The Return to our Father's House

In today’s Gospel, Luke tells the story of of Jesus and his parents traveling to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. When it was time to go, instead of leaving with his parents, 12 year old Jesus stays behind in Jerusalem. You know the story... Mary and Joseph assume Jesus is somewhere in the caravan with other children and realize only after a day of travel that he is not with them. So, they return to Jerusalem to look for him.

When I imagine this scene, I see Mary and Joseph searching for Jesus as they move quickly through the streets. Mary is frantic with worry. When they finally arrive at the temple, it is cool and quiet inside except for some soft voices toward the front. As they move toward the soft voices, Joseph and Mary finally find Jesus sitting on the floor listening to the teachers. The marble floor is gray and cold. Jesus is sitting on a rug with his legs crossed. There are about 5 teachers all speaking and also listening to what Jesus asks of them. As Mary and Joseph approach the group, Jesus sees his parents and he can tell that his mother seems very anxious although he can’t seem to understand why. Once Mary explains to Jesus that she was fraught with worry, I imagine she begins to sob with relief as Jesus just shakes his head, surprised that they didn’t realize that he would be in his Father’s house.

As a parent I feel the emotion that Mary must have felt... but I also feel Mary’s relief when she sees her son safe and completely content in his Father’s house. I am sure all parents at one time or another have known that feeling. We have been in a store with a small child, and in a split second, lost track of them. Even if it is just for a moment, that sick, frantic feeling washes over you. But then you see your child and all is immediately well. This is what I imagine Mary must have felt.

Through my reflection on this Gospel passage, the one point that stayed with me was this return to the Father's house. We will all return to our Father’s house, to His love, and His comfort. To me that is what the 12 year old Jesus felt.

And to me, I think that is what Fr. C.A. Leininger must have felt when he passed last week after the wonderful life he lived serving God. Now, like all of us will someday, he has returned to our Father’s house surrounded by a perfect love.

Author: Linda Soich, Jesuit Dallas Staff