The Fifth Joyful Mystery: the Finding of Jesus in the Temple

When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, 'Son, why have you done this to you? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety?'" Luke 2:48

Mary's heart pounded in her ears, her breath ragged. She knew Jesus was the Son of God and would one day return to Him, but she never expected to lose him so young, so soon.

After a wonderful Passover in Jerusalem, they had been headed home. Joseph had searched the large caravan they were traveling with, sure Jesus was with his friends, or being fed by one of their relatives. After a full day of searching, Mary and Joseph had to face the fact that Jesus was not there. They hastily returned to Jerusalem to begin their search.
He was not at the lodgings, or among their Jerusalem friends and family. The city was crowded, full of people who had celebrated the festival in the holy city. One young boy was hard to find.

Another day, and another.
No Jesus.
Joseph looks tired and worried. On one hand, Mary is calm. God is faithful and has fulfilled all his promises to her. She knows He watches over her and her small family. He will provide. Yet, she feels a little afraid, remembering the sword that will one day pierce her heart.

Entering the Temple, they saw a group of men gathered for teaching. Then they heard the sound of a beloved young voice. They hurried over to the group, and found Jesus at its heart. He looked up, and smiled at the sight of them.

The men turned and began to praise Jesus to his parents, wondering at the depth of understanding. Mary and Joseph politely thank them, but hurry to take Jesus aside.

"Where were you?", Mary cried, pain and longing in her voice.
"Why were you looking for me? Did you not know I must be in my Father's house" he stated with loving concern.

Mary and Joseph did not understand. It was too much. Parenting the Son of God could be overwhelming sometimes.

Jesus returned home to Nazareth with them, and "was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart," (Luke 2:51)

*********************************************************************************


Mary and Joseph knew the fear of not knowing where your child is. Turn around too long, and off he goes! They knew the sorrow of waiting to find him.
Once they did find him, reminded them that he did not belong to them, but to God.

As our children grow, we are also reminded they do not ultimately belong to us. They begin to become more independent. They do not need us as much, so not lean on us as much, so not want us as much. We thought we were tired of baby days and the demands of a small child. Hard as they are, our children loved on us, needed us, and nurtured us. As they gain independence, we must step back a little to allow them to grow more. It is what we want, it is what is right. But, it can hurt sometimes.

Just as Jesus reminded his parents that he belonged to God, so we too need to be mindful that our children belong to God. They are ours to cherish and nurture for so short a time. One day, they will be ready to leave us. We must let them, knowing God watches their every step.

The Fourth Joyful Mystery - the Presentation

And his father and mother marveled at what was said about him.  Luke 2:33

Little Jesus was bathed and dressed in fresh baby clothes. He smelled sweet. Mary kissed his damp cheek. Joseph called to his family. It was time to go.
To the Temple, in reverent awe. Every firstborn son was consecrated to the Lord, just as Hannah consecrated Samuel in ancient times. Today was the day for baby Jesus.

Into the Temple now, a busy place of various transactions, yet always filled with an air of holiness. Simeon, an elderly man, came forward. It seemed he has been waiting just for them. Out of a shadow he stepped, smiling, reaching for Jesus.

Simeon held Jesus in his arms, murmuring to him. Suddenly, strength and purpose filled his being. He appeared 20 years younger.
He opened his mouth and began to prophesy. His words told of how Jesus would be a light to the Gentiles and Israel's glory. Mary and Joseph knew that, and yet felt surprise to hear it coming out of a stranger's mouth.
Simeon continued, saying the child will be "set for the fall and the rising of many in Israel."

Then his eyes met Mary's.
"Any you yourself a sword shall pierce."

She knew, had known all along, that somehow her heart would be sacrificed in all this. Mary realized now with cold assurance that her son would somehow, some day suffer, and she would suffer right along with him.

As soon as Simeon finished, Anna the prophetess came forth, praising God. She, too, understood the importance of this child, and rejoiced at his coming.

Mary and Joseph knew who their son was. They believed it firmly, despite the fact it still sounded like a day dream. They were filled with awe once again. A day they thought would be ordinary had turned into something amazing. It seemed that every where they would go with this child would be an adventure!

******************************************************************************

Raising a child is hard work, but one of the benefits is that we, as parents, see so much worth in our children. We desire others to recognize in our child a uniqueness, a special-ness, a reason for existing.
The world can be a hard place, sometimes cruel. We fear for our children. We fear they will not know they are special, that they are loved beyond measure. So when other people exclaim over our child or praise them, as Simeon and Anna adored Jesus, our hearts are moved. We know our child's worth has been revealed to others.

Also in this mystery, we hear the warning of Simeon to Mary, of the sword that will pierce her heart. Mary will suffer for the sake of her son, in his sufferings. Fathers and mothers suffer when they watch their children suffer. It is a trial of parenthood to know that we are no longer independent in our hearts. Our children whom we have borne, whom we have loved and raised, will know pain, just as we have known pain in our lives. We are usually powerless to stop it.
We cannot shield our children from the Cross. It will come to them, as it comes to all. We know trials can bring us closer to God, but it does not make watching our children suffer an easy thing.

As a parent, a sword will pierce our heart. Of all people, Mary the Mother of God understands this.

The Joyful Mysteries

The Third Joyful Mystery

But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.  Luke 2:19

Mary thought about it all the way to Bethlehem. Joseph and she had dreamed and planned how the child would be born. In the comfort of home, in the love of family and friends.

Then, the decree for the census. The long difficult journey to Bethlehem. There is no comfort riding a donkey when you are ready to give birth.

Bethlehem at last. But still, no rest. There is no room anywhere, no comfort. Suddenly, there is urgent need for shelter.

Finally, a stable. Lonely. Lowly. An odd place for God to appear.

In the deep of the night, the babe is born.  Mary holds him in her arms, feels his specialness. Joseph has his turn, as well, marveling at the tiny baby - His King.

A few hours of rest, and shepherds arrive. Shy, unsure, they tell their marvelous tale. Angels, songs of glory. "Holy, holy" fills the night time sky.
God is revealed to two simple parents, a few animals, lowly shepherds, and sheep.

******************************************************************************

After months of waiting, their baby has arrived. Not in the way they first envisioned, but in the way God planned. Like many parents before and since them, Mary and Joseph had to seriously rethink their birth plan!

Mary and Joseph are in awe of life itself. the tiny child, who has been living in his mother's womb, is now present and visible to all. Jesus's first visitors were not family or friends, but strangers. They came not to a hospital or birthing center, but a stable. The child lay not in a crib with flannel blankets, but a manger filled with hay.
Mary kept all these things and thought on them in her heart. Parents do that. They relive the moment of their child's entry into their life. It is always a drama. It is always miraculous. Parents reflect on this time as their child grows, pondering the meaning of this child in their lives. Every birth is a nativity. Every child is a miracle.

The Joyful Mysteries

The Second Joyful Mystery: the Visitation

"And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit."  Luke 1:40-41

Mary hastened her steps. Her destination was just around the corner.
The day the angel had come, had turned her life upside-down, he had also told her of her cousin, Elizabeth. Elizabeth, who was long past child-bearing age, had conceived a son!
Mary was full of joy. She traveled to Elizabeth. They needed each other, these women of miracles.

A joyful reunion. Elizabeth's baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth cried out, "Blessed are you among women!" Mary opened her mouth to respond, and poetry rushed forth. A canticle of praise: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord!" The Life within her was changing everything, turning her very words to song.
Mary and Elizabeth had a wonderful visit. No one else could understand them the way they could one another. Angelic visits, miracle babies, God-dwelling-among-us - these were the common topics of their conversation.
Mary stayed three months. Elizabeth was not young and needed help preparing for the little one. At home, Joseph needed room to think, to plan, and to adjust/ For both women, their time together was a blessed time, a happy time.

*****************************************************************************

After the angel leaves, Mary is left to think on the things he told her. One of these things was the very unexpected pregnancy of Elizabeth. Mary went to her, to help her, and to be with someone who could understand her. These were saints, yes, but they were also women. We like to be around people who can understand us, what we are going through, and how to support us. Pregnant women, especially those having their first child, often seek out other expecting women. Together, they can talk about the back-ache, the fatigue, the uncomfortableness of their bodies, of the joy and fear of new life, of all the mysteries unfolding within their very selves.
One question that stand out in all the small snippets of in the Bible is, where was Joseph?

We can only imagine.

Mary must have told him. She was honest, and he needed, deserved, to know. He could have accused her of adultery, but he was a very kind man. We are told in Matthew 1:19 that he decided to divorce her quietly, so no one would know her shame. What exactly did Mary say to him? What must he have thought?
Beginning with Matthew 1:20, we are told that angel appeared to Joseph and told him what had happened to Mary. Joseph believed, and "did as the angel angel of the Lord had commanded him" (v. 24). What joy Joseph must have felt to know his bride had been faithful to him, and faithful to God. What wonder, awe, and fear he must have known when contemplating caring for the son of God, and the woman who would bear him. What joy Mary must have had to know that Joseph believed, and would go through this with her.

Joseph and Mary had both been visited by an angel, and were able to share the wonder and awe of the direct intervention of God in their lives.

The Joyful Mysteries

The First Joyful Mystery: the Annunciation

"And he came to her and said, 'Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!'  But she was greatly troubled at the saying and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.' "  Luke 1:28-31

Mary was on the edge of womanhood. She was full of dreams. Already betrothed to Joseph, the marriage ceremony had not yet occurred. Joseph would be a good husband, she was sure. Gentle, kind, hard-working. Their life would be simple, but faith and dedication would join their hearts as one. 

One day there would even be children, she hoped. Motherhood seemed a sweet dream, indeed. Strong sons, gentle daughters.

All this and more filled Mary's heart that day, as she went about her work.

A bright light. A being filled the room with a holy presence, where a moment before had been no one.

"Hail, full of grace," he greeted.

She fell to her knees in amazement, breathing in holy air, her heart hammering.

Then, the unfolding of a message so amazing, so un-looked for.

She listened in awe. Unbelievable, yet she believed. Through God it would be accomplished.

"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to be according to your word."

Gone. All was quiet now. There lingered an aura of peacefulness and tranquillity.

She sought her bed, needing to lie down, to pray and think.
Every Jewish girl hoped to be the mother of the Messiah. Why her?
She wanted children one day. But now? Like this?

What would Joseph think? He could have her stoned for adultery and infidelity. She dreaded the look in his eyes when she told him.

A whispered prayer for him. He would need strength and courage to face this.
There was a quiet joy in her heart, the thought of a tiny life being nurtured inside her own body. The anticipation of warm baby skin, soft downy hair, sweet milky breath.
A moment of fear, too. Was she ready for this charge? The protection and care of a small life - a big responsibility.
If Joseph left her, how could she survive on her own and care for this special child?

God will provide. She breathed.

Fear and joy; dread and anticipation; dreams and questions. All fought within her.

She remembered the words the angel had spoken -
"For with God, nothing will be impossible."

Peace flowed through her. Her heart stilled. A smile spread across her face as she lifted her heart, so full, to God.

********************************************************************************

The moment we learn a child is expected in one of many emotions - wonder, joy, fear, and a feeling of being unprepared, or even uncertainty. Or relief. It is not unusual to experience many varied and conflicting emotions throughout the whole of pregnancy. No matter how we may have hoped, how much we wanted it to happen, it can still take our breath away! It can take a lot of getting used to, the knowledge that a child you can not see or feel is growing within you or your loved one.

But, with God, nothing is impossible. He is the Author of life - of our life and the life of our child. Our aim is to trust Him in all things, so like Mary we may say, "Be it done to me according to your word."

A Reflection on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary

This is in honor of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception this week (well, today, actually!).

Yes, I am aware that this Feast celebrates the conception, birth, and life of Mary. I want to honor her (and Him), by reflecting on the Joyful mysteries.


Have a blessed Feast Day!

Why the Rosary?

The Rosary is a wonderful way of praying. It is physical, mental, and emotional. We finger the beads, we recite the prayers, we reflect on the life of Christ and his mother, Mary. It is so simple, young children can pray along. It is so profound, its richness is never exhausted.

In reciting the rosary, we are to reflect on the life of Christ. His human life began with his mother, Mary. So, we too reflect on this amazing woman who carried the Savior of the world in her body, and who was his first disciple.

The rosary can be recited at home, in the car, while walking or jogging, as a group, alone, and so on. A decade takes only a few minutes. If this is not a part of your prayer time, I urge you to consider it. If saying a whole mystery seems too intimidating, try a decade a day. A decade a week. Just do it.

Parents of young children can find special meaning in the Joyful Mysteries of the rosary. These mysteries follow the conception, birth, and young childhood of Jesus. They offer many meditations on life, parenthood, and the raising of a young child.

The following are a set of meditations of the Joyful Mysteries, as seen through the eyes of a parent with young children. Each mystery is two parts: the first part places us in the mystery itself, as events unfold. It is a reflection on how Mary experienced the beginning of her parenthood, espeically as some of its different revelations opened up to her. The second part briefly examines how each mystery can be understood in our own lives.

The First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
The Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
The Third Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
The Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation
The Fifth Joyful Mystery: The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple