By Gladyce Janky
We are all familiar with the stories of Advent and Epiphany. How often have we heard Mary of Nazareth’s response to the Angel Gabriel, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). And that how, upon seeing her cousin Mary, Elizabeth exclaimed, “How does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me” (Luke 1:43). We have read the story of the prophetess Anna. She stood witness to Simeon proclaiming the baby Jesus as “A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel” (Luke 2:12). Anna thanked God and proceeded to tell everyone that their prayers asking God for a redeemer were answered (Luke 2:38). What we do not hear in the biblical accounts is, who are these women? What were their day-to-day lives like? What thoughts and feelings did they have regarding the events unfolding around them?
In Three Wise Women: 40 Devotions Celebrating Advent with Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna (Paraclete Press, Brewster, Massachusetts, 2022), author Dandi Daley Mackalldelves into the readings to add depth to the personalities of Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna. She offers readers a glimpse into the cultural context of first-century Jerusalem. Combining scripture and imaginative prayer (see the separate article “What is Prayer”), Mackall gives voice to the hopes, dreams, worries, and concerns of the wise women as they hold tightly to their unwavering faith in God.
This text is separate from the liturgical readings and is therefore applicable to any season of Advent and the Twelve Days of Christmas. The format consists of a series of daily readings associated with Mary, Elizabeth, or Anna. Each reading has a one-word theme to reflect upon, such as “belief,” “comfort,” “endurance,” or “humility.” Following the reflection, the author poses questions to ponder, inviting readers to consider how that theme relates to their own lives. For example, for the theme of hope the questions include: What did you hope for years ago? Where do you think your hope(s) originated? Did your hope come true?
When we meet one of these wise women, Mackall begins with a brief introduction that adds context to the realities of the woman’s life. For example, Elizabeth, the wife of the priest Zechariah, is a descendant of the priestly line of Aaron. Her family lineage and marriage to one of the Temple priests afforded her a position of honor and respect in her community, with one exception — she has no children. In first-century Jewish culture the inability to bear children was considered a curse from God because of sin, either on the part of Elizabeth or one of her family members. This background information gives context for why the author chose the biblical themes of loneliness, promises, grace, worry, and wonder for the first set of readings associated with Elizabeth.
With the benefit of hindsight, we now know how important these women were, but they had no way of knowing how history would view them. They lived simple lives, believing in God’s promises. It was their unwavering trust that became the doorway through which Grace entered the world. Mackall’s book helps us look beyond the biblical stories to see how three ordinary women — a young, unmarried mother, a barren wife, and an elderly prophetess — became the three wise women we know to be at the center of the Christmas story.
