Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?

30 DECEMBER (Lk 2,41-52)

Man was created to obey his Lord and God. Obedience is a more vital law for man than the law of gravity, even more than the law of eating, drinking and breathing. It is a more vital law than any other law that regulates the life of men on our earth. This law is the source of true life. All the others help the life of the body, but are not the law of life. Never might any man place himself out of this divine will: “If you obey me you live, if you do not obey me you die.” This obedience is quite beyond the very law of faith. This is the law of nature, of creation, not the law of faith, of different beliefs, or of something else that belongs to the after of this law.

Obedience to God is obedience to the Law, to the Commandment, to any provision and statute enacted by our God. Parents are guarded by the law of obedience.

Children, pay heed to a father’s right; do so that you may live. For the Lord sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons. He who honors his father atones for sins; he stores up riches who reveres his mother. He who honors his father is gladdened by children, and when he prays he is heard. He who reveres his father will live a long life; he obeys the Lord who brings comfort to his mother. He who fears the Lord honors his father, and serves his parents as rulers. In word and deed honor your father that his blessing may come upon you; For a father’s blessing gives a family firm roots, but a mother’s curse uproots the growing plant. Glory not in your father’s shame, for his shame is no glory to you! His father’s honor is a man’s glory; disgrace for her children, a mother’s shame. My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives. Even if his mind fail, be considerate with him; revile him not in the fullness of your strength. For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, it will serve as a sin offering – it will take lasting root. In time of tribulation it will be recalled to your advantage, like warmth upon frost it will melt away your sins. A blasphemer is he who despises his father; accursed of his Creator, he who angers his mother. (Sir 3,1-16).
Jesus is also subject to the law of obedience to Parents. However, for him there is another Law: that of the direct and immediate command of his Father. This command must always be listened to and it is not subject to the discernment of Joseph and Mary. For Jesus applies the contrary law: He is the one and only who must discern the will of God for himself, for the “Father of adoption or foster” and for his Mother. That is why Mary and Joseph must be extremely careful, vigilant. They are the ones who must always walk behind Jesus; never Jesus behind them. Today, the heavenly Father sends Jesus into the temple, while the “Parents” take the way to return home.

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. And Jesus advanced (in) wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

This one and only moment of moral certainty and faith that Jesus was behind them, for three, days was sufficient for intimate pain and suffering to arise. Jesus did not get lost. He was always in the will of the Father. Joseph and Mary were lost because they yet did not know the law of obedience that burdens on the Person of Lord Jesus. Jesus in the temple of Jerusalem reminds them that his Law of obedience, and all in the house of Nazareth returns in peace.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints teach us the law of obedience. We could also risk of not walking behind Jesus.