COUNTRIES celebrating the Feast of the Sto. Niño will have the account on the finding of the Boy Jesus at the temple (Luke 2:41-52) as this Sunday’s gospel, while others not observing this occasion will reflect on what transpired at the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11).
The first story in Luke tells us that the family of Jesus, just like all other devout Jews, attend the yearly festival of the Passover in Jerusalem. After the festival, when Jesus was 12 years old, he stayed at the temple, his parents unaware that he was left there. After a day’s journey, Mary and Joseph realized that their son was not with them; neither was he with their relatives.
Rushing back to Jerusalem to look for him, it was only after three days that they found him at the temple, discussing intelligently with the teachers of the law. Mary asked him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” To this, Jesus answered, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
Early in time Jesus knew his mission. Yes, he was the son of Mary and Joseph was his foster father. Together, they lived as a normal human family. But more than that, we see here Jesus revealing his deeper identity. He is the Son of God who was entrusted with the Divine mission to reconcile man to God – to teach, to heal, to liberate, and to save the world from its sins by offering his life on the cross. His role as the Messiah transcends whatever other earthly role he may have had.
Interestingly, this was the only recorded story between the so-called infancy narratives of Jesus and the beginning of his public ministry. Thus, not much is known about the first 30 years of Jesus’ life; it was his teachings and the events covering his 3-year public ministry (from age 30 to 33) that the gospel is filled with. What we are told, however, is that after this event in the temple, Jesus went home with his parents to Nazareth, and was obedient to them, increasing in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor (Luke 2:51-52).
One possible takeaway from this is the fact that Jesus grew up in the context of an ordinary human family. He was taken care of by his earthly father and mother. Mary and Joseph must have taught him the foundations of the faith (expectedly, until that time, the Mosaic Law), and must have impressed upon him the practical knowledge and skills he needed to become a responsible individual and a functional member of society. And throughout this process, we are assured that Jesus has submitted himself to the authority of Mary and Joseph; he obeyed and honored them as parents.
If there is then an important message that these first 30 years of Jesus’ private life in Nazareth could bring, it is the message of a ministry that is so important but often overlooked – our ministry to our own families.
A few questions are worth asking. As parents, are we performing our role the way God expects us to do? As sons and daughters, do we follow God’s commandment to honor our father and mother? As husbands and wives do we remain faithful to our spouse, and do we treat him/her with love and respect? As siblings, do we strive to live in peace and harmony with our brothers and sisters? And to cap it all, as a family, do we enthrone Jesus Christ as the King of our homes?
The family is the smaller cell of the bigger Church. If we want a more vibrant church, we must start in our own backyard – in our very own families. To do so, we only have to look at the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as a model to guide and inspire us.