As
King Herod’s savage minions systematically scoured the countryside around
Bethlehem, cutting the throats of any newborns they came across, Mary and
Joseph fled across the mountains of Judea.
Seeing
a village ahead, Joseph ran on to ask for hospitality but alas the people would
not help.
While
Mary was alone, seated by the roadside nursing the child Joseph took the donkey
to drink from the well.
Then
she heard shouts getting closer and the ground shook under the hooves of
approaching horses. Then she realized it must be Herod’s soldiers.
She
had to hide but she could see nowhere suitable no rocks or caves or even a
tree.
The
only thing Mary could see was a bush where a rose was beginning to bloom.
She
walked to the bush and said “Rose, beautiful rose, please open out your petals
and hide this child who they want to kill and his poor half-dead mother.”
The rose replied, “Get on your way, young woman, and quickly in case the
butchers brush by me and blemish my beautiful bloom. Go and see the clove over
there. Tell her to shelter you. She has enough flowers to hide you.”
She
walked to the clove and said “Clove, pretty Clove, please open your branches
and hide this child who they want to kill and his poor half-dead mother.”
The clove replied,
“On your way, you wretched creature. I don’t have time to listen to you. I am
too busy producing blooms all over. Go and see the sage plant over there. She
has nothing better to do than dispense charity.”
She
walked to the bush and said “Sage, good Sage, please lift up your leaves and
hide this child who they want to kill and his poor half-dead mother.”
The sage plant then burst out in such abundant blossoms so as to cover all the
earth and its velvety leaves made a canopy for the Christ child and His mother
to shelter under
On
the road, Herod's men passed by and saw nothing. At the sound of the soldiers
passing, Mary shivered in terror, but the baby smiled as he was caressed by the
leaves. Then the soldiers were gone.
When
Herod's men were gone, Mary and Jesus came out from their green refuge.
“Sage, holy sage, thank you. I bless you for your good deed which will always
be remembered.”
Then
Joseph found them, with the donkey which had been restored by a huge serving of
barley which a kindly man had given him.
Mary remounted the donkey and hugged her precious child.
When
Michael, the Archangel of God, descended from the realms of Heaven to keep them
company and show them the way to Egypt.
Since
that time the rose has had thorns, the clove has foul smelling flowers, and the
sage plant is used to cure many ills.
