Hi everyone,
I can’t believe we are at the brink of the Christmas season. My kids can’t either, so it seems, but for completely different reasons. I can’t believe how quickly it’s come, and they can’t believe how long it’s taking. Funny how that works.
I understand, of course, as I was a kid once before (a long, long, looooong time ago). And I do remember the excitement of Christmas, the joy of opening whatever it is that I got from my friends and family, and the comfort of cuddling on the couch watching Christmas movies and cartoons. Kids will be kids, so I guess I shouldn’t really expect any different when it comes to my own.
And there is something special about that too, something that reminds us of how simple and innocent life was. I’m not saying that life is awful now (not exactly, at least), but to be reminded of the joy and peace that we had before seeing the realities of life and perhaps being jaded by them.
But enough of this depressing talk, it’s Christmas!
Let’s look at next week’s readings:
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Psalm 148
Colossians 3:12-17
Luke 2:41-52
Kids will be kids, alright. I would imagine that Mary and Joseph were absolutely livid with Jesus when they couldn’t find him for like 3 days. I remember when I was a kid and I was lost for about 5 minutes before finding my mom, and I was freaked out. I thought I was dead (my mom didn’t even know I was missing). Three days is a lot longer than 5 minutes (actually, I was probably “lost” for even less than that), so I would imagine the worry, the concern, the fear that would have gripped Mary and Joseph and how they thought it would be gripping young Jesus as well.
But that wasn’t the case. Like, at all. In a comical fashion Jesus just responds to their scolding, “well, where did you think I’d be?” Sigh, kids will be kids.
Where else would Jesus be? When we look for Jesus, are we looking where he wouldn’t be or where he would be? Do we get anxious when Jesus is no where to be seen and then he shows up in the place we least expect?
I suspect you all know where I am coming from here. Like love, we often look for Jesus in all the wrong places, and yet we are surprised when he isn’t there (at least we don’t recognise him there).
As described in the second reading, we’ll see Jesus in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, love, and peace. We see Jesus there because all that is Jesus. And you know what I like to say, Jesus will be Jesus.
Have a blessed Christmas, everyone, and a great week!