he went up with them, according to the custom of this feast. After the festival was over, they
returned, but the boy Jesus remained in 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.

Reflect

“Ponder things in silence.” Only a person who has a clean heart will be able to ponder and
accept things that life has to offer, even in times of confusion. It is not easy to accept things
when there are uncertainties. Consequently, it remains to be a great challenge
to participate in God’s salvific act which still is in the process of unfolding. Today’s Gospel
narrates what is popularly known to many as the loss, and the finding of the child Jesus in
the Temple. Mary and Joseph, together with the child Jesus, went to Jerusalem for the Feast
of the Passover. When they were to return to Nazareth, Mary and Joseph lost Jesus because
the boy remained in Jerusalem. They found him in the Temple. It was never easy for Mary to
accept what had happened together with the boy’s words about the need for him to be in his
Father’s house. Despite this, Mary kept the things in her heart. When an untoward incident
happens to us, we normally react immediately. Like Mary, we are called to ponder things in
silence, figure things out, and then cooperate with God’s salvific plan.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2024