Mary Kept These things In Her Heart

  

Luke 2: 41-51

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. ⁴² When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. ⁴³ After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴ Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

⁴⁹ “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”^{[a] 50} But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁵¹ Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

We celebrate the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a sinless heart in view of bearing and bringing the Son of God into our world. Theologians tell us that  because of this pure heart, she felt not only the joys of this world but also its sorrows more keenly in her heart because it was unimpeded with selfishness and totally  open to God's grace.  So, the pain of losing Jesus for three days was keener than it would have been for any other mother. She questioned Jesus and accepted his response, treasuring it and all the other words and incidents of his life in her Immaculate Heart. 

As Marists, we have a special place with and love of Mary in our spirituality, and, no doubt she has a special place for us in hear heart, treasuring us, our journey and our efforts to grow in love of and fidelity  to her Son.  This is indeed, a special day for Marists to celebrate with Mary, our Good Mother, and find strength and comfort and strength in her Immaculate Heart.

Bro. Rene