SON, WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS TO US?

Is 61,9-11; C 1 Sam 2,1.4-8; Lk 2,41-51
9 JUNE
The Letter to the Hebrews reveals to us that God speaks many times and in different ways. He tells us that Christ Jesus is the Word of the Father. It is a unique, special and particular Word. It is his Son. In the Book of Job Eliu of Barachele tells us instead that God speaks in different ways, but man does not pay any attention to it. He acts as if God were not speaking to him.

In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs (Heb 1,1-4).

For God does speak, perhaps once, or even twice, though one perceive it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, (when deep sleep falls upon men) as they slumber in their beds, It is then he opens the ears of men and as a warning to them, terrifies them; By turning man from evil and keeping pride away from him, He withholds his soul from the pit and his life from passing to the grave. Or a man is chastened on his bed by pain and unceasing suffering within his frame, So that to his appetite food becomes repulsive, and his senses reject the choicest nourishment. His flesh is wasted so that it cannot be seen, and his bones, once invisible, appear; His soul draws near to the pit, his life to the place of the dead. If then there be for him an angel, one out of a thousand, a mediator, To show him what is right for him and bring the man back to justice, He will take pity on him and say, “Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found him a ransom.” Then his flesh shall become soft as a boy’s; he shall be again as in the days of his youth. He shall pray and God will favour him; he shall see God’s face with rejoicing. He shall sing before men and say, “I sinned and did wrong, yet he has not punished me accordingly. He delivered my soul from passing to the pit, and I behold the light of life.” Lo, all these things God does, twice, or thrice, for a man, Bringing back his soul from the pit to the light, in the land of the living. Be attentive, O Job; listen to me! Be silent and I will speak. If you have ought to say, then answer me. Speak out! I should like to see you justified. If not, then do you listen to me; be silent while I teach you wisdom (Jb 33,14-33).

What does Jesus want to reveal to his mother remaining in Jerusalem without telling her of his decision? One truth: that his life is all, from today on and forever, from the will of his Father. What the Father will tell him, He will do. If he commands him to warn the Mother, he will warn her. If he orders him to stop without saying anything, he will stop. The Father is the only will to which He must and will give all obedience.

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.

Jesus did neither disobey nor disrespected his Parents. He did not even get lost in Jerusalem and then took refuge in the temple. He only obeyed his Father. From this moment on Mary and Joseph must follow Jesus, never Jesus follow them. Jesus is the Master. They are disciples. They always look towards Jesus, never Jesus towards them. A Word given in suffering so that it were remembered forever.

True disciple of Christ the Lord, Angels and Saints make us attentive listeners of the Word.