sandhill crane may 2005

Red admiral may 2005

June 4. 2005

The Temple Lk 2:41-51

Each year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
"And his mother kept all these things in her heart" There is a similar phrase in the Gospel at the time immediately after the annunciation. Mary does not understand what has just happened but keeps the matter in her heart and trusts God. After three days of looking for the child, rather than being angry she listens and is amazed at the wisdom that Jesus has in answering the teacher in the temple. She has love in her heart rather than judgement. It is easier to be patient with what I understand. I pray to today for patience with the things I do not understand especially in people's ways.