Lamp of Faith

   This week’s Gospel, Luke 2:41-52, gives us a glimpse into Jesus’ early life as a 12-year-old in Jerusalem. His parents, Mary and Joseph, accidentally left Him behind after the Passover celebration, assuming He was traveling with their group. After a day of travel, they realized He wasn’t with them and returned to Jerusalem, searching anxiously. They found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening, and asking questions. Everyone was amazed at His wisdom and understanding. When Mary and Joseph asked why He hadn’t left with them, Jesus replied, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” While His parents didn’t fully understand His words they took Him home to Nazareth, where He grew in wisdom and grace. The faith to raise Jesus even with the uncertainty of how his life was going to unfold is what I find so remarkable. 

    Reflecting on this Gospel, I see how even Mary and Joseph had to trust the Lord’s plan, even when it didn’t make sense to them. They knew Jesus was the Messiah, but they likely wrestled with fears, doubts, and unanswered questions. How often do we face similar moments in our lives—times when we have all the information we need, yet we lack the wisdom to piece it together? Have you ever tried to rush a process, ignored warnings or red flags, and pushed ahead, only to face disappointment? Have you taken shortcuts, hoping for faster results, only to see things fall apart? These moments remind me that things happen in God’s time, not ours. When we try to force things instead of patiently trusting God, the outcome is often less than ideal.
Mary’s response in this Gospel is a powerful example for us. She didn’t completely understand what Jesus was doing in the temple, but she paid attention, kept her faith, and trusted the Lord.  When she left the temple she “treasured these things in her heart” She knew that gos had plan for Jesus. As parents, trusting God with our children can be incredibly difficult. How easy is it to let go and believe that God has a plan for them, especially when we want to control the outcome? Mary shows us what it means to surrender to God’s will, even when the path is unclear.

    Throughout my life, I’ve found that the backbone of my relationship with God is faith—the faith to accept that I won’t understand everything and that’s okay, the faith to get back up after stumbling, knowing my strength comes from Him. Without faith, it’s like walking through life blindfolded—tripping, bumping into obstacles, and feeling consumed by fear and anxiety. Faith in the Lord acts as a lamp, bringing clarity, confidence, and freedom from darkness. Like Mary and Joseph, we are called to trust in God’s timing and patiently wait for what He has planned, knowing He holds the map. Let us remember to keep our lamps of faith lit as we journey on His path.

-anonymous