The Testament of Mary

In his latest book, Colm Tóibín gives us a different take on the story of Jesus. This is an account given by his mother Mary, looking back on her son's last few months.It is a slim volume that wonderfully captures the quiet desperation of a mother that could not understand nor save her only child.

She makes a desperate effort to save him from what's to come at the wedding in Cana, but knows that it is no good when he dismisses her rather harshly. She calls into question the wonders ascribed to him, saying that, sure, one of the barrels brought to him was filled with water but who knows about the other four. She also tells of the tragedy of Lazarus, for whom death appears to have been a relief after long suffering in the darkness of his room. After he has been brought back to life his suffering continues and people become uncomfortable around him.

I quite enjoyed this.

He was the boy I had given birth to and he was more defenceless now than he had been then. And in those days after he was born, when I held him and watched him, my thoughts included the thought that I would have someone now to watch over me when I was dying, to look after my body when I had died. In those days if I had even dreamed that I would see him bloody, and the cowd around filled with zeal that he should be bloodied more, I would have cried out as I cried out that day and the cry would have come from a part of me that is the core of me. The rest of me is merely flesh and blood and bone.

6/10