Mary and Joseph are on the road to Bethlehem. It Is about ninety miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem.     As they traveled south along the flatlands of the Jordan River, then west over the hills surrounding Jerusalem, before arriving at Bethlehem. What were their thoughts during that treacherous journey?

What were Mary’s thoughts? She was pregnant, due any day. When she said yes to God’s plan for her, she didn’t know it would mean giving birth to her child away from the security and comfort of her family.  But this census, though called for by the Roman authorities, meant she and Joseph had to go to their ancestral town to register. But in reality this was to fulfill God’s prophetic word that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. They knew no one in the City of David, but she trusted in the providential care of God for her, Joseph and the child. This trust sustained her throughout the many difficulties of the journey. She also trusted in Joseph to make the right decisions, especially when it came time for the birth of this child of God. She reflected over and over on the words of the Angel to her and over her own response. “Be it done to me according to your word. I am the servant of the Lord.”