Saturday, June 9, 2018

Lost

Have you ever lost Jesus? Has life ever gotten so busy that you forgot silly things like eating or peeing even? Have you ever lost sight of your way? It’s very easy to do. Even the Holy Family had a potentially catastrophic lapse in judgment in today’s gospel. They literally lost Jesus for three whole days! They assumed he was among them, safe with playmates or relatives, but in actuality, he was left behind. They made assumptions and were quite honestly probably caught up in their own worlds. Perhaps Mary was chatting it up with her girlfriends and Joseph talking shop with his buddies. 

Every time I have lost sight of Jesus I am always caught up in my own stuff. Every time I have lost Jesus I have also made huge assumptions that left me careless and off guard. It’s so easy to do. It’s so easy not to notice when he is missing from my life. It’s so easy to go days without talking to him, assuming that he is somewhere near. 

The good news is that Jesus is always where he says he is in today’s gospel, “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” This is not a sneaky way to get us to go to church or synagogue. This is Jesus revealing that God’s house is where he dwells. Guess what? We are living tabernacles, God’s house, and Jesus can be found there, didn’t you know?  

As we celebrate Mary’s immaculate heart today, may we ponder the finding of Jesus in our hearts where he is there waiting for us. And it is well with my soul. 

Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Lectionary: 358/573

Reading 12 TM 4:1-8

Beloved:

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,

who will judge the living and the dead,

and by his appearing and his kingly power:

proclaim the word;

be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient;

convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.

For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine

but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity,

will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth

and will be diverted to myths.

But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances;

put up with hardship;

perform the work of an evangelist;

fulfill your ministry.


For I am already being poured out like a libation,

and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have competed well;

I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.

From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,

which the Lord, the just judge,

will award to me on that day, and not only to me,

but to all who have longed for his appearance.

Responsorial Psalm PS 71:8-9, 14-15AB, 16-17, 22

R. (see 15ab) I will sing of your salvation.

My mouth shall be filled with your praise,

with your glory day by day.

Cast me not off in my old age;

as my strength fails, forsake me not.

R. I will sing of your salvation.

But I will always hope

and praise you ever more and more.

My mouth shall declare your justice,

day by day your salvation. 

R. I will sing of your salvation.

I will treat of the mighty works of the Lord;

O GOD, I will tell of your singular justice.

O God, you have taught me from my youth,

and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.

R. I will sing of your salvation.

So will I give you thanks with music on the lyre,

for your faithfulness, O my God!

I will sing your praises with the harp,

O Holy One of Israel!

R. I will sing of your salvation.

Alleluia SEE LK 2:19

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed is the Virgin Mary who kept the word of God

and pondered it in her heart.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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. 


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