The story of Jesus at the age of twelve being found in the Temple, quizzing the premier scholars of Israel is a familiar one: “…they were amazed at his understanding…” (Luke 2:41-51). What strikes me as I meditate on this passage is something different, something I think might have application to me and my life.
Jesus’ mother and St Joseph, his “foster father”, leave Jerusalem after the feast of Passover, “… supposing him [Jesus] to be in the company...”. In other words, they assume he is with them (as he’d been for so many years) although they never checked. They went on their way, presuming he would tag along, following them.
This is not to be critical of them – far be it from me to criticize these extraordinary people, hand chosen by God to be the earthly parents of the Only Begotten One! Instead, I highlight this because I myself easily and frequently make the same assumption: that when I set out to do something, “of course” Jesus is with me. I haven’t stopped to make sure, I’ve just gone on my way, doing the next thing, presuming on his Presence. When I do this, I can perhaps find myself quite far along the way before it dawns on me that I’m kind of on my own.
So what ought I to do then? Search and search for him until I am certain that I have reconnected with him again, even if that takes much time and effort. Maybe I need to leave off what I’ve been doing and go back to that point where I might have left him behind, for it’s certain that I am the one who needs to follow him, not the other way around. I think it’s mostly a matter of awareness, attention, and ongoing connection.
Sometimes, as in the Lukan passage, it’s Jesus who chooses to “hide”, to make me search for him. Why would he do that? Just a guess: perhaps he wants me not only to know and cherish his palpable Presence, but also to exercise faith in order to trust that he’s there, even when I can’t feel him near me. He’s promised (Hebrews 13:5-6) never to leave me or forsake me. Will I take him at his word and believe him, even if – sometimes – it doesn’t feel like it? He can and will help me to do exactly that.
Lessons From Love School 