For Parents to Teach to Their Children
Young Jesus Emerges–Joyful Mystery # 5 for the Rosary
“Did you not know that I needed to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:41-52)
Mary and Joseph realize that Jesus, age twelve, was not in the caravan that left Jerusalem to return to Nazareth after the the Festival of Passover services (“Pesach” in Hebrew). It had been a day and they thought he had been playing with his friends. Can you imagine what your parents would feel if you were missing…and for a day! The times were very different. To travel from Nazareth to Jerusalem could take several days walking through rough and difficult terrain. People traveled together for safety and support of one and other. Children were being watched over by friends and family members.
Mary and Joseph had to look for Him for three more days when they returned to Jerusalem. They went to the Temple and found Jesus, a young boy, teaching the learned rabbis and elders! How astonished they must have been, and also how proud. Like any other mother, Mary told Jesus, “We have been so worried about you.” Jesus relied, “Did you not know that I needed to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:41-52) Jesus returned to Nazareth with Mary and Joseph and continued to grow with their care and love. “And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man.”
Question: Who was Jesus referring to when he said, “…my Father’s house?”
The Boy Jesus in the Temple.
Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,p42and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom.43After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.44Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,45but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions,47and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.48When 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.”49And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”*50But they did not understand what he said to them.51He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.q52And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man.r