Mary’s Question and the Answer of Jesus
“And His mother said to Him: Son, why hast Thou done so to us? behold Thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And He said to them: How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know, that I must be about my father’s business?” (Luke 2, 48-49).
First Prelude: Picture Mary and Joseph in the act of finding Jesus in the Temple.
Second Prelude: Teach me, O Jesus, how to detach my heart from all earthly things, in order to fulfill the duties of my holy calling more perfectly.
First Point
Mary’s Question
Mary said to Jesus: “Son, why hast Thou done so to us?” These words were no reproof on the part of Mary, much less a reproach for His actions. They were but a respectful complaint, coming from the loving heart of a Mother—a complaint voicing in trustful, loving simplicity Mary’s pain at the loss of such a Son. Mary felt herself constrained to reveal to her Son the magnitude of her grief that He might know how she loved Him. She then modestly seeks to fathom the reason why Jesus withdrew from them, that she might the better know the Will of God, and be in a position to fulfill it. If God visits us with sufferings, we are permitted to manifest our grief and voice our complaints to the Lord, but let us do it confidently and humbly, not yielding to impatience, diffidence and despondence. If in all our trials we were content to pour out our grief solely at the feet of Jesus, we should find with Him that consolation which the world cannot give.
Mary, further, observes: “Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing.” She could well speak thus for her loving heart was, indeed, saturated with the bitterest pain, and even now it was being pierced by the sword of sorrow, as Simeon had prophesied. Mary knows from experience what it means to be deprived of the presence of Jesus. She is, therefore, filled with the tenderest compassion with souls who are immersed, as it were, in an ocean of interior sufferings, by which the Lord would cleanse them from the rust of sin or prepare them for the reception of new and greater graces.
Let us, therefore, not grow disheartened if God seems to try us, even when we have deserved sufferings in punishment for our sins. Let us turn to Mary, our powerful and benign Mother and intercessor, begging her to make known to us the reasons why the Lord deprived us of His grace and to teach us how to regain lost fervor.
Second Point
The Answer of Jesus
Having heard the loving complaint of His holy Mother, Jesus replied: “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know, that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2, 49). This is the first word we find in the gospel concerning Jesus, and it was a mysterious word, which His holy Mother and foster-father could not understand, as we expressly read in Scripture. Inexpressibly happy in the possession of their treasure, they do not seek to fathom the secret designs of Divine Wisdom, but adore them in all humility and reverence. But Mary kept all these words in her heart, and made them the object of her devout contemplation. The Holy Ghost did not reveal to her suddenly, but only gradually, the manner of Christ’s redemption of human kind.
Let us learn from Mary to accept the word of God with sentiments of self-abasement, even though we fail to comprehend some of the mysteries involved. We should rest content with the light God vouchsafes us, without seeking more, perhaps, to our spiritual detriment. We should be faithful in the discharge of the duties God asks of us, humbly adoring the designs of Providence without prying into the future, which veils them.
The answer of Jesus further comprises a great lesson, particularly for religious. “Did you not know, that I must be about My father’s business?” Jesus wills to say: I must employ myself exclusively with that which concerns the honor of My Father. I am come into the world to do, not my Will, but the Will of Him, Who sent Me. Souls, likewise, who have consecrated themselves to God as religious, must say: I must be about my Father’s business. If they are asked about their thoughts, they must be able to answer that their thoughts are with God, for where else could they presumably be? To think of God must be my greatest delight, to love Him, my greatest happiness. I can say with the Psalmist: “My eyes are ever towards the Lord” (Ps. 24, 15). If a soul consecrated to God is asked what she is doing she must be able to say: I am fulfilling the Will of Him Who has created me, redeemed me with His Precious Blood and in infinite mercy called me to His special service. I try to keep from all that is incompatible with the duties of my holy state, and confess with the royal prophet: “All my ways are in thy sight” (Ps. 118, 168). Yes, I must and I will be wholly and entirely about my Father’s business. Can I speak thus at all times? Do I close my heart to all idle and distracting things?
Affections: How great is Thy zeal, my Jesus, in the service of the heavenly Father! When there is question of accomplishing His holy Will, Thou knowest no earthly consideration. Thou didst suffer Mary and Joseph whom Thou didst love so tenderly to be plunged into the profoundest grief. Give me a clear knowledge of the purpose for which Thou didst create me and call me to the religious state. Grant me grace to direct my mind, my heart, my strength and all my faculties to the service and the honor of my heavenly Father. Everything shall be consecrated to Him, in time and in eternity—I will belong to Him alone.
Resolution: Before each action, particularly before practices of devotion, I will renew the good intention.
Spiritual Bouquet: “I must be about my Father’s business.”
Prayer: Take, O Lord . . .
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