After leaving Jerusalem, Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah lived in seclusion in Ein Kerem. With all their household help gone, it was not easy for the elderly couple to manage on their own. At first, Elizabeth did not understand why her…
As Mary walked, lost in thought, a familiar landscape unfolded before her. Beyond the edge of the forest lay the small village of Nazareth, her lifelong home. Gazing at the village—unchanged as ever—Mary wondered whether her current worrie…
Mary had been rather busy of late. The part-time work she had taken up when her father was ill had eased but still continued, and alongside her usual household chores, she now had to learn what her mother called “bride lessons”. Her days p…
In the Court of Israel, the Levite choir was preparing their praise to accompany the morning incense offering. In the Priests’ Court, about thirty priests from the division of Abijah had gathered. As Zechariah greeted the priests who had a…
As High Priest Simon approached, the young priest bowed his head in greeting. “Good day, High Priest.” Zechariah also offered a polite greeting. “Welcome, High Priest.” “I’ve come out because the next temple service is for the division of …
Zechariah left his house and walked towards the temple. The buildings lining both sides of the street in the Upper City looked even more splendid than before. His own house, once considered quite nice, now seemed rather shabby by compariso…
I see my wife as she was in her youth. She walks with me as far as women are permitted—the Court of Women—to see me off at the temple. She holds a basket, beaming and waving cheerfully. I remember that day so vividly. She is excited from t…
A loud creak brought Joseph to a halt. He and Mary both turned towards the sound as the tightly closed door slowly swung open. For a brief moment, the round, cherubic face of a small child peered out before quickly vanishing behind the doo…
The footsteps that had drawn near to Joseph paused, set something down on the earthen floor with a soft thud, and then receded into the distance. Curious as to what had happened, Joseph tried once more to open his eyes, but the darkness wo…
Joseph’s steps were unusually heavy as he made his way back to Nazareth after a long, exhausting day. Although nothing about the day itself had been different, his heart had felt weighed down ever since he’d visited an old friend the previ…
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and made human beings in His own image. God placed both man and woman in the Garden of Eden to tend the land. There, they lived a blessed and fulfilling life according to God’s standa…