Sunday Reflections

This Sunday’s gospel is a powerful example of what can happen within a family or any relationship when the focus is on self as opposed to the other.

Both Mary and Joseph, along with Jesus, at first were focused on self.  Mary and Joseph were distraught upon finding out that Jesus was not in the group of travelers heading home after the festival of the Passover.  They probably felt negligent as parents for not knowing where their child was, and even more guilty given who this child is.   Or Jesus who may never have given the absence of his parents during those 3 days any consideration.  He probably felt anger towards his parents, if reminded, of them leaving him at the temple.

This reading provides a thoughtful illustration of one of St. Ignatius’s Spiritual Exercises, the Two Standards.  Living Christ’s Standard would have us fully vested in the role of God in our lives, we are created both in the image of God and recognize our human limitations. 

Taking this perspective allows us to focus on the other.  For Jesus and Mary, what could their initial response to seeing Jesus back at the temple be instead of, “Child why have you treated us like this?”  For Jesus what could His initial response be instead of, “Why are you searching for me?”

Notice also how the second reading from St. Paul to the Colossians focuses on the other.  “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience (towards others).” And “clothe yourselves in love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony”. And finally, we follow Christ’s standard by, “and whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

With your family and friends, looking forward to the start of a new year, how will you look to God for his wisdom in focusing on others?