Scripture Scribbles: December 26, 2021

the Gospel

Lk 2:41-52

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.

When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day.

Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.

After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

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.”

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.

But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

the devotion

Merry Christmas!! Let us rejoice and be glad!!

Today on this Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I love knowing that as Catholics the Christmas celebration has just begun! As my eyes gaze over all the Christmas decorations in our home they fall on the nativity set of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus lying in the hay. It’s quite large, and my heart swells a bit. It was the Christmas gift I received last year from my 6 children. A gift that means so much, a gift that only a few years ago they wouldn’t have thought to give me. They may have been searching for a cozy sweater, or a new coat, or maybe even an amazing vacuum cleaner...but last year the choice they made was to give me this Holy Family. I love it. I love how they are all very aware how much my Faith means to me and that this Nativity set would thrill their mom more than any other gift. I’m so grateful for the gift of our faith, and I truly see it as a gift, it has changed my perspective on so much.

Today's Gospel makes me stop and consider how much my understanding of our faith has grown. As I focus on the words in today's Gospel some seem highlighted more than others. I read Scripture so differently than I ever did, which not long ago was...never! Thankfully God met me where I was, but He didn’t leave me there. He introduced me to new ways to pray and new friends who were also growing in their Faith. I was introduced to Lecio Devina, the Rosary, Adoration and how to unpack the Word. Sometimes one word at a time. Hearing this Gospel of Luke at Mass today takes me back to a particular time while out walking my dog listening to Scripture Seeds.

For the first time I heard Rachel shine a whole new light on this reading. I hear it differently now than I used to. She was talking about how Mary and Joseph thought Jesus was with them as they journeyed from Jerusalem. How often do we think Jesus is with us, as we journey away from Him? For any of us who have ever lost sight of a child in a busy place, a few minutes feels like an eternity. Looking for Jesus for three days must have been agonizing.

But I love where they found him. Exactly where they left him. Rachel just kept saying, “He never left.” And it still sits with me today. They walked away, but He never left. He never leaves us. We walk away, and we may even think He is with us, but I’m afraid we leave Him behind sometimes. We think, “I got this. I’ll tackle this, and that, and put out this fire, and deal with that crisis and... NO, I got this God, I’ll get back to you later.”

What if we remember He does not walk away? He is there. He is bigger than the fire, the crises, the challenge. He sent us His only Son to show us how to live, how to suffer, how to forgive and how to follow Him. So as we journey through this Christmas season, let's try to be open to His presence, to journey with Him and not to leave Him behind.

May the joy of the season be with all of you and your families.

Today’s devotion was written by Beth Brennan.