Page 139 - Demo

LUKE 
after her marriage, 37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. 38And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.m
The Return to Nazareth. 39When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.n 40The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.o
The Boy Jesus in the Temple.* 41Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,p 42and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. 43After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, 47and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. 48When 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.” 49And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”* 50But they did not understand what he said to them. 51He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.q 52And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man.r
2:36
We usually think of prophets
as male gures, but there were women prophets as well, both in the Old and New Testaments. Anna is such a prophet, who recognizes Christ and speaks of his coming to others.
2:41
Passover was one of the pilgrimage feasts, when Jewish people from all over would journey to Jerusalem for the observance. Extended family groups would travel together for safety.
2:48
We glimpse the strain Jesus’ three-day disappearance has placed on his family: Mary reproaches him for the worry and su ering he has brought upon her and Joseph, and Jesus responds by telling
her that he is already in his “Father’s house,” the Temple. Jesus rede nes family: he will invite all people to become his brothers and sisters, adopted children of his Father.
Jesus in the Temple
with the doctors of the Law, by Giovani Serodine (1600-1630)
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* [2:41–52] This story’s concern with an incident from Jesus’ youth is unique in the canonical gospel tradition. It presents Jesus in the role of the faithful Jewish boy, raised in the traditions of Israel, and ful lling all that the law requires. With this episode, the infancy narrative ends just as it began, in the setting of the Jerusalem temple.
* [2:49] I must be in my Father’s house: this phrase can also be translated, “I must be about my Father’s work.” In either translation, Jesus refers to God as his Father. His divine sonship, and his obedience to his heavenly Father’s will, take precedence over his ties to his family.
m. [2:38] Is 52:9.
n. [2:39] Mt 2:23. o. [2:40] 1:80; 2:52.
p. [2:41] Ex 12:24–27; 23:15; Dt 16:1–8. q. [2:51] 2:19.
r. [2:52] 1:80; 2:40; 1 Sm 2:26.