Today we celebrate the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of
the Blessed Virgin Mary. In today’s
Gospel we here the familiar story of the holy family traveling to the Temple
for the Passover and how Jesus was separated from them. St. Luke tells us, “Each year Jesus’ parents
went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they
went up according to festival custom. After
they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained
behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed
for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not
finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the
temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them
questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his
answers. When his parents saw him, they
were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to
us? Your father and I have been looking
for you with great anxiety.” And he said
to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my
Father’s house?” But they did not
understand what he said to them. He went
down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept
all these things in her heart.”
Mary and Joseph must have been beside themselves when they
couldn’t find Jesus. Imagine how they felt not knowing where their son was for
three days. When they finally found him
he didn’t answer their questions rather he questioned them. I can only imagine how much turmoil Mary and
Joseph experienced. Yet through it all
Mary “kept it all in her heart.” She
never complained, she trusted God’s plan and left everything to God.
Mary’s example teaches us to turn to the Lord for strength and
guidance. When we are struggling or
anxious God give us peace and tranquility.
Let us remember to pray each day
to have the grace to be more like Mary.
Pat Schifini, OSU
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