Jerusalem; and his parents did not know it. They assumed that he was in their group of travelers, and, after walking the whole day, they looked
for him among their relatives and friends. As they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem, searching for him; and, on the third day, they found him in the
temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. And all the people were amazed at his understanding and his answers. His parents
were very surprised when they saw him; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I were very worried while searching for
you.” Then 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 this answer.
Jesus went down with them, returning to Nazareth, and he continued to be obedient to them. As for his mother, she kept all these things in her heart.

Lectio Divina

READ: Jesus went with His parents to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover when He
was twelve years old. He remained there sitting among the teachers learning, asking
questions and giving answers to some points of the gospel. His parents went back
looking for Him. He told them His reason to be in His father’s house. Nevertheless, He
went back with them to Nazareth while His mother kept all these things in her heart

REFLECT: The parents of Jesus are normal pious Jews who place great importance to
the religious rituals of their ancestors. According to this gospel account, even though
Mary and Joseph customarily go to the Temple of Jerusalem during the Feast of the
Passover, they only took Jesus with them when he was already twelve years old.
Imagine the excitement of the young Jesus. After all, Jerusalem is a mega city with
lots of architectural, cultural and commercial wonders. These are enough to entertain
a young lad during his brief sojourn in the holy city. But what caught the attention of
Jesus is the lively scholarship with regard to the faith right inside the Temple. He was
not seduced by the material delights of the city but the quest to understand better
the faith through intellectual discourse and the sharing of experiences. That is why
He spent time with the teachers of the law, holding His own in the exchange of ideas
to the point of eliciting the admiration of the older and more experienced among
those gathered. It is in such gathering that He is finally found by His parents. It was
a gathering that Jesus did not regret participating. In all of these, His mother kept
everything in her heart. For she knows who her son is. She has to learn how to be a
parent to a child as extraordinary as Jesus. And she does that admirably by listening
and pondering all things in her heart.

RESPOND: When was the last time you travelled to participate in a devotion that
you nourished through the years. It could be a break you need from the ordinary
humdrum of life. So why don’t you plan your spiritual and physical break as well. It is
good to reconnect with activities that once gave us so much pleasure but is neglected
because of the busy schedule of our life.