Wednesday of the Second Week
Feast of Saint Joseph
Reflection
Reflection
One of today’s readings is the familiar story of the Holy Family travelling to Jerusalem for the Passover according to the festival custom. On the way home, Mary and Joseph, thinking that the 12 year old Jesus is walking with others in the caravan, are undoubtedly terrified when they realize that He is not among the others as they had expected. For three days they search and finally find Him engaged in deep question and answer exchanges with the elders in the Temple of Jerusalem. “All who heard Him were astounded” we are told.
As any parent would, Mary gently rebukes Jesus and tells Him of their great anxiety. His response, the first Biblical words we hear from Jesus, illustrate His full identification of His heavenly Father. “Why were you looking for Me? Did you not know that I must be in My Father’s house?” We are told that Mary and Joseph “did not understand what He had said” and then He returned with them to Nazareth. It must have been especially difficult for Joseph, the “earthly father” of Jesus, to hear Jesus starting to express His utter loyalty to His other father, God, the Father of all of us. Like Joseph, we too may need to show humility and trust in Jesus, despite it being difficult to do so.
There are many occasions when we do not understand what Jesus wants from us. There are even times when Jesus seems difficult to find, and when we do not like the answers that He gives to our questions. Yet, as committed Christians, we believe that it is not Jesus who is lost, but us. He is about the Father’s business, and He will walk with us if we let Him.
Prayer
Jesus, we want to be closer to You, we want to walk with You, and we want You forever present in our lives. Hear our prayer. Lead us, guide us, and we will follow.
Vincent Bolduc, Professor of Sociology
Scripture
Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29
Second Reading: Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22
Gospel: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Luke 2:41-51a
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