To Be in the Father’s Affairs
The Feast of the Holy Family
1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28; Psalm 84; 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24; Luke 2:41-52
Both sets of parents—Hannah and Elkanah, Mary and Joseph—made an annual pilgrimage to God’s sanctuary (1 Sam. 1:3; Luke 2:41). “Their hearts are set upon the pilgrimage” (Ps. 84:6). Yet, the particular pilgrimages we hear about today were different; their sons accompanied them and were left to serve God. “Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord” (Ps. 84:5a).
“Once Samuel was weaned” (1 Sam. 1:24) doesn’t specify his exact age. In contrast, the age of Jesus is noted. Before becoming a "son of the covenant" at thirteen, a Jewish boy received intensive instruction at twelve. Jesus, the child "filled with wisdom" (Luke 2:40), became a young boy whose wisdom surprised everyone (Luke 2:47).
Today’s Gospel casts a shadow of the cross. Jesus’ parents left Jerusalem without Him and found Him only after three days (Luke 2:46). Jesus' answer—"Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s affairs?” (Luke 2:49)—resembles His words to the disciples on the road to Emmaus: “Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” (Luke 24:26). Jesus’ parents did not understand His answer, just as His disciples didn’t understand His talk of the cross (Mark 9:32; Luke 9:44-45). Only when the risen Christ opens our minds can we understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45).
“Your father (Joseph) and I have been looking for you anxiously” (Luke 2:48). Jesus’ response addresses two issues in Mary’s statement. “Why were you looking for me?” We should know where to find Jesus—in the sanctuary. For St. Augustine, we are this sanctuary (1 Cor. 6:19). Christ is within, but often, we are not within ourselves; instead, we are captivated by external things, distracted by the beautiful creations of God, yet unable to find God Himself. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s affairs?” Jesus’ foster father was looking for Him anxiously, but His true Father demanded His full dedication. The verb “must” (dei in Greek) is also used in reference to Jesus’ passion: “The Son of Man must suffer many things” (Mark 8:31, see also Luke 24:46). This “must” confounded both His parents and His disciples.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are” (1 John 3:1). Mother Church gave us birth in the waters of baptism and dedicated us to God. But that is only the beginning. “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Our goal is to be like Christ.
Today, in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus speaks for the first time. His words reveal the purpose of His life—to be in the affairs of His Father. This purpose makes Him obedient to His earthly parents (Luke 2:51) but will also lead Him to offer His life for all humanity. Jesus’ purpose should become our own. We are called to keep God’s commandments and to do what pleases Him: “And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us” (1 John 3:23).