Today, on the Feast of the Holy Family, my mind turns to the 5th
Joyful Mystery of the Rosary: Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple in Luke
2:41-52
On the way home from a visit to the Temple, well into the
journey, Mary and Joseph realize that
Jesus is not with them, so they make the trek back to find him, frantic and
anxious…as any parent would be. Upon entering the Temple, they find him
surrounded by men who are dumbfounded by what he knows. When asked why he
caused so much worry, his response is simple-Why wouldn’t he be in his father’s
house? Luke then explains that while his parents stand there listening, “…they did not understand what he spoke to
them.”
As I reflect on this Gospel, this is the verse that sticks out
to me. “They did not understand.” It is
so frustrating to find myself in the situation where I do not understand
something or someone. It hurts my pride; it’s humiliating. So, when I come across this verse, I feel
myself getting a little frustrated for Mary and Joseph. They are his parents
afterall. Of all people, they should be able to understand. Couldn’t God have given them some grace or
some sort of code, so that they wouldn’t worry? “Oh yeah,” they could
think, “He’s the Son of God, of course.” Then, they could walk in peace knowing
that Jesus would be different.
But that’s not how it was to be; it’s not how God wanted it. It wouldn’t be normal or right for them to
have a ‘secret code’ of understanding everything and knowing just what being
the Son of God meant or what being his parents would mean. That wasn’t their place. The grace they were given was to be his
parents, in very human, ordinary, loving ways. As part of the mystery of
the Incarnation, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” and put himself in
the humble place of needing humans. Jesus
needed human parents who were loving, emotional, and real. He needed to learn
how to be a man, how to be part of a family, and the human experience from his
mom and dad. It was part of his formation. So, they had to search for him, like
so many parents who have lost their children…physically or emotionally.
And their response? The only indication is about Mary, his
mother. “And she kept all these things
in her heart.” No anger. No resentment. And, really, no mention of anxiety after
he was found. She ponders and sits
with it: something here, a truth, was yet to unfold and now was not the time
for her to know. Mary, the mother of
God, did not know everything, yet she knew all that she needed to know at the
time.
I look at this ‘mirror’ that my Father has allowed me to
reflect in while sitting with this passage. What does it mean for me when I’m hit with the realization of not
understanding the events, path, or people in my life? Mary can teach us so
much! If the Mother of God can accept that she is not to understand everything
about her Son and all that’s to come and her reaction is to move on, while
keeping these events in her heart, then who am I to say that I deserve more?
Peace comes with knowing that despite finding Jesus there was
mystery for his own Mother. Mary had puzzles
to be unlocked, questions to explore, and events to sit with. There flashes
of light or Aha moments. Even in her
intimacy with Jesus, she has to let grace enter in and grow in her heart. I
am blessed that my Father lead me to this passage. I feel humbled and
recognized in where I am. And, I know that the inner prayers of my learning to
ponder heart are being heard…even as my Father’s response is, “That’s not for
you to know right now.”
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