HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH, CYCLE C
LUKE 2:41-52
The final episode in Luke's Infancy Gospel (chapters 1 & 2) is the story of the Holy Family's visit to Jemsalem when Jesus was twelve. Luke begins, "Each year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover." It is important to Luke to depict the Holy Family as devout Jews obedient to the Torah (the laws of Moses). In Luke's theology Judaism is continued in Christianity. The foundations of Christianity must therefore by solidly based on the Torah. The Torah prescribed three annual pilgrimage festivals -Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles ~ or Spring, Summer, and Autumn. The law is found in Exodus 23:14-17. In Luke's theology this journey to Jerusalem anticipates Jesus' final journey to Jerusalem from Luke 9:51 to 19:28. After the latter journey Jesus would also be in the temple, but as a teacher rather than a child asking questions, Luke 20 & 21. In his Infancy chapters Luke includes themes to be developed in the body of the gospel.
Despite Luke's insistence on the virginity of Mary when she conceived and gave birth, in this story he speaks three times of the "parents" of Jesus, including Joseph as "parent" along with Mary. Mary will refer to Joseph as Jesus' father in the dialogue between her and Jesus in the temple. In Luke 3:23 however the author says this about Joseph, "When Jesus began his ministry he was about thirty years old, being the son of Joseph (as -was supposed)." In Luke 4:22, critics of Jesus' visit to Nazareth also say of Jesus, "Isn't this the son of Joseph? " Luke's present story will point to a Father other than Joseph.
Although the Passover itself required only a two-day stay in Jerusalem, the feast of Unleavened Bread, by now connected with Passover, extended the Passover celebration to eight days. At the end of the eight days, Jesus' parents were part of a caravan ofGalileans heading north. Jesus was twelve years old and could be expected to be in the caravan without constant attention from his parents. After the first day of travel they looked for him among relatives and friends, but no Jesus. Not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem. After a three-day search, they found him in the temple "in the midst of the teachers listening (to their discussions of the Scriptures) and asking them questions." Luke notes that all were astounded at Jesus' understanding of the discussions and his answers^ (indicating Jesus not only asked questions but also answered questions). This he would do again in the temple about twenty years later on his final Passover visit to Jerusalem.
Jesus' parents were as astounded as the participants in the discussion and the people who were listening. His mother mildly rebukes him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." The question Luke attributes to Mary indicates, as do all four gospels and traditions outside the gospels, that Mary and Joseph and their relatives were not always at ease with the activities of Jesus. That is the meaning of the prophetic oracle of old Simeon, when he spoke of the "sword of sorrow" which would pierce the soul of Mary, Luke 2:35. If this story were not Luke's catechetical instruction, we would conclude that Jesus' answer to his mother was rather cheeky for a twelve year old boy.
Jesus answers Mary, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in My Father's house?" Mary and Joseph are described as not understanding this strange answer. This answer is Luke's vindication of the message of Gabriel to Mary, "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High." Luke's depiction of Elizabeth addressing Mary as "Mother of my Lord^ (as noted in last Sunday's commentary), is also confirmed by Jesus' words, "My Father.f> Despite such a high connection, Jesus returns with his parents to Nazareth, "and was obedient to them." Obedience to his earthly parents is a symbol of the obedience he gives to his eternal Father. He who learned to obey Mary and Joseph is the same one of whom Jesus' disciples will say in Luke 8:25,"Who is this, that he commands even wind and water, and they obey him?"
1 SAMUEL 1:20-22. 24-28
This is the story of Hannah and Elkanah, a story that served Luke as model and background to the story of today's gospel. Their son Samuel was also a miraculous son. When he was weaned, (which could be many years later than now), they took him to the Shrine of the Ark at Shiloh and dedicated him to the Lord "as long as he lives." Luke borrows from the story of Samuel the closing lines of today's gospel. See 1 Samuel 2:21, 26.
1 JOHN 3:1-2. 21-24
To understand this reading as in some way expressing themes similar to the gospel and first reading of this feast is beyond this writer's ability. A few brief comments: the author affirms the Father's love being so great that we can be called "children of now." A greater privilege awaits us, "We shall be like him because we shall see him as he is," a promise of the beatific vision, "because we keep his commandments and do what is pleasing to him." How do we know this? Faith in the Son, Jesus Christ, and the testimony of the Spirit he gave us." Thus a tribute to the Holy Trinity.
