8 June, 2024 | Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 2 Tm 4:1-8

Gospel Lk 2:41-51

Each year Jesus' 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.

Reflections: 

Reflection: The heart of a mother understands the pain and pangs of her children and the Mother of Jesus was no different.  Even as a young lad,  Jesus was focussed on fulfilling his heavenly father’s assignments for him.

As we celebrate the solemnity of The Most Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we cannot but observe her environment as she nurtured and nourished the Son of God in their humble home.  Was there anything at all to teach a little boy who was already soaked in wisdom so much so that he could answer questions of the scribes and teachers in the Temple of God?  What skills were left for him to learn when he was already a master creator?

Yet, shelving all that she experienced as The Mother of God in her Immaculate Heart, she would ponder and offer in prayer to The One to whom she had said ‘YES’ – to be his handmaid and to do as he pleased.

 

Activity:

 Examine your obedience to God’s commandments. Plead with Mother Mary to guide you.