January 15, 2025

Jesus seeks the Father

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

Luke 2, 41 - 46

Dear readers,

Imagine this situation: you lose your child while traveling. It has suddenly disappeared and you search for it in panic. That must have been what happened to Mary and Joseph back then. There was no large-scale police operation. No helicopter searched for him. No dogs picked up the scent. This is no postage stamp idyll, but pure stress.

I imagine that this situation was a terrible experience for Mary and Joseph. Did they reproach each other? Did they send one prayer after another to heaven without interruption? How would you have reacted in such a situation?

They finally find their child. The twelve-year-old Jesus discusses with the scholars in the temple. But the mother is not proud of Jesus. She does not praise him, but reproaches him:

His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’

What Jesus then says shows his true identity. He is the Son of God: ‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’

That is his destiny, even if Mary and Joseph do not yet understand it. He is looking for the Father in heaven. But then Jesus submits to them. He was obedient to them, they say. He fits in with his family. In this way, he also fulfilled the commandment to honor his parents.

I have the impression that both sides had to learn here: Mary and Joseph have to learn that Jesus is not a “normal” child, but the Son of God. They have to learn to let go of this son. He is the Messiah. And the young Jesus had to learn to fit into his earthly family and to treat his parents with love and respect. This was probably a painful but ultimately healing process for both sides.

What can I learn from this story? As a Christian, I want to treat my family with respect and love, especially my parents. I don't want to do anything that could cause them emotional pain. At the same time, I always want to seek the way to the Father in heaven. I always want to be where the Father in heaven can be found. I want to be with him in prayer, in church services, in the Christian community. In this way, spiritual and earthly life can come together harmoniously and become a blessing for others. 

I wish you God's blessing and look forward to seeing you on February 1, 2025. 

This text was translated using DeepL (free version), edited by R. Jordan