Focus

Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.

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Read

Luke 2:39-52 (NRSV)

When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” He said to them, “Why were you searching 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. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

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Reflect

This story is one I remember hearing in Sunday school when I was very young. However, there’s one detail that I did not remember: “after three days they found him in the temple…” His parents had already traveled a whole day’s journey only to have to return to Jerusalem. Then they searched for three days before finding him? I can only imagine their anxiety!

When I was young, I got separated from my parents. When I went to the front of the store for help, I was terrified. Jesus didn’t seem to have been concerned. He even had the audacity to say, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” My momma would have punished me for making such a comment and having caused them so much trouble, but Luke simply said that Mary treasured these things in her heart.

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Pray

God, there are times when we feel lost and don’t know what to do. Help us to be more like Jesus, strong in our faith and always asking tough questions to learn and grow with you. Amen.

Go with God.