The Eighth Tribe, 1974 (1. évfolyam, 1-7. szám)
1974-12-01 / 7. szám
December, 1974 THE EIGHTH TRIBE Page Three In the sky were more angels, dressed in the same manner as the first, all praising God saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.” Although I was skeptical, I told them about the couple I had seen earlier and directed them to the stable. ☆ ☆ THE STORY OF THE INNKEEPER’S WIFE The next morning an other strange story was told to me by the innkeeper’s wife.— “While the men haggle over a place to stay, can I offer you something to eat? Bread I’ve just baked, or some wine^ You look so tired. Perhaps we could walk around. That might make you feel better.” That’s what I said to her, and when she agreed, we walked for a while. I knew something was strange about her, hut I couldn’t quite understand what it was. And while we were waiting for her husband, Joseph, I believe she told me was his name, to come back, she told me the strangest story. Of course I didn’t believe her, I only listened to humor her. Apparently she was quite tired and almost delirious. It was time for her to have the child, and you know how that affects some women. But she told me, “We must find a place to stay. My baby is the son of God and I must have a nice place for him to be horn. Some place warm and friendly. We traveled from Nazareth, over 90 miles, and I’m so tired.” So as we walked she told me she had been married about six months and that an angel appeared to her. “The angel Gabriel came to me and told me I was chosen by God to he the mother of his son. You don't know how frightened I was and still am. But 1 came to believe him, the angel, and prepared myself for the birth of my child — the Messiah God has promised to our people for so long. He will finally arrive.” So I asked her, “What else did this angel tell you?” And she said, “He explained to me that my cousin Elizabeth, who has waited so long for a child, would finally have one, such is the work of God. Then 1 knew that everything that was happening was God’s work. She knew about the child I was carrying, the angel had told her when he promised she would have a child.” “My husband, he has taken it well. At first he was ashamed, but an angel appeared to him too in a dream, and since then he has tried to make everything nice for me. We are ordinary people. I always thought the Messiah would he born of rich parents, not a poor carpenter and his wife.” I told her all my husband and I could offer was the stable, the inn being so full. Every place in Bethlehem would be full with people traveling to pay their taxes. I felt sorry for her, she was talking out of her head, about angels and God talking to her so we gave them the stable. At least it was warm and a place to be alone. Joseph came back from talking to my husband, and led the donkey and Mary to the stable. I asked them if I could get them anything, a few blankets I had stored away, but Joseph said he would take care of everything. As I left, I glanced hack and witnessed a peculiar sight. All around the stable was a strange light, as if some star had fallen from the heavens and landed there. But I thought it was just the mood she had cast over me, talking about her angels. But this morning, when I went out to see if she needed help, there was a strange mist surrounding the stable, with the brightness of day, although it was not yet dawn. I looked into the stable and saw an infant lying in the manger, wrapped in pieces of cloth. The husband and his young wife gazed upon the child as if entranced by his majesty. And I remembered her words of the night before, “An angel appeared to me and told me I would give birth to the son of God, the Messiah we have waited so long for.” ☆ ☆
