Advent Part 18: Mary loses her son!
Luke 2:41-45 (NLT)
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. 43 After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, 44 because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.
45 When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there.
Dear God,
The last time I went through this story focusing on Joseph’s perspective, I stopped here—before they found Jesus—so I thought I would stop here for Mary too. He was a good kid, so they made a huge assumption: that he was with their traveling party. Where else would he be? He always did what he was supposed to do. But then they figured out he was not there. Oh no! What happened?!?
I would bet that it never occurred to Mary that Jesus separated himself from them voluntarily. That would likely have been very out of character for him. Nom someone must have taken him, or he was hurt and could not get back to them. This woman, who fled to Egypt and then learned all the boys under 2 years old back in Bethlehem were killed after they left because someone was trying to kill her son, had now lost that boy. Where was he?!?
I wonder if she and Joseph blamed each other as they went back to Jerusalem. Maybe they each blamed themselves. Maybe Mary got all of the blame since she was the mom, and moms were in charge of children back then. Either way I will bet there was a lot of fear as they went along … and a lot of silence.
I have blamed myself for a lot of things with my children through the years. And I confess that I blamed my wife for things too. And she has, in turn, blamed me for some things. How can you not? We all make mistakes, and we all deserve some blame. In this case I think Mary and Joseph both fell asleep at the wheel because they had grown to trust Jesus so much. But he still needed some guidance and parenting. He was trying to figure things out and he needed their help.
Father, help me to be at peace with the mistakes I have made and the mistakes my wife has made. Help me to forgive myself for anything for which I still feel shame. Help me to forgive my wife for any resentments I still have towards her. As I search my thoughts, I cannot think of any, but I am sure they are there. And help me to stay alert and vigilant as I continue to be a father to my adult children. Help me to not miss what you still need them to have from me.
I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
