Today’s Gospel Text:
Now
his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years
old, they went up according to custom; 43 and when the feast was ended,
as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents
did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the
company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and
acquaintances; 45 and when they did not find him,
they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 After three days they found him
in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them
questions; 47 and all who heard him were
amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when they saw him they were
astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so?
Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." 49 And he said to them, "How
is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's
house?" 50 And they did not understand the
saying which he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and
came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them;
Luke 2:41-51
Reflection: What
do we teach our children?
It
is always nice to see parents teaching their children the good things of life,
the many positive human values, on how to live and behave in society and with
others.
Most
of the character formation of a child takes place at home:
In school or in friends circles a child picks up traits which may spoil the character of
a child but yet it need not always be a worry with good parents who know the
art of parenting.
They
can pick up from the bad things their child has learnt and make it work for the
good of the child; on how not to behave from existing bad behavior patterns as examples
to unlearn.
But
the problem arises when parents themselves don’t live as role models to their
children and there is a big discrepancy in what they teach their child and what
they portray.
With
what moral authority can a parent teach the child to be courteous or kind and
they themselves often don’t practice what they teach their children.
This in no way means that one should stop teaching ones children the good behavior
patterns of life, just because one cannot live up to the normal standards of
living.
Every
individual is duty bound to teach what is right and wrong, because sound
morality is based on truth and is the essence of life and just because one is
on a suicide mission does not mean that one should drag the whole world with
it.
In
the gospel we could have a similar confusing situation which the Child Jesus goes
through and revealed to us in that part when his parents ultimately finds him
and he confronts them: "How is it that you sought
me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (vs. 49)
A careful look at that
statement clearly shows us from where he learnt that and yet he knew that the
very source from where he learnt such
wisdom were also an authority on what his future action should be and when it has to be
performed.
Prayer: Lord, help me to go back through my childhood and
learn whatever sound things I have learnt from my parents, teachers, mentor’s
and elders, in keep with your word and renounce all that is not of you.
DD = Dedicated
Discipleship: Come grow
in the Lord with us
