The Word becomes flesh and makes his dwelling among us.  He wants our home to be his also, though we are slow to understand and accept him.

Mary and Joseph cannot find Jesus.  He is not in the caravan.   They do not see him among the relatives and acquaintances either.  Without him, their house will hardly be a home.

No, the parents of Jesus are not returning to their house without their son.  He pretty much makes their house a home.  He is the bond of the family.  And so, they very anxiously begin to look for him.  They even go back to Jerusalem.  And at last, after three days, they find him in the temple.

There he is, sitting in the midst of teachers.  He listens to them and questions them also.  Wise beyond his twelve years, he astounds all those who hear him.

Mary and Joseph cannot hide their astonishment either.  But the son has to remember that they are his parents.  So, leave it to mother to state the parents’ case “in a way that both parents and children can appreciate.”

Replying to the mild complaint, Jesus pleads not guilty, so to speak.  And for the first time there is a Gospel account of him speaking.  He also uses for the first time “must” or “it is necessary.”   This word or phrase turns up time and again; it suggests that disciples are slow to understand.

Jesus wants the disciple to stay at home with him.

There is a Mary in the disciples on the road to Emmaus.  For three days now, they and the other disciples have sort of been looking for Jesus very anxiously (Comentarios al Evangelio, Nº 8, Nº 9) .  They are walking away because the one who holds them all together is missing.  That is, he is dead, and dead, too, is their hope in him as Israel’s redeemer.

Then a stranger comes along to walk with them.  He is sorry for their lack of understanding.  Basically, he is reminding them of his unique relationship with God and his mission, both of which transcend earthly relationships.  “He must suffer” matches “he must be in his Father’s house.”

What must be, however, is often hard to understand and accept.  But, like Mary, disciples must go home with Jesus and keep “all these things” in their hearts.  They will grow in age, wisdom and grace.  And they will, then, get to understand and recognize him at the breaking of the bread.  They will, moreover, discern his body in the poor who represents him (SV.EN XI:26), and who shares with them a common home.

Lord Jesus, may your word find a home in us.  And let our respect and concern for those with whom we share a common humanity rise up to you as a pleasing prayer.

30 December 2018
Holy Family (C)
Sir 3, 2-6. 12-14; Col 3, 12-21; Lk 2, 41-52