It is not surprising that families can have problems and misunderstandings. Even the best family of all, the Holy Family, had a misunderstanding, as we read in today's Gospel (Lk 2:41-52). It seems that there was a misunderstanding: Jesus stayed in the Temple and did not tell his parents. When they finally find him, worried and sick after three days searching for him, he does not show much compassion and is surprised that they did not think he would be in the Temple, his Father's house.
Jesus is the perfect man and puts God before everything else, although, as a real and therefore limited man (which is part of his human nature), in a somewhat adolescent way he does not consider the concern he would cause his parents by doing so. We are told that his parents "did not understand" what it said.
Jesus shows us the attitude that children should have toward their parents. First to God, but then obey their parents. "He went down with them and went to Nazareth and was subject to them.". But Our Lady shows us the attitude that parents should have: to pray. "His mother kept all this in her heart." More praying than talking. We also see the perfect relationship between Joseph and Mary, which is a great example for spouses. Joseph usually takes the initiative, as when he took Mary and Jesus to Egypt and back.
But on this occasion, he holds back and lets Mary speak, since the questioning of Jesus' actions would more appropriately come from her than from him. Joseph and Mary show us a perfect husband and wife team. Each respects the competence and authority of the other.
The first reading teaches us a beautiful lesson. Hannah had miraculously conceived Samuel when she thought she would never conceive. But now she gives him back to God. She is willing to dedicate her son to the Lord and goes to the temple to do so. Parents have to receive their children as a gift from God and be willing to give them back to him. And we may have to be prepared to be surprised by our children. Even Mary and Joseph had to be surprised. Sometimes God has to teach us a lesson, to surprise us through our children and the unexpected free choices they make. They belong to themselves, not to us; and moreover, they belong to God.
Homily on the readings of the Holy Family (C)
Priest Luis Herrera Campo offers his nanomiliaA short one-minute reflection for these Sunday readings.
