Joyful Mystery—Finding The Child Jesus In The Temple [5 of 20]

Christ Teaching At The Temple by Danish artist Carl Heinrich Bloch (23 May 1834—22 February 1890)

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ifth Joyful Mystery—Finding The Child Jesus In The Temple. On the third day they came upon Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions (Lk 2:46).

Most mothers will resonate with the feeling and experience of bringing up one's own child believing that their child would become what they dream to become someday. All mothers share a similar aspiration of wanting only the best for their children and, not to mention, the disappointments that go with those lofty aspirations. The shared experiences of our mothers include all the aspired joy they treasured in their hearts over our accomplishments, dreams, and plans and the heartaches, griefs, and sorrows over our failures in life.

In the case of Mary, I would like to reflect on the dissimilarities of her own experience and that of other mothers. Let us face it, aside from the fact that Mary conceived in her womb in a very extraordinary way, she finds herself in a very unique position also to be the one to raise the Son of God with the help of Joseph and relatives. Let us not impute of course our knowledge of who God is upon Mary. She was simply unique and to be able to share her unique experience, we must implore her not only once but constantly even a thousand times if needed.

Mary was conscious, through her constant pondering in her heart, that sooner or later her relationship with the child Jesus growing up would change. The weaning period is like giving birth to the same person again. The children cannot afford to be dependent on their mothers all the time just as the fetus cannot stay beyond nine months in the womb.

Even at the early age of twelve, Jesus taught Mary about the virtue of letting go and letting God. The mystery is a reminder not only to Mary but to all of us about who we are and whose we are. We acknowledge the love and care poured throughout our growing up years by our parents but ultimately we belong to God. Mary realizes that the future of her child is now in the hands of God. It is all up to God now how God will raise God's only begotten Son.

Today, October 12, is a feast dedicated to "María del Pilar," Our Lady of Pillar. This title is linked with a wooden image commemorating the unique Marian apparition that is believed by Catholics to have taken place when the Blessed Virgin Mary was still walking on earth—hence, Mary is believed to have bilocated in Jerusalem and in Spain. Her image is enshrined at the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain.

I would like us to end with a prayer that we can imagine Mary must have implored in her time. Mary is an all-too-human being like any one of us but, unlike anyone in her beautiful and shining example of human determination and extreme courage. How did a simple Jewish girl, as she often is typecast, become the most formidable pillar of human courage, strength, and determination? By simply entrusting everything to God—letting go and letting God. Mary's Prayer: "Abba, I am confused sometimes. I do not know what to say to my child. But even then I put all my trust in you. Because my child taught me one thing today. It is not I but You alone are in charge. Amen."

Additional Material:

The Presentation [4 of 20]

Baptism Of Jesus [6 of 20]

Go Home To Your Family And Pray Together The Holy Rosary! 

Fr JM Manzano SJ