The Importance of Family

  

Luke 2: 41-52

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

⁴¹ Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. ⁴² And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. ⁴³ And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, ⁴⁴ but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, ⁴⁵ and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” ⁴⁹ And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” ⁵⁰ And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. ⁵¹ And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

No sooner have we celebrated the Birth of Jesus, we now, and fittingly,  honor his immediate family, his mother, Mary and foster father, Joseph. and, of course, Jesus himself.  A family dedicated to one another, faithful in the practice of their faith, and open to the will of God. They were not wealthy and had to work hard to earn enough to live.  Joseph had to travel to find enough work to earn a living, and eventually Jesus accompanied him.  What a bond must have grown between them!  Mary provided a warm, loving home for her "two boys", so often the case with families today. Yes, we have a model family held up to us for imitation.  Even  when there was friction, as when Jesus disappeared "to do his Father's will", the breach was not permanent, and life and growth continued.so that Jesus grew in wisdom as well as age. May we today express gratitude to one another as we continue our family gatherings and may we learn to follow the example set by the Holy famliy

Bro  Rene