Wednesday, March 19th
Lucy Jones
“Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company they went a day’s journey and sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers; And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us so? Behold your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.’ And he said to them, ‘How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2 :41-51
In remembering this Bible story from our youth, we know that as a religious family, Mary and Joseph take Jesus, who was twelve, along with friends and family to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover; a trip they probably took each year. After the festivities, Mary and Joseph travel a day towards home before realizing Jesus is not with the group. They return to Jerusalem to find him in the temple speaking to and asking questions of the teachers. He displays a great understanding and insight that is amazing to all who hear him. Mary and Joseph scold him for staying in Jerusalem, and Jesus responds, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Jesus returns to Nazareth with his parents, increasing in wisdom and favor with God.
This passage from Luke is the only information in the Bible that speaks of Jesus as he develops from young child to adulthood. The passage also demonstrates Jesus’ extraordinary understanding of scripture and His recognition of divine sonship; hence, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” More can be taken from this passage, but this Lent I want to focus on Mary and Joseph and what their actions might mean to us.
Mary and Joseph appear to be loving and conscientious parents as they travel home from Jerusalem. Busy with life and preoccupied, it takes a day to realize Jesus is not with them. They lost Jesus! They must have left him! As a parent, I can only imagine how panicked and scared they might have been as they turn around and return to Jerusalem. After a long search they find Jesus in the Temple, calm and engrossed in conversation.
How many times like Mary and Joseph are we so busy with life and too preoccupied to realize that we too have left Jesus behind? Although not an intentional choice, it’s easy to find ourselves taking matters into our own hands, being just too busy this week to read our Bibles or pray regularly, skipping a church service just this once, or all the many other ways we close ourselves to God’s grace and our own developing spirituality. However, like Mary and Joseph, if we have let “life” get in the way, we too can turn around and find Jesus. While we may leave Jesus for a while, Jesus, with His unconditional love, never leaves us. The triune God is always present in our lives with outstretched hands waiting for us to return.
Heavenly Father, help us renew those practices this Lent which brings us closer to you. Amen
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