Sunday in the Christmas Octave (C), Solemnity of the Holy Family
Sunday 29 December 2024
Lk 2,41-52
“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 favour”
(Lk 2,48-52)
According to the Word of God, there are three solemnities which oblige Jewish people to make a pilgrimage to the Holy City of Jerusalem: Passover (Pesach), Pentecost (Shavuot), and the festival of Booths or Tabernacles (Succot). With this in mind, the Gospel of Luke dedicates a passage to a particular pilgrimage that Jesus went on when He was twelve years old. The age of twelve is the age when a Jewish boy celebrates Bar-Mitzwâh, signifying his reaching maturity, bearing responsibility for his actions, bound by the obligation to observe the Mosaic laws. It is when he is considered a ‘son of the law’. In terms of education, his father can resort to stronger methods.
Being a good Hebrew family, the little family of Nazareth makes the customary journey to Jerusalem. During the return trip to Nazareth, after a day’s travel, his parents become aware that Jesus isn’t part of the travelling group. At this point, they return to Jerusalem and search for Him with their relations and acquaintances. It is only after three anxious days of searching that they find Him, in the Temple, sitting among the teachers who are listening to Him and questioning Him.
In this chapter, Luke the Evangelist uses two very similar expressions which describe Jesus’ development as a man. Verse 40 says, “The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him” and verse 52 says, “and Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour”. The central theme is Jesus’ growth as a man, becoming mature.
And right here, for the first time, Jesus refers publicly to His Father (not Joseph!), almost certainly using the Aramaic expression ‘Abba’. Furthermore, verse 51 tells us that “He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them”.
To grow and become mature, authentic Christians, we are called to strongly live these two characteristics which we see in Jesus:
– the dimension of Sonship: feeling ourselves as children of God, loved and wanted by Him, not here on Earth by chance. Even if our parents didn’t welcome us, it doesn’t take away from the fact that we are included in the Father’s plan
– Submission, or more accurately unconditional “docility”. Even when we think others know less than we do. Docility is the masterful road to perfection.
p. Giuseppe
