The New Year, which began with the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, was no sooner past than early rains blessed the earth. Overnight, the hills were blanketed with orange sterngergia flowers. They forecast the arrival of winter birds from the north who came to feed on the abundant wild fruit of the area.
Joachim remained in Nazareth with his bride throughout the summer months and into the change of seasons, praying that Anna would become with child. He left the care of his flocks to his shepherds while he spent his days building a small structure on the back of his property for the use of the two maidservants and his manservant, Aksel.
He had grown up in this house; his brothers and he had built the dense wall that surrounded the outer courtyard. Interwoven with branches, its high stakes and rods provided total privacy from the narrow street outside. Now, determined to produce a child, he wanted even more privacy in his home.
It had been six months since their marriage, yet Anna had not conceived. Today, as she surveyed the main living area, her heart was leaden. This lovely room, so large it could be made into several ordinary ones, was used less and less with each passing month. Her friends, in abandoning her, claimed that barrenness was evidence of God’s wrath. Also, during the Sabbath service, conducted by her father, Stolan, the other women treated her like a leper. It was customary for them to stand behind a curtain, removed from the men of the congregation. But, one by one, these devout women refused to stand next to her for fear she would contaminate them, and keep them, too, from bearing children.
Of course, they knew why God was punishing Anna. How could she act pious when the servant gossip claimed she had been visited by a Roman official—all pagan Romans being unclean? Invitations to social gatherings ceased. Old friends found excuses for not visiting her. And only yesterday, when she went into the market area, they crossed the street so as not to pass her. They were all trying to destroy her.
“Oh, God of Israel, why is it sinful to love those with different skins and speech and customs? Give me a sign that You have not forsaken me!”
No sign came, so she occupied her days teaching Zandra the rigid regime of the household. Since eating and drinking were held to be religions rites, Anna required the three servants to say the benediction before meals and grace afterwards, even though they ate separately from her and Joachim. When they shopped for food, they dared not buy bread, wine, cheese, or milk from a Gentile, since these foods would not have been prepared in conformity with the dietary laws of her people.
Of course, the day before the Sabbath was a busy time for them. There were meat, vegetables, and bread pudding to prepare for the next day, when no cooking was allowed. Week in and week out, Judith directed the making of the braided challah, stuffed fish, noodles in chicken broth, and fruit tzimmes. Zandra asked for more lamb but Anna was determined that a vegetarian regime would be gradually introduced. She dreaded the thought of killing animals, and since her return home from the temple, she had eaten only fish. Ezra had told her that eating flesh would lessen her healing powers. Even fish disappeared from her diet.
Anna was grateful for one thing. Joachim suffered less than she over their ostracism. He was accustomed to a solitary life in the mountains and could bear rejection easier. He did his best to make her happy and constantly showed his love. On each Sabbath eve, he faithfully sang to her the ancient hymn, “A Good Woman,” which extolled her role as a wife and mother.
“I am not a mother, Joachim, so why do you persist in this ritual?” she asked.
He replied adamantly, “Your love and care of this home fills the requirement of motherhood. Even if you never bear my child, I will always sing it to you and adore you.”
“Thank you for your love, but I am depressed beyond belief. I must do something to earn God’s grace. You know it has been some time since I practiced healing anyone. Tomorrow I will seek to free Zandra of her affliction. Do you think it possible to straighten her crooked body?”
Joachim appeared unsure, but he said with forced confidence, “It’s worth trying. I will pray with you.”
The next morning Anna told Judith of her plans. “First you must promise not to tell anyone about this healing attempt. If it does take place, it won’t last if you talk to an unbeliever about it.”
Judith nodded her agreement. “I want Zandra whole the same as you.”
“Very well. Now take one of the donkeys and ride to the end of the valley, where there is a special herb growing in the moist dells. It is the chickweed plant. You’ll recognize it by its pale blue flowers, whose petals form a star. Gather as much of it as you can find—leaves, flowers, stems. Hurry now.”
Judith was reliable and returned three hours later with two large sacks of chickweed.
“I have spread a linen sheet on the floor of my bedroom” Anna told her. “Empty the leaves on it and sprinkle them lightly with water.” Then she removed flowers from the plants and squeezed their juice into a goblet. To it she added a bit of warm water.
Then she called for Zandra. “You must drink this nectar before I begin. It will taste like diluted perfume, but it has been used from the time of Moses, with good results, to cure deaf people and those crippled by rheumatism.” As soon as Zandra had drunk it, Anna gave her a white cotton robe to put on.
Both women were nervous. Anna really didn’t know how to begin the healing process. “First show me where you hurt when you walk,” she said.
Zandra indicated the troublesome hip, and Anna pressed the wet flowers on it, saying, “Relax completely, since this may take some time. You have nothing to do but close your eyes and rest.”
Joachim passed the open door and was puzzled by the unusual sight of a servant lying on a bed of leaves and flowers. “What are you doing, and can I be of help?”
“I need mostly your prayers. Dear husband, come kneel beside me and hold my hand.” Then she remembered the prayer of Archos, the Essene monk, on her visit to Mount Carmel. She began it as he had, “Heavenly Father and Earthly Mother, send your angels of mercy, those unseen messengers of love, to this suffering girl. Straighten her young spine, straighten her young legs, let Zandra walk free of pain and limping for the rest of her life. Amen.”
Then they waited. There was no vision, no voice, only silence. Anna was disheartened. A half hour passed, and then the air in the room started to flow as if a light breeze had entered. With it came the unmistakable fragrance of frankincense. Anna and Joachim exchanged meaningful glances, and she motioned for him to leave.
From time to time during the afternoon, she laid her hands lightly on Zandra’s crooked legs and prayed; she pictured her with a strong, healthy body, running and dancing with no limp. Yet there was no change.
“What more can I do? I have given her the relaxing juice of the chickweed flower. I have had her lie on the moist herb most of the day. I have prayed. Why do I fail?”
She had to try something else. She pulled gently on the shortened leg, commanding it to obey her. “Short leg, lengthen and straighten yourself! Be useful as God intended you to be!” Over and over again she spoke aloud the decree, each time tugging on the leg.
Finally she stopped, seeing no change whatsoever. She had failed. She dropped the leg, but immediately it began to twitch and move as if in a spasm. In small jerks, it stretched itself ever longer until the two legs were the same length.
Anna watched its movement as if hypnotized. At least she could believe her eyes. “Almighty God of Israel! You are sublime!” She crouched beside Zandra, fearful the change would not hold when the girl stood up. Finally, she dared pull her to her feet. She repeated firmly the words which the Lord spoke to Abram, “Walk before me, and be thou perfect.”
Zandra took a few hesitant steps, then danced back and forth before Anna. “I don’t limp any more! I feel no pain! Tell me what happened.”
Anna answered with tears flowing down her cheeks, “The chickweed is a miracle plant. All it did was relax your tight muscles and let your leg assume its normal position.” Anna didn’t believe this was the healing, but Zandra would never understand the mysteries of prayer and angels and decrees and fiats and supplications, let alone the picturing of wholeness. However, Anna knew she must insist on one thing from her.
“Don’t describe what happened here today to anyone, or you may find yourself a cripple again. Will you promise me that?”
“Yes,” Zandra agreed. “I’m filled with joy. I’m a new person. I feel such love for everyone! I won’t spoil my healing by talking about it, I swear to you.”
“God love you. You deserve a holiday tomorrow to enjoy your new freedom. I will give you a few shekels to spend on yourself in the markets. Do what pleases you all day.”
Zandra ran to tell Judith the exciting news of her healing. Anna walked to her favorite bench in the courtyard to meditate and give thanks for the blessing.
Joachim joined her there, bursting with pride at the successful results. “I admit I was skeptical that anyone could change Zandra’s twisted frame. I know now that you possess a mysterious power. Perhaps that is why God doesn’t want you to bear children. You have another purpose in life—to heal.”
“Faith comes at a high price, dearest love. God surely knows I also want children. I want to please you first of all, and I yearn for the love and respect of our neighbors and former friends. I am being destroyed by their scorn and vilification.”
Joachim put his arms around her. “Anna, they won’t be able to destroy you because I’ll never forsake you. One day, when they are suffering greatly, they will come to you and plead for a cure. What will you do then to get even?”:
Anna said, “You know perfectly well that I’ll do all I can to help them”
They both laughed.