Breaking the Word

Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding 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 all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to them, "Why were you looking 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 He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.  (Lk 2:41-51)

Jesus at the age of twelve was sure of the purpose of his life. His purpose was to do the will of the father. That is the reason for which he has come and hence that is his mission. This is not only that of Jesus but it should be for every creature in the world. The whole creation has only one purpose and that is to reveal God and make his will and his kingdom established among the creation.

This incident also shows the mind of a mother. Mary wants the child to be with the family. Mary sees this in her own context. (As she asked the anger Gabriel how this could be). In a sense Mary is in her learning process. Jesus’ return to the family and living with them is also a way of helping in this learning process. Obedient to  the local situation is also helpful for the wider mission.

Mary kept all these in her heart. Heart of the mother is to keep the events and experiences for reflection. Mother does not throw away the experience as if it had no relevance and importance. Everything has a purpose and meaning in life. Keeping these things in her heart Mary realized the greater importance of these events and hence she was able to cooperate with the plan of God.

At that time Jesus said in reply, "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." (Mt 11:25-30)

God’s revelation is to the people who are childlike. Childlike persons are receptive and they are open to others and they always admire the things with wonder and so on. The wise and the learned are most of the times inquisitive, suspicious and doubtful. Jesus praises the attitude of the father towards his own creation. God’s revelation and his gracious will is on the side of the persons who are childlike.

Indirectly Jesus says that he himself is a childlike person. Because God has revealed everything to Jesus and the total knowledge of the Father is given to Jesus. Jesus also looks for people who are childlike. The kingdom which Jesus has come to establish is for the people who are childlike. Jesus himself is the first example of that.

One of the qualities of the childlike person is to let others come to him. Letting people to enter into oneself is the quality of the childlike person. (He should be always ready to receive persons particularly the persons who are of heavy heart and over burdened with worries etc). Childlike person is meek and humble. He never burdens the other. All these qualities only show to prove that a childlike person is other centered.