杏MAP导航

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

鈥淟ike Mary and Joseph, full of hope, let us also set out in search of the Lord, who cannot be contained within our limited expectations...鈥�

This was the central theme of 杏MAP导航 Francis' prepared text for his General Audience, originally scheduled for 5 March. Although the Audience was cancelled, the Holy Father chose to have the Holy See Press Office publish his message.

Continuing his catechetical cycle on 鈥淛esus Christ, Our Hope,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis dedicated his reflection to the childhood of Jesus, focusing in particular on the episode in which, at the age of twelve, He remained in the Temple without informing His parents. Mary and Joseph, overcome with anxiety, searched for Him for three days before finally finding Him.

The Holy Father marveled that this account presents us with a very interesting dialogue between Mary and Jesus, which helps us reflect on Mary's journey.

Mary as a pilgrim of hope

Stressing that her journey certainly was not an easy one, the 杏MAP导航 explained that that Mary undertook 鈥渁 spiritual itinerary鈥� during which, her understanding of her Son鈥檚 mystery consistently grew.

As he went on to recall the various stages of the Blessed Mother鈥檚 journey throughout the Lord鈥檚 life, he noted how, throughout it all, she remained 鈥渁 pilgrim of hope".

The Blessed Mother Mary, 杏MAP导航 Francis highlighted, is His first disciple. He adds that she nurtured him, helped Him grow, and followed Him, allowing herself to be shaped by the Word of God before anyone else.

The 杏MAP导航 then quoted 杏MAP导航 Benedict XVI, who said "We see how completely at home Mary is with the Word of God..." Noting she "is completely imbued with the Word of God," Benedict had explained, "she is able to become the Mother of the Word Incarnate."

However, this unique communion with the Word of God, 杏MAP导航 Francis pointed out, did not spare her the struggle of a demanding "apprenticeship."

The Blessed Mother's fear of losing her Son

The experience of losing site of Jesus at the age of twelve during the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem frightened Mary so much, the 杏MAP导航 suggested, that she, in a sense, became the 鈥渟pokesperson鈥� for both herself and Joseph in reproaching their son.

鈥淢ary and Joseph,鈥� he acknowledged, 鈥渆xperienced the pain of parents who lose a child". Believing that Jesus was with their relatives in the travelling caravan, they went on without concern. But after an entire day without seeing Him, anxiety set in, and they began a desperate search, retracing their steps.

鈥淩eturning to the Temple, they discovered that the one whom they had, until recently, seen as a child in need of protection, had suddenly matured,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航. They noticed he had become capable of engaging in discussions on the Scriptures, 鈥渉olding His own鈥� in debates with the teachers of the Law.

Surpassing comprehension

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to recall that in response to his mother鈥檚 reproach Jesus replied simply, saying he was conducting His Father鈥檚 鈥渂usiness.鈥� However, the 杏MAP导航 observed, Mary and Joseph did not understand. 鈥淭he mystery of God made child surpassed their comprehension.鈥�

鈥淗is parents,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 recognized, 鈥渨anted to protect their precious Son under the wings of their love; but Jesus,鈥� he continued, 鈥渋nstead, wanted to live out His vocation as the Son of the Father, serving Him and immersing Himself in His Word.鈥�

Finally, and with this in mind, the 杏MAP导航 urged the faithful to seek the Lord like Mary and Joseph did, and to do so full of hope.