Do I experience both in relationship to Jesus?

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (C); 12-29-24

Sir 3:2-6,12-14.  Ps 128.  Col 3:12-21.  Lk 2:41-52

Deacon Jim McFadden

Today we are celebrating The Feast of the Holy Family, which invites us to reflect on the experience of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, united by the immense love and trust they had in one another.  Today’s Gospel from Luke picks up on the 5^th Joyful mystery: namely, Finding Jesus in the Temple.  We’re familiar with the story that after three days of searching and fear over the child Jesus who had wandered away, they find him n the temple, sitting among teachers, focused on a discussion with them.  At the sight of this highly unusual situation—I mean, it’s not typical of a 12 year old teaching the temple scholars on the nuances of Scripture—Mary and Joseph “were astonished” (Lk 2:48) and they were afraid and anxious.  Mary revealed their fear to him, saying: “your father and I have been looking  for you anxiously” (ibid.).

         Astonishment and anxiety—these are two elements which mark our spiritual journey into the mystery of the triune God.

First, let’s look at ‘astonishment.’  Even though Mary and Joseph were continually in the presence of their Son who was gradually maturing, I think that their astonishment of raising their Him never waned.  Can you imagine being with Jesus on a daily basis?  How could you not be astonished before the gradual manifestation of the Son of God.  It was the same astonishment of the teachers of the temple, who were “amazed at his understanding and his answers” (v. 47).  But what does it mean to be astonished?  Being astonished or amazed is the opposite of taking something or someone for granted.  It’s the opposite of relating to someone according to our egoic needs and wants.    Mary and Joseph were open to astonishment because they were open to Jesus, open to understand his way of being, his point of view, which he would eventually call the Kingdom of God.  Such an attitude is indispensable for healing open wounds that are inevitable in a family environment.  When we run into conflict with people we’re close to, we can take them for granted or close the door to others because they don’t think like us.  Instead, we should strive to emulate Mary and Joseph:  what is unique about this person?  What good can they bring to the relationship?  If I’m open, I can be astonished by what they bring to the table.  When we’re open like this, such a disposition promotes family and community unity.  If we have problems within a family—and who doesn’t?—think of the good they can bring and be astonished by this.  This will help heal familial wounds.

The second element to focus on is the anxiety that Mary and Joseph felt when they could not find Jesus.  This anxiety reveals that Jesus was the center of the Holy Family.  When he was not in their presence, they felt fear.  The Blessed Mary and Joseph, they had welcomed their Son; they protected him and watched him grow in age, wisdom, and grace.  But above all, Jesus was growing within their hearts;  little by little, their understanding, affection, and love of him grew.  This is why the family of Nazareth is holy: because it was centered on Jesus; all of Mary and Joseph attention and concerns—indeed, their whole life—was directed towards him. 

That anxiety that they experienced in the three days that Jesus was missing should also be our anxiety when we are distant from him, when we are distant from Jesus. How often are we distant from Jesus?  On any given Sunday, 75% of our brothers and sisters are not with us to celebrate Holy Mass.  Are they remembering Jesus?  How often do we pray?  Do we engage in Morning  and Evenng prayer?  Do we practice an examine of conscience?  Do we frequently attend Adoration?  We should feel anxiety when we forget Jesus for more than three days, without praying, without reflecting upon the Gospel, without feeling his presence and his comforting friendship. 

         Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple while he was teaching.  For us, too, we can encounter Jesus especially in the Holy Mass which is the “fount and summit of our worship.”  There we will encounter the divine Teacher whose words will endure for eternity.  His Word can transform our heart and soul.  In the Liturgy of the Eucharist we have celebration of having a living experience of Christ, who actually comes into our body!  “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” Jesus gives us his Body in the Eucharist from which we draw life and vitality to face the challenges of everyday living.

         Brothers and sisters, let us embrace astonishment and anxiety.  Let us be astonished as to how Jesus comes into our lives.  Let us be astonished at the goodness of others.  Let us reflect when we feel anxious when we are distant from Jesus.

Let us pray for all the families in the world, especially those in which, for various reasons, peace and harmony are lacking, especially in Ukraine, the Middle East, Haiti, and Sudan.   And let us entrust them to the protection of the Holy Family of Nazareth.  Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Is astonishment part of your spiritual journey? 
2. Is anxiety part of your journey?  How do you deal with that?
3. When you experience distance from Jesus, how do you come closer to him?