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You can imagine the emotion of Magda and Aaron, after they have seen little baby Jesus. They don’t know he is the Saviour of Mankind, mind you. They are two simple people, who haven't read the Scripture, who don’t go to Sunday school or to the Mass on Sunday as you and your schoolmates. But they are sure they have seen something extraordinary, they are certain that man and that woman have something different from all the people they know.
They hurry to Magda's sister Rachel's home. Rachel lives with her husband David and their little son Daniel. She has just been able to sing her little son to sleep, when she sees her sister and her brother-in-law approach. It is an unusual time of day, Magda has never gone to her so late.
Rachel calls her husband, and she tells him:
“I have seen Magda and Aaron come towards our home. What’s the matter? I can see that they are almost running, they are upset about something, but what?”
David opens the door immediately to let Magda and Aaron in. Magda is out of breath, and Rachel invites them to go in. When they are all sitting around the table, Magda starts:
“Rachel, we have just seen something incredible. Do you remember that old stable at the outskirts of the town? Aaron was coming home with the sheep tonight, and he heard a baby crying inside …”
She is talking so fast that Rachel and David have difficulty in catching up with what she is saying.
“Magda, please calm down, otherwise I won’t be able to understand what has upset you so much.”
Magda takes a deep breath, and she goes on:
“As I was telling you, Aaron heard a baby crying in that stable, and he came home immediately to tell me. I just thought someone needed help. I took a couple of blankets and a warm shawl and some food, and we hurried together to that desolate place and... you won’t believe what we saw...”
Rachel is growing more and more impatient and restless as her sister is speaking. “Magda, what did you see? Was there really a baby in that stable?”
“Oh Rachel, there was the most wonderful baby boy I've ever seen, apart from little Daniel, of course. He was with a very sweet young man named Joseph and an enchanting woman named Maria. Joseph told us that they are in Bethlehem for the census. When they realized Maria was going to deliver soon, they didn’t find a place in an inn. They found shelter in that stable. The baby and his mother are all right, or he said they are. They thanked us for the food and the blankets but I promised I would ask you for baby clothes to bring to them tomorrow morning.”
“Oh, my God, they are in that old stable with an infant! I hope they will be warm enough, especially poor Maria, who has just given birth. It’s a pity our home is so small, otherwise I would ask them to come here for the night!”
Rachel looks sincerely worried for that little family.
“I still have some baby clothes Daniel wore when he was born and in the first few weeks. I’ll prepare them. Magda, do you mind accompanying me to the stable tomorrow morning? You have already met Joseph and Maria and I’ll feel more at ease if you are with me.”
Magda immediately agrees, and they decide to meet early the next morning after Aaron has left with his sheep. David offers to stay with Daniel until Rachel comes back. When everything is settled, Magda and Aaron leave, and David and Rachel go to bed, even if they can't fall asleep immediately. They are so excited, and Rachel can't wait to meet that couple and their child.”
Giulia asked immediately:
“Grandma, did they go the following day? Were Joseph and Maria still there?”
Anna couldn't help smiling at the genuine curiosity of her granddaughter, so generous and caring.
“Yes, Giulia. Of course they went…”
“The following morning, Magda arrives very early, and the two women leave immediately. They walk silently towards the stable, both absorbed in their feelings and expectations.
When they approach the stable they hear the sound of a gentle woman's voice singing softly. That heavenly voice is so sweet that instinctively they stop before entering into the stable. Magda, after a few moments, takes courage and goes into the stable. Rachel walks behind her timidly, and she wonders why she is feeling so awestruck and shy. After all, she is just lending a hand to someone in need, something she has often done before; after all, she is going to meet a young couple who have just had a baby, just like David and her, only less lucky than they were, because they are far from home and without a shelter apart from this old stable.
When the old rickety stable door creaks open the soft melody stops. From behind her sister, Rachel starts to behold a scene she will never forget: a strikingly beautiful young woman is holding a baby in her arms with great tenderness, while a young man is sweetly watching them, embracing them with his affectionate gaze.
They don’t see the two women immediately, they are completely focused on their little child, who is sleeping peacefully in the tender embrace of their love. There is something disarmingly simple and normal but, at the same time, extraordinary and heavenly that can’t leave a person indifferent or untouched.
When he becomes aware of their presence, Joseph turns to them with a sweet smile and, recognizing Magda immediately, he says:
“Good morning, Magda, how kind of you to come back to us today! Thanks again for the food and the blankets, they were very useful.”
Magda introduces her sister, gaining confidence from Joseph’s kind words:
“This is my sister Rachel. As I told you last night, she has a six-month-old baby, and I was sure she still had some baby clothing that could fit your child.”
It is Rachel's turn to speak but it is not easy for her to overcome the sense of wonder and awe that she has been feeling since she entered that stable, or even since she heard that melodious voice sing softly.
“Hello, my name is Rachel. My sister told me about you and your unfortunate predicament. I am happy to see that you are all right. I have found some baby clothing that I used for my little Daniel when he was born. I hope it fits your child. Here it is!” she adds, offering the basket she has brought with her.
This time, Maria approaches Rachel and Magda, after delicately laying her baby in the improvised crib. As she comes nearer, they realize that she is really stunningly beautiful, even if her eyes reflect the strain she’s been under in the last few hours. The most striking features are the sweetness of her smile, the charming blue eyes and a general sense of aloofness in her behavior, as if she was lost in a distant world. It is very difficult to describe Rachel and Magda's feelings in those few moments. They know that this woman and her husband are simple people who didn’t have a place to stay for the night. Furthermore, they behave in a perfectly simple and affable way, so why are the two sisters feeling as if they were standing in front of a regal couple? Rachel tries to shake off this sense of submission and inadequacy, and she shows Maria the little clothes she has brought.
Maria smiles tenderly and says:
“Thank you, Rachel. These clothes will be perfect for my little baby. We hope to be able to leave very soon and go back home, so you don’t need to worry for us. My cousin too had a baby six months ago, his name is John, and I hope she will be able to give me some of his clothes. You have been very helpful.”
In the meantime Magda has given Joseph another basket full of food, and he thanks her warmly. That poor forlorn stable has become a place of peace, comfort, warmth, more cozy and pleasant than a big and costly house, and it is difficult for Rachel and Magda to leave.
The two women reluctantly say goodbye, after asking if Joseph and Maria need anything and promising they will come back later to see if everything is well. As they are leaving, a soft sound comes from the crib. Joseph lifts the little child in his arms and approaches the two guests. While Rachel was talking to Maria, she had almost forgotten the little creature that lies in the crib, but now she can't help noticing the beauty of this baby.
As every mother does, Rachel considers Daniel the most handsome child in the world but she must admit there is something special in this baby, he is so peaceful, so sweet, so calm.
Joseph looks at him tenderly and says:
“It seems our little Jesus wanted to thank you personally...”
Magda and Rachel look at the child with love and admiration, they take leave once again from Joseph, Maria and little Jesus and walk away almost in a hurry, as if they were afraid that, if they don’t find the courage to leave at once, they will never be able to move.
Anna took the two little statues and put them back at their places in the nativity scene.
After a few moments of silence, Mario said:
“Wow, will they ever know that they have given food and clothes to Jesus Christ? Will they ever know that they met the most important person in the world?”
Anna smiled and answered musingly:
“I don’t know, Mario, because, after a few days, Maria and Joseph went back to Nazareth, Maria’s hometown, and they didn't see them any more. Maybe, when Jesus started to preach and teach, the two women saw him and recognized his name. But certainly they did something generous, and, as it always happens when we help the people in need, they felt happier.”
Giulia said, after thinking for a few moments:
“I think God will certainly listen to Magda's prayer to have a baby, now that she has helped His Son!”
Mark was listening in silence, but now he had to say:
“Children, we have to go now… Mum will be at home…”
“Granny, have you got other stories? Can we come tomorrow after school?” Mario asked eagerly.
“Of course, children… Go home now, and give a kiss to your mum for me…”
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