Linking Learning and Love

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary invite us to contemplate how we handle change in our life through the eyes of Mary as she encounters Jesus about His Father’s business in the Temple.

The Father's Business

The CCCB has chosen thanksgiving for the deliverance of Israel as expressed in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah as the first reading today. (USCCB reading is 2 Timothy 4.1-8).

* [61:10–11] The new life of the restored Zion is expressed in nuptial (cf. also 62:5) and agricultural (cf. v. 3; 60:21) imagery.

In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus explains to Mary that doing His Father’s business has caused them to be separated for three days.

* [2:49] I must be in my Father’s house: this phrase can also be translated, “I must be about my Father’s work.” In either translation, Jesus refers to God as his Father. His divine sonship, and his obedience to his heavenly Father’s will, take precedence over his ties to his family.

The study bible of bmullins explains that Jesus was not rebuking Mary and Joseph.

Did you not know: **Jesus is not rebuking Mary and Joseph, as though they had done something wrong, but instructs them on how their parental role must be subordinate to the will of his divine Father. His parents do have an important part to play in his mission, as indicated in the subsequent context, where Jesus submits himself to their leadership and honors them with the faithful obedience of a son (2:51). **my Father's house: Literally, "in that of my Father". This could refer to the Temple specifically or to his mission from the Father more generally. - Ignatius Study Bible

Ann Mausbach is inspired by the Gospel today to reflect on the role of being a parent.

Being a parent isn’t so much about letting your children go as much as it is being open to who and what they will become. I am continually amazed at how hard this can sometimes be. I think it's because we can’t fathom a different, changed version of our child. Sometimes we just don’t get it, we can’t understand. Mary and Joseph didn’t understand what Jesus was saying to them, but Mary (as always appropriate) pondered all these things in her heart. I am sure she wasn’t super pleased with what Jesus had done, she had to be scared to death, but she continued to work on understanding and loving him.

The Catholic Culture website explains the history of the memorial today. Pope Pius XII put the whole world under the special protection of our Savior's Mother by consecrating it to her Immaculate Heart, and in 1944 he decreed that in the future the whole Church should celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This is not a new devotion. In the seventeenth century, St. John Eudes preached it together with that of the Sacred Heart. St. Ephrem, called "the Harp of the Holy Spirit," is the great classic Doctor of the Syrian church. As deacon at Edessa, he vigorously combated the heresies of his time, and to do so more effectively wrote poems and hymns about the mysteries of Christ, the Blessed Virgin and the saints. The Collect Prayer for today seeks the intercession of Mary for our well being.

Grant, Lord God, that we, your servants, may rejoice in unfailing health of mind and body, and, through the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever-Virgin, may we be set free from present sorrow and come to enjoy eternal happiness.

Don Schwager offers a meditation on how Mary and Joseph must have felt anxious and helpless when the boy Jesus disappeared.

Why did Jesus stay back in Jerusalem when his parents left for home? Just as the prophet Samuel heard the call of the Lord at a very young age, Jesus in his youth recognized that he has been given a call by his heavenly Father. His answer to his mother's anxious inquiry reveals his trusting faith and confident determination to pursue his heavenly Father's will. Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house? Our Heavenly Father calls each of us. With the call God gives grace - grace to say "yes" to his will and grace to persevere through obstacles and trials.

In the Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 2:41-51 Mary’s example can be a great help to us when we struggle with understanding what God is doing in our lives or in the life of a loved one.

It’s comforting to know that Mary could be just as surprised as we are when God’s plans take a different turn than what we expect. Her example shows us that the best thing we can do when we are confused or surprised by events unfolding in our lives is to stay close to Jesus and ponder his words. It’s easy to spend days assuming that we are in sync with the Lord, only to discover—as Mary and Joseph did—that we have been traveling in a different direction the whole time. But all it takes is the decision to stop, turn our attention to Jesus, and try to listen. Then, just as a GPS system redirects us when we get lost, Jesus will reroute us as well.

Friar Jude Winkler gives some background on Jesus becoming a man and declaring His relationship as Son of the Father. The use of foreshadowing in the Gospel of Luke points to a future separation of Jesus and Mary after the Crucifixion.

Mitchell Lewis looks in more detail at Foreshadowing in Luke.

The temple visits looks forward to the resurrection in two other ways. Mary – the model disciple in Luke’s gospel – cannot find him for three days (Luke 2:46), anticipating the “three day” theme associated with Jesus’ death and resurrection (Luke 9:22, 13:32, 18:33, 24:7, 24:21). And just as the angel at the tomb asked the women (the other Mary’s) “why are you seeking (ζητέω) the living among the dead,” (Luke 24:5), so Jesus asks his mother Mary, “Why were you seeking (ζητέω) me?”

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, asks how might we cultivate curiosity, openness, and the ability to change our minds (the meaning of the Greek word metanoia, usually translated as “to repent”)? He notes that a contemplative practice is anything that helps us open heart, mind, and body to union with God—the source of creativity. So nurturing curiosity can be contemplative!

Recall a belief you’ve held about the world or God that has changed over time. What information or experiences altered that belief? Bring to mind another belief you hold now and question your assumptions, playing “devil’s advocate” for a while.

The example of Mary holding difficult changes in her heart leads us to approach change with God in a spirit of creativity that promises renewal.

References

(n.d.). Isaiah, chapter 61 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 9, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/61:1 

(n.d.). Luke, chapter 2 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 9, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/2:41

(2016, March 7). Luke 2:50 Question - Sacred Scripture - Catholic Answers Forums. Retrieved June 9, 2018, from https://forums.catholic.com/t/luke-2-50-question/418114

(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved June 9, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

(n.d.). Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; Optional ... - Catholic Culture. Retrieved June 9, 2018, from https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 9, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(n.d.). The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Solemnity) - Mass Readings and .... Retrieved June 9, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/

(2015, December 31). Foreshadowing in Luke 2:41-52 – Mitchell Lewis. Retrieved June 9, 2018, from https://milewis.wordpress.com/2015/12/31/foreshadowing-luke-2-41-52/

(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 9, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/