she saw a friend have a baby. Her husband had long since given up hope of a son and knew better than to even mention it to his wife. He’d find his joy in his work. Then, the angel Gabriel announced to Zechariah he’d have a son, but the priest couldn’t get past the problem of his age and his wife’s barrenness. Gabriel got in the last word by taking Zechariah's power of speech away.
Imagine Zechariah’s dilemma as he tried to tell his wife with hand gestures that he was struck mute by an angel and she was about to become pregnant. Her sadness must have been replaced with anger, and perhaps some wonder about his sanity.
Elizabeth brings the gift of joy beyond all expectations to the Christmas story. God gave her her heart’s desire and changed her bitterness into joy.
Mary is the second Wise woman. Although barely old enough to become a mother, she was available to God and willing to set aside her own plans for her life for His plan for all generations. Mary brings the gift of life to the Christmas story. Mary went to Elizabeth’s home, and when Elizabeth saw her, her baby leaped in the womb. If Elizabeth had not been convinced before that she had a child within her, she knew now. Mary stayed until the baby John was born. How the young woman must have wondered if her own baby’s birth would be the same, in the company of family, with neighbors sharing the joy of the birth of a son.
Anna was a very old widow and prophetess who lived at the temple where Mary and Joseph brought their baby for his circumcision. For 84 years, she waited for God to make Himself known to her, and He did so in the child she met that day. We read of an insignificant encounter, barely mentioned, yet profoundly important to her. She brings the gift of faithful hope to the Christmas story.
The Wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Wise women brought joy, life and hope, gifts that are renewed every Christmas season, and with the birth of every baby.
