A Taste of Things to Come
Opening Prayer
Lord, I want to be where You are and to be concerned with that which is of concern to You.
Read LUKE 2:41-52
[41] Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. [42] When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. [43] After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. [44] Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. [45] When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. [46] After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. [47] Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. [48] When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” [49] “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” [50] But they did not understand what he was saying to them. [51] Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. [52] And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Are you "about [your] Father's business"?Twelve years have gone by since yesterday’s reading (42)! Twelve years of normal life in a town in Galilee. Twelve years of growing up, learning, making friends. Twelve years of visits to the Passover in Jerusalem (41). Next year, Jesus would be legally an adult. But already he is showing some independence (43).The least surprising thing here is that Mary and Joseph hadn’t missed him. They were traveling in a group with their friends and relatives (44). And anyway, he was 12, surely able to look after himself. Then they realized that no one knew where he was. Three days of anxious searching later, they found him (46). And not for the last time, he was causing quite a stir in Jerusalem (46,47). His direction was being set. What parent wouldn’t have responded like Mary (48)? Jesus’ answer (49) may fascinate us today but it just puzzled Joseph and Mary then. Jesus had a sense of intimacy with his Father that his parents didn’t understand.
Apply
How has God been speaking to you? And how have you been responding?
Closing prayer
God, help me to be sensitive to Your leading and to follow You wherever You go.
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