The Moment of Joy

While praying the Rosary, I came to my last decade that had me contemplating on the 5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of the Boy Jesus in the Temple. The story in the Bible that references this mystery is found in Luke 2:41-52:

"Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."

When I re-read this in the perspective of his mother, and placed myself in her situation, it was unbearable. If I realized after travelling an entire day that my 12-year-old son was not with us, I couldn't fathom what I would do. So I really tired to. What would I honestly do if that had happened to me?

Well, my first natural emotions would likely be extreme distress, perhaps confusion and denial. Who knows how long they were "looking for him among their relatives and friends" (v.44). And when I realized he wasn't with me, maybe I would become angry at my husband for not watching him or making sure he was with us. But, either way, I would do the same thing Mary and Joseph did - I would return to the place where he last was with us. Now it doesn't say if they waited until morning or they travelled through the night, but again, what would I do? There's no way I'd be sleeping anyway just at the thought of my baby alone at night so I would have travelled back the moment I had accepted he wasn't with me. 

After they arrived notice it says "After three days they found him in the temple courts" (v.46). 3 DAYS?? 3 days of agony, 3 days of uncertainty, 3 days of worry and anxieties at an all time high for his poor parents. Did they lose hope during those days? Would I have? How long before I would stop searching? Would I have ever? I was filled with such extreme distress thinking about that first day they arrived back and were so hopeful to find him sitting and waiting somewhere for them, but that wasn't the case. And then Joseph encouraging Mary to get some rest and they will go speak to everyone they can the 2nd day. And then that 2nd night - what was Mary thinking? Feeling? Had she slept at all? Not only was this her precious baby but this was God's son, how could God let this happen? Was she shaken in her faith? Would I be?

And then that 3rd and final day - I can only imagine. After all the worry and anxiety and heartache, seeing my baby boy. I'd embrace him like I've never embraced him before, likely because I had not known, just yesterday, if I'd ever get to embrace him again. Mary said "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you” (v.48). The Bible gives one line to summarize what would have been 4 days of extreme emotions in one of the most nightmare situations for a parent. What's more is Jesus' reply: “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (v.49). Mary couldn't have even been angry with Him since He was doing what God needed Him to do.

After that roller-coaster of emotions, I noticed that this story was categorized as a 'Joyful' mystery.  Not under the Sorrowful, which could be justified if looking through the perspective of His parents during those 4 days. But joyful - Why joyful? Because of that moment of pure joy when Mary laid eyes on her son. The incredible joy that came from the relief of all the worry and anxieties being lifted off. And that's where the gem of this mystery lies and what we are to focus on.

There may be days, months or maybe even years of uncertain, worrisome times but the whole time God is doing something. Patience and Faith will get you to that Moment of Joy. Just trust Him and ask, while your waiting, for His grace to sustain you.

May God Bless you and the Peace of Christ surround you.

- A