2nd Epiphany
Luke 2, 41-52
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| Ferrari |
Every year his [Jesus’] parents went to Jerusalem
for the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they took him
with them. Now after they had gone there and fulfilled the custom during the
days of the feast, they set off on their way home. But the boy Jesus remained
behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know this; they thought he was among
the company of the travelers. After a day’s journey they missed him among their
friends and relations. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem
to look for him.
After three days they found him in the Temple, sitting in
the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And
those who heard him were amazed at his mature understanding and his answers.
And when they saw him, they were taken aback, and
his mother said to him, “My child, why have you done this to us? Behold, your
father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”
And he said to them, “Why did you look for me? Did
you not know that I must be and live in that which is my Father’s?”
But they did not understand the meaning of the
words he spoke to them. And he went down with them again to Nazareth and
followed them willingly in all things.
And his mother carefully kept all these things living in
her heart. And Jesus progressed in wisdom, in maturity and grace [favor] in the
sight of God and man.
2nd Epiphany
Luke 2, 41 – 52
Over time a plant changes its form: from seed to shoot;
shoots become the fullness of leaves; leaves transform into flowers and fruits.
We too undergo changes of form: from infant to toddler, from
child to youth. The transformation in adolescence is a huge one. The change of
form is accompanied by the awakening of new possibilities. As the body
undergoes a major overhaul, our own personal destiny begins to awaken. There
are flashes of what the adult will one day become. It brings with it new and
surprising elements, unfamiliar and bewildering to parents.
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| 12 year old Jesus, Dürer |
The young Jesus gives us some indication of how the human
spirit negotiates the turbulence of change, how to handle the cross-pull of
inner and outer demands. In the Temple ,
He awakens to His destiny as a teacher. He recognizes that He belongs in this
house of His heavenly Father. But His stroke of insight is not yet the full
picture. For this is just the first of many transformations, which will ultimately
make Him a healer, a prophet, the High Priest and Savior of humanity.
And so when challenged by His parents, He willingly assents
to return with them. Although now very different, He weaves Himself into His
present situation, into being the young son of His parents. Neither He, nor His
mother, forgets what they have glimpsed.
He weaves together future growth into the present situation.
We too can see in
this a productive way of integrating future and present. We catch moments of
inspiration. It may not yet be the right moment, either for us, or for outer
circumstances, for their fulfillment. But we can remember them, ponder them in
our hearts. And then, perhaps after many changes and transformations, we will
be positioned for fulfillment. And in so doing we too will blossom and bear
fruit in wisdom, in maturity, and in grace.
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