December 26, 2021

THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

Luke 2: 41 – 52

 

Yesterday we celebrated the birth of the infant Jesus.  In today’s gospel He’s twelve years old.  Its true what they say:  they sure do grow up fast.

 

I’m sure that’s what Mary and Joseph were thinking as they were in Jerusalem celebrating another Passover – reminiscing about His first Passover; how much He had grown since last Passover.  How attentive and curious He had become about the sacred rituals and the prayers.  The beautiful stuff of parenthood.  And then … the not-so-beautiful stuff of parenthood. 

 

“Where is he?” 

“I thought he was with you!”

 

Worry … then panic.  Heartfelt and numerous prayers, I am sure.  And then … relief.  Gratitude.  “Thank God!”

 

Today we see the Prince of Peace, the Lamb of God, The King of Kings, Our Savior as a typical boy on the brink of young adulthood.  He wasn’t being bad – he just wasn’t thinking.  How many times when we ourselves were young did we hear our parents say, “Why didn’t you just call?”  “What were you thinking?”  “Why didn’t you just tell us where you were going?”  I guess responsible and thoughtful behavior is a learned response. 

 

Jesus was just acting His age.  In more ways than one.

 

We also see this young Jesus responding at what tugs on His heart, His mind and His soul.  He yearns to learn more about God, about His faith, about who He is.   In the language of my own youth we see Jesus “finding himself.”  Quite seriously, He is embracing His mission in this world and preparing not only for adulthood, but for His divine role in salvation history.  And in doing so He creates a mess with Mary and Joseph.

 

Today’s Gospel reminds us that family life is messy, even as it brings us closer to God.  In the midst of that mess we become who we are meant to be.  Not only in our youth, but throughout our lives we make mistakes, fail to think how our actions (or our words) may affect those around us.  It does not mean, however, that we are separating ourselves from God.  It only shows that we ae human as we seek the divine.

 

Our families may not be perfect.  I’m sure all our families are, to some extent, dysfunctional.  But they are Holy Families with God always present in the middle of the mess.

 

“Call Me Ishmael”