We have been working
our way through the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
-
Annunciation (Immaculate Conception)
-
Visitation (4th Sunday of Advent)
-
Birth of
Jesus (Christmas)
-
Presentation of
Jesus -
Jan 1
-
Today - Finding
of Jesus in the Temple.
The Temple is long
gone – Build by the son of King David – Solomon. It was a place of prayer and
sacrifice. The Ark of the Covenant was kept in the Holy of Holies.
Destroyed by the Romans
in Year 70
All that is left so called Western Wall or Wailing Wall built by King Herod. Check it out 24 hour live web cam.
It continues to be a
holy place:
Place of Prayer: 150 psalms each day.
Of Ceremonies: bar & bat Mizpah
And Great discussions
and teachings can you picture Jesus
being there?
Were his parents
neglectful? 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
Hopes for children –
happy and healthy. Should also include: holy
They 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 things will work out the way we plan.
Do our best – and
then hand it over to God. Especially
true when we have tried to pass on faith and they no longer practice – keep the
faith! Live it by great example.
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.
