A Few Words On "The Word"

December 31, 2006
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Year C

Luke 2:41-52

Be Found!

Have you ever played hide and go seek? I mean, really played hide and go seek? I'm not talking about a typical game that schoolchildren play at recess. I'm talking about full out, at night, in the dark, flash light tag, hide and seek on a farm in the middle of nowhere.

If you have been blessed enough to have such an experience, you probably know that there are several different ways to play the game. There are those who hide in total obscurity for hours on end, defying typical human abilities to stay still and quiet. Other players however, choose to hide in such an obvious place that no thinks to look there.

Today's reading provides the only glimpse of Jesus' formative years the gospels provide. We see a young, twelve year old Jesus who has unintentionally played hide and seek with his parents. When Mary and Joseph finally track him down, Jesus is somewhat astonished by the worry he has caused. Jesus felt that he was "hiding" in the most obvious place in Jerusalem for his parents to look - God's temple.

Though Joseph and Mary didn't fully realize it yet, Jesus was on his way to becoming a mature member of the Jewish faith. His experience of listening and learning in the temple shows that he was beginning to take responsibility and ownership of his parent's faith.

Often times this growth from child-like faith to a mature adult faith is not easy for older adults to grasp. Some adults begin to believe that young people care little about their faith despite the fact that there are young people right in front of them passionately working for justice and peace. As with our game of hide and seek and Jesus' childhood disappearance, these people can't find what they are looking for because they are looking in the wrong place.

This is not to say that we should try to live defiant lives. Instead we need to do everything we can to explain to adults why we are speaking up for those in need in ways that they can grasp. And we need to listen to the wisdom other members of our faith family offer. Those who have begun to doubt the possibility of a just society will soon realize that you have wisdom to share through your message of hope.

As members of a faith filled holy family, we must never forget the importance of standing up for peace and justice, choosing to look positively at a world in need. It is our task to remind adult leaders of this, demanding to be found, like Jesus, in the very center of our Christian faith.

Reflection Question

In what ways have you found working with older members of you Christian family challenging?

What steps have you taken to persevere in your quest towards a society that builds up the poor and the oppressed?

Join us in our Forum to discuss these questions!