Holy Family - "The Finding of Jesus in the Temple"

We have been working our way through the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary

-          Annunciation     (Immaculate Conception & OL Guadalupe)

-          Visitation     (4^th Sunday of Advent)

-          Birth of Jesus  (Christmas)

-          Presentation of Jesus  -  Jan 1

-          Today - Finding of Jesus in the Temple.

The Temple is long gone – Destroyed by Romans in Year 70

All that is left   so called Western Wall or Wailing Wall  built by King Herod.

Jews believe “Shekinah” – the Glory of God - still dwells there.

So it continues to be a holy place:

Place of Prayer:  150 psalms each day.

Of Ceremonies:  bar & bat mitzpha

And Great discussions and teachings    can you picture Jesus being there?

How could he have been left behind?

Funny age – 12   turning boy to man

Up to 12 – raised by mother and women.

Around 12 – passed over to the men – which was a hard transition for many.

Men & women always traveled separately

So Mary thought – he’s with Joseph     Joseph thought – he’s with Mary

Go searching – found Him in the Temple.

“Did you not know I had to be in my father’s house?”

In other words – why didn’t you check here first?

1)      Raised him centered on God

Brought him to temple  -   you are our son, and you are also a child of God.

Raised him with religious traditions  -   they lived it out.

2)      A reminder that there is no guarantee it will work out the way we plan.

Do our best – and then hand it over to God.

Can we trust that God is at work?

3)      Child was obedient to them. His parents tried to fulfill their responsibilities – They listened to Him, nurtured him, educated him, cared for him, tried to keep him safe. This is the true Mission of the family, and when this is done, the world is a better place! In turn, boys and girls should trust that their parents know what they are doing – have your best interests in mind -  would not hurt to say YES more often!

So today we celebrate the Holy Family. And we pray for all of our families:

O God, you have created us in love and saved us in mercy, and through the bond of marriage you have established the family and willed that it should become a sign of Christ’s love for his Church. 

Shower your blessings on these families gathered here in your name. Enable those who are joined by one love to support one another by their fervor of spirit and devotion to prayer. Make them responsive to the needs of others and witnesses to the faith in all they say or do.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.